More like 3.75

I am not usually a fan of novellas. However, having just finished a dense epic fantasy, this was just the bite sized palette cleanser that I needed.

This had moments where it felt like Beauty and the Beast. The romance didn't feel insta-lovey, I like how it developed organically, even if it was a little fast.

I really like the worlds that Carissa Broadbent has created. Her characters always feel complex and real. I think I would have rated it higher if it had been fleshed out into a longer novel, but I still enjoyed it. I am so glad vampires are making a comeback. I am very excited to read more from her!

Wow! There's so much packed into this little novella, and yet Broadbent does an excellent job keeping the story tight so that there's time to make the relationship of Vale and Lilith make sense to the reader. This is a standalone novella set in the Crowns of Nyaxia world, though I would recommend reading it between The Serpent & the Wings of Night and The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King for maximum enjoyment. Lilith is a human searching for a cure that will save her sister and town from illness. Vale is a grouchy vampire who reluctantly agrees to give vials of his blood to Lilith for research purposes. He falls first! Their romance develops over each of her visits to retrieve vials from him, There's banter, tension, and passion. Do not skip this novella in your Crowns of Nyaxia reading journey!

I absolutely love Carissa Broadbent books - from daughter of no worlds trilogy to the crowns of nyaxia series so I was super excited to read this novella - no idea how I missed it before! It totally delivered! I loved the romance probably one of the best like novella romances I’ve ever read - how she encompasses so much in a short time was beyond me. The plot was unique as well and I love seeing the connections now to the crowns of nyaxia book 2. I will be adding this to our library 100%! And hoping to read the next Nyaxia book - songbird and the heart of stone soon! Everyone should read what Carissa writes it’s top tier fantasy romance.

I would read Carissa Broadbent's shopping lists. She writes so well.

Six Scorched Roses is a novella in the Crowns of Nyaxia series and is honestly my favorite story of hers. While this is best read between the 1st and 2nd books, it can be a great introduction into the world as a standalone.

For being the length of a novella, there was so much story and development between our main characters of Vale and Lilith - it feels like a full length novel.

Rated 5 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley or the ebook ARC.

Stole my heart! Their transformation from adversaries to allies to passionate lovers is handled with such care and depth that I was completely mesmerised. This novella beautifully balances dark fantasy with heartfelt romance, and I adored every moment of this captivating love story.

This is probably one of the best short novels/novellas I have ever read. I’m *obsessed* with the characters, and they have realistic and truthful development over the course of the short book. It has the depth and emotion of a longer novel - so I think Carissa is magic. I 100% recommend reading this before ashes- as its main characters show up there and it’s lovely understanding their background and motivations more! Some say it’s not a must read, BUT THOSE SOMEONES ARE WRONG!

I loved the first book in this series and was so excited to get to review this novella! This was such a great story and felt like a full novel even though it's not full-length, it's definitely full of action. I can't wait to read the next book now!

i might be stretching a bit, but this felt like a lilith origin story mixed with beauty and the beast reimagining... and i loved it. and because of consuming way too many lilith stories, i am so excited to see how these characters are incorporated into the rest of this series. and i really loved lilith in this story, and how she was older, and neurodivergent, and a scientist, and how big her heart was.

this story is all about her trying to find a cure for a sickness that has taken her town, and soon her sister, because her father spited a god. But on the outskirts of town lives a vampire all by himself, and maybe his blood could help lilith find a cure before it is too late. and they make a deal that will cost her six perfect roses in return for vials of his blood each transaction.

i really loved this, i loved both characters, the empathy, the healing, the discoveries of medicine and gods and each other. This is truly so very close to a five star for me. and the way the author was really able to give a fully fleshed out tale, with so much heart and empathy, that is completely different in every way to the introduction of this world in the first book, in under 200 pages, it is just so impressive. i highly recommend this one.

trigger + content warnings: loss of a parent, death in child birth mention, plague, death, blood, drawing blood, needles, animal testing mentions, robbing involving physical assault, threat of sexual assault, grief, sibling illness, gore, violence, battle / fighting, mention of war, panic attacks

For a story that is only 187 pages it really is a complete and fulfilling tale. The pacing, story, characters, and background were fully fleshed out. Despite the length of the book, I became fully invested in Vale and Lilith which is a testament to the quality of writing. I can't wait to see how Vale and Lilith appear in Carissa's next book. This story is everything I wanted it to be without even knowing what to expect.

This is a great novella to add to the story. I think it helps reader learn more about the characters and the world around them in a more compact way. I liked seeing the characters in this story and I think it was a good way to tell this story without dragging it out into a bigger novel for the series.

I ate this novella up! Loved every second of this. Love Vale. Loved the writing. Definitely recommend especially if you enjoyed Serpeant and the Wings of Night

Not often do I read a novella(set within a series) and go wow that arc was so beautifully resolved.

You could 100% read this and only this. Granted you shouldn't cause this series is incredible and you'd be missing out. But the story that unfolds within this is its own beautifully written story and stands on its own 100%!

Now it does truly add so much to the sequel in the main series but is not necessary. Although I do recommend.

I really enjoyed this novella. What stopped it from a five star is just the love interest. I like a little more banter and humour in my men. Less love sickness. But I think a lot of people will love him.

The author has such a beautiful writing style. I hope more ppl pick this series up.

This was such a perfect companion novella to Raihn and Oraya’s story. I love any vampire book, but romance and female scientist was just so good! Probably the best novella I’ve read. I adore Vlad and Lilith.

AHHHH I FUCKING LOVE LILITH AND VALE!!! I was obsessed with them in the first two books, but this novella was absolutely perfect in describing and illuminating more on their backstory!!! 🥹

I swear, I must be back in my vampire era because this book was so hot and so good! it didn’t feel like a novella at all because it was so fleshed out and full of details around lilith and vale’s courtship

the way that vale fell for lilith first, which we already knew from the other series, was so perfect! and if I loved lilith before, my feelings have grown tenfold after seeing her fearless and willing to take on a vampire AND a god to save her town 🥹🥹 we stan women in science with a backbone!!!

I definitely want more from this power couple in the future!!!

thank you to netgalley and st martins press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 5 stars
wine pairing: dry creek zinfandel

Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent is a criminally underrated novella, so I was extremely happy to hear that Tor Publishing Group acquired its publishing rights to make it more widely available.

Carissa crafts a memorable, achingly romantic story in this short novella that I could not put down. It almost felt like a full length book for how captured I was by this story.

What to expect:
🥀 Fantasy romance novella
🥀 1st person, single POV
🥀 Vampire & human
🥀 Enemies to friends to lovers
🥀 Grumpy MMC
🥀 Pen pals
🥀 Quick read

Six Scorched Roses is a fast-paced read that quickly transports you back into the Crowns of Nyaxia world—a world I dearly love.

Carissa beautifully develops the two main characters and their authentic chemistry in less than 200 pages. Both Lilith and Vale are lovable in their own ways, and I could not help but fall in love with these characters.

The plot of this story is perfection, in my eyes, and I cannot recommend this novella enough.

As someone who has read Carissa’s entire back list, I recommend reading this in between the Nightborn Duet for the best experience since the two main characters in Six Scorched Roses appear in The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King.

I adored this novella. It was fully developed in a short amount of time but dang I want more because I love love love the characters. The tension. The banter. Some enemies to lovers. Vampires and magic. What’s not to like? Definitely definitely read this

A solid novella to provide Lilith’s backstory. I am really glad I read it prior to reading Ashes. I absolutely adored Lilith and Vale— don’t skip this novella, trust me!!

Genre: fantasy & romance
Series: The Nightborn Duet # 1.5
Setting: fantasy world
POV: single, 1st person, past tense
Tropes: dark academia vibes
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 1-2 explicit scenes

What I Liked: It was highly recommended that I read this novella before finishing this series and I’m so glad I did! It’s six short stories, but reads like a fairy tale and feels like a complete novel between the world-building and character progression.

What I Disliked: I would have loved to see the FMC interact with more people than just the MMC; it felt like there was so much backstory to explore.

Read This Book If…you want more in-depth knowledge of some characters before the final book in this duet!

Memorable Quote: “What are you afraid of? That I’ll fall into the darkness? We’re already there. We’ve been there for years, and we’re only falling deeper.”

I really enjoyed this novella in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. Good pacing and characterization. Excellent romance angst.