I have such bittersweet feelings right now

First off, I want to thank Helen Scheuerer the author, and Pan Macmillan for the chance to read Silver and Smoke, the final installment in the Ashes of Thezmarr trilogy.
This book delivers everything I love in fantasy—soul bonds, forbidden romance, guard x charge dynamics, “touch her and 💀 ” energy, and an heir fighting for their throne. It was the perfect conclusion to a series that has meant so much to me.
I first discovered Helen’s work in 2023 with the Legends of Thezmarr series, where we met Wilder and Thea, Kipp, Callahan, Wren, Torj, and so many unforgettable characters. Each of them has left a lasting impression, shaping this world into something truly magical. That’s why it’s bittersweet to reach the end—because saying goodbye to them feels so hard.
Silver and Smoke picks up right where Thorns and Fire left off, plunging us back into the chaos of alchemy, shadow magic, and war. What stood out most to me was the character growth—watching everyone step into who they needed to become, not just for themselves, but for their families, their friends, and their people.
Helen Scheuerer writing is such a beautiful balance of immersive world-building and addictive storytelling. There’s love, banter, loyalty, and just the right amount of spice. The romance between Wren and Torj shines brightest—it radiates through every page, and I’ll admit, it even brought a lump to my throat more than once.
This trilogy wraps up in the best possible way: emotional, fast-paced, and deeply satisfying. It’s a whirlwind of love, loss, and triumph. And while I’m heartbroken to see it end, I can’t help but hope for a spin-off or novella—especially one following Kipp and Callahan’s adventures in Delmira.
From Blood and Steel in 2023 to this finale, each release has only gotten stronger. Not once did it feel like the momentum slowed or the quality dipped. Instead, this world kept growing richer, and my love for it grew right alongside.
I will never stop recommending The Legends of Thesmar and The Ashes of Thesmar. These books are, to me, perfection. They hold such a special place in my heart, and I’ll always be grateful for them.
So thank you again to Helen and Pan Macmillan for the ARC of Silver and Smoke. And to anyone waiting for its release—please, please read it. Start with The Legends of Thesmar for the full experience, then dive into Ashes of Thesmar. You won’t regret it.

This book is the end of an era! I've been in love with every single installment in the Thezmarr series, from Legends to Ashes and this installment is defined my favourite one so far! Wren and Torj have come so much ever since their first introduction in Legends and I love how their story finally came together! The stakes are high, and tough choices need to be made. Helen Scheuerer absolutely delivered with this book and I cannot wait for everyone to read this book just so I can rave about it!

What an absolute whirlwind of a finale! I couldn’t have wished for more from this series, I loved all 3 books, but I think this one might be my favourite, the pacing was just perfect.

I think Kipp is my favourite character, had me laughing out loud!!

The romance was everything I wanted, and I think Torj might just be my favourite book boyfriend 😍

I had to wait a few days to write this review because the emotions I felt reading this last book in the Ashes of Thezmarr series cannot be put into words.
First of all, thank you ever so much PanMacmillan for sending me the digital netgalley of this book - I somersaulted when I got it!
This book is honestly incredible, the plot is intricate - and while I heard lots of people mentioned that book 2 was romance driven - this book’s plot stole the show. The military strategy, the plot twists, the longing and heartbreak all culminating in THAT perfect prophecy fulfilment that made my hair stand up! I shed many tears, of sorrow, joy and just out of love of this world and the sadness of Wren and Torj story ending… and the last few chapters? Cuteness overload, if you know, you know 😍

Look at how beautiful that cover is!!!

Silver and Smoke was everything I expected, wanted and wished for. Everything came back together in these books for the explosive finale Thorns and Fire promised.

Wren, while a mostly developed main character, really proved herself in this one. Her intellect and her abilities are what pushed the narrative and essentially win the war (alongside our favourite strategist, Kipp). While Torj evolved into the perfectly flawed MMC. He was kind, protective & most of all, supportive. Their dynamic was so refreshing and the trust that they have earned over the previous two books is reflected in Silver and Smoke. I am obsessed! They were honestly some of the most well written, mature and patient main characters (without compromising on spice). While I wish I could see more of these two as the leads, their story has undoubtedly come to a close.

The relationships between the characters are what makes Helen’s books so special. Each character in this book has formulated a unique bond that has developed over the series of The Legends of Thezmarr series. Notably, this book brought the saga of the sisters to a close, and hopefully opens it up for an opportunity for a different story in this world. I feel (and hope) that Helen is not quite done with Thezmarr just yet, and I cannot wait to see where she goes next.

I will recommend this series again and again; what a perfect conclusion for the Queen of Delmira and the Bear Slayer.

Thank you PanMacmillian for the eARC of Silver and Smoke.

I have read this entire series and I've loved it. Wren & Torj were both amazing characters, with interesting powers and plot and an incredible dynamic that kept you hooked throughout the whole series and I'm extremely happy I've been given the chance to read this series before they were officially out. After the events of book 2, it was pretty obvious - in some ways - where the story was going and I'm happy to see than the author did a very good job in concluding Wren and Torj's story - and, of course, every other character that made this series into what it is.

I do have to say I think this series would've worked slightly better as a duology considering some of the chapters in this book felt like fillers but at the end of the day, it wasn't a big deal - When you end up loving the characters, it's a pleasure to be reading about them anyway.

I'm sad this series is over but at the same time it feels so good to see Wren and Torj finally find their happily eve after.

First off, thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC—I’ve been grateful to follow this series from the very beginning and always appreciate the chance to share my honest thoughts.

Going into Silver & Smoke, I was hopeful for a strong continuation after everything that happened in the earlier books. And to be fair, there were parts I did really enjoy—especially the side characters. They often stole the spotlight for me, and I loved the moments where we got to see their bonds deepen and their stories come full circle. The ending itself also gave us a heartfelt conclusion, with happy outcomes for many of the supporting cast, and I really appreciated that sense of closure.

That said, I struggled with the main storyline and especially with how much of it was overshadowed by the spice. The lack of self-control between Wren and Torj often derailed the tension and momentum of the plot, and at times it felt like their relationship was more about physical attraction than true emotional depth. Every time I start to warm up to Wren and Torj in their quieter, more emotional moments, another rushed and possessive scene happens that breaks the fragile bond of sincerity they just managed to build. Instead of a believable relationship, it often reads more like master/servant vibes than a genuine partnership.

Personally, I prefer less focus on spice in my fantasy, and here it often came across as repetitive and misplaced, pulling me out of the story rather than adding to it.
My honest opinion: this series without spice would have been a thousand times better. The bones of the plot, the world, and even the emotional threads had real potential. But when everything is constantly derailed by yet another scene, it cheapens the characters and makes it hard for me to care about the stakes.

Overall, while this series wasn’t ultimately for me, I can see why readers who enjoy romantasy will love it. There are emotional beats, a found family of side characters worth rooting for, and a conclusion that ties everything together. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to read these ARCs, even if this final installment wasn’t quite what I had hoped for.

5⭐️ 2🌶️

- Mate/ Soul bonds
- Forbidden lovers
- Guard/ Charge
- Touch-her-and-💀
- Heir to the throne

“You are everything to me. My friend. My lover. My soul-bonded… My queen”

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I’m so grateful to Pan MacMillan & NetGalley for the ARC, I was beyond excited to dive in!

The final book in the Ashes of Thezmarr trilogy was everything I hoped for and more. Silver & Smoke picks up right where Thorns and Fire left off, thrusting us back into the chaos of Wren’s coerced betrothal to Darian Devereux. From there, the gang is swept into another epic quest across the Midrealms in a bid to raise an army and face Silas on the battlefield. But with Torj slowly succumbing to the poison in his veins, the stakes are higher than ever, and time is running out to find a cure…

As always, Helen Scheuerer delivers a brilliant blend of rich world-building, an addictive plot, and characters you can’t help but root for. The writing is fast-paced and filled with banter, tension, romance and spice, while also weaving together multiple storylines with ease. The evolution of Wren and Torj’s journey gripped me, but I also adored the arcs of familiar faces, especially Thea and Wilder, whose relationship development brought both smiles and tears!
Fans of Legends of Thezmarr will be delighted to see returning characters like Talemir Starling make their mark once again too (if you haven’t read Slaying the Shadow Prince yet - add it to your list immediately!).

This finale is an emotional whirlwind, it wrapped up the trilogy in a way that was satisfying while still leaving me desperate for more from the Thezmarr universe. I would love to see Kipp, or Cal & Zavier take centre stage in future spin-offs!

The Ashes of Thezmarr series has cemented itself as one of my favourite series - it’s epic, heartfelt, and utterly addictive. I’ll be shouting about Helen Scheuerer’s books forever, and I cannot wait to see what she does next!

I can’t believe the Midrealms stories have come to a close!
Helen ensured she gave her characters a memorable finale with a high stakes, dramatic ending.
This book was filled with beautiful declarations of love, between friends, family and romantic partners. There were a lot more happy tears than sad, I was full of emotion.
I can imagine this was such a daunting and demanding book to write, but Helen pulled it off. I don’t want to leave this world so I hope there will be other stories to tell in the future.

She’s done it again!
Helen Scheurer is rapidly becoming auto buy for me!
I adore the Thezmarr world and the characters!
I love Wren and Torj together. The YEARNING across all three books, oh my heart.
Helen does no wrong in my eyes.
For a spin off series to the original this is INCREDIBLE.

What a perfect way to end an incredible series.

This book answered all the questions you have but without fact dumping like some books do. My favourite part of this book is all the nods to Legends of Thezmarr. I cried multiple times at how beautiful the scenes/plot lines were.

Honestly just amazing

I love this series and this instalment was just brilliant. All your favourite characters, twists and turns wrapped up in a beautiful ending. Would love to see more of Cal and Kip…a spin off????

4.5 ⭐

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘳 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘜𝘒 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊!

𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 & 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 is the 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙯𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙧 series, where Wren Embervale, who needs to play the role of a dutiful fiancée while her body and soul yearns for Torj, who would lay down his life for her? Will the tangled threads of political necessity leave her kingdom – and her heart – in ashes.

This final installment picks up directly after the events of 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 & 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞, where it is revealed that Wren is unwillingly engaged to Darian Devereaux, the stakes higher and the secrets deadly. I loved how there wasn't miscommunication between Wren and Torj — which further solidified my love for these characters because of the trust they have for each other and the lengths they would go for each other.

This was a brilliant final installment to a well loved series — the end of an era to an amazing series that spanned nine books. There were so many expectations for this book and I can positively say that I was truly enriched by this book and it felt like the most perfect ending this series could get! I was so amazed and didn't feel like leaving this world because of how well Helen Scheuerer wrote this series. If this is the end of the Thezmarr world, this is an amazing and emotional book to end this series.

I was entirely hooked and immersed, in extreme awe that this series was going to end. There was a perfect balance of romance and world-building, and the forbidden romance trope took a different turn due to the circumstances in this book. The world-building continues to expand and we learn a lot more about this world and the characters, a deeper dive into the history and backstories, and very much anticipated revealtions unfolded along with jaw-dropping plot twists. Despite this being the final book, we were taken on a short adventure to new places and reunited with Thezmarr for a short but memorable time.

I had so many feelings throughout this book — I laughed, cried, screamed, snorted the fuck out when a plot twists was so unexpected, got angry at a few characters and gasped. Scheuerer does an amazing job with still having plot twists that had me laughing and my jaw on the floor and a few mystery aspects that continued to blow my mind away.

My favourite part of this series is the characters. Each and every character is worth remembering, from their distinct personalities, quirks and traits — sometimes behaviour — which made this series more memorable. The found family aspect is definitely a major highlight, the friendships that brewed in the world were all fantastic. I loved reading about the found family with Thea, Wilder, Wren, Torj, Cal, Kipp, Talemir and Malik. The friendships were honestly so amazing, with Wren, Dessa and Zander; Thea, Cal and Kipp; Kipp and Wren; Torj, Wilder, Talemir and Malik and the sisterly bonds between Wren and Thea were so so precious, especially with what they have been through.

𝗘𝗹𝘄𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲 is truly an emotionally complex character. It was such a fulfilling experience to be able to see her character grown from 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭'𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐰 to 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 & 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞. Her character is richly developed by the end, a truly magnificent outcome. From a young Alchemist to a poisoner-assassin, she has gone through many hardships in her life. Seeing her finally let her heal herself, to not let the survivor's guilt from the first war was truly such a strong step taken by her character. She's still on a path to vengeance — to rightfully claim her throne in Delmira, to make sure that no one abuses the resources and power of her ancestral lands and to stop the Kingsbane Slayer from ruining the peace that their world has finally attained. She's a fierce and headstrong woman who is willing to do anything to protect the people she cares about, to protect and make the right choices at whatever personal cost impending her. She grew into an awe-inspiring character who learned as a person to learn that it was okay to feel what she felt and do what she did. She's devoted to Torj, incredibly and deeply in love with him.

𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗶 𝗘𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 is a staple for the best book male love interests to exist. The amount of trust this man holds for the woman he loves — even when she needed to marry the man he loathed, was such an incredible example of the trust and devotion he held for her. He's been extremely devoted to her for five years, pined, longed and yearned for her and his patience was paid off in the most fulfilling way. The final parts of his backstory and family backgrounds were revealed, his journey and struggles were trials of his own, adding a layer of depth to his character. Torj is the kind of character who doesn't ask for help, who doesn't want to feel or to be seen weak but is someone whom his close friends and family can rely on, who people respect and who would do anything for them. He's willing to do anything for the people he cares about, a headstrong person who is loyal to the core, even during his last moments. He's always known for fierce and grumpy personality but seeing his soft and tender side, laying entire raw and bare in front of Wren without any feelings for need consequences and to be loved and cared for by her was his salvation.

Their chemistry was sizzling hot from their first interaction and it was a worthy pay-off in this book. This book truly tested their love, trust and devotion towards their counterpart and it proved that they love each other deeply and belong with each other. The spice was spicing, their romance forbidden because she's engaged to a man he loathed. They had a lot of challenges to overcome and they did it with each other, trusting each other in every step without a single-drop of betrayal or distrust. They had the best communication among any other couples I've read about and to see that there weren't any problems that arose from miscommunication shocked me and further solidified their soulmate bond.

There is strong political commentary and themes explored in this series and book, playing a major role. There's so much discussed and shown — how propaganda is spread and loyalties shift accordingly, how misogyny and patriarchy doom society and existence, a woman undermined because of her gender, how sometimes, justice can only be seeked when you're willing to take it upon yourself to enact it. Propaganda as a tool showed how dangerous it was when it spread across quickly, changing and twisting the narrative of events, how bias changed the reality of the situation in books and history accounts and bigotry and misogyny runs deep in politics.

This book ended an era. It's so hard to let go of a world that you were truly passionate about reading, a series that made me laugh, cry, scream, and gasp. I'm emotional at the fact that there are probably no more Thezmarr books left. I will be in love with this series, it's characters and the amazing plotlines that grappled and had me hooked from the beginning. 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 & 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞 was a brilliant and fulfilling conclusion to this series and I cannot wait to see what Helen Scheuerer has planned next for us!

A whirlwind of war, poison, shadow magic, and heartache—Helen Scheuerer knows how to end on a high note.

Wren’s final gambit as a poisoner-turned-queen had me glued to the pages. Engaged (unwillingly) to Darian Devereux under his father’s manipulative machinations, she plays her part while secretly plotting with Kip to outmaneuver the Devereux and Silas Kingsbane. Meanwhile, Drevenor falls, allies rally, and the Midrealms prepare for war. At the heart of it all is her desperate race to save black-cedar-and-oakmoss scented Torj Elderbrock from the poison spreading through his veins, even as she shoulders Delmira’s crown and the destiny she’s long resisted.

The pace never lets up—battles, betrayals, strategy, and yes, enough spice to keep things smoldering. I loved seeing old friends return (Thea and Wilder still make me smile), and I even grudgingly grew to like Darian, which I didn’t think possible. Kip? Still the sharpest strategist in the room, and I wouldn’t mind if a future story gave him more than just maps and plans.

This finale was everything I wanted: action-packed, emotional, and tied together with just enough romance to leave me both crying and cheering. No, it wasn’t flawless, but it was beautiful, satisfying, and kept me awake far later than I should admit.

Thanks to the author and Pan Macmillan for an e-archive in exchange for an honest opinion.

Silver & Smoke is an incredible conclusion to The Ashes of Thezmarr trilogy! I couldn't resist reading it as soon as I received the ARC. I just didn't have the self control and needed to know how the Ashes of Thezmarr trilogy ended! For me, it was a perfect ending. It was an epic finale to the series but also had those laugh out loud moments (was Kipp involved in a lot of those? Perhaps) and those sweet (and spicy) moments between Wren and Torj that I love!

It picks up directly after the events of Thorns & Fire and the stakes were high in this one. Wren and Torj were a real team here and there wasn't any miscommunication or unnecessary drama to do with their relationship. Honestly, they had enough on their plates as it was! There wasn't a dull moment and I raced through it. I think it had a great balance of action and emotional moments.

If there are no more books to come in the Thezmarr world, then it was a really beautiful send off for all the characters and a really satisfying ending. And now that it's all over, my phone can finally stop autocorrecting Torj to York every single time I mention him and how amazing he is, so that's a small win for me personally.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from Pan Macmillan and NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and pan macmillan for the arc.

I actually really enjoyed the ending to this trilogy. I was a little wary of book 2, it felt like Torj and Wren were going back and forth to much.
However, in this book I really enjoyed their dynamic. The continuation of the story was fast paced and interesting. I think it was well wrapped up and I'd go so far as to say this was my favourite of the trilogy.
The heat was still there between Torj and Wren, and actually I wanted to love this and I just did.
The plot was also well wrapped up for me, enjoyed the spice, the plot and the vibes quite frankly.
Overall, really enjoyed this and would recommend this series to any romantasy reader.

wren embervale knows that claiming her crown means making sacrifices - even if that includes an arranged marriage to the powerful lord darian devereux. their union is meant to secure the army she needs to take back her kingdom from the tyrannical silas. but her heart still belongs to torj elderbrock, her soul-bonded warsword. torn between duty and desire, wren must navigate court intrigue and the threat of war, all while torj struggles against a creeping poison that saps his strength

-

silver and smoke picks up right where book two left off, and my heart honestly ached for torj the whole time. his love for wren is so obvious and it hurts that they can’t be together, which made some of the emotional moments really hit

the story itself is well written, though i found parts a bit predictable. that said, i definitely cried - let’s be real, that scene (iykyk) felt so real i had to pause and compose myself

i loved wren’s growth in this book. seeing her embrace her role as queen, make tough choices, and care for her people was satisfying. bonus points for more moments with thea and wilde, and of course cal and kipp - they have my heart

the ending was super heartwarming, and i’m happy with how everyone’s story wrapped up

“Let’s finish this bastard, Embers. Together”

🌟 rating: 5
📚 Genre: Romantasy
🗓️ Publication date:06-11-2025———Arc received from the netgalley and panmacmillan
🌺 Tropes: Touch her/him and die, hairpin to the throat, forbidden love, fated loved, magical bonds, found family
👫 POV: Double point of view
🌶️ level: 2
#️⃣ pages: 448

Thank you so so so much panmacmillan and netgalley for providing me with an widget for an arc of this highly anticipated (in general but also for me) book in exchange for an honest review, I screamed when I got it and then pulled and all nighter to read it.

This book made me feel all the feelings, I screamed, I gasped, I laughed, and while I haven’r cried because of a book so far this one came very close. And now that I finished it (and with the the thezmarr series as well) I feel a little like I felt into an emotional hole. But I loved this book (and book series) so incredibly much and you should absolutely read it.

This book picks up where we were left in thorns and fire and the pacing was immediately right and continued being right throughout the book. I loved all the winks to previous books and story lines that helenscheuerer put in this book and they made me squeal everytime. Moreover, There were some awesome plot twists in this book, some I saw coming and some hit me over the head like a warhammer.

Just as in her previous books the characters are super strong and make this book what it is. I continue to love Wren and Torj and their relationship, but I also love the role all the other characters play and how they all support each other in their made family. Also for the people that adore legends of thezmarr, Wilder and Thea are super present in this book and I loved how their story continued as well.

The ending of this book was also top-notch, often those final (battle) scènes leave me wanting, but helenscheuerer knows how she she should round up such a superb series in an amazing way. Also we all have been beging helenscheuerer for a possible story line for Kipp, and while for now she has said she is done with Thezmarr for now, I do feel she has left open a possible story for him (but that might also be wishful thinking on my part).

I enjoyed this book so much, I felt so honoured to get an arc so early, and I read it in one sitting, and the thezmarr series (both legends and ashes) have a very special place on my bookshelf and in my heart.

You know that dreaded, hollow feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you remember, just as you’re falling asleep, that you forgot to do something important, or when someone reminds you of a memory you’d repressed for your own mental stability? That’s the feeling I got when I finished Silver & Smoke.

I loved the first two instalments in the Ashes of Thezmarr series and had no momentary doubt that I would love this one too, but I didn’t factor in that this was the end. I’m so sad it’s over yet this was just the most beautiful final bow for Wren, Torj and all our other favourites. The chemistry, as per usual, was nothing short of electric, bursting with sizzling tension, with those moments of comedic relief and longing and yearning that give this book oh so much heart.

Those moments are a nice respite from the high-stakes action and war scenes that also take place in this story, and ultimately bring the series to a close.

I’m absolutely over the moon that I was pre-approved for this. Thank you endlessly to Pan Macmillan for sending me the eARC, as well as to Helen Scheuerer for bringing us this incredible world. I will think about this series for a long, long time, and it won’t be my last time reading it.