Week 16 Review: Arcana Academy

From Goodreads:

A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.

Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.

Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy's enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.

In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.

Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?

My Review:
I'm so glad that this book exists! I've really enjoyed her other books, and this one was so fantastic, I loved the world and these characters, watching them deal with the various political machinations! Learning about the magic, the history, and these characters, was so mesmerising! 

Clara was such an interesting character, she's always been on the outskirts, with a power she doesn't understand but that she's not supposed to use unless she's gone through the academy, which would put her under the thumb of the government, which her family is against, with the big secret that they have. But she got caught, and was in prison, before being pulled out to be a pawn in the power struggles going on. 

This magic based around the tarots, and how the different suits worked, with the Major Arcana, was all so interesting to read! Arcana based stories have been done before, but I really enjoyed the different applications the magic had in this world! 

This book was such a great start to the series, really setting up the characters and the plot, and getting me excited for book 2! I'm so excited to see what's going to happen next, what with where we left things, with that reveal! I need more! 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait for book 2! 

Author: Elise Kova
Series: Arcana Academy #1
Read: April 14th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Del Rey
Expected Publication: July 22nd 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars