This is my first book and series by this author but it will not be my last. I will check on other series by this author.
A world built on magic and alchemy. Royal houses to be protected by the Warsword.
Embervale must attend the academy of Drevenor and conquer the Gauntlet.
A wonderful love story runs through this first in a new series and the friends made along the way.
Cannot wait for the next one.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

Y‘all the way I devoured this book😍 ABSOLUTELY loved every minute of it!

This is the first book in The Ashes of Thezmarr trilogy and features the story of Wren and Torj.

This new trilogy is intended to stand on its own and there are little recaps and flashbacks sprinkled within the book, so you can definitely get away with reading just this book. But to get the whole experience, I would recommend reading The Legends of Thezmarr series first, it’s an amazing series!

In this one we follow the story of Wren, an alchemist turned Poisoner who is out for vengance after the events of the war and Torj the silver-haired Warsword also know as the Bear Slayer.

They have amazing banter and I would definitely consider this a sloooow burn, but the reward was so so worth it 🫠
There were honestly so many amazing scenes and I had a really hard time picking my favorite quotes. We get the bodyguard trope with a super protective MMC, a „f*ck it“ scene that makes your toes curl, a morally grey FMC and twists and turns with an ending that leaves you staring at the wall for a little bit.
And don’t even get me started on all the beloved characters that we already know from the previous books 😍 Like I’ve said, I loved every minute of it and can’t wait to see how the story continues 🖤


I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much!

4.5⭐️ 3🌶️

- Forbidden love
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Bodyguard / charge
- Touch-her-and-💀
- Dark academia
- Forced proximity
- Heir to the throne

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Elwren Embervale has many identities, Princess, War Hero, Storm-Wielder, Poisoner, Assassin. However when she is offered a place at the prestigious academy of Drevenor, she is a step closer to her childhood dream of becoming a Master Alchemist. It comes at a cost however as she discovers the infamous Warsword, Bear Slayer, (and her nemesis) Torj has been assigned as her bodyguard. As she tackles a series of deadly challenges, dark and sinister events at the Academy start to unfold. But as an inexplicable force brings Wren and Torj closer, it’s clear it’s not just Wren’s life on the line but her heart and very soul…

Firstly, this is such a great Romantasy, I really enjoyed it! But I straight up made an error here in not reading Blood and Steel first. It’s a standalone series, sure, and it’s not that the book doesn’t make sense having not read the previous books as it recaps well, but it clearly beneficial to have read the other books first and this would probably have enriched my reading experience. This book is annoyingly good, so be aware if you pick it up you’re likely unknowingly committing to back tracking and reading a whole four part series as well!

The start is quite busy, covering off past context flicking between, past/ present to fill in the gaps for the lemons like me who didn’t read the books in chronological order. But you’re quickly sucked into the rich plot and Scheuerer swiftly builds a magical world with an intriguing array of characters.

The book alternates between Torj and Wren’s POV. The chapters are short so you’re flitting from one to the other but I really enjoyed this fast pacing, it means the plot unfolds and the tension builds very quickly. It’s not wholly clear and convincing why Wren and Torj are actually enemies to start with, but the transition to lovers was hot so honestly who cares! I love how their relationship develops over the course of the book and can’t wait to see where book two of the series takes it.

Aside from the romance there’s plenty of adventure, mystery and intrigue. I’m always all in for any book with dark academia! The plot has heaps of potion making and student politics with deadly trials thrown in.

Iron & Embers is such a great read, if you’re looking for a good solid Romantasy it really ticks all the boxes! I’m already looking forward to book two, but until then I’ll be swiftly picking up The Legends of Thezmarr to catch up…

Helen Scheuerer has a real gift for creating incredible romantasy. She is one of my favourite authors and I promise you that you wont be disappointed. But there is a warning, once you start you will not be able to put this book down. So be prepared to put aside anything else until you’ve finished it.

I loved the premise for this, the characters are so well thought out, the plot was interesting and layered. This book has so many strengths with complex historical world building. The spice ruined it for me personally, which I never thought I would say, especially for these tropes, maybe just not my style for descriptors but it felt very teenage and could do with some variance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Scheuerer and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Good plot and easy to follow with some great world building. I’d definitely recommend picking this one up, even if I would have liked a little more exploration of the characters and their development

To say I am unwell over this book is an understatement. I love Helen Scheuerer’s writing and this by far has been her best yet and I didn’t think anything could EVER beat the legends of Thezmarr. I loved this book whole heartedly.

I went into this eARC missing the characters from the previous series and wondered how Helen would tie them into the next and she did not disappoint. I loved everything from the beginning and not giving anything away if you have not read her first series please do. I hate seeing readers read this without no context to her writing or what came before.

I LOVED this whole book. Wren and Tori may have surpassed as my favorite couple. I loved the whole bodyguard trope that came with this but I also just love Wren as a character. I feel that this book had such a unique plot and Helen carried this out so well.

I thoroughly am counting down the days to book 2.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and PanMacMillan for this early eARC for this wonderful book. I can’t wait to help Helen reach her targeted audience and get just how well done this book is out there. She is a wonderful author and I am so thankful that a publisher took notice to her.

Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4 stars rounded up!

This book had an extremely compelling premise, an interesting FMC and a nice start. I was genuinely enthralled by everything happening and by the promise of the whole 'curse' thing going on with the main couple. The only things (details, in the grand scheme of things) that stopped me from giving this book 5 stars were that, for one, the relationship and the MMC sometimes fell a bit flat - mainly considering their obvious potential - and that, for another, there were too many loose ends to my liking. I am completely aware there will be more books in this series, but I still felt like this was more of a prequel than a first book of a series. Would also like to mention that I'm a bit at a loss to the MMC's actions in the last chapters? And there was an attempt at explaining them but I felt like it didn't really work that well? Can't wait to see what happens next, to be honest.

All in all, I still enjoyed this book quite a lot - even if it did have the misfortune of being read during my last week of college - and I will be posted to read whatever this author releases next (hopefully the sequel to this book because, once again, there is a lot to be resolved).

If there's one book you need to read in 2025, it has GOT to be a Helen Scheuerer book. When I tell you I have loved every single one of her books so far, I am not kidding you. Helen must put real magic in her books to make them so unbelievably addicting.

In Iron & Embers, we follow Wren, a tortured soul, through alchemy school to help find a cure to the dark magic threatening the realms. However, Wren is no innocent alchemist, but instead an assassin who poisons her enemies for revenge. Whilst battling her past trauma, she is also resisting attraction to her handsome bodyguard, Torj, who she shares a tension filled history with from five years ago.

I loved every second of Iron & Embers. Diving back into this world after loving Blood & Steel was so fun and exciting, but also refreshing because we finally learnt more about Wren, and also the feared warrior, Torj. From start to finish, we saw the push and pull between our two main characters, as well as the hatred and the love they both felt for one another. The tension between them was honestly perfect, and the ending? After such a long slow burn? Torturous.

Helen truly knows how to write a captivating and well written fantasy, and I cannot wait for book two already! If you love assassins, poison, dark magic, revenge, enemies to lovers, slow burn, academy settings and so much more, you need to read Iron & Embers!

4/5 stars.

I truly enjoyed this one. It was the first Thezmarr book I read, but that didn't bother me at all. It was easy to follow and well paced.

All the bickering and banter were written amazingly. I liked that part a lot. And the relationship dynamic overall between fmc and mmc reminded me at first Gideon and Harrow in Gideon the Ninth (one of the best parts in that book imo). I also was a fan of the slow burn and pull and push they had throughout the book.

I have also always been interested in the idea of alchemy, so this book felt like it literally was made for me. The cutthroat alchemic academy was very intriguing and I just hoped I had seen more of the classes due to my interest in the subject. The stakes were really high, which I also appreciated.

When I get a chance I will for sure visit the other Thezmarr series, and gladly continue this one also. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Really good introduction to Helen Scheuerer. Solid characters, interesting plot, and the perfect slice of tension. Would like more plot progression and really exploring the depth of the characters more!

4.75🌟

Wow wow wow WOW was this book absolutely amazing. From the plot, to the world building, to the badass FMC, the swoon-worthy MMC, the action packed scenes & the interesting backstory, this book was everything.

Wren has got to now be one of my favourite FMC’s ever. The way she holds her own, always finds another way, didn’t allow her grief to weaken her but instead strengthen her??? She is such an admirable & inspiring character.
Torj was just absolutely everything. His patience, care, protectiveness, understanding & love when it came to Wren had me feeling so giddy and warm inside. Wren and Torj are IT for me😩

The found family, strong friendship groups & firm relationships definitely added to the story and my enjoyment of the book! The setting was so atmospheric and just fit the vibes perfectly, Drevendor added that element of unease yet excitement that was so exhilarating!!

The way this book ended????????? This book isn’t even published yet and i already need book 2 ASAP!!!
My only critique was the unnecessary breakup….? And the gauntlet was built up to be something scary but it felt utterly underwhelming..

Regardless i LOVED this book, this story, these characters and i can’t wait to read more!!

4.5 STARS

I think I found a new obsession!!

I absolutely loved this story and especially Wren and Torj's blossoming romance. As characters I found them both really interesting and I wanted to learn more about their lives. (I think I would have benefitted from reading the author's Legends of Thezmarr series first for this exact reason, but not reading it didn't impact my ability to connect to the characters and story at all.)

The tension between the characters was tangible and really well done. The author used the shared history of these two characters to really help add a sense of deep longing to their romance.

This book was very character driven, so I felt like there wasn't a huge amount of exciting action taking place. This is the only reason I didn't give it a full 5 stars. This book has, however, set this series up for a lot more action going forward.

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.