''I have lived my life by the lead and the arrow and I respect the trees and the animals they shelter''
I've been meaning to start another fantasy series and it seems like The Arrow of Artemis is going to be it. Set in a fantasy classical (Greek) world, this series follows Kyri on her journey as an Amazon! In the first heartbreaking chapter, we see Kyri leave her home and her sick father -with his blessings - to join Shana an Amazon she had rescued, in her home nation of Telequire, with some detours.
Kyri is a Fletcher, like her father and his father before him. Her arrows shoot true and had it not been for her leaving, she would have become a master Fletcher. But sexist laws in her region and her saving Shana lead her to leave to make a future and a new home. Shana, her new Amazon-sister is always by her side, encouraging her. She makes friends and family along two Amazon nations.
Kyri is a great Fletcher and a great archer. She has lived all her life surrounded by trees and knows to read nature, which leads her to partake in many extraordinary feats ... including acquiring a feline companion. Despite all this and all the people telling her how great she is and that surely Artemis is leading her, she doesn't believe in herself. She pushes herself to be better, greater, stronger - so that she gets her Amazon feather and mask, fulfilling her promise to herself and her father.
There were some great characters in this short book (just under 200 pages). I loved the banter between many characters especially Kyri and Shana and Kyri-Shana-Coryn. I also loved that the author did not pair up Kyri with the first female (Shana) or even her first dalliance but rather allowed for Kyri to focus on herself and develop different bonds of family and friendship.
I loved Shana but now I am used to liking more secondary characters. Apart from the thieves and guards, there wasn't a single character that I did not like in this book. Most characters, even the hard-headed ones were relatable. As Kyri and Shana reach the Telequire nation there was a slight shift between page-time with Kyri and Shana to page-time with Kyri and Ori, who is Kyri's love interest and very important to the nation.
At first, the introduction sounded too simple and some of the language sounded too English but as I got into it, it was a truly classical experience of candle marks and rabbit furs. I also learned new things that were used in the ancient world and new survival tips thanks to this book.
This book is slow-burn, which I enjoyed. As someone on the ace spectrum I can never understand characters that get together so soon after meeting. Kyri is about to turn twenty and has no sexual experience. In the book there were Amazons that followed Artemis' steps and it was not shameful.
Be aware that there is a lot of animal hunting in this book. I'm vegetarian but while it was sometimes graphic, I didn't mind because it was for survival. There's also killing in this book, but more for self-defence or protection of others. There was a great explanation about the ethics of killing people who hurt others; the killing was not done without conscious.
The Fletcher is very much the story of how Kyri got her Amazon feather and mask, but also it is the story of how she started to believe in herself and gained confidence. Kyri wanted to make it by herself and she does but her friends are there to help. The lack of a couple allowed Kyri to grow by herself first.
I recommend this book to historical fiction and fantasy lovers and those that especially love Amazons. I'd definitely keep up with this series.