✨ARC Review✨

The Arrow and The Alder by Barbara Kloss

This romantasy started a little slow for me, but it picked up about half way through. I love the lore and the world building. Also, I found the main characters interesting.

Seph was a great FMC. She loved her family dearly and knew what her responsibilities were. She took on the role of the head of the household because of the war in their realm and the kith’s. I respect FMCs who value their family because I can relate to them. The author did a great job developing Seph’s character throughout the novel.

Alder, meanwhile, sometimes felt flat. His secret did not seem to be a powerful conflict in the story. It seemed to have been glossed over. When his relationship with Seph became official, I started to like him more. He was caring and loving to Seph.

I wish that the book was a duology. I think that given more time, the characters and plot would have been more developed. The story wouldn’t have felt so rushed. Still, I enjoyed Seph’s character and her identity. Overall, I will still recommend this book to those who like romantasy novels with closed-door romance.

A truly spellbinding romantasy. It was really good, the first I have read from this author. The male mc was really fun.

This book this book this book.

Joseph's story is one of my favorite Bible stories - I have distinct memories of rewinding the VHS of the musical. So I was intrigued to see how this was going to be written as a romantasy, and a little bit hesitant because sometimes the things we know well make it hard to like things inspired by them.

Barbara Kloss DELIVERED!

I was instantly drawn into this world and the dynamics of the depraved, the kith, and the humans. All of the romantasy tropes that we all know and love are present, but with a unique twist thrown in with the coat and its lore. I thoroughly enjoyed finding all the nods to the original story, and how they were integrated into the plot. This is a closed-door upper YA, but that should not stop you. The slow-burn hurt so good, and is true enemies-to-lovers. I am absolutely obsessed.

I absolutely ADORED Alder and his dynamic with Seph. Their banter was so fun and I loved watching their relationship develop as they went through the challenges that unfolded.

Do NOT sleep on this story, y'all!!!

This was fantastic with very few faults! The issues I had were all with lacking side characters. In one instance, a character dies, and the death is written in a way where the reader is supposed to be sad but we really don’t know the character much at all. They haven’t built much of a connection to our main character so it was hard to feel emotional at that point. The two main characters were AMAZING and so strong. I loved following them throughout this story. The plot of this book was exciting and high stakes. It reminds me of Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan but I greatly prefer The Arrow and the Alder!

I am so happy to have gotten the opportunity to read an early e-arc of The Arrow & the Alder by @barbaraklossbooks! The story follows Josephine and Alder on their quest to end a curse that has enveloped the kith kingdom and is slowly seeping its way into the human realm.

Josephine was such a relatable character. She was strong yet vulnerable and her innocence was such an endearing quality. Alder presented a tough exterior at first, but quickly crumbled once he met his match in Seph.

As always, the writing was perfect! Barbara Kloss created an atmosphere that was vivid and engaging while supplying a plot that was rich and fast paced. The love story was sweet and had the wonderful combination of charm and sacrifice. My little romantic heart was completely satisfied by the ending of this story!

The only critique I have is that I wish there was more focus on developing the side characters and stories. I would have loved to have learned more about Seph and Alder’s families and the origin of Alder’s own internal struggles. However, with this being a standalone, it’s understandable that some things need to be sacrificed to round up all the loose ends by the end of the book.

Overall, this was another amazing story by Barbara Kloss and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quick paced book full of plot and an enemies-to-lovers closed door romance with a perfect conclusion!

Thank you so much @netgalley and @whimsical.publishing for providing an early e-arc of The Arrow & the Alder for review!

This is a beautifully crafted story that blends mystery, family, and small-town charm. The pace of this novel is great! It keeps you entertained and wanting more.. this is perfect for anyone who enjoys stories where setting and character shine equally.

Every once in a while, a book comes along that just clicks with you—and The Arrow and the Alder was that book for me. A strong 4 star read that gave me characters to fall in love with, a romance to root for, and a world I didn’t want to leave. It isn’t the most groundbreaking fantasy ever, but it has that something special that completely drew me in and made me love it!

First off: the romance! It's a little fast at the beginning, almost insta-love adjacent, but not quite. There's definitely still a building of feelings, but Seph and Alder are clearly attached and attracted to each other from the very start. Their banter was adorable and felt so natural; you could really tell they were well-matched and suited. They just made sense in the best possible way. And Alder’s pet name for Seph?? SO CUTE, though I get when some people find it cringe.

Speaking of Seph; I really liked her! She's a bit of the classic "strong, bold, stubborn" fantasy heroine, but what set her apart for me is that she fails. She struggles. She isn't instantly good at everything she tries, and she’s not badass 24/7 (thank goodness), no one is strong all the time. She felt raw and human and real, which made her so easy to root for. I get so tired of "perfect" protagonists, and Seph is anything but. She makes mistakes, she learns, she grows.

And then there's Alder. Oh, Alder. I adored him when he first shows up. But once certain things happen (no spoilers!), he changes a bit. Not necessarily in a bad way, but some of his behavior did rub me the wrong way for a while. Still, when he finally opens up to Seph, he becomes his best, most vulnerable, most lovable self. His POV chapters were a highlight! He’s so sarcastic and yet so soft toward Seph once he lets himself be. He's a deeply flawed character who’s made a lot of mistakes and owns them, trying to do better without making excuses. Plus, he’s so obviously obsessed with Seph, and honestly? I loved every second of it. Definitely adding him to my growing list of book boyfriends!
Also, quick note: this isn’t really enemies-to-lovers. It's more like reluctant allies-to-lovers, with a brief phase where Seph isn’t his biggest fan.

Were there a few clichés? Sure. Seph is small while Alder is giant and powerful; there’s a “reluctant to wear the pretty dress, rather staying in my dirty clothes" moment (though Seph does have a good reason for that); the inexperienced mortal woman with the centuries-old fae man. But honestly? They didn’t bother me. They actually made sense in the world and the story, and were handled in a way that felt authentic instead of overused.

The worldbuilding was also really well done, revealed naturally through the story rather than dumped all at once. I loved learning about the Kith (the fae/elf-like race), the magic, the enchantments and curses, and the whole history with the Rift and the depraved. You could tell the author put a lot of thought into it, and while the politics aren’t super heavy, they added a compelling layer to the plot.

My only real complaint is that some of the villains could have been fleshed out a little more. One in particular was really well done, but a few others left me wishing for more motive and backstory. Also, some of the plot points were a bit predictable, especially early on. But there were still twists that genuinely caught me off guard (especially the ending), and honestly, the heart of the story—the characters, the romance, the world—made up for any predictability.

All in all, The Arrow and the Alder might not be the most "unique" fantasy novel ever, but it had that something for me. Sometimes a book doesn’t need to reinvent the genre to be incredibly enjoyable—it just needs to make you feel something. And this one absolutely did!

This book swept me away from the first page and didn’t let me go until the very last.

A world of heartache and suffering where mortals have been caught in the Kith’s war.
A fierce girl who will stop at nothing to save her family.
Family secrets that unravel faster and faster.
And a love story so achingly heartfelt it hurts.

The reveals had me audibly gasping throughout! I honestly find its hard to be surprised by romantasy anymore.. but this story felt very fresh and unique which I LOVED and appreciated!!

Immediately I was drawn in by the main character Seph. The way her grief and rage at the world around her made her feel as though she had to be a fortress for everyone she loves, with no room for her own heart to feel. And the way that our other MC, Alder, treats her as they grow closer. 😭🥺
My heart exploded about ten times reading their relationship develop!!
I fell in love with Alder right alongside Seph. They are so tender and thoughtful of each other. Although it definitely does not start that way! 🤭

The story, like I said, is so very unique!! I found myself being surprised over and over again throughout my read! I especially enjoyed the references to the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colours. It was so fun every time I connected them together!

This book has so much heart.

I found one of my new favourite fantasy romance books here in these pages.
Now I just need to purchase the physical copy for my shelf when it releases on May 6th!

You will not want to miss out on this one friends.
It truly feels like starlight on a dark and lonely night.
A beacon of hope and better things to come.

The Arrow & The Alder is a beautiful tale of love, loyalty, and what it means to risk everything to save the ones we love.

Josephine q has been keeping her mother and sisters safe and fed while her father and brothers have been away fighting with the kith against the demons. Having been brought up, knowing never to trust the kith, Josephine is immediately suspicious when a kith High Lord appears in her village one day, working with the local baron. He’s looking for something, or someone. Meanwhile, Alder is also seeking out Josephine, but for a very different reason. He needs to deliver a message, but when he hears about the high Lord‘s arrival, it becomes even more imperative to determine out why he is in the village, why he is seeking a mysterious enchanted coat. But things are not always what they seem, and Josephine and Alder must work together to figure out the mysterious enchantments on the coat, and they must do it soon before their world falls to the demons.

I really loved this story so much! This was a really engaging and easy to read fantasy, with a lovely romance plot. Josephine and Alder are a great couple, but it takes us a while to get there. This is a wonderful, slow burn, and while there is no spice, there is plenty of swoony tension and romance. There are plenty of exciting twists and turns that kept me engaged throughout the story. Both Josephine and Alder learn a lot about themselves and what it means to truly love and sacrifice for one another. I really enjoyed getting the dual POV in this book, for both our main characters. I love seeing their different motivations, and how they interact with each other. This was a really fantastic read, and I am so happy. I had a chance to be an early reader.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the advanced copy of this wonderful book!! All opinions are my own!

The Arrow and The Alder was a quick easy read. It was light, whimsical, and enchanting. I loved the setting of the book and the world that Kloss created. I enjoyed Seph and Alder, a skilled duo who complemented each other nicely. The plot overall was easy to follow and enjoyable.

Overall, I think this rates as 3.5 stars. I would have liked a bit more character development and history, especially from the side characters like Serinbor, Rasia, Massie etc. But I think that can be difficult to accomplish in a short amount of time, especially as a a standalone book.

If you’re looking for an enjoyable, light, less-complex plot with a HEA. This is the romantasy you have been looking for.

Thank you NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for the e-ARC.

This immediately gave me ACOTAR vibes and honestly I was thrilled with the first half of the book. With a strong FMC, a broody MMC and an intriguing world. It held such promise and I was looking forward to my next highly rated book.

Unfortunately the mid point of the book was the peak and then it was a slow decline from there. My least favourite trope was introduced and I just couldn't get past it. This may be a personal view, but whilst the first half of the book was fresh and fun, the second gave me outdated and misogynistic vibes.

The ending seemed rushed and was a huge let down for a book that I was ABSOLUTELY LOVING in the first half.

This would appeal to fans of ACOTAR with a closed door romance and fae vibes. Fantasy fans may find the lack of solid world building and magic system disappointing, but for a small stand alone it will certainly quench many romantasy appetites.

Let me say as a whole, I very much so enjoyed this story! The premise of the Kith and Mortal worlds as well as the blight on both lands was interesting and the fact the Kith and humans did come together to fight at the Rift was somewhat refreshing.

I do feel that Seph and Alder’s relationship didn’t build organically - it felt like they had a few scenes with minimal interaction before he professed his love for her, so it kind of missed the mark for me.

There were a few plot twists I definitely didn’t see coming and really enjoyed the seeds the author planted throughout that gave a bit of foreshadowing. The last quarter of the book really ramped up with a lot of action, many revelations, and a heartwarming ending. Overall I enjoyed the book and would love to read another in this world!

n un mundo lleno de magia antigua y tensiones políticas, Josephine no confía en la autoridad, especialmente en los kith inmortales, a quienes considera crueles y deshonestos. Cuando el Alto Señor llega a su aldea buscando un abrigo encantado, Josephine descubre que está enterrado bajo el suelo de su hogar. Sin embargo, se niega a entregarlo, buscando respuestas que el Alto Señor no está dispuesto a dar. Al verse amenazada, huye con el abrigo y se adentra en el reino maldito de los kith, donde se encuentra con Alder, un príncipe desterrado en busca de redención.

La trama se desarrolla en un ambiente de misterio y magia, con Josephine como protagonista destacada: astuta, valiente y leal. La dinámica entre ella y Alder, un príncipe roto y atormentado, es fascinante, creciendo de la desconfianza a una relación profunda. La historia equilibra la acción con momentos emocionales, mientras el destino de ambos mundos—kith y mortal—se encuentra en juego.

Barbara Kloss crea una aventura de fantasía envolvente, con un desarrollo de personajes excelente y una historia de amor que se construye de manera natural. El ritmo es perfecto, sin dejar lugar a la monotonía, y la escritura de Kloss es poética y fluida. Lo mejor de todo es que es una novela autoconclusiva, lo que permite disfrutarla sin la ansiedad de esperar una secuela.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

3.5 stars

I really liked the gothic atmosphere this had with the mist and cursed lands. I also liked that Seph was not afraid to speak out about what she felt was right.

I think the biggest thing I struggled with is that it felt more YA to me than upper YA. I also wish we got to see more of Alder's curse. I did think he had a good redemption arc though.

Maybe overall this wasn't the one for me but if you like closed door YA fantasies this may be a better fit for you.

3 Stars.

The vibes:
- New adult
- Fantasy
- Enemies to lovers
- Closed door

My thoughts:
Initially, Alder’s past mistakes were a lot for me to swallow. Ooooof. I did not like his past choices and struggled with that. BUT his redemption arc was so good. His tension with Josephine was 🥵 🔥. I loved the romance plotline. The fantasy plotline lost me a bit. I was struggling to understand what was going on; the mechanics and logistics of the fantasy elements; and I never felt fully aware of the big picture.

Some elements reminded me of A Court of Thorns and Roses (FMC hunting in woods with two sisters who aren’t doing much..) but the similarities ended there which was nice to have that deviation.

While the fantasy execution may have been hard for me to follow, I have enjoyed this authors writing in the two books I’ve tried and I would continue reading her books in the future.

If you’re looking for a closed door fantasy, this is definitely worth trying. It’s difficult to find a closed door fantasy that is not YA (this one is NA), so I really appreciate seeing this story out in the wild.

Note- closed door
Release date: May 6, 2025.

Thank you so much to Barbara Kloss,
Whimsical Publishing, and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

*note- posted on bookbub, Instagram (posted on stories on 4/25 and saved permanently to my “Reviews 2” highlight reel on my profile) , goodreads, and Storygraph. Links provided. Will be posted on Amazon after release date when Amazon allows me to.

Barbara Kloss has done it again! This Romantasy book was so dang good. This world had a hint of high fantasy with a unique storyline. This book had so many fun elements with unique characters, intriguing plot, allegories, and so much more. I loved the gothic vibes found in the setting. It was so atmospheric and was easy to immerse myself in the world. I loved Alder and and Seph. Seph was such a strong character who didn’t let anyone tell her what to do. I loved her fierce independence. And sweet Alder, he was such a complex MMC with so many layers. He had such a soft and tender disposition that he tried so hard to not let anyone know about. Barbara’s books are always so well written with characters fleshed out and interesting plot lines. This book had all the best tropes with hidden identities, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity. You definitely want to read this one if you love a standalone with a HEA!

3.5 stars – Misty woods, slow-burn romance, and familiar fantasy charm

The Arrow & The Alder is a beautifully written standalone that delivers a solid romantasy filled with fae-like creatures, enchanted objects, and a slow-burn love story at its core. With atmospheric world-building and strong emotional beats, it’s an easy recommendation for fans of The Bridge Kingdom or The Cruel Prince.

Josephine is a strong and likable heroine—fiercely loyal and smart without being brash—and her dynamic with Alder, the cursed prince, offers just enough tension to keep things interesting. Their relationship builds steadily, and while some moments were predictable, I still found myself invested in their journey.

The setting, particularly the cursed, misty woods and kith mythology, was immersive and one of the book’s biggest strengths. That said, parts of the story, especially in the second half, dragged a bit and leaned on familiar YA tropes. I also wish the curse had played a deeper, more meaningful role rather than just being there for atmosphere.

All in all, this was an enjoyable, comfort-read kind of fantasy. Nothing groundbreaking, but full of heart—and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Can I give a book 6 stars? Apparently not. But this one deserved them.

"Seph was so weary of just surviving. She wanted to live."

I absolutely LOVED The Arrow and the Alder! I was probably a third of the way into it when I realized this was quickly becoming a book I was going to think about long after I was finished with it. And that hadn't changed by the time I hit the epilogue.

I've read plenty of books that feel like cookie-cutter filler, a 'read this and move on to the next one with new names and a slightly altered setting'. It's unfortunately EXTREMELY common in romances and fantasy, especially when the genres combine. This was not one of those books.

The Arrow and the Alder took several common romantic fantasy tropes and turned them into something fresh and engaging! I loved the unique takes on hidden identities, reluctant allies, secrets that drop plot twists on you, and characters who hide their scars behind closed doors and witty comebacks (until they can't).

I love seeing familiar elements reworked, but this book was a standout because of the characters and their relationship. I was fully invested in their developing romance and was alternately giggling and grinning when they made forward steps. I'm not generally much of a romance reader so when I say the ending had me in a mushy pile of feelings, that's saying A LOT. The banter between Alder and Seph was excellent, half the highlights in my ARC are the two of them trading quips while trying to pretend they don't care half as much as they've started to. The balance between their personalities and the way they started to bring out the best in each other was fantastic. A romance that feels stilted or worse, unhealthy, is about the fastest way to make me drop a book, but I loved the mutual respect and concern for each other these two had!

And now my thoughts on several tropes I have a newfound love for after reading this:

Huntress FMC: Ok this is kind of a cheap one because I KNEW going into this book I was going to like Seph based on several things the author had shared. But I feel like most romantic fantasy books try to make their archer FMCs based on Feyre from ACOTAR and I'm looking for something a little more like Katniss from the Hunger Games. I'm an archer myself so it's beyond frustrating when I can tell the author just gave their character a bow to play off the fantasy-trope obsession with them. But Seph came across as very knowledgeable and skilled and as an archery COACH I definitely appreciate the little safety details worked in. Because an unfortunate side effect of the popularity of archer characters in massively loved fanbases is that everyone wants to be able to do what their favorite character can...and thinks they know how already. Seph's goal as a hunter to care for her family, and honestly her concern for them throughout, was also a refreshing change from the rebellious FMCs who just want to get out from under their family's 'restrictive' influence. Seph was the kind of tough, woodswise, resilient, and a little jaded FMC I've been chasing glimpses of since I read the Hunger Games, and I love her for it.

Secret royal identity (hers): If there's one trope that annoys me more than anything else in fantasy, it's the 'oh look she's been an heir to a throne/unfathomably powerful magic/fae bloodlines this whole time!' because it feels like the message coming across in a good portion of those stories is that no one can be just an 'ordinary' hero, especially not a woman. But apparently my frustration with that trope is mainly because of how I've seen it done. Because somehow this book managed to pull off ALL THREE of those things and not make me feel cheated. I think that may be partially to do with the way this story wove in threads of the biblical narrative of Joseph (yes, I made a cloth pun on purpose), so I was more prepared for a surprising identity reveal for Seph (even if she was the one on the receiving end). It was also handled with a full appreciation for what her inheritance would mean, and Seph's struggles with the idea of taking responsibility for a whole people, with understanding her part in the heritage of the curse, and with her role in breaking it, all felt nuanced. Probably most notably, it was never her newfound status or power that eventually allowed her to succeed. It was the part of her she'd known about all along, her humanity, that let her relinquish all of that power in a way that made for a satisfying arc.

He teaches her how to use her magic: This is one that tends to come across as extremely patronizing if done wrongly. But in this case it felt more like a natural extension of their relationship and the fact that Alder was one of the few people who could go toe to toe with Seph in her frustration and make her see past it. Seph's determination and tenacity is a double-edged sword, and her 'I can't do this because I couldn't do it the first time' attitude in the archery ring was unfortunately personally relatable. Looking at the training scene in light of some similar experiences myself gave me a new appreciation for it, and Alder's consistent respect for Seph sealed the deal.

Age gap (fae style) romance: This isn't one that bothers me so much as it tends to bother a lot of other people, so I'm not going to spend too much time here other than the fact that the characters do honestly address it and since the playing field between them always feels level in terms of their power dynamic in that regard, it wasn't a sticking point for me. It's also rather a moot one by the end in some sense because of...drumroll...

FMC becoming kith (or fae/elf/what have you): Circling back to the point about secretly an heiress, this one didn't surprise me as much as it could have. Knowing her family history, I was expecting Seph to be faced with the dilemma of a relationship between one of the kith and a mortal, and that it would be resolved by some sort of transformation. Because her family had originally BEEN kith, it felt more like returning things to their pre-curse state than anything else, which given the entire theme and arc of the book, was a very fulfilling ending. Rather than being some kind of bargained upgrade to be worthy of her lover, Seph's transformation was a divine gift, a second chance she'd tried to give away, a reward for her unselfish behavior, and a restoration of the nature that should have been hers all along.

(this is the longest review I have ever written but given how much I adored this book I'm also not surprised)

The Arrow and the Alder is a spellbinding tale filled with mystery, magic, sacrifice, and redemption. I absolutely couldn't put it down! All the magnificent twists and swoony moments had me holding my breath way too often. This story is sure to be a treat for fans of the romance of Rebecca Ross, the magic of Leigh Bardugo, and the worlds of JRR Tolkein.

A girl trying to help her family survive in a war brought by another kind, and a disgraced prince who decides to help her. Along with a magical coat that has been hidden in her families house for decades.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was quick to start and the pace stayed the whole way through, but it still didn’t take away from things being explained or relationships forged. I always enjoy a dual point of view because I want to know what they’re both thinking at all times.

The plot was lovely but you did know that everything was probably going to be okay. This is definitely a YA book, the stakes are never too high and it’s very easy to follow along. Small twists were included but they were either predictable or made so much sense of everything else.

The romance here was sweet. I believed their chemistry the whole way through. They just seemed to grow together and his nicknames for her are just lovely. I loved this couple together. And the FMC was not a 17 year old girl which was nice too! Altogether, I think this is a very nice standalone book to read if you just want something with a bit of mystery but easy to read.