Iron & Embers, alternatively titled "Hot Hammer Daddy + Even Hotter Poisoner Assassin Destroy My Life in 500 pages"

{Thank you so much to NetGalley and DreamScape Media for providing this audiobook ARC to me!}

Stars: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 3/5 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

Having not read Helen Scheuerer's previous Legends of Thezmarr series, diving into this book was a toss up for me. Unlike others who HAVE read the Legends of Thezmarr series, I had little knowledge of our FMC Wren Embervale and MMC Torj Elderbrock in this dual POV work. I decided to take the plunge and was SO glad I did! It didn't matter that I hadn't read any previous works of her's - Scheuerer did a fantastic job in orienting the reader regarding timelines, past encounters, characterizations, and motivations. Iron & Embers is the start of Helen Scheuerer's new spinoff Ashes of Thezmarr series - and DAMN what a start. An absolutely blazing blend of alchemy, assassins, and a romance that's as electrifying and stimulating as a certain alchemist’s lightning powers.

From the very first page, I ADORED our FMC Wren. "If poison was a women's weapon, then Wren Embervale was a woman through and through." Are you KIDDING ME???? One of the best opening lines I've seen in a long time, particularly because I love the history of the women's art of poisoning. What's further, I adored the usage of herbal knowledge and poison concoctions for alchemy in this book as I study traditional botanical medicine for my PhD and so much of this had me going "Oh!! Mmhmm. Yep. Oh yeah, that would work. Oooooh. Yesssss!"

A general, no spoilers summary of Iron and Embers is this: Wren is a badass alchemist-turned-poisoner assassin who finds peace in seeking vengeance for the death of her friends and allies from the great shadow war five years prior. Killing people to heal your inner trauma? GIRL SAME (for legal reasons, I must disclose that this is a joke). When an unknown form of alchemy is used to attack a king of the war-torn midrealms, Wren is charged with investigating the strange new alchemy used against him before more royals are targeted. As a royal herself - the princess and future queen of Delmira - she is to be protected too. Her protection? A bodyguard, who, of course, is none other than dreamy, Witcher Geralt of Rivia-esque (Henry Cavill version, mind you!) Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired Warsword and war-hero who Wren left wanting five years prior and whom she cock-blocked from receiving an important promotion through assassinating one of his former charges. The absolute animosity this engenders between them is CRAZY HOT. And I do not CARE what anyone says I will ALWAYS ADORE a forced proximity, bodyguard romance. Give them ALL to me. I've dubbed their ship name EMBERBROCK but I did try out TOREN too - vote on your fav below hehe. Regardless of the name, I'm an Emberbrock shipper 4 LYFE. Anyways, Wren is finally offered a place at the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor to research the alchemy used against the royals (bc her mentor FINALLY gives her a letter of recommendation -- I relate girl, the academia life is ROUGH). Wren must fight for and claim her spot at Drevenor with Torj lingering behind her on every step by conquering the Gauntlet — a grueling series of deadly trials that could cost her her sanity as easily as her life. Also, is it just me or are all fantasy/romantasy novels recently calling their trials gauntlets?? As she navigates not only her deadly studies at Drevenor, her super secret agent alchemy project to protect the royals, and her TUMULTUOUS feelings for her (hot) personal bodyguard, Wren finds herself pushing and questioning the boundaries of everything she knows and confronting the darkness of the past, present, and future to come (in typical academia fashion).

Wren proved to be a super fierce and complex protagonist, and I related to her super well. Wren is honestly Daddy. Her journey from vengeance-driven poisoning assassin to a key player in a larger conspiracy was so compelling. Her sharp wit and resilience was refreshing and made her a character to root for, as does her scathing one-liners.

Now Torj? Torj is BABY GORL. And yes, he can still be Baby Gorl while being a 6'6 (I don't remember his actual height but he's giving AT LEAST 6'5+) muscle daddy because his green flags were a'flyin. His and Wren's interactions were absolutely SUPERCHARGED with tension and made for a sizzling, electrifying, blazing DISLIKE-to-lovers dynamic. True enemies to lovers is NOT here, so ya'll diehard E-to-L fans come prepared. Fans of Geralt (Henry Cavill version ONLY) and a Cassian/Azriel hybrid will also find Torj to be as much a panty-dropping king as I did.

In all seriousness, the relationship progression in this book was super refreshing among an entire cohort of other romantasy books where everything feels rushed or stilted - Emberbrock felt completely natural, not too abrupt, and was TOO GOOD of a slowburn. What's more, the dual POV didn't feel forced like some novels and each character felt distinct in their headspace and narrative. I appreciated the book MORE for the dual POV aspect, which can very often kill my vibe for a book. The dual POV also made the tensioned and tender moments between Torj and Wren even more absolutely heart-wrenching AND heart-warming. Torj calling Wren by the nickname "Embers" was SO CUTE and it being a part of the title was the cherry on top of this delicious hot fudge sundae. Emberbrock are definitely going on the list as one of my top romantasy couples. *Cue Tyra voice* WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU.

The ending...RIP my heart and soul, I guess. The good news is, I'm not completely lacking in content to appease this book hangover and am super excited to dive into the Legends of Thezmarr series and discover Thea and Wilder's love story since they were featured so much in this book.

Highlights:
♥️ Dislike-to-Lovers Romance: The chemistry between Wren and Torj is HAWT, with their shared history adding an intense depth to their ever-evolving relationship. The push and pull between them kept the pages turning all on their own.
♥️ World-Building: Helen crafted such a rich, immersive world that was filled with dark magic, political intrigue, and a history that feels incredibly tangible. The alchemy academy of Drevenor with its deadly Gauntlet was a super interesting premise and managed to be a truly refreshing take in the oversaturated 'magic school'-based romantasy scene.
♥️ Mature Protagonists: Both Wren and Torj are in their mid to late thirties, which, COME ON, we soooo need in this genre! I'm sick of reading about 17 year olds saving the world when I didn't have my shit together until AT LEAST 23 (let's be honest...I still don't, as ever evidenced by this and my other reviews).
♥️ I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook and the voice actors were PHENOMENAL for Wren and Torj. They made the book a perfect mix of spicy, moving, intense, hilarious, and engaging.

TLDR:
Iron & Embers is an absolutely ENTHRALLING beginning into the promising new series of the Ashes of Thezmarr, and is an absolutely PERFECT concoc(k)tion of fiery romance, intense action, and crazy intrigue. Those of you who like The Witcher and Bridge Kingdom will DEVOUR this epic romantasy from cover to cover. With its superbly-crafted characters, compelling romance, and immersive world-building, it's a MUST-READ for romantasy and low-fantasy enthusiasts. You absolutely slayed, Helen Scheuerer (I'm pretty sure you slayed all of us already with that ending *sobs*).

I am absolutely rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth for book 2: Thorns & Fire. Please send the ARC ASAP for the sake of my health - not even Wren could heal this book hangover.

Note: This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

This is technically the first in a spinoff series from the Legends of Thezmarr series by the same author, but I think it was perfectly fine to read on its own. I’m sure I would have had more insight into Wren and Torj if I had read the first four books, but I felt like I understood their history and relationships based on the context of this story. I loved how *down bad* Torj was from the very beginning and watching him and Wren get closer throughout the book. I’m interested to see where the plot goes for the rest of the series after that ending!

I loved the dual narration for the audiobook and both narrators!

Okay, this says it's book 1 in a series, but technically, this is a spinoff of another series and so I felt a little lost at times. I don't think it's a REQUIREMENT to read the other series first, but I'm sure it probably would have helped, so fair warning.

It's a very slow burn but once it picks up the story gets much better. I'd really like to re-listen to this after reading the original series and seeing how I feel about it after.

Just brilliant!! I’m a huge audio listener and this will rank right I there as one of my favorites. The narration flowed and bright the story to life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
🎧 5/5
🎙 5/5

“𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚, 𝙀𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨?” 𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣—𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩, 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙. “𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙨.”

This audiobook had me in a romantasy chokehold.
The narrators did a great job at giving the characters life and expression. I wasn't able to do anything else except listen for 2 days straight until I finished!

The story follows the FMC, Wren, who has a passion for alchemy and has been invited to study at the Devenor Academy. However, to be able to attend the academy, she must have a royal escort --- Torj --- whom she absolutely believes is a bad choice (but how wrong she was!). They fall so hard for each other and are so protective and caring that I just love them.

This book is a true Romantasy with a slow burn, enemies to lovers, bodyguard romance, loads of tension, plenty of banter, romance, lust, and spice.

This was actually my FIRST read into the realm of Thezmarr. I didn't feel lost or confused, so I feel confident to say that this series could be started here. But if you want the best reading context, then I suggest starting with earlier series in the Thezmarr realm.

I will definitely be looking out for book 2 📖 👑

Thanks, NetGalley & Dreamscape media ♡

Helen Scheuerer has been an auto-buy author since Blood & Steel, but this put her even more firmly in that spot. The tension, the careful layering of the plot, the vibrancy of the characters - it all comes together to create the perfect romantasy. I absolutely loved hearing the characters come to life. Torj's spoken voice is absolutely wonderful and swoon-worthy, and I love the way that Wren's sass was brought to life!

The romance romances in this one, y'all! Torj surpassed Wilder and Talemir in ways that I didn't know was possible! Warswords can get it! This book had beautiful moments of heartbreak then the next moment I was laughing with familiar faces from the Legends of Thezmarr series, then back to heartbreak. It's the best rollercoaster, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes next!

Iron & Embers reminded me why I fell in love with Helen Scheuerer's world of Thezmarr. The story follows Wren 5 years after the events of the last book. Wren has been on a mission for revenge after she fought in the shadow war and her sister was killed. Known as The Poisoner, she has made it her mission to make the people who supported the king and princesses betrayal pay for their treachery.
Torj Elderbrock has come a long way in 5 years. After being hit with and channeling her power during the Shadow War, Wren and Torj have several shared moments, but they have never been in a good place to try anything serious. After hurt and betrayal from Wren, Torj has kept his distance until she gets accepted into the Drevenor an ancient school of alchemy. An attempt was made on one of the ruler's of the realms with an alchemy weapon and now all rulers are assigned bodyguards. Wren is tasked with working in a cure to counteract tgis weapon. Torj and Wren already had plenty of tension between them, now with the added role as her bodyguard, Torj is overbearing and overprotective. The more time they spend together, the more Torj feels his scars where she struck him reacting to her and pulling them towards each other.

Wren as a character was so beautiful. We saw her grow and change through Thea in the Legend of Thezmarr series. Now, she is broken following the war and her sister's death. She is a deadly Poisoner who has been deadset on revenge against those who were behind the war. I love assassins but the deadly alchemist may be my favorite. I love Wren's determination and drive. At Drevenor, she starts slowly letting people into her life again. There is still a wall between Wren and Torj, and they constantly push each other's buttons. Their banter, arguments and tension are all perfect. Torj is by far my favorite MMC. I liked Wilder but I always loved Torj. I wondered how they would explain how after 5 years, they never tried for something more serious, but we get to see flashbacks and understand why they never tried. His pining and unrequited love for Wren are so palpable, you couldn't help but feel it through the pages.

The story was very interesting. I love returning to this world and seeing the other side of it from the alchemy point of view added a new level. The author did an amazing job of making alchemy and its use so interesting.

I was able to listen to the audiobook and the narrators were so good. I loved both narrators. They really brought the characters to life and made me feel for them. By the time the end of the story came, I was not ready. Then ending left me so devastated and in shock. I had a physical reaction to the ending that I was absolutely not ready for. I cannot wait for the next book in the series! I need them to be ok and together!!

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape media!

Im so freaking happy to be back in the world of Thezmarr! With 2 of my favorite side characters that are now main characters!!

We have Wren who is still battling severe depression and paranoia 5 years after the war shes isolated her self till one day she gets an approval letter to academy of Drevenor to master her alchemy skills but under one condition because she is a royal a War sword must go with her and that war sword is Torj who she has sworn to never see again because they can never work out…

I really loved this book its so different from the original series tropes lile body gaurd romance and and alchemy school that gives adult harry potter vibes, with meeting friends,almost dying every step of the way because the war does not seem to be over!!

This book is TRULY a slow burn which i kind of miss in books the actual slow tension for 100s of pages. Discovering these characters that we knew in a different limelight light was amazing i cannot wait for book 2❤️❤️

This book gave me everything I needed in a Romantasy. One note though—I had NO idea that this was tied into the same world as Helen Scheuerer's first series (which I have not read). SO...I was a bit confused because this book does drop into the world after that first series.

The MMC—MAJOR Witcher vibes. Hottie with a hardened heart, a war hammer, and a sense of honor that just keeps getting in the way. But wow. I just. Yes. Torj gives me everything I need from a MMC.

I also love the FMC, Wren, a lot. She is smart, sassy, and not someone to be underestimated. And I love how fabulous she is. The MMC enhances her as a character, but she stands alone as a badass in her own right and I love how much the author honors that about her.

And, IFKYK, that ending...UGH. I am excited for book two, but oh lord that hurts. I just...UGH.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶/5

Thank you, Dreamscape Media and Netgalley, for the ALC of this book!

It was good to be back in the Thezmarr universe, this time following a different sister. I was kind of feeling Wren and her thirst for revenge as she went about her business, just poisoning terrible people.

The whole bodyguard/charge dynamic is always a fun one to follow as the whole honour and duty of it gets muddled with their feelings. This time we already knew that these two were feeling each other before and guarding took place, so that was fun. Interested to see where this one goes.

Thanks to NetGallery for access to this ARC

Genre: Romance/Fantasy MF
Format: Audio
POV: Dual
Tropes: grumpy/grumpy, revenge, women who poison, one horse, parallel “play”, elite alchemy school, trials, bodyguard, “fuck it”, who did this to you, the first rule of alchemy school is we don’t talk about alchemy school.
Ending: Unresolved
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5 /5
Age suggestion: 18+

I wanna thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley and giving me the chance to listen to this book.
I gotta say, from the very first Wren chapter I was hooked. I love the way she outsmarted the man who thought they were smarter than her just because they were richer. Wren was a great main character, she's a character with so many layers and when we get to the bottom of it, she's very vulnerable but very strong and hurtful character. Torj is a teddy bear inside of a "Bear Slayer." body.
Near the end, when he decided to have that decision by himself (I get why he did it, I get it was to protect her but still) without telling her the truth about them and just deciding for himself pissed me off. She deserved to know and decide alongside him and if that decision was the best to make. I really liked Torj hut that in the end made wanna punch him lol
Gosb I can't wait for the next book. I need it now 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Amazing !!!! I absolutely loved this book!!! This book gripped my attention from the very beginning!! It is the perfect romantasy read! The banter between the FMC and the MMC was so good!!! I love the alchemy storyline. I can’t get enough of this book. I need the sequel immediately !

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

Genre: Fantasy, Romantasy
Tropes: Dual POV, Academia, Forced Proximity, Bodyguard, Found Family, Touch Her You 💀, Enemies To Lovers, Nickanme (Embers), Trials, One Horse, Protective MMC, Who Did This To You, Fated Mates

‘No games. No secrets. You’re what has been missing all my life. And I intend to keep you. Consequences be damned.

‘Go up in flames with me, Embers.’

The war may be over, but Wren remains vengeful but that will have to wait.. Wren is offered a placement at the much coveted alchemy academy of Drevenor. As a rather talented alchemist she has been tasked with finding a cure for the dark magic threatening the kingdom & its rulers. Her safety is important to the realm, enter her bodyguard Torj Elderbrock..
But they have history…
A steamy, enemies to lovers with an academia setting.

Firstly, I read this & listened to the audiobook alongside each other. I thoroughly enjoyed both! The voice performances of both narrators were amazingly done! The quality of the writing in the book is also high quality. So it makes for a great experience whether you’re reading or listening. I recommend both.

I loved the back & forth with Torj & Wren, the building of their relationship to each other. I also really liked the side characters in this story, I cared for them & what happened to them.
And let’s be honest the bodyguard storyline is always a hit! It just works!!

If you want solid, well written fantasy/ romantasy this is it. I think you’ll love this if you loved Fourth Wing. Hey, it’s perfect for that Onyx Storm hangover!!

Thank you to Helen Scheuerer, Dreamscape Media (Audiobook), Pan MacMillan & NetGalley for the review copies in exchange for an honest review.

I am so excited to rave about one of my favorites, Helen Scheuerer! She never disappoints and Iron and Embers, book 1 in the new series The Ashes of Thezmarr, was perfect!

It’s such a fun and gripping fantasy adventure. The story pulls you in from the start, and you can't help but fall in love with the characters (especially you Torj). Plus, there's just the right amount of spice to keep things exciting. The world-building is on point too, making you feel like you’re right there with them. If you’re into fantasy, seriously, give this one a read!

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Loved this!! The audio is great and kept me engaged in the story. I actually have not read the trilogy that comes before this book but I heard Iron & Embers could be read as a standalone so I went into it anyways and still really enjoyed it!

As a big fan of the Blood and Steel series, I was so excited to receive an ARC that is the start of a new series following Wren and Torj. The world is the exact same, but roughly 5 years have passed since the events of the last series. I listened to this in audiobook form and absolutely loved it - it was such an immersive and action-packed ride.

Wren, the "poisoner" has used her affinity for alchemy and potions to covertly assassinate the enemies that played a pivotal role in the opposing side in the previous series. But in her desperation to get revenge on them (many of whom were directly responsible for the death of loved ones) she begins to get sloppy with her assassinations and is caught in the act by none other than Torj (readers of the previous series will know just how amazing of a character he is).

After Wren is finally being accepted to a prestigious alchemy academy to help combat the rising threat of dark magic, Torj is forced to become her bodyguard. Both of them are very upset at this, which makes the tension, loathing and banter all the more enjoyable. The hatred and yearning was delicious, though I do maybe wish there had been less insta-lust. That said, they both truly resist it and I was so satisfied by how the romance unfolded.

Iron and Embers gave the storyline I was craving for the two of them as I always found them to be incredibly complex and even scene-stealing characters in a Blood and Steel. This book fully delivered. Not to mention, the plot and new threats that arise in this book stem perfectly from the previous series, but also set the path for an epic future plot line.

Thank you so much to Dreamscape and NetGalley for this audio ARC!!

I’ll preface this by saying I did not read the Blood & Steel series (yet!) but there’s enough world building in this where the story moves forward seamlessly.

Great banter, smart & badass FMC, forward moving plot, intrigue, and romance. This has it all!! Narration was DUAL and was excellent.

I received an ARC directly from the publisher, Pan Macmillan, for Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer, and I was hooked by the premise: “I’ve made no secret of what I want... You. It’s always been you.” Plus, the beautiful fanart they sent me was a bonus. It took me a lot of time to read it because life happened, and then I had the publishing date right before me. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to get the ACL from Dreamscape Media, which helped me sit down and read and continue doing other things while listening.

I have to say—and beware, I will add spoilers [that this book felt like a second installment to me. I’m missing the whole shared history between Wren and Torj. I was hoping to see more of their connection, maybe with flashbacks or time jumps, to truly understand them beyond that whole "He wielded my magic like it was his" vibe, you know? While the tension was there and the tropes were perfectly written, I wanted to learn more about their backstory and connection. Perhaps there was a novella I missed, or maybe I just pushed through too quickly, but I couldn’t feel the bond as deeply as I’d hoped. (hide spoiler)]

Iron & Embers follows Wren Embervale, an alchemist-turned-assassin who finds solace only in seeking vengeance for the death of her friends. Though the wars of the past are over, her thirst for revenge is far from quenched. For years, she has been content with her poisons and potions for company, but when an unknown form of alchemy is used to attack a king of the midrealms, Wren’s time in the shadows comes to an end. She’s offered a place at the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor to find a cure for the dark magic threatening the kingdoms. To win her spot, she must conquer the Gauntlet—a grueling series of deadly trials that could cost her sanity or her life. Meanwhile, magic wielders are being targeted, and Wren becomes tangled in a dangerous web of deception and bloodshed that puts the entire realm at risk. The biggest threat, however, might come from Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired war hero assigned to protect her, who has hated her ever since she assassinated his last charge. Their shared history ignites a simmering tension that threatens to consume them both. In a world where peace is fragile, trust is scarce, and enemies lurk around every corner, Wren must decide: Will love heal all wounds—or will it become the most lethal poison of all?

Overall, while I appreciate the intriguing premise and the strong elements of tension and mystery, I just couldn’t connect with the character’s backstory and relationship as I’d hoped. I truly love Helen Scheuerer's work, so it saddens me to say that this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan, Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and Helen Scheuerer for sending me this ARC, ACL, and the beautiful fanart. I really appreciate the opportunity.

Thank you, Helen Scheuerer and NetGalley for the early preview of this audiobook.

Title: Iron & Embers
Author: Helen Scheuerer
Format: Audiobook

Review:
In the first book of this series, we return to the Midrealms and discover the long-lasting effects that the Great War had on survivors. We see characters and places that are well-known to readers of the original series.

I am so relieved and excited that Wren gets her time to shine. In so many ways, I feel that I relate to Wren. Helen’s writing is so addictive…. And can we talk about this spiiiiiiiice 🔥🥵 This story flowed so smoothly and I’m excited (and desperate 😭) to see where it goes!

This is one of the first audiobooks I’ve been able to keep connected with. I credit that to the amazing narrators Emilia Bauer and Matt Haynes.

I loved Legends of Thezmarr and am excited to return to this world with Torj and Wren. The narrators did a great job capturing both these characters and Scheuerer had me hooked from the very first line. I absolutely devoured this book, especially all the hot, tension-filled scenes between Torj and Wren. I can't wait to read and listen to the sequel!