ALC review. 4,25⭐

A golden thread joined them, a bond that went deeper than love – and it had nearly destroyed them.
Wren Embervale and Torj Elderbrock share a dark and bloody history. On the brink of another war, and overwhelmed by the force of their feelings for one another, Torj discovers there is far more to their bond than mere passion. The legendary warsword is determined to protect Wren at all costs, even if it means lying to her… Even if it means losing her forever. Meanwhile, Wren is struggling to find her place in the world both as an advanced student of alchemy at the ancient academy of Drevenor, and as one of the heirs to a lost kingdom. With the midrealms once again facing destruction, Wren must decide: loyalty or liberation? Legacy or love?As new political players emerge, Wren discovers that her storm magic is more powerful than she ever imagined and that it could tear the kingdoms apart.Will she and Torj find their way back to each other, or will the ancient magic that binds them become their undoing?

I liked it! The story was more characters based, not a lot of plot this time. But it was fun to read, since almost all characters came back. And the cliffhanger was... Poor Torj🫂 but everything is going to be okay, right, Helen?

I am not going to lie, but the MVA did a better job, then FVA. MVA showed more passion the FVA. But overall the audiobook was good!

Can't wait for the last book in the series!

Thank you for choosing me!

Between The Guardians of Thezmarr and Ashes of Thezmarr, I’ve completely fallen for the world Helen Scheuerer has built. I wasn’t sure what direction the story would take after the ending of Iron & Embers, but I was eager to dive back in—and this sequel did not disappoint.

The romantic tension? Off the charts. Equal parts swoony and exasperating (in the best, slow-burn kind of way). Wren and Torj are complicated, emotionally charged characters with so much chemistry—and I loved every moment of it. I was also so happy to see familiar faces from the Guardians series (Thea and Wilder continue to own my heart. Forever. No notes).

Wren is a fantastic lead—fiery, stubborn, determined—but she definitely has her moments where I wanted to reach into the page and give her a little shake. Still, that’s part of what makes her feel real, and I’m completely invested in where her journey goes next.

Between the Guardians of Thezmarr series and Ashes of Thezmarr, I’ll be the first to admit—I love the world Helen Scheuerer has created. I wasn’t sure where the story would go after Iron & Embers wrapped up, but I was excited to find out. And this was a great follow-up!

The romantic tension in this installment was intense (and a little frustrating—but in the best way). Wren and Torj are such layered, compelling characters, and I was thrilled that we still got generous doses of my favorites from the Guardians of Thezmarr books (Thea + Wilder FOREVERRRRR).

Wren, as a protagonist, continues to shine—though she definitely has her moments that make you want to shake her a little. She’s fierce, stubborn, and complex, and while she occasionally makes choices that had me yelling at the page, I’m still rooting for her every step of the way.

Can’t wait to see where this story goes next!

Sadly, this felt more like a filler book in terms of plot - to work out the fall out of book one regarding Wren and Torj’s relationship and the secrets Torj is hiding.

Saying that, the ending sets up beautifully for book three and I have better hopes for that. Especially because there will be a whole lot more of Kipp. Oh, and Wren and Torj tension.

<b>‘You’re playing with fire, Embers . . .’ he warned.
‘You’re forgetting how much I like to go up in flames,’ she whispered in his ear.
</b>
Wren is learning she is not alone.
Kipp still meddles in their relationship.
There’s a one-tent troupe.
There is a lot of jealous possessiveness.

I missed the academia setting, the trials, the bantering. There is a lot of travelling and catching people up on what happened in the previous series, Blood and Steel.

But, like I said, it sets up an explosive finale.

Arc gifted by Tor Bramble.

4 Stars

Thorns & Fire by Helen Scheuerer

As soon as my NetGalley approval came through, I put everything else on hold—I had to know what came next after the emotional cliffhanger of Iron & Embers. Thorns & Fire picks up in the aftermath of the Battle of Drevenor, where grief, broken bonds, and political tension hang thick in the air.

Torj’s choice to sever his soul bond with Wren in an effort to protect her is the emotional heartbeat of this book. Their connection may be fractured, but it’s not gone—you feel it humming between them in every scene. This sequel doesn’t rely on constant action to carry the story. Instead, it focuses on political maneuvering and the emotional growth of its characters. It’s slower paced, but never boring. Every chapter moves the story forward with quiet intensity.

Wren’s arc continues to shine. Her inner conflict—between legacy and love, duty and self—is so raw and human. She’s growing into her power, not just as an alchemist, but as someone learning to trust herself. Meanwhile, Torj remains the tortured warrior type who refuses to say what he truly feels. His love for Wren lingers in every choice he makes, even when he thinks he's doing the right thing by keeping his distance.

This book might not be as explosive as book one, but it’s packed with tension, introspection, and a deepening of the world and characters. It’s very much the calm before the storm—and I’m absolutely ready for what book three is about to bring.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book for an honest review.