Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-arc copy.

Unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy this book and snf’d it around the half way mark. I tried so many different times to read it with no such luck.

I couldn’t connect to the characters at all

Impeccable. Immaculate. Incredible. 🖤

This book was literally everything I wanted in a romantasy book and more.

Wren is our fierce FMC, who gives off major Nesta vibes in ACOSF. Angsty, full of trauma, and she just wants to be alone after all she went through in the Legends of Thezmarr series.

Torj, our moody, broody MMC gives major Cassian vibes. He’s the classic over protective and grumpy bodyguard who’s a cinnamon roll just for her. He’s also basically Thor.

A woman on the verge - Wren is battling through trauma from the war, after losing her sister and two of her close friends, and gains power she doesn’t understand and can’t accept. All she feels in her heart is a deep desire for justice and vengeance. She’ll do anything to get it, even if that means betraying Torj to do so.

✨Our side characters✨
Kipp and Cal
They provide amazing comic relief to the story, and I love their interactions as a group! They’re the brothers and friends you would want by your side, whilst being complete troublemakers.

Zavier and Odessa
They compliment Wren so well; Zavier challenges her, Odessa brings out a softer side in her she never thought she’d see again. The ultimate teammates.

Iron & Embers is a fast paced, gripping, heart pounding romantasy novel. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this!

It definitely helped that the world building was already done during Legends of Thezmarr series.

There was so much yearning and angst! Every chapter felt like it had a purpose. There were no filler chapters, or times where I wanted to skim or just skip ahead. I was thorough invested the whole time, and I haven’t felt that way about a book in so long. There was so many twists and turns I could’ve gotten whiplash 🤭🤍

The only thing that bothered me was what happened at the end 👀
It felt like it was just a plot device to set the scene for the next book, and didn’t make total sense with the lore. I didn’t feel like that was a necessary action, apart from the fact that it would create tension for book 2. But, I’ll ignore that bc I loved this book so much.

I’m soooo excited to see what happens in the next one! 🖤

I absolutely love the Legends of Thezmarr series so I when knew there would be another series set in the same world but following side characters Wren and Torj i just knew it would become a favourite and wow it didn't disappoint. Helen Scheuerer is such an amazing author in the way she portrays such an immersive and engaging world and characters you can't help but love.

Set five years after the events of the last book Wren is an assassin of sorts a 'poisoner' dealing out vengeance on the enemies from the shadow war and not having hardly any interaction with Torj for those five years. Yet when a new threat arises they find themselves back together when Wren finds herself attending the prestigious Drevenor Academy for Alchemists and Torji is assigned as her bodyguard.

I really enjoyed the academic setting and found the plot so engaging and interesting. The best bit though that I absolutely loved was the tension, angst, longing glances, gentle touches and the unbelievably beautiful slow burn between Wren and Torji..it completely delivered on everything and so much more the romance has always been simmering for so long between them and the way it was slowly built throughout the story was so well done for when the spice finally hits a lot later in the book it's an all consuming need between them and finally pays off in such a good way! This is very much a character driven story so while there isn't as much action until the last part it sets up the story beautifully for what's to come next.

To see the best side characters Kipp and Cal return in this series made me so happy they are two of my favourites and bring such lightness to the series. I couldn't put this book down but also didn't want it to end, such an amazing start to the new series..I can't wait for the next book and what's to come. Highly recommend!

While this is the first book in a new trilogy and can be read separately as it focuses on a new plot, and characters and gives enough information throughout so it doesn't feel like you are missing out on anything important, I do really recommend reading the Legends of Thezmarr series first to get the full reading experience as knowing these characters beforehand really added to my overall enjoyment of this new series.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the opportunity to read this before release.

I’ve not read The Legends of Thezmarr series but it seems I’m about to because I couldn’t get enough of Iron & Embers. Scheuerer’s world is so immersive, and the banter and verbal sparring between Wren and Torj is so addictive and creates such wonderful chemistry between them that I found myself devouring this book page by page. The slow burn sizzle, the hate you but I actually don’t, the one horse, shared living space, joined bathrooms (!!!) bodyguard/protector x I don’t need protection dynamic is TOO GOOD. I mean it when I say, no notes. I usually hate a second chance romance, but when it has this much yearning: swoon city - I couldn’t stop myself from smiling at each moment of sizzle and spice and then SCREAMING at that devastating cliff hanger.

𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 & 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀

If you're looking for a new fantasy romance to sink your teeth into, 𝑰𝒓𝒐𝒏 & 𝑬𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 is a fantastic pick —even if you haven't read the 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐳𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫 series!
As someone diving into this world for the first time, I found it incredibly welcoming.
The author does an amazing job weaving in just enough backstory to bring new readers up to speed without bogging things down. Through Wren’s flashbacks, old characters reappearing, and a few well-placed POV chapters set in the past, you get a clear picture of what happened in the previous series while staying fully immersed in the present.

The story picks up five years after the great war from the 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐳𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫 series. Our main characters, Wren and Torj, are trying to move forward while grappling with their past trauma.
Their journeys are emotionally rich and deeply character-driven, which makes this a slower-paced book, especially at the beginning. It takes about 110 pages for the main plot to kick off, but the emotional depth and character development more than make up for it.

The main plot revolves around Wren attending the Academy to hone her alchemical skills while Torj serves as her bodyguard. If you’ve read 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘨 by Rebecca Yarros, you might catch some similar vibes here—especially with the risky trials Wren faces at the Academy. However, while the setup is promising, I felt like the challenges were often resolved too easily. Even the final, high-stakes trial that the book builds toward was resolved so quickly that it didn’t feel as intense or rewarding as it could have been.

The characters—old and new—are all incredibly likeable! Wren and Torj’s POVs are captivating, and the way their individual growth is written makes you root for them the entire time.
Instead of wielding a sword, Wren uses her mind as her weapon, and as an aspiring Master Alchemist, her intelligence is front and center. Wren is fierce and stoic, making her an incredibly engaging protagonist. Her alchemical skills added such a unique flavor to the story—I loved following her journey through the trials of the Academy.

Torj, on the other hand, is all about restraint and control, and his dynamic with Wren was such a highlight. Their slow-burn romance is one of the best I’ve read. Torj’s self-control keeps them from rushing into anything, and their chemistry builds steadily over time. Even the spicy scenes follow a deliberate progression: from watching each other, to pleasuring the other, to full-blown love making. This pacing not only enhances the slow burn but also made the scenes much more enjoyable for someone like me who usually isn’t a fan of overly spicy books. Too often, books jump from a first kiss to heated love making, which feels rushed and out of place—Iron & Embers avoids this trap beautifully.

I couldn't help but notice some similarities to 𝘈 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘖𝘧 𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 by Sarah J. Maas. If you're a fan of that book, you'll probably adore this one too.
Personally, though, I wasn't a huge fan of 𝘈𝘊𝘖𝘚𝘍, and that colored my experience of the last 40% of this book.

The main drawback for me was the plot-or lack thereof. While the character work is
fantastic, by the end, I still found myself wondering, 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵? 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?
The battles, while exciting, didn't feel like
they were building to anything greater, leaving the finale feeling a bit deflated after all that tension. I'm curious to see
where this series will go, but it didn't feel like a strong foundation for a larger narrative arc.

Overall, 𝑰𝒓𝒐𝒏 & 𝑬𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 is a solid 4-star read for me. If you’re looking for a character-driven fantasy with a slow-burn romance and rich emotional depth, this is absolutely worth your time.
Perfect for newcomers and fans of the previous series alike!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

Magic, deadly trials, and academic intrigue—Iron & Embers delivers it all. Set in the same universe as Helen Scheuerer’s Legends of Thezmarr series, this first book in the Ashes of Thezmarr series works perfectly as a standalone (though now I’m eager to dive into the earlier series).

The story opens five years after the Shadow War, introducing us to Wren, heir to the Delmirian throne. Wracked with grief, she takes vengeance into her own hands as "The Poisoner". However, she dreams of becoming a master alchemist by attending Drevenor Academy. To get there, she must survive The Gauntlet, a brutal set of trials—all while dodging a rising threat to magic-wielders. Assigned to protect her is Torj, a Warsword of Thezmarr with every reason to dislike her. Their history is fraught, and their dynamic crackles with tension and simmering chemistry.

Despite its length, the book flew by thanks to its shorter chapters and relentless momentum. Scheuerer balances intricate world-building with sharp character development, creating a story that hooked me from the start. The side characters were equally compelling, adding humour and heart—I’d happily read spin-offs about any of them. And that ending? I’m already counting down the days until book two.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the eARC—this is a gripping start to a new series!

I know Iron & Embers can be read independently without reading Blood & Steel so I went in blind. BUT it feels like I’m missing out on some backstory?? We are thrust straight into the fray at the beginning which I suspect was where the last series ended at?

It’s your typical bodyguard romance set in a fantasy realm with a couple of plot twists and I quite enjoyed it! Until things got repetitive. I was hoping for more action (not smut haha but action action⚔️), more development on the villain, and more backstory on the supporting characters too.

PSA: The tension between Wren and Torj IS TO DIE FOR! The slow burn transitioning to blazing inferno scratched that romantasy itch. My only wish was it to unfurl at a steady pace instead of a mad dash at the last 20%.

Thank you NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for this arc!

🫖 𝐼𝓇𝑜𝓃 & 𝐸𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇𝓈
@helenscheuerer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Firstly! Thank you so so much @panmacmillan / @macmillanaus for this arc on NetGalley. It has truly started my year off wonderfully. I was also lucky enough to be on the cover reveal team for this book so I’m so excited to have received an arc!

Helen what are you doing to me!? This is my absolute favourite book in the Thezmarr world hands down.

After the first series, Wren has been struggling with grief after the war and not really having a purpose. She finally gets her letter of recommendation to attend Drevenor to achieve her dream of becoming a master alchemist. But since a royal was attacked, she is assigned Torj as a bodyguard to their ✨dismay✨. Queue the tension and loathing and annoyance that just buildsssss!

The characters that we all know and love had many appearances! But I was in an absolute chock hold with how much more in depth we got with Wren and Torj than anyone else. Helen has done such a fantastic job with showcasing all the different feelings Wren experiences and it felt like I was there holding her hand helping her through it. I also love that we didn’t have the typical ‘girl learns how to wield a sword with man’ montage because Wren is already deadly with her poisons and dare I say, just smarter.

The romance was a super super slow burn (as it should be), which helps the plot and world building establish properly and ugh it was done so well!

And the ending!? EXCUSE ME? I shall be sending you my psychologist bill within the next 5 business days.

What you should takeaway from this? Read The Legends of Thezmarr series and then IMMEDIATELY jump into this on 28 January. You’re welcome 💅🏻

Wow! This book felt like The Witcher at an adult Hogwarts that's run by Snape! I really loved how it dived straight into the story, without overpowering the reader with information and magic systems. The plot was fast and I was invested in the story from the beginning to the end.

The two main characters are strong and likeable. I was invested in their relationship and there was a great build up. They also have amazing chemistry!!

This book had chapters of spice that actually didn't lead anywhere. Yes, this book needed a bit of spice as the chemistry between the characters was on fire. But some chapters just felt forced. It was a push pull situation over and over. Some how in their heads, certain spice things weren't spice so that was okay & it meant they weren't emotionally attached.... If you like spice, you may love this book. I was skipping chapters of 'spice' and I'm glad I did as they never led anywhere.

It also contains one of my biggest book red flags. No communication or one character making decisions with no communication in order to fulfil their saviour complex.

The side characters are great and I can't wait to see if they are in the next book more after everything that happened. We didn't see much of them in this book as the focus was the chemistry between the main characters.

I loved the world building and how it focused on herbs and potions rather than magic. It felt unique. I was also glad there were others that were better at her at certain things. I've had enough of books where the main character is absolutely perfect and the best at everything! She had team mates that were her equal. She was good at some areas and they were good at others, this made them a great team.

I'm excited to see where book 2 will lead.

Absolutely incredible start to this new series!

I adored meeting Torj and Wren in the Knights of Thezmarr series and was so excited to see a new series with the focus on their growing relationship.

The shared trauma aspect of their relationship was handled beautifully. I loved how the trust rebuilt and how protective of each other they were despite initially deciding not to pursue anything.

Amazing plot. Wren is such a easy FMC to warm to and root for. I loved her more introverted methods of defending herself.

Will I be obsessed with this series?
Yes.
🔥 🔥 🔥🔥 🔥

2.5 stars, rounded to 3.

Iron & Embers is a novel set in the world of The Legends of Thezmarr. The summary sounded great - an assasin, a bodyguard, enemies to lovers and a deadly academy.

Sadly, the book disappointed me in almost every regard. I won't spoiler so I won't say everything, but the two main characters instantly having all the hots for each other whenever they laid eyes on each other was annoying. Part of the gauntlet was SO MUCH catching fire that it wasn't even funny anymore. The characters and especially every side character were so flat, I didn't connect to anyone and therefore didn't even care for the ending.

This series has a lot of potential though and using alchemy was very interesting and also the ways it was used.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the arc of this book.

I was excited to read this as I’ve heard many good things about the author.

I love how we get straight to the action and our FMC Wren is what I love to see in our female characters and takes no nonsense.

I loved the slow burn Romance.

I can’t wait wait to carry on with book 2.

This book was enjoyable and kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved the dark academia feel of the alchemy school—it gave the book such a cool atmosphere. Wren, the main character, was fantastic. Her grief and trauma from the events of the previous series made her journey of healing through friendships and love feel so real and meaningful. Watching her grow and rebuild herself was one of my favourite parts. The dialogue was fun and full of banter, making connecting with the characters easy. There was a good mix of action scenes and tense alchemy lessons, and the pacing felt just right. The romance was a very slow burn, but I didn’t mind—it made the payoff feel more meaningful and emotional.

Overall, this was a great book with an interesting world, strong characters, and a promising storyline. I’m excited to see what happens next in the sequel! Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading about Wren and Torj.

Their history was intriguing and I was rooting for them all the way through. The writing in this book is great; it's riveting and really sucks you into the story.

The world building is wonderful, I haven't read any of the authors previous books but I will now, as I really enjoyed the story and want to know more about this world.

I enjoyed the fated mates trope and I cannot wait to read more about what happens to them after that finale! I honestly don't know what to expect but I cannot wait to find out how Wren and Torj make this work as I really like them together 😊

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Helen Scheuerer is the undisputed Queen of Romantasy! The Legends of Thezmarr is my Roman Empire, and this next chapter was EPIC! From start to finish this story had me in a chokehold. Helen writes so incredibly the story plays like a film in my head, world building so rich and refined but it does not drag. Wren is fierce and determined and it was incredible to learn more about her! This first chapter in The Ashes of Thezmarr has me wanting more! I cannot wait for the rest to come.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this! I was gripped from the start. Character development is strong in this book with their flaws and intertwined pasts being explored as the story unfolds, allowing the reader to understand them more as time goes on. The plot is romance heavy in this instalment of the series - I wouldn't describe it as enemies to lovers but there's definitely animosity! You have a fierce FMC, angry at the world and the bodyguard trope coming into play - you see where that's going don't you? I was kicking my feet! You have action and twists and enough frustration with the main characters but not too much to put you off! Slow burn vibes but you know it's coming and you don't actually have to wait too long! I've read some much slower slow burns!!

I enjoyed the dual POV - I always enjoy getting both characters' viewpoints in romantasy books as I think it helps with character development and readers' understanding of their actions and thinking.

Overall a great start to a series and it ends with you wanting and waiting for more....

Thank you to Helen Scheuerer, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this book.
-
This is the new Fourth Wing x Crowns of Nyaxia book.
It has a very slow burn, some good (and well deserved) spice. A very good world building that is just after a war and not like 1000years or right before. The characters are very realistic and have actual trauma that is realistic.
I like that not everyone has made it to the end and some characters death are very present in the book and are a big strength for others.
MMC gave some the Witcher vibes but I am here for it.
Kinda hoped the FMC wore something else and didn’t have a « messy bun » all the time. I kinda like the ones that are girly pops and not « she was naturally breaktaking I would go to war for her bare face look » kinda is too fanficish and also can be a bit harsh on some people
-
Overall it’s a nice read I’d love to read the next books in the series.

This book follows Wren Embervale—assassin turned alchemist. She has been seeking revenge for the death of her sister and friends, lost during the War of the Mid Realms. When she is finally invited to attend a legendary academy to train as a master alchemist, it seems like the perfect opportunity.

Her invitation comes because a royal’s life has been targeted using alchemy, and they need Wren’s help to uncover how it happened—and to create a cure. To become a master alchemist, she must face a series of trials known as the Gauntlet, with six months to prepare.

Because of Wren’s status, however, she also needs protection. And who better to be assigned as her protector than Warhammer Torj Elderbrock, the war hero with whom she shares a very complicated history. Despite their mutual dislike, the tension simmering between them could be their undoing.

Was this a great read?

Absolutely. I flew through it for three main reasons:
1. I love an academia setting.
2. The tension throughout was chef’s kiss.
3. Trials? Sign me up.

Any downsides?

My only little bugbear—and maybe it’s not even a big deal—is that there wasn’t enough focus on the Gauntlet as the main event. But at the same time, it felt like the whole book was one big trial, so maybe I can’t complain? 😅

The characters?

Oh. My. God. I think I’ve found my new book boyfriend. A hammer-wielding, silver-haired giant blessed with the strength of the gods and covered in tattoos? Sign me up.

Beyond that, all the characters were so well-developed. They were unique, compelling, and I found myself rooting for every single one of them.

The setting and world-building?

I thought the world-building was great. It was descriptive without going overboard, making it easy to read and immerse yourself in. Also, wow—what a phenomenal place to learn alchemy.

Final thoughts?

I really enjoyed this book, but I am so mad at that ending. I don’t even know how to feel about it. I know it’s not the end because there’s more to come, but where this story is going? I have no idea. And honestly, that’s what makes it so brilliant.

I adored being back in this world!

I would 100% recommend reading the Legends of Thezmarr before this because you will miss so much if you don’t!

I loved Wren (our FMC) working through her past. The academic setting with the alchemy was brilliant. Our MMC was grumpy/sunshine. This book is about Wren and her time at an alchemy university, where she finds hidden secrets, our MMC is sent to guard her as there is a threat to the royals and the story unravels from there.

Loved it!

Absolutely devoured this book, as I knew I would. I loved the Legends of Thezmarr series and it’s become a favourite, so I was very excited to read Wren and Torj’s story. Though this is book 1 in an entirely new trilogy with a whole new plot and character focus, i do recommend reading the Legends series first to optimise your experience. This can be read separately, however for me the fact that I already knew the side characters, who feature right from the beginning of Iron & Embers, heightened my enjoyment.

This story delivered for me on the plot, I was so interested in the alchemy academy setting which is not what you expect. I also loved the tension, tease and slow burn between Wren and Torj, but also seeing the softer side of Torj too and the internal battles he’s fighting. Another love for me was the fact we still get our Kipp and Cal fix - excellent side characters. This book had me smiling, chuckling, biting my lip, tense and I just ate it up. If I had to say anything negative it’s that the use of the word “bodily” was a bit too often, as was the frequent references to Torj’s sea-blue eyes. But that’s me being picky because you gotta say at least one thing you didn’t like 😅

Overall I gave this book a 5⭐️, and this was an easy rating. It gave me all the vibes I hoped and I couldn’t put it down - can’t wait for the next book!