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There’s safety in the forest.

Arrow of Loxley isn’t the simpering lady of court she pretends to be. Since her father left to fight in the war, the facade is one she must abide by while she, and her cousin Will, are wards of the King.

Yet, finally, peace talks have begun between King Rusalko and King Graeme. As a sign of good faith, twelve ladies from each court will travel to the opposite kingdom to learn their ways and join their society.

Through the trees, Arrow witnesses Bruralians burying the body of her cousin. Little do they know, Will isn't dead. The fact he survived must remain a secret, or the Bruralians will come for him again. When the matter is disregarded by the King, Arrow takes it upon herself to protect Will.

While a war veteran helps Arrow get her cousin to safety, she discovers there is more to the war than either kingdom let on. Witchcraft. Shapeshifters. Bloody massacres. Violent beasts. The real battle is for the title of Alpha, and wolves lurk in plain sight.

With the truth revealed, Arrow ponders where her loyalties should lie. Questions morph into icy resolve. Now, she will stop at nothing to protect those she cares for... including defying a King or three.

If you love fairytale retellings, enemies-to-lovers tropes, werewolves and all their issues this book is for you! Fans of Casey L. Bond, Kiersten White, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Colleen Hoover will love this fast paced Little Red Riding Hood/Robin Hood mashup!

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 22, 2021

39 people are currently reading
253 people want to read

About the author

Eryn Brooks

3 books13 followers
Eryn Brooks is a proud Dandelion (military brat). She currently resides in Texas with her South African husband and fur babies, when she’s not traveling around the country in her RV.

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5 stars
42 (47%)
4 stars
22 (25%)
3 stars
15 (17%)
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4 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Tina Merritt.
666 reviews2 followers
November 21, 2021
This book gives lots of action, twists and turns and questions, so many questions! I didn’t want to put it down and that ending has me needing book 2!!
Profile Image for Peter D'Hollander.
Author 4 books6 followers
November 23, 2021
The moment the book starts, it takes me on a journey I didn’t expect. If there is one sentence I had to pick to describe the book, then that’s undoubtedly: This is who I am.

Arrow Loxley honors her name: she’s a master with the bow. For those who know a bit of British folklore, the name Loxley probably rings a bell. In our own history there is a Robin of Loxley – and if that isn’t enough, there also is a little village near Sheffield – England. It’s said that it’s the birth place of a certain Robin Hood. And that’s just the first sign that Arrow Loxley may be our local Robin Hood.

When the book starts, two kingdoms fight a war – for more than five years already. The good news is that peace talks are on their way and as such, Arrow Loxley is send to the enemy kingdom.

Lucky for us, there are other things in play as well and Arrow soon takes us on an adventure. There is Will, Little John and Tuck (in case you wondered what happened with the merry men of Robin) and a lot more characters that didn’t find their origin in Robin’s folktale (though admittedly, Robin Hood might have a real past).

It’s a wild ride – but one I enjoyed thoroughly. Without telling you too much about the outcome, I can tell you that it left with a bang. And three heartbeats. You understand what I mean once you read the last sentence. ;?)

Did I enjoy it? Yes.

Do I long for more? Definitely.

This is an author duo I can still learn a lot from. I got about a week to review the book (generally I need more time to read, due to a full agenda), but I flew through this one. Literally. Both authors created a story that embraced me and swiped me off my feet. It’s a fun, exciting read that simply keeps you reading until the end. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read it.
Profile Image for Idalia Helaena.
1,618 reviews92 followers
December 2, 2021
Arrow of Loxley is not your typical noblewoman. She’s snarky, quick witted, and skilled with a bow, an unusual ability for a girl of her station. The thing is, nobody knows this about her - to the rest of the world, Arrow is a simpering, pampered court lady like the rest. Although Arrow hates to act like the others, she must continue to wear that mask as long as she and her cousin, Will, are wards of the king.

When it seems like their country’s bitter war with the Bruralians might finally cease, Arrow feels elated. That elation turns to horror when she sees a band of Bruralians burying her cousin in the woods. Although Arrow got to Will in time, nobody can know that he survived. And as things become more dangerous for the two of them at the castle, secrets about the Bruralians are revealed that she never would’ve thought possible.

Okay, so I love a book with a strong heroine, and Arrow is definitely that! She’s stubborn, sassy, and extremely sharp tongued around those she does and like or those she doesn’t trust. She’s also quite capable of using a variety of weapons, although her favorite one to use is a bow. I loved that aspect of her character, that she didn’t need a man to save her. In fact, she did most of the saving!!!

I also loved all the twists and turns that this book took me on. Right off the bat, the action started, and I had to say I was impressed. This book was full of incredible plot twists and *startled gasp* moments. I would definitely recommend it to those who like strong heroines and a lot of action in their books. Can’t wait to see what happens next in this world!!!
Profile Image for Kaitlin.
282 reviews8 followers
November 24, 2021
Give me a book where the main character is a woman who can wield a weapon and I will be a very happy reader.

This is a loose retelling of the Robin Hood story, maybe retelling isn't quite accurate but it is definitely inspired by the tale. Arrow is noble, but not by birth, because of her father's friendship with the King. She's also very skilled at the bow.

Through the book, she is very true to herself and does what she thinks is best to protect those she loves. She's quite plucky and I really enjoyed her as a character.

The supporting characters are a mixture of those we know from the myth and new ones. It was throughly enjoyable and a quick read and I can't wait for book two.

I received an advanced copy, all opinions and the decision to leave a review are my own.
Profile Image for c.reads.kc.
39 reviews
November 24, 2021
I received a complimentary ARC from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

Blood Arrow is a good first installment for a fantasy series. The treatment of shapeshifting was well done. The werewolves are relatable and their creation plausible. The main characters were well developed and intelligent. The cliffhanger at the end leaves you needing to know what will happen next ASAP.

A marginal complaint is that the book, especially the ending, is rushed. The last 10% could have easily filled another hundred or so pages, or may have meant more sense as the content for the next novel. This doesn’t detract from it’s value, but I’m hoping the authors will provide some much needed explanation and new character development in the next installment.
Profile Image for Debbie Eyre.
5,923 reviews116 followers
November 26, 2021
This is a fantastic read loosely based on the fairytales Robin Hood and Red riding hood? Arrow our female mc is kick ass and strong and wicked with a bow and arrow and does what she can to protect her friends and family. The world building is incredible and drew me in straight away and the storyline is so exciting I found myself on the edge of my seat. It’s a fast paced read with twists and turns, witchcraft, shifters and some great characters I am eager to read book two!
317 reviews6 followers
November 22, 2021
Arrow - or Row - is a fantastic and engaging heroine who is certainly no damsel in distress. When her cousin is attacked and left for dead, she is drawn into a plot with such complexity that I was left gasping as new pieces were revealed.

I loved the homage to the original stories - Tuck, Little John and the red cloak I'm looking at you - but the unique twists had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

A must read - but make sure your schedule is clear because this is one it's hard to put down!
279 reviews2 followers
November 24, 2021
Wonderful Mashup retelling of Robin Hood/Little Red Riding Hood!

I loved Arrow!!! Headstrong and ready for battle!

The Bruralian have come to Thimmaria to try to come peace. Many things are revealed that were hidden from all the people...

Arrow finds allies in Brex, Will (cousin), Little John, Tuck, and Einri!

That ending was amazing! Can't wait for more
Profile Image for Kelly Stepp.
460 reviews10 followers
November 22, 2021
A fun, fast read that will leave you wanting more! I enjoyed their unique spin on Robin Hood and fell in love with Arrow and Einri plus all the secondary characters. The blend of political scheming, romance, and magical influences kept me glued to the pages while I mentally tried to unravel everyone's motives. A strong start to the series and I'm looking forward to the next book!
Profile Image for Bookish Serendipity Shannon williamson.
1,116 reviews10 followers
November 24, 2021
Great start to a new series!

This book pulled me in and I could not put it down! It was so good! I am loving the world building and the characters. There is definitely some tension 🔥 and some crazy twists! I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Megan Rivera.
434 reviews71 followers
December 18, 2021
This was an excellent book. I enjoyed the storyline and characters in this book.
Profile Image for Jen Dragons and Daggers .
162 reviews6 followers
November 23, 2021
I really wanted to love this book but went back and forth between a 3 star and a 4 star. In the beginning I found myself very confused and lost about certain aspects of the story. I love world building and complicated worlds so I was really excited for this one. I found in the beginning I was just so confused by what was happening. At times it felt like the book had too much going on for such a short book which often made points feel very rushed. Toward the middle I really started to like it more and got more into the complex world and characters. By the end I was lost again and felt it was all rushed a bit. It is such a robust world and maybe some of my questions will be answered in the next book but I ultimately decided on leaning towards a 3 because I ended the book feeling I felt confused a majority of the book.
Profile Image for Lisa.
734 reviews74 followers
April 29, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 3 stars
Blood Arrow is a story about Arrow, a lady at court. When peace talks have begun between the two kingdoms, twelve ladies from each court will travel to the other kingdom and join their society.

“There's safety in the forest.”

I’ve been part of the book tour for this book when it came out in 2021 and had yet to read the book. The cover is gorgeous and I’m working on shrinking my TBR, so I picked up this book.

The book is said to be a fairytale retelling, but I didn’t really see the similarities between the two aside from one people being able to turn into wolves. The Robin Hood similarity was also missing, since I didn’t really see a character stealing from the rich for the poor, only characters living in the woods…

The plot itself wasn’t really engaging to me. I did keep on reading and it read very easily, but I wasn’t really sucked into the story. I also feel like a lot kept happening, which also caused the plot to feel a bit too fast paced to keep track of everything.

The world created feels like one that has a lot of potential, just like the characters, but I feel like too much was put into the book, which isn’t very long. I think the book and story would’ve benefitted from it being lengthier or less put into it.

Overall, Blood Arrow is a fast paced first book in the series, but it felt a bit too rushed for me to fully enjoy it.
Profile Image for Cat (catnapsnbooks).
433 reviews
November 27, 2021
Blood Arrow by Lela Grayce and Eryn Brooks is a fun and interesting new take on fairytale retellings. Mashing up Red Riding Hood with Robin Hood they have created a paranormal romance with an arrow wielding sassy female lead who is ready to fight the misogyny of her time and anyone that endangers her family.

Blood Arrow is a super slow-burn paranormal romance that is filled with action, adventure and suspense. Set in a world at war, Arrow of Loxley is a Lady of the Court and is being used as a pawn to further the King’s agenda. Before long she is caught up in political undercurrents that she did not know were possible and she does not know who’s side she should be taking. It is a fast-paced story that has taken the time to create and detail an innovative origin behind lycanthropy and a world in which it exists. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance however the focus in this first book has been on character establishment and world building and so I assume this will develop more in later books. Arrow is definitely a fireball and her mate has a hard time on his hands. This book ends on a brain-melting cliffhanger but the rest of the series should be out in the first half of next year.

Blood Arrow is an enjoyable start to a fresh new fairytale paranormal retelling. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy paranormal romance, enemies-to-lovers, suspense & mystery, retellings, action & adventure, werewolves and a sassy female main character ready to take on the world.
Profile Image for Tabitha Bouldin.
Author 48 books705 followers
November 25, 2021
A strong female heroine who is willing to face danger for her family and her kingdom, mixed with Robin Hood and Red Riding Hood characters that bring this book to the next level. I was entranced with the world building and the author's ability to spin the lore of wolves into a twisty tale that keeps you guessing. The fast pace and amazing characters lend credibility to the tale. You'll find characters you recognize and some new faces that turn what you thought you knew about Red Riding Hood on its head. I need book 2 ASAP.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
8 reviews
September 23, 2025
Good but a little uneven

I really, really liked the first half or so of this book. But about halfway through, Arrow’s character shifts from collected and strategically-minded to reckless, immature, and a little too smug. The writing grows less polished as the book progresses, and the storyline bounces around all over the place towards the end. Arrow and Einri’s shifting relationship is forced into the story without meaningful development. I liked Arrow’s close relationship with Will and Brexley and the intrigue throughout the first half of the book. It ends in a cliffhanger, which I do not like. 3/5
Profile Image for nat _lovestoread.
947 reviews11 followers
November 27, 2021
A great retelling mashup!!! 🤩

Loved this book so much, Arrow is so strong, fierce and fights tooth and nail to protect her loved ones!!! 🥰
When the war between her kingdom and the Bruralians' takes on a strange turn, she starts to question what they have been told to believe 🤔, then strange creatures start to appear and now is so hard to know who is the real villan and whom to trust!!! 😫
Can't wait to read the next book in this fantastic new series after that cliffhanger, need to read more of Arrow and Einri!!! 😍❤
Profile Image for Jasmine.
48 reviews
September 9, 2024
A gender swap Robin Hood! Sign me up.

I truly enjoyed this one. Arrow is a strong protagonist and while flawed, she stays true to her convictions and her loyalty.

I love the addition of magic and werewolves and I'm rooting for the pairing of Arrow and Einri.

There are enjoyable side characters, and of course, trauma to over come but it's well paced and easily kept my attention.

There's an enjoyable twist about Arrow and her latent abilities , I'm assuming goes more in depth in the 2nd book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sasha.
400 reviews12 followers
November 25, 2021
DNF

I read to 50%. I disliked the MC. She is whinny. She does not listen and has dream of greatness. Every time she spoke, I heard nails on a chalkboard. I did not like her decisions. In addition, she is not a smart one. I could see many things coming a mile away that baffled her. I did like that she could fight. As for the storyline, predictable.

This twist of the Robinhood fairytale is a miss.
171 reviews
November 27, 2021
Blood Arrow was a great book - well except for the huge cliffhanger.!!
This is a cross between Little Red Riding Hood and Robinhood. You wouldn't think blending these two stories together would work, but Lela and Erin have done wonders.
You have Arrow (Red Ridinghood), Rekke, ( Big bad Wolf), Will, Little John, Tuck and Einri (Robin). Love the attraction between Arrow and Einri -love/ hate one.
If you are looking for the traditional versions - this is not it. Read this updated and blended version. You will love it.
Profile Image for Patricia Knight.
126 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2021
Blood Arrow is a phenomenal blend on the retelling of two classic fairy tales Little Red Riding Hood & Robin Hood with a twist and no damsels in distress here!! These two wonderful authors did a fabulous job!! Arrow is a badass MC heroine who can take care of herself, and wield a bow and arrow like nobody’s business!! Fast paced action filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end and leaving you wanting more!! I am anxiously awaiting Rogue Hunter.
Profile Image for Sara.
174 reviews3 followers
December 5, 2021
A heart stopping adventure!

So much story packed into this book, its hard to know where to start. Well written characters and world building with a lot of action and excitement as well as a dash of gut wrenching heartbreaking moments. Can't wait to find out what happens to Arrow next!
Profile Image for Cassandra O'Hara.
30 reviews
May 25, 2023
Such a great take on an old classic. Love Arrow the main character, she's so strong and smart, easy to love. Can see the slow burn side of it and I am so excited to see what happens there too. The world building is exciting as well. Great book to read, does end on a cliffhanger but just get the next book to start straight away 🤣
Profile Image for Dawn Cavenee.
523 reviews2 followers
October 10, 2024
So I had some issues with the story. She was gone for much too long - people would have noticed and it would have raised much suspicion., enough that she wouldn’t have been able to walk about freely. How did Bree get her bow back? How did the enemy not hear her screams after Will’s rescue? Too many things just didn’t make sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
51 reviews
December 2, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, it pulled me in from the very beginning. I loved the characters and it had great world-building. It has been great to see how Arrow grows just in this book alone. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Profile Image for Sarah Black.
157 reviews3 followers
December 4, 2021
Loved Arrow and her story!! Such a great beginning to what seems to be an amazing new series!! Cant wait to read the next book to see how Arrow grows to become the hero I believe she is meant to be.
Profile Image for Amanda Gregory.
493 reviews7 followers
December 16, 2021
Wow what a fantastic twist on Robin Hood. I love the characters and the storyline. I can’t wait to find out what happens next. I absolutely loved reading this story
Profile Image for Anmarie.
152 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2021
good story

Enjoyable and original plot with interesting characters.
Fresh take on Robin Hood and Little Red Riding hood stories.
Appreciated the inclusion of a map.
Profile Image for heather krym.
72 reviews
January 5, 2024
I really wanted to like this book. The story is interesting but I was so bored of the dialog. I really can't explain it, just wasn't really much depth to the book imo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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