A Composition of Scars

Cadence of the Fallen #1.5

by Hazel S. Wilkes

Before Draven was the feared captain over one of Bathara’s revered aggregates, he was merely a teenager learning how to better his magic, better his combat, and better himself. With his brothers by his side, Draven battles against a world that has carved out his identity with a ruthless blade—despite the wrath Tynan Dalmar brings down on him each time he falls short of his father’s measure. But after a particularly cruel interaction where the fraying chords holding his family together officially snap, Draven’s mother whisks him away in the middle of the night to finally put distance between them and House Dalmar.

It is in the unsuspecting city of Príth—where colors dance and streets thrum with a living heartbeat—that Draven’s world expands far broader than he ever imagined. And as he watches his mother’s smile return while confronting his deepest fears, Draven believes he has finally found his place in the world. Has discovered the true warmth of a family at last.

Until his father shatters that illusion into a million, serrated pieces.

A Composition of Scars is a novella in the Cadence of the Fallen series that tells the tale of how Draven received his deepest scars. The ones that always remain, alive and bleeding beneath his skin. It should be read after A Requiem for Fallen Stars.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 24, 2026

About the author

Hazel is simply a lover of words and stories, overflowing with made-up worlds, scenarios, and characters. Ever since she was just a small girl, climbing out of her bedroom window to read on the roof under the stars with her trusted book light in hand (sorry, Mom), she has been enchanted by stories and the art of storytelling.

Hazel lives in Texas with her equally nerdy fiancé, her fluffy dog-child (who's named after a character from the novel that first truly revealed the beauty in crafting words to her), and the two sweetest cats a pet mom could hope for. Aside from writing, she enjoys playing and coaching sports, watching anime, spending time with her family, and discussing books with her bookish besties.

Reviews

[Books &Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely speechless after reading this novella!!! The writing is both poetic and captivating. I genuinely think I may have highlighted at least half of the book.

In this heartbreaking story we get a glimpse into Draven’s past. We see how the events that took place in his adolescent years have shaped him into the man that he has become, and we learn just how deep the scars that he carries truly run.

The author wonderfully portrays the beauty of a mother’s love as well as the devastation that comes from a father’s hatred. It is the cry your eyes out kind of heartbreak. And yet, I absolutely could not put it down.

To say that I’m invested would be an understatement. I absolutely cannot wait to see where the next book takes us.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
Spice: N/A

Tropes ✨:
Found family
Young love
Devoted mother
Abusive parent
Grief

🖤: “Draven was ready to let go of the pain, and the pain was ready to let go of him. So, he did—he let go. He hoped he would become a better man for it.”

A special thank you to the author for this eARC.

[ciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

“they will just see you, and they will love you for it; when you find a person like that, you never let them go.”

—

this was just wow. it was such a well done novella. learning about draven’s backstory was so much more devastating than i could have imagined. i literally sobbed the entire last 25%.

i fear i need to go reread certain scenes from book one now for science… cuz omg.

thank you so much hazel and her team for this e-arc! i will be counting down the days until book 2! ♥︎

“𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕—𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒌—𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒈𝒐. 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓. 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅. 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈—𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎.”

[rofesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to start this review out with a quote from my review on book 1:
"I really like the MMC but I do feel like he has as lot of room to grow and for us to see more of who he actually is. We only scratched the surface with who he is and I think in the next book I am going to be kicking and giggling my feet once we fully see him."

I definitely was NOT kicking and giggling my feet about him in this book, I was screaming, crying and throwing up (in a good way).
We got to see everything that made Draven who he is and I can't believe how much I love him after only 200 some pages with him. He went through so much trauma and has had to deal with such tragic events that I pray to everything that the next book he gets nothing but rainbows and sunshine.
I loved this book more than I ever expected even though all I did was cry.

The most heartful thanks to Hazel S. Wilkes for graciously letting me read this hauntingly beautiful book before it's publication, I am so honored.

[Amanda BookishRabbits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me: I’m fine. Also me, ten pages in: sobbing into my pillow over fictional trauma.

From the start, I knew I was doomed in the best way... it reminded me instantly why I adore this series. I told myself I was simply getting a bit more insight into Draven’s past, and within minutes I was clutching my Kindle like a woman possessed.

Things I Loved:

🌟 New characters who didn't ask permission to steal my heart... but here we are! They walked in with big personalities and I immediately adopted them. Even the bookshop - The polished bookery basically deserves its own merch line now!

😭 Heartbreak that felt personally targeted. Some scenes really said, “Hope you weren’t planning to be emotionally stable today.” I had to put the book down and stare into the void like I was in a dramatic music video.

🖤 The layers behind Draven’s scars.
Each new reveal hit with emotional force and made me see him in a whole new way. I genuinely just want to wrap him in a blanket and give him a hug.

💬 Writing that goes from soft to soul crushing. One line makes you smile. The next line emotionally body slams you. And somehow it all flows perfectly... the whiplash is real but also delicious!

Much like with book 1, I've gone completely feral with my highlighter - so prepare for lots of beautiful quotes!

"A willing captive to their mysteries and contradictions, both dark and beautiful, shrouded in shadows and twinkling effervescence. "Do you see that star, Draven? You are just like it. It does not let the darkness dim its shine. It burns brighter because of it. And you? You burn so brightly, my son. That darkness in your veins is just a backdrop for all your glorious light."

The emotional writing absolutely stood out for me. The story deals with grief, loyalty, survival, and all the messy pieces in between. The heartbreaking scenes truly wrecked me. One second I was reading peacefully, and the next I was staring into space like I had personally lived through the trauma... and wondering if I need a support group… or maybe just some snacks for all my book-related feelings.

"She was air where there had previously only been suffocation. She was light where there had only been darkness. She was the perfect sea kissed breeze. A fluttering warmth in the midst of the deepest winter."

Getting this closer look at Draven felt both heartbreaking and incredibly rewarding. Every struggle, every tiny moment that leaves a mark, adds another layer to who he is. The exploration of his scars, both physical and emotional, is so moving that you feel the weight of every wound and every loss. It all makes his resilience feel earned in a way that hits you right in the feels.

I loved the balance between the softer, introspective moments and the brutal realities that shaped Draven’s life. By the end, I felt like I understood him on a completely different level.

“You will have moments where you’ll feel like you ruined everything. You will make mistakes, no matter how painful a thing it is to admit. The key is to find someone who is willing to sit in those shadows with you. Who will forgive you and love you in spite of your flaws. Who will laugh with you. Cry with you. Sip sweet wine in front of a burning hearth while you ramble on about your passions. When you find a person like that, the person who sees the soul behind any and every mask, you never let them go. Ever. Even when it’s hard. Even when it feels like everything is crumbling, you never give up on them. They will just see you, and they will love you for it. When you find a person like that, you never let them go."

This novella took my heart, crushed it, put it back together, gently patted me on the head, and then somehow made me grateful for the emotional damage. It adds so much depth to a world and cast I already loved.

And now? Now I am SO hyped for book 2. I need to see how all of this backstory crashes into what is coming next. The anticipation has me spiritually vibrating. I'm ready to laugh, cry, swoon, and probably sob into my tea all over again, and I'll do it with zero shame.

Bring it on. I’m ready!

[Raia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First & foremost, if you don’t read books to feel things then this book isn’t for you. But if you do ? Then have a seat & grab some tissues because this book is gonna put you through the wringer.
Hazels writing is so captivating & poetic that she has the power to make you feel everything that her characters are feeling just by reading her words. The amount of tears that I’ve cried while reading this 252 page novella are criminal 🥲
I went into this with so much anticipation because I just knew that there was so much that made Draven the man that he was in A Requiem For Fallen Stars. But when I say that I was TERRIFIED to know his story because I just knew it wasn’t an easy one… I was so right 😓 but it all makes so much sense 😢 my sweet sweet Draven 🖤
Everything about this novella was perfect, no notes. I simply just wish that it was longer because I don’t wanna believe that that’s all I get of these characters until June 🫠 while the events of this book take place years prior to A Requiem, everything was paced & set up so perfectly that I am so ready for book 2 😭🙏🏽 also I highly recommend doing a reread of A Requiem immediately after reading this book for the best experience 😋 which is exactly what I’ll be doing asap, tbr who ? 🤣
Thank you so much to Hazel Wilkes & her team for gifting me with an arc of A Composition Of Scars🤍

ps… @ Mrs Wilkes… please give us 3 more books in this series 🥲 at the least… or you could just write an entirely different fantasy romance series too but make it like a 4 book series, that works too… essentially what I’m trying to say is keep the masterpieces coming queen 😂🙏🏽⭐️

[Amanda Benefiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

How much abuse can one 14 year old take? Draven is tormented both physically and mentally by his father until his mother takes him away.

In Prith, Draven finds he can breathe easier without the court politics and his father constantly breathing down his neck, telling him how worthless and weak he is. When he meets Atlas, Rhea, and Suzumi- he learns something else. That people can care about you, you as a person, without wanting something in return.

But love is a weakness in Draven’s Fathers eyes. A weakness that needs to be stamped out completely. When he catches wind that his wife and heir are living a separate life, he sets out to rectify that immediately.

What follows is so gut wrenching and heartbreaking that it physically hurts to read. The complete breaking of a little boy who just wanted to be loved.

I loved the backstory of how Draven become who he is and how he made himself the promise that he could be his father’s monster, but he could come back to himself and share his true self with only the ones he loved. That maybe one day, he would be worthy of love.

I also loved how intertwined his and Lyra’s story is. That final sentence in the book gave me goosebumps.

“Ruin myself,” he muttered. “What is there left to ruin? I myself am the ruin, Rhea. I know you are privy to all the rumors, even in Tylderon. I know you know what they say about me; all that I’ve done. To ruin myself would be to imply there is still some substance left to destroy.”


Thank you so much Hazel for the ARC!! I loved it and can’t wait to read more of Draven and Lyra’s story.

[Amy Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot thank the author Hazel Wilkes and her team enough for gifting me an eARC of this novella. I devoured A Requiem for Fallen Stars and was giddy about this prequel novella focusing on the MMC.

This book was amazing. It provided a rich and heartbreaking background of Requiem's Draven (I now want to reread a Requiem to see what I missed the first time).

Draven is 14 and struggles with the weight of his father's expectations and his own desire to not be consumed by darkness. His mother is his North Star and it's her approval he cherishes. Falling in love for the first time changes him. What comes after sharpens him.

This book was a great introduction to the main Requiem characters. I highly recommend reading it because it will give you a deeper understanding and appreciation for Draven. It is not a romance but do take care and check trigger warnings. I'm excited to see what's in store for the crew in book 2!!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Six stars.

Are. You. Kidding. Me. I’m going to need several days to recover from this. If this series doesn’t absolutely blow up I will riot.

I knew A Composition of Scars would be heartbreaking and I knew that it would give us a glimpse into Draven’s past. What I didn’t expect was the level of added depth it would bring to so much of A Requiem for Fallen Stars. There are so many scenes to re-read with new (and tear-filled) eyes.

I don’t even want to touch on any of the plot (which was excellent) or the new characters (who are so lovingly and tenderly written) as I recommend going into this one blind. And with some tissues.

100/10. Wow. Off to ignore my TBR and re-read A Requiem for Fallen Stars.

Thank you to Hazel S Wilkes for the ARC and the trauma!!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh… Draven.

This novella was PERFECT. It will have you understanding so much more about what makes up Draven’s character, why he behaves and moves the way he does. We get invaluable insight into his childhood upbringing and reading this after A Reqieum of Fallen stars was perfect.

I LOVE that moment when you read a book, things start to click and you see how the author has woven pieces of the story together. A Composition of Scars is BRILLIANT in that way and so much more.

I understand the character dynamics to this world so much more now and cannot wait for Book 2 to come out later this year.

[Ryann Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novella broke my heart but also made it swell, made me cry but also smile, answered my questions but left me with more, this was absolutely beautiful. I thought I loved Lyra and Draven before but now 🥹. Thank you so much to Hazel for the eARC, I’m already itching for book two!

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨ Wow, I loved reading Draven’s story and getting to know him better. Beautiful and heartbreaking. It makes me want to immediately reread book 1!


Thank you so much to the author Hazel S. Wilkes for this eARC! 🤎