the only travesty is that we didn't get more of this bc forget Raihn's grovelling, forget Oraya's badassness. i loved that, but THIS. this is what made the book for me. it was the part that made me sob uncontrollably. whether or not Vincent was alive/dead, it made no difference because he was always with Oraya, in her mind, whispering thoughts. However, this book elevated it to new and better heights and Carissa Broadbent built upon the foundation of the first book so beautifully! I can’t fault it. It was beautiful seeing them falling in love even after all the betrayals and heartbreaks they endured and the way they fit so well together in each other's life and how they both understand each other's flaws and imperfections and yet loved each other fiercely and all consuming. i enjoyed oraya's character more in this one (she kind of glowed up throughout the story, yay!), all of the characters, actually--they felt remarkably multifaceted, which i think is where carissa shines. the world building was decent, even if the settings are lovely, but her characters are funny, likable, and still complex. Warning! This review will involve a lot of cursing and spoilers for the first book. The first portion of the review will be spoiler free, the second part will involve minor and big spoilers for this book but I’ll put up multiple warnings before that part so you can avoid it. (Honestly, you should let me spoil this book for you and save you the trouble because it is not worth it.)

Her connection with Vincent was simply emotional and heartbreaking, and aside from the romance, I think it was the thing I loved the most about this book. 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. Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent – eBook DetailsThe great and the not-so-great aside, I really do think this series is worth a read. The characters are easy to like and relate to, and the romance is fun. I am looking forward to the next duet, especially after reading the author's note and the hint about book 3. My downfall and my most valuable supporter. My weakness and my strength. My worst enemy and the greatest love I had ever known.” You told me once you would beg for me,” “So do it.” (how much begging you want him to do exactly? he's been non stop begging from the previous book)

There he is." He is perfect and I'd gladly bow for my powerful king. He is flawed and imperfect yet he tried his best for his kingdom even though they treated him as an usurper king and betrayed him. He proved all of them wrong. His growth in this book was commendable. He was so conflicted about his role as a Nightborn king and felt the burden of it because nobody was ready to accept him as a king but he appreciated his strengths and even his weakness and fought for his kingdom. And I loved how he was so patient with Oraya and made her feel safe and loved with his thoughtful and sweet gestures. I also really really enjoyed the plot and writing in this book!! 🫶✨️ Carissa Broadbent's writing is my new favourite thing- her books are literally the perfect fantasy romances. LITERALLY HOW WAS THIS SO ADDICTIVE?! 🤭😩 I freaking DEVOURED this book i could not put it down. I swear she put something in this book bc i was addicted ✋️The plot was literally so interested- I loved all the action and the politics aspect was done really well. It made the world feel so well-developed while not being confusing. Secondly, I hated how Oraya gave everything she had worked so hard for up to save Raihn’s ass ONCE AGAIN. I already talked about how the author used the plot devices of the first book in this one but I have to mention this again. ORAYA BE SERIOUS RIGHT NOW, THIS ISN’T YOU. I can somehow justify your stupidity once but twice? This is too much. Waited what felt like forever for this to come out, and now I'm reeling that it is done until Spring/Summer of 2024! 😭 Need to gather how to even make words happen after this! RTC! Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.I was expecting to kill you that night. But what I was not expecting was to love you so devastatingly much. It hits me so suddenly, so overwhelmingly, that I don't even have time to brace myself against it." It is RELEASE DAY! It's honestly a bit surreal. This was one of the hardest books I've ever written for a number of reasons, from health issues to deadline stress, but the biggest of which was that I so desperately wanted to make sure that it does Oraya's story justice for the (totally unexpected) huge number of readers who connected with her in book 1. All of it was true at once. That he had saved me. That he had crippled me. His selfishness and his selflessness. i was everything i was meant to be. my father’s daughter. victim and protégée. greatest love and ruination.

The romance was angsty, the banter was fun for the most part, and the begging was hot. I loved the fact that Raihn gave Oraya space when she needed it, but still empowered and encouraged her. The way they take care of each other and support each other made their relationship progression feel genuine, and I think the author wrote a really sweet love story for them. I'm in love with Raihn, he is charming, very handsome, protective, stubborn, sweet, and will do whatever it takes to protect Oraya. I loved that even though Raihn acted tough around other people, he was always so sweet and protective of Oraya. Raihn's character development was great, I enjoyed learning about his past through his perspective and watching him as he faced new challenges.Girl, you probably don't know what love looks like because your father was a power-hungry, manipulative piece of shit (a decent one but we know the type). Killer of your father or not, this over here is what love looks like. I wanted to take him far away from this mess and keep him somewhere safe and maybe beat some sense into Oraya too, for him I'd choose violence anyday. The way he always looked as if his heart would stop beating once again when Oraya even so much as got a scratch. We still don't know what he did to get that medicine to heal her wings. If he was mortal, I would have assumed he gave away half his lifetime for it.