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shinyfox's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Chronic illness, Death, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Rape
wickeddelights's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Carissa has very quickly become one of my favorite authors.
Serpent and the Wings of Night (The first in the Crowns of Nyaxia series) was the first book in years that I was able to read told from the first person perspective, and because of that novel I was able to experience so many other great stories that I would have otherwise missed.
I still had 50 or so pages left of SATWON when I ordered book 2 and this novella, and Carissa did not disappoint.
We are introduced to Lillith, a 30 year old scientist from a village scorned by the god of abundance and famine. Death has been a constant compainion and inevitability for her, but as Death comes closer to claiming her sister Mina, she bargains with a man who exists outside of Death's grasp: A vampire by the name of Vale.
In exchange for his blood which she hopes to synthesize into a remedy for the plauge effecting her village, Lillith gives Vale six roses; and in time so much more.
As a woman who learned late in life that I have ADHD and Autism, it was easy to see myself reflected in Lillith's struggles to connect and feel understood in the world around her. We are brought into her mind and the analytical way she views the world around her with skill, as there is still no shortage of times where I tabbed the novella to mark lyrically written quotes.
In 183 pages, Carissa has managed to make me just as invested in Vale and Lillith's story as felt with the cast of the first Crowns of Nyaxia novel.
I am so excited to see more of these characters as the series continues!
Content Warnings for the book include:
*Terminal Illness
*Death
*Violence
*Sexual content (Spice level of maybe a 1.5-2/5)
*Plauge/wounds
Serpent and the Wings of Night (The first in the Crowns of Nyaxia series) was the first book in years that I was able to read told from the first person perspective, and because of that novel I was able to experience so many other great stories that I would have otherwise missed.
I still had 50 or so pages left of SATWON when I ordered book 2 and this novella, and Carissa did not disappoint.
We are introduced to Lillith, a 30 year old scientist from a village scorned by the god of abundance and famine. Death has been a constant compainion and inevitability for her, but as Death comes closer to claiming her sister Mina, she bargains with a man who exists outside of Death's grasp: A vampire by the name of Vale.
In exchange for his blood which she hopes to synthesize into a remedy for the plauge effecting her village, Lillith gives Vale six roses; and in time so much more.
As a woman who learned late in life that I have ADHD and Autism, it was easy to see myself reflected in Lillith's struggles to connect and feel understood in the world around her. We are brought into her mind and the analytical way she views the world around her with skill, as there is still no shortage of times where I tabbed the novella to mark lyrically written quotes.
In 183 pages, Carissa has managed to make me just as invested in Vale and Lillith's story as felt with the cast of the first Crowns of Nyaxia novel.
I am so excited to see more of these characters as the series continues!
Content Warnings for the book include:
*Terminal Illness
*Death
*Violence
*Sexual content (Spice level of maybe a 1.5-2/5)
*Plauge/wounds
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Chronic illness
Minor: Sexual content
sbordo's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Blood
Minor: Chronic illness, Death, Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
spicyviolets's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The pacing in this was slower, but it allowed for the romance to develop at a more natural and relaxed pace. I really loved Lilith. Her struggle to connect with others, and feeling different from them while simultaneously caring so much and wanting to save everyone was something that deeply resonated with me. I ended up liking Vale a lot too. His character development was really satisfying. I can’t wait to see more of these two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Violence
louisepea's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“It's just... something being difficult is not a good reason not to do it.”
Six Scorched Roses was a brilliant Beauty and the Beast-inspired novella from the Crowns of Nyaxia series about a neurodivergent human woman making a deal with a grumpy hot vampire so she can find a cure for a disease cursing her village.
Every month, Lilith promises Vale a special rose in exchange for his blood- a human taking a vampire's blood? Oh, the irony!!- and what starts as a reluctant partnership soon turns into a friendly alliance, with Vale eagerly helping Lilith research her work, and adorably, sending her letters in her absence like the sweet old soul he is.
As the letters accumulate, it appears that something is building between the two friends, and Lilith is too distracted by her work and her feelings for Vale to realise the letters have led a group of scared religious extremists to his door. Will she be able to get to him in time? And when her actions displease a vengeful God, will there be anything she can offer to save those she loves from his wrath? Or has death caught up with Lilith a fourth and final time?
*
Ix's tits, I think this might just be one of the best novellas I've ever read.
After loving The Serpent and the Wings of Night, I wasted no time in sinking my fangs into this book, and loved it so much, I greedily drank it down in a couple of sittings. I only wish it had been longer. 195 pages wasn't enough time with Lilith and Vale.
It was fun to read a vampire story where the human was the one taking the vampire's blood, and the vampire the one being perturbed by the human silently sneaking into his home unannounced and uninvited at inconvenient times. (Nothing like a bit of voyeurism to make or break the mood...)
Lilith was such an interesting character as a fearless neurodivergent thirty year old whose difficulty with social cues got her into awkward situations at times, but who never tried to be anything but herself. It was admirable how her love for her terminally ill sister drove her to fearlessly approach a vampire to help her find a cure, and to not take 'no' for an answer, and how she worked tirelessly to help everyone, before giving everything she had to save them.
I loved how Lilith quickly had Vale, the, supposedly, big scary vampire, wrapped around her little finger, enthralled by her patented blend of curiosity and thirst for knowledge. He reminded me so much of a winged Lorcan Salvaterre- a big, moody, immortal killing machine softened by a clever human woman who isn't afraid of him. And just like Lorcan, I adored him!
I thoroughly enjoyed the enemies to friends to lovers relationship which developed between them, cemented by Vale initiating a letter exchange, and Lilith coming to save him. If I didn't already love him before he enthusiastically started penning her academic love letters with doodles and poems delivered by magic or raven, the letter-writing definitely did it. I mean, could that be any cuter?!
I was also swooning when he saved her from a group of opportunist robbers, and nursed her back to health- even while chastising her for almost-stripping to save her skin, not quite grasping her limited options as an unarmed mortal woman cornered by men until she made it clear.
I was equally moved by the scenes where Lilith raced to save Vale from the mob, killed to defend him, and then took care of him, as well as when Vale came for her when she went to face the vengeful God alone. The two of them were just adorable together, and the way this odd-couple cared for each other stole my whole heart. They were the last two people you'd expect to end up together, but somehow, they just worked.
For some reason, I wasn't at all surprised by how it ended- I guess it was kinda predictable- but it had me on the edge of my seat anyway, hoping Lilith made it through. And thank goodness she did... well, kind of.
I'm excited to read more books of the two of them in the future, and can't wait to see where the series takes them now that Lilith has all the time in the world. I loved this first adventure of them, and I need to know more! 4 shiny stars out of 5.
Trigger warnings for: Sex, voyeurism, violence, blood, terminal illness, death, attempted assault.
Six Scorched Roses was a brilliant Beauty and the Beast-inspired novella from the Crowns of Nyaxia series about a neurodivergent human woman making a deal with a grumpy hot vampire so she can find a cure for a disease cursing her village.
Every month, Lilith promises Vale a special rose in exchange for his blood- a human taking a vampire's blood? Oh, the irony!!- and what starts as a reluctant partnership soon turns into a friendly alliance, with Vale eagerly helping Lilith research her work, and adorably, sending her letters in her absence like the sweet old soul he is.
As the letters accumulate, it appears that something is building between the two friends, and Lilith is too distracted by her work and her feelings for Vale to realise the letters have led a group of scared religious extremists to his door. Will she be able to get to him in time? And when her actions displease a vengeful God, will there be anything she can offer to save those she loves from his wrath? Or has death caught up with Lilith a fourth and final time?
*
Ix's tits, I think this might just be one of the best novellas I've ever read.
After loving The Serpent and the Wings of Night, I wasted no time in sinking my fangs into this book, and loved it so much, I greedily drank it down in a couple of sittings. I only wish it had been longer. 195 pages wasn't enough time with Lilith and Vale.
It was fun to read a vampire story where the human was the one taking the vampire's blood, and the vampire the one being perturbed by the human silently sneaking into his home unannounced and uninvited at inconvenient times. (Nothing like a bit of voyeurism to make or break the mood...)
Lilith was such an interesting character as a fearless neurodivergent thirty year old whose difficulty with social cues got her into awkward situations at times, but who never tried to be anything but herself. It was admirable how her love for her terminally ill sister drove her to fearlessly approach a vampire to help her find a cure, and to not take 'no' for an answer, and how she worked tirelessly to help everyone, before giving everything she had to save them.
I loved how Lilith quickly had Vale, the, supposedly, big scary vampire, wrapped around her little finger, enthralled by her patented blend of curiosity and thirst for knowledge. He reminded me so much of a winged Lorcan Salvaterre- a big, moody, immortal killing machine softened by a clever human woman who isn't afraid of him. And just like Lorcan, I adored him!
I thoroughly enjoyed the enemies to friends to lovers relationship which developed between them, cemented by Vale initiating a letter exchange, and Lilith coming to save him. If I didn't already love him before he enthusiastically started penning her academic love letters with doodles and poems delivered by magic or raven, the letter-writing definitely did it. I mean, could that be any cuter?!
I was also swooning when he saved her from a group of opportunist robbers, and nursed her back to health- even while chastising her for almost-stripping to save her skin, not quite grasping her limited options as an unarmed mortal woman cornered by men until she made it clear.
I was equally moved by the scenes where Lilith raced to save Vale from the mob, killed to defend him, and then took care of him, as well as when Vale came for her when she went to face the vengeful God alone. The two of them were just adorable together, and the way this odd-couple cared for each other stole my whole heart. They were the last two people you'd expect to end up together, but somehow, they just worked.
For some reason, I wasn't at all surprised by how it ended- I guess it was kinda predictable- but it had me on the edge of my seat anyway, hoping Lilith made it through. And thank goodness she did... well, kind of.
I'm excited to read more books of the two of them in the future, and can't wait to see where the series takes them now that Lilith has all the time in the world. I loved this first adventure of them, and I need to know more! 4 shiny stars out of 5.
Trigger warnings for: Sex, voyeurism, violence, blood, terminal illness, death, attempted assault.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness
Minor: Sexism, Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Death, and Grief
lizziethebookdragon's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Chronic illness, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
elaineh7's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book was super fast paced. I loved the setup and the characters. I wish there was more time to develop the romance but this is probably the best novella I have ever read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Blood
emilywemily6's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this novella, more than the duology! I found the length perfect and the story was sweet. It was slower-paced than other novellas I have read, which I didn’t mind but since I read it in multiple sittings I feel like I might have missed a little bit of the characterization of Lillith and Vale. So I would have loved a little more characterization at the beginning of the book, but I also might have missed it. I enjoyed seeing this relationship progress and how it felt right for Lillith to choose Vale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Death, Blood, Grief, Violence, and Body horror
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Bullying
Minor: Medical content
ka_ke's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Classism, Gore, War, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Death of parent, and Xenophobia
wildflower_magic's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Another fantastic read by Clarissa Broadbent! This book is a novella following characters in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. It can be read after book 1, but I read it after book 2 and think that was a good time as I knew the characters well and this novella provided interesting backstory. I love the characters. The main character, Lilith, presents with many neurodivergent traits in a respectful and accurate way. This novella follows her journey as she tries to protect her loved ones from a god's curse that was placed upon her town. She decides she needs some help from the broody vampire who lives outside of town, thus leading her to create a deal with Vale. Vale is 100% book boyfriend vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Ableism, Grief, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: War and Sexual assault