By The Book: Best-selling Fantasy Author, Elise Kova

If you’re a romantasy reader then you definitely know the name Elise Kova. She’s the best-selling author of Air Awakens and Married to Magic series.

And now she’s stepping into a new fantasy world in her new novel Arcana Academy.

We sat down with her to take a look at her bookshelves, the books that made her and look into her mind…

Hi Elise. Tell us about your new book, Arcana Academy.

Arcana Academy opens in Halazar Prison, where Clara Graysword is serving a life sentence for using illegal tarot magic. Out of nowhere, the second-born prince shows up and announces she’s now been sentenced to death, today. Clara uses the opportunity instead to escape, only to find out it was a test. Impressed her skills are as good as they say, the prince offers her a deal: rot in prison, or steal powerful magic from the king. She chooses the latter and the possibility of freedom, which comes with strings like pretending to be the prince’s fiancée and enrolling in the academy that she swore to her late mother she’d never go to in order to keep herself safe.

Inside Arcana Academy, Clara faces brutal trials, buried secrets, and a slow-burn entanglement with the man she suspects not only put her behind bars but may have killed her mother. It’s a story full of magic, tension, and reluctant alliances, perfect for fans of dark academia and fantasy romance.

Where did you get your inspiration from for your new book?

I learned how to read tarot when I was about eight, and it’s been part of my life ever since. For years, I knew I wanted to write a story that centred around tarot, but the right idea just hadn’t come together… until Arcana Academy. The magic system—inking, reading, and wielding the card—rooted in the idea of tarot as a rare, heavily regulated, powerful art, was the spark that lit everything else. Once I had that general concept, the rest of the world started to fall into place, filling in with things I’ve always loved to write: found family, enemies-to-lovers romance, and a whole lot of twists.

You have such loyal fans. Do you feel pressure from fans to constantly live up to expectations?

I do feel pressure, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing; I see it as a sign that I care deeply. It’s like when I did theatre when I was younger and my director said that being nervous before stepping on stage just meant you wanted to do your best. That’s how I feel about writing. It’s not pressure from readers, exactly, but from myself. I’ve been insanely lucky to receive such incredible support, and I want to honour that with every story I write. I know not every book will be for everyone, but I always aim to give it my all. So the pressure I feel is pressure I put on myself to always strive to do better.

What’s the first thing you do when you sit down to write?

Music. Always. I have playlists for everything—brainstorming, drafting, editing—you name it. Some are general “production” playlists (songs I listen to while producing the books, aka actively writing), while others are tailored to specific scenes, like romantic moments or big fight sequences. I even have theme songs for certain characters or places. Music helps me tune into the mood of the story and slip into the world faster.

What is that childhood book that you still think about to this day?

When I was around eleven years old, I read the series The Unicorn Chronicles by Bruce Coville. The second book, Song of the Wanderer, struck me on a profound level. Specifically, there’s a beautiful poem in it that talks about the tension between wanderlust and the comfort of belonging. It had such an impact on me because, even then, I felt like the words really resonated with a fundamental part of my soul. Even now, I can still recite it completely, and even now it still captures me as I find myself regularly wrestling with the yearnings for adventure and for the comforts of home.

 

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Who are three authors that inspire you?

Danielle L. Jensen is a big one. I adore her books as a reader, but I’m also lucky to call her a friend, which means I get to see firsthand just how hard she works. Her discipline and commitment to craft are seriously inspiring.

Brandon Sanderson is another. Beyond being a fantasy powerhouse, his openness about the writing craft—through his blogs, lectures, and more—is such a gift to writers. I’ve learned a lot from his generosity in sharing knowledge and admire this effort to give back to the writing community.

And R. F. Kuang. Her ability to blend fantasy with real-world history and unpack difficult themes is stunningly masterful. Her prose is sharp, emotional, incredibly layered, and just a joy to read in all its iterations. Her work always leaves me thinking long after I’ve put the book down.

What’s a book that you’ll never forget?

The Dungeon Master’s Guide for 5e Dungeons & Dragons. After years of running campaigns for friends, I think it’s permanently etched into my brain. Not that I’m complaining! It’s been a constant companion in crafting stories, worlds, hilarity, drama, and chaos around the game table, so I’m quite fond of my weathered, tea-stained, torn-page and earmarked copy.

Who is the favourite character you’ve ever written?

That’s like asking a parent to choose their favourite child! Impossible to pick one. I love them all, even when they drive me up the wall. (Which, yes, does happen with regularity.)

Every character, like every book, challenges me and helps me grow as a writer in different ways. So I love each of them uniquely for what they’ve taught me about myself, about humanity, and how they helped me grow as an author.

With Arcana Academy, for example, I really leaned into working to craft characters with nuance. No one is fully good or evil and I tried to really magnify that in this trilogy. Clara and Kaelis, our leads, definitely exist in shades of grey. Two other characters I especially loved writing were Silas and Ravin. They’re layered, twisty, and have a lot of reveals.

If you could go into a book universe, which would it be?

Of my worlds? Probably Married to Magic. It’s definitely the gentlest of all the universes I’ve created so I think I have a shot of actually surviving there. I love Arcana Academy, but between the trials, secrets, and magical politics, I’d probably perish by chapter four. In Married to Magic, at least there’s a solid chance I could find a quiet cottage and live to see the epilogue.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

“There are times when you reap rewards, and times when you pay your dues. It’s important to know what stage you’re in.” My older sister said that to me when I landed my first corporate job, and it’s stuck with me ever since. It’s helped me in writing and in life by reminding me that sometimes it’s okay to rest, and other times you’ve got to keep grinding without complaint, knowing the payoff will come later.

 

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Is there a book you wish you could read again for the first time?

Honestly, I don’t think so. I don’t reread many books as I have an infinite TBR pile. But when I do have the privilege, I love seeing how the experience changes from read to read. You notice different details, but more than that you’ve grown and changed as a person between reads, so your relationship with the story shifts too. That evolution is something I find really beautiful. If I read a book “for the first time” again, I’d lose that layered perspective.

Forget dinner party guests, what are the three books that define you?

I’ll skip Song of the Wanderer since I already talked about it, though it absolutely belongs on this list.

The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene helped me connect with my grandfather, who was a physicist. For a while, I even considered studying physics—until higher math caught up with me. Still, it gave me a deep appreciation for how beautiful science can be at a formative time.

Speaking of formative times… Magic Casement by Dave Duncan came into my life in high school when I was really struggling. A teacher recommended it, and there was something about this series, A Man of His Word, that ended up feeling like a lifeline for me. Those books carried me through a difficult season and they’ll always hold a special place in my heart for it.

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, really the whole of A Song of Ice and Fire, reignited my love of fantasy after a long burnout post-grad school. It was one of the books that helped push me back into writing and that passion eventually led to Air Awakens.

What is your most prized possession – book-wise or otherwise?

One of my most treasured possessions is one of the first copies ever printed of Air Awakens that I signed for my grandfather. Years later, during a move, it accidentally ended up in a donation box. It would’ve been lost forever without the kindness of a reader who reached out. She had found it secondhand, saw the dedication, and offered to send it back to me. Of course, I said yes (and sent her a new signed copy in return). My grandfather passed about a year and a half later, and now that book is a reminder not just of him and how much he’ll always mean to me, but of the unexpected and profound kindness strangers can show.

 

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Do you read reviews?

I do. But don’t worry, dear readers, I’m not tallying stars or holding anything against anyone! Like I said earlier, I care deeply about meeting reader expectations, and reviews help me understand if I’m doing that. Sometimes a bad review is a case of bad book chemistry, and that’s okay. But often, I find really valuable insights that helps me grow as an author. I read reviews because I want to keep improving and telling stories that resonate. They can offer me guidelines and ideas for how to do better in my next work.

What is your favourite genre to read? Is it the same one you write?

It depends on where I am in the writing process. If I’m actively drafting, I lean toward non-fiction—things like psychology, self-help, pop science, or writing craft. But when I’m not in the thick of the formative early stages of a project, it’s epic fantasy all the way.

For the epic fantasy part, absolutely! I started writing fantasy because it’s always been what I’m drawn to. Whether it’s books, movies, anime, or games, I’m a sucker for stories with swords, magic, and castles. It’s just wired into who I am.

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