What an incredible book!
I know I might be biased, since I absolutely ADORE Helen Scheuerer's work, and the Legends of Thezmarr is in my top 10 reads of the year.
So i was waiting for this book to come out, and it did not disappoint!
This book is set 5 years after the Legends of Thezmarr's last book, so I really recommend to read those incredible four books before embarking on this journey.
Wren is an Alchemist, but also has a secret identity as the Poisoner, seeking revenge after some very traumatic events that take place in the Legends of Thezmarr. She gets accepted to a very prestigious alchemy school, but being a very important person in her realm, she gets assigned a bodyguard, and who else then Troj Elderbrook, our own very silver-haired warsword. I love the absolute tension that's between Wren and Troj, the fact that they never acted on their feelings and they "hate" each other is ADORABLE, and the one shared bathing chamber might be my new favourite trope.
The spice was absolutely DELICIOUS, the story, flashbacks and foreshadowing were amazing, and the ending left me destroyed.
Also, Cal and Kipp are back!!! I love them! :D
I need the Second book, right now!

~ this is my new favourite fantasy book!! ♡ ~

“iron & embers” is a captivating fantasy novel set in a world that is suffering with the aftermath of the shadow war. the story revolves around two rivalling characters, a future queen & her bodyguard.

wren embervale; deadly assassin. poisoner. alchemist. future queen of delmeria.
what an incredible protagonist. she is the embodiment of rage. her extensive knowledge in poisons & cures lands her in the ancient academy of drevenor & is tasked to find a cure to the dark magic that threatens the kingdoms.

torj elderbrock; the silver-haired bear slayer. a saviour of the midrealms. warsword. bodyguard.
torj was an absolute dream of a mystery to read about. him & his charming words will plague my brain for the rest of my days. he is mysterious, dangerous & flirty all in one.

this book was so brilliantly captivating & the imagery was incredible. the fantasy element was so, so well written and beautifully executed. there is such an ethereal quality to helen’s writing.

the romance was sizzling and filled with tension & pining. the slow burn was almost tortuous! the banter!! they bounce off each other SO well! i loved this book so much!

book 1 isn’t even officially released yet and i’m already prepared to beg for book 2! became you see that ending? yeah i need 3-5 business days to recover😩‼️

a huge thank you to panmacmillan & bookbreakuk for sending me a gorgeous proof copy of “iron & embers” which is set to release on 06/02/2025 ❤️

I read this book as part of a BookBreak readalong, and all I can say is WOW! Fans of Fourth Wing will absolutely love this—it delivers those irresistible fantasy college vibes but with a fresh twist that feels completely unique.

The story centers on Wren, an alchemist—a concept I adored as a scientist. Her alchemy skills add a fascinating layer to the plot, but what truly hooked me was her complexity. Wren is not just grappling with the intricacies of alchemy and poison; she’s also haunted by the shadow of a past war and her status as the descendant of a royal line. This legacy puts her in constant danger, requiring protection from Torj, a fearless warrior with whom she shares a complicated history.

The close-proximity dynamic between Wren and Torj is executed to perfection. It’s charged with tension, vulnerability, and chemistry that will keep you turning the pages.

This book isn’t just a fantasy adventure—it’s an emotional ride packed with action, intrigue, and heart. If you’re looking for your next obsession, this is it. Add it to your 2025 TBR, and let’s reconvene in February to gush about it together!

In the meantime, I’ll be diving into The Legends of Thezmarr series to uncover more about this incredible world. Don’t miss out!

oh my god. what an amazing story this was.

I have to begin by saying that I was not familiar with the original series, ‘The Legends of Thezmarr’, before reading this. I know it’s not required but I recommend for anyone wanting to pick up ‘Iron & Embers’ to at least consider reading the original series first. the beginning felt a bit like starting a book in the middle of the series and having no idea who the characters are or how they know each other.

that being said, once I got past this initial hurdle, I couldn’t put this down. the plot is so gripping and the characters so well fleshed-out that you have no choice but to be fully invested in the story.

I really appreciated the fact that Wren and Torj had a solid history, a foundation which was used to build their relationship on. also, the few spicy scenes are incredibly well written 🔥

regarding the setting, having the plot play out at an academy for alchemists was a really nice touch, one that’s not often encountered in fantasy books. I do wish the Gauntlet would have been a tad bit more complex.

I was initially thinking of giving this 4 stars but what makes the book shine is the immaculate slow burn. the tension was everything. it truly sets the book as one of the greats, in my opinion.

and that ending 😫 I’ll be waiting patiently for the next book.

Iron & Embers is a spinoff of the Legends of Thezmarr series and follows Wren and Torj.

Now, let me start by stating that I couldn’t get enough of Wren and Torj in the Legends of Thezmarr series. They were EVERYTHING! I had such high hopes for their own story and maybe those expectations were too high because this book fell flat for me. I really enjoyed that they actually got to know each other and didn’t immediately get together after the war and the passage of time. However, I felt like everything was just low stakes and filler. Even the soul bond and then Torj breaking it…. Not enough time had passed from us learning about it to when it was wielded as a weapon with an immediate killing blow. I feel like we didn’t get enough time for anything to truly matter or feel grave enough or important enough.

'She needed to face her monsters alone. And only once she'd fought them amid the flames could she rise from the ashes.'

In this story, we follow Elwren Embervale, an alchemist who became an assassin after the shadow war. She lost friends, family and herself in this war and now only lives for one thing: revenge. She becomes known as "the Poisoner" and is determined to kill everyone she hods responsible for the death of her loved ones. After a few years of this life and unforeseen events, she is offered a place in Drevenor, an ancient alchemy academy. While in Drevenor she needs to not only find a cure to the dark magic threatening the kingdoms, but also confronts her past while being forced to reconnect with Torj Elderbrock, our MMC, a war hero who has the task to keep her safe.

The relationship between Wren and Torj is the definition of slow burn. I loved that they have already known each other for years at the beginning of the book, but still have so much to discover about themselves and each other. There is a lot of tension between them and they both are very guarded at the beginning.

I loved the academic setting and the different trials the students had to go through. If you love the "found family trope" then you will love this book. Kip and Cal were so funny and it made me want to read the previous series to be able to see more of them.

This book is fast paced and I loved seeing Wren's evolution and how she was dealing with loss and grief while learning to trust others and her heart again.

I'm not a big fan of the ending; in some ways it felt like we were back to square one, but I'm excited to see what will happen in the next book!

Thank you Helen Scheurer, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-ARC of Iron & Embers :)

*ARC READ

“In the aftermath of the war, where the world was muted in ash..
𝑾𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒓.”

I have no words for how much I loved this book and I am so thankful to have been approved for this arc read, as Iron & Embers is my most anticipated release of 2025.

From the very beginning of The Legends of Thezmarr series I was completely invested in the story unfolding for Torj and Wren, which this book gave me everything I wanted and more for the two of them.

I absolutely adore Wren Embervale. She is such a strong and resilient fmc, yet remains kind and compassionate despite all she has been through. Torj Elderbrook is just😮‍💨 I loved him before but getting his pov and seeing just how protective, loving and supportive he is for those around him that he cares for is so heartwarming (he’s officially in the top 3 book boyfriends).

The ending though!?😭 not quite sure I can handle waiting so long for book two when this is yet to be released!

Honestly though, already I cannot wait to read this book when it officially releases in February 2025 (UK) and I recommend everyone reads The Legends of Thezmarr before then so they can enjoy the truly wonderful world Helen Scheuerer has created with her writing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a fan of The Legends of Thezmarr series, I was excited for this one.

The book starts 5 years after the last series but is now told from the perspectives of Wren and Torj. After the Shadow wars and losing so many people close to her, Wren has spent the years since off on her own, taking revenge in her own way.

A threat against a royal brings Wren and Torj back together as she makes her way to Drevenor, the prestigious school of alchemy. There, she joins other novices as they go through their learning, all leading up to gauntlet at the end to determine which novices can proceed to work their way up the ranks. The outside threat against royals also brings threats to Wren as the heir of Delmira, even whilst within the walls of Drevenor.

I loved this book and finally got more of Torj, who was a favourite of mine from the first series. Seeing him and Wren fight their feelings and each other whilst also working together to fight external threats hooked me! Even if the ending of the book broke my heart and has me needing the next book already!

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the arc of this book for my honest review ❤️

This review has been added to goodreads and will be added to retailers on release.

Set 5 years after the events in the final book of the Legends of Thezmarr series, Wren is struggling to deal with the aftermath of the shadow war, and the deaths of her childhood friends, Sam and Ida, and her sister Anya.

I loved being back in this world and, although you don’t need to read The Legends of Thezmarr series before picking this up, I would recommend it, as many of the characters (including the FMC and MMC) appear in those books, adding to the nostalgia/found family aspect.

There are a couple of central plot elements that sit alongside the relationship development of Wren and Torj. One is Wren’s attendance at a prestigious academy for alchemists, and the trials the novices must face in order to graduate, and the second is the “People’s Vanguard”, a group protesting the power of the rulers, who believe that “Magic, in the hands of the elite few, is an imbalance in power.” This book, like The Legends of Thezmarr series, strikes a good balance between plot and romance.

I love Cal and Kipp being key characters in this book, although I do find it hard to really buy into Kipp as a master strategist as we see the tavern seeking, fun loving side of him, but are only told about him being a strategist, we don’t ever really see it. Of the new characters introduced, I’m really intrigued to know more about Zavier, which I think (after the dramatic events at the end) will come in book two.

- Academy setting
- Trials
- Fast paced
- Short chapters
- Bodyguard trope
- One horse trope

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-ARC of Iron & Embers.

Iron and Embers is the first book by Helen Scheuerer that I’ve read, having since discovered that it is part of a spin off from her original series Legends of Thezmarr. I can truly say that from the start I was totally pulled into Wren and Torj’s story and didn’t find myself at a loss or completely confused for not having read the first series. Although I definitely intend to correct that omission!

Wren’s life and family were devastated by the war and five years later, Wren is wreaking her revenge on those who, in her opinion, never answered for their war crimes as the ‘Poisoner.’ She lives a solitary life mourning the family and friends lost and taken from her during the war, pushing away all who attempt to get close. The solitary hope in her heart is that one day she will be accepted to study as an alchemist at Drevenor Academy but, she knows that right now that hope is blocked, however, following the war not all are content with the outcome and a new threat to the realm and those who rule it has arisen from the ashes of destruction.

Wren unexpectedly finds herself at Drevenor Academy, on a mission to save the realm and discover the secrets of her enemies, posing as an alchemy student but, much to her dismay, she’s not alone on this mission, with Torj assigned as her bodyguard. The last time Torj and Wren worked together was during the war when Torj fought as a Warsword in partnership with Wren, channeling her magic through him. And thus begins a scorching romantasy, filled to the brim with a love/hate relationship, forced proximity, scorn and banter and explosive chemistry amidst a truly magical academia setting.

I absolutely loved Wren’s character, stubborn, determined, scarred and beautiful, walled off and flawed, she is in direct contrast to Torj. He is most definitely the grumpy warrior type, honest and truthful, emotionally aware where Wren is walled off, and of course conflicted - torn between his mission and his feelings! I was totally rooting for them to admit their feelings but, I also absolutely loved their slow burn, spicy and action filled path to romance!

This series has totally introduced me to a fascinating world, Scheuerer has established a multi faceted magical world that transports you between battleground, villages and academic settings. And tells an enthralling story that grips, hooking you in from start to devastating end.

Iron and Embers is an epic romantasy that transports you to a magical post war world and a truly scorching plot that is totally irresistible!

Thank you so much to Helen and the publishers for approving me to read this ARC

❤️‍🔥 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆... 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 ❤️‍🔥

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️

I was a ＨＵＧＥ fan of The Legends of Thezmarr series but this….. Helen has outdone herself. This book is 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 and I’m absolutely FERAL for Torj Elderbrock.
I will be reading again with you all on the official release date.

Oh wow! I wasn’t ready…..

I don’t even know where to begin, but I guess I could start but saying Helen is quickly becoming one of my absolute favourite authors. The epic love stories, the action, the world building, it’s all just perfect and the reason I love fantasy romance so much. Her writing has this amazing ability to suck you in and make you forget you are even reading.

It was so great to go back into this world and I’m so glad some of the beloved characters from the legends of thezmar played so much of an active role in this story. I can’t wait to see where else this story goes and I just know it’s going to blow the damn roof off- as always!

I will forever be obsessed. Will I still go right on ahead and buy a physical copy when it comes out? of course. One must always have the trophy for something this good.

Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending me this ARC!

Iron and Embers is the first book in a new Romantic Fantasy series from Helen Scheuerer, a spin off series of her Legends of Thezmarr (but it can be read separately) and OMG Helen really outdid herself with this book, I loved Wren and Torj’s story and already can’t wait for book 2.

5 years after the war Wren is a Poisoner, secretly killing people who never answered for their war crimes and still struggling with grief about her dead friends and family and pushing everyone away. When she is sent on a mission to the Drevenor Academy to become an alchemist and find out more about a new dangerous substance threatening the royals, Torj is assigned as her bodyguard and their forced proximity makes their scorching attraction to each other come back to live, even when they hate each other after everything that happened in the past.

I loved the Legends of Thezmarr series and it was amazing to come back to this fascinating world and I really liked the academy setting. I was hooked from the first page, the plot is interesting and perfectly paced and all the slowly uncovered secrets and plot twists had me on the edge on my seat. I must admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of Wren in the previous series, but I absolutely loved her here. She was so strong, but in a completely different way than her sister, she was always so stubborn and determined to archive her goals. Torj was an amazing MMC, he was a grumpy warrior, but the way he always supported and put Wren first was beautiful, despite their complicated history they were truly perfect for each other and I was rooting for them to find a way to be together and give in to their feelings and I loved their slow burn and spicy romance, they both have gone through a lot and I just want for them to be happy and together. I also loved seeing all the familiar faces, I missed them and hope to see them again in book 2.

Iron and Embers is an amazing romantasy book and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys this genre. And after that cliffhanger, the next book can’t come soon enough!

Iron & Embers is a spellbinding start to The Ashes of Thezmarr series, blending dark magic, sizzling enemies-to-lovers tension, and high-stakes action. The chemistry between Wren and Torj is electric, driven by mutual disdain and undeniable attraction. Scheuerer crafts a world filled with intrigue, danger, and passion, with a heroine who is as fierce as she is vulnerable. If you’re into enemies-to-lovers, dark magic, and a world on the edge of war, Iron & Embers is your next must-read.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Unputdownable!Iron & Embers is a stunning read that had me hooked from the very first page. The world-building is rich and immersive, pulling me into a world of magic, danger, and unforgettable characters. The plot is full of twists, and I loved how the tension built with every chapter. The characters are complex and their journeys are both emotional and empowering. If you enjoy a story with action, heart, and a bit of magic, Iron & Embers is definitely a must-read. I loved every moment of it!

<b>To the women who rewrite the rules, one page at a time. Your potential is the plot twist the world never saw coming.
</b>
This was so addicting!
Short chapters, self-defence lessons, forced proximity, slow-burn HIGH tension, academy setting, dangerous trials!!

Wren is the lost Delmirian heir who’d refused her throne and killed the traitorous former Guild Master of Thezmarr.
Five years after the Shadow War, Wren is known as the Poisoner, administering vengeance for the corruption in the noble houses and politicians.
Following an assassination attempt against a member of royalty, Wren is assigned a bodyguard - Torj, the silver-haired Bear Slayer, a saviour of the midrealms; and someone she has a testy history with.

Bodyguards should not fraternise with their charges, but Tori and Wren are connected by more than their duty…

HE CALLS HER EMBERS!!! The sweetest nickname.
They are fire and ice. They know exactly how to get under the other’s skin. They also care deeply for the other but don’t dare admit it.

<b>Elwren Embervale might have been his, but she also belonged wholly to herself.
</b>
Like I said, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. There is dual-pov, great banter, found family, dealing with grief and guilt.

Wren is also such an introvert and clutter bug, yet the academy setting makes her go outside her comfort zone and start to rely on others, make friends, not poison visitors to her rooms.

<b>‘All that anger has to go somewhere, Elwren. To turn it inwards is to poison oneself as effectively as taking a dose of your beloved nightshade. To turn it outwards is to eventually poison the ones you care for. Either way, a path of destruction is created, and you will be at the helm.’
</b>
I admit, I saw the plot twist I saw coming miles away and actually included it in my review notes before I reached the end and realised it was a huge spoiler.

The ending…. UGH!
I hate it when romantasy books do this! I think this almost made it lose a whole star, but in the end I rounded up… this might change.

This is a follow on from her previous series from what I understand. I have not read that. Whilst I did feel like I missed out on Easter Eggs and previous connections, you can jump into the series without reading the prior. Just be aware it will spoil everything about the previous series considering it occurs five years after!

Arc gifted by BookBreak Panmacmillan.

A complete whirlwind of a story that brought with it risk, danger, slow burn romance and humour throughout. Wren is a woman you can’t help but root for - she’s skilled with alchemy, determined, dangerous and powerful. She’s not someone you want to mess with and you certainly don’t want to be on her bad side. I loved that this story was dual POV, meaning we also had plenty of insight into Torj’s thoughts and feelings as well as understanding a few secrets that could change the course of his changing relationship with Wren. I’m always here for a story where the mmc is completely gone for the fmc and this one delivered!

Outside of the romance, I enjoyed experiencing Drevenor through Wren’s eyes from her first day in the deadly and competitive school for the most promising novice alchemists. In her time there we get to see Wren’s character grow and change, building friendships, altering her priorities, and relaxing back into a life with people - ones who care for her. Though I haven’t read The Legends of Thezmarr series set five years before this book, it’s not necessary to enjoy this book (though I’m definitely circling back to them since I enjoyed this so much). Within this story we have flashbacks that add context to different relationships in the book and to the character’s history, offering enough understanding without delving too much into the past. It was nice to see the bond between old friends, with Kipp and Cal (a strategist and Torj’s Warsword apprentice) bringing some lightness and humour to what can be a fairly dark story with danger, and past trauma shadowing the characters.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this - the chemistry, the mysteries, the characters! Plus, with an ending like that, I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book. At least it gives me time to pick up the first series and immerse myself in Wren’s sister’s story.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

FIVE STARS.
This is my favourite book in the Thezmarr world. I absolutely devoured it in 2 days and I loved every second.
Having alchemy as the weapon of choice in this story made me feel represented as someone who is more academic than physical (in real world scenarios, never been in a battle).
The tension was absolutely insane and I would liken this book to ACOSF in the sense that Wren battles inner demons whilst denying herself the relationship she’s yearned for.
I loved seeing the Thezmarr characters grown up, especially Cal and Kipp.
You don’t need to have read her first series to appreciate the plot, as all relevant information is presented steadily in a way that enriches the story (no info dumping).
I DID NOT predict the ending and I have actually cried and been left reeling.
I loved it all.

Now THIS is what Romantasy is all about. Perfect tension, amazing world building, great characters, and nail biting high stakes! I enjoyed every second. My only issue was that it needed a bit more information on how their magic worked and how it manifests differently in each character. I couldn't quite grasp other than Wren's power being storm magic- if everyone else had storm magic too? Or is it different per family? I hope the next book clarifies this.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025, and to have the opportunity to read it early in 2024 is beyond special.
The previous series, The Legends of Thezmarr, was highly enjoyable and through them I fell in love with both Wren and Torj. I've been so excited to see how their story would play out.
Let me tell you - Helen Scheuerer has the formula for an incredible romantasy perfected! The longing, the tension, the high stakes drama. It's all here and done so well. There is so much brewing under the surface of these characters, especially in the aftermath of the war which takes place five years prior to this book. I really felt the personal stories of the characters was interspersed well with the action throughout the book, and we also get a healthy dose of some fantastic side characters. Wren has already secured herself the spot as my favourite character from both series. So many elements of her journey and her reactions to things are incredibly relatable and I felt them to my core.
I loved the strong ending and I am genuinely so excited to see where the story goes!

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan for the arc via NetGalley and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on this book.