Les Bois maudits

by Barbara Kloss, Stéphanie Moussu (Narrator), Sylvie Cohen (Translator)

11h44

Seph n’a jamais fait confiance aux Soliens. Sournois et cruels, ces êtres immortels méritent, selon elle, la malédiction qui ravage leur monde depuis des décennies. Ainsi, lorsqu’un grand-seigneur solien frappe à sa porte, à la recherche d’une cape enchantée appartenant à sa famille, la jeune femme se méfie.

Mais il n’est pas le seul à vouloir mettre la main sur cet objet magique. Le prince Alder, en exil depuis deux ans, a besoin de la cape pour regagner la confiance de la reine. Sauf que Seph est la seule capable de toucher la précieuse étoffe sans se faire tuer.

Traquée par le grand-seigneur, Seph accepte de partir avec Alder, qui lui offre en échange sa protection. Pendant ce temps, la malédiction gagne du terrain, et s’ils ne découvrent pas rapidement comment libérer le pouvoir du manteau, il ne restera bientôt plus rien des mondes mortel et solien.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Adult

Audible Audio

Published November 14, 2025

About the author

Barbara Kloss loves adventures, and finds them through reading, writing, trekking through the wilderness, and gaming—though she doesn't consider herself a gamer. She just happens to like video games. RPGs, specifically. She’s also a classically-trained pianist, and so you'll often fined music referenced in her stories.

Barbara studied biochemistry at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA, and worked for years as a clinical laboratory scientist. She was lured there by mental images of colorful bubbling liquids in glass beakers. She was deceived.

She currently lives in northern California, with her gorgeous husband, three babies, and cat, Mr. Darcy, who finds them all barely tolerable. Author of the award-winning Gaia’s Secret Series, and international bestseller, The Gods of Men.

Sign up for Barbara's Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/barbara...

www.barbarakloss.com

contact@barbarakloss.com

Reviews

[elizabeth rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌿✨ HOLY ENCHANTED FORESTS, I LOVED THIS BOOK! 🏹🖤

Dark, magical, and oh-so-romantic, The Arrow & The Alder absolutely enchanted me. Gothic vibes? ✔️ Curses and ancient magic? ✔️ Deliciously slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension? ✔️✔️✔️

When Josephine finds a powerful enchanted coat hidden beneath the floorboards of her home, she becomes the target of the immortal High Lord—and the key to unravelling a curse that’s shrouded the kith kingdom in mist and monsters. Forced to flee, she finds herself reluctantly teamed up with Alder, a disgraced kith prince with secrets of his own. Together, they must survive betrayals, dark magic, and the growing tension between them (👀🔥) as they race to stop a curse that could destroy both their worlds.

From the very first page, Barbara Kloss had me hooked with her misty, folklore-rich world of the kith—where secrets lurk in the fog and every shadow feels alive. 🌙 The atmosphere? Chef’s kiss. The writing? Lyrical and fast-paced. The plot? Full of heart, rebellion, and high stakes.

Josephine is everything I want in a fantasy heroine: fierce, clever, and refusing to be pushed around. And Alder?? The brooding, cursed prince with a tragic past and a soft heart he pretends not to have?? I’m obsessed.

Their journey had tension, trust issues, moments that made me scream (in a good way), and just the right mix of action + emotional depth. I was ✨so invested✨ in their fate and the unravelling curse threatening to destroy both mortal and kith worlds.

If you love:
🖤 gothic fantasy
🏹 morally grey princes
⏳ slow-burn romance with actual plot
🧵 ancient curses and magical coats
🔥 and a heroine who refuses to play nice with power...
YOU. NEED. THIS. BOOK.

One of my favourite romantasy reads of the year! 💫
my rating: 4.5 ⭐️

[acupofteaandabookplease · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review (thank you so much for the trust!).

Barbara Kloss has a gift for delicate storytelling, while at the same time bringing monsters and drama to the stage. Her style remains spellbinding page after page, and I wasn't bored for a single minute while reading this story. The rhythm is perfect and the characters are so endearing that I'll never tire of discovering them a little more ;-) in my eyes, this story is a pure marvel that will conquer the hearts of readers eager for fantasy but also for sweetness.

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

I’m a huge Barbara Kloss fan and have been impatiently waiting for her next book and once again, it absolutely delivers. I loved this one!!!! If you’re a standalone reader, PICK IT UUUUUP.

I loved the heated chemistry between Josephine and Alder. Good heavens they were MADE for each other. The glances and banter and protectiveness all coalesced into this beautiful romance that I was feral to read.

The pacing is on point and there’s never a dull moment. The rise and fall of different scenes created effortless movement. I couldn’t believe how much was packed into a less than 500 page fantasy. FLAWLESS OKAY.

I’m obsessed. This is easily one of my new favorite fantasies of 2025.

Overall audience notes:
- Fantasy Romance
- Language: low
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: moderate

[Menel ୨୧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ✰

Yet Another Redundant Romantasy…

From the very first pages, the sense of déjà vu is overwhelming: faes, a curse, a world to save… nothing original, really. This narrative framework heavily echoes countless other novels, without ever managing to stand out. I had read the synopsis, of course, but I didn’t expect faes to be involved, especially since the author uses a different term—kith. But changing the name doesn’t change the concept. It’s still the same creatures. And honestly, I’m clearly no longer the target audience for this kind of romantasy, and this book just confirmed it once again.

That said, I won’t lie, it's a quick, easy read. The writing flows well, it has a mildly addictive quality that kept me turning the pages. But I also found myself sighing, taking breaks, and even rolling my eyes at times, because some scenes were just too cliché, even cringe. What bothers me most is that I expected better from Barbara Kloss. I had really enjoyed Gods of Men, so I definitely didn’t see this low-effort romantasy coming.

The romance, which is supposed to be central, left me completely unmoved. Some scenes that were meant to be emotional or intense just made me cringe. We're told this is an enemies to lovers, but the attraction between the two main characters is immediate, and the only “tension” comes from the overused “I have to push you away to protect you” trope. That kind of narrative device doesn’t work for me anymore and honestly, it just gets on my nerves.

Sadly, this is one of those books where the synopsis was a thousand times better than the actual story…


─── ୨♡୧ ───
• Hate to lovers
• Curse
• The chosen one
• Fae
• Prophecy


જ⁀➴ Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Victory Editing for the eARC in exchange for a honest review <3

[Bryn Shutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Arrow and the Alder is a spellbinding tale filled with mystery, magic, sacrifice, and redemption. I absolutely couldn't put it down! All the magnificent twists and swoony moments had me holding my breath way too often. This story is sure to be a treat for fans of the romance of Rebecca Ross, the magic of Leigh Bardugo, and the worlds of JRR Tolkein.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this. This is a kith (fae) fairy tale with hints of Victorian style romance and some gothic elements. This was such a great story and a breath of fresh air with wholesome romance. It’s nice to read about good things happening to good people sometimes. If you’re looking for smut or erotica, this isn’t it. I’ve loved everything Barbara Kloss has written and really, really enjoyed this!

[Brigitte Cromey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, quick-paced but well-balanced read with subtle nods to biblical stories and a massively satisfying ending. There were a few moments that reminded me of Shadow & Bone, but with this standalone I feel like I got the ending I’d been craving with the comp title!! While definitely a little steamier than my taste normally goes (though I’m basically a stone-hearted curmudgeon), the relationship between romantic leads was really well done, and I appreciated the care given towards making sure things didn’t cross any lines.

Cheers to the publisher for inviting me to read an advance copy! I really enjoyed it, and am leaving this review of my own volition! (No deals with kith here🤣)

[Daniella Applegate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Kloss has done it again! From page one, you are entirely immersed in her beautiful and dark world, and it’s impossible to put it down. There are Fae, enemies-to-lovers, monsters in the mist, and a heart-breaking redemption story. The story is fast-paced, but the romance is a slow burn. Do yourself a favor and read The Arrow and the Alder 🏹🦌

[Ellen McGinty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vivd NA romantasy for fans of A Court of Thorns & Roses and An Enchantment of Ravens. I loved the beautiful prose, characters, and world building. The themes about caring, sacrificial love, and echoes of faith leapt from the page. I didn't expect the twist at the end either!!

The one caveat is that it leaned more "spicy" than I anticipated, level 3 on the Closed Door Romance scale. Still closed-door, but more than I prefer in a romantasy.

Still, lovely writing and fantasy world!

[nana✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

[Kimberly || apairofreaders · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!!

[Brianne Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Kloss has done it again! This Romantasy book was so dang good. This world had a hint of high fantasy with a unique storyline. This book had so many fun elements with unique characters, intriguing plot, allegories, and so much more. I loved the gothic vibes found in the setting. It was so atmospheric and was easy to immerse myself in the world. I loved Alder and and Seph. Seph was such a strong character who didn’t let anyone tell her what to do. I loved her fierce independence. And sweet Alder, he was such a complex MMC with so many layers. He had such a soft and tender disposition that he tried so hard to not let anyone know about. Barbara’s books are always so well written with characters fleshed out and interesting plot lines. This book had all the best tropes with hidden identities, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity. You definitely want to read this one if you love a standalone with a HEA! Thank you Barbara Kloss, Whimsical Publishing, and NetGalley for the free ARC.

-enemies to lovers
-hidden identities,
-forced proximity
-dual pov

[Clarabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Très bien au début, l’histoire peut faire penser à ACOTAR. L’héroïne part chasser dans la forêt pour nourrir sa famille. Les hommes ont été expédiés à la guerre, sa femme et ses sœurs se débrouillent. La plus jeune est fort malade, l’autre veut épouser un type riche.
Et puis la situation va changer. Joséphine est embarquée dans une drôle d’aventure avec un inconnu hirsute. On a deviné son identité, elle non. Quand elle réalisera la supercherie, on s’attend à plus de pugnacité de sa part.
Mais quelle déception. Plus l’histoire avançait, plus l’héroïne s’éloignait de ses standards. C’était une farouche résistante, elle vivait pour sa famille. Et maintenant elle est agglutinée par Alder qui prouve à plusieurs reprises qu’on ne peut pas lui faire confiance.
L’univers fantastique est pas mal du tout. Plus rien à voir avec ACOTAR. On parle de contes et de magie. Des pouvoirs qui se cognent. Des ambitions et des luttes. J’étais à la fois intriguée, prise au cœur de l’action, mais aussi détachée et perplexe.
Le rythme est inégal. La romance… totalement inutile. L’évolution des personnages est très décevante. Ça devient gnangnan comme c’est pas possible. J’ai soupiré. Soufflé. Trop frustrée.
J’adore la couverture et le travail éditorial. Je ne suis pas convaincue par le reste (histoire, personnages, one-shot). J’aurais préféré plus court et en deux tomes.

[ᴼᴳᴵᴹᴬᴬᴷᵂᴱ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Alder 😚😚 this was a perfect little romantasy. The spice level was like one dash of red pepper flakes but still so good. The fmc was over 21 so we love that. There was good plot and a couple plot twists. Everything wrapped up in a neat little bow at the end. 👏🏼

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Didn’t want to put it down.

[E.P. Stavs · Rating 5 out of 5]

ACOTAR X HUNGER GAMES X OLD TESTAMENT
A gripping and engaging tale of a young woman named Josephine (Seph), a land torn apart by accursed war, and the coat of light that everyone and their witch want to gain control over. Everyone, that is, except the Alder (cue brooding, Pridigal Son style kith (fae) Prince.

[Vitea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars.
This was an enjoyable read with an immersive atmosphere and beautiful setting, I have a soft spot for misty, cursed woods and fae lands. The kith in this book are basically fae: they bargain, use glamour, have pointy ears, and are inhumanly beautiful.

I adored Josephine and her white mane of hair, finally not an annoying FMC! She's smart and strong, she knows when to hold her tongue or speak her mind. Alder, on the other hand, was boring. Just another huge, muscular, broody type, nothing new, nothing interesting. He's kinda like Raihn from The Serpent and the Wings of Night (less playful, though), and I'm sure a lot of people will like him.

I enjoyed the descriptive writing, it was easy to envision characters and locations. The pacing, for the most part, was consistent, but there were times the story felt repetitive, and I found myself a bit bored during the second half. I wish Alder’s curse had been utilized and explored more, it felt underdeveloped and ultimately had no real impact on the story. And, unfortunately, the ending was too Disney-like for my liking.

But overall, this book kept me entertained, and I had a good time with it.

[Rikka Kang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Kloss is a wonderful storyteller. This book had me hooked from the start, where we meet our FMC Seph (Josephine), trying to provide for her family. Her brothers and father are off fighting a war brought on by another Kind. This book has many layers of secrets that only reading will help to unfold.

Archer, the MMC, has been missing for the last few years, to the point where he is now believed to be the leader of the depraved (bad dark creatures). His story is consistently unfolding as you cannot just unpack his last few years in one chapter.

One thing that I really enjoyed about this book is that the prose does not heavily rely on the magic system and our FMC coming into her powers. While there is something special about Seph, her battles and training are still combat based. Her archery skills are solid. She does not learn battle combat fighting at a disadvantage against those with stronger or advanced magical abilities. This gave me more Robin Hood esc vibes, which I really enjoyed.

As we see political world dynamics come face to face with lies and deception, we get to see how the previous choice to choose love over everything altered this realm to near devastation. But I promise, the lore of this world will not let you down.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fae enemies to lovers...so perfectly up my alley!

I also think this cover is very pretty (I very much enjoy this kind of blue).

This was a pretty dang decent fantasy (it does lean more YA-feeling, so if that matters to you, now you have that information). We get cursed fae, spooky woods, a hunter FMC, and an entertaining MMC. We get both FMC and MMC POVs. And I really did like the MMC (I wasn't obsessed with our FMC, Josephine), I thought he was quite fun to read from and I really liked his storyline with the kith/fae people.

I did want more from this book though. I felt like the pacing of some parts of this book were a bit weird, especially the beginning chunk of the book. I don't know if it was rushed or if the writing style is what made it feel this way, but that was just something I noticed. I did find that it seemed to even out though, I didn't notice that weird pacing situation towards the end of the book. So there's that!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Sara Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

ACOTAR meets Stardust in this new YA fantasy!

The war between the Kith and the Depraved has taken everything from Sephie, her brothers, her father, her food, and even her happiness! But when the kith come looking for a magical treasure left in Sephie’s possession she is thrust into their war in a way she never could have imagined. Surrounded by kith, far from home, she must put her trust in the playboy prince if she ever wants to win the war and save her home.

This book was a bit too ACOTAR inspired for me. I think the premise was there and it had its own merits—the magical coat was a cool detail—but it became predictable very quickly and I think it needed a few more tweaks to stand on its own. Josephine and Alder were pretty typical protagonists, although I liked him a bit better than her. She started off a spitfire ready to take on the world but kind of mellowed a bit as the story went on. They were more reluctant allies to lovers than enemies—and to be quite honest he was far too kind to her from the start.

I was disappointed that the mischevious, can’t trust them, bargoning kith were all too welcoming to the strangers in their midst, especially a prince they thought abandoned them and a mortal that suddenly became their princess. I wanted to see more of the darker side; I guess the kith were a little too Disney-fied for me. Even the villains handled Josephine with kid gloves each time she was captured.

I think perhaps I have just read too much of the “beautiful playboy immortal prince falls for the down on her luck hut beautiful and snarky mortal girl” trope that seems to dominate the industry right now.

Overall a good intro to fantasy for someone who is looking to break into the genre.

[Kimysmile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Une belle découverte ! On est ici dans une fantasy young adult, avec des enjeux bien construits et un univers qui tient ses promesses, même si j’ai parfois ressenti quelques longueurs dans l’avancée de l’intrigue, sans doute aussi parce que la fantasy “pure” n’est pas forcément mon terrain de jeu habituel. 🤭 Malgré cela, l’histoire reste prenante et cohérente, portée par une atmosphère très réussie.⠀
⠀
Ce que j’ai préféré, sans surprise, c’est la touche de romance, parfaitement menée. On est sur un vrai slow burn, où la relation évolue avec finesse, en parallèle de la progression personnelle des personnages. C’est doux, lent, crédible, et ça apporte de l'émotion qui m’a beaucoup plu. Et puis, mention spéciale pour la version audio : immersive, agréable, elle a vraiment rendu ma lecture encore plus sympa. Une chouette écoute et, surtout, une autrice que je suis ravie d’avoir découverte.⠀

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Even though the blurb sounds like it’s more of the same in a heavily saturated genre, this was a masterclass in breadcrumbing story details so you’re hooked the entire time. The setting felt a little gothic and reminded me of One Dark Window, while the banter and dialogue felt a little more Victorian-era. The dual POV worked perfectly in this, and made you connect with both characters so you had better context for their actions. This was also equal parts romance and fantasy, with a strong plot and satisfying ending. Given so many stories in this genre span multiple books, if you’re forever not starting a series until everything is out, this will be perfect for you as a one and done book. Loved every minute of it and a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

A girl trying to help her family survive in a war brought by another kind, and a disgraced prince who decides to help her. Along with a magical coat that has been hidden in her families house for decades.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was quick to start and the pace stayed the whole way through, but it still didn’t take away from things being explained or relationships forged. I always enjoy a dual point of view because I want to know what they’re both thinking at all times.

The plot was lovely but you did know that everything was probably going to be okay. This is definitely a YA book, the stakes are never too high and it’s very easy to follow along. Small twists were included but they were either predictable or made so much sense of everything else.

The romance here was sweet. I believed their chemistry the whole way through. They just seemed to grow together and his nicknames for her are just lovely. I loved this couple together. And the FMC was not a 17 year old girl which was nice too! Altogether, I think this is a very nice standalone book to read if you just want something with a bit of mystery but easy to read.

>> Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC ebook

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Singer_of_Stories · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really fun, and basically what I want the romantasy genre to be. There was adventure, romance, politics, high stakes, good worldbuilding, internally consistent characters, and drama, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. If you're looking for a fae romantasy but want the romance content to stop at steam and never reach spice, then this is a good fit for you. I know I'd happily read this book again, and I'll be on the lookout for more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[ChaCha Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read from Barbara Kloss (even though her Gods of Men trilogy has been eyeing me from my TBR for way too long 👀) and honestly… I had a really great time. 🖤

Thank you to #netgalley and #whimsicalpublishing for the eARC!

This isn’t a book that revolutionizes romantasy, but it absolutely ticks all the boxes I love and does it beautifully:
➳ dark and misty atmosphere
➳ a rather strong, clever and independent heroine
➳ a broody, cursed prince with a well-hidden soft heart
➳ a dangerous quest full of secrets, curses and magic
➳ perfectly balanced slow burn romance

Josephine is exactly the kind of strong heroine we love. And Alder is the perfect tortured prince pretending he feels nothing.
For a standalone, the pacing was really well done: twists, secrets, tension… and a romance that was sweet and very enjoyable.

If you’re looking for an upper YA romantasy standalone with enemies-to-lovers tension, a haunting vibe and just the right amount of danger — this one should definitely appeal to you.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go to save your family? Things aren't always what they seem. In a cursed world with time running out, Seph must make some hard decisions. I love the tie in to Married by Treachery. I saw someone make a comment about the ending. These stories are exactly what we need at times. Overcoming your past. About perseverance. Seeing things through even though it may cost us

[Kalliopi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am truly impressed! This book was my first read from Barbara Kloss and I absolutely loved it. The author's style is great and the flow was so smooth I've read this book super quick.

I love the fact that we have a romantasy book without any spice, which is a big change from what I have been reading lately (and from what the trend is currently), so it gets extra points for that.

A nice, refreshing standalone book, with characters that are not too much -like it is often the case in fantasy reads- and a slow burn romance that I have swoon over. 😍

The world is beautiful, with descriptions that come to life very vividly in my head that made me actually feel very peaceful, wanting to just visit the forest and be calm there. 🤭

I will definitely read more books from Barbara, as I have absolutely adored this one.

[Brittnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 received an ARC copy from NetGalley, opinions are my own.

[J R · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty well written romance. the kith setting was fairly well-trodden but always felt fresh in Kloss's hands and the chemistry was strong. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.