Review: Absolute perfection. No notes. 

“Six Scorches Roses” follows Lilith after she strikes a bargain with a vampire, Vale, to save her town from a mysterious god-cursed illness. But what began as a simple transaction gradually becomes something more.

It is hard to believe that this is a novella when there are so many elements and they are all executed flawlessly despite the page constraints! Typically novellas leave me feeling unsatisfied and wanting more, but I finished this one feeling anything but. It truly doesn’t feel any different than Broadbent’s other full-length novels.

The characters felt fully fleshed out to me. I listened to this one on audio and Amanda Leigh Cobb does such a fantastic job further drawing out Lilith and Vale’s personalities with her inflections, pacing, and intonation. By the end, I really understood their motivations and insecurities!

The romance between Lilith and Vale practically turned my insides to liquid. The pacing felt realistic given the time jumps and the added layer of tension took it to the next level. I am convinced the two are soulmates. Part of why I love them so much is because their relationship is Beauty and the Beast coded. Subtle nods are made throughout the novella without taking away from the story’s originality. 

Fingers crossed these two make appearances in later books! I cannot wait to see what role they play!