What do you think?
These Bloody Blooms
Immortal life as an Ancient is predictable at best.
For a Gardener like Zara? It’s downright mind numbing.
Plant the seeds. Help them grow. Harvest the blooms… and force-feed them to the souls whose blood had born them so they could face their own judgement, whether they liked it or not.
Tedium ad nauseam.
That is, until Etienne—the broody Collector who’d been assigned to her the year prior—shows up on her doorstep for the second time in one day to deliver a blackened scroll bearing Death’s seal.
With a brush of their fingers, Zara’s boring life is turned completely upside down, and it isn’t long before she starts to realize that everything is not what it seems in the great Below. And at the center of it all? Him.
Because as it turns out, Etienne has already given Zara his heart.
She just has to remember where she put it.
K.R. Fryatt's These Bloody Blooms is part of Goblin Presents: A Valentine's Anthology, a mashup of five short and sweet Valentine's Day novellas—with a side of yearning and angst. Written to fit every romantic appetite, and designed to be eaten like your favorite box of chocolates.
For a Gardener like Zara? It’s downright mind numbing.
Plant the seeds. Help them grow. Harvest the blooms… and force-feed them to the souls whose blood had born them so they could face their own judgement, whether they liked it or not.
Tedium ad nauseam.
That is, until Etienne—the broody Collector who’d been assigned to her the year prior—shows up on her doorstep for the second time in one day to deliver a blackened scroll bearing Death’s seal.
With a brush of their fingers, Zara’s boring life is turned completely upside down, and it isn’t long before she starts to realize that everything is not what it seems in the great Below. And at the center of it all? Him.
Because as it turns out, Etienne has already given Zara his heart.
She just has to remember where she put it.
K.R. Fryatt's These Bloody Blooms is part of Goblin Presents: A Valentine's Anthology, a mashup of five short and sweet Valentine's Day novellas—with a side of yearning and angst. Written to fit every romantic appetite, and designed to be eaten like your favorite box of chocolates.
104 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2026
About the author
K.R. Fryatt
3 books39 followersK.R. Fryatt is a former opera singer who finally put her foot down in order to realize her childhood dream—becoming a published author. Now, she writes epic, swoon-worthy romantasy novels about complex characters finding their inner strength, experiencing radical self-acceptance, and meeting their true, fated love.
She resides in the mitten state with the real-life book boyfriend she married, their three amazing kids, and an aging Samoyed who's afraid of his own shadow. When she's not writing whatever her characters tell her to, you can find her cursing over crochet, learning how to let go and cry during movies, eating spicy food, and daydreaming about long, tropical vacations.
You can find her on Instagram and Threads as @author_k.r.fryatt
She resides in the mitten state with the real-life book boyfriend she married, their three amazing kids, and an aging Samoyed who's afraid of his own shadow. When she's not writing whatever her characters tell her to, you can find her cursing over crochet, learning how to let go and cry during movies, eating spicy food, and daydreaming about long, tropical vacations.
You can find her on Instagram and Threads as @author_k.r.fryatt
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 1, 2026
KR is always going to be an immediate read for me. She’s poetic, she does EVERY character justice, and she does it well. This was nothing less than what I expected.
Short, sweet (also a tearjerker) and extremely emotional with lots of yumminess and burn. Enough plot to keep you going and get a good feel for her writing!
I truly only docked a star because i think I would have liked this to be a full story to get more of a background, more solid information, etc - but that’s it!
Short, sweet (also a tearjerker) and extremely emotional with lots of yumminess and burn. Enough plot to keep you going and get a good feel for her writing!
I truly only docked a star because i think I would have liked this to be a full story to get more of a background, more solid information, etc - but that’s it!
February 6, 2026
While These Bloody Blooms is a bite sized treat, it delivers on a whole mouthful of deliciousness! The novella is fully fleshed out and paced perfectly. Drawing you in from the first page and finishing off with a satisfying ending + a bonus little epilogue that will have you craving more from this world.
This gothic fantasy is HOT and features two grumpy main characters. You’ll meet Zara, the FMC of any bad b*tches dreams (hi, I’m actually obsessed with her fire!!) and Etienne, the mysterious delectable MMC who would lay the world at her feet. KR writes a yearning man so so well and could single handedly turn my least favored trope, amnesia, into one I crave if in her hands.
This is 1 of 5 novellas included in Goblin Presents: A Valentine’s Anthology and I’ll be reading them all throughout my February.
I recommend this to anyone that enjoys a novella featuring: yearning, banter, immortals, Hades x Persephone vibes, unique magic, plus a fun goblin and cat too!
This gothic fantasy is HOT and features two grumpy main characters. You’ll meet Zara, the FMC of any bad b*tches dreams (hi, I’m actually obsessed with her fire!!) and Etienne, the mysterious delectable MMC who would lay the world at her feet. KR writes a yearning man so so well and could single handedly turn my least favored trope, amnesia, into one I crave if in her hands.
This is 1 of 5 novellas included in Goblin Presents: A Valentine’s Anthology and I’ll be reading them all throughout my February.
I recommend this to anyone that enjoys a novella featuring: yearning, banter, immortals, Hades x Persephone vibes, unique magic, plus a fun goblin and cat too!
February 17, 2026
Fryatt is the only one who can make me love the amnesia trope. Seriously obsessed with these characters and this story!
February 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book is part of the the lilbookgoblin Valentine’s anthology 🖤 I can’t wait to dive into all of the books in this anthology but I had to start with my favourite new author from 2025, K.R Fryatt, and her novella “These Bloody Blooms.”
This novella, just wow… K.R. Fryatt does it again. This was such a fantastic story, I could hardly put it down. She managed to fit so much world building, character, and emotion into such a short book and I truly have no idea how she does it.
The chemistry between Zara and Etienne was beautiful, and I absolutely adored this take on the Hades x Persephone retelling. It was so unique and well done, with a really distinctive magic system. Since it’s a novella we obviously didn’t go too deep into the workings of this world but I really hope that, considering the ending, we will get another glimpse at it from Caris’ pov ✨
If you haven’t read anything by this author yet you are truly missing out. Her debut novel “Of Moths and Stone” was one of the best books I read in 2025, and I will keep shouting about her work until the cows come home. If you have a spare couple of hours, These Bloody Blooms is the perfect Valentine’s novella to curl up with 🖤
This book is part of the the lilbookgoblin Valentine’s anthology 🖤 I can’t wait to dive into all of the books in this anthology but I had to start with my favourite new author from 2025, K.R Fryatt, and her novella “These Bloody Blooms.”
This novella, just wow… K.R. Fryatt does it again. This was such a fantastic story, I could hardly put it down. She managed to fit so much world building, character, and emotion into such a short book and I truly have no idea how she does it.
The chemistry between Zara and Etienne was beautiful, and I absolutely adored this take on the Hades x Persephone retelling. It was so unique and well done, with a really distinctive magic system. Since it’s a novella we obviously didn’t go too deep into the workings of this world but I really hope that, considering the ending, we will get another glimpse at it from Caris’ pov ✨
If you haven’t read anything by this author yet you are truly missing out. Her debut novel “Of Moths and Stone” was one of the best books I read in 2025, and I will keep shouting about her work until the cows come home. If you have a spare couple of hours, These Bloody Blooms is the perfect Valentine’s novella to curl up with 🖤
April 8, 2026
That ending!! Give me the series now. Or whenever if ever you choose, for I am your most willing servant, Onzarat.
September 29, 2026
First time I’ve ever loved the amnesia trope🥹
February 3, 2026
☆☆☆☆☆☆
I am so obsessed and thrilled with this book! It is so incredible, I started reading instantly after if was released this morning and read it in one session!
The secrets, the revelations, the yearning, the banter - I am sooooo hooked with kr's work, she is just a master of her art.
The characters are so incredible and unique in their personalities and ways.
The world building is one of the best. It is a small part of the world that is shown because it is only a short book but that part - wow. The idea with the gardeners is so awesome. It just works so perfectly and is such an interesting possibility.
Please krf feed me more of your work because you are one of the best authors I know and I can't get enough! Thank you that you share your talent and work with us!
Happy release day ♡♡♡
I am so obsessed and thrilled with this book! It is so incredible, I started reading instantly after if was released this morning and read it in one session!
The secrets, the revelations, the yearning, the banter - I am sooooo hooked with kr's work, she is just a master of her art.
The characters are so incredible and unique in their personalities and ways.
The world building is one of the best. It is a small part of the world that is shown because it is only a short book but that part - wow. The idea with the gardeners is so awesome. It just works so perfectly and is such an interesting possibility.
Please krf feed me more of your work because you are one of the best authors I know and I can't get enough! Thank you that you share your talent and work with us!
Happy release day ♡♡♡
August 21, 2026
Diving into such a diverse and unique world in such a short story has me wanting more! The beautiful writing, yearning, and the familiarity of the MCs love filled the bed for bloody blooms into fester into the heart of the reader.
January 13, 2026
“So fucking full of fire, though this life tried to put it out every, single day. I am in awe of you.”
HELLOOOO? KR does it freaking again 👏🏼
A short dark gothic romantasy novella that you can devour in one sitting.
Hades x Persephone vibes
Wild Hunt/Cat Mouse chase
Secret Past/lost memories
Banter AND YEARNINGGG
This comes out as part of an anthology on Feb 3rd and you need to add to your TBR immediately 🙂↕️
HELLOOOO? KR does it freaking again 👏🏼
A short dark gothic romantasy novella that you can devour in one sitting.
Hades x Persephone vibes
Wild Hunt/Cat Mouse chase
Secret Past/lost memories
Banter AND YEARNINGGG
This comes out as part of an anthology on Feb 3rd and you need to add to your TBR immediately 🙂↕️
February 7, 2026
As some might say: crying, screaming, and throwing up XD
Diving into such a diverse and unique world in such a short story has me wanting more! The beautiful writing, yearning, and the familiarity of the MCs love filled the bed for bloody blooms into fester into the heart of the reader.
Diving into such a diverse and unique world in such a short story has me wanting more! The beautiful writing, yearning, and the familiarity of the MCs love filled the bed for bloody blooms into fester into the heart of the reader.
February 13, 2026
hot. oh my god hot. also?? amnesia trope?? fuck me up. on my kneeees for etienne. thank u kr
February 4, 2026
This was so much fun <3 I am obsessed with Fryatt's storytelling abilities and the breadcrumbs she left throughout this 94-page novella that had me hoping and begging we may get more from her in this same universe (I know it's a Hades/Persephone inspired story but her takes on it are unique and endlessly interesting).
That being said, despite all the richness and worldbuilding and sexy romance I needed our girl Zara to come up with some new insults LOL, there were too few pages for her to use the insult "insufferable ass" as many times as she did. But we'll let it slide.
“Zara”—He gathered her hand in his own, the fabric between them dampening the brush of his thumb over her knuckles—“I can be whatever you want me to be.”
That being said, despite all the richness and worldbuilding and sexy romance I needed our girl Zara to come up with some new insults LOL, there were too few pages for her to use the insult "insufferable ass" as many times as she did. But we'll let it slide.
“Zara”—He gathered her hand in his own, the fabric between them dampening the brush of his thumb over her knuckles—“I can be whatever you want me to be.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Hades x Persephone vibes in a Wild Hunt inspired gothic romantasy novella? Yes all day, thank you.
As usual, KR's prose is gorgeous. The FMC Zara is fiesty and fantastic, and the grumpyxgrumpier banter between her and Etienne is everything. I enjoyed the hell (hehe) out of this and it's an impressive amount of world-building and story for a novella.
As usual, KR's prose is gorgeous. The FMC Zara is fiesty and fantastic, and the grumpyxgrumpier banter between her and Etienne is everything. I enjoyed the hell (hehe) out of this and it's an impressive amount of world-building and story for a novella.
February 26, 2026
This novella was delightful. The gothic world-building felt as specific and vivid even in the short format. And gods, KR can write a delicious MMC! I am obsessed with Etienne. So much yearning. Fun banter. Hades x Persephone sort of vibes. Perfectly paced.
April 30, 2026
Captivating novella!
I loved this! This was fantastically paced with so much detail! I could not put this down and read it in one day. This gives Persephone and Hades vibes, which I absolutely loved!
Read this for mystery, justice, and for everlasting love and devotion!
I loved this! This was fantastically paced with so much detail! I could not put this down and read it in one day. This gives Persephone and Hades vibes, which I absolutely loved!
Read this for mystery, justice, and for everlasting love and devotion!
August 27, 2026
Spicy little cute novella. This author is becoming one of my favorites I just love her writing.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews