Thorns & Fire: The Ashes of Thezmarr, Book 2

Some bonds are forged in blood—and the golden thread connecting Wren Embervale and Torj Elderbrock might just be the most dangerous thing in the midrealms.

In this breathtaking second installment of the Ashes of Thezmarr series, the enemies-to-lovers tension reaches a fever pitch as war looms on the horizon and the secrets between two people who should hate each other grow more devastating by the day. Torj, the legendary warsword, has uncovered a truth about their bond that transcends anything he thought possible—and rather than share it with Wren, he chooses to protect her the only way he knows how: by lying through his teeth and risking everything they've fought to build.

Wren, meanwhile, is torn between worlds. As an advanced alchemy student at the ancient academy of Drevenor, she's finally mastering her craft—but her identity as heir to a lost kingdom refuses to stay buried. When new political forces rise and old enemies sharpen their blades, Wren must wrestle with impossible choices: loyalty or liberation, legacy or love.

Helen Scheuerer masterfully layers dark romantasy atmosphere with court intrigue, morally complex characters, and a slow-burn romance that crackles with earned emotion. Thorns & Fire doesn't shy away from horror or heartbreak—it leans into both with savage, glorious intent.

If you thought book one left you breathless, this sequel will leave you completely undone. Wren and Torj's story is only getting started