The first stand-alone novella - introducing you to the Nocturnal Hearts series by Elliott Rose…
Highly trained, deadly, and three hundred years old. Fehrn is a shifter wolf out to complete his reconnaissance mission.
Elite Spy.
Warrior.
Rational.
He has been watching her for weeks. Determined to extract information about the dark witches she is loyal to.
But when the moment to get close enough occurs he breaks his code, throwing the rules out to agree to her bargain.
***
Comfortable alone, quietly devoted, and grateful to the masters who sheltered her from an orphan’s destitution. Idalia hides her true self.
Fire Witch.
Telepath.
Dutiful.
Alone in this world, she has kept her secret her whole life. Staying safe and unassuming. Completing her role in the castle of the House of Elharean without question.
But when the claws that threaten her neck one night also threaten to rip down the walls around her heart, she strikes a bargain.
The only problem is, she just lied.
Before he discovers the truth she’d better hope her heart doesn’t betray her.
Author's Note: This is a standalone novella - interconnected with the other books and characters in the Nocturnal Hearts series. HEA guaranteed. Please check the author's website for all tropes, tags, and CWs.
Elliott Rose is a bestselling author of romance on the forbidden and deliciously dark side. She lives in a teeny tiny beachside community in the south of Aotearoa, New Zealand with her partner and three rescue dogs.
Find her with a witchy brew in hand, a notebook overflowing with book ideas, or wandering along the beach.
Join her reader group The Cauldron for exclusive giveaways, BTS details, first looks at character art/inspo, and intimate chats about new and ongoing projects.
Join her Newsletter for all the goodies and major news direct to your email inbox.
Sometimes I wonder, why I am so frustrated with novellas. I feel so stupid for saying that this felt too rushed and unbelieveable, but then Alix E. Harrow's Six Deaths of a Saint is only 30 pages and it's pure perfection to me. I found the world building to be interesting and our main character was a fire witch, which was interesting to see, but everything else was just meh. (Although I think the next installments will be better, since they're full length novels)
I luckily got an ARC and it’s been one of the best I’ve gotten in a while 💖 I love the writing and tension the buildup I literally cannot wait for more 💖💖💖
I’ve added another member to my fantasy reverse harem because Fehrn is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Objectively, this is a good novella, especially for a debut.
However, novellas often don't allow the relationship and intimacy build up, timing and pace I need to be pulled in and sold on the relationship between the MCs, especially before the spice hits. Considering I had a hard time getting into the first two chapters, the spice hitting very quickly with little to no connection to fall back upon (except the insta lust) and the instalove trope that I very much dislike... It had a few elements that just don't work for me.
Of course, this is a personal preference. Like I said, it's a good novella if the above is your shtick, or if you can suspend disbelief enough to enjoy the complete disregard for stranger danger. I really liked both characters, the plot was entertaining and the spice was well written and HOT. The world building was good, although confusing at some points thanks to insufficient explanation. I'm really intrigued about this new world I'm stepping into.
So, overall, this gets a 3 star rating, because there was enough to keep me invested to continue reading , even though the major elements didn't work for me. Looking forward to the next book, which will hopefully work out better for me.
This was the first time am reading of Elliott and I loved this short novella. A quick supernatural novella including wolf shifter with a powerful witch, actions, ancient dark magic, lies, danger and spicy romance. The story was good and engaging.
this is a short spicy novella that truly kicks off the series! i know that this series is a interconnected standalone but i will be reading it in order!!
You mean to tell me this series i’ll see vampires, witches, shifters & MORE?! SIGN ME UP
what a perfect way to introduce the world and the character in this novella! you would think a full book would be best to do that but elliot rose wrote this PERFECTLY!!
Fehrn our MMC is a WOLF SHIFTER!! you read that right okay a wolf shifter who is also a spy and has a filthy mouth 😮💨
Idalia our FMC is a fire witch who believes in the good til she was proven wrong by our wolf shifter daddy. She also has to keep her powers a secret because she is surrounded by individuals who believe magic isn’t a thing anymore.
You know how the universe bestows upon you books that you’ve been looking for for some time now? That’s what happened to me yesterday. I just finished Chasing the Wild ARC read and I was scrolling on here and found this. I’ve been begging my friends to send me a witch rec with this plot line and SURPRISE SURPRISE, I found one. I needed something short, sweet and supernatural with a hint of smut and I found it. Best find this week. This month, really. The story was SO GOOD, I’m sure this is a great intro for the whole series, you can read this as a standalone I’m sure but I feel we’ll meet them further in the other books. Elliot you’re my favourite FIND OF THIS YEAR!
It is a great insight into the world that Rose is creating and I’m so invested in some of the other characters already mentioned.
Rose expertly introduces many new aspects to this paranormal world without giving too much away; it’s a perfect trap for us readers.
I want to know more about the Seal and the infamous House. What will happen to the werewolf and the vampiress? What is Fehrn and Lia’s new world?
The story has a HEA of course and a big promise from the author that we will see these two in the next book which I’m looking forward to.
I deducted one star because the relationship developed a little too quickly for me. I guess that is the nature of novellas. However, Rose already shows off her writing style and I look forward to reading more in the world.
Simply not for me. Trying my best to widen my genre’s and unfortunately as much as I love this authors cowboy romances, this shifter romance wasn’t my cup of ☕️
If you like a short and spicy novella which I’m sure would lead into a great series with full length novels, this might be up your alley!
I'd say 3.5 stars. SOME spoilers ahead but nothing that gives away the true plot of the story!!!
definitely the quickest mating bond I've ever read. they're essentially strangers but they fell in love in 2 nights and mated within a week of meeting? there's enough of a plot that i know the full length novels will be more satisfying to read
As one of my many Elliott Rose reads I'm a little disappointed in this novella. It doesn't have the same feel as her books do now, that likely has to do with the fact that this is her debut novella. I love her books now and will continue this series because I believe things will get better. This will not be a priority read for me however I will continue with the series at some point.
I’ve been meaning to read this little ditty for a minute and omg I loved it. It’s short, spicy, has some great intrigue, solid tension, and the foundation stones set in place for the upcoming series this is a part of and the start of the world building are all good. There are one or two places where the detailed descriptions made things drag a wee bit, but it’s minor and more of a personal preference than anything else.
Will definitely be picking up the next books in this series as they release!
TW - parental death (past, assumed), orphan (FMC), indebted servitude, corruption (mentioned), violence including threats of violence, lewd thoughts which, if acted on, would be sexual assault (secondary character to the FMC), captivity / confinement, blood, torture (off page and mentioned), threat of torture, use of fire including burning, murder (knife violence), burns (from fire, mentioned briefly)
Tropes - dark, paranormal, insta lust
This was a quick and fun read about a sheltered witch and a wolf shifter who wants to fight for what's right. They stand on opposite sides of the truth and get pushed into a sticky situation. I felt like this novella set up the world nicely and introduced us to just enough of the lore to get us invested - interested in seeing what happens next
I was paid to provide a breakdown of the TW/CW of this book which can be found on the author's website
Scale: ⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite ⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut 🌶 - no point 🌶🌶 - mediocre at best 🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot 🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List
This was a short, spicy little novella that did a great job of introducing us to the world the author is going to write within and hopefully build upon in her ongoing series.
The story introduces us to a number of characters, as well as the beginnings of what is sure to be an expanded upon overarching plot set within the world.
There are witches, vampires, shifters, magic and old ancient powers at play here. The set up for a killer series is evident. The spice was also spicin’ so I’m excited to see what will be done with that in a fully fleshed out novel!
I understand this was a novella and it’s purpose was to introduce those things above before the main story started however I had trouble connecting with the love story between the FMC and MMC in this novella as they literally met and were telling each other they loved each other within 3-5 days. Although they did end up being mates so that could explain it. I just found the pacing super fast when I might’ve enjoyed slowing it down slightly to make sure I had a handle on everything.
But the story did exactly what I’m guessing it was supposed to do and was well written. I’m definitely keen to see where book 2(1?) goes after this!
Sweet Inferno is the first book in the Nocturnal Hearts Series, but is also a standalone installment and it is a nice and easy to read novella. We join Lia in her day to day tasks in the House of Elharean. But when she meets Fehrn while doing her nightly tasks in the House of Elharean she has a decision to make, and that decision will turn her world upside down.
Having read Vicious Cravings as an ARC reader first, this book was a nice introduction to the world and the backstory. Though the book is short, it is a novella, and I would prefer a bit more buildup in some aspects of the story, I enjoyed reading it. Elliott Rose has a nice writing style, and boy does she know how to bring the spice and mix it with an awesome storyline and plot.
All in all this is a deliciously spicy novella that sets an awesome beginning into the Nocturnal Hearts Series. 3.5 stars because some things are better when they are a little slower ;)
Short introduction into this world. Intended as a sort of teaser book to introduce characters and some of the larger plot points in future books. I got this one on Stuff Your Kindle Day.
I found myself slightly bored during parts of this story though I have no idea how because my first thought when finishing is that it also felt a bit rushed almost?
Writing was good and I enjoyed reading about the characters. The last 40% was definitely the best of the entire book, prior to that I couldn't see where the book could possibly be going. Felt a bit like it was written purely for the smut. Yes there is smut. In a 100 page novella there are 3 separate smut scenes in fact so if that's foreshadowing for the rest of the series... Well you've been warned.
I'm not totally sure of I will continue the series yet.
DNF. I tried so hard y’all. I got to 55% and I just could not any more. You knowwww I love me some instalust/instalove, especially when we’ve got a sexy shifter involved. But THIS was just so implausible. There was no explanation of a pull, tether, inexplicable need, mate bond.. nothing to explain why these clear enemies (he basically was like.. yo.. help me steal this thing or die) would go to getting busy within 5 minutes of their first encounter. Him I totally understand.. he’s been watching her for weeks as he scouted the place for his mission. But her?? And we had that scene from his POV so there was nothing from her fighting or questioning the sexual feelings, she just went with it with no resistance. I know it’s fantasy, but gods I just couldn’t. I kept hoping it would get better and I wanted to push through so I’d have context for book 1 of the series but 🙈
❀ Rating: 3-3.5✯ ❀ Num. Pages: 146 ❀ Date Read: January 27th 2025 ❀ Format: E-book ❀ Status: Read.
𝀈✵🎕✵𝀈
✧𝀈❀Overall thoughts:
I seriously read this book today while commuting and during a break between schoolwork, and the only feeling I have towards it is Okay?. I guess. I wish I picked up something different. I have no clue why, it's just that this story did not speak to me. It is lust-filled and it certainly is not a romance. That's a shame. I want to read a lust-free romance book. I haven't seen those in a while.
In any order of ideas, this book was okay. Nothing special. I kinda want to read at least the first two books of the series, because they seem interesting, but if they turn into lust again, I'm seriously DNFing.
Sweet Inferno is the first book in the Nocturnal Hearts series. It is also the first book by this author I have read.
This had everything i love. Witches, vampires, shifters intrigue and romance.
The only reason this isn't rated higher is it is a novella (less than 150 pages). You only get a little bit about the world the characters live in and there is very little character building. This could have done with being a longer book so the world building and character building could have been fleshed out more. I hope this builds in future books.
Overall it was an interesting introduction to the series and I'm looking forward to reading more.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶🌶 Perfect Paranormal Fantasy Novella BOOK 1 - Nocturnal Hearts Series
This novella is Elliott Rose's debut book for her Nocturnal Heart Series. They are all standalone books, so they can be read separately and, in any order, but are all intertwined into the world of the Nocturnes.
The world-building is done quickly and efficiently making it so easy to picture the characters, their surroundings and the bigger plot. Elliott's ability to form her book world is unique and very well done.
This book has everything you want in a fantasy romance, and it definitely made me want to consume the entire series.
As always please read any trigger or content warnings. This is the first book I have read from this Author. I have to say her writing style is a little different than what I am use to and took me a minute to really get into. I am use to the separate points of view for the characters. This book is not like that which took me a little bit to grasp. While this writing style is not my cup of tea personally this book was really good!! There was a good plot line was great! I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series! While the writing style threw me for a loop the story itself kept me interested from that start! Definitely if this book a read if your interested in a supernatural romance novella!!
A bit dry, even with all the insta spice. This story felt like a writing exercise to explore the idea of this series, but without much emotional or romantic depth. It also only had the beginnings of the world building. I wished I had skipped this for the full length novel to see if this series is worth reading.
In Kindle this is placed as book 1 which is why I started here, but in goodreads this is book 0.5 of a series. I would normally ignore novella style intro books as I find them to often be only worth reading if you are already invested in a series. This is definitely the case here. I've read her Crimson Ridge series and I like her writing there enough to give this series a go, despite this lack lustre intro.
Content Warnings: Sexual content, violence, sexual harassment, confinement, and torture.
This was one of the books where I saw a quote, on Tiktok, from another book and decided to start the series.
I wish we would have gotten a little more backstory to the history/lore of the world. With the information we learned in this novella...I didn't really leave it feeling invested in the story. There's also confessions of love WAY before I would like it lol Even in fated mates novels...I like it to take a bit before love is thrown around. Anyways...I look forward to diving further into this series and hopefully feeling the investment I'm looking for.