Title: Thorns and Fire

Series: The Ashes of Thezmarr #2

Author: Helen Scheuerer

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BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Iron and Embers – review

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BLURB

A golden thread joined them, a bond that went deeper than love – and it had nearly destroyed them.

Wren Embervale and Torj Elderbrock share a dark and bloody history. With Thezmarr on the brink of another war, and overwhelmed by the force of their feelings for one another, Torj discovers there is far more to their bond than mere passion. The legendary Warsword is determined to protect Wren at all costs, even if it means lying to her . . . Even if it means losing her forever.

Meanwhile, Wren is struggling to find her place in the world – both as an advanced student of alchemy at the ancient academy of Drevenor, and as one of the heirs to a lost kingdom. With the midrealms once again facing destruction, Wren must decide: loyalty or liberation? Legacy or love?

As new political players emerge, Wren discovers that her gift for alchemy is more powerful than she ever imagined – and that it could tear the kingdoms apart.

Will she and Torj find their way back to each other, or will the ancient magic that binds them become their undoing?

‘You stand at my side.
And we destroy them all.
Together.’

War is on the horizon yet again for the alchemists and warswords of Thezmarr, and Wren is in the thick of it. The pressure is truly on.

I tell you, I thought Torj and Wren had gone through enough, separately and together, but this book really puts them through the wringer!

I love Torj with all my heart and in this book he proves that he is THE MAN! And Embers character development is second to none in this series, it’s so great to watch!

The gang is back together, Thea, Wilder, Kipp, Cal, Dessa and Zavier (I hope Kipp and Cal get their own books, even a novella each would do me!!)

New players are on the board, but remember, the Queen is the most powerful piece …

That ending. I cannot wait to see what happens next (when is that please?!!!!)

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Sound like something you’d like?

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

I hope you had a great week!

I had Monday off this week instead of Wednesday and it was great, I got so much done! I’m considering asking my boss if I can change my non-working day!

My son has started his mock exams so he has been revising this week and tomorrow I’ve got my eye hospital appointment to see if I need an operation 🤢

I’ve had a great reading week, 2 books finished with another 2 nearly finished!

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Glow by Raven Kennedy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Look out for my reviews soon!

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Review – Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab
Feature – New-to-me Authors in 25!
Feature – Books I have my eye on: July 2025

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Review – Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Review – The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst

What have you read lately?

Here’s what’s tantalising me that’s releasing in July….

It’s going to be a good month! My poor tbr!

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
A Witches Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
Undercutting Rosie and Adam by Megan Bannen
Thorns and Fire by Helen Scheuerer
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry
A Vow of Embers by Sariah Wilson

Will you be getting these?

If there is one thing I love about books it’s reading new-to-me authors and discovering gems!

I did some posts in 2023 and 2024 about who I’d discovered, so I thought I would continue this year!

Melissa Landers
Rebecca Ide
Sariah Wilson
Stephanie Burgis
SF Williamson
Sarah A Parker

Who were yours?

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Books I’d like special editions of!

A change of topic for me!

Most special editions, aside from Waterstones, Fairyloot and Illumicrate, are from US companies and that’s really a no-no for me because the postage is normally more than the books…..and I’m not rich!!!!

I did do it once for a fave indie authors trilogy I knew no one else would do. The books roughly cost £40 and I paid £105 which included the books, postage and tax. I could’ve actually cried!

Anyway…here’s some books I’d love a special edition of!

Traumaland by Josh Silver
Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
Servant of Earth by Sarah Hawley
Blood and Steel by Helen Scheuerer
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston
Plier by Jane Washington
House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A Craig
Dark Fae by Caroline Peckham
Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff
Wolfsong by TJ Klune

(an extra one for good luck!!)

 

What would you choose?

Title: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

Author: VE Schwab

Release Date: 10th June 2025

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BLURB

Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 1532.
London, 1837.
Boston, 2019.

Three young women, their bodies planted in the same soil, their stories tangling like roots.

One grows high, and one grows deep, and one grows wild.

And all of them grow teeth.

‘It is a lie that you only get one story.’

Stunning… 
Masterpiece….

I’m a fantasy reader and vamps are my jam so I wanted to read this book because a) Schwab is like a gem, and b) I wondered what her vamps would be like!

This is going to sound strange but i feel like I’ve grown up, matured like a fine wine, reading this. Will I go be able to go back to my normal fantasy vamps? I hope not, this book is a rereader for sure!

In different places, different times, we have 3 lady vamps and we get to know their stories, their loves, how they survive, their lives and how they are woven together.

To say I’d loved this would be an understatement! Another hit from VE Schwab!

‘Bury my bones in the midnight soil,
Plant them shallow and water them deep.
And in my place will grow a feral rose.
Soft red petals hiding sharp white teeth.’

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Sound like something you’d like?

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

I hope you had a great week!

My apologies, another week where I’ve missed coming to see your posts as work has been crazy and by the end of the day my brain is mush and all I can do is escape into a book! And there is no end in sight, so please forgive me if I’m a bit absent in the next few weeks!

I’m taking part in an audio challenge this month to read books off my tbr and I managed to listen to one solitary book….and it was a short one!

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Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🎧 The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Look out for my reviews soon!

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Feature – Stacking the Shelves: May
Umboxing –  Illumicrate: April
Unboxing – Fairyloot Romantasy

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Review – Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab
Feature – New-to-me Authors in 25!
Feature – Books I have my eye on: July 2025

What have you read lately?

Fairyloot Romantasy – May 2025

Whispers of Ruin

A young woman’s quiet life is shattered when a Prince’s lethal guard uncovers the secret behind the silver scars in her eyes. Forced into the deadly service of the King, she must join forces with the man who exposed her and confront a growing passion that could change everything.

Broken Souls and Bones by LJ Andrews

🖤 Redesigned cover @serif.and.somnia
🖤 Colourway variation of trade cover – reverse dust jacket
🖤 Foiled hardcover art @catrina_paints
🖤 Digitally sprayed edges @serif.and.somnia
🖤 Character art endpapers @deerlordhunter
🖤 Author letter bound into book

April 2025
Theme = Rival Realms

There is rivalry between our realms, and danger surrounds us on all sides.

Items inspired by A Court of Thorns and Roses, Faebound, Voyage of the Damned and Trial of the Sun Queen.

💛 City of Starlight Puzzle
Inspired by ACOTAR with artwork by @harkalelinai
💛 Dragons Dawn Tote
Artwork by @niallcgrant inspired by Voyage of the Damned.
💛 Aurora and Aphelion Postcards
Artwork by @rinfishe from Trial of the Sun Queen.
💛 Cosmic Fray Sun Stickers
Designed by @perrycuffdesigns inspired by Faebound

💛 FEATURED BOOK 💛

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

✨ An exclusive redesigned cover (by @tomrobertsillustration)
✨ Full colour art and foil on the hardback (by @c.e.illo)
✨ Digitally printed edges (by @chattynora)
✨ Illustrated endpapers (by @zookie_art); different front and back
✨ Signed by the author