Known primarily for her Winternight trilogy of fantasy novels,[2] which are set in medieval Russia and have garnered nominations for Hugo and Locus Awards, she is also the author of the Small Spaces series of horror novels for middle grade children.

The first in the latter series, Small Spaces, won the Vermont Golden Dome Book Award in 2020.

[3] She attended Middlebury College, graduating with a degree in Russian and French in 2011.

[1] After graduating, and uncertain what she wanted to do, Arden took a job on a farm in Hawaii.

"[4] Arden's writing is influenced by J.R.R Tolkien, Mary Renault, Naomi Novik, Patrick O'Brian, Dorothy Dunnett, Diana Gabaldon, and Robin McKinley.