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.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing novella! I am already a fan of Carissa Broadbent and the Crown of Nyaxia world, and let me tell you, this novella did not disappoint!

Lilith is such a relatable character. First off, LOVE that she’s older! Finally a book with a FMC my own age! Secondly, I understand, like many others, her struggle to find her place in the world. But no matter how hard things get, she manages to fight for what she wants to achieve. Even when she should rest, she doesn’t stop (something I may relate to a little too much). Lilith is such a real and memorable character.

Vale is the insanely handsome, mysterious vampire we all fall for way too fast. Lilith included, even though she doesn’t want to admit to herself at first. The love story between the two main characters, even in such a short novel, is done absolutely beautifully.

A lot of times I feel like Novellas are rushed. You get a quick story with minimal impact. Six Scorched Roses is anything but that! It is perfectly placed, beautifully written, and the perfect fast read to keep you wanting more. I highly recommend this book for anyone! Whether you’ve already read The Serpent & The Wings of Night, or this is your first Carissa Broadbent novel!

Lillth has only one mission in life and that is to try to save her sister and the towns people from waisting away and turning into dust. Lillth has been slowly dying since the day she was born and is surprised that she has even made it be 30. Now with the knowledge that she possess she has to make a deal with Vale, a vampire who can help her make the cure she so despertley needs. Inexchange for six roses she wants four vials of Vale's blood in a time span of six months. Near the completion of her antedote Lillith must choose between saving her sister or saving Vale. This was a beautifully written book and I like it so much that I am now reading Carissa Broadbent's other books. I would like to thank both NetGalley a Bramble books for letting me have an advanced copy of this book

🥀 Book Review 🥀

Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent
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I loved this book so much! It was so nice to be back in the Crowns of Nyaxia world. This didn’t feel like a novella at all. The characters were fully developed and complex, the storyline was engaging, the pacing was great, and the romance was built up perfectly. Vale and Lilith have an achingly beautiful love story, and I adore them. This book has everything: danger, adventure, gods, magic, vampires, and banter. He has a cute nickname for her, and they would both burn down the world for each other. My only complaint is that I wish it would’ve been a full-length book because I didn’t want it to end. Don’t skip this one! Read it right after The Serpent & the Wings of Night and before The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King.
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
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Read if you like:
▫️vampires
▫️gods, magic, and bargains
▫️strong heroine
▫️strangers to friends to lovers
▫️forbidden love
▫️romantasy
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Thank you to Bramble Romance, Tor Publishing, Macmillan Publishing, NetGalley, and Carissa Broadbent for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am often very skeptical of romantasies and even mores if it's a standalone novella but this story delivered. It was genuinely heartwarming to follow Lilith's fearless journey, at first alone, and then later with Vale at her side. My only mistake was not preemptively buying the other two books!

I enjoyed this book immensely. Lilith was such a great character. I loved how she was a terminally ill person and sought to find a cure, she found it where she next expected. The writing was well done and immersive. I felt like I was there in the characters world with them and it was great. This was a novella coming in at just under 200 pages, but it was so good. I read it in a couple of hours, and I was so sad that it was over, I didn’t want it to end. There was some spice, and it was delightful though I can say I wish there was more (I think there was one scene in the book). I was excited to see that this novella is book 1.5 in the series, but it is a standalone, so now I have a new series to read and I love it.

Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Six Scorched Roses is a short read, but is filled with dark magic, brooding vampires, and a slow-burn romance that had me hooked. If you’re into fantasy with a touch of danger and a dash of spice, this one’s for you!

The story follows Lilith who’s on a mission to save her village from a plague, and she ends up making a risky deal with Vale, a broody, mysterious vampire. They’re complete opposites, and their relationship starts off purely business, but of course, sparks start flying almost immediately.

Broadbent is a master of the slow burn enemies to lovers; see also her other books set in Nyaxia. This book is best read after reading at least one of the books in the Crowns of Nyaxia series to get a better base understanding of the different clans and back story but could absolutely be ready standalone. Here’s me officially wishing for another installment in the Nyaxia world where some of our favorite characters meet!

This was one of the best novellas I've ever read! The structure of this book was perfect and the pacing was perfect for keeping me interested and completely bingeable!

Th love story between the two main characters was perfect and the yearning flew off the pages. I loved getting another glimpse into this world and all of the potential Carissa Broadbent has included in this world! I usually am not a fan of fairytale retelling, but this was such an imaginative way to write one and the Crowns of Nyaxia world was the perfect setting for it.

I have never been so heavily impacted by a book so short and I think this is an integral part of the series!

So excited to be continuing in the Crown of Nyaxia series. is a novella that never, ever felt that way. Lilith and Vale meet because Lilith is dead set on finding a cure to the plague killing her town and sister and is *sure* vampire blood is the solution. Vale just happens to be the only vampire she knows of but he doesn’t exactly welcome the company. Then the deal - 6 incredibly special roses for 6 vials of his blood so she can study it. Seems simple enough. But with her decaying body will she have enough time to find the cure?

I find that I hardly ever read novellas. Many recommend that I read this before starting book two, Ashes & the Star-Cursed King. I’m glad I did! It was such an excellent novella!

At just around 200 pages, this novella packed so much inside it. It was such a hauntingly beautiful love story. I feel like we learned so much about Lilith! For most of this book, you feel stressed and anxious for her. Her life has been hard, and she’s giving her all to save her sister. She happens to make a huge jump in her research by finding Vale. It’s against everything, and she doesn’t care. She will do anything to find a cure for her sister and her people. I think it sets up what happens to her perfectly. She attacks her life with tenacity because she’s been a ticking clock since birth.

The romance that blooms between Lilith and Vale is beautiful! It might be one of my favorites to date. It was the perfect amount of friendship built into a romance. I could guess what was going to happen, but that’s okay! She was barely living until she found the life she was meant to be living. This is one of the best novellas I’ve ever read. I highly recommend reading this one before book two. If not, go back and read it now! My neighbor read the books but not the novella. I recommended she read it & she did yesterday and loved it!

I know this has been published before and is now being re-published by Bramble. I did get two months of KU to read it ASAP. I then got an email with the approval e-arc a few days later. Thank you, Bramble and Tor!

I really enjoyed this novella set in the same world as Serpents and the Wings of Night. A great novella prior to diving into The Ashes and the Star Cursed King.

This is the story of Lilith and Vale! I really enjoyed getting to know new characters. I just finished the book and I am ready to read book 2!

I absolutely loved reading about Lilith and Vale’s beginning. Even though it was a novella, I was consumed and dove back into the world of Nyaxia with a fevered need. I’m so happy I got the arc for book 3!

An interesting and well-written story, quick pacing but didn't feel rushed. Love the way this novella adds to the world-building and character development. Will definitely be recommending this in store.

I am so impressed at all that was in this novella. It was a full story full of growth, emotion, secrets, and action. I was fully invested and I hope we get more of these characters as the Crowns of Nyaxia series continues. I absolutely love Broadbent’s writing and cannot wait for more!

I think this was the perfect addition to the Crowns of Nyaxia series. I read it between book 1 & 2 and I think it really added so much to the story and added a layer to the main books that just made me care even more. I hope we get more of these novellas throughout the series!

This novella was my favorite background story about two of the characters that we see in the series. The story didn’t drag and developed appropriately. It was an easy read and despite it being a novella, you still get to fall in love with the characters. It had a lot of romance and equal amounts of spice. Would recommend it as a standalone and definitely a must with the series.

A beautiful, quick read! I couldn't remember how the two were part of the series, but regardless it was a great standalone! I just love the world Carissa's created, and am grateful for a short, sweet view of another couple!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️.5/5

“It must be hard,” he murmured. “To bear the weight of so much affection in a life so short.”

I’m actually a bit blown away by this novella? I struggled with The Serpent & The Wings of Night a bit because I didn’t feel like I got enough to really be invested in the characters until like 60% of the way in. However, this novella provided well-rounded characters and a well-rounded story.

The pacing, plot, writing, characters, and world-building felt more fleshed out in this novella than in book 1 for me personally. It was moody and angsty and had me hooked.

This novella is a standalone within the Crowns of Nyaxia series, but I would recommend reading BEFORE The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King. The couple featured in this novella is in TAATSCK, so it gives a nice little background of them.

Tropes/Highlights:
- Deal between a vampire and a human
- Spiteful Gods
- Vampires and magic
- God-cursed town
- Search for a cure

✨ Reading order ✨
I think this book can technically be considered a standalone, but it was recommended to me to read it in between Book 1 & 2, because the characters introduced in this book do show up in Book 2. I think the world building would be a little confusing if I hadn’t read book 1.

✨ Review ✨

I am not generally a novella person - I tend to skip them honestly. However, this was a very purposeful and satisfying novella to me! After all of the fighting and action in Book 1, it was nice to spend time with Lilith and her medical experiments.

Lilith’s town is being ravaged by an illness brought about by a god curse. Her sister is fading before her eyes, but Lilith is committed to finding a cure.

Six Scorched Roses has a really good mix of plot and romance, and tells a complete story in just 187 pages! It’s a great palette cleanser before you dive into what I’m sure will be an action packed The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King!