Heir Of The Emberscale

by Shelby Gardner

She was just a survivor. He was a ruthless leader, a king. Their destiny is to be lovers—but first, they must accept the choice of the stones. A mated bonded pair whether they like it or not.

Elyria is a fierce survivor living a life of brutal obscurity, entirely unaware of the devastating destiny thrumming in her veins. All of that shatters when she accidentally unearths the ancient Aura Stone. The relic instantly marks her, setting her on a collision course with a throne and a lover she never wanted. The Stone has chosen her as the last Queen.

Her freedom is immediately lost when she is kidnapped by Tyrion, the fiercely protective and dominating master of the Ember Stone's formidable power. Tyrion, a grief-stricken warrior, knows the Stone's choice is final. He forces the unwilling Elyria into a toxic partnership, believing his possessive control is the only thing that can save her and reverse the destructive blight consuming their world.

Bound by a terrifying magical connection that forces them to share dreams and destinies, Elyria and Tyrion are locked in a battle of wills and burning attraction. Their desperate quest to mend their powers, save ancient Emberscale, and heal their world forces them into the path of mythical dragon gods and a dark forces set on their destruction.

To save a dying world, the defiant, bullheaded Elyria and morally gray Tyrion must overcome their hatred for one another and accept the terrifying pull of their destiny.

Heir of the Ember Scale is a dark, character-driven fantasy and the explosive beginning of a fated enemies-to-lovers trilogy.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2026

Reviews

[Jessica Watercutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your vibe is anything like *Throne of Glass* or *Fourth Wing*, or if you enjoyed the thrill and chase of *From Blood and Ash*, this is your next dark romantasy read. The book is spicy enough to make your taste buds do a salsa dance, but it’s also plot-driven, so your brain will be doing the cha-cha too. The characters are written so well, they practically leap off the page and start a conga line in your living room. I found myself giggling like a teenager at a boy band concert and kicking my legs in excitement—seriously, I was practically doing cartwheels, though my knees might not agree. I was so hooked that I couldn’t put it down, even when my motherly duties were calling. Who knew that laundry could wait when there’s a gripping story to devour? ‘Sorry, kids, but Mom’s on a literary adventure and your dirty socks will have to wash themselves—or maybe they’ll just start a rebellion and form their own sock union.’

[Julie Simpkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very spicy and so many triggers (I don’t mind triggery things, but some do so check the warnings).

Reluctant chosen one hard core. Can’t blame her really. Girl has been through it, and then has to go through it even more. Abusive dead husband, to a guy who doesn’t communicate good at all.

Dude is dealing with past headache and struggling with what has been forced on them. He doesn’t handle it well needless to say.

Pretty good world building, definite plot twist (some you can guess at, and some might surprise you), and of the drama.

Not a bad read.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great story!! The author wrote this from both main character points of view and I kept switching sides as to whose side I was on throughout! I love the way this was written! There was spice, female rage, drama, brutality, joy, angst, everything and all the emotions that go with it. I can’t wait for the next book to watch these characters grow together and see where it goes!

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what I was getting into but I fell in love with the description and tge cover and I'm so glad I did. Elyria is the FMC who finds a stone that will change her life, shows her she's more powerful and stronger then she ever imagined. Tyrion is her fated mate thanks to the stone. He's not thrilled with the stone's choice and makes his feelings known. Will Elyria step up to the task, will Tyrion come to love her enough for the bond to flourish?. Can they overcome all the obstacles to make their kingdom great again? I seriously can't wait for the next book.

[Maria Briant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an Arc read for me. At first it started really slow for me, and I was super annoyed with the MMC. It soon picked up and I fell in the love with FMC. The way she came into herself as a person, and her strength. Spicy i give 3 out of 5, but still great. Overall great read and can't wait to find out what happens next.

[CoCo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This has a baddie FMC. She is broken. I love that she has been through terrible things to become who the MMC needs. She learns to handle her own. The cliffhanger definitely set up what is come. These dragons have so much of their story to continue. I can not wait to see what happens as this series continues.

[Bobbi Elmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I don't want to spoil anything so I'm going to keep my review pretty short. The build up of the relationship, the "issues" that Elyria and Tyrion face, the masks, the suspense... it's all there. I highly suggest reading this! Great job Shelby!

[Alex Albanese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book mostly. I felt like the two main characters spoke to each other as if they were teenagers and that is my biggest complaint. The MMC was very controlling and not even likable in the beginning at all and some of his statements just seemed very young and undeveloped. I would love to see more development of the characters as well as more realistic conversation between them.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely had some dark elements to it but The MMC is Definitely a reason you'll love this Book. The fire ignited between the characters is Definitely steamy .🤭🔥

[Ashley Cutshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

this story was a great romantasy read.

lots of spice!!

I loved the dual POV.

Elyria becomes the chosen dragon queen. fights it as much as she can along with the fated mate bond with Tyrion.

a great enemies to lovers story and talk about that ending.

[Christina Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Reader for the Author

I'm gonna be honest here I wanted to punch the mmc in the face so many times at the beginning the more I kept reading the more he started to grow on me and now I want him to ruin my life 🤣 this was my first dragon smut book and I'm not disappointed the banter the sass was definitely chefs kiss I cant wait for the second book! and fall in love with the characters all over again fantastic job Shelby!

[McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this, I could not put it down. I ate it up in 2 days. There is tension, banter, and chemistry. Bonded mates by a stone not choice! Elyria keeps Tyrion on his toes which catches him in a few pickles. Elyria is strong and confident but comes from a broken background. Tyrion is broken in his own way. I fell hard for Tyrion. He is dominant and quick to anger but has no problem kneeling for his woman.
✔️Fated mates
✔️Banter
✔️ Spice is spicing!
✔️true enemies to lovers
✔️twist and turns
Dean and Ann did an incredible job bringing the story to life in the audio! My first dragon shifter and I am not going to stop here. I already need more of their story!

[Reinita · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love an alpha hole dragon shifter, feisty and badass FMC, fated mates, tension, banter, SPICE and a great plot then this one is for you! Shelby, I absolutely love the world you’ve built and I love some of the side characters too! I can’t wait to read more! Ummmm chapter 20 was worth the 3 re-listens 🥵🤪! Dean Miller and Ann Dahlia were AMAZING at bringing all the characters to life on audio. 🙌🏽

[Cassidy Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔥 Heir of the Emberscale by Shelby Gardner 🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Shelby for the eARC!

Dark, intense, and completely consuming. Heir of the Emberscale throws you into a brutal, magic soaked world where destiny isn’t a gift…..it’s a curse. Elyria is a fierce survivor, stubborn and defiant, while Tyrion is morally gray, controlling, and driven by grief. Their forced bond is volatile, toxic, and impossible to ignore.

This is true enemies-to-lovers with a heavy emphasis on enemies. The tension is relentless, the attraction burns slow and painful, and the magical bond only amplifies the push-and-pull between them. Add dragon gods, ancient stones, and a dying world, and you’ve got a story that grabs hold fast and doesn’t let go.

⚠️ Very spicy and heavy on triggers ‼️ definitely check content warnings‼️ but the story, characters, and emotional depth make it worth it. A dark, character-driven fantasy that hooked me from page one and left me desperate for the next book.

🐉🔥 If you love fated mates, morally gray MMCs, and high-stakes fantasy romance… this one delivers.

[Heather H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mesmerizing addition to fantasy romance, blending vivid world-building with authentic emotional depth. This story supports a strong lead who shines through both strength and vulnerability, navigating a world filled with magical intrigue, suspense, and heartfelt connections. The plot is both engaging and well-paced, allowing readers to become fully immersed in the characters’ personal growth and the challenges they face. The romantic elements are thoughtfully woven into the narrative, offering moments of tension, tenderness, and genuine connection that will resonate with fans of the genre. If you’re looking for a richly imagined tale with compelling characters and an enchanting blend of magic and romance, Heir of the Emberscale is a must-read. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a story that balances drama, emotional depth, and fantasy adventure.

[Püppët · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨One of my favorite reads for 2025, may be my best! And with that, I’ll say I read Quicksilver and Fourth Wing for the first time this year and for me it rates up there with those two.
✨Beautifully written, the story drags you in from the first few pages and it’s a ride from there. Amazing side characters that will leave you wishing you had their stories too.
✨FMC is strong willed and determined, not your normal FMC for sure! Would say this is a grumpy/sunshine but it’s more like grumpy/grumpy 😂
✨Just the right amount of spice, doesn’t overpower and take away from the storyline at all. 🌶️🌶️🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/4 on the spicy scale

[Victoria Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book. I love this authors writing style and I absolutely love dragons and fantasy. This is like a forced fated mates and both our main characters were not here for it at first but their draw to each other was undeniable. Lots of spice and lots of trauma!
The ending left me wanting more! The antagonist is literally the worst and I’m so glad Elyria was able to get her revenge and unlock her full powers!

[B Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very well written. Most books have little plot and alot of spice this has both. The spicy scenes are ❤️‍🔥 and there are alot in the book.

Make sure you have a squeeze ball and some tissues cuz you're gonna want to squeeze the he'll out of the MMC but also feel for him to for what he's gone through. The FMC is very strong and knows what she wants and gets it. The shit she got put thru anyone would have broke. I loved the ending.

[Maddison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very spicy book and heavy on the triggers - please read the warnings before you start.

I enjoyed the book even though it was not something I normally read. I’ve never read a book with this amount of spice and triggers. However, I did thoroughly enjoy it. The forced mate/chosen one is something I can’t recall ever seeing in another book. I highly recommend this book!

[Gloria Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! I cannot wait for the next book! I need to know what happens! If you are a fan of dragons, gods, fated mates, you are going to love this story! Thank you Shelby for giving me the opportunity to read your book before release!

[Kim Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fated mates, a dragon shifter, and a badass FMC…yes please!! Oh and I did I mention the spice…yeah it’s great too!

This is such a fun and original world. I had a so much fun with the twist and turns and the audio was phenomenal. The stunning duo, Dean Miller and Ann Dahlia did an amazing job. The characters were authentic and there was so much emotion in every line. I can’t wait to hear more from them and to continue this story!!