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hilaryisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
In and of itself, this is a beautiful read. The setting of the story feels more traditionally Gothic than the other two Nightborn books. I liked that the characters know themselves but still have room to grow. And the dark story of the plague adds to the fast-paced feeling of desperation. It was a quick and compelling read. I finished this book in one sitting, as I just didn't want to put it down. I also really loved that the FMC is a woman in her 30s (and an academic!)! Such a refreshing break from the teen and 20-something characters of so many other fantasy novels! If you're reading the Nightborn Duet of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, I recommend spending the time to read this 150 pg short side story. And you don't have to read it before book 2 (The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King) to understand the story line, but I did. Even if you're not reading the rest of the series I still think it's worth your time because it's actually just a beautiful story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Pandemic/Epidemic
marymccollum's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic
crystaldianee's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Blood, and Pandemic/Epidemic
sorakiras's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Pandemic/Epidemic
selestre's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
shannnne_reads_words's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Torture, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
doahdancer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Fun, but very short with little world building or character development. I read books 1&2 of The Crowns of Nyaxia before picking this up and I think it's a pretty sensible order. This could be read between 1&2 also, but all the world building is in book 1. This couple plays a minor role in book 2 and it was fun to see afterwards how they came to be.
The MCs of this story are more likable than the MCs of the main storyline, but they are also less complex. The FMC is well developed because it is her view we're seeing it all unfold through, but the MMC is underdeveloped in my opinion.
Overall a nice read that I easily finished up in half a day.
The MCs of this story are more likable than the MCs of the main storyline, but they are also less complex. The FMC is well developed because it is her view we're seeing it all unfold through, but the MMC is underdeveloped in my opinion.
Overall a nice read that I easily finished up in half a day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
greyskale's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I adored this little book so much! I related to Lilith, I loved her struggles with human connection. She is very clearly autistic and I love the representation as an autistic person myself.
I loved the blossoming love between Vale and Lilith and all the little ways he understood her when everyone else did not. Watching their relationship grow was truly something else. I loved these two so much 🖤
It had a satisfying, heart warming ending with a bittersweet tinge. Can’t wait to read more about these two.
The only reason this is not a full 5 star read is the lack of world building, I had a hard time visualizing where this all took place. But the characters and story were great!
Vale: I like her, I like that autistic woman
I loved the blossoming love between Vale and Lilith and all the little ways he understood her when everyone else did not. Watching their relationship grow was truly something else. I loved these two so much 🖤
It had a satisfying, heart warming ending with a bittersweet tinge. Can’t wait to read more about these two.
The only reason this is not a full 5 star read is the lack of world building, I had a hard time visualizing where this all took place. But the characters and story were great!
Vale: I like her, I like that autistic woman
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal death, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape
There is a passage about a needle that made me cringe at the description.shinyfox's review against another edition
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: Chronic illness, Death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
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: Chronic illness and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Sexual content