Book Review: Prince of Swords by Elise Kova
Published: July 21, 2026
Series: Arcana Academy #2
Genres: Adult // Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Explicit Open Door)
Quick Thoughts: Prince of Swords is one of my favorite second books I’ve read this year, perfectly building off all the foundation set in book one. It has everything from character growth, to plot action, and a sweet romance. Definitely recommend if you were a fan of book 1. Just know it ends on a really brutal cliffhanger!
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What is Prince of Swordsabout?
I am terrified. Yet my heart skips a beat. This man might be a monster, but he is my monster.
Clara Graysword is Oricalis’s most wanted. Hunted and cornered, not even her mastery of tarot can save her this time… until the mysterious Worldkeepers appear. This secretive order may hold the key to changing Clara’s fate. If she dares to trust them.
But the most dangerous alliance of all is one she’s already deeply ensnared within: Prince Kaelis.
Kaelis, second-born prince of Oricalis and headmaster of Arcana Academy, is the one man she can’t escape—maybe she doesn’t want to escape. Ruthless, dangerous, and bound to Clara by destiny and desire, Kaelis tests her heart as much as her loyalty. Together, they grow closer to the most powerful secrets of the tarot… and to the truths they both hide that could destroy the passion that they no longer deny.
Hidden in plain sight within Arcana Academy, Clara walks the dagger’s edge. Revelations about Oricalis threaten everything she thought she knew, and every choice she makes is the difference between salvation and ruin.
To change the world, Clara must risk everything—her power, her beliefs, and her heart.
Prince of Swords Review
Arcana Academy walked so Prince of Swords could run. This was one of my favorite second books I’ve read this year, perfectly building off all the foundation set in book one.
Plot & Worldbuilding
If you wished for more plot in book one, you'll like this one. We start off right where we left off, with Clara arriving at Halazar (again), and it doesn't take long for the plot to take off.
One of my chief complaints about book one was that the worldbuilding was too dense and info-dumpy, but that was not the case here. The magic system was much easier to follow this time around. Every time a card was used, its powers were quickly defined to jog our memory. Some readers may find this hand-holding too much, but I found it the right amount of helpful since I didn't want to re-read the first book.
Characters
We caught glimpses of Clara's trust issues in the first book, but we see a lot more of them here. At times her decision-making was frustrating to watch, but I guess I'd be a little unsure of myself too if I was remaking the world. There is pretty clear growth by the end and her development was believable.
And Kaelis, omg, Kaelis! Between book one and book two, Kaelis transforms into a cinnamon roll. He's still dark and mysterious, but turns into a real softy. I’ll admit the change in his character was a little abrupt but not wholly unexpected (or unappreciated).
Pacing
My biggest complaint is that the overall pacing was slow until around 70%, and then all the twists and subplots started unraveling so quickly that the ending felt more chaotic than necessary.
Ending
The cliffhanger in this one was brutal, and I mean downright diabolical. I can't believe I have to wait to find out what happens next, so if you don't like insane cliffhangers, I'd hold off on reading this until book three is out.
So, should you read Prince of Swords?
Recommend if you liked the first book, especially if you wished for more plot! I definitely think this sequel hits the mark on that front.
Check out this review on Goodreads or Storygraph.
Happy reading!
Kim
Prince of Swords FAQs
Some of the answers may be spoilers if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution!
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Potential spoilers ahead ⚠️
Trauma
Torture (Both recounting & on-page)
Blood/Violence/Death
Grief
Confinement
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Potential spoilers ahead ⚠️
Slow-burn romance
Tarot magic
Reworking fate & destiny
Dark academic setting
Hunted protagonist
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Yes, book 2 in the Arcana Academy series, Prince of Swords, is out now.
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Arcana Academy is a planned trilogy. As of the writing of this post, details about book 3 have not been released yet.
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Spicy chapters in Prince of Swords are:
Chapter 34
Chapter 41
Chapter 54
Chapter 68
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Prince of Swords is 4🌶️ out of 5 or explicit open door. That means readers are in the room for spice scenes and they are told in explicit detail.