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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
I'm not sure if it's because this is the first book I picked up by Helen Scheuerer (and therefore am missing a lot of backstory) but I really struggled through this book.
Something of the emotions and reactions felt super forced and fake, the writing felt very YA except with explicit scenes, and I was a bit jilted by the false advertising because this is not enemies-to-lovers! It's forbidden romance with forced proximity, please can we stop misusing enemies-to-lovers (looking at you Fourth Wing).
That said, I've read through the second book and was HOOKED, so I'm revising my opinion of book 1 to be unrated. Leaving this here in case you too might struggle with those things but please know that book 2 is SO good it made up for the lacklustre experience in book 1.
Something of the emotions and reactions felt super forced and fake, the writing felt very YA except with explicit scenes, and I was a bit jilted by the false advertising because this is not enemies-to-lovers! It's forbidden romance with forced proximity, please can we stop misusing enemies-to-lovers (looking at you Fourth Wing).
That said, I've read through the second book and was HOOKED, so I'm revising my opinion of book 1 to be unrated. Leaving this here in case you too might struggle with those things but please know that book 2 is SO good it made up for the lacklustre experience in book 1.
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
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
In the thrilling first installment of a new series, Helen Scheuerer has once again gripped us with her fantastic story telling, characters, and world building.
IRON & EMBERS begins five years, yes, five years after the end of the Shadow War, and Wren Embervale has adapted her incredible alchemy skills into becoming the Poisoner - an assassin taking out the nobles of the Midrealms she feels are responsible for the Shadow War and the deaths of her sisters and friends.
When a king is attacked with alchemy no one has seen before, Wren is summoned to Drevenor, the alchemy academy she has dreamed to study at, with the hopes of discovering this new type of alchemy. But to win her spot, she must compete in a set of deadly trials and out-maneuver the other students.
She didn't expect, however, that she would be forced under the protection of Torj Elderbrock, the Warsword who has hated her since she assassinated his last assignment, yet has felt an inexplicable pull towards him since the Shadow War. As they navigate Drevenor and each other, Torj and Wren have to learn to trust each other as they encounter danger after danger. But could trusting - and loving - each other be their ultimate downfall?
I loved Wren and Torj from the Legends of Thezmarr series. The snippets we got of their budding relationship was enough to let us know that something big was coming, and we certainly were not disappointed. The fact that we jumped five years sort of tore a hole in my heart (because of Wren hurting so much for those 5 years), but also really allowed for the Midrealms to develop and change following the war. I liked that even though we were still in a military-like academy, there were still moments of levity with Cal and Kipp (our favorites).
Helen knows how to craft a story and I will follow her willingly to the cliffhangers at the end of every one of her books. This ending really had me staring into space in despair, but that makes me want the next book just that much more.
Seriously, do yourself a favor and pick up Helen's books already!
Star Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating:
IRON & EMBERS begins five years, yes, five years after the end of the Shadow War, and Wren Embervale has adapted her incredible alchemy skills into becoming the Poisoner - an assassin taking out the nobles of the Midrealms she feels are responsible for the Shadow War and the deaths of her sisters and friends.
When a king is attacked with alchemy no one has seen before, Wren is summoned to Drevenor, the alchemy academy she has dreamed to study at, with the hopes of discovering this new type of alchemy. But to win her spot, she must compete in a set of deadly trials and out-maneuver the other students.
She didn't expect, however, that she would be forced under the protection of Torj Elderbrock, the Warsword who has hated her since she assassinated his last assignment, yet has felt an inexplicable pull towards him since the Shadow War. As they navigate Drevenor and each other, Torj and Wren have to learn to trust each other as they encounter danger after danger. But could trusting - and loving - each other be their ultimate downfall?
I loved Wren and Torj from the Legends of Thezmarr series. The snippets we got of their budding relationship was enough to let us know that something big was coming, and we certainly were not disappointed. The fact that we jumped five years sort of tore a hole in my heart (because of Wren hurting so much for those 5 years), but also really allowed for the Midrealms to develop and change following the war. I liked that even though we were still in a military-like academy, there were still moments of levity with Cal and Kipp (our favorites).
Helen knows how to craft a story and I will follow her willingly to the cliffhangers at the end of every one of her books. This ending really had me staring into space in despair, but that makes me want the next book just that much more.
Seriously, do yourself a favor and pick up Helen's books already!
Star Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating:
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I didn’t think I could love this series more than the Legends of Thezmarr but boy was I wrong.