Arcana Academy
“Magical from nail-biting beginning to shocking end!”—Danielle L. Jensen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood
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?
Book One of The Arcana Academy Series
- Pages
- 553
- First published
- July 22, 2025
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ebook
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Shelved by 12 Litcadians
Reviews
Finished June 30, 2026
4.5 stars, rounded up for GR So... I've read this type of story several times before. A main character arrives at a magical academy, faces trials, forms friendships, falls in love, and plenty of drama follows. But that's not a criticism of Arcana Academy. Yes, it's a familiar formula, but Kova executes it incredibly well. The magic system is genuinely fascinating and unlike anything I've read before, making the world feel fresh despite the familiar premise. The characters feel authentic. I found myself worrying about some, rooting for others, and becoming emotionally invested in all of them. One of my favourite aspects was that the romance wasn't at the forefront of the story. I much prefer fantasy that prioritises the world-building, plot, and character motivations, with romance as a subplot rather than the main focus and that's exactly what this book delivered. That said, when the romance was on the page, it felt electric and raw. Instead of wishing there was less of it, I found myself wanting more and that's exactly the kind of romance I love to read. I'm so excited for the next book and incredibly grateful I only have a short wait until it's released. I can't wait to dive back into this world.