It is no secret that "Shadow Daddies" has become a favorite trope within the romantasy genre. Between the famous ones like Xaden Riorson and the Bat Boys, to the indie favorites such as Olympio, it's clear readers love a hot man with dark magic. But what happens if the fae warrior is a woman? Smoke and Scar explores this, and honestly after reading it, I need more "Shadow Mommies" in my life.
As the book starts, Elyria is running away from her trauma - drinking her way to attempt to forget her lost love, who was killed in the supernatural Crucible twenty-five years previous. Cedric, on the other hand, has been training his entire life to be the Knight who goes into the Crucible and wins it for the humans. Their two lands were splintered in a war centuries ago, with the fae and humans hating each other ever since. However, fate has decided they need to enter the Crucible, and the Arbitor who oversees it announces the only way to win is through unity. Something none of the volunteers were interested in at all.
Cedric has one of my favorite character arcs within the book, as it follows him fighting his way through the misinformation he had always been taught, overcoming his prejudices, and learning how to trust those he had always been told was evil. So many people can relate to this in the world right now, and as a result, his story is important. It can be hard to admit how you grew up was wrong and to want to change. And honestly, I went from being annoyed every single time he opened his mouth, to crying over him near the end. It takes a lot to get me to change my mind so completely throughout a story, and Gretchen Powell Fox does it with such care that it feels realistic, to the point I could see him being dropped in the real world and having a similar arc.
The romance in this book is delightful. It is the slowest of slow burns - but not in a bad way! There is so much pining between the two love interests, with an extra heaping of guilt over the fact they shouldn't be falling for each other. The tension is masterfully written, with Elyria and Cedric reluctantly having to share their traumas, only to realize they truly cannot live without each other. There isn't any spice in the book, but the chemistry more than makes up for it. I have never squealed over a character sharing bacon before, but it happened during this book. And I'm sure it will happen again in the next.
The worldbuilding of the book was also incredible. While we didn't get a lot of looks into the two kingdoms, the few scenes we had in them gave incredibly different vibes. Nyrundelle, the world of the magical Arcanis people, felt very much like the start of a D&D campaign, with the taverns and cities full of potential adventure. On the other hand, Havensreach, the world of the humans, felt like it was straight out of the Dragon Age video games. The emphasis on order felt like it was a world run by Dragon Age's Chantry - specifically calling back to Dragon Age 2's rigidness. I appreciated how each world felt familiar, even though we didn't spend much time there, and gave a perfect idea of what to expect in the next book in the series. However, the world of the Sanctum, where the Crucible takes place, was absolutely amazing. It has the perfect magical vibe to expect the unexpected, and each of the trials that take place is wonderfully magical and unique. While I am sad we probably won't go back into the pocket world, its essence allowed the cultures and culture clashes of each of the people to be heightened, which once again allows us to get the feeling of what the rest of the world is like without being there.
Overall, this book was a delightful read and I cannot wait for the rest of the world to get their hands on it. It's got a little of everything: action, politics, romance, and growth. And each one of those things are done fantastically, to the point I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this perfect little book. The cliffhanger has me ready for more, and I cannot wait to get the opportunity to read it's sequel.
Smoke and Scar is available for preorder and will release on March 11, 2025.