Blue Arrow Island

Blue Arrow Island #1

by Brenda Rothert

A deadly island. A brutal regime. A forbidden attraction that could destroy them both.

Briar Hollis would rather die fighting than live kneeling—and New America's brutal regime is about to grant her wish. Condemned for refusing to breed the next generation of their twisted society, she's given an execution or exile to Blue Arrow Island, where survival is measured in heartbeats and mercy is a luxury no one can afford.

The island doesn't just break prisoners—it devours them.

Blue Arrow isn't just a prison; it's a savage paradise where predators lurk and the laws of science don’t apply. Here, mercenaries rule through blood and brutality, and every shadow hides a new threat. But Briar didn't come here to surrender.

Then she meets him.

Dark, lethal, and infuriatingly magnetic, he commands the island's most feared faction with an iron fist and secrets that could either save her life or end it. Their chemistry is a live wire—explosive, consuming, and absolutely forbidden. He's everything she should avoid, yet she finds herself drawn to the dangerous game they're playing, where one wrong move could mean death... or something far more dangerous.

Love.

As the island's mysteries unravel and prisoners lose their grip on sanity, Briar discovers she holds the key to destroying the twisted new world order. But it will require her to trust the one man who could betray her, navigate deadly alliances, and survive a power struggle that will test every limit she thought she had.
In a world where trust is a death sentence and love is the ultimate rebellion, how far will she go to burn it all down?

Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Dark Romance, Dark, Enemies To Lovers

564 pages, Paperback

First published August 12, 2025

About the author

Brenda Rothert is the author of more than thirty Contemporary Romance novels. You can learn more about her books at her website, www.brendarothert.com, which features teasers, excerpts and trailers for her books. Follow her here:

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Reviews

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This island is basically an obstacle course designed by Satan.

Phew, it really was. Spoiler-free review below.

The story opens with Briar (24), waking up on a ship, headed for an unknown island. She has two large X tattoos on the top of each hand, proclaiming her guilty verdict.

This story was a slight mix of Lost, Hunger Games, The Handmaid's Tale, Lord of the Flies, Divergent, and did anyone here read Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer?

Tropes/themes:
Apocalyptic/dystopian
Dangerous island survival
Dystopian politics
Mystery
Murders/violence
Forbidden romance
Excellent chemistry
Ends on a cliffhanger, but the second book was just released!

This world was really intense and chaotic, I loved uncovering the island’s secrets alongside Briar.

There are some high heat moments:

“All I can think about is stripping you naked, dropping my pants, and holding on to your ass so hard I bruise it while I work your pussy up and down my dick until I fill you with my cum.”

Some typical assholes:

Unfortunately, mean girls are like cockroaches. Even an apocalypse can’t keep them down.

And some really beautiful flashbacks:

We’re all linked together, Briar. From the tiniest little microorganism to the impossibly vast cosmos, life is connected. It’s beautiful when you think about it.

The pacing was a little off a few times, but that didn’t stop me from inhaling the story. It’s definitely one of those books you read to completely escape reality for a while.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s giving Lost meets The Handmaid’s Tale with a splash of Lara Croft and a dash of Alcatraz 💁 Nothing was quite what it seemed on this mysterious island, and everyone clearly knew more than they were saying. The whole time I was waiting for the next twist to drop.

I will try to review this book without accidentally dropping any spoilers, but there are so many parts I want to talk about!!

The book was set in this dystopian world, New America formed after a virus wiped out much of the population. The world had been turned on its head. We met Briar on the deck of a boat as a prisoner, moments before she was thrown overboard and sent to Blue Arrow Island.

The island was not what it seemed. It was full of secrets hidden in the jungle, and even though it felt like a completely new world, it was not as far removed from the old one as it first appeared.

Briar was bold, brave, and definitely not the type to follow a regime just because it was easier to remain quiet. She had been trapped before and refused to let it happen again. There were far too many questions that everyone else seemed happy to ignore, but not her.

See even the romance wasn't straightforward. There was so much angst, sexual tension, and (🙌thank you Jesus 🙏) enemies-to-lovers. I loved the hero, strong-willed, commanding, and sexy bossy in a ‘I want to protect’ you kind of way. I accept! It was definitely a slow burn, though Briar had eyes, she wasn’t oblivious. Personally, I kept imagining Scott Eastwood and that definitely did it for me.

I saw some reviews saying the heroine gave off man-hater vibes and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I saw it completely differently. New America was basically a ‘Handmaid Tale’ style world where women were treated as lesser, though on the island they are treated as equals. Even so, women are encouraged to be breeders for this New world. Briar had gone through some truly brutal and violating experiences at the hands of men, which the story referenced. If she wanted to dislike certain men, or at least be wary of them….just let her. She evolved throughout the book and formed real connections with men, both friendships and romantic, but in my eyes, her trauma and distrust made perfect sense.

This dystopian world was really interesting, and if you wanted, you could totally draw parallels to certain countries (or current political parties) beliefs. None of issues this new world focuses on is too far from reality (that is all I will say), but it’s still equally worrying to see it play out in fiction.

Overall, I really liked this book and it felt totally different from the books I've been picking up recently. Onto book 2 after that cliffhanger.

[sabrina (books.with.sabrina) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 5 ⭐️
🫧 Vibes: dystopian, survival of the fittest
🎶 Song: everybody wants to rule the world - lorde
📖 Favourite Quote: "It's ironic that I like to keep people at arm's length, but I also fear being alone."
📚 Would I recommend? ABSOLUTELY.
💬 Final thoughts: this book totally ruined my sleep schedule.

In the package:
📦 high-tension
📦 savage paradise
📦 sinister, atmospheric setting
📦 touch her and die

Plot: Welcome to New America, a post-apocalyptic world where women are used for breeding. Briar Hollis is exiled to Blue Arrow Island for defying a brutal regime: she refused to breed the next generation of their twisted society. Fancy name for an island right? Well, WRONG. It's a deadly prison, with no escape, mutant bugs/animals and poisonous plants. Survival is brutal, science no longer makes sense and your thoughts aren't your own. Briar is attracted to the island's most feared leader but she has trust issues. She wants to escape the island and seek revenge, but how far is she willing to go?

Thoughts: I could not put this book down. The premise was so interesting and unique. It was exhilarating and twisted with just the right amount of romance for a dystopian novel. For a decent portion of the novel, I truly had no idea what to believe and who to trust. The tension, the romance, the danger... I was hooked. I can really see this being turned into a movie. Think “Hunger Games meets Lost,” with a spicy, high‑stakes edge to it. I need the second book IMMEDIATELY. This does end on a cliffhanger unfortunately 🥲 but I will be counting down the days until I get my hands on the next book. If you want a high-stakes, gritty, emotionally loaded survival romance with bite, heat, and a strong heroine—this book is for you!

📚Read if you enjoyed: hunger games, lord of the flies, maze runner, divergent and lost.

Thank you Hambright PR and Brenda Rothert for the arc!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[GCR | Book Realm]

Blue Arrow Island had a setup I really wanted to love, a dystopian island, survival elements, strange rules, dangerous power dynamics, and a bigger world I wanted to understand more.

There were parts that caught my attention, especially when the story leaned into the island, the survival side, and the larger mystery. I love romance, and I’ve read plenty of dystopian romance where the relationship adds to the world and tension, but here I felt a disconnect. The romance felt more forced than natural to me, so I had a harder time fully buying into the characters and the story as a whole.

That said, the premise still has enough interesting pieces that I do want to see where book two goes. I’m hoping the sequel gives more space to the island, the dystopian setup, and the bigger conflict.

I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy dystopian survival stories with romance as a major focus, forbidden attraction, island settings, and a bigger world slowly unfolding underneath the relationship drama.

[taylor ❤️‍🔥 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝒊 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒔 𝒊 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒓.”

after billions are killed by a virus, a new group with a fanatical man at it’s head have taken over america now called “new america.” in new america women are forced into breeding and if any woman dares to use contraceptive it is punishable by jail or even death. briar, after sneaking a contraceptive tea for months is discovered she is sent to her death at blue arrow island. what she doesn’t realize until stepping foot on the island is that it is controlled by two warring factions. oh and on top of that? the island is filled with mutant bugs and plants designed to kill. briar is determined to escape the island and kill the leader of new america but she finds herself questioning how far she is willing to go when she starts to develop feelings for the islands most feared leader.

the premise of this book is so unique and i honestly don’t think i’ve ever read anything like it. once i started, i had such a hard time putting it down. when i had to put it down i could not stop yapping about it to whoever would listen and was thinking about when i would be able to pick it up again. the way that the author slowly reveals information you were dying to know while simultaneously having non-stop action is what makes the story so addicting.

𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒓 was a college student studying ocean acidification on an island in washington when the virus hit. after being forced to wed and an attempt to be used for breeding she learned that the only person that was going to protect her, was her. she’s stubborn, righteous and caring for those she holds close to her.
𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒖𝒔 is a man shrouded in secrets. as the leader of dust walkers he has been forced to make incredibly difficult decisions over the years, leaving him emotionally detached. once he meets briar he starts to ask himself if she would really accept him if she knew the truth about who he really was.
➵ something i really enjoyed about the relationship between briar and marcus is that you actually get to see them building and strengthening their relationship outside of a physical relationship. it really made me root for, and be more invested in their relationship than i typically find myself being in books.

i honestly feel so lucky to have read this arc because i think it is one of the best books that i’ve read all year?? may 2026 is too far away for book two because after that cliffhanger of an ending i need answers like… now??

𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
ꕥ dystopian island
ꕥ lost with a sprinkle of survivor and spice
ꕥ high tension
ꕥ touch her and die

𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 🫶🏻

[Linz✨ · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

"Those in power don't use it to make things better for everyone. They use it to make things better for themselves."

A brutal dystopian society, a deadly island filled with secrets, a resilient FMC, and a romance born in the midst of chaos. What more could I possibly ask for? The story was such an addictive, intense, and unpredictable reading experience. Picture Handmaids Tale mixed with the show Lost and sprinkle in some Hunger Games/Divergent.

What to Expect
💚Dystopian Romance
💙Deadly Island
💚Enemies to Lovers
💙Strong FMC
💚Touch her and 💀
💙Rival Fractions

The dystopian world-building was one of my favorite aspects of the book. New America is a society built on control and fear after a virus takes out millions. The expectation that women exist solely to reproduce for the benefit of the regime was horrifying. The island itself was a different kind of nightmare. What you think is a place for the exiled quickly becomes something far more sinister. Between the dangerous wildlife, strange biological mutations, hostile factions, and mysteries surrounding the island, you didn't know what to believe and who to trust.

Briar, our Fmc, was resilient, stubborn, courageous, and unwilling to accept the role society has chosen for her even when faced with death. Briar's strength isn't simply found in her ability to fight or survive but in her determination to maintain control over her own body, her choices, and her future. Then we have Marcus, who is a very interesting character. His actions and motivations are not always easy to separate from the environment of the island. He is a morally complex character who has been shaped by survival but watching him have vulnerable moments with Briar was compelling. Marcus really is a walking contradiction at times but his relationship with Briar brought out another side of him that I found myself invested in.

"I've got demons chasing me, and you're the only thing that makes me feel like...like I'm something more than I really am."

Blue Arrow Island was definitely a solid dystopian romance that gave me a dangerous and oppressive world, a strong female protagonist, high-stakes survival, and a cliffhanger that has me on the edge of my seat for the next book in the series.

[Laura]

DNF

The writing is so incredibly choppy and I found it very difficult to get into the story but the premise is really cool, I just think it was too scrambled to actually enjoy myself.

[°❀⋆.monica ೃ࿔*:･ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was such a fun time!

it was fast-paced, has lots of action, scientific exploration, and political intrigue that all together worked really well. I was super interested in the world building and the politics that led up to the current state of things and I felt that the author did a decent job of explaining it! there’s definitely a lot to explore in subsequent books.

there was also a perfect balance of story and romance! I reallyyyyy liked our MMC, he was such a hottie and if I was stranded on a twisted island, I’d run straight to him 🙂‍↕️

and the ending??? I was screaming omg I didn’t see the twist coming 😭 makes me so excited to read the next book!!

my only complaint is that I felt that there were some things in the world building that could’ve been better explored, but the author stated in her author’s note that she wanted to write on a more romance-focused dystopian story that she felt was missing from the 2010s era and I can respect that! she did exactly what she set out to do 😌

if you’re looking for a fast faced, romance focused dystopian story, then I would definitely recommend this one!

thank you to hambright PR and brenda rothert for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Amanda Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t felt this way about a book in a VERY long time. Dystopian can be hit or miss but THIS, my friends, was SUCH A HIT. A true hidden gem, I think.

Think Divergent x Lost x The Handmaids Tale… on a weird ass island with plot twists that keep going and crazy things that just keep happening. Blue Arrow Island is definitely not all fun and games.

I LOVE the fmc, Briar. She is resilient. She never stops fighting. She is a BADASS on a mission. There are multiple side characters in this book that you will never trust, love to loathe, hate to love, and more. You will get the ick in the best way. Don’t ask. It was a manic rollercoaster of emotions for these characters. I lived for it!

Some parts were also emotional as hell and that was an experience in itself. You go from gasping left and right, to tearing up at 3am. No biggie. Just keep tissues on hand (for … uhhh… multiple reasons)

This is so UNDERHYPED it hurts my soul. Definitely a new favorite

Overall
5 ⭐️ (maybe a 6?!?!)
3.5 🌶️

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The absolute perfect blend of dystopian and romantic tension.

Blue Arrow Island holds so many dangers and secrets. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book, and truly found it hard to put down because I needed to know what would happen next.

The FMC is a freakin legend. I love a badass female lead and she delivers. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.

Thank you so much to Hambright PR for the eARC! ♥️

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading an advanced copy of a book called, Blue Arrow Island. This is about Briar, who didn't listen to those in power and after attempts to be forced to do something she didn't want to do she is now being dropped off onto Blue Arrow Island with a group of prisoners. But this is no ordinary island. There are two groups of people living on this island, fighting to survive. But they're not just trying to survive each other, they're also trying to survive the animals of the island, and the island itself. This is a genetically engineered island and the regular laws of science don't apply here. But Briar was taught not to surrender and she isn't going to start now. But when she meets the leader of one of the groups, their connection is instant and all consuming. As hard as she tries to resist she is drawn to him, until she starts to wonder why she is resisting it. Is it her own attraction pulling her to him, or is it this crazy island? She needs to stay focused and do what it takes to survive, get off this island, and stop this because what is going on on this island is not right. People are starving, losing their minds, and fighting to the death just trying to survive.
I didn't want to give too much away above so let me just say, WOW, I absolutely devoured this story! I couldn't read it fast enough, I loved every minute of it, and I hated anytime I had to put it down! If you enjoy things like The Hunger Games and Lost, stories with dystopian and post-apocalyptic vibes, with romance and survival, on an island/tropical setting then you will love this book like I did! I truly did not expect this book to go this hard!! It was so completely captivating and thrilling, I was hooked right from the start until the very end! And I am soo thankful I have book 2 to dive into immediately! So if you need me, don't. I'm going back to the island! 💙📚

Thank you to Brenda Rothert and HambrightPR for this ARC of Blue Arrow Island, in exchange for an honest review.

[Witchling · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

The only thing this book has going for it is the plot. And Marcus lol.

I’m gunna start by saying that I actually loved the plot for this book. It was fantastic! I’m a sucker for a good dystopian/post apocalyptic read, then add in vibes like Lost, The Handmaid’s Tale and Lord of the Flies and it definitely had me.

Unfortunately the list of things that I didn’t like about it was significantly longer. I’m just gunna bullet point it cuz it’s too much otherwise lol.
• The left wing propaganda - like HOLY SHIT. It’s one thing to create a world where a religion takes over and it’s kept non denominational, but to use the bible and blatantly paint anyone who believes in the bible in such a horrible light is absolutely disturbing. And that’s just the tip of the left leaning iceberg.
• She basically describes the dictator who takes over as being Trump - loser behaviour IMO.
• The writing is so basic it could’ve been done by an AI bot. I’m not saying it was, but damn, a sentence with more than 5 words would’ve been nice.
• Editing errors all over the place making my brain hurt.
• Continuity shit all over the place like Marcus’s eyes changing colour halfway through the book lol.
• “…the curls of my sex…” - nope, fucking gross.
• The beginning of every chapter has excerpts or blurbs from different publications from within the world she’s built - exactly like RY has done in Fourth Wing. Gave me icky copycat vibes.
• The FMC was a piece of work, no surprise there lol. Gotta love the whole, ‘fuck all the men cuz they’re all evil and love to oppress women’ vibes - insert eye roll.

Yeaaaa, I’m sure there’s more but you get the point.

And I get it, it’s dystopian so it does need to have a political aspect to it. But damn, it would’ve been so fucking easy to keep it neutral and actually non biased, but nope. So disappointing.

If you’re able to look past all of that and recognize it for what it is and just laugh about it, the plot is worth reading. Good luck though lol.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ This book is a perfect example of “everything but the kitchen sink.” The plot moves so fast that the ideas can’t keep up and there’s no real depth, but as a quick page-turner for one evening, it does the job.

[Helia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had potential but the writing seems disjointed and shallow almost as if the plot was more of an aesthetic rather than a developed narrative.

[whatmarissareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I didn't make it this far to only make it this far."

⭐4.25/5 | 🌶️2/5

You guys… I am such a sucker for a good dystopian story and this one NAILED IT!!!!
I read this book in two days 😆 I literally could. not. put. it. down.

the pacing is so quick and holds your attention the whole time
I had no idea where it was going or who to trust
I absolutely love Briar (the main FMC) she's so badass and I love how she's not a damsel in distress. Like, she will do WHATEVER it takes to survive

Think: Dystopian × Lost (yes the TV show... do you remember that one?!) × The Hunger Games × a swoony/suspenseful love story
It's survival, it's suspenseful, it's toxic, it's kill or be killed

I am on the edge of my damn seat for book 2
I NEED IT NOW!!!!! WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN EEEEKKKK!!!

[Liz | Bookslizreads90 · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
RELEASES 8/19

TROPES
Set on a mysterious island
Slow burn
Touch her & di3
Dystopian
Badass FMC
Lost but make it spicy

“I need you as much as I need to keep breathing, Briar.”

✨️Thank you so much to Brenda and Hambright PR for this ARC for my honest review! I've truly never read anything like this before and now I need all of the dystopian type romances because I absolutely loved this book! I read it in under 24 hours because there were so many questions, twists, and surprises. I loved the characters and the love they share.The way he will tear the world apart for her or if anyone touches her 🤭😍. I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for book 2 because I just have to know what's going to happen with them! I 1000% recommend this book!

[♡Amanda♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like I said, if you liked Silver Elite, then you’ll probably dig this too. It just wasn’t for me. The backstory, characters, their motivations, and the world just weren’t very fleshed out. This read like a contemporary romance - a lot of smut/relationship quarrels/miscommunications between the MCs etc etc etc - with not enough substance to be a dystopian/fantasy series.

I found the plot & premise of the book to be super intriguing - genetic mutation that enhances the people, animal and environment of a singular island? It was giving Annihilation vibes (one of my fave movies!), but it just felt very messy and ultimately fell flat :/

Interesting enough to push through to the finish line, but I probably won’t continue the series.

[Melanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't stop reading!

[I’m a Paula too… Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring… I DNF’d…

This should have been interesting, but at the 67% mark I was so bored, I quit. The premise on this was new to me, so there is some originality. But frankly, I lost a lot of interest in this when it started to turn into what amounts to a civil war between the two tribes.

The flower they are looking for isn’t even referred to until that point in the book. And suddenly the other tribe has managed to obtain a way to control the climate over the island. Now it’s snowing!

I just don’t know what the next move will cause. They are going to switch themselves on and have their emotions and such get amplified. I don’t know how they switched it off in the first place! Do these people have an implant that feeds the drug into them? Where is it?

So… this one just doesn’t work for me. Sorry! KU read. There is another book coming next year, and the description sounds interesting, but I thought that was true about this one. Not for me…

ETA: oops, I forgot about the beginning where they had the drug put into them while they were on the boat. Ignore my comments about this…

[Stress Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐✨ (rounded up)
🌶️🌶️✨

🫵🏼 Blue Arrow Island is for you if:
• you enjoy romance with your mystery/thriller
• Lost (but make it spicy) x Shatter Me (but adult instead of YA) x Survivor vibes sounds intriguing to you
• you like your action with a side of brutal violence
• you're looking for a strong, resilient FMC

🧮 Plot is Lost (but spicy) + World at Large is The Handmaid's Tale + Island itself is Lord of the Flies + People & Interactions are The 100 + Romance is Shatter Me (but an adult edition) + Vibes like Survivor = Blue Arrow Island (not exactly, but a general approximation or things it's reminds me of to varying degrees). I'm not saying it copied any of these, to be clear.

📖 Set on a mysterious, tropical island in the wake of a viral apocalypse that enables a billionaire to take over (this feels almost like an eerie premonition). New America is formed and set up in a way vaguely reminiscent of Gilead in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

The book opens with our FMC, Briar, having been abducted from jail (where she was being held for very Gilead-esque reasons) and now being dumped on the island with a group of other abductees from jail/prison. The island is already inhabited with two rival groups and the action takes off immediately. Survival is difficult in every way possible, and then some.

What comes after is a brutal, tumultuous, expedition into the unknown and wickedly dangerous tropical jungle full of enhanced beasts of all shapes, sizes, and genera.

📖 I loved the intriguing plot. It was a book that made my brain work and try to solve everything before the twists and reveals. Certainly an intriguing storyline and my favorite part of the book.

✨ It does end on a cliffhanger, fyi.

✍🏼 It reads smoothly and pretty quickly. Written mostly in a more casual tone, it almost feels like you're catching up with a friend you haven't talked to in awhile. To me, that's not a negative.

I enjoyed and appreciated the excepts at the beginning of each chapter. Taken from publications in the world, they help both build and enhance the world while providing insight and lore. While this isn't the first book I've read to do it, when it's done well, it can be quite effective.

⏳ Pacing was great. Well executed and timed action, character growth and dialogue, plus the reveals and twists were effectively timed to keep me turning the page.

🗺️ There's a lot of creativity and ingenuity shown here. Like the laundry bicycles - smart and efficient (or maybe those are a thing IRL and I'm just out of the loop 😂).

This could just be me and the fact that fantasy has been my main genre for awhile, but... I want more info on the world at large. The island itself is built and explained well enough that it painted a picture for me. However, the pictures I drew upon were mostly an amalgamation of the books I mentioned it being similar to. The world at large is mostly still shrouded. I'd love to know and understand more about the greater world.

👥 I love that we get a diverse cast. I hope to see more of a certain Egyptian female in the next book, I really enjoy her character. I love that Rothert shows a variety of types of relationships, including toxic and healthy female friends/enemies. We see women hating and one another for little or no reason all too often. We do get that, but we also touch on a healthy female friendship. I believe it was inclusive as well, but I can't recall for certain.

The characters overall fell a bit flat, lacking in dimension, for me. Not fully flat, just not as vibrant as I prefer.

Briar is in her mid-20s. She's tough (mentally and physically) and so resilient, and I thoroughly enjoyed her character. Except for how she handled some things with the MMC. While I understood it, I felt like it didn't match her character like I wanted. Or maybe it was a side effect of all the trauma? Regardless, since she's so strong and resilient, there were two instances with the MMC that I feel she acted out of character. I expected her to be strong and hold to her statements, her boundary. She didn't.

💖 I'm not 100% sold on their love story, yet. The look into romance in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world where they're stuck on a mysterious, brutal, island and nothing (and no one) is safe, was interesting. I'm like 75-80% sold though.

The romance somewhat reminded me vaguely of an aged up version of Shatter Me. I wasn't on board initially (if you know, you know lol) and was concerned that agency was going to be a problem. I'm happy to say it didn't go the way I thought and I love that. I love that twist, too - I really didn't foresee that.

🌶️ If you love spice, I think you'll enjoy this aspect more than I did.

While I 100% understand the amount of spice was due to their altered state, I didn't love that focus. It absolutely makes sense for the plot, as they're (at times) given something that forces spice to consume their thoughts. However, there were a couple times I felt it was a bit inconsistent.

That being said, the spice fit the story and characters and was realistic and well written. I appreciate that Rothert took the direction she did, even if I didn't love reading that direction.

⚠️ Please check author's site for TW/CW

✨ If you're a hard right political person, you may not enjoy this.

💬 Will I continue the series? Possibly. I'd like to because I'm quite curious, but if I'm busy with other books... I probably won't go out of my way to make room to read it.


Thank you to @ Brenda Rothert and @ hambright_pr for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's ironic that I like to keep people at arm's length, but I also fear being alone.

Wow, wow, wow! I am SPEECHLESS right now. This book, guys, is something I don't know I need in my life but I do. Like, desperately. Set in a post-apocalyptic world with unforgettably spooky creatures, morally grey characters, and off-the-charts sexual tension between the protagonists (Marcus & Briar), Blue Arrow Island is the epitome of a perfect dystopian romance that you don't want to miss.

The story is so fast-paced and action-packed that I feel like I'm going to miss something important--or in this case, put my life at risk simply by blinking cuz you never know when Marcus' machete or Amira's arrow will come flying at me--and my adrenaline level is sky high throughout the entire book. What I love most is that there IS always something happening in each part, if not every chapter, so devouring this book is like watching a horror/thriller movie for hours...ALONE. Yep, with the vivid description of the bloodiest, goriest, and the steamiest X-rated scenes woven flawlessly together, you'd think this is secretly a blockbuster featuring the most talented A-list actors instead.

What's more, there are also a lot of plot twists that totally blow my mind as I don't see any of them coming AT ALL. I mean, I've already been on the edge of my seat since page one, I certainly do not need any more stimulation to further short-circuit my brain. BUT I regret nothing after getting spooked several times while reading this book. In my opinion, the scariness, peculiarity, originality, and ultimate angst of this book completely make it stand out in the dystopian/post-apocalyptic romance genre. That said, I'm beyond astonished when learning that this book is actually the author's, Brenda's, first novel which is not a contemporary or hockey romance!! She mentioned in her author's note/acknowledgment that she'd wanted to write a book the readers yearned to read, and you knew what? SHE TRULY DELIVERED. *chef's kiss*

All in all, I'd HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book so please go pick it up and dive in ASAP! Marcus and Briar's story is filled with unexpected twists and turns but at the same time, it is also the perfect blend of dystopian and romantic/spicy elements I'm sure will leave you craving for more. Now can anyone please tell me is it 2026 yet?! In case you're wondering, Blue Arrow Island ends with a mild cliffhanger and its sequel, Crimson Shore, will be out in May 2026 so stay tuned!!

***Massive thanks to the author and Hambright PR for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

[Kelsey Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you Hambright PR for an ARC of Blue Arrow Island! 💙

This book, guys 🤯 if I’m being honest, I struggled through the first 20% because of the themes not really being my thing, but once that storyline switches and you realize that first 20% was for a reason?! I was hooked!

This book reminded me of Lost and The Maze Runner with a few Handmaid’s Tale themes and there was constant action!

Briar is a strong-willed fmc who has to rely on logic and the things her parents taught her before the virus. When she gets to Blue Arrow Island where she knows she will have to fight for her life, she realizes there’s so much she doesn’t know. She’s told to not ask questions, but that doesn’t stop her.

Read this if you like:

🏝️ Mysterious islands
🫦 Slow burn
☠️ Touch her & di3
🔥 Dystopian
💪🏼 Strong heroines
✨ She's out for revenge

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like wasted potential with many repetitions that ended up pulling me completely out of the story several times.
There were some interesting ideas and themes, but considering that the book was 500+ pages, FMC Briar was not a very interesting or fleshed-out character. Marcus felt like the most promising character with actual depth and very real moral struggles, but with only one chapter from his pov, he never really got the screentime he deserved.

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. Fully engrossed and invested in whatever the hell was going to happen next. The FMC really is a badass, and it is shown over and over. We aren't told she is and then see her fumble left and right and have to be saved by some man. There is a romance, but it is only a part of the plot that has everything you want in a dystopian novel.

[Taylor Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Arrow Island was giving dystopian, and Lost but with so many unhinged twists. It's definitely one of those books that will have you questioning what you just read.

I enjoyed reading part two better than part one, which I found kind of slow and uncomfortable. I also preferred the relationship between Marcus and Briar, which seemed more genuine.

I was curious how it was going to end, so I couldn't stop reading. The ending doesn't tie up everything; I was unaware that this was going to be a series.

[Kassidy Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN!!! Wow, what an amazing story. DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE?! ON AN ISLAND!! WITH WEIRD BIOLOGICAL MUTATIONS GOING ON?! My biology brain loved this. The FMC and MMC are both sooo cool!

[Shannon ♡ The Shann Theory · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Thank you to Hambright PR and the author for the early review copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

My Unhinged and Messy Thoughts
This is the first book in a brand new dystopian romance series for fans of Divergent, Hunger Games, and Lost. I really REALLY enjoyed this book. I finished it August 6th, and cannot stop thinking about it. I need book 2, immediately! I found the premise to be interesting, while being quite unique. With a dystopian setting, please note that this has some dark content and subject matter. This is a spicy story, as well. The characters were well developed and the twists were twisty! I found myself drifting from the pages, only due to the thought-provoking content I was reading, otherwise, I could NOT put this down. Seriously, this was well done.

In Conclusion
I would love to see this made into a movie! I cannot wait for book 2!!!

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I went in blind not knowing what to expect- only that it was a fantasy novel. What a treat I was in for… curves & excitement around every corner. Ms. Rothert has a way of writing that can paint the picture of every word (without over writing) in my mind & what a pretty picture it is. <3
I’m so excited for the next installment of this series - I hope time moves quickly!!!

[Rebecca · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

3.75 stars

rtc

[Julianne Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 almost a 4, but not quite

The premise was so intriguing. An almost post apocalyptic world after a virus takes out America and a billionaire decides he is in charge and creates even more chaos with his New America order. (Not gonna lie, some of the things said in this book reminded me of some things happening in our America today)

We start the story with the main character waking up on a boat and then the guards tell them all to jump off and swim to shore where two tribes are waiting for them.

One tribe means death and the other means a chance at survival...or does it?

It gets really weird from there. I didn't feel like there was a dull moment, just moments I didn't care for.

The island itself is something else.
We learn that scientists had been experimenting on the island with a plant that they then injected into humans to cause them to become stronger and more durable, but also prone to aggression in both physical and sexual ways.

There are a lot of secrets and people being kept in the dark in order to have their compliance. like many leaders and government do to gain power over a people. Knowledge is power and the more the main character learns, the better she is able to survive the island that has now become her prison.

The plant also allows certain people to gain power over a certain animals/plants. But why some over others? That is a mystery you'll need to find out.

There was too much talk of sex and lust which pulled me away from the story, but it's all part of the plot with the plant forcing them to become sex crazed to create kids that then become like super soldiers for this billionaire so no one would be able to stop him from his conquest of America.

It's all a lot of information, but my scientist brain enjoyed the parts about the plants and their engineering to accomplish what they did.

Just wasn't quite the book for me.