The Songbird & the Heart of Stone

Crowns of Nyaxia #3

by Carissa Broadbent

New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, Songbird and the Heart of Stone, where A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Dante's Inferno, in an epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods. Features beautiful case art and a detailed map.

In the descent to the underworld, a bride of the sun must choose between the light of her redemption… or a dark love that defies the gods themselves

Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire – her home, her humanity, and most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who Turned her, redemption feels impossible.

But when Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a past as brutal as his scars, she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself.

Yet, Mische’s punishment may be the key to her salvation. In a secret meeting, her sun god commands her to help Asar in his mission, only to betray him… by killing the very death god she’ll help resurrect.

Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. Yet, most dangerous of all is the alluring call of the darkness – and her forbidden attraction to Asar, a burgeoning bond that risks invoking the wrath of gods.

As her betrayal looms, the underworld closes in and angry gods are growing restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Vampires, Fantasy Romance, Fiction, Audiobook

498 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2024

About the author

I've been concerning teachers and parents with mercilessly grim tales since I was roughly nine years old. Since then, my stories have gotten (slightly) less depressing and (hopefully a lot?) more readable. Today, I write fantasy novels with a heaping dose of badass ladies and a big pinch of romance.

When I'm not writing, I'm working at my day job in cybersecurity marketing, watching too many movies, or drawing. I live with my fiance, one very well behaved rabbit, one very poorly behaved rabbit, and one perpetually skeptical cat in Rhode Island.

Reviews

[SK (Back for good this time? We'll see) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This is the tale of how a chosen one falls. She does it screaming, clawing for her old life with broken fingernails. She does it slowly, over the course of decades.
And in the end, she takes the whole forsaken world with her."

Well, that quote makes even more sense after how it ended. But getting to the review, this was really underwhelming for me. I do admit I had HIGH expectations especially how good the previous books in the series were, from the duology to the novella and the standalone. They were all addictive masterpieces with basically everything done right. But this one was just...boring.

I was hardly interested and don't get me wrong, the action is good. The world building is amazing. The plot is really good but the characters do not hold the same spark as Raihn and Oraya. Mische and Asar couldn't make me care about them enough. The pacing was kinda meh too tbh. I found the gods' storyline far more interesting.

I loved Mische in the previous books and I'm realizing it's probably because she was simply a side character. For someone with light, she unfortunately doesn't shine for me in this book. Yeah, there's a tragic backstory but it doesn't mean it added something to her personality. She was a bit messy and kinda delulu for my liking.

Asar is alright I suppose. He's no Vale or Raihn. I simply find him forgettable. Like sure, I'll remember him for another two days but don't ask me more. Like would I have minded if he wasn't there? Not really. He's sweet but that's about it.

The chemistry between the two is alright. I really didn't care for the romance or the build up cause the characters were already mid for me. But what I did like was the ending. The last few pages really reeled me in enough to leave me curious about the next one. Especially since I see a certain someone back 👀


~•~•~
Ahhh I'm finally doing this. So excited to dive back into the Nyaxia world 😍

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't even front. I struggled like a MF getting through this and I didn't anticipate that at all.

This is one of those times I really wish GR had half and qtr star ratings - 3 stars feels WAY to generous and 2 stars feels like an insult to a series I have loved.

I'm honestly contemplating giving 1 star. Fuck it... consequences. LOL.

I'm not going to fully review this one. I just want to be done with it. I did just want to add a couple of things.

I felt so disconnected from the series with this book and before anyone tells me. I know that the series is in duet groups of two and that this one is not a segue from book 2.

I was bored. Beyond bored. I was frustrated. I restarted this book 4 times and then finally just dragged myself through it, because apparently I wasn't missing anything - it just wasn't in the book.

Even the second book didn't have the same umph that book 1 had... I feel like this series is going to go down hill for me and that .... is so very tragic. 😭

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

[Clace]

The cover is HEAVENLY 😍

Safe to say all the editions that this book has will be on my shelves!

[Esta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit: When you hit Chapter 29, do yourself a favour and stream the song inspired by the scene, composed by Lindsey Dills. Watch your immersion level go from “I’m enjoying this” to “I am this.”

◉ For Mische: Spotify
◉ For Mische: YouTube

🔹🔹🔹

My fictional bestie collection exploded in 2024 with Xiala (Between Earth & Sky trilogy), Sirsha (Heir duology), and now Mische (Crowns of Nyaxia series).

This book, The Songbird & the Heart of Stone, is where Mische takes centre stage, after the events of The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King and it was magnificent. While the tropes were troping, they felt distinctive and self-aware:

🔹 Deadly trials... sort of. Imagine a sentient god-touched magical prison with five ominous levels. Morthryn is a grand, malevolent delight.
🔹 Sunshine FMC vs broody exiled necromancer shadow daddy prince. Meet Asar, The Wraith Warden.
🔹 Slow-burn reluctant allies to lovers AND forbidden love. The yearning. Immaculate.
🔹 Not exactly Hades x Persephone, but the vibes are there.

But what really got me was the substance beneath all the tropey goodness. It’s messy, it’s angsty and unflinching. It digs into power imbalances, and questions what we’re willing to sacrifice in the name of love—or survival.

Consequently, Mische and Asar’s backstories broke my heart. Each revelation pulled me deeper into their painful history, making their growth all the more impactful.

Additionally, a heads-up: there are some very intense and disturbing themes explored, so check the content warnings Broadbent includes upfront. Read them, take them seriously and proceed with caution.

Finally, I can’t say too much else without spoiling the entire series so I guess if the sound of a magical prison that leads to the underworld, a mysterious necromancer shadow daddy with layers upon layers to peel back, and tortured yearning appeals to you, this book is worth your time, especially if you enjoyed the first two instalments. Heads up though for a brutal cliffhanger ending. My jaw hasn't left the floor.

Oh yeah, also, Luce is the goodest girl across all dimensions. Protect her at all costs.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Tor Bramble for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review, this one was a doozy.

1. The Serpent and the Wings of Night ★★★★★
2. Six Scorched Roses ★★★★☆
3. The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King ★★★★★
4. The Songbird & the Heart of Stone: ★★★★★
5. Slaying the Vampire Conqueror ★★★★☆
6. The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk ★★★★★

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone blog.

🔹🔹🔹

The little nudge I needed to join the Carissa Broadbent vampire party—got the arc! Guess that means I gotta read the first two 😅

[Marianna Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you told me a week ago I would be giving a Carissa Broadbent book 1 star in the future, absolutely nothing would make me believe you… alas, here we are 😭😭😭😭🥲 This actually PAINS me, Carissa Broadbent is one of my all time favorite authors. The war of lost hearts trilogy is one of my favorite series and I absolutely ADORED Serpent and the Wings of Night and Ashes and the Star Cursed King!!! So to say I’m in shock by how much I hated this book would be an UNDERSTATEMENT.

This was a ✨mess✨. The pacing, the plot, the world, the magic system, the character development (or lack there of), all of it, was just all over the god damn place. I felt like I was reading a book from a completely different series. Listen I know this book is following different couples, but the way it was entirely disconnected from the rest of the crowns of nyaxia books was so disappointing.

I WAS SO PAINFULLY BORED! I felt like two things happened over and over and over again the majority of this book. Either nothing was happening and I had to SUFFER in Mische’s head while she gave painfully long descriptions of places or reflected on whatever situation they were in in painstakingly redundant detail. Or I had to suffer through the SAME EXACT action scene (all telling no showing) where Mischa ends up passing out at the end of the chapter for like the 20th time. And the long drawn out descriptions of places is ironic because I literally couldn’t visualize this world and where they were FOR THE LIFE OF ME! It was just a bunch of words that ended up all jumbled in my head and gave me absolutely nothing to work with. What I settled on is them either spending their time in a bedroom or in the underworld….

The magic system… HUHHHHHH??? I’m sorry guys this review is a mess but I genuinely don’t know how to put some of my thoughts into words that’s how bad this was 😭😭😭 Mische said it best “It was magic. None of it made sense.” I couldn’t agree more. Because there was simply no making sense of how any of the magic worked. Don’t even get me started on how there’s literally zero cost to using magic… a personal pet peeve of mine but it just makes everything so low stakes. Like you’re gonna make the MMC a Necromancer and not give any consequences for raising the dead?????

Also I literally forgot they were vampires. I refuse to call this a vampire book because it’s a disgrace to vampire books.

Mische girl, I wanted to love you I did, I fear I’m your number 1 hater. NOW HOLD ON BEFORE YOU COME FOR MY THROAT!!! I’m not invalidating her traumatic past and how her upbringing severely affected her later in life. Her story is objectively heartbreaking and I genuinely think Carissa did her character arc SO SO dirty by not giving her even the slightest bit of growth. I know I know it’s only book 1 of a duet, at the end of the day I still didn’t like her character at all. This girl served me up absolutely nothing on a silver platter. Quite frankly she was annoying as hell and made the most IDIOTIC decisions I wanted to bang my head against a wall. I do fear there wasn’t a single thing I liked about her.

Something that was very strange to me was how Mische never once recognized that she was groomed and SA’d by a centuries old god for the majority of her life…. It just was very awkward to me how Carissa chose to tell that part of her story and made me feel extremely uncomfy.

Now the MMC Asar gave me hope in the beginning… I mean a mean and mysterious Necromancer shadow daddy WITH daddy issues… like obviously you’ve peeked my interest sir. ILL SAY THIS, there was literally one scene and one scene only I loved in this book and that was him playing the piano for her and he said “I just played the notes that sounded like you” IM SORRY?! Swoon. SO MUCH WASTED POTENTIAL! He does have an intriguing back story but we got so little of it that I felt like I didn’t even know him. So unfortunately Like Mische he also ended up giving me absolutely nothing… except for a god awful nickname.

And the two of them together…???? I literally have more chemistry with a door mat. The romance just was not it. They barely interacted with each other and then all of sudden this man was professing his love for her out of nowhere??? I was embarrassed for him. Their relationship just felt very unbelievable and forced. Which is so odd because Carissa writes some of the BEST romances so this part was especially devastating.

The side characters that were just tagging along the majority of the book and then disappeared? What was even the point???

The ending was also terrible. I hate it when authors kill off characters only to bring them back. LET THEM STAY DEAD!!! Apparently this was some huge cliffhanger?? I felt nothing.

Anyways that’s my mess of thoughts and opinions. If you stuck around for the shit show that is my thoughts after pushing through a book that made want to throw myself out the window… I appreciate you.

[anh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

This is the tale of how a chosen one falls. She does it screaming, clawing for her old life with broken fingernails. She does it slowly, over the course of decades. And in the end, she takes the whole forsaken world with her.

➸ I’m honestly kind of disappointed with how this book turned out.😭 After enjoying the first two books in the series, I had high expectations, but unfortunately, this one didn’t quite live up to them. I feel really conflicted because the only thing I truly loved was how Mische’s character was handled. In the first book, she was this radiant ball of sunshine—so sweet and full of life, and I was excited to see her get her own story. But in this one? That same spark was almost completely gone. The weight of her pain took over, and while I get why that was necessary for her journey, it left me feeling torn. I understand the emotional depth it added, but I missed the vibrant, endearing Mische from earlier in the series.

The plot itself was where I felt the biggest letdown. It felt slow, repetitive, and—frankly—kind of boring at times. The pacing dragged, and the twists stopped feeling like twists by the end. All in all, I just didn’t feel the same level of excitement or engagement that I had with the previous books in the series.

“I was trying to decide why this felt so familiar,” I said. “And then I realised, this is what it feels like to be Turned. You’re stuck between layers as the entire world changes. And you���re in the middle of it all, watching it happen, and yet none of it can touch you.”

If it weren’t for Mische’s captivating and heartbreaking backstory, I honestly think this book would have been even less enjoyable for me. Her journey was much more emotional than I expected, and it really became the one thing that kept me invested. Forced to become a vampire, she lost everything: her humanity, her faith, and the love of the sun god she once worshipped. What struck me the most was how deeply her faith had been manipulated. She gave everything to a god who saw her as a possession and abandoned her when she needed him most. Her devotion became a burden, and that was a tough pill to swallow.

But here’s the thing about Mische: even after all that betrayal, her core belief in the goodness of the world never fully died. She clung to the idea that no soul, no matter how broken, was beyond redemption. It was that flicker of hope—despite everything—that really stood out. She didn’t let despair swallow her whole, and watching her fight for that belief, despite all the darkness, was powerful.

Her journey wasn’t just about physical transformation; it was about rediscovering her sense of self and her beliefs. Mische learned that she didn’t have to rely on forces that demanded endless sacrifice. Instead, she found strength in embracing something greater and more compassionate. Her growth was one of the most poignant aspects of the book, as she evolved from someone broken to someone who could stand on her own.

But I will say, being introduced to her as this bright, optimistic character in the previous books made her heartbreaking transformation in this one a little jarring. I totally understand that her journey required immense pain and growth, but I couldn't help feeling like that initial spark of light—her warmth and optimism—was gone. And while her depth and complexity made me love her even more in some ways, I still felt conflicted.


Asar was introduced in this book, and I did enjoy getting to know him. He’s super reserved, cold, and distant, but watching him slowly open up to Mische was pretty heartwarming. There’s definitely more to him than meets the eye—he’s layered, complex, and broken in his own way. I was intrigued by him for sure.

I have to admit though, I found his character a bit underwhelming overall. Even after finishing the book, I feel like I don’t know much about him. I get that he’s mysterious, but I didn’t feel like there was enough depth to really connect with him. Maybe that’ll change in the next book, but right now, he’s still kind of a mystery.

She looked at him like he was a question answered. He looked at her like she was the only one worth asking.

The romance between Mische and Asar definitely felt more like a subplot, which I wouldn't have minded if the main plot had been strong enough to make up for it. But since the plot didn’t grab me the way I hoped it would, the romance just felt secondary and underdeveloped. There were moments where I wanted to see them work, but without a solid, engaging plot to back it up, the romance didn’t have the emotional weight it needed to stand out. It felt like it was kind of lost in the shuffle, and that’s a shame because I could see potential there—it just wasn’t fully realised.

What went wrong was that this book is heavily plot-driven, and since I wasn’t fully invested in the plot, it ended up dragging. The story mostly follows Mische and Asar as they trek through the underworld, and while there’s action and some twists, the whole thing started to feel repetitive. By the end, the twists didn’t even have the same impact—they became predictable and lost their shock value. Every "reveal" felt recycled, like the book was just reusing the same plot points over and over. Somehow, even though there was a lot happening, I always felt a bit lost in the narrative. Maybe that's just me, though—it's possible other readers might find the pacing and plot engaging, but I found myself so lost all the time. The constant feeling of being out of sync with the story made it harder for me to stay focused, and the plot dragged more than I anticipated.

Then there were Elias and Chandra. I didn’t give two shits about them. They were side characters apart of the whole underworld adventure with Mische and Asar, but I still don’t get what the point of their involvement was. They didn’t add anything to the story, and I couldn’t have cared less about what happened to them. Even now, after finishing the book, I still don’t see why they were needed in the first place.

Overall, I really wanted to love this book more. I wish I could, but the more I think about it, the more I find myself disappointed. While I do have to acknowledge how well Mische’s character was handled and how powerfully the themes of religion and faith were explored, the execution of the plot just didn’t work for me. Of course I will be continuing the series because WTF WAS THAT ENDING?!

Crowns of Nyaxia Ratings
#1 The Serpent and the Wings of Night 4 stars
#1.5 Six Scorched Roses 4 stars
#2 The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King 3.5 stars
#3 The Songbird & the Heart of Stone 3 stars

[Madison Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was … immaculate

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ I was . . . underwhelmed

"A girl who can only love broken things, and a boy so broken he can only love what he cannot have. A perfect match."

WHAT TO EXPECT:⁠
✨ fantasy romance
✨ vicious vampires and meddling gods
✨ quest to the underworld / Dante’s inferno vibes
✨ she's a vampire prisoner once blessed by the sun god
✨ he's the bastard son of the Shadowborn vampire king
✨ captor x captive
✨ enemies to lovers
✨ forced proximity
✨ cold/reserved x sunshine
✨ slow burn
✨ 2/5 spice
✨ action-packed
✨ high stakes
✨ skeleton dog companion
✨ heavy descriptions of world building
✨ found family⁠
✨ secrets
✨ single POV
✨ cliffhanger
✨ TW: OW drama (an ex consistently shows up), violence, grief, religious indoctrination and manipulation, emotional abuse


‼️THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS‼️ but I will announce when they are about to happen.


My Thoughts:

Carissa Broadbent is an auto buy author for me. ⁠I love the Crowns of Nyaxia series and I was so excited for this next installment of the series. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed and ultimately disappointed by this novel.

But before I disclose what ultimately led to my disappointment, here's what I enjoyed:

This world continues to fascinate me. Throughout the story, we learn more about the relationships between gods, humans, and vampires and dive deeper into divine politics, ancient power, and the precarious balance between the different realms. I specifically enjoyed learning about Mische's relationship with Atroxus (the sun god) and seeing first hand how the gods manipulate for their own pleasure and gain. Additionally, the journey into the underworld, which is inspired by Dante's Inferno, adds a haunting, horror-esque aspect to this story where the characters are forced to face the deepest, darkest parts of themselves.

I like Mische as a character and thought she was such a strong individual to embrace gentleness and kindness when she has been the subject of much cruelty and felt so much grief. It’s an admirable quality that makes her a standout character.

Asar is a sweetheart and has a quiet strength that complements Mische's own vulnerabilities. I like him, but I also don't really feel strongly about him either. I’m still waiting for that deeper emotional pull to make me care more about his personal stakes in the story.

Luce, Asar's skeleton dog sidekick, was the real MVP. Her unwavering loyalty and love to Asar was heartwarming, and it was so adorable when that loyalty and love started to extend to Mische as well. She's also a fearless protector - stepping in to save the day more than once, by fighting off enemies and offering support in moments of crisis. Her presence brought a sense of comfort and security to both Asar and Mische (and even the reader). I hope we get to see more of her in the next book.

So what didn't I enjoy?

The pacing of this book felt like a tedious pendulum, constantly swinging between intense action scenes and painfully slow moments of rest afterwards. This repetitive back-and-forth quickly became exhausting, making the entire experience feel monotonous. Also, the story supposedly spans several months, but the jumps in time made it feel like it only took a few weeks. The timeline was off and negatively impacted the flow of the narrative.

Mische passing out from exhaustion or deadly wounds was overkill. It’s just boring and predictable how many of the high stakes situations ended the same. Also, ending chapters with Mische passing out and starting the next one with her waking up felt like something a less experienced author would do. So I guess I was disappointed with this writing choice.

While I liked the continued world-building and the setting of the underworld, much of it felt overly abstract and took away from the core plot and drama. There were just so many descriptions but instead of grounding me into the story, it was so tedious to get through that I lost interest and ended up confused as to what was being described to me. And even though each level was supposed to be different, they all felt like variations of the same thing. This only added to the sense that the story wasn’t progressing.

While I like the MCs, I wasn't convinced of their romance. They go from indifference to suddenly having a deep emotional connection, which feels abrupt and unearned. I think there should have been more romantic buildup.

‼️MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD‼️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Do not keep reading unless you want the story spoiled!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I mean it!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


The OW/ex drama didn't work for me, either. Asar's dead lover being the main villain hunting Asar and Mische through the underworld? Come on. 🙄 I will say, it 100% makes sense for Asar's personal growth and the journey through the underworld. But, despite trying to look at it objectively, I can’t shake the feeling that it was a weaker plot device. I think there could have been a better conflict that also would have pulled Mische and Asar together in a more interesting and meaningful way.

I was annoyed with the cliffhanger. I am so sick and tired of authors bringing back side characters. If you keep bringing them back, you only cheapen their departure from the story and make their death less meaningful. Vincent had a little 'come back' moment in The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King where his actions were explained. And now, to have him brought back in a way that will most likely end with him playing a bigger role in the next book feels like such an amateur move. While a part of me wants to know why he is back, the other part is irritated. Many people (myself included) love Daddy Vincent, but having him return feels like pandering to the readers.

Overall, The Songbird and the Heart of Stone was fine, but it is my least favorite Carissa Broadbent story so far. I can’t help but wonder if the influence of traditional publishers and editors may have impacted the story’s direction, and whether this could be a sign of things to come in future Broadbent books. That said, I’m still holding out hope that this one was just a fluke, and I’m crossing my fingers (and toes) that the next will be better.

Thank you Bramble Romance for sending me a physical ARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own..


Favorite Quotes:

This is the tale of how a chosen one falls. She does it screaming, clawing for her old life with broken fingernails. She does it slowly, over the course of decades. And in the end, she takes the whole forsaken world with her.
_______

"A past doesn't define a future."
_______

There was nothing more dangerous than a sin that felt right.
_______

He could have had any woman. And yet his heart was so hungry for her that he let it devour the world for a fleeting taste.
_______

“I just played the notes that sounded like you.”
_______

"I won't let you die here because you're too ashamed to live, Mische. You are so much more than this."
_______

"Do not be afraid of death, Dawndrinker. Make death afraid of you."
_______

[Rowan · Rating 1 out of 5]

These 500 pages were chaos. straight-up chaos. The pacing, the plot, the character arcs, everything felt like the author was throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what stuck. The story had so much whiplash that I barely remember what even happened 🫣

as for Mische, I didn’t care about her before, and I still don’t care now. She’s just... there. Meanwhile, Asar? What did this man even do? He’s labeled as a love interest, but he doesn’t feel like one … oh, and Mische’s “spy mission”? What spy mission? She did nothing. Literally nothing. Don’t even get me started on how the author wrote her as clueless about the fact that what happened to her was sexual assault.
That’s not a sacrifice to your god—it’s trauma. The lack of character development here was shocking.

and the romance….? Calling it romance feels generous. I could taste, feel, see air more than I could feel any chemistry between these two. When they kissed at 65%, I just stood there like, “...am I supposed to feel something?” I didn’t.

i hate the fact that every time I start a series, I see it all the way through to the end so unfortunately I will be continuing the series specially after the insane cliffhanger that we were left with in this book. i’m fully to blame 😬



— ARC Provided by the Publisher TOR publishing group.

[Ali L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gender-swapped vampire versions of April and Andy from Parks & Rec go on a really awful field trip to hell. There are a lot of angry, sad ghosts littering the hallway but Asar and Mische have a mission to collect all the God Tchotchkes™️ and won’t be distracted from their task except for all the times they get distracted from their task. This book is sort of like a rollercoaster, in that the first 40% is a very slow, kind of dull climb, and then everything happens all at once with great vigor and *~drama~*. I know you’re wondering if there’s a version of the Cave Scene in this book and it is with great pleasure that I can tell you that you’ll have to read it to find out.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Azriel girlies... y'all are going to EAT. THIS. SHIT. UP.

this doesn't come out until November 19 so I'll save my full review 'til then to avoid any potential spoilers for those wanting to go in 100% blind. <3

all I can say is that I might throw up? idk, there's a gaping hole in my chest that will only be filled by the sequel. I actually can't think. or breathe adequately. fuck.

[blank ⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who knows me knows I didn't like how shallow Mische felt as a character during the first 2 books. I was worried she wouldn't come into her own during this book, that she'd lack a voice, and I'm pleased to say that is not the case. I loved the insight we finally got into her character, her relationship with Atroxus, and her personality. I didn't see a lot of what was revealed coming and it caught me off guard in a pleasant way.
I also enjoyed how different the romance feels from the romance in the 2 previous books and how the world keeps growing. We keep seeing more and more of the gods and their natures and I have to say I'm really loving that aspect of this world, though I feel the need to point out that the underworld felt confusing at times.

I urge you to check CW as this book deals with heavy topics that may be triggering for some readers.

Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

[Kennedy Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
Screaming at that ending… that was criminal Carissa!!! I need the next book ASAP.

Oh wow I love this world so much. It felt good to be back in it! Carissa did such a great job at reminding the reader at the very beginning of the events that happened in the first two books! I didn’t feel lost/wish I had reread them. However, you obviously need to read the first two books before this one!

The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is that it felt a tiny bit repetitive in the middle. Other than that, I ate this book up!!! It felt perfectly balanced with emotional depth, action, and romance. I think this might be my second fav Carissa book??

Thank you to Podium for the ARC of this wonderful audiobook 🫶🏻

SPOILERS BELOW
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
The scream I scrempt when Vincent greeted her in the afterlife??? I CANNOT

The blood sucking scene had me blushing and kicking my feet like can I be a vampire? 🥵

Honestly loved that Mische died and they are ripped a part. The next book is going to be SO GOOD.

[Books_and_Crafts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless.

If you have been following me for any amount of time you know just how much I love Broadbent’s books. She has this amazing ability to suck you into her stories and fall in love with her worlds. Her characters are cemented into my soul and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This story follows Mische. A woman of fierce bravery and hidden talents that have an origin story of their own. We get to see her hit rock bottom, pick herself up and go head to head with the many faces of death. She gains an ally in a man who has more secrets than even she does. Together they must complete an impossible task for their Gods or face a fate worse than death.

This book ripped my heart out and left me questioning the meaning of life. From the first to the very last page I adored every word. The epilogue left me completely speechless. I had to sit there and just contemplate the magnitude of this story and how sad I was that I had no more pages left to turn. I will anxiously be waiting for the next!

This is a book you are not going to want to miss!

Huge thank you to the author herself for sending me the ARC to enjoy early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ★

as someone who’s always loved Mische, it was such a pleasure to read her story. i was completely obsessed with the dark underworld setting and the multiple trials they had to complete in Morthryn under the orders of Nyaxia and Atroxus. Mische has known plenty of struggles in her life and that has never stopped her from being a guiding light for everyone in her orbit, she’s such a sweetheart. Asar has his own struggles too, shunned by his family and deemed an outcast for his necromancy magic but that hasn’t stopped him from being someone who’d give up anything for those close to his heart. the slow burn was killing me in the best way and i just knew they’d be able to break down each others walls in a way others couldn’t. also, i must say that i would defend Luce— the little skeletal animal companion with my life.. your honor, i love them all so much and i won’t be hearing any criticism thank you.

“I’ll tell you what you’ll have if you lose the sun, Mische. You’ll have a soul gentler than any vampire’s I’ve ever known. You’ll have an incredible magic and the skill to wield it better than the bastard who gave it to you. You’ll have a soft heart and a sharp wit and the wisdom to know when to use one or the other. You’ll have countless inane questions and horrible taste in food and a penchant for making lost souls love you.”

the only complaint i have would with the uneven pacing, some of the slower moments in the middle kinda lost me but by the end i was back and beyond invested in the story. i loved how Asar helped her discover what true love should actually look and feel like and the yearning was everything i hoped it’d be. the way Mische always accepted and understood him from the start spoke volumes. the last 2 sections: Soul and Death had me in such a chokehold, i read it all in one sitting. the betrayal, the reveals, the redemption.. all of it just hit me in a way i didn’t expect. i grew to love Mische and now Asar even more— their romance felt very raw, healing and genuine.. it was beautiful. now, i have to mention THAT. ENDING. ??!??!!? just know it definitely made me lose my whole entire shit and is the reason for the extra .5 in the rating. i was actually screaming and dying internally and would sell my kidney to have the next book in my hands immediately. im still thinking about it even now.

“And if you’ll take it, Mische Iliae, you will have me, too.”

thanks to Deepak for this buddy read, i had so much fun theorizing with you & the chat was top tier 🖤

[steph ⋅˚₊ &#x1065a; ྀི (mostly inactive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 to 3★

main thoughts:
It's sad to say that this book was my least favorite in the series because I had more hope for this book, but it was just iffy😭 I think the plot through me off the most cause I really think this book was unnecessary, as much as I love mische this was just not what I was expecting idk🥲 I guess the whole book was them preparing to raise alarus, but like after the ending what was the whole point anyways? Honestly i’m just underwhelmed like yes this book was easy to read, but I was pretty much just reading to get it over with in hopes that it would get better but it didn’t really😅 like yes the actions bits were nice but they stared to get repetitive as well and then the ending omg I couldn't even fully be shocked cause it's basically what we've seen already just in slightly different font. Honestly I think I need a nap after this and I'm about ready to throw my phone in disappointment (I'm just dramatic guys)

⇩
I didn't completely hate everything, there were a few small moments I did enjoy but not enough😒 mostly I’m just confused and feel like some things didn’t even make sense.

characters:
Mische: listen I love my girl and I love her still but for some reason she didn’t feel the same as when she was a side character and maybe it’s because I’m not used to her being a mc but she seemed a bit different in certain ways😭 honestly this is probably just a me problem so take this with a grain of salt. I do however feel pain when I think about her backstory and how much she deserves better. I did hate some of her actions in this book but to be fair she was always the reckless one so I can’t be too surprised.

Asar: on one hand I like him on another, I feel like I know nothing about him enough to actually fully care about him, if that even makes sense. There are things I like about him and I liked seeing him be a softie, but I also want to know more about his backstory and just more details about him cause I don’t think we know much of anything over here.

⇩
also wtf happened with the side characters just disappearing like okay I’m confused😃

romance:
The romance in this book had me conflicted because I see the potential I do and they did have some cute moments, but it just wasn’t enough I feel like. I didn’t feel as much emotion for them as I should because nothing really happened between them until around the 60% mark and I feel like the connection should have been developed earlier so that it would have mattered more to me.

quotes I loved:🧡

”I just played the notes that sounded like you.”

”What are you doing?” I asked.
“Praying with you,” he said. As if it were obvious.
“I thought you didn’t believe in prayer.”
“I don’t,” he said. “But you do.”

“And if you’ll take it, Mische Iliae, you will have me, too.” This whisper was an exhale, like he didn’t mean to say it aloud—like the words surprised even himself”

extra:
Not sure if I’ll be reading the next book because everything is just seeming too repetitive and unnecessary, but maybe the next book will be better who knows, I do miss oraya and raihn now though🥲

pre review:
╰┈➤ finished on december ninth, 2024
Not even sure what I just read here😭 rtc

🪶pre read:🔸
╰┈➤ started on december eighth, 2024
I’ve been meaning to start this for a while now and I'm excited for mische’s story, but also nervous cause of some of these reviews🫣

[ariyel ୭ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars! ☆┆first read: 3.75!
⤿ no spoilers ﹒⟢

this reread was… not much better than the first time. and the first time was horrendous. i genuinely thought it was gonna go differently when i started—i actually liked the beginning this time. the first 25% had me hooked, i was interested, i was even excited to keep going.

but everything after that? i just kept losing interest. it started dragging and never really recovered. eventually i had to switch to the audiobook again because there was no way i was gonna finish this just reading it. and maybe that’s just me—maybe i’m in a slump or on the verge of one—but reading this felt like a chore.

it sucks because i used to love this series. the first book was so strong. still my favorite. the second one was good too, just not as much. but this one? definitely my least favorite. i feel almost nothing about it. no connection to the characters, no emotional attachment to the story, and very little investment in what’s coming next.

the ending was probably the most interesting part, but even that left me more curious than excited. i’m just hoping the next one isn’t worse than this, because if it is, i’m not making it out of this reading slump.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

finishing this felt like an accomplishment. i had such a hard time reading it—not because of the book itself, but because i literally could not focus no matter how hard i tried. i had to restart it three times and bring in the audiobook just to make it through. but even with all that, i’m glad i didn’t give up.

mische actually surprised me. i liked her fine before, but i wasn’t attached, so i didn’t expect to like her this much. she’s determined and complex and still trying, even after everything she’s lost. and asar? he’s reserved and guarded, but there’s also a loyal side to him that makes him stand out. the more i read, the more i liked them both.

their dynamic was such a highlight. they start off so tense, with all this mistrust and snark, and slowly they just… work. asar’s calm balances out mische’s doubts, and the way they start trusting each other felt really earned. it’s not perfect or easy, but that’s what made it so good.

the plot was a lot. resurrecting the god of death, dealing with all the danger in the underworld, and learning more about shadowborn magic? it all tied together so well. the whole vibe was dark and eerie, especially with the gods in the mix. i don’t think i caught everything because my brain was fighting me the whole time, but the parts i did get? so good.

this book felt so different from the rest of the series, and i loved that. focusing on mische and asar instead of oraya and raihn made it feel different, and the shift to this darker, mythological tone just worked. it’s still got the same big stakes and great world-building, but it brought something new that made me even more excited about this world.

this wasn’t an easy read for me, but by the time i finished, i was so glad i didn’t give up. mische and asar’s story, the big stakes, and the underworld setting made this so much fun—and maybe even something i’ll reread someday when i’m not fighting my own attention span.


━━━━ ⊱⋆⊰ ━━━━


☆ 🖇️ pre-read 𖥻 ＜꒱

time for a reread i was absolutely not planning on. forgot everything that happened in this book and i had the worst experience reading it the first time. i liked it! eventually. but it took me three restarts and a lot of pain. hoping this read goes smoother. hoping i still like it. hoping. just hoping.

── ⟢ ・⸝⸝

finally caught up on the series after a year, and i’m so excited for this one. loved the first book, and now we’ve got a journey to the underworld, a mission to resurrect the death god, and a sun god’s betrayal. can’t wait to see how it all plays out.


crowns of nyaxia
⌗﹒ 01 the serpent and the wings of night — 5 ☆
⌗﹒ 1.5 six scorched roses — 3.25 ☆
⌗﹒ 02 the ashes & the star-cursed king — 4 ☆
⌗﹒ 03 the songbird & the heart of stone — 2.75 ☆
⌗﹒ 04 the fallen & the kiss of dusk — ?? ☆

[✩ Yaz ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the tale of how a chosen one falls. She does it screaming, clawing for her old life with broken fingernails. She does it slowly, over the course of decades. And in the end, she takes the whole forsaken world with her.

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is the first installment in the thrilling new duology within the Crowns of Nyaxia world.

We have already met our main heroine, Mische, in Oraya and Raihn's duology. Mische is captured by the vampires of House of Shadow, better known as Shadowborn. She is sentenced to die after killing Malach, the Prince of their house (note: completely justified as he was responsible for turning her into a Vampire).

Mische was once a Priestess of the Order of the Destined Dawn dedicated to Atroxus, the Sun God, since she was eight-years-old. She lost his light since she was turned and thus lost her sense of identity and purpose.

She is saved by Asar Voldari, the bastard son of King Rapul better known as the Wraith Warden, who claims the dark mother Nyaxia has a task for him and he requires the magic of the Sun God (Atroxus) dwelling within Mische to complete it.

The exiled Prince of the Shadowborn and the Bride of the Sun embark on a quest to the Underworld to resurrect a death god.

Difficult trails await them but could they fully trust each other if divine intervention sets them on different paths? Is betrayal inevitable? What is certain is blood must be drawn.

This was such a fantastic installment that gifted us with a closer look at House of Shadow and Broadbent effortlessly enriches it with more lore, more fleshed-out magic system, multi-layered characters, and a deliciously angsty romance.

A kind warning, you'll need a box of tissue in advance as this story is heavily drenched in emotions.

That ending gutted me and I cannot wait for the second installment!

Content warning: graphic violence, on-page sexual content, discussion of grooming and child abuse, and infant death (off page).

[kenzy]

⸺   ݂   ํ  pre read !

life is worth living after all. after more than a year of waiting the time has finally came

[Lilyya ♡]

somehow I GOT THE ARC 🫢

[Lucie V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

✅ Asar and Mische
✅ Kind of grumpy x sunshine dynamic
✅ Hate to love
✅ Sexual tension / Some smut
✅ New setting / Quest to the Underworld
✅ Vampires
✅ Self-healing journey
✅ Action
✅(🆗) Heavy descriptions at times
✅(🆗) Pace
✅(🆗) Secondary characters
❗️❗️Trigger warnings: gore and blood, mentions of past grooming, mild torture, loss of free will for a while, death, and murders, and conflicted relationship with one’s God and faith

❗️❗️To those of you who got spoiled because of my last book update, I deeply apologize. I put the < spoiler > bracket, but somehow it didn't get hidden.
Again, I am so sorry. 😭

This is the tale of how a chosen one falls. She does it screaming, clawing for her old life with broken fingernails. She does it slowly, over the course of decades. And in the end, she takes the whole forsaken world with her.

Mische is a turned vampire, but before that, she was a Priestess of the Order of the Destined Dawn. She had been chosen by Atroxus himself to serve him and become one of his human brides. After being turned, Mische slowly loses her powers and her purpose, and while on the road, searching for a new purpose, she gets captured by vampires from the Shadow Court out for revenge after learning that she killed their prince. After being saved by Asar, the bastard son of King Raoul and heir to the Shadowborn vampires, she is forced to help him with the impossible task Nyaxia gave him. Forced to work with him even though she doesn’t want to, and forced to travel to the Underworld with him in the hope of resurrecting Alarus.

We learn more about the Gods and their relationships and history in this book. The author dove deeper into the Gods’ politics and conflicts, and the story of Alarus and Nyaxia was finally more fleshed out and detailed. Seeing Mishe’s conflicted feelings toward her God Atroxus and her faith in him was so interesting and heartbreaking at the same time. We could see how unhealthy their relationship was, how badly Mische needed his forgiveness and love, and how she was willing to sacrifice herself and suffer in the hope of gaining back her God’s love.

But I never ran away. Not even when I should. Instead, I did what I always did: I gave that bastard the biggest, brightest smile.

Mische is such a strong, lovable, and amazing character. I loved her from the very first book. I love her bubbly personality, her kindness, and her humaneness, even though she was a vampire, and she remained kind and gentle in this book, despite all she had to go through. Despite her suffering, and all the obstacles life kept throwing her way, she remained a pure soul, focused on helping and making the world a better place.

And then he said, after a moment, “I just played the notes that sounded like you.”
I stiffened. He spoke the words so softly, with such tender vulnerability. Like a confession to a priest. So kind it hurt. Danger, Mische. Danger. This is not what you’re supposed to do. But still, I didn’t pull away.
I murmured, “It’s beautiful.”
And he whispered, “Yes.”

Asar is a wonderful love interest, grumpy enough and kind enough to make every reader obsess over him. I like him, and I loved seeing him slowly come out of his shell and thaw around Mische and her sunny disposition, but at the same time, I feel that I could have cared more about him. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know I could and should have loved him more. Maybe it’s the fact that I listened to the book and it took me almost 3 weeks to complete it, maybe it’s just the way the book was written. Still, I love him, and I am eager to see him burn down the world to save Mische.

The pace felt a little off in this book. There were intense action scenes and gorgeous and vivid descriptions, but it felt like we just kept alternating between both, again and again. Intense action, then long descriptions, then action again, then long descriptions. I love this author’s writing and I enjoyed the vivid descriptions, but at the same time I struggled sometimes to picture the land they were in, and it felt tedious to listen to the long descriptions without being able to have a clear idea of what the land looked like. I think it would have been better if I read the book instead of listening to it since it is quicker for me to read it than to listen to it. Then the descriptive parts wouldn’t have felt as long. The abstractness of the Underworld’s descent is still something I struggled with though, but that’s more of a “me issue” I think.

The fact that the “main villain” in this book was Asar’s dead-but-not-so-dead ex was underwhelming. It made sense because it was key in Asar’s character growth, but it became repetitive after a while, and I saw how this would end miles in advance.

"A girl who can only love broken things, and a boy so broken he can only love what he cannot have. A perfect match."

I think Mische and Asar are perfect for each other, but I would have loved more relationship development in the early stages of their romance. They went from being mostly indifferent toward each other to having a deep understanding of each other and feeling this deep connection. After that, the relationship development was great, with sexual tension and nothing felt rushed, besides this early stage where they went from strangers to people sharing a deep connection and respecting each other. There is smut near the end, and I loved the building that led to these few moments between Mische and Asar.

I find it a little sad that besides Luce, there was no truly relevant or important secondary character. I love Mische and Asar, but being with only the two of them for most of the book felt a little stifling after a while. I wanted them to have more interactions with other characters, and from the start, I felt that the few secondary characters that were introduced were not there to last and that it was only a matter of time before they got discarded.

Luce and her undying loyalty to Asar was one of my favorite parts of the book. She is adorable and definitely one of the MVPs of this book. If anything happens to her in the next book, I will riot. She is always there to save the day or offer some love and comfort whenever Mische needs it, and it was amazing and heartwarming.

"Do not be afraid of death, Dawndrinker. Make death afraid of you."

While I loved listening to this book, it was a little underwhelming in the end. I will still read the next installment for sure though. It does end with a cliffhanger, but I saw it coming a few chapters in advance, so while I was sad and angry at the events that unfolded, I was not shocked. I don’t know yet how I am feeling at Vincent’s quick appearance at the end of the book. I loved him in the first book, because of his complex relationship with Oraya and he is a very intriguing character, but I am not sure I like the idea of the author bringing him back to life. Hopefully, he will only be there to help Mische in the Underworld and get a kind of redemption… we’ll see I guess.



1. The Serpent and the Wings of Night ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1.5 Six Scorched Roses ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2.5 Slaying the Vampire Conqueror ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Follow me on Instagram 🙂

[Ri ♡]

And here i thought we were getting septimus and mische's story 🥲 but the love interest of mische is an exiled necromancer prince!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!? CANT WAIT FOR THIS BOOK AND THE COVER IS JUST GORGEOUS 🤌🏻😍

[itsjessamess · Rating 4 out of 5]

my heart is torn to pieces

[Sara Machado (trying to catch up) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am breaking up my hiatus just to celebrate the publishing date of this beauty! Go grab a copy now! I need you all to get to know Asar!

And please feel free to comment whatever you feel like it with me, I can't believe I'll finally be able to discuss this book!

-------------------------------------------------------------

This book! The story! The ending! The epilogue! Carissa I need the 4th book immediately!

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone book consolidated Carissa as my current favourite Romantasy writer. She writes the perfect blend of fantasy and romance, full of complex and layered characters, wrapped in a beautifully and imaginative setting.

Mische, alongside with Vincent, was my favorite character in this series and I had high expectations for her story. Still, I couldn’t imagine how complex her background story was going to be, and how emotionally engaged I would feel with her journey. I loved Mische before, and I love her even more now. This is a character full of hope, courage and kindness, and exactly the type of FMC I like to read about.

And Asar… what a perfect match for Mische he is! He’s the farthest possible from a Heart of Stone and I can’t wait to see more of him. It’s difficult to resist sharing some quotes by him (I have so many highlighted) but I refuse to spoil others the discovery of this character… Still, I’m obsessed with his heart and quiet, but fierce, love.

This is a story full of vulnerability, pain and love, and I loved every minute of it. Carissa Broadbent writes romantasies like no one else 💜

-------------------------------------------------
I GOT IT!!!!!! AAAHHHHHH!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Pan Macmillan | Tor Bramble and Netaglley for the eARC!

[Reggie Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Carissa, her writing, worlds, & characters. That ending?! I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!! This story had a little bit of everything. Absolutely wonderful. I’m obsessed.

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I were the god of the sun, I would have given her endless dawns and warm hearths.
If I were the god of the sea, I would have given her cool rains on hot nights and currents that always brought her home.
If I were the god of vitality, I would have given her sweet fruit and spring flowers.
I would have given her anything, everything, because that was what she deserved--every single thing she had loved, fully and completely, about mortality.

4.25 stars

That ending was absolutely lit, and I cannot wait for the sequel.

This was a pretty solid first book for a new duology, but it fell a wee bit short from my expectations. The beginning started out strong and well into the middle, but it definitely lulled for me in the second half until it came roaring back for the finale.

Mische was a great FMC. Not physically intimidating, but strong of will, heart, and compassion. I'm split on the religious aspects of her arc, though. On one hand, I cannot personally fathom sacrificing so much of yourself to a higher power, especially considering all of the insights we get throughout the book. I know being taken in by that sect saved her and her sister's lives and there's a lot of deep rooted gratitude there, but because of that your needs and life just cease to exist in order to serve? But Mische does start to question some of this throughout the book and it was a very emotional inner fight with herself on what it meant to serve a god and what it meant to just be who she was.

And Asar was lovely. He was a very good counterpart to Mische but also stood on his own very well. Another MMC where we slowly start to see the depths of the character and blossom over time. I was hoping for a little more of his mind magic, though. It's showcased a bit at the beginning, but then it's just never used again so that was a bit disappointing.

And then the ending. Crazy! I was thinking it would it end up going the way it did, and I'm still a little confused with how it turned out, especially with Asar, but that ending is gearing us up for quite the sequel, if not overarching plot of the entire series, and it's way more than I ever thought this series would tackle and I can't say I'm mad at all about it.

CANNOT WAIT 🔥

[carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the tale of how a chosen one falls. She does it screaming, clawing for her old life with broken fingernails. She does it slowly, over the course of decades. And in the end, she takes the whole forsaken world with her.

⤷ 4.5 stars

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it exceeded my expectations. The Songbird and the Heart of Stone reinforces how spectacular the Crowns of Nyaxia series is.

.ᐟ [This book cannot be read as a stand-alone, although it is the start of a new duet in the series, the books are all connected.]

The world that Carissa crafted is nothing short of breathtaking. This book takes us on a journey through the Underworld and I loved being able to explore it because even though it's a dark and sinister place, there's beauty in it. The characters embark on a very dangerous mission to resurrect a God, which means that the stakes are high from the start and there are so many unnerving scenes, the environment is tense and the pacing is fast, which I really enjoyed. There was never a dull moment, the plot is very intriguing and well constructed. Some of the plot twists at the end took me by surprise, the adrenaline rush I got while reading the last chapters left me breathless. I wanted to scream! The cliffhanger is brutal, but it's brilliant. I can't even be mad at Carissa, I'm in awe of her mind and her ability to create such fantastic stories.

While there's a big focus on politics in The Nightborn Duet, The Songbird and the Heart of Stone touches on religion and faith. This is such an interesting subject for me and I loved how the author explored it.

「 And he was smiling in a way that made the entire world stop, a smile that reminded me of the way the sun looked when it crested the horizon the first time I saw it at the Citadel, and I had thought, I am home. I am home. 」

The characters are deeply layered and fascinating, the journey they take makes them vulnerable and exposes their deepest hurts and fears. It was very emotional to learn their story, my heart ached for them. Mische and Asar are both broken souls who believe nothing can ever make them whole again, they're filled with regret and guilt for things they've done in their past. They're both self-sacrificing idiots and I love them very much.

[Luce is the star of this book, she’s the cutest and everyone will fall in love with her once they read this book]

I love how even the villains have such human traits and aren't evil for the sake of being evil. And the gods are realistically portrayed. This is something I really appreciated in the previous books, Carissa excels at writing multifaceted characters.

ˏˋ꒰ Mische ꒱ˎˊ

I loved Mische in the precious books, but my love for her now runs so much deeper. It broke my heart to discover her full story, to know what she endured at the hands of a God who cared nothing for her and saw her only as a possession.

「 “Do you think that I don’t know what darkness is?” I said. “Why? Because I smile too much? Because I talk too much? It’s my choice to be the way that I am. A choice that I make even when it’s hard. That doesn’t make me weak, Asar.” 」

Mische's light could rival the sun, and I hate that her God gradually dimmed it. But she never lost her optimism, her hope for a better world, her belief that every soul can be saved and deserves a chance at redemption. She sacrificed body and soul for her God, and her blind faith led her to ruin, but I think her journey made her understand that her faith didn't have to be tied to a God, that she could pray and worship a greater power without self-sacrifice. That she doesn't have to lose herself in the process.

Mische begins her journey so broken and miserable, feeling lost and alone and struggling to come to terms with her vampire nature. But along the way, she learns that light and darkness can coexist, and when she finally accepts herself, she transforms into something magnificent.

ˏˋ꒰ Asar ꒱ˎˊ

「 He had devoted himself to fixing the broken things that no one else saw. 」

I really need his POV in the second book because I want to be inside his head. I loved getting to know him; it happened slowly, he's very reserved at first, but once you peel back all the layers, you find such a tender, loving, kind soul. Despite the sharp edges, the darkness that surrounds him, and the anger and regret that linger within him, Asar has a soft side that devastated me. When I saw him fully, I shattered completely. He's such a beautiful being, I'm so in love with him. He's a healer and a protector, and he loves deeply. I just want him to know that he deserves to be loved, that he’s worthy of it.

「 A note of shame imbued his voice. Shame. As if it wasn’t the most compassionate thing someone could do for another being. As if even attempting to help those who were so helpless to all others wasn’t such an act of bravery. 」

ˋ°•*⁀➷ Mische and Asar

「 “Wrote is a strong word. I just . . .” I was too close to him to see him, but I felt his muscles shift as he shrugged. And then he said, after a moment, “I just played the notes that sounded like you.” He spoke the words so softly, with such tender vulner ability. Like a confession to a priest. So kind it hurt. 」

I live and breathe this trope: a broken boy who's convinced that no one can love him, and a girl who loves him easily. It gets me every time! The longing, the angst, the fear of exposing yourself to someone and risking getting hurt, but knowing you're powerless to fight what you're feeling. IT'S SO GOOD!

「 “You asked me what love should feel like,” he murmured. I tensed as his lips brushed my inner thigh. “It should make you think of nothing else.” Higher, where the skin was so sensitive that I jolted when he dragged his teeth over it. “It should make you see stars.” 」

In many ways, Mische and Asar healed each other. Both carry scars, not just in their bodies but in their souls. They both carry fears and regrets, and they tried to fight their feelings, but it was an impossible task. Their romance blossomed slowly, but it was so beautiful to see them open up to each other. They were meant to find each other, Mische is the light to Asar's darkness.

「 “What are you doing?” I asked.
“Praying with you,” he said. As if it was obvious.
“I thought you didn’t believe in prayer.”
“I don’t,” he said. “But you do.” Strange how it was this small gesture of kindness that shattered me. 」

Carissa's writing is stunning and I love how much emotion she conveys through her words. This was such a great reading experience, I lost my ability to think when I finished the book, I don't think I'll ever get over the ending. I can't wait to read the next book, I'll be eagerly awaiting it.

Again, this is not meant to be read as a standalone, you need to read the previous duet. For those who have already read it, I'm sure you'll enjoy getting to know Mische and Asar and venturing into the underworld with
them.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-arc!

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ pre-review

I’m at a loss of words right now! I can’t breathe, I can’t think, I can’t process anything that happened! THE ENDING? 😭 I WANT TO SCREAM!😭

RTC when I find a way to put my messy thoughts into coherent sentences

[Laura Greenhalgh · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars - after hearing mixed reviews i went in with fairly low expectations and although i didn't love this as much as Carissa's other books, i didn't hate this.

firstly i guess i didn't feel much chemistry/tension building between the two main characters, they didn't really interact with each other and then all of sudden they were in deep? towards the end when things started progressing with them i definitely started to feel a bit more invested in their journey but the build up just wasn't what i have come to expect from Carissa's writing/characters.

also what happened to the side characters in this? where did they go? i would say this was a bit slow in the middle and a bit repetitive BUT it showed promise at the start and the ending was also really good so hopefully the next book will bring it back for me! i want to remain optimistic because i really love so many of her other books.

[Kaven Hirning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely just finished this book about three minutes ago and have been pacing my house like a mad man.
Carissa popped off.
The ending is going to keep me up at night.


Drenched in the beautiful darkness of death, wraiths, the underworld and petty gods—Songbird and the Heart of Stone is everything you could ever want. And more.


Mische. You are my sunshine, forever.

[ess ⚡︎ (summer hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

dull and unengaging didn’t even care to pay attention

DNF at 57%.