A Drawn Bow

Weapons of Leiria #3

by Jill M. Beene

A Lost Duchess. An Infamous Highwayman.

Steal from the rich…

The last thing Kinsley expects when travelling home from the royal wedding is a confrontation with the legendary highwayman who prowls the forest roads outside the city of Brizelle. In moments, Kinsley realizes he’s lost far more than the gold in his pocket.

Give to the poor…

Evelle doesn’t have time to think of the past. She has a failing farm to rescue and a little brother depending on her.

Leave before anyone knows you’re there…

But when an unexpected reunion threatens her secrets, Evelle must return to the last place she wants to go, the most dangerous place for her to venture--noble society.

For a dangerous enemy looms in the midst of the glittering whirl, and the only thing more dangerous than telling her secret might be keeping it.

Escape back to Leiria in A Drawn Bow!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery

454 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2025

About the author

Be sure to follow me on Goodreads to get every update! I live in sunny California with my handsome husband and my slobbery English Mastiff, Rupert. I've always loved stories and wanted to write novels. When I'm not getting words on the page, I'm walking my dog or cooking something (hopefully) delicious. Feel free to ask me a question or connect with me here, but you can also find me on Instagram or my website, JillMBeene.com. I so appreciate my readers! Thank you!

Reviews

[Lindsey_reads_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your favorite 5 star author sends you an ARC during a really tough week and it become the highlight to start your year!

“Kinsley gave a half-smile, trying to ignore the way his heart twisted when she’d called him ‘darling’. Sarcastic as it was, he suddenly wished this all wasn’t a ploy”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ALL THE STARS FOR THIS BOOK!

It’s a fake engagement story of Kinsey and Evelle. I finished reading it 2 nights ago at 1am and cried reading the last few chapters. Jill’s books have such a special place in my heart and they are part of the reason why I made a bookstagram account years ago. I will always recommend her books and you can find them on Kindle Unlimited.

“Kinsley wondered if it would be highly inappropriate to dip her rakishly and kiss her thoroughly in front of everyone”

I love this interconnected series. A Sharpened Axe, A Bone Dagger and A Drawn Bow. She writes the most sophisticated and intelligent FMC and swoony men I have ever read. The drama and tension in her slow burn romance make my heart sing with the spicy level is only kissing. A knee touch had me swooning 🥰 Jill’s writing is next level, the way she crafted this story and all the little references from the other books is brilliant. I pictured Evelle as Lily James from Cinderella! I loved Evelle and the end, oh goodness the end 😭🥹 I love this book.

“Kinsley smiled softly. “Half the kingdom, but that’s worthless to me when all I want is you, Evelle.”

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, Amazing, a page-turner! .

This addition to the series is definitely a final piece worth reading. I highly recommend reading it as the third book but of course, if someone stumbles on it first, it’ll still be a wonderful read. However, the plot and the characters will just shine so much more if read in order.

The story picks up right after the wedding (do yourself a favor, sing up for the newsletter and get a free bonus wedding scene of Samiris and Artem), and we get to meet the character who was kind of left on sidelines by the end of book 1.

All that to say, if you hoped to get a better glimpse into Kinsley’s character since book 1, this is your chance. You discover his protectiveness, his loyalty, his kindness. Redemption arc is beautiful - if like me you thought he needs some redemption, or at least some explaining since book 1.
Add to it the well-developed plot, mystery that hangs over Evelle, secrets that need uncovering , and of course an old as life evil vs. good (in the hearts and just all way around ) fight - though don’t expect much magic here -, and you’ll be turning pages for “one more chapter”. Besides, clean and sweet romance with that beautiful second chance at love trope is just a joy to read.

Things I found appealing:
real life struggles
Social status gap
A beautiful depiction of someone who doesn’t fit a social norm
Pain from the past that lingers
Healing
Recognizing your own flaws
Owning past mistakes
Reconciliation
Overcoming your own desires for the good of others
Removing “safe” masks for the joy of being real.
Side characters that will need their own HEA (just because why not)

Please beware of triggers: death of parents, harassment of minors (alluded), murder (alluded).

I had an honor to read an advanced copy of this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, so all opinions expressed are my own.

[Megc123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I was looking for!
I really liked the other two books, but this one is my favorite of the saga!

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply cannot not give this book five stars. I must start by declaring that I just love this author's writing and everything I have read from her so far (her regencies + this) has been utterly refreshing.

Her banter and wit are outstanding. It just doesn't skip a beat. The humor is my kind of humor and the timing of it is everything. This author does cheeky really well without ever crossing a line, in my opinion, and she always redeems or utilizes the cheekiness immediately. I can't describe this talent, just know I love it. Her writing, this plot, these characters, it all came together to invite me to settle in for some captivating storytelling. Beware, it's a page-turner!

THESE CHARACTERS. Kinsley...his personality!! He had the whole flirty facetious arrogance thing going. I loved him. Evelle...she was my kind of heroine. Her thoughts, actions, demeanor, were infused with a certain wisdom, modesty, and strength I just loved. She was independent in the best way. Their romance was paced so well and they had great chemistry. The reader also gets a few side characters you can really care about!! Alistair...Finn...Arabella...such distinct side characters you will get sentimental toward.

The storyline was so dynamic and connected satisfyingly. There were definitely some bombshells I did not expect and the author does a great job with subtlety and breadcrumbs. I really enjoyed the ending. My heart was hurting and I cried but everything worked out haha.

Overall, this had a cozy regency meets fairytale/folklore aesthetic. There's no magic, this book is 100% non-magical. HOWEVER there is a handful of extremely brief and passing references to an eradicated curse and two references to eradicated fae (the second reference as mythical) that have bearing on the two preceding books. As someone who only reads non-magical fantasy these references were barely noticeable and did not bother me. You can 100% read this installment as a stand-alone, that's what I did and I don’t have plans to read the first two books, but if you do, I imagine you should do so in order. The book is marketed as YA but I would say more NA. The main characters are in their twenties and the humor, while discreet, definitely feels more adult in my opinion.

In this book: dual-POV, fake betrothal, hidden identity, slow burn, lost-duchess, childhood friends, Robin Hood retelling, reformed rake, and so much more!

Content Guide: romance = clean but there are some discreet innuendos; language = minor and very infrequent; violence = mostly off-page and always discreetly described (don't want to risk spoiling anything); fantasy = non-magical minus my caveats above.

CW: discreetly implied prolonged off-page and in-the-past predatory intention/crimes; grief/parent-loss

[Mary Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ A new to me author that I am so excited to continue to read from! Her writing is so hard to explain, because it’s different than anything I’ve read before, but she is so skilled at story telling. Her world-building, her explanation of things around her characters, clothing, rooms, scenery, she is so good at it. I feel like some authors kind of throw in stuff like ‘my best friend’s red curly hair was tied up in a messy bun with her pale freckly hands’ and I’m like okay really? I don’t care. But this author does it in such an immersive way that I found myself really enjoying it and seeing everything in my mind as I read. Every word felt intentional and necessary.

The plot did drag at times. I felt like a few chapters followed the exact same plot line. Evelle learns lady lessons from Kinsley, she eats dinner with him, the rooster wreaks havoc (which admittedly was hilarious), she goes home, rinse and repeat. It went over quite a few chapters, so I did get bored at times. But that didn’t totally ruin my enjoyment obviously. I still enjoyed the plot and where it went. There is a bit of a mystery behind the death of Evelle’s mother so that was interesting. It really had all the things you want in a book. A sweet and wholesome romance, great characters with actual personalities and character growth, a splash of mystery, hidden identities, Robin Hood vibes. It was all entertaining.

I thought the author’s humor was unique and perfectly timed. Actual smiley chuckle moments. Kinsley was a cheeky devil and I loved his interactions with his servant and friend Alistair. I LOVED Alistair. (And if you loved Alistair as much as I did, you’d be excited to know that at the end of this book, if you read it on the Kindle app, there is a link to his story. You just have to sign up to the author’s newsletter. I promise you will want to read it. I felt like his story was unfinished after this book but not after reading his little novella. SO CUTE.)

Anyways, I really enjoyed the cast of characters. Evelle was a bit annoying at times with her choices, but she was very sweet and selfless. Kinsley, as I said, was an incorrigible flirt and I liked him. His scene with the donkey about killed me. Finn was a sweet and honest kid. His infatuation with chickens was also hilarious at times. Arabella was a favorite character of mine. She was so so so sweet and proper but strong in her delicate way. Alistair was also a favorite. So now you can understand why their novella was a must read for me.

I really did enjoy this and look forward to reading this author’s other works.

Read if you enjoy:
- Hidden identities
- Robin Hood vibes
- He calls her Duchess
- Fake engagement
- Dual POV
- Clean romance
- Slow burn

Content 💋:
- Kisses only
- Mild infrequent language (4 uses of a**)
- Mild infrequent innuendos

[Tristine Fjerstad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the beginning and the end more than I liked the middle. All of the action seemed to actually happen then and the middle was very slow-paced. It was fun to read Kinsley’s story, and I liked Evelle for him. I’m not sure how I feel about the Wraith taking care of the uncle. Some things didn’t seem to add up, like when it said in the beginning that Kinsley was wealthy in his own right (and we know this from the first book) but then he came to her in the end basically saying he was destitute and wanted to marry. There were also times where they seemed to have the epiphany that they cared for each other but then seemed to realize it again. Such as when Kinsley hinted at wanting to make their engagement real when they were dancing and then doing it again, later, after he realized he loved her. It was strange. I also didn’t like Kinsley encouraging Finn to ruin the dinner, I wasn’t sure what the point of it was apart from annoying his parents. It was also hinted that Evelle wasn’t really her parents’ child with the comment of her having a different hair color and them struggling with fertility. But that was never mentioned again, and it wasn’t said why her mother trusted Hank so much either. We also never got the moment of Evelle reading her mother’s diary, Kinsley seemed to take care of everything in that regard. This felt very messy in comparison to the first book, and the second book had elves in it that were definitely not mentioned in this one. It felt like different worlds collided. With that being said, my favorite part was probably the proposal.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full 5 stars. No rounding needed.

Every book I've read by Jill Beene has been really good, but none more so than the Leiria series. I gotta admit I was concerned about how she would follow A Sharpened Axe, since that was basically an amazing stand-alone book, and any sequels wouldn't have that new world / plot twist / wow factor. But yep, she did it, not just once but twice - hit it entirely out of the park. Intriguing plot, characters with depth, world building, swoony but not overly angsty or lusty romance, beautiful prose, witty banter. What's not to love?!

I liked A Drawn Bow even more than A Bone Dagger, although that's just preference for the characters rather than any issue in the book itself. Kinsley is the best, I love him! And I loved the subtle nod to Robin Hood.

(spoilers warning)

One thing I really appreciate about Jill Beene's books is that she doesn't shy away from or make a bigger deal out of ...vigilante justice, basically. I mean, I do get that murder is wrong, and that in real life there's always the concern of false convictions, etc, but many books could've been so much shorter if someone had just had the guts to execute someone who obviously deserved it. Sometimes, and especially often in fantasy and fiction, it just doesn't make sense to wait for things to be done "the right way".

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun romp of a romantasy. Kinsley will lose his inheritance if he doesn't find a bride and turn around his uncle's neglected estate in 4 months. Evelle is a duchess in hiding, pretending to be a commoner.

The plot is everything you expect, no surprises here. Once all the secrets are laid out, the story progresses just as you would predict. Don't analyze it TOO much... The parent's demand that Kinsley become responsible is rather ridiculous, as he has been quite successful in business thus far. But the author's writing is fun, as always. Plenty of banter to keep things light, and a few absolutely unbelievably ridiculous moments thanks to the animal characters. Finn's neurodivergent traits were endearing.

Fun, fluffy, clean

Content: One or two instances of strong language. Hints of past incidents of a smarmy nature or outright sexual abuse (nothing is described, only implied). A couple scenes of brief violence.

[Elizabeth Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic finale!

Oh goodness, I'm not certain how Ms. Beene manages to take a character you expect to be fluff and nonsense and turn them into someone you care for, but this entire series has felt that way to me. I loved this entry in the series as much as the others, though I think I secretly fell for Kinsley back when he was rakishly wooing the empress.
This installment had far less violence than the others, so it deserves the PG rating. The kisses were sweet, with barely a half 🌶 simply because they happen.
I truly hope Ms. Beene chooses to delve into this world again in the future as I am thoroughly entranced with each of the stories she has shared from the lands of Lieria.

[Sharon Hughson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughter and Tears

I started reading this series here and had no trouble falling into the world of wealth and secrets.

In this interesting Robin Hood retelling, Lord Marian is seeking a wife who won’t tie him down. A fake engagement follows. As does the wooing of the Duchess through a world of wrong assumptions and snarky banter.

The rooster Archibald’s antics during one unforgettable dinner party made me laugh so hard. My need for justice was served against the multitude of villains parading through this story.

Sweet romance and main characters with depth and believable issues and motives. Who could ask for more?

[Michelle Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. Devoured in one sitting.

This book was such an excellent read. The characters are so personable and easy to love (and hate). So many of these characters I would just love to be friends with!

This book had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. The writing of each chapter was exquisite. It was easy to envision being immersed in the story and interacting with the characters, their highs and lows.

The pace of the book was perfect. The world building perhaps a bit on the slim side but it didn’t detract from the story at all and didn’t impact the rating of the book.

Excellent 5 star read!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intended to savour it—devoured it in one sitting instead.

Loved Kinsley in book 1, and was thrilled that he got his own story! Loved it; loved Evelle; loved all the supporting characters! It was thoroughly enjoyable, and I couldn’t help but audibly laugh out loud a time or two.

It was a great end to the series, and I’m looking forward to returning to Leiria for another trilogy (this one set 1000 years before).

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful story

The author is an amazing storyteller. I loved the first book, liked the second, and on the third back to loving it. It’s completely different from the other two, but in a good way. I’d have liked a little more adventure but book two may have been too much adventure so it’s a nice change. And I really loved reading about Kinsley and Evelle.

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the continuation of this series. It didn’t capture me like “A Bone Dagger” but it was still an entertaining story. I would have liked some side characters to have been flushed out a little more, but overall it was good. There is mild descriptions of violence and the use of a**. It’s a clean romance. A little bit of mystery and intrigue.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved it. I stayed up way too late reading it. I adored the witty and fun banter between Evelle and Kinsley. Beene artfully showed Kinsley's growing up and his hidden layers and Evelle learning to trust and be cared for. I love this just as much as the Sharpened Axe and that's saying a lot. No need to read Bone Dagger for this to make sense, but I would read A Sharpened Axe first.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed

I was so glad to see Kinsley get his story. Definitely worth reading, and great fun to revisit this world.

[The Swoony Awards]

This book has been nominated for a 2025 Swoony Award, to vote for it click here: Swoony Awards.

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The banter is second to none!
While "A Sharpened Axe" will always be my favorite, this is a strikingly close second.
I liked Kinsely in book 1 and he didn't disappoint in book 3!

Very nice conclusion to the saga.

[Tania Hubmayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

[BreAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

She never misses.

[Bryony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equally funny and romantic 🥰 just as good a the sharpened axe 🪓