Welcome, reader, to the Kithlands and beyond!

It’s today! It’s today!

The cover reveal for THE ARROW AND THE ALDER is finally here! And it is just STUNNING if we do say so ourselves! We’ve been SO impatient to show you all this cover. Our very own Micheline Ryckman created both the beautiful cover design and the hidden cover design. It’s been such a struggle to keep this one a secret from you all!

And preorders are open NOW! Click HERE to order.

Here’s the official blurb:

Josephine doesn’t trust authority, particularly that of the immortal kith. They’re devious, cruel, and as far as she’s concerned, they deserve the curse that’s plagued their kingdom with mists and monsters. So when the High Lord visits Josephine’s village, looking for an enchanted coat—a coat she discovers buried beneath the floorboards of her home—she’s unwilling to hand it over. She wants answers the High Lord won’t give. When he threatens her family, she flees with the coat to protect them, accidentally stumbling into the cursed kith kingdom itself, and into the hands of a mysterious stranger.

The kith prince, Alder, has been imprisoned for two years, and only just escaped. He wants nothing more than to return home, but he’s a disgraced prodigal, and to show his face in the Weald Court again, he must earn back the queen’s trust. When he overhears the High Lord speaking of an enchanted coat that contains the very light stolen from their lands, he knows it’s his chance for atonement. But obtaining the coat from the mortal girl is proving more difficult than anticipated. She’s the only one who can touch it, but journeying with her could expose secrets he wants to keep hidden.

With the High Lord in pursuit, Josephine and Alder must work together, and the more Josephine learns about the coat, the more she questions everything she’s ever believed about her heritage, and the kith. Meanwhile, the curse is spreading into mortal lands, and if they don’t uncover how to release the coat’s power soon, there will be nothing left of either kith or mortal worlds.

THE ARROW AND THE ALDER is a classic, ADULT closed-door romantic fantasy (with YA cross-over appeal). This enemies-to-lovers tale features a rebel huntress, a fugitive prince, and a curse that will consume their worlds.

And Don’t Forget About the Preorder Goodies!

While The Arrow and the Alder doesn’t release until May 6th, 2025, and you’ve got plenty of time to preorder, the FREE preorder goodies are limited! The first 75* customers who preorder any physical edition from our website will receive 3 art print postcards with their book, absolutely free!

Check out the image below for a preview of these awesome goodies!

*All copies purchased from Whimsical Publishing will receive a signed bookplate.

NEW PREORDER FEATURE: SPRAYED EDGES!

That’s right – for the first time ever, Whimsical is offering sprayed edges!! You may preorder The Arrow & The Alder with standard white edges OR with gorgeous shimmery teal sprayed edges. (Note: The image above is a digital mockup, and the actual color may vary depending on screen options.)

This option is only available during the pre-order period. Please read the FAQs below, and if your question isn’t answered, don’t hesitate to reply to this email.

What editions can I get with sprayed edges? At this time, we are only offering sprayed edges on our Whimsical exclusive edition.

Is there a price difference? Yes. The exclusive edition with sprayed edges will be $45 USD plus any applicable shipping.

What is the process/turn-around time? When preorders close, the books will be shipped to be sprayed. The shop we’ve selected to work with requires up to 8 weeks to complete the work and return the books to us. Your book, plus any other item ordered with it, will be shipped to you once it has returned to our distributor (aka Christina, our Shop Manager).

Why can’t they be shipped to me directly after being sprayed? There are several logistical reasons why we’ve chosen to do it this way. Ultimately, we thought it was best to have the books sent back to us before sending them out to you to ensure quality control.

Can I get sprayed edges if I order from Amazon? No. Sprayed edges are only available for purchases from our website.

Will sprayed edges be available after the book is released? No. Sprayed edges will only be available as a preorder. Once the book is published on May 6th, 2025, the option for sprayed edges will be removed from the website.