4.5*

Stand-alone, Dual POVs
A fast paced, enjoyable Romantasy
Alder & Seph ❤️

• Kith (Elf/Fae-ish)
• Kith & mortal realms
• The Depraved
• An enchanted coat
• A war of survival
• Light prevails

I want to start by saying that I don't write reviews often; this is the first in a very long time. I take reviewing these books from lesser known authors very seriously, so trust me when I say THIS BOOK IS WORTH EVERY PENNY! I loved it. I finished it in 2 days, but I definitely could have finished more quickly had life not had to take place.

"Hope, that abominable thing. Always clinging to dead things."
This line could encapsulate this books' entire journey.

Standalone. Tropes: Grumpy Sunshine, Banter, Reluctant Hero, Heir to the Throne, Rebellion, many more.

This is my first book from Barbara Kloss, an I am shocked I haven't read anything of hers before. The story follows Josephine, or Seph, a woman living in a land next to a fae kingdom where humans are taken for service in a war against monsters. She has lost most of her male family members, and her family is basically just trying to survive in a world where they have very little food and survive through grit. She encounters Marks who has had a ride of his own on the other side of the veil that separates the mortals from the fae. She is immediately drawn into him, starting the very slow burn giving the reader a romance everyone loves to gush over. It is a true Romantasy book with 0 spice. It gives Carissa Broadbent and Mary Pearson vibes, so if you are a fan of their writing, you will also enjoy this.

"Seph thought of her own bow, so crudely composed out of sheer willpower and desperation, just like her."

With lines like this, it is no wonder I fell into Seph's mind so quickly. I was drawn into Seph's world almost immediately. The world building and development of the FMC's character was all encompassing. I felt like I knew Seph, could feel her desperation and frustration as the book took me on multiple twists and turns. I felt her disgust, her fury, her pain. She is a strong, capable lead throughout the entire book.

The way Barbara writes is absolutely beautiful. I loved her prose and the way she described the setting. It was atmospheric in that I could literally picture the greyed out world across the veil, the dangerous forest she had to brave to hunt in, the grandiose buildings described throughout.
SO ATMOSPHERIC!

Marks vulnerability and character change is powerful to be taken through. He has his own battles to wage, but inadvertently ends up drawn into Seph by the fates.

"...he ignored the voice that told him to go the other way. To leave her alone. That he was a terrible danger to her. That watering this soil would not end in flowers but in brambles and star thistle, and yet he went to her anyway."

SWOON! I loved how it was a book about fae, but it was so deeply based on the flawed human condition of just being alive and making mistakes. You watch characters give grace to forgive and grow, and you feel as if you are watching it happen in real time.

And their banter was seriously top notch.

There were so many twists in this book, I never really knew where the book was heading because it was so unpredictable. I felt like whenever I wasn't reading, I was thinking about picking it up--unputdownable.
#netgalley #arrowandthealder

I have read books from this publisher many, many times, and I have yet to be disappointed. And I wasn’t this time.

The slow burn between Alder and Seph was immaculate and perfect. Like absolutely perfect. And when they finally did get together it was perfectly executed.

I had my suspicions about Seph from basically the first page, and I was right, but we all know I’m the worst person to gauge whether it was actually predictable or not. I don’t know how I always figure out the plot twists, but 99% of the time I do. Doesn’t mean they’re not well done.

I do appreciate how well the author wove everything together. There were a lot of moving parts, and there were parts I DIDN’T figure out, so that was good. And everything came together really well.

My only real critique of this book was that the ending seemed rushed. I feel like this should have been at least two books. There was a lot happening and unfurling and it almost seemed like the author just didn’t want to make it into two books.

I hope we actually get more from this universe, and there is a hint the author might be setting us up for more (they at least left the door open), so I’ll be excited to see where it leads.

This was a cute, whimsical read. I really enjoyed the storyline of this book and I adored the FMC. The MMC was also incredibly likable as well. I really enjoyed the twist within that story that really helped the story come together. This book features his and her POVs that were done very nicely.

🖤Enemies to lovers
🖤secret identities
🖤dual POV
🖤Magical Artifacts

Thank you for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The following review was posted to Goodreads on May 1, 2025:

"4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely devoured this book. This was everything I wanted from a YA romantasy standalone. At the start of the book it felt very "A Court of Thorns and Roses-adjacent" but it quickly took on a story all its own. My only critique was that the chapters didn't clearly label who was speaking and sometimes it took me reading a whole page or two to realize which character's point of view was being written.

The world building and magic system were both unique and excellent. Neither were too complex for a standalone but the author still did a wonderful job of crafting a new world all its own and bringing it to life for the reader.

The romance component was also so well done. Two characters inexplicably drawn to one another, with an excellent slow burn for the majority of the book. This is a closed door romance also, so no graphic spicy scenes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of Arrow and the Alder -- I loved every minute of this book, truly. Romantasy lovers, you wont want to miss out on this one!"

The review can also be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7515697702

Truly loved this book - and have very little negative feedback. As referenced above, the only criticism I have is that it was challenging to determine which character's POV was being used in each chapter sometimes, and it might have been helpful to include the name of the character speaking at the start of the chapter. Other than that, truly this book was a gem and I will be recommending it to all of my romantasy loving friends!

✨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.