Author Interview: Elise Kova

Get the inside scoop on ‘Arcana Academy’!

Elise Kova is the author of our July Romantasy ‘Fateful Bonds’ featured book: Arcana Academy.
Read on to get the inside scoop from inspiration to favourite scenes and more!

Can you tell us a little bit about Oricalis?

Oricalis is the Kingdom Arcana Academy is set in. In this Kingdom, magic flows freely through Tarot cards. It’s highly regulated magic, and those with an affinity to it are required to enter Arcana Academy in order to be authorised to use it.

How did the initial idea for Arcana Academy come about, and did it change while you were drafting?

It definitely changed a lot. I’ve been wanting to write this book for a really long time. I originally wanted the Tarot cards to be inked on people’s bodies like tattoos, but as I was developing things, I realised I wanted everyone to have access to the deck. How many cards people could use was more dependent on their ability and skill. There were definitely a number of changes as I was conceptualising and working on it.

What were the most challenging aspects of writing Arcana Academy compared to your previous works?

I think one of the really challenging aspects for me was that it was a very big world with a lot of moving pieces. And so, trying to balance all the people that existed in the world and the places that existed in the world, while keeping focus on Clara’s story, was definitely challenging.

Can you tell us how you came up with a Tarot based magic system?

I wanted every card to be a unique spell, and so that was where I began. What I really like to have is magic systems with costs and limitations. And so, for Arcana Academy, the limitation was that you had to have the resources to ink the cards. So, who controls the resources? How are they acquired? How are they processed? Those are all the important parts of how magic is limited and regulated.

Can you tell us a little bit about your writing style and how you came to develop it?

You know, for me, I don’t think I ever sat down and said ‘this is going to be my writing style’ at any point in my career. Air Awakens was my debut, and I started writing it for fun. I did not write it thinking I’m going to be a published author or I’m going to model myself after another author and their career. I think my style developed through learning. Anything you do a lot of, you get better at it. It has been a journey and a constant evolution.

Which character, minor or major, did you enjoy writing about the most?

I think it was probably Silas. I have a habit of writing side characters that I fall in love with, and that was 100% Silas. At first, he had a much more minor role, but he became quite a major side character for me. Alor was also a favourite. Her character, again through edits and discovery, really evolved into someone who becomes a major character throughout the series.

What is something you’d love readers to take away from Arcana Academy?

I would hope readers, number one, have fun reading it. But if there was a message, it would be that you are in charge of your own destiny. You have that control, and you can go ahead and challenge fate if that’s what it takes to get back that control.