Arrow

The Redwyn Chronicles #3

by Madisyn Carlin

Saving lives is a deadly endeavor.

When her plans to return a kidnapped child to his family are thwarted, royal detective Redwyn “Red” Deathan’s journey takes an unexpected path when she finds herself agreeing to assist Frilore’s monarchy in hunting down those responsible for poisoning their son. The prince has few days left to live, and not only must Red discover the cure and culprit, but she must also assist in dismantling a deadly trafficking ring—and neither culprit nor traffickers appreciate her interference.

Ruid MacTíré is weary of war, but when it again knocks on his clan’s doorstep, he finds himself thrust into not only a captaincy he does not want, but also expected to take down one of his people’s greatest enemies. As pressure grows and the war threatens everyone he loves, Ruid finds himself not only fighting for his people, but for his heart as well.

Maerin Rósach never wanted to fight, but war offers her no choice. Determined to help repel the evil her chieftain is determined to spread, she signs up to fight for her clan’s enemy. Despite the captain’s awkward, yet kind attempts to gain her friendship, Maerin resolves to remain aloof, for if anyone uncovers her secret, her life will be forfeited and her siblings will be taken away. Her heart, however, has different plans, and she soon finds herself softening toward the man who holds her life in his hands.

As danger threatens countless lives and unknown enemies emerge at every turn, Red, Ruid, and Maerin must find a way to overcome evil schemes and increasing peril or risk losing everyone they hold dear.

ARROW is an NA Christian fantasy fairy tale retelling.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retellings, Medieval, Christian, Romance, Christian Fiction

467 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

If you dislike "preachiness" and a lot of faith content, my books are not for you.

***

Madisyn Carlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales where faith and fantasy unite.

Editorial, graphic design, cover design, and website design services offered at Mountain Peak Edits & Design.

Want to connect? https://linktr.ee/madisyncarlin

Reviews

[Madisyn Carlin]

IMPORTANT
If you preordered ARROW, you received a copy with errors because, due to losing days from sickness, I did not have the time to make final edits before having to submit. To read the updated, error-free version, make sure you have your device settings on Amazon set to, "Automatic Update" or something like that.

Also, the paperback is in moderation and should be available in a day or so!

***
Inspiration board: https://www.pinterest.com/madisyncarl...

Cover reveal and ARC+launch signups are still open on the blog. (Link in bio)

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowzers! Carlin has done it again! Another incredible story! This is why she's one of my favorite fantasy authors! I can always count on her books being 1) engaging and awesome! 2) Clean and funny 3) action-filled and heartfelt!

Characters:
Red (Redwyn) Deathan is as always super snarky, sarcastic, and I love her so much! She's a more prickly version of my youngest sister...lol...(don't tell her I said that) She's always got so much going on and is so determined not to let anyone down. *hugs for Red* I love her! She's definitely one of my favorite female characters!
Ruid was awesome! Okay, I loved reading his struggles and his chapters with Lycus! Good grief those boys make me laugh! Lol...they are awesome! Honestly, love them so much!
Maerin was a dear in all ways, but so determined! I enjoyed her chapters and her interactions with Ruid *hearts* it was just awesome!
Side characters I love but can't go into super long detail: Yushu and Crickette! Love them! Lao, Yul, and Pwyll! Love these three! And it was so cool to see Carlin's take on these characters! (Plus every time someone said Yushu's name and someone else thought it was a sneeze was hilarious...lol...) Noko! A dear! Lyndon, I loved him! Precious, the not so precious was hilarious! Aunt Florencia, Where can I get a great aunt like her? And countless others! So many good characters!

Themes:
Wow! Good ones, trusting God in the moment where you don't see His plan, where it feels nothing good will ever come from the situation. Leaning on God instead of relying on our own strength and trusting Him to carry us through. Knowing that He never leaves or forsakes us, even in our darkest moments. It was beautiful!

Romance:
Adorable! As always! Carlin's romances are tasteful, funny, and just beautifully done!

Magic:
N/A

Overall:
I adored this book! You do need to go read IRON and KEY before you read this one, but I love those too! KEY is awesome! Denton is my baby! *snuggles Denton*
This is a story that is so awesome and the characters are so relatable! I am just...wow! Amazed at this beauty that Carlin has created!
And the clip from WOLF at the end is going to drive me insane...thanks, Madi.


*I received an ARC from the author but was not required to leave a good review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.*


SPOILER SECTION:
I need this okay...ranting. This is for you Madi!
How can Madisyn make me want two people who've only met for a short time and who didn't like each other to be together? Like why? How did that happen? Just so you know Madi, I am shipping Red and Lycus sooooooooooooooo hard right now! So hard!

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars (6/10 hearts). I don’t know why this book took me so long to get into it. Maybe because I forgot where we left off, and it was a bit disconcerting to find Red attacked, and then skip to Ruid and he’s fine and do I know him anyways?? and then a totally new character, Maerin… But once I remembered who people were (sorry, Ruid) and I got into it, I couldn’t put it down!

I love the “wolf-men” and their land. It’s SO cool. I love those people! And I love seeing the different cultures getting along (or not). Red trying to deal with all the superstitions of the Frilorians is so much fun, too. I shall never grow tired of Madisyn Carlin’s world building…

Of course, the characters are my favourite part. Lycus is as stubborn and humorous as ever (AND I CAN’T WAIT FOR HIM AND RED TO BE A THING!!). Ruid is a splendid MC. I love his softness and strength, his protectiveness and humility. I love his story arc. I love his humour. He’s just awesome. Maerin is another great MC. Her bravery and endurance are inspiring. She’s nothing special, but she’s loveable. And her siblings are so cute. Red, of course, is Red… absolutely hilarious and amazing. And I loved Lyndon… and all the other side characters… Yushu, Pwyll, Yúl, & Láo, and the L. brothers, are probably my top favourites. They were so, so much fun and I found myself loving them so much more than I expected. Oh, and I mustn’t forget Precious and Florencia. (More stories involving racoon pets, please?)

I don’t know the film of Mulan—I don’t even know the full basic story. So I have no idea how good a retelling this is, but I’m sure it’s excellent. And from what I do know of Mulan, I loved the bits I recognized. I love Maerin’s reason to go to war—same but different—and her subterfuge isn’t playing to be a man—YAHOO!! I love the mix of Ruid trying to train soldiers & freaking out about the future, Maerin trying to remain in the group despite her failures & freaking out about being discovered, and Red—miles away—trying to discover who’s poisoning the prince and orchestrating the trafficking, while freaking out about failing the Royal Family. The three storylines intertwined well and I loved each one of them. I also love how they all learned similar yet different lessons—their own worth, shown from different angles according to their personal struggles. And Maerine & Ruid’s romance is so adorable. Oh, and the action & climax are epic…

Do I love this? Boy, do I ever. Am I sad the next book doesn’t come till 2025? You betcha. Do I look forwards to rereading this? Absolutely.

Content: mild violence; human trafficking is a major point but just mentioned—no characters are ever in any real danger of it; mentions of men propositioning women; maybe a few mentions of sexual trafficking; a few non-detailed hugs & kisses.

A Favourite Quote: “Ah, but that is the beautiful thing about life’s hardships. When we look back, we can see how the Beginning was protecting and caring for us even through the darkest days.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: There was something about sunsets that calmed Ruid. Perhaps because witnessing one meant he had survived another day. Or perhaps there was something peaceful in the way the sun slipped behind the horizon, stealing with it the various hues of dusk as deep midnight and twinkling stars claimed their place.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Are you boring her to death?”
Of course it was Captain MacTíré.
“Me? How could I bore someone to death? I’m one of the most interesting people in the world.”
“Lycus, you know lying is wrong.” 

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

[Elisabeth Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If an emoji counts as a review... : 😎
And because that doesn't quite cut it... : 😎👀😍😐😨😑😶‍🌫️😧😨😱🤭🫢😅👀😱👀😶😍💖😎🐺 (not necessarily in that order).

[Kristina Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Another epic installment in The Redwyn Chronicles!

Red, Maerin, and Ruid were all intriguing characters. I loved Red's sarcasm and personality, Maerin's determination to take care of her siblings, and Ruid's desire to be a good leader like his dad.

The plot had tons of action, adventure, and high stakes. As always, I loved the amount of faith Madisyn Carlin included.

I need the next book now!

Overall, I'd recommend ARROW to those who enjoy Christian fiction, non-magical fantasy, and fairy-tale retellings.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Another AmAzInG book by Carlin.
She does such an amazing job of weaving a story of beauty among the ashes. Victory despite struggles. And witty relatable characters.
I loved continuing down the Redwyn Chronicles seeing Red’s and Ruid’s stories continue and the addition of Maerin. Her and Ruid are just sooo sweet. And Red is still… Red. She’s so relatable. Especially with her feeling like everyone else around her has found love, their place and purpose in the world and she’s still just floating around being… just herself.
There were also so many other amazing side characters beside the POV characters. I didn’t find a single character bland or useless they all had a part to play in the story
The story was well paced. There weren’t any parts I found too fast or too slow. And in the end I was left satisfied with how it ended yet needing the next story. (I don’t know if I can wait two whole years for the next one!)
There were themes of love, hope, & forgiveness. The trouble dishonesty brings & the value of honesty. Defending the truth and the innocent no matter the cost. Our Creator made each and every person specially and all have worth in His eyes and also should in ours. He made all with specific talents, abilities, weaknesses, and strengths to show His glory.
In whatever situation you find yourself in the Beginning of it all is with you.

[Bree Pembrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Once again, Madisyn Carlin has created a near-perfect fantasy tale chock-full of adventure, action, and a hint of romance. Also, I LOVE that it's a Mulan retelling, and a very well done one at that!!!

Mushy Mushiness: As previously mentioned, a hint of romance. Nothing bad, just a little tiny bit of sweet romance.

Ye Olde Magicks: N/A

Blood, Blood, Blood, and Death: A great deal of action, some depictions of blood, injuries, etc. Again, the whole series is about taking down a trafficking ring, but there's nothing graphic about that anywhere.

Character Lineup: Agh. Too many great ones. How can one pick... one? Well. Maerin, Lycus, Ruid, YUSHU... How on Earth am I supposed to stop myself from naming every single character??? 😭 😂 Let's just say there's a ton of awesome people you do not want to miss.

Mouth-Washable Words: None.

Overall, this book's got 4.5 stars. Due to Madi's getting sick and all and having to rush to meet the deadlines, there were several typos and errors, but Madi's fixing it all, not to worry. This book is on my list of recommendations for fantasy-loving friends. 💯 .

[Autumn Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome 😁

“Stand fast when danger nears. If you cower, you may fail, and you never know when you are the final defense between danger and those who cannot protect themselves from it.”

[Nikita Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this EPIC story!! Review to come!

[Anna |This Curly Girl Reads| · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Well that amazing.


I’m not sure how she did it, but Madisyn Carlin essentially wrote two enthralling but almost completely separate stories, put them into one book, and absolutely nailed it!

Characters: Redwyn was not my favorite character in Iron, HOWEVER, between Key and Arrow, she had completely won me over! She’s super stubborn, but absolutely humbled by life experiences, and she has the good sense to lean hard of God. It’s been fun watching her grow.

I remember Ruid from book one, but now I really want to go back and reread it! He was such a great leader. Oh, and his witty, and wise best friend Lycus? I have high hopes the next book Wolf will be about him. Maerin’s story was touching and I did like her as well.

There were also a LOT of great side characters. Having two plots going simultaneously, that was hard initially, but Carlin handled the character development exquisitely! I really didn’t have much trouble keeping track of who was who past the first few chapters.

Plot: As I said before, there were TWO going on at once, and it was quite fascinating. I had such a hard time putting it down! Both deal somewhat with human trafficking (as does the entire series). There is also attempted murder. A War is underway in Ruid and Maerin’s story, so it does contains violence and some gore—it’s a Mulan retelling. I think the author handled it very well, but sensitive readers be advised. There were also a lot of sweet and hilarious scenes mixed in with the heavier moments. (This is a fantasy book, but there is no magic.)

Faith: This is one of my favorite things about this author. There was so many moments to make you stop and think about the Lord. Red is super independent and a tough little lady, but she also knows she needs God’s strength and can’t handle things on her own. I loved how she sought his wisdom first. There are just so many voices out there shouting for women to be “self-sufficient”. I really appreciated the author stays true to the truth of God. Ruid, Lycus, and Maerin also had numerous deep convos.

Romance: sweet, gentle, wholesome. Another thing I appreciate about Carlin’s writing. (PS: I’m rooting for Red in the next book!)

Conclusion: I could go on and on about this book. You won’t want to miss it! And since I have to…I’ll be (somewhat) patiently waiting for the next installment in the Redwyn Chronicles. This series is one I would reread and let my daughter read. If you haven’t read Iron and Key, I suggest catching up with those before this one. You’ll enjoy it so much more.

Recommend for Ages 13-15+ depending on sensitivity for readers.

Content: violence, gore, human trafficking (nothing sexual referenced, handled well, but stealing people is still a real and scary thing)

[Courtney Ranger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The PERFECT Mulan retelling

THIS BOOK………. How does Madi write such AMAZING stories EVERY SINGLE TIME???? I’ll NEVER understand.

The characters were all SO LOVABLE!!!!!!! As always, I LOVED the sibling relationships in this book. I could not stop laughing and squealing while reading this; I think my family was a BIT concerned. Of course, this book had beautiful Christian themes, which were as inspiring as always.

TLDR: READ THIS BOOK!!!!!! You will not regret it!!!!!!!!!

[Morgan's Endless Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun Mulan retelling, and I loved how it followed the Disney movie in so many ways. I will say that this book was a bit of a departure from the rest of the series in that the rest have said pretty explicitly that women can't hold their own against men in battle (which is true), whereas this book did not have that message at all. I had found that message very refreshing in the other books, so it being missing here was a bit disappointing.

[Anna Elizabeth-Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided with a complimentary ARC of this book by the author and was not required to give a positive review.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars

I just finished Arrow and am honestly not sure how I am ever going to recover. But, oh, my goodness, this book... I am very much in love with this book.

Characters: Redwyn never fails to disappoint me. I love this girl so much. Maerin was also so, so SWEET and relatable. Ruid was incredible, and Lycus was *chef's kiss* one of Carlin's best characters yet. As for the other soldiers, I tell you what: these guys had me laughing so, so hard practically all the time. From Yushu to Lao to Yul to Pwll... these guys were great. Precious was very, uh, precious (poor, poor Red and Lyndon. Especially Lyndon. Getting a raccoon dropped on you is not at all pleasant.), Lyndon was just wonderful, and the children- *sighs happily* so adorable.

Plot/Writing Style: Another great plot by Carlin. I thought it was brilliant to have Red solving a mystery all while Ruid, Maerin, and the rest are training for a war. It didn't become confusing for me, and I was on the edge of my seat very frequently. Carlin's writing style is beautiful, and her stories are always excellent. Arrow was no exception.

Violence: Fights, Raccoons being dropped/flung/thrown/etc at/on people (although I didn't mind that at all), injuries described not at all gratuitously, etc. Characters are poisoned.

Romance: Clean and sweet. Only a couple of kisses and the rest are on the forehead and cheek.

Themes: I loved the themes. I have never watched the Disney version of Mulan, but I knew enough about it to see the similarities. However, this is a non-magical version, so you can rest easy about that. This story is a wonderful reminder that we are loved unconditionally by our Creator, no matter what situation we are in or how we feel. As always, since Red is a detective, themes about justice and doing the right thing are included in this story.

Overall: I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of The Redwyn Chronicles and the update on Redwyn & Lycus being an item *chuckles mischievously* If you are a fan of non-magical, heartwarming, Christian fantasy, then this is the book for you. Well done, Miss Carlin! Another job well done!

[Angie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much!

Pros:

The way the Mulan retelling played out so well and without all the potential pitfalls of the original
Getting to know the "wolf men" from IRON in their own environment (also serious props for the way Madisyn writes different cultures and perspectives, because after Red's POV, I came away with the impression of half-civilized savages, which is so not the case!)
The banter and camaraderie between Ruid and Lycus was to die for <3
Maerin and Ruid's awkward relationship growth was sweet and hilarious at the same time
Yushu XD

Cons:

Red's parts felt like a totally different story, which I know couldn't be helped, since she's in a different place, and I can see how it's all going to tie together in the next book (I hope... :D), but it was kind of jarring at times to jolt out of the main storyline that we'd been following for two POVs and over to a mostly unconnected plot (I know, I know, it's the Redwyn Chronicles, and we wouldn’t have gotten Ruid and Maerin's story at all if she wasn't in it somehow--my brain just really wanted to stick with one story or the other sometimes :P)

Content--war scenes, including death and dead bodies (not overly graphic, but not sugarcoated); violence, including swordplay and archery; murder and attempted murder, including poisoning; mentions of abuse, human trafficking, and slavery; mentions of blood and wounds (not graphic)

[Dalia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have three qualms with this:
1. Why chose such dumb names if it's fantasy and you're not actually setting it in another country.
2. The author is incredibly racist.
3. Please. For the love of all that is good use some other cover than a crappy canva template.

[Rose Q. Addams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
I LOVED this book.

Now, I usually like Ms. Carlin's work, so I'm gonna be honest and tell you that I was looking forward to this with high hopes. I was, however, not in the LEAST disappointed. I had never seen Mulan before this year, so I had the story fresh when I read this. When I found that it not only clearly followed the narrative, but stayed fresh... *chef's kiss*

I also loved that some of the characters were instantly recognizable without being copy-pasted from the original. Pwyll, for instance, the gentle giant. I loved him. ;)

The clans of Halthdurn are at war over the issue of child trafficking. When Maerin refuses to fight on the side of evil, and only wants to protect the children she calls siblings, she flees to fight for the enemy side. But can she keep her origins hidden?

Royal Detective Redwyn Deathan, in returning a kidnapped child to his home, stumbles upon a plot to poison the crown prince of Frilore, which is all-too-connected to the plague of trafficking that poisons that land. Can she uncover the plot and keep the prince from dying?

This NA book is not only one that I would feel comfortable letting a teenager read, but I read some of the funny portions aloud to my siblings because I couldn't contain my laughter. (The snark. The snark in these books kills me! It's so good!)

Content warnings/highlights: violence (there's a war going on) but not gore. There is the issue of child (nonsexual) trafficking, over which they're fighting: the heroes are fighting it, and the villains to perpetuate it. A member of the royal family is being slowly poisoned. A raccoon is thrown at someone's face (Go, Precious!) and scratches them badly/removes hair. There are two kisses, both brief and lightly described. All humor is clean, albeit heavily doused in sarcastic wit, and there is no language. There is frequent prayer, and encouragement to protect all human life for its value, along with emphasis on Divine timing and purpose.

All in all... I'm getting this book for Christmas, if I have a say in the matter.

(I was given a copy of this book for reviewing purposes. The ideas, opinions, etc., are my own. I was, however not obligated to provide said review.)

[M.H. Elrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

War, Mystery, and Romance combined into one!
I don't think I've ever read a book like this one. Alternating between Red, everyone's favorite sassy heroine, and the two main MCs who fall in love, it was a unique combination of stories. One was about Red solving a case of poison and stopping traffickers. Another was about a war with said traffickers. Yet, I wasn't lost or confused by the two separate storylines. Often, I looked forward to Red's tale because it was fun and light hearted.
The characters were also unique and relatable. Ruid, the male M.C., made my heart break every time he doubted himself. As someone married to a pessimist, I found his concerns both frustrating and saddening. Maerin was also someone I had compassion on, as she struggled with trust issues because of the abuse she had suffered. Their sweet romance was cute to read about as it unfolded. The other supporting characters also brought unique personalities, from Noko to Yushu to Lycus. I honestly was attached to almost every side character, which is a rarity.
My "complaints" are that the Mulan portion of the plot almost played out just like the Disney movie, so it was fairly predictable (which may actually be a plus for Mulan fans) and the action beats were oddly described, "Fists slammed into faces." Whose fists? Whose faces? These are minor because I loved the book so much.

[Alena Mentink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal. I’ve read and loved all of Madisyn’s books in the Redwyn Chronicles, but I think this one takes the first place prize.

To be honest, I’ve never been overly fond of the Mulan story. In fact, I probably wouldn’t have picked up Arrow if I hadn’t already loved the other books in the series.

I don’t know how Madisyn did it, but she gave Arrow a flair very reminiscent of Mulan, and made me love it. I turned pages as fast as I could until I reached the very end.

The characters were an absolute blast. Ruid was the perfect hero–a strong leader who had a vulnerable side he tried so hard to cover. Maerin, with her shyness and utter lack of warrior skills, made the perfect match for him, even if that was the last thing either of them would have imagined at first. (P.S. I must add that I loved that Maerin was not trying to hide as a man. That’s probably why I never liked Mulan).

Speaking of characters, the side characters were one of the best parts about the book. Yushu, Pwyl, Yúl, and Láo all had me laughing. Láo had terrible humor, so terrible that he instantly became one of my favorite characters. And then there’s Precious, the racoon. Chaos is bound to ensue when there’s a racoon involved.

And I need to mention the world building. Halthdurn and Frilore are real places to me. I see them clearly in my mind, and I’m quite convinced they exist somewhere out there.

The faith content integrated nicely with the story–and there was plenty of it. Plus, I super appreciate the clean quality of the romance.

My only complaint–I need the next book. Fast. I don’t know how I’m going to wait until it releases . . .

Needless to say, I loved Arrow and highly recommend it. You owe it to yourself to read it.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book, but my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Penny Zeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I love about Carlin's books is that she offers a Christian alternative to the secular fantasy novels. Instead of questionable content, she provides enthralling reads that at times tackle tough topics (in Arrow's case, human trafficking), but in a tasteful and nonviolent way. Carlin has a way of drawing you in from the first word and making you impatient for her next release.

Highly recommended.

[Lucy Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great fairytale retelling by Madisyn Carlin. I loved every chapter of this story and have reread it many times already. XD

Also...the ending! *is quite impatient for the final book in the series*

[Ethan Wells (Ethan's Clean Reads)]

RTC!!!!!!!