Iron & Embers – by Helen Scheuerer first book in The Ashes of Thezmarr series

“I’ve made no secret of what I want... You. It’s always been you.”

Wren Embervale was forged in fire—an alchemist-turned-assassin with only vengeance to guide her. The wars may be over, but her thirst for justice is not.

When a deadly form of alchemy threatens the midrealms, Wren is dragged from the shadows and offered a place at the elite academy of Drevenor. To earn it, she must survive the Gauntlet—lethal trials that test more than just skill.

But sabotage runs deep, magic wielders are vanishing, and at her side stands the one man who loathes her most: Torj Elderbrock, a silver-haired war hero with a past as haunted as hers.

Enemies circle. Secrets fester. And between Wren and Torj simmers a slow-burn tension that could unravel them both.

Peace is fragile. Trust is dangerous. Love might be the deadliest poison of all.

🖤 Alchemy academy, deadly trials, enemies-to-lovers
🖤 Slow-burn romance, war-torn pasts, morally gray heroine
🖤 The breathtaking prequel to the Blood and Ash series
🖤 Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, From Blood and Ash, and The Bridge Kingdom