👏 *slow clap*👏 

Where to begin? What to say? How can I capture how good this author and book is? 

How can I convey how it is cleverly crafted journey back into the world of Thezmarr but with a cunning Alchemist in the lead role rather than an aspiring Warsword?

Before I jump into the review, I strongly recommend that if you have not read the Legends of Thezmarr series, you should. Set about 5+ years before the events of Iron & Embers, the completed series will allow you to capture, comprehend and feel exactly what Iron & Embers main character, Wren, is dealing with and what exact horrific events have transpired before the opening pages of Iron & Embers from a front row seat. Definitely read Blood & Steel and the other books within the series because YOU will love it and YOU will not regret a single moment spent in this unique world.

Now for the review. Since discovering Helen Scheuerer's work I have been fascinated by her ability to a build creative and captivating fantasy world while also creating complex yet relatable characters that seem like they could exist in the here and now. From the beginning of my time within Scheuerer's world, I was drawn and intrigued by the character of Wren. Set as the opposite of her sister, Althea (the main character in The Legends of Thezmarr), Wren is intelligent, clever, whitty, biting and passionate. Instead of brute strength and skill with a sword, Wren is an alchemist, using her brains to invent and concoct even deadlier weapons than a sword. Scheuerer is brilliant  in that she builds an epic fantasy worlds and characters but gives them real world driven challenges and vices that make them feel like real living and breathing heros. Wren is struggling with overwhelming grief and trauma due to the events in Shadow War having lost many she cared for while also inflicting terrifying damage herself. She fears what she has seen and what she herself has done. What does someone do when they have too much to feel and no outlet? Why channel it into anger and vengeance of course! Naturally, Wren learns quickly that is not the path to healing and instead she must accept the pain, remember the good and move on to the future. Torj similarly is in pain, pain for watching someone he cares about willing destroy themselves and the relationships around them. Refusing to quit, Torj steps into the role of punching bag and the object of Wren's ire so that the two of them can help each other heal. 

This book has everything you want: enemies to lovers, mystery, intrigue, a Gauntlet laced with poisons, torture and mental anguish, hidden identies, bonded pairs, tension that relieves into amazing spiciness, self sacrifice and an ending that will make your heart both ache for the characters and for the fact that you have to wait until July to find out what happens. 

👏A well earned slow clap for Helen Scheuerer!