it was really enjoyable! I have a tendency to dismiss novellas but man, I loved how short this was 😂 I read it in just a few hours and it took no time at all to get to the good stuff. I really enjoyed getting backstory into Lilith and Vale and overall like them both more now. of course the downside of a novella is that there just isn’t enough time to pack a lot of development in, so their love story did feel pretty rushed. I also have a hard time believing that he would have agreed to their arrangement in the first place just because she offered him some special flowers but 🤷🏼‍♀️ overall this was a fun read that got me excited to be back in this world soon!

This novella that works its way into the Crowns of Nyaxia series ended up being my favorite thing that I have read of Carissa Broadbent's so far. It was a simple story with a great character who puts all of her effort into finding a cure to benefit human blood by utilizing Vampire blood after a curse is placed on the lands she lives on. She strikes a bargain with a vampire for six samples of his blood in return for six special roses.

I love Carissa Broadbent's characters SO much, and I don't think I could ever get tired of spending time with them. This little peek into Vale and Lilith and their lives before the Nyaxia duology was an utter delight, full of heart and wry humor and unflinching drama, and I adored every second of it. I can't even say much more than that, other than I cannot wait to get back to Obitraes and the world of these wonderful characters with "The Songbird & The Heart of Stone," and whatever else Ms. Broadbent sees fit to gift us!

Novella, where? This teensy book quite literally felt like an entire 800-page book, the story was told so well and so completely.

From beginning to end, I couldn’t put it down, and I think it’s my favorite one in the series. I read this between the first and second book, however you could at any point in the series.

I honestly can’t say enough good things about this, Broadbent put her whole back into this one. I keep talking about it, and everyone I’ve discussed it with agrees as well..

Thank you to Carissa Broadbent and TOR publishing for an eARC copy of this novella via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Always excited to read this series. One of the best world builders. I really enjoyed this short story.

There is so much I love about this novella. I have not read the series it is connected to. I had no information on the world, characters, situations, or lore. I am a fan of Carissa Broadbent, which drew me to look into this novella.

First, for 187 pages, the story is fully fleshed out. From beginning to end, the author had a clear and concise path for the story. Readers are not bogged down by a lot of extras. There is world building. As I have no experience with the series, I had no issued understanding the world or it's lore. The plague was a bit of a head scratcher, but the details of what Lillith was fighting against were not entirely necessary to the story. I was absolutely enthralled with how the characters were fleshed out and had depth. The romance was also believable and there is legitimate passage of time without adding to the page numbers. Incredible! For those who like a little heat in their fantasy, there is spice as well. Finally, the pacing was perfect. Often novellas feel rushed, but this one felt like it moved at a normal speed. Again, the passage of time in the pages and the construction of the chapters had a lot to do with it.

Kuddos to the author for actually writing a novella that feels like a full novel.

I am so in love with this series and world. I do recommend reading this one between books 1 and 2. I didn’t, but I wish I did. This storyline was so good, especially for being a novella. Sometimes novellas feel rushed and it’s hard to feel a connection to the story and characters, but this one was done so remarkably well that I felt the same connection I would in a full length story. Highly recommend checking out this novella as well as Crowns of Nyaxia books 1 and 2. And I cannot wait to dive into The Songbird and the Heart of Stone!

A novella that felt like a full story??? YES PLEASE!! Carissa Broadbent is so incredibly talented, and I gobbled Six Scorched Roses up in a single setting!! I also adored that it took place in the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia series. ALL THE STARS!!

Six Scorched Roses is a Beauty and the Beast retelling set in the same world as A Serpent and the Wings of Night, this novella tells the tale of Lilith and Vale. A human with impossible questions and the vampire who has the answers in his blood. Together, they work to find a cure for what ails the townsfolk. A charismatic story, a well developed plot, and two characters who fall in love through letters.

Six Scorched Roses
Carissa Broadbent

“Time, Vale,” I said. “Time is the most valuable resource of all, and some of us are perpetually short.”

Six roses. Six vials of blood. Six visits to a Vampire who could be her salvation, or her damnation.

‘Vale’s blood was beautiful. There was no other way to describe it - it was as undeniably aesthetically pleasing as a field of flowers.’

Lilith has long been marked for death, and has come to terms with her own imminent death but will do anything to save the lives of everyone she knows. As her town slowly withers in the clutches of a mysterious god - cursed illness, she takes matters into her own hands, desperate to find a cure, Lilith strikes a bargain with a Vampire.

This was such a delicious snack of a book. Gave me like Little Red Riding Hood vibes in that she walks through the woods to visit the Vampire Vale. This was an awesome novella and just draws you right into its world. You could read this without knowing anything of the worlds of Nyaxia, definitely can be read as a stand alone but equally ties into books one and two perfectly. I really love these Nyaxia books.

(Review posted 24th September 2024)

A big thank you for the gifted ARC! This is a standalone Novella set in the Crown of Nyaxia series. I loved the other two books, so naturally I really enjoyed this one as well. I pretty much, read this in one sitting, it was that good! This novella was fleshed out well. I wish there was more to the story as it was so enjoyable. Bravo!

Thank you to the Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a review copy of Six Scorched Roses in exchange for writing an honest review and promoting the novel.

Six Scorched Roses is a fantasy romance novella spin off from the best selling series Crowns of Nyaxia. This story is meant to be read in between The Serpent and the Wings of Night and The Ashes and the Star Cursed King. You'll notice two characters from this novella show up and their interactions will mean so much more if you read it between versus after.

Tropes/Elements:
- Vampires
- Healers
- Slow burn even though this is a novella
- Exile
- Chronic/Terminal Illness
- Loss of family members and mourning
- Forbidden Love

To say I'm obsessed with this series is an understatement. I ate this novella up, I could not put it down. This novella is a Crowns of Nyaxia standalone but gives so much into Vale, the Head of War for the Rishan King. Normally novellas seem rushed and like they're missing a part of the story, however this was amazing. The details and the storyline between Vale and Lilith was perfection. Not to mention, Lilith taking on a God?! Queen shit.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Carissa Broadbent continues to blow me away.
I have become obsessed with the Crowns of Nyaxia series, and I enjoyed the short glimpse of Lilith and Vale in the Star Cursed King.
They're my new favorite couple. Their story was so alluring and irresistible. I am a little disappointed that this is a standalone because I would love to see a duology written for them! This book was full of twists, tension, and a truly unique story. I absolutely loved it.

Hi Book Besties!💕🌻
I am so excited to share my review of Six Scorched Roses by @carissabroadbentbooks😍
A Giant thank you to @tordotcompub for the gifted ARC! This is a standalone Novella set in the Crowns of Nyaxia series! It does have some pretty dark themes so you should absolutely check out those trigger warnings before jumping in! Your mental health is always more important than a book.
This was a super quick read that had me captured from the get go. I loved every bit of getting to know Lilith and Vale.
Lilith is a young girl in a village where everyone is dying of a deadly illness that has no cure. Incredibly intelligent and determined to find the cure herself, Lilith researches every possible cure she can until she starts running out of time. With her loved ones deteriorating faster and faster Lilith decides to enlist the help of a vampire just out of town. However not only does this risk her own safety by going to the vampire, but she’s also at risk of being caught by the townspeople who will surely condemn her for conspiring with Vampires.
#CarissaBroadbent #SixScorchedRoses #TheSerpentAndTheWingsOfNight #TheAshesAndTheStarCursedKing #CrownsOfNyaxia

It's hard to imagine the other books in the Crowns of Nyaxia series could top this one for me, which is saying something considering this is just a wee little novella.

It felt so fully realized despite being so short, with in-depth world-building and well-paced plot and character arcs. I'm a sucker for little details that tie everything in at the end... it's so satisfying. I loved the main character, a brilliant socially awkward scientist type who couldn't necessarily fight but had enough of a bite to her (lol) to make her ambitious and capable.

The romance ate (again). The yearning? And the letters? 😭 I came back to Carissa Broadbent's work from Serpent & The Wings of Night for a reason and it did not disappoint. Consent is such a central component. It's healing to read about men who will over and over again ask and then respect the answer they receive.

Carissa Broadbent is clearly a fantastic writer and I'm totally subscribed to her whole backlist and anything she does in the future now. 🤞🏼

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Carissa Broadbent can do no wrong. She has created such an incredible world with this series and with each book I get more and more excited to read them! Perfect romantasy - doesn't get better than this.

Six Scorched Roses is a beautifully dark and hauntingly romantic tale that pulls you in from the very first page. Set in the author’s mesmerizing world of Crowns of Nyaxia, this short novel perfectly balances high-stakes fantasy with a tender, slow-burn romance that leaves your heart aching in the best way.
Lilith, a brave and desperate heroine, sets out to save her dying town by striking a dangerous deal with Vale, a brooding and enigmatic vampire. The premise alone had me hooked—six roses in exchange for six vials of blood—but it’s the deep emotional layers beneath that make this story truly stand out. Lilith’s vulnerability and fierce determination, paired with Vale’s dark mystery and the gradual unraveling of his character, create a powerful and electric chemistry that makes this a love story for the ages.
The gothic, eerie atmosphere the author creates is breathtaking, and the themes of mortality, sacrifice, and forbidden love are expertly woven into the plot. Each interaction between Lilith and Vale is filled with tension, slowly building to a romance that feels both inevitable and dangerous. The author's ability to convey such depth and complexity in a shorter format is impressive—nothing feels rushed, yet you’re left wanting more.
Six Scorched Roses is a must-read for fans of fantasy romance. Whether you’re a longtime lover of the Crowns of Nyaxia series or new to the author's world, this standalone will sweep you away with its rich world-building, emotional stakes, and the kind of love story that lingers long after you turn the last page. A dark and swoon-worthy gem that absolutely deserves every one of its five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

It will never not amaze me how incredible of a story it fit into such a short book. This story is UNREAL. Vale and Lilith are life changing characters and I wish I could live in their world always.