A review by thebookrealmguide
The Arrow and the Alder by Barbara Kloss

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

4.5⭐️ • IG

Fae (in this book kith). Slow burn. Enemies to lovers. Secret identities. Magic. Monsters. Immortal royals. Ancient curses. 

This is The Arrow & The Alder in a nutshell shell. It’s a mix of the ancient magic and world-building of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the lyrical sweet romantic innocence of Rebecca Ross’ Divine Rivals, and the decaying woodsy feel of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted. 

Josephine and Alder were such rich, deep, well rounded characters. I felt I really got to know them on a personal level and that doesn’t happen very often for me. I got lost in their swoon-worthy romance and the detailed world around them. 

I also deeply enjoyed that it was a closed-door romance. It was wonderful to experience a love story with its sweet subtleties and witty banter. 

Thank you NetGalley and Whimsical Publishing for this complimentary ARC ebook copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.