Smoke and Scar by Gretchen Fox Powell

Smoke and Scar is the first book in Gretchen Powell Fox’s Shattered Crown trilogy. Elyria Lightbreaker, a grieving fae warrior with shadow magic, is drawn into a series of brutal trials alongside Cedric Thorne, a human knight determined to avenge what he has lost.

Forced to rely on one another, the pair form a grudging alliance that gradually develops into something deeper. As they face dangerous magic, political tensions and the scars left by war, Elyria and Cedric must decide whether they can trust each other—and whether their growing feelings are a strength or another vulnerability.