Smoke and Scar

CatReads

Shadow mommy x Ken... or so you think! Funny, clever, and heart-stopping danger

"This was a wonderfully balanced book, perfectly weaving together humor, suspense, romance, and plenty of fantasy adventure. I’ll admit I was expecting something darker when I started this and felt a little betrayed, though the end result so far exceeded my expectations that I'll forgive Gretchen. Elyria isn't a shadow mommy exactly, though she is a tormented badass with shadows. She's not really morally gray so much as dissolute and grieving. And Cedric might be a little pompous, but he's also quick to release his prejudice. It's the brain washing that'll take a bit longer I suspect. And while they are adversaries and downright bratty to each other, there is no cruelty in their early relationship. Like little magnets, they just can't help being in luuuuuv already. Oh nos. I wonder why that is? But even if Elyria wasn’t the tortured, vicious antihero I deluded myself into expecting based almost entirely on character art, within a few pages, I was hooked. The writing is extremely smooth with fast, heart stopping action and angst. It’s funny and snarky without being mean. The character growth is excellent. The trials actually make some logical sense! (At least, if you think therapy should be done under doomsday conditions.) The twists were twisty, but the hints seemed just a little too obvious… or so I thought! There are layers to the secrets, so everyone will have some surprises. Still, even when I thought I had it figured out, the suspense strung me along and kept me happily strung out the whole book waiting for the big reveals. All in all, this was the kind of book I could devour all year and I can’t wait for the next in the series. Update: Thank you to NetGalley and Scarlett Press for the chance to read the updated trad copy! It's as delightful the second time as it was the first. ["

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March 16, 2026 Verified Purchase

Carly | carly.g.reads

YOUR NEW EPIC FANTASY READ

"WOW. That’s really all I have to say about Smoke and Scar, but I’ll try to elaborate a bit more because this book deserves so much praise! This is one of the best epic fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. If you’re looking for Lord of the Rings vibes with a mix of deadly trials, a amazing female lead, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this book should absolutely be at the top of your list. First, let's talk about Elyria—our heroine who completely stole the show. From the moment she steps onto the page, you can tell she’s not just any typical fantasy character. Elyria is a shadow-wielding warrior, which in itself is such a refreshing twist. Usually, we see male characters with these kinds of dark, powerful abilities, but Elyria brings something unique and fierce to the table. Her shadow powers add an intriguing layer to her character, and seeing her use them is an absolute thrill. She is a true hero of this story, saving the day and constantly stepping up when the stakes are high. And the best part? She does it all with an attitude and no hesitation. Elyria is the kind of heroine you can’t help but root for, and I loved watching her grow throughout the book. Then there’s Sir Cedric Thorne, the human knight who, for all intents and purposes is the "damsel in distress" of the story. Elyria ends up saving him more than once, which I think just adds to the slow-burn dynamic between the two of them. Their relationship is absolutely delicious, full of tension and antagonism, even when they can barely stand each other. The slow-burn between them is perfection, and every interaction between Cedric and Elyria had me hooked, even when they were at odds. Watching them slowly warm up to each other while fighting their undeniable chemistry made for one of the best character dynamics I’ve read in a while. This book is packed with so many exciting elements—magical powers, deadly trials, and jaw-dropping twists. The magical system in Smoke and Scar is incredibly well done. The way the magic feels mysterious, powerful, and at times, downright dangerous, added a fantastic depth to the world. There’s a great balance of action and emotional tension, which kept me invested in every single scene. The trials that the characters face are high stakes and constantly kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s one of those books where you can never predict what will happen next, and that’s what makes it such a fun, gripping read. I’m not exaggerating when I say that my jaw was on the floor multiple times throughout this book. The twists, the turns, and the emotional beats left me gasping in surprise, and by the time I reached the end, I was left desperately wanting more. The book builds up to a conclusion that makes you crave the next installment immediately. I gave this one 5/5 without a second thought, and I can't recommend it enough. If you love epic fantasy with high stakes, incredible characters, and a bit of romance, Smoke and Scar is your book. ["

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April 29, 2025 Verified Purchase

Irma J. (Irma The Book Whisperer)

Enjoyable!

"”I am Elyria Lightbreaker. The Revenant. And I may have been left broken, but I am not so easily shattered." Elyria was such a gem! She added a spark to this book. But then, the side characters were a lot of fun, too, and their interactions kept things entertaining the whole way through. The world-building was alluring and quite well-paced, and the magic system was so creative. I did pick this one because of the trials (addicted), sadly they fell a little flat for me. ["

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July 15, 2025 Verified Purchase

Lauren Baca

A definite re-read with a permanent home on my shelf!

"Smoke and Scar by Gretchen Powell Fox is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy steeped in the scars of a world still licking its wounds from a war that never truly ended. Our FMC is Elyria Lightbreaker. She’s a fae war hero who’s been marinating in self-destruction for two and a half centuries, drowning memories of battle and loss in a haze of liquor, sex, and the artful avoidance of anything resembling feeling. But when her dead lover’s sister enters the Arcane Crucible—a gauntlet of brutal trials designed to pit humans and fae against each other for celestial power—Elyria is dragged back into a fight she has no desire to relive. Elyria is sharp, unapologetic, and jagged. She's less your polished high-fantasy heroine and here to remind you that scars are proof of survival, not shame. In a genre awash with shadow daddies, Fox’s subversion of Elyria as a centuries old shadow mommy is refreshing. Elyria isn’t here to be redeemed; she’s here to burn, bleed, and maybe, just maybe, find someone worth softening for. Enter Cedric—human, knightly, and deeply indoctrinated in anti-fae hatred. Raised on stories of fae cruelty and tyranny, he has built his entire identity around the belief that the fae are the enemy. His journey is a slow unwinding of everything he’s ever known to reveal something raw and uncertain beneath. Was it possible the hatred that fueled Cedric for the majority of his life had been manufactured by himself? As someone who has deconstructed trauma and toxic beliefs, that quote spoke to me. Their romance is a masterclass in yearning. Two people dismantling the barricades between them with chemistry forged not from convenient lust, but from the fragile, earned trust of two soldiers on opposite sides of a very old war. Every shared glance feels like contraband. Every admission is a risk. And when Cedric begins to see Elyria as more than the monster he was taught to fear, it’s not just his heart on the line—it’s his entire identity. The Crucible itself is a gauntlet in the truest sense designed to break down prejudices and rebuild alliances through necessity. Strategy, adaptability, and unity are as vital as brute strength. It’s as if the trials double as therapy sessions, forcing contestants to stare down their most corrosive fears. Cedric describes it best: “Contrition settled uncomfortably on Cedric’s skin… Something more like grief. Not just for the others they had lost, but for the man who had died somewhere in the Crucible.” By the end, Elyria and Cedric have shed the trauma of their past selves. They step into the truth of who they are now: powerful, unafraid, and unwilling to pretend otherwise. Cedric’s mother once called him “little phoenix” (for reasons to be revealed in the book!). The name feels prophetic as he rises anew in love and self-truth in the wake of the Crucible. Fox’s worldbuilding sings with political tensions, tactile landscapes buried in history, and inclusive and diverse characters. The human-fae divide is rendered with a precision that feels unsettlingly familiar. Her commentary on prejudice and power is never far from the surface. The side characters, too, are no mere set dressing. They are a found family in all their reckless, lovable glory. Thraigg is an absolute delight. Tristan, our snarky bad boy by cameo, gets far too little page time—Fox, if you’re listening, we want more Tristan! The main drawbacks are structural and what kept me from a five star review. Some passages feel weighed down by clunky sentence construction, and the repeated descriptions of eye/hair color distract from otherwise strong scenes. These issues pull focus from what is a compelling and thematically rich narrative. Still, Smoke and Scar is the best kind of fantasy. A thrilling adventure that slips sharp, necessary commentary into your palm and cuts you clean and deep. I’ll be waiting for the next installment ready to see just how much more Fox can scorch us! ["

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August 14, 2025 Verified Purchase