Petals, Pyres, and Promises
A Short Gothic Fantasy Romance
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Petals, Pyres, and Promises
Narrated by:
Anna Njie
Buy for $5.86
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Narrated by:
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Anna Njie
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By:
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Storm Lomax
Varena is set to marry a prince—young, handsome, wealthy. Why, then, does she see a glimpse of something in his eyes that terrifies her?
©2026 Storm Lomax (P)2026 Storm LomaxListener received this title free
I'm not usually one for short stories or novellas unless they really catch my attention; and this one did. Short and mildly spicy 🌶️🌶️ Varena and Draven's story would be perfect for an audiobook walk or silent book club selection.
Short and 🌶️🌶️
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Listener received this title free
Varena is about to be joined in a loveless marriage with a prince. Her family couldn't care less about her wellbeing and have warned her that her wedding night will be filled with nothing but pain. When her wedding ceremony takes a bloody turn, Varena is swept up into a life she never could have predicted for herself.
This story may only be nineteen pages long, but it is so impactful! I was intrigued by the monster romance at the start. Then I found myself appreciating the feminist themes. I was shocked to discover that I was bawling by the end! This was so beautifully penned, and I can't believe how much of a punch it packed for such a short story.
I don't want to give away anything about this one, but I will say that the romance in this one is so tender and beautiful. Varena and Draven are forced to be apart from each other for five-year intervals, but the moments they reunite are splendid. The more time passes, something in their relationship starts to shift and it had me so scared to see where this one was going to go.
The ending of this story is completely stunning! Once again, I'm going to be very vague here, but I love stories that follow lovers who are intertwined throughout different lifetimes. The final moments were so vulnerable and raw; this story makes me remember why love exists.
I'll talk a little bit about the feminist elements before I wrap this up. Varena has always been taught that she needs to be a chaste young woman and that her wedding night would be painful and not bear even an ounce of pleasure for her. This is a tad outdated view, but a value and a sentiment that many women still hold close to their hearts. The prince that is to wed Varena only has malevolent intentions towards her, which causes the Demon to appear and protect her. After Varena is saved and moves onto the next part of her existence, she strikes back against the evil people of the world that mean to prey on others. She has no pity to spare and won't back down once she has sensed one's evil intentions. This definitely has "feminine rage" vibes, and I'm totally here for it.
Overall, "Petals, Pyres, and Promises" is a beautiful short story that completely surprised me. Varena and Draven's story is filled with tender love and the sweetest moments. I wasn't expecting this one to make me bawl like a baby, but I sincerely appreciate how much this one impacted me. This is definitely one I'll reread again and again, because this story is so poignant and is filled with wonderful themes.
Audiobook Note: This one is narrated by Anna Njie and they did a phenomenal job! This emotional story was meant to be heard, and I feel hearing the words aloud really adds to the rollercoaster of emotions of this one. I love Njie's accent and felt that their voice fit that of a demon queen perfectly. They were fierce in a controlled way, which fits Varena's vibe perfectly. If you have the chance to listen to this one audio, I'd definitely recommend it.
An Emotional Gothic Romantasy Story
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