#clara redwin

[jessread-s]

*Thank you @elisekova and Del Rey Books for the free copy!*

✩🃏⚔️Review: 

A sweeping, sizzling sequel!

Picking up where the previous installment leaves off, “Prince of Swords” follows Clara Graysword as she risks everything to change the world and her fate. 

With Kova’s highly immersive world having been established in “Arcana Academy,” the pacing picks up and the stakes heighten! Clara is a complex, compelling protagonist and I really enjoyed reading from her point-of-view as she hunted down all the elements to summon the World. The more she learns about the history of Oricalis to carry out her undercover mission, the more startling truths come to light. No one is who they seem and Kova’s unexpected twists left me speechless. I delighted in piecing together each character’s hidden motivations and their role in Clara’s story. 

Clara and Kaelis’ entanglement adds a layer of intrigue that made the pages fly! Bound together by fate, their alliance is tested by the secrets they hide. Despite the distance Clara tries to keep, the tension and yearning is inescapable. The moments where they lay themselves bare were some of my favorite. Kova definitely dials up the heat and I couldn't get enough!

In a cruel turn of events, the wish Clara is granted is not what she was expecting and the last chapter ends in a brutal cliffhanger. I look forward to seeing what Clara does with the cards she has been dealt in the final book!

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[jessread-s]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

✩🗡️✨Review:

A dazzling fantasy romance with nail-biting twists!

“Arcana Academy” follows Clara Graysword, a wielder of a magical tarot cards, after she lands herself in a false engagement with Prince Kaelis, the headmaster of a mysterious academy. 

Kova’s tarot-based magic system and academic setting immediately sucked me in to her unique storyline! I really enjoyed reading from the perspective of Clara. She is a fierce and driven fmc that is very protective of her friends and family. I was rooting for her from page one as she went from one high stakes environment to another, navigating a world of high society politics and arcane magic. This world is brought to life by Kova’s highly immersive writing and attention to detail. 

That being said, this book’s biggest pitfall is the overwhelming amount of information thrust upon readers as the world expands. Each tarot card has different spells associated with it. As interesting as I found this, the first person narration brushed over their distinctive qualities because of the character’s pre-established familiarity with magic, which resulted in a heavy dependence on the glossary. Staying on top of the spells was made more difficult by the introduction of the academy’s vast history, its rules, and the characteristics of the different houses initiates could pledge. What’s more, there were a lot of side quests, illusions, and heists that Clara took on. Numerous side characters were introduced in relation to each subplot, but none were fully fleshed out or memorable. Trying to keep track of everything bogged me down and simply became too much. My hope is that the pace of book 2 will pick up now that I am more acquainted with the world. 

Clara and Kaelis’ uncertain alliance is what ultimately kept me turning pages. They are true enemies and I loved watching their fake engagement spark very real feelings. The tension and mutual pining born from their restraint is positively heart-stopping. With trust being one-sided, their relationship is quickly put in jeopardy. I am eager to find out if they can repair it in the next installment! 

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph