Iron & Embers

Alchemist. Poisoner. Storm wielder.

Epic, sizzling enemies-to-lovers romantasy, set in a world of dark magic, assassins and war, Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer is perfect for fans of The Witcher and The Bridge Kingdom.

Wren Embervale, alchemist turned assassin, finds solace in only one thing: seeking vengeance for the death of her friends from wars past. But when she is offered a place at the ancient alchemy academy of Drevenor, she must claim her spot by conquering the Gauntlet – a gruelling series of deadly trials that could cost her her sanity or her life.

Yet 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.

Their shared history ignites a simmering tension that threatens to consume them both. With peace between the kingdoms as fragile as ever, and enemies lurking around every corner, Wren will discover whether love can truly heal all wounds – or if it is in fact the most lethal poison of all . . .

With over 7,000 five-star reviews on Goodreads, Iron & Embers by Helen Scheuerer is the breathtaking first instalment in the Ashes of Thezmarr series. Continue Wren and Torj's story in Thorns & Fire.

Tropes include . . .

• Bodyguard romance
• Academy
• Forced proximity
• Touch her and die

Readers love Iron & Embers . . .

 

Review

Iron & Embers was one of my favorite reads of 2025. Helen doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the aftermath of war, and I loved the care and deep respect Wren and Torj have for each other. Torj’s gentle patience and touch-her-and-die energy kept me reading late into the night, while Wren is a fascinating, fierce FMC I couldn’t help but root for. I can’t wait to dive into book 2! -- Stacia Stark, author of A Court This Cruel & Lovely

Fast-paced, gripping, and devastatingly romantic. A perfect balance between rich, alchemy-fueled fantasy and a delicious slow burn romance. Wren is a force to be reckoned with – and so is Helen Scheuerer -- Penn Cole, New York Times bestselling author of Spark of the Everflame

With epic adventure, this is a romantasy that ticks all boxes for fans of the genre -- The Sun

With intrigue, betrayal, and high-stakes drama woven into every page, Scheuerer delivers a fantasy novel that ticks all the boxes. A captivating blend of magic, revenge, and forbidden attraction, Iron & Embers is an exhilarating fantasy debut. ― Voice Magazine

Torj Elderbrock has ruined all other book boyfriends for me . . . Iron & Embers has rocketed its way up to the top of my fantasy series list and now I need book two STAT! -- The Debut Digest

An emotional masterpiece . . . romantasy fans will love this enthralling tale of a plucky young woman desperate to prove herself, make her mark, and leave her legacy in a world stacked against her -- Meg Cowley, USA Today bestselling author of Flight of Sorcery and Shadow on Blood & Steel

The kind of book that grabs you by the heart and pulls you in for a glorious all nighter . . . if you like enemies to lovers, found family, training sequences and stories packed full of steam you're going to devour this just like I did -- Sacha Black, bestselling author of Keepers on Blood & Steel

About the Author

Helen Scheuerer is the Sunday Times bestselling author known for her romantasy series The Legends of Thezmarr and The Ashes of Thezmarr. Her work has been highly praised for its strong, flawed female characters and its action-packed plots.

Helen’s love of writing and books led her to pursue a creative writing degree and a Master’s in Publishing. She has been a full-time author since 2018 and now lives among the mountains in New Zealand, where she is constantly dreaming up new stories.