(Arcana Academy #1)
by Elise Kova
July 22, 2025
Goodreads Summary:
Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job goes 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?
Review
It deeply saddens me to say this but while reading the first half of Arcana Academy I felt a sort of bored detachment. The story just didn't engage me. However, the second half of the book held me captive! I needed to see how the characters fared.
What I Liked:
- the complex world
- a very cool school
- tarot magic that's well-established
- Clara's strong ties to her sister and found family
- the unlikely friendships
- Clara is very brave
- the nuances to Clara and Kaelis's relationship
- Kaelis's secret (identity?) has my interest
- surprising bold moves (eg. character deaths)
- the action sequences
- that ending (I knew it!)
The Not So Much:
- the first half of the book dragged
- a lot of build up but little pay off
- Clara and Kaelis's relationship development has me conflicted- I like them together but also their hate is so strong should things have happened between them??
“Is it crueler for her to know what’s to come and be forced to sit with the weight of that knowledge? Or would it have been worse to leave her ignorant?” (p. 46)
“Sometimes, it’s the things we can’t see in ourselves that have the most power.” (p. 160)
“A rumor can be more deadly than a poison.” (p. 246)
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