Review: Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia #1.5) by Carrissa Broadbent

 

Six roses. Six vials of blood. Six visits to a vampire who could be her salvation… or her damnation.

Lilith has been dying since the day she was born. But while she long ago came to terms with her own imminent death, the deaths of everyone she loves is an entirely different matter. 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 the only thing the gods hate even more than her village: a vampire, Vale. She offers him six roses in exchange for six vials of vampire blood–the one hope for her town’s salvation.

But when what begins as a simple transaction gradually becomes something more, Lilith is faced with a terrifying realization: It’s dangerous to wander into the clutches of a vampire… and in a place already suffering a god’s wrath, more dangerous still to fall in love with one.

Six Scorched Roses is a standalone fantasy romance novella set in the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, perfect for those who love dark, romantic tales with bite and fans of Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Title: Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia #1.5)

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Publisher: Indie

Publication Date: March 21, 2023

Review:

Really enjoyed this story. Not 100% sure how it fits with the the others. It says #1.5 but kind of ends like it should go into book #1, so more like a prequel. I don't recall seeing these characters in the first book but perhaps we will meet them in book #2?

***ETA and indeed it looks like I'll understand this better when I read book #2...runs off to do that***

What can I even say about this story. Did I enjoy the first book in this series, I did. But this book? OH BOY! This book was absolutely phenomenal. And, while you can see I didn't really understand how it initially fit into the story line, I was not deterred in the least from devouring it.

First, I have to say if you didn't read The Serpent & The Wings of Night, this book kind of can stand alone. BUT, if you want to truly understand the world building, make sure you read that one first or you may be a bit lost as the world building doesn't happen as you might think it needs to for a stand alone story.

Did I love the characters in this book? That's an understatement. Broadbent just knows how to endear you to each and every one, be they evil or not. When you want to hate them, you just can't. And when you want to love them, your heart bursts with it because they are that well developed. Plus it's enemies to lovers AND grumpy-sunshine which just makes for the most fun, comical, and intense interactions between the FMC and MMC.

Overall the plot to this novella is romance but there is definitely a story line/plot that helps you see why the main characters form a relationship. There are other elements that are important to the world of Nyaxia, but this story is a background to an ousted vampire living in seclusion whose life is interrupted by a docile and innocent human.

Don't be fooled by the title of novella because you get a full length story here. It's short but so well developed both with the characters and the plot line. It doesn't really feel like a short story at all. The pacing, the plot, the character progression, all of it culminates in something that is fantastic and almost overwhelming to the heart. Not to mention the total Beauty and the Beast vibes you get from this (one of my all time favorite Disney stories!). 

Vale is a loner. He's set himself up far away from the world he knows to be alone in his sorrow. He's ornery and reclusive, but his interest in Lilith is great. I love the letters he writes and how he slowly opens up and gives her information about himself. The wager he makes with her is totally for his benefit as he wants to keep her coming back. He is my favorite of all of Broadbent's characters so far. He's grumpy, intense, and charismatic all rolled into this mountain of a man with the ability to love endlessly.

Lilith is a bit of a mouse in this story. She's very innocent and a little stupid (who goes sneaking around a known vampire's house without any way to protect themselves?). But she's desperate and doesn't care if she lives or dies trying to save herself and those she loves. At the same time, she's book smart (hello Belle!) and uses her knowledge of science to get what she wants.

AND THE WRITING! I really enjoyed the first book in this series. And I thought the writing was good, but the author really stepped it up and honed her craft with this one. I could see it in the sentence structure and the dialogue of the characters. I am super impressed with that shift.

Did this make me want to continue with the next book, you betcha! I am interested to see how these characters are important to that story line. I love this world!

Author:

I've been concerning teachers and parents with mercilessly grim tales since I was roughly nine years old. Since then, my stories have gotten (slightly) less depressing and (hopefully a lot?) more readable. Today, I write fantasy novels with a heaping dose of badass ladies and a big pinch of romance.

When I'm not writing, I'm working at my day job in cybersecurity marketing, watching too many movies, or drawing. I live with my fiance, one very well behaved rabbit, one very poorly behaved rabbit, and one perpetually skeptical cat in Rhode Island.