Le Sang et l'Acier

The Legends of Thezmarr #1

by Helen Scheuerer

Althea Zoltaire n’a que trois ans pour devenir ce qu’elle a toujours rêvé d’être : une guerrière légendaire. Il est interdit aux femmes de manier des lames, elle s’est donc entraînée en secret toute sa vie. Désormais, elle se bat pour assurer sa place dans la guilde d’élite chargée de la protection des Cinq Royaumes.

Mais l’entraînement est dur, mortel même pour certains. Et ce qui est encore plus dangereux, c’est son attirance croissante pour Wilder Hawthorne, son instructeur qui ne voulait pas d’une femme dans sa garde...

Alors que des complots politiques se profilent autour d’eux, le monde sombre peu à peu dans l’obscurité. Althea réussira-t-elle le périlleux test d’initiation et prendra-t-elle sa place en tant que championne de Thezmarr, ou bien l’ennemi maléfique lui arrachera-t-il son rêve avant même qu’il ne commence ?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Audiobook, Magic

560 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2023

About the author

Helen Scheuerer is the fantasy author of the bestselling series, The Oremere Chronicles, the Curse of the Cyren Queen quartet and The Legends 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 Masters of Publishing. She has been a full-time author since 2018 and now lives amidst the mountains in New Zealand where she is constantly dreaming up new stories.

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a huge rant on here. Deleted it. Now I’m reviewing again. Listen. I wanted to love this book. It has everything I love in a romantasy. But the writing felt too YA. Even the actions and dialogue felt like the MCs were in their teens. Not 20s and 30s. Also, Wilder is way too broody. He had zero personality. Besides being “hot”. Ugh I hate being disappointed when all my mutuals love a book: I always feel bad for not liking it 😕

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ 500+ pages but feels like 300? Flies by, bingeable, a good fantasy romance. Listened to part in audio and the audiobook was really great too!

[ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh hell yeah

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eugh I don’t know why I’m having such bad luck with books lately.

This was a massive cliche of a book, i felt like i knew what was going to happen before it even happened.

I disliked both of the main characters, they both came across as childish and predictable.. grumpy hero cares about her secretly but doesn’t know how to show it because of damaged past VS special heroine who’s not like other girls.

I get it. I know exactly where this is going.

Don’t really understand all the rave reviews on this book, but you do you💫

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

if i have to read about the main character's celadon eyes one more time i'm going to take a dirt nap

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓮𝔁𝓲𝓼𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮, 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱"

⚔️⚒

"𝓘𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓴 𝓹𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓷 𝓪 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝓮𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼, 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓹𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓮𝓭𝓰𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓫𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓽𝓸 𝔀𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭 𝓲𝓽"

So I really enjoyed this book. We follow Althea who has had her death foretold, she is to die at the age of 27 and has 3 years left to live. She wants nothing more than to become a warrior legend. Women are not allowed to wield weapons due to the prophecy that was passed down long ago and so she has trained in secret her entire life:

🕊⚔️

"𝓘𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓭𝓸𝔀 𝓸𝓯 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷 𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶, 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝔂𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓶, 𝓐 𝓭𝓪𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓯 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝔀𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭 𝓪 𝓫𝓵𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓾𝓵𝓮 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻. 𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓭, 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓭𝓪𝔂𝓼, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓥𝓮𝓲𝓵 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓵, 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓲𝓭𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓫𝓵𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓭𝓻𝓪𝔀𝓷, 𝓐 𝓭𝓪𝔀𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓭"

The first 40% of this book went by so fast for me, I mean I could not flip the pages fast enough.. the pacing slowed for me a bit in the middle but not to the point where I was ever bored. This is definitely a horseback traveling type of fantasy from one kingdom to another.

Scheuerer's writing is so smooth and the story so easy to digest without taking away from any world building aspects that I felt were weaved into the story flawlessly. Short chapters, quick pace, I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next on this adventure.

I will say that, FOR ME it read more like a YA novel than a NA novel which I'm totally fine with. I had a little trouble gaging the age of our main characters, we know that Thea is 24 but she really read more like a 16 year old and I had a hard time figuring out what the age of Wilder our MMC is- because of this I didn't really like their relationship. Didn't feel the chemistry there. I loved them individually, I think I just couldn't get them to gel together in my mind in book 1 but I have high hopes moving fwd. Other than that, really good start to the series and I can't wait for book 2!

⚔ 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐞
⚔ 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮
⚔ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬
⚔ 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲
⚔ 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬
⚔ 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
⚔ 𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫

"𝓐 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓹𝓮𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓼𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓭, 𝓰𝓾𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮, 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓼." ˖⁺‧₊˚✦

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✩ 3 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Race Against Fate
➼ Mentor x Mentee
➼ Found Family
➼ Warrior Training Camp
➼ Who Did This to You?
➼ Forbidden Love
➼ Third Person Multi POV

Have you ever finished a book and felt like you must have missed something?

This book has been recommended to me by SO many people, both friends and strangers, but I honestly struggled to even finish this. The whole format of the story felt super predictable, and most of the time I just felt like I was going through the motions. The slow burn was there, and in theory I should have been into it, but the intimate scenes would come and go and I could barely drudge up even a spark of interest. Based on the ending, the author clearly plans to drag out the slow burn and their denial of their mutual feelings. At this point, I’m pretty worried the next books will just feel like more of the same. There’s only one way to find out and I do still plan to read them, but I’m pretty bummed that I don’t feel more excited about starting book two. Still optimistic that the rest of the series will be better!

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: I’m excited to read Iron & Embers since the character art I’ve seen of the MMC so closely resembles Thor 😍, but I decided I should probably read this series first!

I’ve heard great things about this one. Hopeful that I will love it just as much as others seem to.

Fingers crossed! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[Laura Greenhalgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ What a fun Romantasy! This was very bingeable. In a world where it's forbidden for women to wield swords due to a prophecy foreshadowing the kingdoms demise, our FMC Thea can't resist her desire to become a warrior. The premise of this was super interesting, Thea 24, lives her life knowing her death-date, some time in her 27th year. With this in mind and her strong desire to become a warrior, she is determined to spend her short years fighting the law to prove she is worthy of wielding a blade; prophecy be damned. I enjoyed the romance in this, there were definitely a few moments where I was giggling and kicking my feet and our MMC Wilder was broody and utterly obsessed.

[Jaimee Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally my fav book of 2024 so far! It’s giving fourth wing but I enjoyed this better. No miscommunication and our MMC is giving Xaden mixed with Kaan Vaegor. Found family, forbidden love, military training, it’s got EVERYTHING! If you haven’t read this yet… what are you doing?

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm super disappointed with how this turned out.

the premise is super interesting, but the execution wasn't the best. i love the idea of thea knowing her death-date and seeking to become a legend in the time she has left. unfortunately i found that to be overshadowed by the other shortcomings of this novel.

first off, i couldn't get on board with theas character. i wanted so badly to like her but i just couldn't. she was constantly saying or doing the most ridiculous shit and i couldn't get past it. a good example being the scene when she saved the king from a poison that she miraculously knew the smell of, from her seat across the table. overlooking the fact that she was able to identify the poison despite never paying attention in her alchemy classes, she then points out the culprit in five seconds flat and is deemed a massive hero to the nation. that whole situation was outrageously unbelievable and gave me whiplash from how quickly everything happened. this type of super unbelievable and rushed action sequence was repeated many times over throughout the rest of the novel.

sadly i wasn't super into the romance either. wilder (the love interest) was literally just a hunk of meat. the entirety of his thoughts consist of; having sex with thea, protecting thea, or needing to stay away from thea. i found him to be a major alpha-douche and super moody 24/7. the chemistry was not doing it for me.

all of the reviews so far have been raving about this but sadly it just wasn't for me.

[Iqra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun time.

I loved how Thea felt so realistic and her reactions to uncomfortable situations weren’t exaggerated or ott as we normally see stubborn fmc’s dying on stupid hills that only hurt themselves bc of their excessive pride. Thea knew when to pick her battles. Was strong and assertive yet soft and emotional. Her personality was SO refreshing I loved it.

Wilder had me giggling and kicking my feet, blushing over the smallest things he’d do or say. I loved how he has a fully fleshed out backstory and isn’t only a side piece for Thea. I love seeing my fmcs thrive but i want their partners to also have character growth. It’s more impactful to me when they grow and evolve together.

I loveeee Wren despite whatever happened towards the end. She’s my fav character in this book.

I felt slightly off about the pacing towards the end but it’s also one of the things that made this book rlly bingeable. It had me hooked from page one and the writing was effortless.

Overall I enjoyeddd it and I genuinely am grateful for this book bc it saved me from what would’ve been an excruciating reading slump.

I cannot wait to read the prequel 🤭🤭🤭

[évieane · Rating 4 out of 5]

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍✦ . 　⁺ 　 . 3.9 - 4.1 ☆ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Was this the perfect book? Absolutely not — not even close, if I’m being entirely honest, because it lacked in quite a few areas. But it was exactly the kind of easy-to-read, fast-paced story I needed to pull me out of this catastrophically slow start to the year, and for that alone, it worked wonders on me.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ The point is, despite all the missing things that I would have loved in this book, I had fun while reading it and that's all that matters to me.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ “No woman is responsible for the weak acts of a man who’s had his masculinity so easily threatened.”


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ I think it only makes sense to start with the one thing that didn’t entirely work for me: the worldbuilding. I found it surprisingly lacking, especially for a story set in such a doomed, high-stakes world. More than once, I caught myself wishing for extra details; more lore, more history, and more explanation of what is actually happening and why it matters on a larger scale. At times, it felt like I was missing a crucial piece of information that would have helped me properly visualise the world and fully immerse myself in it, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ That being said, for me, the story itself was undeniably gripping. And honestly? That’s probably exactly what I needed. I was very clearly looking for something fast-paced and easy to read to drag me out of my post-holiday reading slump, and this book arrived at the perfect time. There’s no overwhelming lore dump that takes 200 pages to process, no deeply complex magic system to wrap your head around (or, more accurately, the magic system is barely explained at all, but I will not be a complete hater for this), and the plot moves quickly enough that you barely have time to question whether that’s a good or a bad thing. My brain, too tired to debate complex magical theories, simply decided it was a good thing, and I rolled with it.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ Now, the romance......or whatever this was supposed to be. If you’re coming into this book looking for a slow-burn or even a moderately developed romantic arc, I strongly suggest you recalibrate your expectations. There is no romance here; there is only lust. And even that is wildly rushed and appears almost out of thin air. I am genuinely curious when the last time these characters got laid was, because the way they acted around each other after approximately two days made it feel like they were ovulating; and yes, both of them.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ This is very much an insta-lust situation that somehow escalates into intense loyalty and protectiveness with little explanation, leaving you to wonder whether this is simply how love works when the world is ending and war is looming. (If so, I would also kind of need that in my life rn...please...)

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ However, the lack of romance as the emotional centrepiece allowed something else to shine, something I personally enjoyed far more: friendship and camaraderie. I absolutely loved watching the bond form between Kipp, Thea, and Cal. Their dynamic felt natural, warm, and honestly refreshing, and I quickly found myself far more invested in their growing trust and loyalty than in any romantic tension. I adore them as characters, and I am begging the author on my knees not to ruin this by making them betray one another in the future....OR ANY OF THEM DYING!!!!. I really need a found family in this book.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ As for the ending, while it wasn’t particularly shocking or unpredictable, it was still satisfying. It provided just enough tension and anticipation to feel earned, while clearly setting the stage for the next part of the story. It didn’t magically turn the book into something perfect, but it did succeed in making me want to continue, and at the end of the day, that’s really all an ending needs to do.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⊹ Althea — At one point I was genuinely wondering if there was anything else to her character apart from her obsession with "limited time to live", the constant repetition of the concept of wanting to become a Warsword and her slightly exaggerated horniness over a hot-looking man. There is, but only slightly. What I am trying to say is that for a main character, she was a bit underwhelming at times and fell flat. I will give her the benefit of the doubt only because this is the first book in the series.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⊹ Wilder — For the next book, author, please give him a personality. I really wanted to like him, especially since he is the MMC, but that was difficult to pull through....

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⊹ Kipp and Cal — my sweet summer children....Please be safe forever and don't become assholes. I love you both from the bottom of my heart, and I really hope you will still be alive by the end of this series.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⊹ Torj — I have a feeling he is also a goated daddy, but I really need to see more of him to convince myself of that.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I kept debating whether I would recommend this book or not because I don't want to give people the wrong impression about my taste in books. But this book just came at the perfect time to serve me the ideal "you don't have to think too much, just be here for the vibes and don't have any expectations" that I really needed right now. It worked for me, ok?
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ So, yes, if you just want to read a cute little cliché fantasy book with an interesting conflict and a not-so-complex plot that will still somehow keep you engaged, give this a chance. If you are looking for something with more depth and a greater, more complex world, then steer your attention somewhere else. Hope this helped 💕

⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍendㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ📖‧ ˚ ₊⊹ The Legends of Thezmarr series reviews:
⋆˚࿔ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍Vows & Ruins (4.1 ⭐)
⋆˚࿔ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍Fate & Furies (4.7 ⭐)


⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍㆍ✿ㆍㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ᯓ ✿ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍pre-reading ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⪼ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ started ┆16-January-2026┆
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⤿ apparently I am finally in the mood for reading, so I'm not gonna waste any moment; also this has been sitting on my TBR for far too long.

[Surajat Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up! ‘ You’re beautiful, you know.’
‘You mean if I wore dresses and acted more like a girl?’
‘No. You’re beautiful as you are. And I’d wager even more so with steel in your hand and the blood of your enemies splattered across your face.’

Wheeeew 🥹🥵Don’t you just love it when a random read takes your breath away?

And don’t you just love it when the side characters grab your heart as much as the MCs??? Kipp and Cal must be protected at all costs in this series or I’ll RIOT xo

Too emotionally invested to write a proper review so all I can say is this:

➡️ Thea and Wilder 4eva

➡️ Malik, Kipp and Cal, I’d die for you guys, no exaggeration

➡️give that fine bear slayer Torj a love story of his own PLEASE

➡️Sebatos Barlowe, I hope your dick falls off xo

➡️ the problem is men. Literally, men are always the problem.

‘No woman is responsible for the weak acts of a man who’s had his masculinity so easily threatened,’ Wren girl, you are wise beyond your years with these words.

Be right back, going to go binge read this series and make it my whole personality for the next week xoxox

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

”A true man won’t cut you down as you fight your battles, nor will he fight them for you. A true man will help sharpen your sword, guard your back and fight at your side, in the face of whatever darkness comes.”

i flew through this book, i was immediately sucked into Althea’s mission to become a warrior in a world where women aren’t allowed to do so— especially as she’s set to die when she turns 27 in 3 years. im sure we’re all used to the “broody, doesn’t let anyone close” type of mmc and that’s the case with Wilder who’s a bit of a legend on the battlefield but i was eating up the tension he had with Thea and the way he pushed her to be better. i actually really loved Thea’s friends Malik, Cal and Kipp.. they must be protected cause im obsessed with them. as someone who’s a sucker for training sequences, this has tons of that so i didn’t have room to complain about anything really. i don’t think this is the best book in the world or the most original by any means but i had a lot of fun reading it and can’t wait to continue on in the series as soon as possible!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOW THIS 💳💥 IS WHAT💳💥 I’M TALKING 💳💥 ABOUTTTTTTT💳💥💳💥💳💥 WHAT THE FFFFFFFF
i haven’t given a romantasy 5 stars this fkn easily in a hot minute. i feel exhilarated. on top of the world. untouchable! really!!!

my spidey senses are tingling with what I suspect will be a god-tier series <3 this checked so many boxes that other books like ToG and FW have done for me - Ms. Helen wove such an intriguing fantasy world with stunning character arcs while making me crave SO MUCH MORE from the next books. no fantasy I’ve read recently hasn’t left me *wanting* & *questioning* like this one has. consider me f**king H O O K E D. flawless. ugh.

wilder hawthorne… u r hiding some shit but i still want u to run me over!! pls! and ALTHEA? she undoubtedly has the makings of an FMC that I’ll ride at dawn for. I’m obsessed. all around UTTERLY obsessed idk. idk idk idk.

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No woman is responsible for the weak acts of a man who's had his masculinity so easily threatened."

I'd say this was a pretty solid romantasy. It didn't blow me away but it kept me invested and very entertained.

Thea was a pretty good FMC, though I wasn't a huge fan of the instalust, especially since Wilder was a huge dick at the beginning. I think it was starting to take away from her character a bit because she was always thinking about him instead of doing what she dreamt of her whole life.

But as the story progresses, Wilder got better and you start to learn a bit about why he is the way he is. I think he also has some groveling to do after what he said to her, so sign me up for that!

The storyline is pretty interesting, though it is endlessly frustrating how these people treat women. Would they have unarmed all men if there was a similar prophecy? I don't fucking think so. Pricks.

But pretty excited for where this series is gonna go so I'm more than ready to start the next one ❤️‍🔥

[Sam | Haus of Fables · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
You can tell this is the 10th book the author has written, it’s so easy to read - but that doesn’t mean it’s simple in its writing.
The world building is seamless, the plot constantly keeps you engaged & invested in the story, the hidden Easter eggs give you just enough foreshadowing without slapping you over the head, the FMC is interesting & strong & the love dynamic & tension between Thea & Wilder Hawthorne is PERFECTION !
I absolutely devoured this book, I didn’t want to put it down & I’m not only invested in the world & characters - I am itching to see what happens next!
For an adult Romantasy debut (previously the author has written epic YA fantasy series) I think this was extremely well done. It hits all the notes you want in an epic fantasy adventure but with a FMC that thinks like an adult & more adult themes.
I can’t wait for B2!

The author provided me with an arc for an honest review

[Linz_loves_books (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75✨

“It doesn’t matter who stands against you… What matters most is who stands with you.”

Okay this wasn't necessarily a bad book; it was just a lot of telling and not enough doing. I do take into consideration that it is the first book, and it is setting the tone for the rest of the series. However, there just was not enough fantasy or romance in this one for me. With that being said, I absolutely loved Althea. She is not the usual damsel in distress or whiny FMC which made me fall in love with her character so much more. She is stubborn and determined to be the best. She is a complete badass. To be honest I really loved all the characters, so I will continue to the next book in the series. The last 20% of this book though had me on the end of my seat and I can't wait for more of that in the next one.

What to Expect
⚔️Slow burn
⚔️Strong FMC
⚔️Training/Mentor trope
⚔️Found Family
⚔️Forced Proximity
⚔️Who did this to you?

Pre-Read Review: I have heard amazing things about this series so here we go! Hoping it delivers!

[Marianna Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Despite the harsh words he has spoken and the vows he had taken, Wilder Hawthorn, the Hand of Death, a Warsword of Thezmarr, was irrevocably in love with her.”

I AM SCREAMING!!!! THIS BOOK!!! Helen Scheuerer where have you been all my life?!! New auto-buy author!

IMMACULATE!

Everything I love for in a fantasy romance to have me utterly enthralled and OBSESSED
✔️Badass FMC
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️morally grey MMC who would CRAWL for her
✔️intricate world building
✔️well developed and absolutely captivating plot
✔️unique magic system
✔️found family
✔️side characters that melt your heart
✔️TENSIONNNNN
✔️all the emotions

I’m in love. I already know this is going to be one of my favorite series! I cannot wait to see where this world takes me, although I’m so scared for these characters I know the next book is going to RUIN ME.

And Wilder. Hawthorne. THIS MAN. I have no words. I need him biblically. Although…. You’re hiding something sir and I have a feeling it’s going to really cause some shit between him and Thea and leave me REELING. I cannot WAIT.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review in coming 🙂‍↕️
Wow. This was so good! Got a hard time formulating my thoughts on this one

Review to come!
Need to sleep on this one so that I can even begin comprehending what I read and what I'll write.

[Salma [HIATUS]]

I reallllly wanna read this series. However, this series has single quotation marks instead of double. Yes, I am aware that is a ridiculously stupid pet peeve. I may or may not read this series this year😂 DON’T JUDGE ME!

[tania ✧₊⁺ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗


Wow!!! Where do I even begin?

This book was GORGEOUS. The characters, the plot, the pacing, THE SLOW BURN, the pining, just everything was soooooooo good. Even when not much was happening, I still found myself not wanting to put this book down. It was so entertaining and intriguing from beginning to end.

It was a little predictable, but I didn’t mind as it made up for it in other aspects. The writing was easy to read, but was not simple by any means. Helen Scheuerer truly paints a beautiful picture with her words.


₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊Characters₊‧.°.⋆✮⋆.°.‧₊


Thea: What a lovely fmc. She was fierce, funny, and very entertaining to read about. Thea is strong and determined to get even stronger. She literally spends her free time training and genuinely ENJOYS it. She’s very caring and soft, but knows how to stand up for herself and the people she cares for. And best of all, she isn’t annoying like a lot of fmcs in fantasy books end up being.

Wilder: This man… Just wow. He falls into your typical broody mmc stereotype, but he truly is great. He’s strong and protective, but knows that Thea isn’t useless and doesn’t coddle her like she’s a child. He makes it clear that he understands she wants to train and get stronger, and he actually makes an effort to guide her. He was so sweet and is definitely a new favorite of mine.

Kipp: I would take a bullet for this man. He is an ANGEL. Kipp added a sense of humor and lightheartedness to all the scenes he was in. I found myself smiling, and even laughing out loud, every time he made an appearance. He’s a very loyal and caring friend to Thea, and doesn’t deserve half the shit he got from the other shieldbearers :<

Cal: I really did love Cal. Similarly to Kipp, he was always a joy to read about. He’s funny, while also being realistic with some of his… reactions. He’s able to realize his mistakes and ask for forgiveness when need be.

Seb: WHEN I CATCH YOU…🤬🤬

I won’t go into more detail about Seb or the other characters but there were so many side characters I grew to love as well.

Now let me talk about the dynamics in this book because I’m obsessed. Thea and Wilder actually have conversations about themselves, and they get to know each other for a while. This is something that seems to always be replaced by insta-lust dynamics in a lot of books. He cares so deeply about her and the development and pacing of their relationship was delicious. It was very slowburn with the right amount of tension and longing in between to keep you at bay. The only thing I kinda disliked was the smidge of miscommunication that happened a couple times. It gets corrected later on, but nothing irks me more than miscommunication.

The friendship between Thea, Cal, and Kipp was so heartwarming. It’s so clear how much they all care about each other. They just work so well together?? The friendly banter, the jokes, the loyalty, and just all their interactions made it such a joy to read. I knew from their first interaction that I was going to LOVE reading about the 3 of them together. I really have fallen in love with this world and all the characters.

NOW SOME QUOTES BECAUSE THEYRE DELICIOUS

“You’re beautiful, you know.”

NO I DIDNT KNOW. SAY THAT AGAIN PLEASE I FORGOT TO BREATHE😊😊

“Did you think after last night I would come begging for a place as your apprentice?”
“Begging? Not for that, no…” His dimple showed.

I HAD TO PUT THE BOOK DOWN.

“Wars have been started over looks less heated than that, sister. Is something going on —”

How do you have to be looking at her for other people to say something like this… I’m a goner.

“In the dark recess of that broom cupboard, his body had come alive in her presence, and he’d wanted nothing more than to care for her, to protect her.”

“I think that I have never known someone to be so infuriating… Someone who makes my blood boil in such a way that I want to kill you and kiss you all at once.”

I’m going to just leave it at that because I actually want people to read this book and if I keep going, you’ll just know everything that happens😭

[1000_books_1000_lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was amazing!!! Enemies to lovers, slow burn, who did this to you!! With a kick ass female lead! I absolutely loved every part of it! Cannot wait for the next book. It’s a bit like The Red Queen series meets From Blood and Ash (the latter books) such a great adventure fantasy. 1000% recommend!!

[Nerdread · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was such a disappointment! I was hoping for fun and adventurous fantasy with a little bit of romance but what I got was a character who is childish but fits the “not like other girls” trope and a love interest that is grumpy for no reason but falls in love with the main character in 0.2 second??? Where is the chemistry? Where is the banter? Where is the fantasy romance I was promised???

It’s not giving what it promised to give 😭

[Rochelle ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“if you seek power in a world of men and monsters, there is nothing more powerful than knowledge and the ability to wield it.”

despite reading the ashes of thezmarr series first, it did not make the legends of thezmarr less entertaining or overall enjoyable. you can see how much helen scheuerer’s writing has improved between the two series, but blood & steel was still an incredible and captivating narrative of epic adventures. reading this series and finally delving into the world where everything started was wonderful, with an opportunity to fill in the gaps of my knowledge and understanding of the characters and the environments they find themselves navigating. regardless having met most of these characters already in the ashes of thezmarr, i knew them in vague detail. having better insight into some of the characters' personalities and further context for the lead up to the events in the following series was fantastic, as they were seen from different experiences and perspectives. it made me love these characters more than before and feeling appreciative of the amazing, detailed world-building—it makes me want more of helen scheuerer’s brilliant writing!

blood & steel is the introduction to althea zoltaire’s intense and incredible endeavours in becoming a warsword. in a world where women are not allowed to become shieldbearers, guardians or revered warswords of the midrealms, thea finds herself training in secret and navigating a society that fears women wielding weapons following the prophecy of the midrealms. despite the barriers between her and her dreams, thea isn’t deterred—not when her life is on borrowed time. her adventures across the midrealms as she trains to become a warrior is an engaging and immersive one. blood & steel is more than an epic fantasy romance, of battling external forces that threaten the midrealms; it’s also a tale of thea overcoming her internal fears and doubts.

“you’re beautiful as you are. and i’d wager even more so with steel in your hand and the blood of your enemies splattered across your face.”

♡ althea zoltaire
althea is such an admirable and awe-inspiring female character, the way she refused to bend to the whims of men and was steadfast as she remained determined to become a warsword of thezmarr. i admire her strengths and tenacity, her overall attitude and refusal to allow her dreams to be nothing more than just that. she studied, trained and worked hard—harder than most, if not all of the fellow warriors in training. however, despite her careful, secret training sessions, thea doesn’t have all of the skills and understanding, and her resolve to succeed was astounding. she showed everyone and proved to all the men around her that she's just as, if not more capable than a vast majority of them, at becoming a guardian for the midrealms. i love that thea is dominant and assertive, but she was also smart enough to realise when logic should override emotions and that’s a refreshing characteristic to have. she was the ideal balance of dangerous and formidable, intelligent and understanding.

‘show me’ she’d said. and that had been the beginning and the end of him.

♡ wilder hawthorne
i love when male main characters have hardened exteriors with clear boundaries, but there’s this softer and sweeter side underneath waiting to be unlocked for the right woman. that is wilder hawthorne. no nonsense, hard facts and truths and results, but would die for thea within a heartbeat if it means she lives and thrives. he had a hot and cold attitude towards thea, torn between his feelings for her and his duties as her mentor, but every time he allowed himself to feel a sliver of emotion towards thea, my heart melted! there’s nothing better than a love interest who demonstrates his feelings through thoughtful actions and that is, without doubt, wilder—a man of words and actions. despite wanting to protect thea wherever danger presented itself, wilder understood her capabilities and strengths, so rather than coddle and hinder her, wilder ensured she was trained and practised. the level of support and encouragement he offered was heartfelt! however, even though wilder’s character is complex, i believe that we’ve just touched the surface and there’s secrets waiting to be uncovered and learned in greater detail!

“a true man won’t cut you down as you fight your battles, nor will he fight them for you. a true man will help sharpen your sword, guard your back and fight at your side, in the face of whatever darkness comes.”

♡ thea zoltaire + wilder hawthorne
the constant back and forth, the way thea and wilder bantered and bickered left me wanting more, because even though this isn’t true enemies to lovers’ romance in a sense, the mutual disdain and the collective frustration was felt across the entire book. i love slow burn romance that does indeed burn slow, intertwined with visible sexual tension across the interactions—it allows the readers time to appreciate the ever-changing and growing feelings between the characters. it also means that when thea and wilder are finally together, the moment is delicious and the emotions are heightened. besides the sexual components of thea and wilder’s relationship, there’s heartfelt and emotive moments too, as wilder ensures thea is armed with experience and information. the level of commitment to encourage and support each other is perhaps my favourite aspect of thea and wilder’s relationship.

“it doesn’t matter who stands against you… what matters most is who stands with you.”

♡ the side characters
the legends of thezmarr contains my favourite clusters of found families—cal, kipp and thea who experience almost every aspect of becoming guardians together; torj and wilder as fellow warswords of thezmarr; and wren with sam and ida, her alchemist friends who she shares a close bond with. i adored the features into callahan and kristopher as shieldbearers; it was no different than watching your babies transform into amazing and incredible men. knowing what they become in iron & embers, it was wholesome and emotionally encapsulating seeing them at the beginning of their journeys. cal and kipp bantered and the exchanges were filled with genuine humour, offering a reprieve from some of the darker forces threatening the midrealms. it was also nice meeting ida and sam, however, knowing how everything ends for them makes this all the more heartbreaking, as they gave another form of humour, but also supported wren that it offered another element to her personality.

i very much loved my time reading blood & steel, i couldn’t wait and without hesitation started reading vows & ruins. i needed more of thea and wilder, but more importantly, i wanted to be transported further into this captivating world. between the threatening dark forces and the enemies enclosing on the midrealms; the lurking secrets and the compelling foreshadowing that ensnared my undivided attention; and all of the enthralling moments of this book, i was enamoured! the elements of this book provided a seamless blend of action, adventure and romance—a trifecta combination that i love more than all else in my fantasies—where combat scenes and training sessions, combined with adventurous moments are detailed and riveting, where romance burns and the tension between thea and wilder is able to be felt in their exchanges. for lovers of epic fantasies and romances, the legends of thezmarr is a must read!!!

the legends of thezmarr
blood & steel — 4 stars
vows & ruins — 5 stars

────────────────────

˖⁺‧₊♡ pre-read review ⋙
in iron & embers wren and torj RUINED me so i’m aiming for total annihilation with thea and wilder.

follow me on: instagram

[kendall ♡ ⋆｡˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

❀.* 3.75 💫
╰┈➤ 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬

❝𝐀 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐀 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬.❞

ೃ⁀➷ 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆
↬ dual pov
↬ "who did this to you?"
↬ forced proximity
↬ found family
↬ fun banter
↬ on kindle unlimited!

⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚 ̊⋆.𐙚

𝓂𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈
➳ I absolutely loved the premise of this. A prophecy that bans women from becoming soldiers because the world might literally end? A female lead who wants nothing more than to fight, with only three years left before death is supposedly coming for her? I was SAT. Buckled in. No notes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was fun and a surprisingly easy entry into a new fantasy world. I do only have one major gripe, though. The book sets up some genuinely strong conversations around feminism, so when Thea is finally told she can train with the men—something she’s been waiting her entire life for—you expect pure excitement. Instead, for a while, her inner monologue is mostly about the love interest. That really irritated me. Even when she finally gets everything she’s ever wanted and becomes the first woman back, her thoughts kept circling the men, which felt like a miss given the themes.

That said, I still had a great time. It was funny, engaging, and a solid start to what I’m hoping becomes a new favorite fantasy series.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀ 𝑨𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒂 𝒁𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒆
╰┈➤ “𝑆ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎 ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑠.”
Thea was a solid, strong FMC with a clear goal and the determination to see it through. Her dedication to becoming a Shieldbearer made the story way more fun and gave me something genuinely satisfying to root for. I loved her backbone and the fact that she gave zero fucks about anyone trying to stand in her way. She also had some genuinely funny lines, which made her easy to enjoy.

That said, I do hope she continues to grow. Right now she feels just a teensy bit surface-level—like her entire personality is wanting to be a Warsword and nothing else. I’m excited to see more layers added as the series continues. And that plot twist? I’m obsessed. Very curious to see how that plays out. Iykyk.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒂𝒘𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆
╰┈➤ "𝐴𝑙𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑎." 𝐻𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎 𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑎𝑝 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑠, ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑎𝑧𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠, ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑤. "𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑠." 𝐻𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑢𝑡. 𝐻𝑎𝑤𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑, 𝑏𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦. "𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡."
I would absolutely snatch a weapon purely to get Wilder’s attention, because my oh my, this man. The banter with Thea? Elite. The way he only became more obsessed with her as the book went on? Concerning in the best way. Him calling her “alchemist” 99% of the time but switching to her actual name when she’s in danger? Yeah, I’m gone.

I really did like him, though once again, everything felt a little surface-level. He only had a handful of scattered POVs here, so I’m hoping we get much more depth later on. One thing I loved was his relationship with Malik—immediately made me emotional for reasons I can’t fully explain.

My only real complaint is that I wish his burn for Thea had been slower. There are four books in this series + a very chunky novella, so I wouldn’t have minded him taking a little more time to fall. That said… I am still seated.

✩ 𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈 ✩

✧˖°. 𝑪𝒂𝒍
↬ I really liked Cal! I know this is probably controversial but I kind of wanted him and Thea to be a brief thing 😔 It was obviously for the better because Wilder probably would've strung up for good but a girl can dream

✧˖° 𝑲𝒊𝒑𝒑
↬ He was so funny! I love my comedic relief characters. The entire scene with the laughing fox had me smiling so hard. I hope to see so much more of him in the next book.

✧˖° 𝑺𝒆𝒃
↬ This man was a giant pain in my ass and I severely hope he gets outta here next book. BOOOOOOO!

✧˖° 𝑾𝒓𝒆𝒏
↬ I . . . don't like her. She gives me bad vibes. I don't have a genuine explanation for this but I truly just am not a fan. Maybe she'll grow on me?

ꨄ 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 ꨄ

➷ 'No woman is responsible for the weak acts of a man who’s had his masculinity so easily threatened,’ Wren stated, the strength of her words commanding them all. ‘A true man would be proud to fight at your side. He would recognise that you are a force to be reckoned with, Althea Nine Lives.'

➷ 'You want to know my deepest, darkest desires do you, Warsword?’
There was a pause as his gaze intensified, became hooded. ‘One of many things I’m surprised to find myself wanting.'

➷ 'For three short years was no time at all for a woman to become what she wanted. A legend.'

➷ ‘You will come to learn that most things to be feared exist in life, not in death.'

➷ 'It doesn’t matter who stands against you… What matters most is who stands with you.'

[Luce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌟 This? This is how you do a found family, fantasy romance of epic proportions!

Althea my girl, the woman that you are. Shes the kind of woman who knows what she wants, in aaaall areas of her life and she will settle at nothing. She’s confident, she’s bold and boy is she a fierce, force and I can’t wait to see where her journey goes.

I LOVED the found family in this, Althea’s friendship with Kipp and Cal did something to my soul. It is so pure and so genuine and I was rooting for their band of warriors for the entirety.

This is the kind of book that has a plot which would standalone just fine if you took away the romance. The romance i ate up and I loved Wilder - his ‘who did this to you’ might be my fave one I’ve read yet. I did think they fell a little quickly but still couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

I loved the whole concept. Loved the plot, loved the characters and loved the romance too. Can’t wait to carry this on.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If a man has ever told you ‘no’, or ‘girls can’t do that’, this is for you.

I read the sequel series first: Iron and Embers. So yes, I knew the trajectory and the end result. However, when my mum said she was reading Blood and Steel and was having a fun time, I thought why not? My library had the audiobook.

I think I preferred this to Iron and Embers. First of all, I’m a sucker for an academy setting. Then, we have the only woman allowed to be trained as a warrior despite everyone being against her. Of course, the friendships between misfits that band together - aka my two favourite characters from Iron and Embers, Cal and Kipp.

We also get to see the strong sisterly bond between Wren and Thera and the alchemist’s origins.

This is just fun. I can’t tell you whether it’s predictable or not as I knew everything already. However, this had enough banter and character growth that I thoroughly enjoyed. Just ignore the fact that a self-trained female becomes stronger and more efficient than some of these men who have been trained from birth to be warriors.

The audiobook was great.

Bookstagram
Tiktok

[✩ Yaz ✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

In the shadow of a fallen kingdom, in the eye of the storm A daughter of darkness will wield a blade in one hand And rule death with the other When the skies are blackened, in the end of days The Veil will fall. The tide will turn when her blade is drawn. A dawn of fire and blood.

Blood & Steel is the first installment in the Legends of Thezmarr series, a NA Fantasy Romance featuring a deadly prophecy and a heroine on the road to become a warrior legend.

Althea (Thea) Zoltaire is a 24-year-old Alchemist with a penchant for rule breaking. 20 years ago, a prophecy foretold Thea's death by the age of 27 and knowing her time is running out she yearns to become a warrior of Thezmarr but how can she when a law was established after the prophecy arose that no woman shall ever carry a weapon lest she risk the peace in the realms.

Certain unique circumstances pull Thea away from the Alchemy Workshop and she must prove herself worthy of becoming a warrior.

You're probably wondering about the romance and I can tell you to not expect an enemies-to-lovers situation, they're not enemies and it's more dislike to reluctant like. There's a trainer/trainee dynamic that spices up the scenes between them. Wilder Hawthorne, the youngest Warsword of Thezmarr and known as the Hand of Death, can be enigmatic but Thea quickly plagues his mind and heart.

This book was enjoyable and I'm excited to move straight to the second book, and as expected of a foundational book, it can slow down a little build and take more time to flesh out the characters.

And if you're worried Thea might be lonely, there's a lovely friendship that blossomed with three characters (excluding the love interest).

Despite enjoying it, I felt like the point where the romance got to at the end was a little rushed and I am still not that attached to Wilder. I think the world-building was established but parts of it weren't easy to digest as the reader.

I would still say this book is a promising beginning to an addictive fantasy romance series!

Looking forward to book 2!

Content warning: violence, shaming, verbal bullying and physical assault, blood.

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was solid, but it had no business being 550 pages.

For a first book in a series to build stuff up makes sense but there was not enough fantasy and not enough romance or well, action for that matter, for it to be so long.