One Red Arrow, Part 1

By: Caitlyn Grabenstein

Narrated by: Melissa Medína, John Scott Ballentine

In the fall of 1989, Jonny Langley, a hunter from Owlsbourne, Connecticut, vanished without a trace. Three days later, he returned—disoriented and with no memory of what had happened to him.

No one suspected that Jonny’s disappearance would be connected to the bodies discovered more than three decades later.

In 2024, burned-out artist Kay McQuinn returns to her decaying hometown. Owlsbourne is a shell of what it once was, its spirit gutted by the rise of BlackHole Pharmaceuticals—a corporation whose reach seems endless. With her life in freefall, Kay finds comfort in the woods and the McQuinn family tradition of bowhunting.

But one cold November morning, something finds her.

A surreal encounter leaves her with a strange, otherworldly power—and a glimpse into a darker reality just beneath the surface. As she struggles to understand what’s happening to her, she turns to Nick Knight, a steady childhood friend.

Together, they must unravel the legends of the woods, uncover the secrets of BlackHole, and confront a truth far more sinister than either of them could have imagined.

©2025 Caitlyn Grabenstein (P)2025 Caitlyn Grabenstein

A Cliffhanger of an Ending

This book had me from Chapter 1. If you are heading on a roadtrip or have time to listen to this all the way through, do it! if you stop along the way, it will make you definitely want to return to hear more. The narrator was fantastic. If I'm not mistaken, there will be a Part 2. And I can't wait!

Great World Building and Refreshing Concept

The book’s concept and world felt refreshingly original. The characters and their discovery of what their world was becoming really puts us in their shoes, we learn about the world as things happen throughout their experiences and journey through the story.

While the story resolves itself well enough for the ending of part one, it still leaves enough curiosity and desire to explore the world of this novel deeper in the second part! If super natural thrillers are your thing I’d recommend this one!

Once I started, I couldn’t stop!!

I’ve been a huge fan of Caitlyn Grabenstein’s artwork on Instagram for years, so I was incredibly excited when she announced her debut novel One Red Arrow, Part One. And wow—she did not disappoint.

Her storytelling is just as vivid and captivating as her art. The world she’s created is immersive, mysterious, and emotionally charged, with characters that stick with you long after you’ve finished reading. It’s beautifully written, with that same haunting, poetic energy that makes her visual art so compelling. This audio experience is so cinematic and made me feel like I was at a movie!

This first installment sets the stage perfectly. I was hooked from the first chapter and devoured it all in one day. Now I’m counting down the days until Part Two. If you're a fan of atmospheric fantasy with depth and soul, One Red Arrow, Part One is a NEED to listen to audiobook!

Such an amazing read from one of my favorite artists.

I was so happy with the entire book- storyline, characters, plot, visual descriptions, the narrator and sound effects added so much texture- but what I'm SUPER happy about was the way that Caitlyn's artwork makes me feel was the same way this book made me feel. I have synesthesia, so it's difficult to describe, but I absolutely binged this book. If you haven't checked out her artwork yet, DO IT NOW- @cult.class on Instagram. I can't wait for Part 2!!!!

More than I expected!

I really enjoyed this book. I thought I’d get syfy, but the book is so much more than that. Corporate conspiracy, syfy-mysticism, love, and betrayal.

I highly recommend this book and my instant gratification programmed self is bummed pt. 2 isn’t already out.

Also, check out the author’s art on instagram. It’s some of my favorite. @cult.class looking forward to the next book!