I was going to wait until 2025 to start reading this one, but I'm so glad I picked it up yesterday (Dec.26/24) and began to read it. Once I started, I almost couldn't put it down--this is a captivating read!

When it’s finally released in July 2025, I can pretty much predict that it’s gonna be a best-selling series—and I don’t need the tarot to predict that.

This is a dark academia fantasy and the narrative is tightly woven and compellingly written. The characters are flawed and have complex motivations. You don't need to know anything about the tarot in order to read and enjoy this book, but I will say that it has inspired me to pick up some books about the tarot to deepen the knowledge I already have about it.

I've just finished it today and I already can’t wait for book 2!

Intrigue, power struggles, corrupt monarchy and magic - I will never look at tarot cards the same after this read!

This was a terrific fantasy read and the introduction to this world was incredible. I devoured the first third of the book. I found the glossary for the tarot cards at the end, which may have helped me understand some fights a bit better if I had discovered this earlier, but I was still able to follow the premise of what was happening.

Lot's of twists and turns, and I was on edge trying to work out who to trust right up until the end. The ending had a real cliffhanger too...

I'm still on the fence about the relationship our main character finds herself in. The sex scene made it 'adult' for me. Not because there was sex, as teenagers should be reading about all sorts of relationships. As soon as there is fisting of hair and "Fuck me!" in the dialogue, as a school librarian my preference is to pop a 'Senior Fiction' sticker on the spine of this novel. Will definitely recommend to Senior students and staff.

What a great first book for a fantasy series!

This was so captivating!
In Arcana Academy we get a very interesting magical world setting with intriging characters and a action-packed story.

We follow Clara on her mission while she's getting in to the heart of Arcana Academy and maybe anothers heart too..

All in all a romantasy with enemies to lovers-ish and lot's of morray grey maincharcters.

Post on IG (one_fairy_tale_at_the_time) the 14.jan 2025

I love Elise’s books and was stoked to get this. It was better than I expected and can’t wait for the rest

This book had me at tarot cards! The FMC, Clara Graysword, is facing life in prison. However, the headmaster of the Arcana Academy, Prince Kaelis, strikes a deal with Clara for her freedom. I loved the romantasy of this book, which I don't always becuase sometimes romantasy falls short in feeling the characters have any "magic" together. This book is different. I also was intrigued, as previously stated, but the tarot cards and their magic in this world. Romantasy lovers NEED to get this book!

This book was an absolute page-turner! From the very first page, I was hooked. The story had this amazing plot that slowly built up this romantic tension and this super cool magic system. The action scenes were intense, and the romance was swoon-worthy, but the magic system was just mind-blowing. Elise really nailed the blend of fantasy and magic, and it made me feel like I was transported to a whole new world.

Netgalley ARC.

First of all, what a fantastic hook and magic premise. I felt drawn in by the first few chapters and really liked the protagonist, Clara. She started off having a strong personality and wasn't afraid to take action.

A tarot card magic system is extremely cool!

However, for me, the book suffers from having a large number of characters that fail to have distinctive personalities. They all blurred together at one point, and I was confused by who was who.

The descriptions and overall writing style didn't offer anything fresh or exciting, sadly.

I also didn't care for the love interest. I'm growing tired of the dark-haired shadow boys with their bland dialogue and terrible foreplay, tbh. I want something with more depth and variety, I think.

4.5⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

Arcana Academy is the first installment in Elise Kova's Arcana Academy Trilogy, set in a dark world filled with magic and secrets, perfect for fans of Caraval and One Dark Window.

This was a great fantasy read and had me hooked surprisingly very easily and early on. I could not put the book down at all and finished it in two sittings.

The magic system in this book was deep and intricate. I found it to be very interesting and the world-building was amazingly done. The tarot card wielding system is my most favourite magic system and it was done amazingly here!

The secrets and mysteries around the story were not brief but very intricate and intriguing. Every word and question seems like a mystery needed to be unfolded. The plot-twists took me off by surprise from the way that the author had us running like sleuths.

The romance was enemies to lovers and he was the second prince and she was a former inmate. There was so much tension and angst between them and the solid chemistry between them sealed it out perfectly.

The revelations and the ending had me screaming to the pillow. Overall, it was an amazing fantasy read with strong-willed protagonists, angst and a perfect blend of mystery and romance.

I'll definitely be continuing this series and I can't wait for the sequel!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova presents a captivating blend of magical academia and a thrilling escape plot. The concept of a young woman trapped in a dangerous prison , Fighting to escape and break free from her past, is incredibly engaging. I loved the setting of the academy itself its mysterious atmosphere, complex characters, and the constant tension of trying to outsmart the system.
The relationship between the protagonist and the prince was another highlight. Their dynamic had a lot of potential, and I enjoyed the chemistry between them. The trials, the dangers, and the slow-building romance kept me hooked, making the stakes feel high and adding depth to the story.

However, while I was initially invested in the plot, the ending left me feeling disappointed. After all the trials and the intense struggle for freedom, the protagonist gets captured again in a way that feels like a letdown. It undermined the sense of progress and growth she seemed to experience throughout the story. Additionally, the revelation that her sister is alive wasn't as surprising or impactful as I had hoped, feeling somewhat unnecessary to the overall narrative.

From the first few pages, this book had me hooked. The magic system and world building are 5 stars alone. The plot is spectacular and full of descriptive details without being too wordy. I fell in love with the FMC, Clara, from the moment I cracked the book open. She is the epitome of strength, resilience, intelligence, creativity and honesty. Her little smart-alec quips had me giggling! I love the fact that the author gave tarot cards such power in this series. As a tarot lover, it just feels so magical! I'm a sucker for the bad boy so Prince Kaelis is villian perfection! The cliffhanger was perfectly annoying in all the right ways! Amazing book!!!

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I absolutely would! It’s an incredible read and a phenomenal start to the series. This story breaks away from the typical romantasy formula in the best way, offering a fresh and unique perspective with its use of tarot cards—how they are created and wielded is nothing short of fascinating. The world-building is richly detailed but never overwhelming; the concepts are presented so skilfully that they’re easy to grasp and utterly captivating.

The academy setting adds depth without overshadowing the plot, as plenty of action unfolds beyond its walls. The pacing is exceptional, especially for a book of this length. I was so immersed in this world that I never wanted to leave. The tension, the longing, and the slow, slow burn romance are masterfully done—absolute perfection!

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, romance, or romantasy. Do yourself a favour and preorder it—you won’t regret it! I know I’ll be eagerly awaiting my own copy.

A huge thank you to Del Rey for the ARC via NetGalley and the opportunity to share my honest thoughts about this fantastic book.

I love me some Elise Kova so I was excited to see an arc of her forthcoming novel here. Oh man. It is a good one. On the spice level, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

It helps that the story was also interesting.

Can’t wait to see more Kaelis.

This book was by far one of the best books I've ever read, like wow. It blew me away and I can only imagine how many others are going to love this book, because it had EVERYTHING I could have ever wanted in a romantasy book.

The magic system in this book is by far one of the most interesting and intricate systems I've ever read in my life. Elise does an incredible job at building this world and its magic system that it felt absolutely seamless as I read it. The romance in this book gave us just enough to keep us wanting for more and I don't know what I'm going to do having to wait for the next book to come out because OMG?? I can't wait for book two, I desperately need more of these characters and this world ASAP!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

This is an easy 6-stars!!! Everything about this book was perfection - I'm predicting this to be one of THE Romantasy's of 2025. The only thing I'm gutted about is the fact I have to wait so long for book 2...

holy fuck? im for the most part at a loss for words at how much i loved this book and how i feel currently so this will most likely be very brief…

dare i say this very well may be one of if not THE fantasy book of 2025? never in my life have i read something so unique and enthralling. ill be quite honest this was a very hard read for me as the magic system and world building was pretty intense but it was SO insanely rewarding and kept me engaged the entire time.

one of my favorite things about this book was the magic, it felt insanely refreshing and in a world where we have so many different fantasies and magic systems i feel like that a very rare thing to accomplish. i loved loved loved every fight scene, i think the use of the cards made everything feel 10x more intense and high stake.

one thing i would have loved to be different about it was the romance, it felt very after thought to me for the most part which was a huge bummer as i am obsessed with kaelis and more importantly clara and kaelis together. however at the same i loved every single second we got with them 🤭 obviously there was a lot going on in this book at all times which could have made it harder to get more moments with them or maybe it was just intentional and this will be more romantasy in the next however many books but i just wanted more more more 😩

i am already at a loss of what on earth i will do with myself until book 2, especially seeing as this doesnt come out officially until july meaning it will most likely be 2026 before the follow up. after the cliff hanger and how much chaos ensued at the end, i fear i will drown in my questions until then? i dont think this book or these characters will ever leave my brain. i do believe this will be my newest roman empire

I absolutely loved this book and hate that it will take so long for me to know what happens next! The tarot based magic system is unique and it took me a little while to recall what did what, but the author explains it well, there is history and origins of the magic throughout the book which assists and supports great world building. There's trials, enemies to lovers, found families and mystery. There's things I think I know when reading and then I change my mind and the plot is so full of mystery you can't help but read on. The cliffhanger at the end makes me heart hurt and I need the second book!

Totally DEVOURED this book! I've read a couple of Kova's series in the past and enjoyed them which is why I wanted to read this one! This one is my new favorite! I absolutely LOVED the world she created with the tarot. Tarot has always been interesting to me but now I may be a bit obsessed, I adored Clara! She was smart and incredibly resourceful! I can't wait for the next installment!!!!

Arcana Academy pulls you into a world of magic, secrets, and a forbidden connection that’s hard to put down. The writing style stands out for its immersive, evocative quality, making the magical elements come to life without coming across as overwhelming. Clara is a fantastic protagonist. She is smart, resourceful, and full of flaws that make her journey feel authentic. The romance is slow-burn, filled with tension, and the plot twists feel carefully constructed, never cheap or rushed. The author builds a world rich with intrigue, and the ending leaves you hungry for more. It’s a perfect balance of suspense, magic, and character development, and it’s clear this is just the beginning of an exciting series.

This is a really good romantasy, i loved the uniqueness of the world building and lore. The fmc is wielding tarot card magic and she’s a prisoner that finds herself in engaged to the headmaster of the tarrot card magic academy. The magic system and world was built well, i understood what was going on and why. I like the idea of going to a school where you practice and learn how to get better with using magic tarots. The romance is an enemies to lovers and he’s also the second prince. There is so much tension and their relationship is a will they wont they one. They do get together but there are secrets, plots, and political drama between them. I liked the drama between families, hidden identities and also found family aspect. Overall an interesting fantasy, it’s long but I couldn’t put it down! Thank you Del Rey for the arc!

Read for:
- Morally grey characters
- Secret academy
- Slow burn
- Forced fake engagement
- Magic tarot world
- Secrets and hidden identity
- Dark Academia