Scan barcode
hollymileham's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-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
4.25
for a novella this was so good!! normally novellas feel so pointless to me but this had fully fleshed out characters & plot and i am very intrigued as to how it will connect with the rest it the story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault and War
qatkatcat's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A wonderful short addition to the Crowns of Nyaxia series! I loved getting to read Lilliths story, she’s a brilliantly written character with lots of charm, especially considering the small amount of time/pages to develop her story. I personally recommend reading this novella after Ashes and the Star-Cursed King, as some mild spoilers occur in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, and Rape
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
skeletonka's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My heart was racing this whole book. I was so afraid for the characters. What a great book - it was fast-paced, I was never bored, and the characters felt so alive. The stakes were high and time was precious. You could feel the urgency of the main character. In other words, I LOVED IT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
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
jilliri's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Death, Violence, War, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, and Sexual assault
elena2898's review
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Fast paced, but I expect that of a novella. My only regret in reading this was that I did not read it before The Ashes and the Starcrossed king. I wish it had been longer read, honestly. Lilith's character is great
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Rape
skillyillian's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have absolutely zero reason to knock this down from 5 stars.
Idk if it was intentional for Lilith to be autism-coded, but it was so... The word isn't heartwarming or encouraging, but just???? Satisfying??? Idk, whatever. All of those things but those aren't the word I'm trying to think of. Anyway it felt super super good to see someone who struggles so much with interpreting what people mean when they talk or what their expressions are supposed to say. And having to memorize what your face and their faces look like when conveying certain things was so relatable. I love Lilith so so so so so much. Hiding her enthusiasm for her special interests bc other people treated her like she was too much was what I related to the most, so that shit definitely had me on the brink of tears.
Vale is a sweetheart, I adore him. Also tho, you just love the "I'll kill anyone who hurts you" trope. The duality of man. A vampire man. He's so good.
Also hey shout out to this author for not making all of her FMCs barely legal lmfao. Seeing Lilith's age be what it was (idk if that counts as a spoiler so I won't say) was really awesome.
I loved that this wasn't drawn out into a longer book, like the author knew to just keep it to the point so we'd know about these characters going into the rest of the series. I love it, what a sick idea. Anyway this was a lovely story and I really enjoyed it. Lovable characters, fleshing out the human realms of the world she's created, showing more of the regions of worship outside of Nyaxia's grip, etc etc. Excellent addition. 🖤
Idk if it was intentional for Lilith to be autism-coded, but it was so... The word isn't heartwarming or encouraging, but just???? Satisfying??? Idk, whatever. All of those things but those aren't the word I'm trying to think of. Anyway it felt super super good to see someone who struggles so much with interpreting what people mean when they talk or what their expressions are supposed to say. And having to memorize what your face and their faces look like when conveying certain things was so relatable. I love Lilith so so so so so much. Hiding her enthusiasm for her special interests bc other people treated her like she was too much was what I related to the most, so that shit definitely had me on the brink of tears.
Vale is a sweetheart, I adore him. Also tho, you just love the "I'll kill anyone who hurts you" trope. The duality of man. A vampire man. He's so good.
Also hey shout out to this author for not making all of her FMCs barely legal lmfao. Seeing Lilith's age be what it was (idk if that counts as a spoiler so I won't say) was really awesome.
I loved that this wasn't drawn out into a longer book, like the author knew to just keep it to the point so we'd know about these characters going into the rest of the series. I love it, what a sick idea. Anyway this was a lovely story and I really enjoyed it. Lovable characters, fleshing out the human realms of the world she's created, showing more of the regions of worship outside of Nyaxia's grip, etc etc. Excellent addition. 🖤
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Sexual assault
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder, War, Chronic illness, and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"Death stole every mouthful, you see, and it had been especially hungry lately."
Lilith has known death since she was born. As an infant she barely made it through her birth, as a child she knew she was terminally ill, and as an adult she tackles life knowing that her very next moments might just be her last. When a terrible illness overtakes her town, threatening the life of her sister, Lilith finds herself at the doors of a vampire, begging him to allow her vials of blood so she can attempt to find a cure. If her life is to be short - she will make it worthwhile.
I. AM. SCREAMING. I am ready to tattoo this entire novella onto my body, just start somewhere and go to town with the tattoo gun, I want every single word inked permanently on my skin. This was every single thing I love in a book distilled into the perfectly paced novella that had me gripping my pillow and screaming into it. I adored Lilith as a main character, I saw myself so plainly in her and the little nuances to her personality (that scream neurodivergent representation). It's truly such a gift to feel represented like this and Lilith provided that for me tenfold.
This is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast (with many elements shifted and folded and revised) but the core of the story, the very heart of a girl finding herself falling for a beast of a man stays and it is utterly beautiful. I loved Vale from page one, his first introduction was everything to me and everything he did and said after just solidified that I love him. I would clutch him to my chest and hold a knife out at anyone who threatened to hurt him or Lilith.
I'm a little mad I read this after Serpent and Wings of Night, because I loved this SO MUCH MORE. But I'm also grateful I knew the world and could appreciate just how masterfully Broadbent managed to weave a story paced this immaculately and make me fall in love with two characters who will probably never leave my brain. God, please read this. I love this.
Content warnings: Sexual content, Death/Terminal illness (main plot point), violence, attempted Sexual assault (but not graphic)
Lilith has known death since she was born. As an infant she barely made it through her birth, as a child she knew she was terminally ill, and as an adult she tackles life knowing that her very next moments might just be her last. When a terrible illness overtakes her town, threatening the life of her sister, Lilith finds herself at the doors of a vampire, begging him to allow her vials of blood so she can attempt to find a cure. If her life is to be short - she will make it worthwhile.
I. AM. SCREAMING. I am ready to tattoo this entire novella onto my body, just start somewhere and go to town with the tattoo gun, I want every single word inked permanently on my skin. This was every single thing I love in a book distilled into the perfectly paced novella that had me gripping my pillow and screaming into it. I adored Lilith as a main character, I saw myself so plainly in her and the little nuances to her personality (that scream neurodivergent representation). It's truly such a gift to feel represented like this and Lilith provided that for me tenfold.
This is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast (with many elements shifted and folded and revised) but the core of the story, the very heart of a girl finding herself falling for a beast of a man stays and it is utterly beautiful. I loved Vale from page one, his first introduction was everything to me and everything he did and said after just solidified that I love him. I would clutch him to my chest and hold a knife out at anyone who threatened to hurt him or Lilith.
I'm a little mad I read this after Serpent and Wings of Night, because I loved this SO MUCH MORE. But I'm also grateful I knew the world and could appreciate just how masterfully Broadbent managed to weave a story paced this immaculately and make me fall in love with two characters who will probably never leave my brain. God, please read this. I love this.
Content warnings: Sexual content, Death/Terminal illness (main plot point), violence, attempted Sexual assault (but not graphic)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Sexual assault