Arcana Academy (Book 1 of the Arcana Academy Series) by Elise Kova

“To ink cards is to channel the primal forces of nature on ink and paper, To read cards is to surrender to the fates that guide your hand. To wield cards is to make the true power of the undercurrent of this world unquestioningly your own.”

Elise Kova kicks off her new series, Arcana Academy, with an opening book that lays the perfect foundation for what could be the next hot craze. A tarot card twist on the story about a magical academy in a medievalesque society governed by a corrupt and evil monarchy and a heroine who’s special abilities and determination are the key to change is actually really unique and intriguing. From its opening pages Cara’s story and struggles take a life of their own as she must navigate the treacherous and political life at Arcana Academy as well as an unexpected attraction to the “void-born” prince, Kaelis, she is forced to help in overthrowing his family. It’s everything you want in Romantasy, and then some.

“The Starcrossed Club. Each of us like little points in the sky, once so far apart, yet were drawn together like constellations. And when one of us leaves for good, we fall from that sky. A life cut too short, as sparkling map that will never be the same. The desing forever changed.”

Arcana Academy is a fast-paced, high-stakes story that revolves around magical tarot cards that are created and wielded by Arcana, either those who chosen by the Chalice or those who are born with this inate gift. In the eyes of the crown, control of this power is essential and the reason the Academy was created. Only those who are officially sanctioned can use cards, to do otherwise can result in banishment to the mines or worse, time in Halazar prison, a fate worse than death. A fate that Cara was serving until Kaelis, helped her escape and created for her a new personna as his fiance and a long lost heir to a destroyed clan as well as student in the Arcana Academy, of which he is head-master. Cara quickly realizes that her life, as well as the lives of many others, depends on how well she can play these parts. But, what she doesn’t expect is that her time as a student and her growing attraction to Kaelis, are becoming much more than act to her.

Elise has done a fantastic job in Aracana Academy of introducing us to the lead characters, Cara and Kealis, and laying the groundwork for their enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance. Their story plays out on a backdrop of Cara’s life as a student at a cut-throat school and as a part of a secret society whose goal is to destroy the ruling family and their control of the Arcanas. As with any new series, the world building and character introductions are extensive, but Elise seamlessly weaves them into a captivating plot the flows effortlessly from page to page. Arcana Academy has all the bones for what looks to be a fabulous series: fascinating premise, authentic characters, lots of magic and action, as well as a great slow-burn romance between the leads. My only negative comment is that the series isn’t complete and I have to wait for the next book!