If you love romantasy with the Princess x bodyguard trope, you’re gonna love this one! The slow burn forbidden romance was perfection, I adored the forced proximity and all of the yearning. It was one of the most tension filled books I’ve read in a long time. I was so excited for this one and it didn’t let me down! Yay for Torj and Wren!

From the start, I was absolutely invested in the world & characters, the first two chapters were outstanding in introducing us to our two pov characters. Wren & Torj were fully formed characters with their own motivations & problems before we even met them. I found this really immersive and well done, the events that brought these two together were sprinkled throughout the story. I really loved this, the relationships between all characters, main & side, were all grounded, well established and believable.

Wren's mastery of poison, outwitting her target and just general demeanour was fantastic and instantly cements her as a great protagonist. Torj, a battle-hardened warrior with more emotional depth than meets the eye. I really appreciated that both are already somewhat masters of their craft, sure there's room for improvement and space to learn but having well established characters was a nice change of pace.

We follow them as Wren goes to further her Alchemy knowledge at an academy whilst investigating an attack on one of the royals, using a unique form of alchemy that suppresses magic. Torj is responsible for protecting Wren due to her own royal lineage. He's also investigating the after effects of a scar he received from Wren during the war. The tension between the two is apparent from the beginning thanks to their previous history (which we glean through a couple of flashback chapters near the start) but with Torj's new position as her bodyguard this reaches new heights.

Overall, I really liked the protagonists, the world building, the romance and adored the cast of characters. I can't wait for the sequel and hope it keeps up with the fantastic quality of this one.

Also, I'd heard this was a spinoff in an existing universe. I haven't read any others in this series and it really stood well alone, so don't hesitate if that's something you're concerned about! It's only made me want to pick up the previous series but the character introductions and back stories are all well told naturally as you read.

Thanks to Netgalley & Pan Macmillan for this arc, I loved every page!

I'll confess that I've only read the first book in the Legends of Thezmarr series. I liked it well enough and will eventually get around to the rest of the series but admittedly I have tired of the wannabe female warrior falling for her teacher/ mentor who happens to one of the most (if not the most) powerful warrior out there trope so having the main character be an alchemist/ poisoner while not completely original was a nice change.

I liked Wren and Torj well enough and I thought they had decent chemistry but the book was let down by the plot. There is a new poison and they need a cure so Wren gets sent to the Alchemy Academy so she can find a cure. However it seems contrived, she goes to classes and then works on a cure by herself in her room. It doesn't seem like she even needs the help/ guidance of any of the professors/ her team and frankly if there wasn't the occasional comment on her progress, I'd have forgotten her purpose. As part of her time at the academy she has to face 'deadly trials' but considering she survived the horrors of war and then spent the next five years assassinating people the stakes were laughably low. It just felt like the academy was just a backdrop for Wren and Torj's romance. The cynical part of me thinks that given the academy trope is popular right now, the author just hopped on the bandwagon. It felt forced. Her former teacher was a professor and one of the guest lecturers was someone Wren fought alongside in the war so would have been more believable if Wren was a guest lecturer. Even better if the author scrapped the academy plot. I think it would have worked far better if the plot centred around Torj finding and dragging an unwilling Wren back to Thezmarr to find a cure for the mysterious new poison.

The other issue I had was characters acting like immature stroppy teenagers. At one point it was a struggle not to roll my eyes every few pages. I was shocked to find out towards the end that Wren was 30 and Torj was 40 years old! It meant that Torj's actions at the end of the novel were even more ridiculous.

Overall a decent fantasy romance and probably one of the better ones I've read in the past few months but felt very derivative. Saying that, I'm a sucker for a poisoner heroine so I'll continue with the series

As a fan of The Legends of Thezmarr series, I had high expectations for this book, and it did not disappoint. It was such a treat to dive back into this world with Wren and Torj, and I absolutely loved seeing how their relationship evolved. Their banter was such a highlight, adding a perfect mix of humour and heart to the story.

The setting was another major draw for me. I’m always a fan of books set in fantasy schools, and seeing Wren join Drevenor Academy with dreams of becoming a master alchemist was so exciting! I enjoyed exploring the academy’s inner workings and watching Wren navigate her way through the challenges she faced. Her growth, both in skill and character, kept me hooked from start to finish.

This book was so addictive—I couldn’t put it down! I’m already eagerly awaiting book two!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for this early copy to review.

4.5*

Oof this one hit me hard. I adored the Legends of Thezmarr series, so I of course, jumped at the chance to ARC read Iron and Embers. This one follows Wren and Torj in the aftermath and years following the war in the Legends of Thezmarr books. We see most of the original characters pop up, which made it feel familiar and cozy, like popping on a comfortable cardigan.. At least until Helen drops your heart from a great height.. Semi-comfortable then, for a while at least.

If you loved the Legends, you’ll love this. It’s just as gripping, just as action-packed and just as edge-of-your-seat emotional. I absolutely cannot wait to see how Wren’s story progresses. And Torj.. No, we can’t speak of Torj without tears. It’s too soon, man. Too soon..

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, Tor Bramble and Helen Scheuerer for gifting me this eARC.

I received an ARC directly from the publisher, Pan Macmillan, for Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer, and I was hooked by the premise: “I’ve made no secret of what I want... You. It’s always been you.” Plus, the beautiful fanart they sent me was a bonus. It took me a lot of time to read it because life happened, and then I had the publishing date right before me. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to get the ACL from Dreamscape Media, which helped me sit down and read and continue doing other things while listening.

I have to say—and beware, I will add spoilers [that this book felt like a second installment to me. I’m missing the whole shared history between Wren and Torj. I was hoping to see more of their connection, maybe with flashbacks or time jumps, to truly understand them beyond that whole "He wielded my magic like it was his" vibe, you know? While the tension was there and the tropes were perfectly written, I wanted to learn more about their backstory and connection. Perhaps there was a novella I missed, or maybe I just pushed through too quickly, but I couldn’t feel the bond as deeply as I’d hoped. (hide spoiler)]

Iron & Embers follows Wren Embervale, an alchemist-turned-assassin who finds solace only in seeking vengeance for the death of her friends. Though the wars of the past are over, her thirst for revenge is far from quenched. For years, she has been content with her poisons and potions for company, but when an unknown form of alchemy is used to attack a king of the midrealms, Wren’s time in the shadows comes to an end. She’s offered a place at the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor to find a cure for the dark magic threatening the kingdoms. To win her spot, she must conquer the Gauntlet—a grueling series of deadly trials that could cost her sanity or her life. Meanwhile, magic wielders are being targeted, and Wren becomes tangled in a dangerous web of deception and bloodshed that puts the entire realm at risk. The biggest threat, however, might come from Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired war hero assigned to protect her, who has hated her ever since she assassinated his last charge. Their shared history ignites a simmering tension that threatens to consume them both. In a world where peace is fragile, trust is scarce, and enemies lurk around every corner, Wren must decide: Will love heal all wounds—or will it become the most lethal poison of all?

Overall, while I appreciate the intriguing premise and the strong elements of tension and mystery, I just couldn’t connect with the character’s backstory and relationship as I’d hoped. I truly love Helen Scheuerer's work, so it saddens me to say that this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan, Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and Helen Scheuerer for sending me this ARC, ACL, and the beautiful fanart. I really appreciate the opportunity.

4⭐️

The premise: Thor who looks like the Witcher has to protect a princess who goes to Hogwarts for adults.

What‘s up with all these fantasy schools? Why are they so adamant on killing their students?

But I digress… This book takes place 5 years after the war and Wren (Thea‘s sister) spends her days poisoning her enemies. One of them is the charge of a certain Warsword and so Torj no longer has the hots for Wren, but „despises“ her instead. I loved the buildup of their relationship in the previous books and was so keen to read their story because they seem so much more interesting than Thea and Wilder. I wasn‘t disappointed.

It‘s less smutty than the first series (thank god) and while they have the hots for each other, the development of their relationship had a good pace.

The ending was solid and a bit of a twist and I‘m keen to see where this is going.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Tor Bramble for providing me with a digital review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

First of all, thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC!

When I first read the premise of Iron and Embers, I was completely sold and knew I wanted to read it. However, I somehow missed that the book is the first book in a sequel series to the Legend of Thezmarr series, which I haven’t ready (yet). I still gave Iron and Embers a try because most people claimed you could read it without the other series.

I immediately fell in love with the writing style and it was pretty easy to get into the world building, even without having read the Thezmarr series. I also really loved our female main character. Wren was such a badass and strong lead and I had so much fun reading her story. There were many great moments that kept me engaged and I also liked that she was kind of unpredictable. It was definitely refreshing and Wren really felt like her own character. I also liked our male main character, but I did not really feel connected to the romance. Maybe it’s because I haven’t read the prequel series and therefore haven’t seen the beginning of their story, but he was just too cocky in my opinion and their connection seemed to be solely based on their physical attraction. I still enjoyed their banter a lot though I didn’t necessarily root for them.

The plot was promising, and I loved the academia setting as well as the alchemy aspects. Nevertheless, the middle part really dragged on and altogether, the story could have been much shorter because barely anything happened. The ending was better and engaged me much more. Still, the “big reveal” at the end fell flat for me as it was extremely rushed.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Iron and Embers because of the well written characters and the complex world building. The romance disappointed me, but I truly believe that that is on me and that I should have read the prequel series first. (which I will do soon). Still, the pacing and the end reveal let me down, which is why I give Iron and Embers 3.5 stars. But this is definitely not the last book I’ve read by Helen Scheuerer.

"Iron and Embers" by Helen Scheuerer is a captivating addition to the fantasy genre, skillfully weaving together themes of resilience, love, and the struggle for power. Set in a richly constructed world.

Their writing is both lyrical and engaging, drawing readers into the intricate details of her world. The character development is one of the book's strongest aspects, with well-rounded characters who evolve throughout the story. I found myself invested not only in the protagonist's quest but also in the supporting cast, each bringing their own complexities and motivations to the narrative.

The world-building is impressive, with a well-thought-out magical system and a history that adds depth to the plot.

One of the standout features of "Iron and Embers" is its exploration of themes such as sacrifice and the moral dilemmas faced by those in power.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the books in The Legends of Thezmarr and was thrilled to be accepted for an ARC of Iron & Embers.
The Legends of Thezmarr is one of my favourite series so I was over the moon to be able to return to an amazingly crafted world, with exceptional characterisation and an engrossing plot. The twists and turns, the action and the slow burn will grab you and not let you go.
Helen Scheuerer has the ability to make you forget you are reading a book and she takes you by the hand to live in the world she has created, a rare talent.
Iron & Embers can be read easily without reading any of the Legends of Thezmarr books but why would you ?

This was my first Helen Scheuerer read, and it did not disappoint!
I will most definitely have to read The Legends of Thezmarr because wow I just need to know how Thea and Wilder came to be!

We follow, Wren, a poisoner/alchemist and Torj, the "Bear Slayer" Warsword who keep fighting their attraction for one another, but they could never work because she poisoned his old master and she's a royal. They are hoping to escape each other after fighting side by side in the previous war, however when Wren is finally accepted into a prestigious academy for alchemists, Torj is sent as her protector.

This academy is ruthless towards their students, so as Wren fights to survive, attempts to make friends and discovers many secrets, Torj wants to find out what happened between them during the war and why he still has scars (why I need to read the other series)! I did enjoy the world in this book however it did feel like I was missing on some important bits that were probably mentioned in her other series. I did find that sometimes how the characters thought of each other almost all the time felt a bit too much with how other bigger things were going around them, other than that I really enjoyed it! And that ending!! I will need the second one asap please!

Thank you to PanMacmillan and Netgalley for sending me an ARC!

Thank you, MacMillan and NetGalley, for this ARC—I really enjoyed it!
As far as I understand, this book is a sequel series to the Blood & Steel trilogy. I haven’t read the original trilogy, but that didn’t dampen my experience at all. In fact, I think if I had already been attached to the characters, this could have easily been a 5-star read for me. However, as a new story with fresh worldbuilding, it’s still a solid start. The author does a great job of welcoming new readers who haven’t read the previous series, making it accessible without feeling lost.

What I Loved:
📖 The Vibe: This book has an incredible atmosphere, and that’s what hooked me the most. I started it right after finishing Onyx Storm, and I couldn’t help but notice some similarities between Wren, our protagonist, and Violet (Fourth Wing). They both have a deep knowledge of poisons and lightning-based abilities. But that’s where the comparisons end.

⚗️ Wren’s Character: Wren is an Alchemist, the heir to a fallen realm, and completely devastated by grief and loss. She’s still mourning the deaths of one of her sisters and two of her best friends in the war (which I assume happened in the original series). Instead of moving on, she spends the next five years taking justice into her own hands, becoming the infamous Poisoner—hunting down those responsible for their deaths. She’s a brilliant, complex, and morally gray heroine, and I loved her.

⚔️ Torj’s Character: Okay, hear me out—this man walked straight out of a Henry Cavill Witcher fan cast, and I am absolutely not mad about it.
Torj is a warrior, one of the few personally chosen by the power of the gods. He’s a man obsessed, trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and the girl who captured his heart but refused to love him back. But, of course, fate has other plans, and he’s forced to become her personal guard when a new threat emerges against the royal line.

💀 Academia Vibes, Poisoning, & Romance: This book blends dark academia, alchemy, court intrigue, and forbidden romance in the best way. The angst was palpable—even though it reads like a slow burn, we know from the very first chapters that the characters are already in love. What makes the romance compelling is watching them navigate their fears and past wounds to see if they can truly be together.

And that ending… 👀 Now I just have to patiently (or not so patiently) wait for book two!

I've heard about this author a lot but this is the first book I picked up from them and i really enjoyed it. This book was everything i wanted in a fantasy romance and i cannot wait to continue the author's other books!

If you have not ready this book yet, you need to ASAP!

The characters, the plot were just perfection

Will 100% be recommending this to everyone I know

Cant wait for book 2!

I loved the Legends of Thezmarr, so I was really looking forward to this book. But I feel let down by it...

Firstly, Wren was super annoying. I know she suffered loss and is still working through her grief, but her character for most of the book was blah. In fact, I don't think I felt drawn to any of the characters. The only redeeming thing was that we got to see more of Kipp (who's hilarious)

Once we got past the constant repetitive mentions of what happened in the LoT series (which was a bit overkill - I'll accept some crossover, but way too much information was shared) I was expecting more plot from the Academy. I wanted to see more of what the Alchemists were doing, more rivalry, and way more in the trials and tests - but it felt like this was rushed through. I blinked, and it was graduation. A little underwhelming.

The end of the book was promising though; it looks like things could get a lot more interesting in book 2, but I'm not exactly jumping for joy at the thought of it. Will I read the second book? I'm not sure.

The bear slayer and the poisoner just yikes ! I confess this is a new author to me so I have not read anything that precedes it but wow this couple really don’t need any prequels !
A young woman determined to do right guarded by a male equally sure of his role in the war that should be over but clearly isn’t . Wren knows what she wants but sadly has no idea what is happening around her so should trust those closest or is that also a lie ?
I obviously have missed the books before this but found this easy to read and just fall into . Oh the angst, oh the trials and suffering and yet it all felt right and not rushed . I would be lying if I said it’s a happy ending but it certainly has garnered my interest in what happens next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts are honest and I believe fair

As a big fan of the Legends of Thezmaar series I was really excited to get this arc.
The story follows Wren and Torj who we met in the original series and saw snippets of their feelings for each other.
I really liked Helen’s writing, it flows so well off the page and she paces her characters relationships perfectly. Wren’s character really grew throughout the story as she overcame her grief and went from her path of vengeance to remember all the things she wanted out of life.
I’ve always been a big fan of Torj so I enjoyed reading his POV and getting to know him better. I quite liked exploring the alchemist’s collage- it’s not often we get a fantasy fmc that’s ‘softer’ or a healer rather than into the swords etc so I thought that was all interesting and unique.
The first half was definitely a bit slower and it felt like everything happened in the last 25% but it was an enjoyable read and I recommend it to Romantasy lovers!
Thank you to Panmacmillan and NetGalley for the ARC!

How do I even start this review! I am left in shards staring at the wall! This book is going to haunt my every thought for the next year or until the next one comes out!

My aching heart. Wren is such a gorgeous character. She is troubled and going through so much hurt and trauma. Displaying and using it in such a harmful way, through revenge. This is damaging herself. You see her slowly progress through the book and developing through these emotions and over coming a lot of this pain and grief.

The bear slayer is a brute of a man who is undeniably in love with wren from the beginning. But he can’t quite admit it because of the hurt and betrayal she has caused. Torj fights these feelings for her. Long distance, denial pinning for each other. It’s delicious.

This is so beautiful but be warned it going to make you hurt and feel oh so much emotion!

I loved ever minute of this book!

4.5 stars

IRON AND EMBERS is a tension-filled first book in a romantasy series with enemies to lovers in the aftermath of a war.

I really enjoyed the trope combination in this book. Wren and Torj have a past and very much fall into the enemies-to-lovers camp. There's forced proximity from Torj's (highly reluctant) position as her bodyguard - which also provides a very reasonable reason for him to resist his feelings for her.

This set up allows for a lot of tension between the two of them. The book plays with the idea that hate and love are separated only by a thin line. Wren is prickly and has a sharp retort ready much of the time. Torj is not about to stand for her nonsense - or let her role of Poisoner intimidate him. It's great chemistry, full of push and pull.

Wren and Torj are older protagonists than often typical for romantasy - mid to late thirties, I believe. I liked reading about people who have seen a fair bit of life and have had relationships (of lesser degrees) so know what they don't want in a partner. They also have to reckon with the aftermath of the war and the paths that's taken them on since. I particularly liked how dark a turn Wren's life had taken.

The book is set around Wren training to be an alchemist, which my STEM side loved. It's a deadly school - probably shouldn't pass any inspections, like most magical schools! It was a nice change of stakes from the previous series. While there are rumblings of something big going on in the world at large, this book is not focused around wraiths and a world-ending danger, but rather passing a year of school. It helped it feel very intimate.

There are several returning characters from The Legends of Thezmarr, with Kip and Cal having the biggest role. I really like their dynamic, which is playful/exasperated, and acting as very irresponsible siblings. I hope we eventually get a book focused on them. Wilder and Thea are also featured, but in a minor role - and as the wiser couple who have been through drama. It was nicely done to have the realistic continuity of being in the same world (so these two would be around) but without letting them overpower the narrative.

The book, naturally, ends on a big relationship shift that will be a lot of fun to see play out in the next book.

What a book. I loved Wren and Torj journey. Wren is travelling through grief and anger, and I loved seeing herself heal with a supportive man by her side. Torj is definitely HUSBAND material and I loved him from the very first page.
It’s a beautiful story about lost, grief, trauma healing and obviously: love.

What to expect:
⚔️Enemies to lovers (kinda 👀)
⚔️ Bodyguard x Ward
⚔️ Alchemist x Warsword
⚔️ Healing journey (grief, trauma…)
⚔️ Deadly trials
⚔️ He fell first (AND HARD)
⚔️Alchemist academy

‘It’s about the person who’s holding your hand at the end. The person you can’t let go of, no matter how hard you might have tried.’
Such an emotional rollercoaster 😭
HELEN I NEED BOOK TWO NOW !!! 😡

Thanks NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Helen Scheuerer for this early copy 🥹❤️