Book: Smoke and Scar by Gretchen Powell Fox
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 5/5
Have you ever had that one book a friend won’t stop recommending—like they’re contractually obligated to sneak it into every book conversation? Yeah. That was Smoke and Scar for me. I’m an opinionated romantasy girlie with Thoughts™ (and I’m not shy about venting them), and one of my friends happened to ARC read this. For a good chunk of 2025, she found a way to casually slip this title into our chats like it was her full-time job.
And listen… she was right to hype it up.
Smoke and Scar flips a bunch of familiar tropes on their head while still giving you that cozy “oh I know this vibe” feeling. The tension is a true slow burn with two characters who cannot stand each other, yet the chemistry is undeniable, and it just keeps tightening the screws. There’s no spice, which honestly makes the anticipation even worse in the best way because you’re sitting there like, “WHEN???”
And it’s not just the tension—this book has so many moments that are emotionally gut-punchy and genuinely funny. Ellyria is THE badass shadow mommy you do not want to mess with. Spite is basically a renewable energy source for her, and I loved her for it. She’s complex, flawed, and the kind of FMC who makes you want to bark at the pages in support.
Fox getting a trad publish deal for this series is so well-deserved. This is the kind of romantasy that reminds me why I keep coming back to the genre. If you’re looking for an immersive, addictive read with sharp character dynamics and payoff that hits, pick this up.