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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's taken me a while to get to this ARC because when I requested Iron & Embers, I didn't think that I needed to read the four book Legends of Thezmarr series beforehand, however when I got the ARC, other people told me that I really needed to read that series first. I'm so glad I listened to that advice, even though it ended up delaying me starting the Ashes of Thezmarr series, because knowing that Wren and Torj ended up with their own trilogy made me absolutely feral for them while reading The Legends of Thezmarr series. Literally every time they were on page together, I was on the lookout for pining, attraction, tension etc. So by the time I got to the end of Shadow & Storms, I was absolutely desperate to get straight into Iron & Embers.
And it didn't disappoint at all. It surpassed everything I was hoping for. Picking up 5 years after the events of Shadow & Storms, I found the impact of the events on both Wren and Torj to be really emotional, but also realistic. And Torj - well, what a guy - he knew what he wanted from Wren and decided he'd rather have nothing at all than anything less than everything. Oh my heart. Honestly, this book was just incredible. Wren's journey at Drevenor Academy was action-packed, exciting and just as dangerous as Thea's Warsword training and test were in the Legends series, and the romance was so beautiful. There were moments that made me laugh out loud, and I loved to see Wren open up after shutting herself off for so long. Easily a five star read! Wow.
And now, immediately into Thorns & Fire because this series is addictive and I need to know what happens after that ending!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from Tor Bramble and NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Iron and Embers by Helen Scheuerer
Started: 26th May 2025
Finished: 14th June 2025
5/5 🫖🫖🫖🫖🫖
"He wanted her, desperately, like a dying man longing for a cure.
But Elwren Embervale had taken her heart off the table.
And now, so would he. "One night is not enough," he told her.
It wasn’t often he forgot his place in the world, but as he walked away, he had to remind himself: she was the heir of Delmira. It was a fallen kingdom, but she was still a queen by blood. And he was a warrior, nothing more."
Returning to the Midrealms was such a wonderful treat that I'd been eager for since Thea and Wilder's story ended, but getting to follow Wren and Torj into this new adventure was the icing on the Thezmarrian cupcake!
Throw in a bodyguard/princess dynamic where they're equally as stubborn as each other, trauma healing and self discovery, all the yearning and angst and slow-burn tension that you could ever wish for and the exquisite banter and found family that Helen excels at, and this book was the absolute perfect alchemical concoction.
"You're not worried about our safety out here? That we'll get into some sort of trouble?"
Torj closed the gap between them, gripping her chin with strong, warm fingers and lifting her face to his. "I was in trouble the moment I met you, Embers."
And then he kissed her.
I was thoroughly invested in the path of revenge that Wren was on and the way she grew as a character through this story was powerful and moving. Watching her bond with Torj deepen as they were forced into one another's proximity just made it all the sweeter (and spicier...) and the sacrifice shown between them tore at my heart. Also, Torj's nickname for Wren... *swoon*
"Embers, that was beyond sex."
"You mean it's not always like that for you?"
A breath shuddered out of him, and he fought to contain the swell of emotions gathering in his chest, stirring the tempest beneath his scars.
"It's never like that," he told her. "Only with you."
I'm counting down the days until Thorns and Fire comes out in July!
"But no matter how deeply he kissed her, or how passionately she kissed him back, there was no holding it in any longer.
He broke away from her, the words spilling out.
"I'm in love with you. So fucking in love with you, Embers."
Started: 26th May 2025
Finished: 14th June 2025
5/5 🫖🫖🫖🫖🫖
"He wanted her, desperately, like a dying man longing for a cure.
But Elwren Embervale had taken her heart off the table.
And now, so would he. "One night is not enough," he told her.
It wasn’t often he forgot his place in the world, but as he walked away, he had to remind himself: she was the heir of Delmira. It was a fallen kingdom, but she was still a queen by blood. And he was a warrior, nothing more."
Returning to the Midrealms was such a wonderful treat that I'd been eager for since Thea and Wilder's story ended, but getting to follow Wren and Torj into this new adventure was the icing on the Thezmarrian cupcake!
Throw in a bodyguard/princess dynamic where they're equally as stubborn as each other, trauma healing and self discovery, all the yearning and angst and slow-burn tension that you could ever wish for and the exquisite banter and found family that Helen excels at, and this book was the absolute perfect alchemical concoction.
"You're not worried about our safety out here? That we'll get into some sort of trouble?"
Torj closed the gap between them, gripping her chin with strong, warm fingers and lifting her face to his. "I was in trouble the moment I met you, Embers."
And then he kissed her.
I was thoroughly invested in the path of revenge that Wren was on and the way she grew as a character through this story was powerful and moving. Watching her bond with Torj deepen as they were forced into one another's proximity just made it all the sweeter (and spicier...) and the sacrifice shown between them tore at my heart. Also, Torj's nickname for Wren... *swoon*
"Embers, that was beyond sex."
"You mean it's not always like that for you?"
A breath shuddered out of him, and he fought to contain the swell of emotions gathering in his chest, stirring the tempest beneath his scars.
"It's never like that," he told her. "Only with you."
I'm counting down the days until Thorns and Fire comes out in July!
"But no matter how deeply he kissed her, or how passionately she kissed him back, there was no holding it in any longer.
He broke away from her, the words spilling out.
"I'm in love with you. So fucking in love with you, Embers."
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed Wren from the original series and was glad to get her story here and see her come into her own. Her change from the original series, to the start of this book, to the end of this book was great development. I appreciated getting more of her thoughts and seeing her have something of her own.
Torj was great, as always. You know what you're getting with him in this.
The plot was pretty good and i appreciated the pace.
Torj was great, as always. You know what you're getting with him in this.
The plot was pretty good and i appreciated the pace.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That…..that was not what I expected ⚔️🩸🧪
I’m……I’m not okie. That ending….I don’t think I’ve read an ending like that and I’m empty.
*********READ LEGENDS OF THEZMARR FIRST********
This book is OUTSTANDING but you should definitely read Legends of Thezmarr first to get the full depth and spectrum of the characters, war, and relationships and why they are where they are.
There’s little I feel like I could say to not spoil the book, just know I’m obsessed with this whole cast of characters, the depth and range of the world and magic, the pacing, the development, the setting, everything was just perfect!
10/10 recommend!
I’m……I’m not okie. That ending….I don’t think I’ve read an ending like that and I’m empty.
*********READ LEGENDS OF THEZMARR FIRST********
This book is OUTSTANDING but you should definitely read Legends of Thezmarr first to get the full depth and spectrum of the characters, war, and relationships and why they are where they are.
There’s little I feel like I could say to not spoil the book, just know I’m obsessed with this whole cast of characters, the depth and range of the world and magic, the pacing, the development, the setting, everything was just perfect!
10/10 recommend!