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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the biggest reasons I picked up this book is because of alchemy and the uses of potions, balms, salves. It did a great job of explaining plants and their medical uses and warnings. I eat up botany in books, especially in a fantasy setting. As for the story and romance it was just okay. The dynamic between FMC and MMC was kind of annoying, but there was a twist at the end that made me feel more invested in their relationship. If you are looking for some well written adult and smutty scenes, this book has a few. The author did a good job at creating lust and longing.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I hate the stupid “miscommunication/info withheld break up of fated partners” trope. Why do authors use this? Now the next book will be MMC trying to make it up to FMC. I already read them falling in love, why do I have to do it again? Why can’t they just work together without stupid animosity? Or worse—FMC will fall for another guy (but it won’t be the same!) and it’ll be a love triangle for 75% of the book.
I haven’t read the author’s previous series in this world, but I kind of liked it that way—it made it interesting not to know everything. I liked the alchemy. The relationship and sex scenes were good. The one twist at the end I saw coming, but it was fine overall. I did not like the stupid ending and it honestly ruined the whole book for me—it’s so cliche. Just a typical over used YA ending with a “romantasy” glaze. Not sure I’ll pick up the next.
I haven’t read the author’s previous series in this world, but I kind of liked it that way—it made it interesting not to know everything. I liked the alchemy. The relationship and sex scenes were good. The one twist at the end I saw coming, but it was fine overall. I did not like the stupid ending and it honestly ruined the whole book for me—it’s so cliche. Just a typical over used YA ending with a “romantasy” glaze. Not sure I’ll pick up the next.
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
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 & Embers is the first book in The Ashes of Thezmarr series. It’s set in the same world as The legends of Thezmarr.
Wren is an alchemist who learned from one of the best how to use alchemy for healing purposes but ended up fighting in a war. Her sisters and close friends were all killed so now she has no family left. She set out on a path of revenge and one by one has been taking out the people responsible for the loss of her loved ones.
Torj, the bear slayer, fought with her in the war. When Wren assassinates someone he is responsible for they become enemies.
There’s a resistance group who is targeting royal leaders and magic wielders so Torj is assigned to guard Wren as she attends an academy for alchemy because she is the heir to her kingdom.
This obviously interferes with both of their plans and neither are happy about it. The anger leads to tension and what clearly is a slow burn mutual attraction.
There’s also danger, trying to stay alive while trying to pass classes and prepare for upcoming deadly trials to advance to the next level in the academy.
Helen Scheuerer does a fabulous job telling this story. You feel immersed in this world and the characters are easy to relate to. I am new to Thezmarr but will definitely be jumping into Blood & Steel because I NEED more! I absolutely cannot wait til the second book Thorns & Fire releases in July!
Helen Scheuerer is now one of my auto buy authors!
Wren is an alchemist who learned from one of the best how to use alchemy for healing purposes but ended up fighting in a war. Her sisters and close friends were all killed so now she has no family left. She set out on a path of revenge and one by one has been taking out the people responsible for the loss of her loved ones.
Torj, the bear slayer, fought with her in the war. When Wren assassinates someone he is responsible for they become enemies.
There’s a resistance group who is targeting royal leaders and magic wielders so Torj is assigned to guard Wren as she attends an academy for alchemy because she is the heir to her kingdom.
This obviously interferes with both of their plans and neither are happy about it. The anger leads to tension and what clearly is a slow burn mutual attraction.
There’s also danger, trying to stay alive while trying to pass classes and prepare for upcoming deadly trials to advance to the next level in the academy.
Helen Scheuerer does a fabulous job telling this story. You feel immersed in this world and the characters are easy to relate to. I am new to Thezmarr but will definitely be jumping into Blood & Steel because I NEED more! I absolutely cannot wait til the second book Thorns & Fire releases in July!
Helen Scheuerer is now one of my auto buy authors!
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'll start this review with a disclaimer that Iron & Embers is Book 1 of a spin-off trilogy from a completed series called The Legends of Thezmarr. You probably don't *have* to read The Legends of Thezmarr before reading Iron & Embers, but there are actually a pretty high number of references to events from the prior series, so that context would certainly be helpful. Legends is four books, plus an accompanying novel titled Slaying the Shadow Prince that is technically a prequel and a prequel novella titled An Alchemist's Vow.
All right, onto the plot! I did enjoy this story. It's been several months now since I read Legends, but this book followed Helen's forte of writing action-packed books filled with lots of tension. While some parts of the plot were a bit predictable, I did not predict the blog post twist revealed near the end of the book (and the cliffhanger jumps off of that plot twist). That cliffhanger is pretty devastating, so you've been warned!
I already knew Wren and Torj from Legends, but I have to admit I found Wren frustrating for a while in this book, and I realize that's a me problem. I know that FMC don't need to be likable, and in fact, many FMCs in romantasy are unlikable in different ways. Wren's prickliness (to borrow my friend' term) simply didn't resonate with me, although I know other readers will love her for it. Wren spend the first half-ish of the book very closed off and, in my opinion, abrasive at times. There were reasons for that, of course, but she was...stuck, and she couldn't see that. After she had some character growth later in the story, I found her more enjoyable to read about.
Torj, on the other hand, was the MC who was very in tune with his emotions. Granted, Torj is around a decade older than Wren, so he has more lived experience, but it was refreshing for an MMC to be so in touch with his emotions. Torj is just a really large, very dangerous cinnamon roll...that's all! I will say that I don't love the back-and-forth that Helen seems to favor for her MMCs in the Thezmarr world: giving in to their feelings but then pulling back, over and over. It is...frustrating, although it was worse in Legends...so far.
Helen does write a fun found family trope, and I was so pleased that two important side characters from Legends continue to be prevalent here: Kipp and Cal. Kipp in particular is the entire vibe!
Lastly, I'll chat a bit about the setting of this book. Wren is an alchemist, and for as long as she can remember, she has wanted to attend Drevenor Academy, an ancient and prestigious school for alchemists. Drevenor was, in my opinion, pretty heavily Hogwarts-coded in some ways, but it's an academy for adults, so that is a major difference there. Drevenor introduced us to two new friends for Wren (and our girl needed some friends!), one of whom is going to be VERY interesting for the rest of the trilogy! Without giving too much away, I felt like the Gauntlet that Wren and her fellow novices had to complete near the end of the book (in order to advance to the next level, adept) was too much on one hand, but on the other hand, it seemed like less than I expected, giving that it's called "the Gauntlet."
All in all, I did enjoy Iron & Embers, although I don't think it quite grabbed me the way I hoped it would (I saw a lot of rave reviews before I was able to read it myself). Books 2 and 3 are planned to release in July and December this year, respectively, so the entire trilogy will be complete by the end of 2025. I do plan to reread both Legends and Ashes before the final book of Ashes releases in December, so I'm looking forward to that reread!
All right, onto the plot! I did enjoy this story. It's been several months now since I read Legends, but this book followed Helen's forte of writing action-packed books filled with lots of tension. While some parts of the plot were a bit predictable, I did not predict the blog post twist revealed near the end of the book (and the cliffhanger jumps off of that plot twist). That cliffhanger is pretty devastating, so you've been warned!
I already knew Wren and Torj from Legends, but I have to admit I found Wren frustrating for a while in this book, and I realize that's a me problem. I know that FMC don't need to be likable, and in fact, many FMCs in romantasy are unlikable in different ways. Wren's prickliness (to borrow my friend' term) simply didn't resonate with me, although I know other readers will love her for it. Wren spend the first half-ish of the book very closed off and, in my opinion, abrasive at times. There were reasons for that, of course, but she was...stuck, and she couldn't see that. After she had some character growth later in the story, I found her more enjoyable to read about.
Torj, on the other hand, was the MC who was very in tune with his emotions. Granted, Torj is around a decade older than Wren, so he has more lived experience, but it was refreshing for an MMC to be so in touch with his emotions. Torj is just a really large, very dangerous cinnamon roll...that's all! I will say that I don't love the back-and-forth that Helen seems to favor for her MMCs in the Thezmarr world: giving in to their feelings but then pulling back, over and over. It is...frustrating, although it was worse in Legends...so far.
Helen does write a fun found family trope, and I was so pleased that two important side characters from Legends continue to be prevalent here: Kipp and Cal. Kipp in particular is the entire vibe!
Lastly, I'll chat a bit about the setting of this book. Wren is an alchemist, and for as long as she can remember, she has wanted to attend Drevenor Academy, an ancient and prestigious school for alchemists. Drevenor was, in my opinion, pretty heavily Hogwarts-coded in some ways, but it's an academy for adults, so that is a major difference there. Drevenor introduced us to two new friends for Wren (and our girl needed some friends!), one of whom is going to be VERY interesting for the rest of the trilogy! Without giving too much away, I felt like the Gauntlet that Wren and her fellow novices had to complete near the end of the book (in order to advance to the next level, adept) was too much on one hand, but on the other hand, it seemed like less than I expected, giving that it's called "the Gauntlet."
All in all, I did enjoy Iron & Embers, although I don't think it quite grabbed me the way I hoped it would (I saw a lot of rave reviews before I was able to read it myself). Books 2 and 3 are planned to release in July and December this year, respectively, so the entire trilogy will be complete by the end of 2025. I do plan to reread both Legends and Ashes before the final book of Ashes releases in December, so I'm looking forward to that reread!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to this on Libro.fm and really enjoyed experiencing it as an audiobook rather than reading it. Matt Haynes and Emilia Bauer did an amazing job with the narration, truly bringing the story to life. The writing and storytelling were just as strong as in Helen’s other books. It’s incredibly well-written! I love the characters, the world-building, the plot, and of course, the love story between Wren and Torj. It’s a brilliant book. If you haven’t read it yet, do it.. or even better, listen to the audiobook!