Welcome to my review of Arcana Academy by Elise Kova, a high‑stakes fantasy romance that swept me into a world of inked tarot cards, elite academies, and royal subterfuge. From the moment we meet Clara Graysword — a dark, resourceful heroine rising from the underbelly of Eclipse City — I was hooked. In this blog, I’ll walk through the plot, explore the characters, magic system, romance, world‑building, pacing, and what makes this debut tale both enthralling and at times overwhelming.
Plot Overview
Clara Graysword has made a living surviving the streets of Eclipse City, illegally wielding magical ink to alter tarot cards. When a job wrongs out, she’s imprisoned in Halazar, facing a life sentence. Enter Prince Kaelis, headmaster of the prestigious Arcana Academy, who offers Clara an escape—but on his terms: join the academy under the guise of his bride‑to‑be, and assist him in stealing a powerful tarot card from the king to recreate a lost major arcana.
At the academy, Clara is thrust into a world of arcana trials, secret societies, and political machinations. As she learns the academy’s tarot‑based magic and navigates the tensions between students, royalty, and her new—though fake—engagement, she begins to see cracks in Kaelis’s façade. Missteps could land her back in prison—or far worse.
Magic System & World‑Building
Kova delivers a truly imaginative magic system: tarot cards, when inlaid with magic ink, become spells. Inking, reading, and wielding the cards require distinct skills. The book includes a glossary of card abilities, though several reviewers mentioned that referencing it during an e‑ARC was challenging. While intricate, the magic system feels logical, immersive, and vastly different from standard tropes in fantasy.
Set against a dark academia backdrop—complete with trials, secret clubs, and found families—the world is both atmospheric and expansive. Many reviewers highlighted how absorbing the setting felt, from court intrigues to underground alliances resisting the status quo.
Characters & Relationships
Clara Graysword is fierce, scrappy, and deeply committed to her own moral code—especially regarding her sister and crew. She’s guided by the instincts and training that helped her survive Eclipse City, while forging new alliances at the academy.
Prince Kaelis, as headmaster and second‑born prince, presents a brooding, tyrannical front. He is both manipulative and mesmerizing—initially forcing Clara’s engagement, yet gradually revealing depth, vulnerability, and complex motives.
Their relationship moves through hate, mistrust, reluctant alliance, and slow‑burn longing. Many reviewers describe it as compelling banter, simmering tension, and eventual emotional intimacy—all built masterfully across the novel.
Romance & Tropes
Tropes play heavily into the story: enemies‑to‑lovers, forced proximity/fake betrothal, slow burn, academic rivalries, and heists with high stakes. Reviewers praise how each trope is layered without feeling stale, and how Kova injects emotional weight into familiar dynamics.
The romantic tension is deliberate and well‑paced. Clara remains wary of her fake fiancé even as feelings deepen; Kaelis hides his emotions behind calculated control. Their push‑and‑pull evolves through dialogue and revelations, not rushed declarations. The steamy moments are limited and emerge late in the book (around 85 %), making the build‑up more satisfying.
Pacing & Structure
At almost 600 pages, Arcana Academy is densely packed. Some readers experienced slow pacing around the middle—especially during exposition or longer classroom scenes. Still, most agree that the plot picks up again around the halfway mark, increasing stakes through trials, rebellions, and magical complications.
Despite occasional repetition and occasional lore overload, the story rarely felt dull. World‑building and character arcs carry it forward. A handful of readers did mention feeling overwhelmed by length or wishing for more editorial trimming.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths:
- A refreshingly original tarot‑based magic system that feels strategic and clever.
- A compelling enemies‑to‑lovers arc with emotional complexity and slow burn tension.
- Atmospheric academy setting layered with political intrigue, found family, and high‑risk challenges.
- Memorable secondary cast, from knife‑wielding roommates to secretive societies and fellow students.
- Heavy exposition and lore can slow down pacing during mid‑sections.
- The magic system, while fascinating, may feel overwhelming at times—especially without constant reference to the glossary.
- A few story beats feel familiar: dark academia, fake engagement, and political scheming have appeared elsewhere. Some reviewers noted that Kova adds enough originality to make it feel fresh, but the echoes remain.
Final Thoughts
Arcana Academy marks a strong beginning to a romantasy series that promises even more intrigue, magic, and emotional resonance in future installments. While the length and detail-heavy world might lag for some, for readers enchanted by academic danger, magical strategy, and slow‑burn romantic tension, it’s deeply rewarding.
Clara and Kaelis carry the story—together they spark with chemistry, moral conflict, and raw emotion. Fan‑favorite tropes are elevated here by assured storytelling and immersive world‑building. The novel ends on a gut‑punch cliffhanger that didn’t feel arbitrary, but instead left me desperate for book 2—which reviewers uniformly confirm as a shared feeling across the reader community.
Summary Table
| Element | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Magic System | Tarot‑card spells with separate inking, reading, and casting mechanics; glossary helpful but not always user-friendly. |
| Romance | Enemies to lovers, fake betrothal, slow burn; emotional buildup excels with crunchy tension and sharp dialogue. |
| Setting/World | Gritty dark academia setting; cutting royal intrigues; secret societies; found family and high-stakes trials. |
| Pacing | Dense first half, slower mid‑sections; picks up dramatically in the second half with heists, magic revelations, and rising tension. |
| Support Cast | Diverse side characters—including roommates, allies, academy students and royal personnel—add depth and nuance. |
| Weak Spots | Occasional pacing lulls, complexity of magic, and reliance on familiar tropes—though executed with fresh flair. |
If you enjoy richly imagined magical schools, slow‑burn romantic tension, elaborate magical politics, and morally grey characters, Arcana Academy deserves a spot on your TBR. And now… onward to the sequel. I, like many reviewers, simply can’t wait.
