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.

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
🥀
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!