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The Bookbinder's Bargain #1
Kiss of the Black Flame: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26
Some bargains are sealed with blood...Others with fire...The deadliest are sealed with a kiss...
Saige Grayson has always believed stories could heal—even when her own body refuses to. As the most promising bookbinder in the capital, she’s learned to work through chronic pain and crushing debt, restoring other people’s treasures while trying not to fall apart herself. But when the man she owes decides her rare talent is worth more than her payments, Saige is traded to the Azkari—an immortal race forged by the gods for war—and imprisoned in their ancient stronghold.
Her only chance of survival lies with Archer, a fallen Azkari general imprisoned beside her —cursed, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. He offers her a way out, and in return, Saige must help him retrieve and restore an ancient book. But the book is made of living magic, powerful enough to stop a great evil—or unleash it. And as Saige works with Archer, the tome begins to awaken something dark and dangerous—both in the realm and within her.
As their enemies close in and buried memories resurface, Saige and Archer must decide what they’re willing to their freedom, their fragile trust…or the spark that could ignite the world.
Final cover to be revealed!
Saige Grayson has always believed stories could heal—even when her own body refuses to. As the most promising bookbinder in the capital, she’s learned to work through chronic pain and crushing debt, restoring other people’s treasures while trying not to fall apart herself. But when the man she owes decides her rare talent is worth more than her payments, Saige is traded to the Azkari—an immortal race forged by the gods for war—and imprisoned in their ancient stronghold.
Her only chance of survival lies with Archer, a fallen Azkari general imprisoned beside her —cursed, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. He offers her a way out, and in return, Saige must help him retrieve and restore an ancient book. But the book is made of living magic, powerful enough to stop a great evil—or unleash it. And as Saige works with Archer, the tome begins to awaken something dark and dangerous—both in the realm and within her.
As their enemies close in and buried memories resurface, Saige and Archer must decide what they’re willing to their freedom, their fragile trust…or the spark that could ignite the world.
Final cover to be revealed!
432 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Helen Scheuerer
51 books7,100 followersHelen 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 22, 2026
REVIEW OF ADVANCED COPY
Kiss of the Black Flame gave me exactly the kind of romantasy pairing I love: a grumpy, battle and trauma worn immortal MMC paired with a mortal sunshine FMC who slowly chips away at all his defenses.
Saige is a mortal bookbinder living with chronic pain, and it was represented so well! She’s resilient and warm without feeling put on, and her optimism balances Archer’s grump!
And Archer 👀 A war general imprisoned and tortured for 200 years? Then Helen went ahead and made him an artist who sketches with charcoal while wearing slutty little glasses, loves flowers and gardening, braids Saige’s hair, and quietly takes care of her? Immediate favorite. 🫠
Through circumstance they are forced to work together to save the realm, and watching Saige slowly get under Archer’s skin was very satisfying.
Kiss of the Black Flame gave me exactly the kind of romantasy pairing I love: a grumpy, battle and trauma worn immortal MMC paired with a mortal sunshine FMC who slowly chips away at all his defenses.
Saige is a mortal bookbinder living with chronic pain, and it was represented so well! She’s resilient and warm without feeling put on, and her optimism balances Archer’s grump!
And Archer 👀 A war general imprisoned and tortured for 200 years? Then Helen went ahead and made him an artist who sketches with charcoal while wearing slutty little glasses, loves flowers and gardening, braids Saige’s hair, and quietly takes care of her? Immediate favorite. 🫠
Through circumstance they are forced to work together to save the realm, and watching Saige slowly get under Archer’s skin was very satisfying.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well Helen does it again! Just when I think she can’t get better she says “hold my beer” and gives us another amazing dark Romantasy full of the sweetest yearning and tension and slow burn goodness. Another extremely well written MMC with sharp jagged edges that only soften for her and a fierce FMC who will do anything to stand on her own two feet.
The magical book binding premise of this story was so interesting. I now want to go down the rabbit hole of the book binding process. But I digress. Where this story really hits is the relationship between our two MCs. Archer is an immortal warrior, betrayed and trapped in a half existent for 200 years. No one sees him until Saige, a mortal woman bookbinder is roped into a bargain to help Archer stop his malevolent jailer from trying to take over the realms.
𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 . . . 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.
The story that unfolds is two people burden with weighty personal issues that would have broken anyone else. He’s trying his best to protect himself after years of abuse and isolation and she just wants to know him. She has spent years fighting an invisible illness and just wants to be believed. Both the mental health rep and chronic pain rep in this book was so important and Helen handle both tricky subjects with care. I loved Archer both fierce and gentle with his love of plants, paper and charcoal, his slutty little glasses and his care for Saige. I loved Saige for her fierce optimism and unyielding focus to make something of herself and her need to pull Archer from the dark places he retreats to. These two were the perfect counterbalance for each other.
“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯? 𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥? 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳? 𝘖𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱?”
Where I truly crashed out was at the end. After a delicious slow burn these two might finally be on the same page until Helen throws the plot twist to end all plot twists at us and I’m left staring into the void thinking “this can’t be the end” right? RIGHT?! I’ll be on my knees until book 2 is in my hands.
What’s inside:
- dark romantasy
- chronically ill FMC in her 30s
- grumpy x sunshine
- a devil’s bargain
- unique elemental magic
- female tradeswomen
- tortured MMC
- he falls first
- he takes care of her
- secrets + betrayals
The magical book binding premise of this story was so interesting. I now want to go down the rabbit hole of the book binding process. But I digress. Where this story really hits is the relationship between our two MCs. Archer is an immortal warrior, betrayed and trapped in a half existent for 200 years. No one sees him until Saige, a mortal woman bookbinder is roped into a bargain to help Archer stop his malevolent jailer from trying to take over the realms.
𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 . . . 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.
The story that unfolds is two people burden with weighty personal issues that would have broken anyone else. He’s trying his best to protect himself after years of abuse and isolation and she just wants to know him. She has spent years fighting an invisible illness and just wants to be believed. Both the mental health rep and chronic pain rep in this book was so important and Helen handle both tricky subjects with care. I loved Archer both fierce and gentle with his love of plants, paper and charcoal, his slutty little glasses and his care for Saige. I loved Saige for her fierce optimism and unyielding focus to make something of herself and her need to pull Archer from the dark places he retreats to. These two were the perfect counterbalance for each other.
“𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯? 𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥? 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳? 𝘖𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱?”
Where I truly crashed out was at the end. After a delicious slow burn these two might finally be on the same page until Helen throws the plot twist to end all plot twists at us and I’m left staring into the void thinking “this can’t be the end” right? RIGHT?! I’ll be on my knees until book 2 is in my hands.
What’s inside:
- dark romantasy
- chronically ill FMC in her 30s
- grumpy x sunshine
- a devil’s bargain
- unique elemental magic
- female tradeswomen
- tortured MMC
- he falls first
- he takes care of her
- secrets + betrayals
May 22, 2026
𝙳𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 : To every woman who refuses to disappear Who chooses herself even when the world demands sacrifice For every woman who is told to whisper when she wants to roar Your anger, your voice, is no disturbance—it’s a reckoning.
𝚃𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚜 : chronic pain/illness representation 👏🏻 | only one horse | grumpy x sunshine | slutty little glasses | plot twists | monsters
𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 : What is the color of retribution?
𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎 : I can’t decide on just one.
“One minute you’re dancing on tables, the next you’ve got a favorite spoon and a senior bedtime hour.”
“Don’t let a handsome face and a big cock fool you, girl.”
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯 : Oh, Helen, you did it again. You brilliant human.
I loved this one, obviously. The chronic pain/illness was freaking brilliantly done. As someone who deals with both, more books need to have this. It’s not understood or represented. & Helen just did a beautiful job.
Now. Let’s talk about that ENDING? Excuse me. What do you mean that’s the ending of the book? What do you mean there’s no next page?
I love the character in this book. Helen literally always knocks characters out of the park. I’m in love with the FMC, Saige. & Archer, our MMC, I love him - even if he’s an idiot. That mouth though.
Saige is a mortal bookbinder who finds herself the owner of her own shop, after Leo unexpectedly passes away. She has run up quite a bit of debt going to doctors and trying medicines over the years for chronic pain and an illness that seems to have no answers. This debt lands her in prison.
Archer is a prisoner who was once a war hero. However, in saving the land, he doomed himself. He was bonded to the man who he was saving the world from. Plus, his body was separated - he could visit the world, but he couldn’t be seen. Except by her.
To save the world and get them both out of prison, they make a deal. She will fix a book and return it to his home. He will get her out of the prison.
Can they find the book before it gets into the wrong hands? Can Saige rebind the book? Will it be enough? Will their bond cause more? Will secrets and the unknown destroy everything?
𝚃𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚜 : chronic pain/illness representation 👏🏻 | only one horse | grumpy x sunshine | slutty little glasses | plot twists | monsters
𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 : What is the color of retribution?
𝙾𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎 : I can’t decide on just one.
“One minute you’re dancing on tables, the next you’ve got a favorite spoon and a senior bedtime hour.”
“Don’t let a handsome face and a big cock fool you, girl.”
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯 : Oh, Helen, you did it again. You brilliant human.
I loved this one, obviously. The chronic pain/illness was freaking brilliantly done. As someone who deals with both, more books need to have this. It’s not understood or represented. & Helen just did a beautiful job.
Now. Let’s talk about that ENDING? Excuse me. What do you mean that’s the ending of the book? What do you mean there’s no next page?
I love the character in this book. Helen literally always knocks characters out of the park. I’m in love with the FMC, Saige. & Archer, our MMC, I love him - even if he’s an idiot. That mouth though.
Saige is a mortal bookbinder who finds herself the owner of her own shop, after Leo unexpectedly passes away. She has run up quite a bit of debt going to doctors and trying medicines over the years for chronic pain and an illness that seems to have no answers. This debt lands her in prison.
Archer is a prisoner who was once a war hero. However, in saving the land, he doomed himself. He was bonded to the man who he was saving the world from. Plus, his body was separated - he could visit the world, but he couldn’t be seen. Except by her.
To save the world and get them both out of prison, they make a deal. She will fix a book and return it to his home. He will get her out of the prison.
Can they find the book before it gets into the wrong hands? Can Saige rebind the book? Will it be enough? Will their bond cause more? Will secrets and the unknown destroy everything?
Review of advance copy received from Author
It’s official glitterbugs: Kiss of the Black Flame by Helen Scheuerer is my favourite romantasy ever—not just by her, but by anyone. You may think I’m exaggerating, as there’s so many brilliant stories out there. But this first instalment in The Bookbinder’s Bargain has done more than envelop me into a new realm, with brilliant characters and an incredible plot. I felt seen within these pages, thanks to the chronic pain representation, and every single word hit home.
Stories with chronic pain representation have resonated with me in the past, but Kiss of the Black Flame? This looked into my soul and spoke the words so many of us grapple with—how we wonder when we’ll succumb to this pain and drown in the maelstrom. But not only that, Saige’s story explores the resilience every chronic pain warrior clings to, the sheer stubbornness to stay and make every breath count even when we’re exhausted. I said it in a post on my Instagram, but I’ll say it here as well… This story spoke to the very blood in my veins and the marrow in my bones. It is power. It is recognition. And it *is* a masterpiece.
Have you been searching for a found family, featuring stubborn women and a cheeky animal sidekick? Kiss of the Black Flame is tailor made for you! If you don’t fall in love with a certain sassy old woman, I’m unsure if we can be friends. For every moment that Helen made me cry, she gave me another full of humour, which saw me giggling to myself long into the nights. And when you add Archer to the mix? If you’re familiar with Helen’s previous MMCs, you’ll understand how big a call this is when I say it: this Azkari general just took his rightful place on top of the podium.
Kiss of the Black Flame by Helen Scheuerer is a romantic fantasy featuring dangerous bargains, smouldering tension, and a spark that will set the world ablaze. I am so invested in this new realm, and I cannot wait to chat about it with anyone who’ll listen!
Want to know more? You can see my FULL REVIEW on my blog here: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/kiss-...
Stories with chronic pain representation have resonated with me in the past, but Kiss of the Black Flame? This looked into my soul and spoke the words so many of us grapple with—how we wonder when we’ll succumb to this pain and drown in the maelstrom. But not only that, Saige’s story explores the resilience every chronic pain warrior clings to, the sheer stubbornness to stay and make every breath count even when we’re exhausted. I said it in a post on my Instagram, but I’ll say it here as well… This story spoke to the very blood in my veins and the marrow in my bones. It is power. It is recognition. And it *is* a masterpiece.
Have you been searching for a found family, featuring stubborn women and a cheeky animal sidekick? Kiss of the Black Flame is tailor made for you! If you don’t fall in love with a certain sassy old woman, I’m unsure if we can be friends. For every moment that Helen made me cry, she gave me another full of humour, which saw me giggling to myself long into the nights. And when you add Archer to the mix? If you’re familiar with Helen’s previous MMCs, you’ll understand how big a call this is when I say it: this Azkari general just took his rightful place on top of the podium.
Kiss of the Black Flame by Helen Scheuerer is a romantic fantasy featuring dangerous bargains, smouldering tension, and a spark that will set the world ablaze. I am so invested in this new realm, and I cannot wait to chat about it with anyone who’ll listen!
Want to know more? You can see my FULL REVIEW on my blog here: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/kiss-...
Review of advance copy
I was very lucky to receive an e-ARC of this book. This was such a great romantasy read. 4.5/5. This had some heavy themes, but somehow the author made something that seemed so bleak look hopeful and beautiful - she is known for these flawed characters and this was a great example of how to write them well. Overall the book was well written. Only slight drawback for me was at times I thought the pace was verging on slow, but it was so good that it still kept me engaged.
This book is set in a world of immortal warriors, magical kingdoms that intersect with mortal realms. A lot of themes of redemption and retribution. Chronic pain representation in the FMC. A lot of banter and slow burn. Great secondary characters. Good plot twists that keep you guessing. I don’t want to get into the plot - so I’m going to keep it vague as this is so much in advance. No spoilers here. A great start to the series.
This book is set in a world of immortal warriors, magical kingdoms that intersect with mortal realms. A lot of themes of redemption and retribution. Chronic pain representation in the FMC. A lot of banter and slow burn. Great secondary characters. Good plot twists that keep you guessing. I don’t want to get into the plot - so I’m going to keep it vague as this is so much in advance. No spoilers here. A great start to the series.
Want to Read
May 18, 2026again... do i abandon my whole tbr and read this?
decisions...
decisions...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews