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Carnival of Mysteries
Dryad on Fire
Welcome, Traveler, to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries!
What you see before you is no mere vagabond circus. Indeed, our show is full of wonders and delights that will leave you breathless, but whether that is with amazement or dread depends entirely upon you. We are unlike any other band of creatures you have ever encountered -- and you few brave souls who choose to step beyond your mundane expectations and join us may witness sights beyond your wildest imaginings.
So sit back, relax, and let us entertain you. For time and worlds are fleeting, but each soul has a tale to tell.
Male dryad, Professor Julian Scarlett lands a protected position at the Lunore Academy of the Arcane. Caretaker of his grove, he senses trouble brewing underneath his oak and grove.
A mysterious traveling carnival offers distraction and fun. For Julian, a tarot card reading sparks off fears and heightens hopes.
Brought in mid-semester to replace an ailing Professor of Botany, Emrys Cadogan tries prevent a potential disaster. A druid-wizard, he connects to the realm and gets lost in the overwhelming work. Until the carnival offers him a brief distraction and pause.
Sparks strike away from the midway lights. Dark magic flickers and threatens. From games and shows, to life and survival, a druid and a dryad need to survive and fight together to save their students, their home, and the realm.
Dryad on Fire is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a mysterious hero, a lonely wanderer, a vengeful god, and a guaranteed HEA.
What you see before you is no mere vagabond circus. Indeed, our show is full of wonders and delights that will leave you breathless, but whether that is with amazement or dread depends entirely upon you. We are unlike any other band of creatures you have ever encountered -- and you few brave souls who choose to step beyond your mundane expectations and join us may witness sights beyond your wildest imaginings.
So sit back, relax, and let us entertain you. For time and worlds are fleeting, but each soul has a tale to tell.
Male dryad, Professor Julian Scarlett lands a protected position at the Lunore Academy of the Arcane. Caretaker of his grove, he senses trouble brewing underneath his oak and grove.
A mysterious traveling carnival offers distraction and fun. For Julian, a tarot card reading sparks off fears and heightens hopes.
Brought in mid-semester to replace an ailing Professor of Botany, Emrys Cadogan tries prevent a potential disaster. A druid-wizard, he connects to the realm and gets lost in the overwhelming work. Until the carnival offers him a brief distraction and pause.
Sparks strike away from the midway lights. Dark magic flickers and threatens. From games and shows, to life and survival, a druid and a dryad need to survive and fight together to save their students, their home, and the realm.
Dryad on Fire is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a mysterious hero, a lonely wanderer, a vengeful god, and a guaranteed HEA.
- GenresM M Romance
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2023
9 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Dennis
86 books121 followersDreamy…Sensual…Forever Love
A quiet one, Nicole Dennis is the penname of an asexual author of different genres of fiction – both LGBT+ and hetero. Lots of characters, worlds, and stories build up in her head until she must get them down on the screen – anything from romance to fantasy to paranormal.
During the day, she works in a quiet office in Central Florida, where she makes her home, and enjoys the down time to slip into her imagination. She is owned by a feline companion – a fluffy house panther, known as Midnight the Void. A very special furbaby who is FIV+ and polydactyl on her front paws (fluffy danger mittens!).
A quiet one, Nicole Dennis is the penname of an asexual author of different genres of fiction – both LGBT+ and hetero. Lots of characters, worlds, and stories build up in her head until she must get them down on the screen – anything from romance to fantasy to paranormal.
During the day, she works in a quiet office in Central Florida, where she makes her home, and enjoys the down time to slip into her imagination. She is owned by a feline companion – a fluffy house panther, known as Midnight the Void. A very special furbaby who is FIV+ and polydactyl on her front paws (fluffy danger mittens!).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 27, 2023
DNF ~1%
Couldn't even make it through one chapter, the writing was so terrible.
Couldn't even make it through one chapter, the writing was so terrible.
September 19, 2023
Definitely no romance here, just a kiss or 2 and the start of the romance.
Emrys is a new professor bought into the college and he is a druid. Not long after he arrives, there is a crisis where the dryad, Julian, is poisoned and his grove attacked.
Emrys works to save the grove whilst a host of people are bought in to help save Julian.
Some nice secondary characters.
It took me a little while to get into the story.
Have to say, I don't usually take any notice of covers, but this one did not do Julian ( if its supposed to be him) justice. Would say the cover is off putting.
Emrys is a new professor bought into the college and he is a druid. Not long after he arrives, there is a crisis where the dryad, Julian, is poisoned and his grove attacked.
Emrys works to save the grove whilst a host of people are bought in to help save Julian.
Some nice secondary characters.
It took me a little while to get into the story.
Have to say, I don't usually take any notice of covers, but this one did not do Julian ( if its supposed to be him) justice. Would say the cover is off putting.
September 17, 2023
Overwritten - a good story at half the length - needlessly descriptive
September 3, 2025
September 2025
Kindle edition
The cover wasn't the best. Took a while to get into. As a romance it falls flat. There is little of Julian when he wasn't sick. They meet, they kiss before he heals and then pops out healed and younger. I didn't get much chemistry or hints of romance apart from the mentions from the supporting friends and family. As a magical tree doctor story, it was cool. Emrys was powerful and so was Julian when he was renewed, although it did seem like the only change was Gloria. I liked how close and ready to help the family was. The new tree was adorable.
Kindle edition
The cover wasn't the best. Took a while to get into. As a romance it falls flat. There is little of Julian when he wasn't sick. They meet, they kiss before he heals and then pops out healed and younger. I didn't get much chemistry or hints of romance apart from the mentions from the supporting friends and family. As a magical tree doctor story, it was cool. Emrys was powerful and so was Julian when he was renewed, although it did seem like the only change was Gloria. I liked how close and ready to help the family was. The new tree was adorable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2023
DNF. Weirdly constructed sentences
November 20, 2023
Where was the editor?
I have really enjoyed the Carnival of Mysteries series, so this was a disappointing experience. The plot and characters were interesting (if not a bit Harry Potter-esque) but the actual writing was horrible. I'm not sure how this could get off the editor's desk. Most paragraphs (unfortunately, not an exaggeration) had either incomplete sentences or mismatched verb tenses. If I had submitted something with this quality in English class I wouldn't have gotten a passing grade.
I kept reading for the plot and characters, but it was hard to enjoy.
I have really enjoyed the Carnival of Mysteries series, so this was a disappointing experience. The plot and characters were interesting (if not a bit Harry Potter-esque) but the actual writing was horrible. I'm not sure how this could get off the editor's desk. Most paragraphs (unfortunately, not an exaggeration) had either incomplete sentences or mismatched verb tenses. If I had submitted something with this quality in English class I wouldn't have gotten a passing grade.
I kept reading for the plot and characters, but it was hard to enjoy.
September 24, 2023
A love hate issue
Love the characters and the storyline.
Hate the bad grammar, wrong word choices, mixed tenses, missed words and the awful 'telling'/info dump of the first chapter...
Love the characters and the storyline.
Hate the bad grammar, wrong word choices, mixed tenses, missed words and the awful 'telling'/info dump of the first chapter...
September 16, 2023
more a thriller than romance, excellent novel
Rating: 4.75🌈
Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis is a terrific, densely layered piece of storytelling. One of the novels that makes the most of the series central theme of the Carnival of Mysteries, that immortal circus is a major element. So it’s a delightful experience that Dennis delivers many of the main Carnival attractions we’ve already visited and performers featured in books previously released.
However, the Carnival arrives at a place and location where Dennis has created in depth a world of unique magic. It’s a university that encompasses a wealth of magically detailed elements that will be used throughout the story, including the investigation into what’s sickening the Male dryad, Professor Julian Scarlett and his majestic Scarlett Oak, the protector of the Grove, and more. All on the eve of the most important event in the university’s and community’s history, an event it turns out the world’s survival depends on.
With a great deal of emphasis on the importance of the magical science needed for the investigation, and building a ever widening foundation for this world and network of beings, the author has done a fantastic job of bringing this story vividly to life.
Each character, the university, the forest and the grove (separate entities) jump to life under the great characterizations here.
In a way, so many spectacular elements and beings , the density of the investigation, hampered the romance between male dryad Julian and Druid Emrys Cadogan, newly appointed Professor of Botany, who’s fighting his own horrendous battles.
As the events play out, by necessity Julian is sidelined, and with that , so is the relationship, to concentrate on others matters that do impact him and everything else.
But it makes this less a romance and more a fantasy thriller with a side romance. Which is fine. It’s grand at that.
When Julian does reappear, it’s to a real high emotional level and dramatic effect. It works.
In fact, this entire book contains enough elements, characters, and themes to jumpstart a fabulous series. Including new couples.
Dryad on Fire (Carnival of Mysteries novel) by Nicole Dennis is a densely packed, highly entertaining, fantasy thriller, with a small side order of HFN. It can get a bit slow at times but then the intense horror and investigation scenes grab at you and you are committed.
Fabulous plotting, vivid imagery and great characters. Love it. And highly recommending it.
Carnival of Mysteries series:
- [x] Crow's Fate by Kim Fielding❤️
- [x] Step Right Up by L.A. Witt
- [x] Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️
- [x] Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr
- [x] Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️
- [x] Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️
- [x] Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️
- [x] Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️
- [x] The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky
- [ ] Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver - September 20
- [ ] You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill - September 27
- [ ] Sting in the Tail by TA Moore - October 4
- [ ] Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella - October 25
Rating: 4.75🌈
Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis is a terrific, densely layered piece of storytelling. One of the novels that makes the most of the series central theme of the Carnival of Mysteries, that immortal circus is a major element. So it’s a delightful experience that Dennis delivers many of the main Carnival attractions we’ve already visited and performers featured in books previously released.
However, the Carnival arrives at a place and location where Dennis has created in depth a world of unique magic. It’s a university that encompasses a wealth of magically detailed elements that will be used throughout the story, including the investigation into what’s sickening the Male dryad, Professor Julian Scarlett and his majestic Scarlett Oak, the protector of the Grove, and more. All on the eve of the most important event in the university’s and community’s history, an event it turns out the world’s survival depends on.
With a great deal of emphasis on the importance of the magical science needed for the investigation, and building a ever widening foundation for this world and network of beings, the author has done a fantastic job of bringing this story vividly to life.
Each character, the university, the forest and the grove (separate entities) jump to life under the great characterizations here.
In a way, so many spectacular elements and beings , the density of the investigation, hampered the romance between male dryad Julian and Druid Emrys Cadogan, newly appointed Professor of Botany, who’s fighting his own horrendous battles.
As the events play out, by necessity Julian is sidelined, and with that , so is the relationship, to concentrate on others matters that do impact him and everything else.
But it makes this less a romance and more a fantasy thriller with a side romance. Which is fine. It’s grand at that.
When Julian does reappear, it’s to a real high emotional level and dramatic effect. It works.
In fact, this entire book contains enough elements, characters, and themes to jumpstart a fabulous series. Including new couples.
Dryad on Fire (Carnival of Mysteries novel) by Nicole Dennis is a densely packed, highly entertaining, fantasy thriller, with a small side order of HFN. It can get a bit slow at times but then the intense horror and investigation scenes grab at you and you are committed.
Fabulous plotting, vivid imagery and great characters. Love it. And highly recommending it.
Carnival of Mysteries series:
- [x] Crow's Fate by Kim Fielding❤️
- [x] Step Right Up by L.A. Witt
- [x] Magic Burning by Kaje Harper ❤️
- [x] Night-blooming Hearts by Megan Derr
- [x] Go For The Company by Ander C. Lark❤️
- [x] Roustabout by Morgan Brice❤️
- [x] Assassin by Accident by E.J. Russell❤️
- [x] Dryad on Fire by Nicole Dennis ❤️
- [x] The Extraordinary Locket of Elijah Gray by Kayleigh Sky
- [ ] Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth Silver - September 20
- [ ] You Can Do Magic by R.L. Merrill - September 27
- [ ] Sting in the Tail by TA Moore - October 4
- [ ] Gods and Monsters by Rachel Langella - October 25
October 1, 2023
Dryad on Fire
I really want to give 5* to this book, however there are far too many errors in grammar and punctuation, misused tenses etc to overlook and far too many superfluous commas. If it is rereleased with corrections than I would gladly revise my review.
Apart from my previous comment this is a wonderful story full of ecological and timely messages with regard to our duty of care to our shared environment.
I really want to give 5* to this book, however there are far too many errors in grammar and punctuation, misused tenses etc to overlook and far too many superfluous commas. If it is rereleased with corrections than I would gladly revise my review.
Apart from my previous comment this is a wonderful story full of ecological and timely messages with regard to our duty of care to our shared environment.
November 30, 2025
2.5 starts
Great concept, not so great execution. This REALLY needed both editing and proofreading. I've never read a book where so many verb tenses were incorrect. I stopped highlighting where the verbs were present tense since it was so often. I'm not going to even start complaining about both the sentence fragments and the run-on sentences. I'm disappointed, since this could have been so good. It'll be a long stretch before I attempt the second story in this universe.
Great concept, not so great execution. This REALLY needed both editing and proofreading. I've never read a book where so many verb tenses were incorrect. I stopped highlighting where the verbs were present tense since it was so often. I'm not going to even start complaining about both the sentence fragments and the run-on sentences. I'm disappointed, since this could have been so good. It'll be a long stretch before I attempt the second story in this universe.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews