Smoke and Scar Book Review
Synopsis
A Splintered Kingdom
An ancient grudge has kept humans and the magical races of Arcanis at odds for centuries. The Arcane Crucible, a legendary series of trials that occurs every 25 years, offers a chance for peace.
A Haunted Warrior
Elyria Lightbreaker, once a celebrated fae war hero, is a shadow of her former self. Drowning in grief after losing the man she loved to the previous Crucible, now she must rise to stop his sister from falling to the same fate.
A Vengeful Knight
Hardened by loss and fueled by hate, Cedric Thorne's lifelong goal to conquer the Crucible on humanity's behalf is finally within reach. The only problem? Getting through the trials alive means working with Elyria-the very fae he blames for his parents' deaths.
An Unwinnable Challenge
With alliances fragile as spun glass and betrayal lurking at every turn, Elyria and Cedric must navigate deadly trials that test their strength, spirit, and magic... as well as their increasingly complex feelings for each other.
This is the Arcane Crucible.
Smoke and Scar is the first book in Shattered Crown, an epic romantic fantasy series that follows our heroes Elyria and Cedric through deadly trials, dark magic, and shocking betrayals as they attempt to undo the wrongs of the past and heal their broken land.
This slow burn, enemies-to-lovers story is perfect for fans of epic world-building, a diverse cast of characters, elemental magic, tension, and plentiful banter. This book will appeal to fans of high stakes, character-driven fantasy with a heavy dose of romance, and authors like Carissa Broadbent, Raven Kennedy, Helen Scheuerer, Penn Cole, and Sarah J. Maas.
REVIEW
LISTEN.
Did i just devour this entire book in one sitting like I’d been dropped into a full-blown fever dream? Yes. Yes, I did. Did I also absolutely hate that ending with my whole chest? Yes. I. Fucking. Did. And do I now desperately need to know what happens next, preferably with our beloved band of heroes finally—please, I’m begging—getting a single damn win? Mhmm. Absolutely.
It’s been a long time since an epic high fantasy sank its claws into me like this, and I’m already itching for the next installment. If you loved The Games Gods Play by Abigail Owen or crave the high-stakes vibes of Rebecca Yarros’ Onyx Storm, Smoke and Scar might just be your next obsession.
Thanks so much to IngramSpark for the gifted copy for review!
Publication date was 11 March 2025.
Author Profile
Gretchen Powell Fox grew up with her head in the clouds and her nose buried in books. Now, she crafts fantastical stories, along with the fiery heroes destined to change them for the better.
Her creative process involves sleeping fitfully and consuming copious amounts of Sour Patch Kids. You can usually find her crying when she’s happy, sad, mad, or excited, singing along to Taylor Swift, eating xiao long bao, or strumming her ukulele.
She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two wild, wonderful children.
