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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
damn, i was not expecting to have to fight for my life to get through this. the pacing is glacial 😠you get clara’s EVERY waking thought, stream of consciousness, and inconsequential observation. even after the days i spent reading this, and the painful cliffhanger, i can’t express how much i just simply don’t care what happens next.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Clara Graysword, a street-smart magic-wielder from Eclipse City, is sentenced to life in prison for illegally inking tarot cards, a rare magic reserved for elite wielders. Her unexpected escape comes at a steep price: Prince Kaelis, the enigmatic headmaster of Arcana Academy, offers her freedom in exchange for a dangerous alliance. Clara must pose as his betrothed and infiltrate the academy to help him steal a legendary tarot card. As she navigates the treacherous halls of Arcana Academy, Clara uncovers secrets about the magic system, the royal family, and herself. With nobles watching her every move, trials that could kill her, and a slow-burning romance threatening to unravel her plans, Clara must decide whether to trust Kaelis, or outwit him.
The opening chapters immediately pull you into the world with a gritty prison, illegal magic, and a heroine with a sharp mind. I could practically feel the atmosphere and see the magic unfolding. It all started out very promising, but the pacing throughout the book felt a bit uneven. After a strong start, the middle dragged a little and it took me a while to get truly invested in the characters and their journey. Around the halfway point though, the story really picked up and I was turning pages while totally losing track of time. I couldn’t put it down.
Clara is a great protagonist. She is clever and quick-thinking. Watching her navigate the academy, the nobles (especially the two princes, Kaelis and Ravin), and her secret alliances outside of the school was super engaging. I especially enjoyed the character relationships, both the ones already established with her found family and the ones that slowly grew throughout the book. It really helped that the students at Arcana Academy all have distinct personalities. It made it easy to keep track of them and learn from their interactions. The romance is quite a slow-burn and leans very much into popular tropes (fake engagement, enemies-to-lovers), but nevertheless, I had a fun time with it.
The magic system is one of the book’s strongest elements. It’s tarot-based, detailed, and really well thought out. There’s even a glossary at the back to help keep track of the mechanics, which I found super helpful. What I really appreciated about this story was the abundancy of intriguing plot points that absolutely drive the story forward. And sure, you already get some resolutions by the end of this first book, but there is still so much more that I'm curious about. It makes me very excited to continue this series.
If you like a school setting, a unique magic system, and high stakes, this book is very much worth the read.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a proof copy via NetGalley.
The opening chapters immediately pull you into the world with a gritty prison, illegal magic, and a heroine with a sharp mind. I could practically feel the atmosphere and see the magic unfolding. It all started out very promising, but the pacing throughout the book felt a bit uneven. After a strong start, the middle dragged a little and it took me a while to get truly invested in the characters and their journey. Around the halfway point though, the story really picked up and I was turning pages while totally losing track of time. I couldn’t put it down.
Clara is a great protagonist. She is clever and quick-thinking. Watching her navigate the academy, the nobles (especially the two princes, Kaelis and Ravin), and her secret alliances outside of the school was super engaging. I especially enjoyed the character relationships, both the ones already established with her found family and the ones that slowly grew throughout the book. It really helped that the students at Arcana Academy all have distinct personalities. It made it easy to keep track of them and learn from their interactions. The romance is quite a slow-burn and leans very much into popular tropes (fake engagement, enemies-to-lovers), but nevertheless, I had a fun time with it.
The magic system is one of the book’s strongest elements. It’s tarot-based, detailed, and really well thought out. There’s even a glossary at the back to help keep track of the mechanics, which I found super helpful. What I really appreciated about this story was the abundancy of intriguing plot points that absolutely drive the story forward. And sure, you already get some resolutions by the end of this first book, but there is still so much more that I'm curious about. It makes me very excited to continue this series.
If you like a school setting, a unique magic system, and high stakes, this book is very much worth the read.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a proof copy via NetGalley.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes