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!

This book was just needed. After meeting Lilith and Vale in the first two books I was eager for this and it did not disappoint. It was well written and added so much more to the story line. I can't wait for the next!

Six Scorched Roses is a short and swoony - mostly romantic angst - novella in The Crowns of Nyxia world. It has Easter Egg appeal and serves as a little treat between book one and two in the series. I'm a fan of these novellas on side characters in these rich fantasy worlds full of lore. There's kind of a Beauty and the Beast vibe to it with a 'monster'-esque figure, tons of libraries, and research. But it also delivers questions about letting our fears as a community hold us back from progress and saving those within.

5 Stars! This book was really accessible, fun, and propulsive. Great addition to the Crowns of Nyaxia series! Really enjoyed it. Carissa Broadbent doesn't "waste" a word. I really liked how the relationship between Vale and Lilith develops. Thank you NetGalley for a copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bramble for the ARC in exchange for an honest reivew

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f fantasy novella
-grumpy one vs. driven one
-forced proximity
-a bit of a deal
-vampires
-chronic illness rep

This series just sucks you right in (pun intended) and I couldn't put this one down. Great pacing. If you're looking for a romance with very little sideplot and just exciting twists and turns with great chemistry pick this up.

Audience: Adult
Plot: 5 out of 5
Characters: 4 out of 5
Spice: 🌶️ out of 5
Keywords: Vampires, Fantasy, Curses, Death god, Redemption, Science, Romance, Slow-burn
Tea Pairing: Lover’s Leap by Steven Smith Teamaker

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley from Tor Publishing. Thank you!

This is a novella set in the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia series (it’s 1.5 in the series). It tells the story of Lilith, how she meets Vale, and makes a bargain with him to help her save her village from a devastating plague.

I just love the author’s style of writing — it’s so engaging and I feel transported to the world. I loved Lilith and how relatable she was as a character. Especially how she was working tirelessly to save those she loves, and in the end making the ultimate sacrifice. I loved the chemistry between her and Vale, and how protective he is of her. I think she really brought him back to life, and gave him a new sense of purpose.

Overall, I really loved this novella. I also loved that it didn’t feel too short — it really felt like a complete novel. I read this after book 2 in the series. And I was able to appreciate Vale and Lilith more after reading this because they do play a pretty important role in book 2. But I think that if I was recommending this, I would encourage them to read Roses after Serpent, and before Ashes. Overall, fabulous read, great series, I highly recommend it!

I read this title AFTER I read the duet. I had no idea there was a novella at the time, and was shocked to see there was a Crowns of Nyaxia 1.5! Thankfully it didn't impact the flow of the storyline. I truly enjoyed reading about Vale and Lilith. I felt every emotion possible. The romance was written beautifully, but in my eyes Carissa Broadbent can do no wrong! She's my favorite fantasy author and will likely stay that way.

I've been meaning to read this author, and this delightful novella delivered! A great darker romantasy, and I really enjoyed Lilith and Vale. Great chemistry with a storyline that kept me reading!

Just what I needed to hold me over until I can get to book 2! While this was just a novella, which can sometimes not work for me, this one 100% did. The plot moved along quickly, and the details were perfection. The writing was so propulsive I read it in one sitting.

I’m completely obsessed with this series and have loved every second with it!

The only reason this isn't a purchase for my library is that we don't buy items digital-only. This was an amazing short story - it is not a standalone, you really do have to be reading the main series to follow. But Lilith and Vale are now my favorite characters and the only thing I regret is that this ain't a full novel!

"Six Scorched Roses" is fantastic dark fantasy that really pulls you in! With its rich magic, thrilling romance, and gripping suspense, it's a treat for fantasy lovers. The world-building is top-notch, and while it slows down a bit sometimes, it’s definitely worth the read for anyone who loves immersive stories.