Had another opportunity to read an advanced readers copy, thank you for that! This time it was a fantasy novel by Elise Kova called Arcana Academy. Here are my thoughts!

“Love me, hate me, but only look at me like my existence sets you on fire“

This book is filled with magic, but not your Harry Potter wand wielding kind. This one is with tarot cards. Not everyone has the ability to wield, ink and / or read tarot cards. Only those who can are called to Arcana Academy. Where only the strong survive.

The first test is to give away a part of your future. To forfeit it so you become an initiate. Those who fail become marked and are sent to the powder mill. These mills are needed to make ink to ink the tarot cards. Once initiated you’ll start your lessons, throughout the year there will be tests, fail one and be marked.

At the end you’ll be chosen by one of the four houses. But spots are limited! Well, that was arcana academy. But it’s not only about arcana.

We follow Clara, whom is a prisoner at Halazar. After a year in the prison, the prince visits and tells her she is set to be executed. After hearing this, Clara does her best to escape, and escape she does. Right into the hands of the prince. The story is filled with fantasy, yes. It was a good one but… Most of it was uneventful, just detailed descriptions, seeing the inside of the academy and how things go. There are a few good chapters filled with fights, rage, love and deceit.

If you love a fantasy story that’s filled with a lot of detail and isn’t filled with gore, fights, drama etc… You really should read this one. If you’re here for smut, fights, thrilling stuff. This isn’t for you. I still enjoyed reading it, and am curious if the second book would be more packed with action as the end of this one practically demands it. I still would recommend because sometimes the first book is the one that paves a series of success.

This one was a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ star read for me.