Going into a book described as LOTR meets Serpent and the Wings of Night, best believe my expectations were **high** but wow this delivered. The plot was incredible and had me hooked from start to finish, and if you tell me there's deadly trials this is what I want! There were twists and turns, some I saw coming and some I absolutely did not, but, the characters. THE CHARACTERS.

Elyria, the FMC is an icon. Big, black cat energy, with a reputation that precedes her and the skills, magic and sass to back it up, (but she's really a pretend IDGAFer, secret softie). Cedric the MMC, is conflicted and broody, and such a secret fanboy for Elyria (eventually). The man **yearns**. The slow-burn tension, chemistry, forced proximity had me like, JUST KISS, ALREADY. The secondary characters/found family was the icing on the cake, Thraigg and Kit are my ride or dies.

The world-building is so good, but because this book revolves around the deadly trials we haven't had chance to really explore much of it yet, but I see you book two (Splintered Kingdom) and I. Can't. Wait.


Thank you Scarlett Press UK and NetGalley for the earc!

4,75 stars.

This book was amazing! I absolutely loved Elyria and her story, her powers and her personality. And I think the world the author has created is so magical and beautiful with awesome characters and races woven into it. The vibe, monsters and fighting throughout reminded me so much of playing DnD and that is a HUGE compliment! The way the action scenes were written and how our characters worked together by focusing on their different strengths was brilliant. It was really well done and I loved every second of it.

I only really had one small issue with something in the story that got resolved pretty quickly once the character was forced to confront it. I won't spoil it, and I do think it was a really cool and powerful moment overall, but it just seemed a little easy and sudden. I think I would have liked to delve more into the struggle and let it take up some more space in the story. But it wasn't a big deal, and I still loved the book so much. Highly recommend this!!

I am internally screaming, I am externally screaming, wow. I was NOT expecting that. This book had me feeling *all* the feels and I am not mad about it (okay maybe a *little* mad about one part but this is a spoiler free review).

Imagine faery Hunger Games mixed with Throne of Glass vibes and throw in a good-humoured but foul-mouthed dwarf for good measure. Then add a prophecy, a purple haired shadow mommy and sprinkle in a healthy dose of betrayal, then you're getting close to this masterpiece!

Elyria, Cedric, Thraigg and Zephyr will be living rent free in my brain for the foreseeable future. Go read this book.

Fox could write a grocery list and I'd eat it UP.

This is book 1 and has been available for a while, im glad that it is getting the love and hype it deserves!

This is the first book in an amazing trilogy that fully deserves to become a staple on romantasy bookshelves one day!

If you’re looking for a green flag, completely non-toxic MMC who is not super powerful, immortal and the best at everything, Cedric is your guy. He’s very different to the most popular type of MMC at the moment, and I love him! I’d describe him as a very reluctant damsel-in-distress.

Elyria, on the other hand, is guarded, sarcastic, and completely done with everything, but not in an unlikeable way. Think Thor when he’s been hiding out in Endgame - that’s kind of where Elyria is at mentally. She’s the kind of person who really struggles to accept help, and even she does need it sometimes. That balanced out how powerful she is, and I really liked that she didn’t feel overpowered or too perfect.

I felt Gretchen generally tried to subvert popular tropes and do things differently to great success. The betrayals were unexpected. I was on the edge of my seat toward the end, thinking that she can’t possibly do this to me!

If you like enemies-to-lovers, banter, and trials, and you’re looking for something a little different from a lot of the popular books right now, I think you’ll like this.

Thank you so much to Scarlett Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to (re)read an advanced digital copy of this book.

Smoke and Scar was such a refreshing twist on the usual romantasy formula. Instead of the standard “19-year-old chosen girl, damsel in distress” we get Elyria — a 261-year-old fae warrior who is powerful, jaded, and absolutely done with everyone’s nonsense. She reluctantly enters into the Arcane Crucible, a trial where most contestants don’t even make it out alive, and you can tell from page one that she’s a force to be reckoned with!

Enter Cedric, a 28-year-old human knight who has a deep rooted hate the fae, and especially Elyria. Their dynamic is peak enemies-to-lovers slow burn — sharp edges, distrust, reluctant teamwork, and the kind of tension that simmers under every exchange long before either of them admits it.

What I loved most about this book was how it handles its themes. Beneath the action, the deadly trials, and the dark magic, this story is really about trauma, prejudice, forgiveness, and the possibility of healing even when the world feels beyond saving. Elyria and Cedric both carry deep scars (literal and emotional), and watching them learn to challenge their assumptions and see each other clearly was honestly beautiful.

The plot leans into high stakes, betrayal, and found family. The worldbuilding is immersive, the trials are intense, and the emotional beats land exactly where they should.

If you love morally scarred characters, dangerous competitions, grudging alliances, and slow-burn chemistry you feel in your chest, this is absolutely one to pick up. A standout romantasy that flips the genre’s usual tropes in the best way.