Iron & Embers
by Helen Scheuerer
Narrated by Matt Haynes; Emilia Bauer

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

I LOVE this audiobook. It’s a seriously awesome Adult Romantasy.

The narrators deserve so much kudos for perfect narration! Both are superb!

Romance ***** (very steamy)
Adventure *****
Danger ***
Un-put-downable *****
Narrators *****
Backstory *****
Main Characters *****
Secondary Characters *****
Excitement ****
Steaminess ****
Plot *****

There are a few nods to other authors throughout this book, outside of that this book stands on its own two feet.

Torj and Ren are equals at being the same and being. opposites. They are both strong and weak, emotional and logical, loyal and standoffish.

She’s a magical royal and he’s part of the armed forces that protect the realm and it’s royals.

They make each other infuriated by being so bent on keeping their walls up between them.

Every bit of wall that falls between them brings these two closer in incredible ways.

I highly recommend this very adult only NSFW Adult Romantasy!

I absolutely love bodyguard romances. What I didn't know is that Helen Scheuerer writing a bodyguard romance, is even more epic!

I loved meeting Wren and Torj in The Legends of Thezmarr series (and I highly recommend you reading that series before you start The Ashes of Thezmarr. Yes, you can read Iron & Embers first, but for the most emotional investment and reading pleasure, please start with Blood & Steel). But reading their own story, blew me away.

I was already invested with Wren and Torj from the Shadow & Storms and the way I needed their story. She had me hooked, I love seeing familiar names and places. It was like coming home. But we got to meet new characters and new settings.

Helen had the tension, the slow burn and an amazing [redacted] moment! I screamed. Torj is the ultimate cinnamon roll. And I want to be Wren, like Thea she is bad ass, but it's a new level with Wren. And I am here for every second of it.

YOU NEED THIS ON YOUR TBR. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU NEED THIS IS YOUR HAND RIGHT NOW READING IT!. THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO PICK UP THIS BOOK (OR THE LEGENDS OF THEZMARR FIRST).

AUDIOBOOK: I loved the audiobook, Matt Haynes and Emilia Bauer did a wonderful job bringing Torj and Wren alive with their voices. Torj's spoken voice is deep just like I pictured it would be.

This is a great continuation in the Thezmarr world. I really enjoyed the main characters, how to world and plot has expanded. The narrators were very good. I am excited for the rest of the series.

Only a good way into the book did I realize that there was another series by the author that could now be seen as a prequel to Iron and Embers. However, I did not have the feeling of missing out. So I'd say totally readable without prior knowledge.

It's a Romantasy book where the romance and spice does not take away from the plot - and if you've followed my previous reviews, that's high praise from me.
On top of that, Wren is a really strong character, and not just the 'oh I'm so chosen' type. The MMC, Torj, is also a very good protagonist - and behold the wonder: these two actually have chemistry. And somehow the author has managed to make it slow burn despite early spice scenes.

The best of it all though is the worldbuilding. It's intriguing, it's rich, and definitely full-fledged (now knowing that there's more books in the world, I'm not surprised anymore, yet no less in awe).

The plot twists and the ending are not too surprising, if you are familiar with these kind of fantasy books, but for me it didn't take away from the love I developed for this book.

The audiobook is really good and gives the dual POV even more charme. Both narrators are magnificent and managed to make every minute, every sentence count.

Thank you @netgalley and @Dreamscape_Media for the eARC!

#IronAndEmbers #Netgalley #Bookstagram

High praise and 4,5/5 stars

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this advanced copy! You can pick up Iron & Embers on January 28, 2025.

This might have just become one of my favorite romantasy stories. Helen Scheuerer is FOR SURE an auto-buy author now, and I will be devouring her Thezzmar series IMMEDIATELY because this was so unbelievably good.

Despite having no background on this world or the previous series, I immediately got sucked into Wren and Torj's story. I understood their history, their past and present struggles, and how their future is more perilous than ever (especially with their hearts at stake). Wren has endured so much, and to see her finally achieve her dreams while a certain broody war sword watches over her was incredible. I loved the bodyguard trope, the second-chance vibes, and the mutual pining that created such delicious tension between them. While it was a tad insta-lusty, I forgave it because I KNOW they've known each other for almost a decade and had a chance to be together but circumstances thrust them apart.

The world and magic system in Iron & Embers was also top-notch. I loved the alchemy, the slight Norse inspiration, the political games played between nations and higher-ups at the academy, Drevenor. I can't wait to learn more about this world and the war that recently shaped it, and Helen BETTER have that sequel ready because I need it in my hands ASAP!!

I HIGHLY encourage all my romantasy girlies to pick this one up and fall in love with Wren and Torj just like I did! In case I forgot to mention it, he's literally Henry Cavill from The Witcher, and the audiobook narrator for him did an ungodly good job replicating a growl. 'Nuff said.

this was so good!!
i couldn't put this down, the book is dual pov and it makes it so entertaining. the narrators are giving it all, I'm a huge audiobook reader and this one make it to my top 10.

Wren Embervale, alchemist-turned-assassin, finds solace in only one thing: seeking vengeance for the death of her friends. The wars of the past may be over, but 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 ends. She’s offered a place at the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor to find a cure to 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.
More is at play than sabotage from fellow competitors. Magic wielders are being targeted and Wren becomes tangled in a dangerous web of deception and bloodshed that puts the entire realm at risk. But the biggest threat of all might come from the man assigned to protect her—Torj Elderbrock, the silver-haired war hero who has hated her since she assassinated his last charge.

I did not read the previous series, and you don't need to; everything is easy to follow. Some references may have gone over my head, but honestly, I didn't identify them. the characters have a lot of chemistry, banter, and yerning.
"‘Are our kingdoms too small for you now?’ she sneered.
‘Fifty kingdoms would still be too small with you sucking up all the air,’ he snapped."

thank you to the Dreamscape team for the arc

Rated 4.5 Stars

Where do I even begin? I loved Iron & Embers. It was an interesting, intriguing and engaging story. I devoured it. It kept me on the edge of my seat and fully invested from beginning to end. I'm still mentally and emotionally in the thick of it.

There was so much to love about this book. I loved the world, the characters and the magic system. I loved the science of it. It was a spin off of another series but I didn't at all feel lost, if anything I felt like I needed to go and read this author's entire backlist.

I loved that it was packed with action, pining, angst, steam, emotion and a suspense/mystery element to it.

I loved the tension, it was as much a character as Wren and Torj, the main characters.I loved how feisty Wren was and how growly and protective Torj was. I loved watching their relationship develop and so can't wait for the next book in the series.

The narrators, Matt Haynes and Emilia Bauer did an amazing job with this book. They knocked out of the the park in terms of tone, characterization and generally just bringing this story to life. I loved, loved, loved listening to them. I loved that Torj's inner voice was different from his speaking voice. I don't think I've ever experienced that in another audiobook.

I simply adored this and very highly recommend it. It was my first Helen Scheuerer book but it most certainly won't be my last.

Alchemist Wren Embervale and fierce Warsword, the “Bear Slayer” Torj Elderbrock, have felt a connection ever since they fought together at the end of the Shadow War five years ago.

Now what Wren wants is to ignore her destiny as the heir of Delmira, plunge herself into her work and erase the scars of the past, but when Torj is appointed to be her protector at the alchemists’ academy, the chemistry they have cannot be denied.

Helen Scheuerer masterfully weaves a tale that combines an academic setting with deadly trials and a gripping slow burn style romance. These two yearn for each other from the start but it takes so long to catch fire. You will get both of these characters’ perspectives and ache right along with them. I am thrilled that the next two books are both due out in 2025. The narrators do a great job with this story and I really felt the yearning and angst in their telling.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC.

4.25/5

Thank you to Dreamscape Audio for this alc for an honest review. I enjoyed listening to this book and I wasn’t sure what to expect because this was my first time reading a book by this author. This audiobook was a dual narration and the narrators really did a good job bringing the main and side characters to life. I was hooked on this book and the narrators were so good I wanted the kindle version to highlight.

For the plot we have the fmc who is a princess that is starting and alchemy school to become an alchemist. She is already a bad ass with poison and magic and wants to become the best. The mmc is this warrior who is her protector. She does not want a protector and he is brooding and grumpy. I liked the dislike they had and the tension. I love this fantasy academic aspect and the magic lessons and them having to create poisons and the cure as well. So there’s also a trial/gauntlet aspect they the book leads to and that happen towards the end. The romance was good, they developed their real and when they got together it felt earned. There are steamy moments and the chemistry is 🔥. That ending though yikes I need the next book lol.

Read for:
- Romantasy
- Magic and poison study
- Alchemy academia setting
- Princess x bodyguard
- Steamy moments

Iron and Embers by Helen Scheuerer is a gripping fantasy debut in a new series, filled with heart-pounding trials, dark alchemy, and slow-burning tension. Wren Embervale, a haunted alchemist-turned-assassin, is thrust into a dangerous world of sabotage, magic, and vengeance when she’s forced to compete for her place at the alchemy academy of Drevenor. The deadly trials are matched only by the simmering chemistry between Wren and her reluctant protector, Torj Elderbrock, whose shared history complicates every step of their journey.

What made this book truly special for me was the joy of reuniting with this rich, immersive world and its unforgettable characters. Adding to the experience, the narrators, Matt Haynes and Emilia Bauer, breathe life into the story with their exceptional performances. Their ability to convey the tension, heartbreak, and raw emotion of the characters deepens the connection to the narrative, making the story even more compelling. Scheuerer masterfully weaves action, intrigue, and emotion, creating a tale that promises to rival her previous series. The slow burn romance is both poignant and devastating, adding depth to an already captivating story. A must-listen for fantasy lovers who crave danger, heartbreak, and fierce heroines.

Iron & Embers has once again solidified that if Scheuerer writes it, I will read it. I l am amazed by Scheuerer’s writing ability. I loved The Legends of Thezmarr, so I was really excited to get to revisit that world again. I loved that we got to see so many of my favorite characters again. I had already found Wren’s character fascinating, and I was so excited to learn she would be one of the main characters. Wren’s development arc is fascinating in The Ashes of Thezmarr as she transitions from The Poisoner to an alchemy student. Then there’s Torj — forced to play bodyguard to the Embervale sister that cost him the War Sword posting he wanted. The chemistry between these two is palpable. They already had intense chemistry in Legends, and it’s only increased in Iron & Embers. I thought the plot pacing was well balanced between some of the slower informational scenes, political machinations, and action. I was hooked from the first page to the very end. While Iron & Embers can be read as a standalone, I think it’s best appreciated after reading The Legends of Thezmarr. It adds another layer of understanding in what shaped Wren and Torj into who they are now. Starting with Iron & Embers will also have some spoilers for The Legends of Thezmarr series. I combo eyeball and audiobook read this. I love the choice to use separate narrators to voice Wren and Torj. Emilia Bauer and Matt Haynes did so well in their respective roles. Bauer did well to balance Wren’s fierceness with the uncertainty and struggles she undergoes. Haynes also did well to embody Tori’s protective nature while grasping his turmoil over what’s happening to his mind and body. I really enjoyed both reading formats and don’t think you could go wrong either way. All I can say is, with how Scheuerer ended this book, I’m so glad there isn’t a long wait for the next one.

I was beyond excited to return to Thezmarr and dive into Torj and Wren’s story—and it absolutely did not disappoint! I’m completely hooked on a guy who’s so down bad, and let me tell you, Torj is *so* down bad for Wren. Swoooon.

This book is a masterclass in building a slow-burn romance, even when the characters are (reluctantly) obsessed with each other. Just like the previous Thezmarr series, it nails so many things: sharp humor, friendships that feel like family, and strong women who are excellent at what they do. I’m so grateful Helen Scheuerer brought this story to life, and honestly, I can’t wait to see what happens next—especially after that ending!

Listen I loved the original series so I went into this with high hopes — and it met all of them!!! This book is incredible. I do recommend reading The Legends of Thezmarr first though! I loved that all those characters still play a role in this.

Wren is such an incredible FMC. I love how she starts morally grey but with good reason. She goes THROUGH it but remains so strong which is admirable. I also adore her quick wit. Torj is just a god LOL he’s quite literally Thor in different wrapping but I’m totally here for it because I love Thor/Torj! Overall their romance was so well done and HOT! The *tension* and the pining — SO GREAT!!! Just go read this book!!!!!!

The audiobook is very well done. I love when dual povs have different actors because they really come alive. The only small thing is that I wish Torj’s speaking voice is his narration voice too because I couldn’t get enough of it!

Thank you SO MUCH to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

Iron & Embers is one of my most highly anticipated releases of 2025. I've adored Torj and Wren since meeting them and observing their interaction in the Legends of Thezmarr series and I was so excited Helen blessed us with an entire spin off series for them.

Iron & Embers takes place 5 years after the end of the Shadow War, Wren is in a dark place grieving the loss of her sister and her best friends. She is The Poisoner, taking the lives of any enemies of Thezmarr still left breathing after the war. Someone has been attacking the royals still remaining but they are using an unheard of form of alchemy to do it. Wren is called in to attend an alchemist academy and to use the academy's resources to find a way to stop the attackers. Wren being a royal herself has been assigned a bodyguard while at the academy and who better to protect her than Torj the Bear Slayer. Since sharing her power with him in the final battle, Wren and Torj have seen each other very little over the years...each encounter becoming more and more bitter. He wants more with her and she thinks she has nothing left to give.

I feel like with Iron & Embers, Helen's writing really took off. I was on the edge of my seat for almost the entire book! The romance is slow burn but she gives us just enough crumbs to keep us satisfied until the next encounter. We get some beloved characters back like Kipp and Cal (don't think we could have a Thezmarr book without those two! lol) and we get some new ones like Zavier and Dessa that make you feel like they've been there all along. I loved the plot of the book, the ins and outs of alchemy are really explored heavily and I found it so interesting. The lore of what is going on between Torj and Wren is interesting as well and I'm very curious to learn more about it. I loved getting to know more about Torj's past and I found the flashback meetings of him and Wren really enlightening as well. We end on a huge cliffhanger and I'm so broken hearted but I don't doubt Helen will salvage the mess she left us in...unfortunately it's going to have to wait until the next book.

I was blessed to receive an ALC and I really enjoyed Matt Haynes and Emilia Bauer's narrations. It was dual narration and the pacing was good, I was able to listen to it just fine at my normal 1.25X speed. Matt and Emilia's voices and accents were pleasing and I thought they fit the characters well. I hope they get to continue to narrate the series.

Overall, it's a fantastic first book in a spin off series that I just might enjoy more than the original. I can't wait for book two! Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media for gifting me an ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. This is great for those that have read the Legend of Thezmarr series, but if you haven’t or didn’t know this was a spin off series then I would highly recommend reading the other series first. While yes you can read this without but I feel a lot of information was missing.
The only problem that I had with the book was them imagining or pining for the constantly it seemed like they were whining all the time, but story wise it was great and I was sucked into the story from page one she goes to school to be and alchemist and turns assassin to revenge for the death of her friends.

All the freaking stars!!!

First of all, it was incredible, and I loved every page. Saved a billion quotes (that I'll share at some point). Second of all... HELEN! How dare you! 🫣 Oh, my poor little heart. I know you'll make it better in the coming books, but damn... I have to live with this heartbreak until book 3 😫

I loved Thea in the first series and wanted to be a badass just like her. But... in reality, I'm really more like Wren. Let's just face the facts here. Wren is the quiet badass. The poisoner. The behind the scenes, in the shadows, kill you without even touching you, kind of badass. And don't even get me started on the big old marshmallow Warsword we call Torj 😍 *swoon* The banter 🤌 The love to hate to love 🤌 Gah it was so good! The kind of slow burn that makes you melt before it ever becomes an inferno. This book is solid gold! I can't wait to see what comes next!