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A review by pageturning578
Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
5.0
I was able to fit this book into a prompt for Get a Clue Readathon hosted by Rainy Blue Reads!
I am honestly surprised by how much I LOVED this book! The blood and Steel series was a bit all over the place for me with ratings BUT for whatever reason this book worked for me and I loved it!
I didn't know much about this book other than the fact that this book is from Wren's perspective. I definitely did not expect the quiet healer from the Blood and Steel series to be the poisoner at the set up of this book. She was guarded and standoffish and dealt with her trauma from the previous war in an unexpected way. She put her own spin on revenge in an evil approach of using her talent to kill the people who wronged her friends and family. She somehow made these poisonings seem like accidents except from the people who love her most.
It took years before she was accepted into the Alchemy School of her dreams. Her trusted mentor denied her request of a recommendation for years. Then Wren was called back to her home with the news that she got into the Academy on one condition she would be accompanied by a body guard the one and only Torj Elderbrock...
Tori and Wren have a long history from the pervious series and an undeniable connection. Helen Scheueuer knows how to write a leading man in her series and Torj wins this title of Bookboyfriend for me. He will literally do anything for Wren and his actions throughout this book prove that. He puts up with her endless moodiness and ungrateful ways. There is no denying there is a connection between them and I love how much Tori fights for her...This is the slowest of slow burns but I promise you once they finally get together it is so worth it and you will fall in love with them as a couple.
This Alchemy academy is really different and cool but also terrifying and the students constantly have to be on top of their game. They are thrown into crazy life or death situations and have to arrive at life saving conclusions quickly. I really like the side characters in this one too. At first I didn't trust her male teammate (can't remember his name at the moment) But there is a twist at the end that I didn't see coming with this character.
The only thing I had trouble with was I thought the trials were a bit disappointing. The teachers at this academy built up the Gauntlet to be such a big deal and in the end I thought it was kinda lacking...don't get me wrong I think 6 hours of torture is terrible...and hallucinating your deceased friends and family has got to be traumatic...but I think for me I was expecting a lot more...
But for me this romance worked for me 5 stars all the stars...I love Torj...their bond is undeniable! And this ending was gut-wrenching and destroyed me in the best way... cannot wait for book 2 in July!!
I am honestly surprised by how much I LOVED this book! The blood and Steel series was a bit all over the place for me with ratings BUT for whatever reason this book worked for me and I loved it!
I didn't know much about this book other than the fact that this book is from Wren's perspective.
It took years before she was accepted into the Alchemy School of her dreams. Her trusted mentor denied her request of a recommendation for years. Then Wren was called back to her home with the news that she got into the Academy on one condition she would be accompanied by a body guard the one and only Torj Elderbrock...
Tori and Wren have a long history from the pervious series and an undeniable connection. Helen Scheueuer knows how to write a leading man in her series and Torj wins this title of Bookboyfriend for me. He will literally do anything for Wren and his actions throughout this book prove that. He puts up with her endless moodiness and ungrateful ways. There is no denying there is a connection between them and I love how much Tori fights for her...This is the slowest of slow burns but I promise you once they finally get together it is so worth it and you will fall in love with them as a couple.
This Alchemy academy is really different and cool but also terrifying and the students constantly have to be on top of their game. They are thrown into crazy life or death situations and have to arrive at life saving conclusions quickly. I really like the side characters in this one too. At first I didn't trust her male teammate (can't remember his name at the moment) But there is a twist at the end that I didn't see coming with this character.
The only thing I had trouble with was I thought the trials were a bit disappointing. The teachers at this academy built up the Gauntlet to be such a big deal and in the end I thought it was kinda lacking...don't get me wrong I think 6 hours of torture is terrible...and hallucinating your deceased friends and family has got to be traumatic...but I think for me I was expecting a lot more...
But for me this romance worked for me 5 stars all the stars...I love Torj...their bond is undeniable! And this ending was gut-wrenching and destroyed me in the best way... cannot wait for book 2 in July!!