The Ashes of Thezmarr

By:

Helen Scheuerer

Spice Scale

Number of books

3 Published

KU

✅

Audiobook

✅

Series Status

Complete

Interconnected

N/A

Overall Rating

Coming Soon

Ashes of Thezmarr by Helen Scheuerer is a gritty romantasy spin-off series from Legends of Thezmarr, launching with Iron & Embers, set five years after the devastating Shadow War in the fractured Midrealms where alchemy serves as a weapon of poison, healing, and war. Wren Embervale, a storm-wielding princess turned vengeful alchemist-assassin haunted by lost comrades, is drawn from seclusion to the perilous Drevenor Academy to counter a dark alchemical poison afflicting kings, facing brutal trials, sabotage, and targeted attacks on magic users. Guarded by silver-haired warrior Torj Elderbrock—their past marked by resentment over her assassination of his prior charge—their forced proximity reignites buried tension amid guild intrigues, soul bonds, and threats from the People's Vanguard, blending high-stakes academia, forbidden passion, and post-war reckoning.

Jamie’s review

I love a spin-off series and Legends of Thezmarr is GOD TIER for me, so I was excited to continue the journey with Wren and Torj!

Overall, I loved it. Just not as much as Legends. I think because we KNOW from last series (which you need to read first, by the way) that the main characters are infatuated with each other. So, right out of the gates, no slow burn, no build up. I love slow burn and build up.

The cinnamon roll, green flag MMC's just do it for me as much. I OBVIOUSLY like a little asshole vibes with my MMC's (those who know my husband know this 😆). Torj just comes across as a big dumb brute, not smart enough for Wren, who is a brilliant alchemist.

I also missed the funny banter from Legends. And the twist at the end wasn't what I wanted. I wanted Wren's lady brain to save the day. Sigh. Still rating 4/5 stars because it's an excellent vibes read and I love all these characters.

I love a spin-off series and Legends of Thezmarr is GOD TIER for me, so I was excited to continue the journey with Wren and Torj!

Erica’s review

I'm 70% through book 2/3 in this series and while I'm in the same boat as Jamie - I don't love it as much as Legends of Thezmarr (also one of my all time GOD TIER Romantasy series), I still LOVE it. This is what I'll say so far (and will do an update when I'm done, done:

Book 1: the flirting dialogue was freaking top tier for me. We did know they already had a major thing for each other coming out of Legends so we DEF are missing the slow burn/yearning/tension side of things, but Helen really got me with the flirting banter in book 1. I really enjoyed it. I was smirking a lot.

Moving into the rest of the series: man, the feels of the back and forth of Wren and Torj…..it gets me. I don't know, I just feel so deeply for the characters and I was feeling the pit in my stomach for Wren so many times. SO. MANY. TIMES. It's good. I love emotional damage and when a big, tough MMC is only soft for 1 lady. That's my thang. TBD on how I feel when I wrap it up!

UPDATE: I did drop it from 4.5 down to 4 stars by the end. It wrapped up a little lack-luster for me but I still LOVED their story and am so happy we had a full cast reunion. This is my Bravo! I wish there was more punishment and a bigger ending for the bad guy but Helen did a great job of wrapping it all up in a tidy little bow. I freaking love these characters so much and was so happy to get more of it all.