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.

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 god of death.

Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. But 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 grow restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone

For me, this book was unfortunately a big disappointment. I absolutely loved the storyline in the first three books, especially everything surrounding Oraya and Raihn. Their story completely pulled me in and was what made me fall in love with this series in the first place. Because of that, I went into this book really excited and hopeful that I would feel that same connection again.

Sadly, that just didn’t happen for me. The storyline focusing on Mische and Asar felt really flat in comparison, and I had a very hard time getting invested in their story. I kept pushing myself to continue reading because I loved the first three books so much and kept hoping it would eventually pick up or start to feel more engaging, but it just never did.

The pacing felt slow and the plot didn’t feel as gripping or emotionally impactful as the earlier books. I also struggled to connect with the characters in the same way I did with Oraya and Raihn. Their story had so much depth and tension, while this one felt like it was missing that same spark.

There were a few moments that were interesting, but overall I found myself forcing my way through the book rather than enjoying it. By the end, I mostly just wanted to finish it so I could move on.

I really did want to love this book because the first three in the series were so strong for me, but unfortunately this storyline just fell short. Because of that, I don’t think I’ll be continuing with Mische and Asar’s story moving forward.

BROOKE A

For me, this book was unfortunately a big disappointment. I absolutely loved the storyline in the first three books, especially everything surrounding Oraya and Raihn. Their story completely pulled me in and was what made me fall in love with this series in the first place. Because of that, I went into this book really excited and hopeful that I would feel that same connection again.

Sadly, that just didn’t happen for me. The storyline focusing on Mische and Asar felt really flat in comparison, and I had a very hard time getting invested in their story. I kept pushing myself to continue reading because I loved the first three books so much and kept hoping it would eventually pick up or start to feel more engaging, but it just never did.

The pacing felt slow and the plot didn’t feel as gripping or emotionally impactful as the earlier books. I also struggled to connect with the characters in the same way I did with Oraya and Raihn. Their story had so much depth and tension, while this one felt like it was missing that same spark.

There were a few moments that were interesting, but overall I found myself forcing my way through the book rather than enjoying it. By the end, I mostly just wanted to finish it so I could move on.

I really did want to love this book because the first three in the series were so strong for me, but unfortunately this storyline just fell short. Because of that, I don’t think I’ll be continuing with Mische and Asar’s story moving forward.

This is so much more readable than the original duology. It feels less like it is trying to be edgy which then also makes it less cringe. Not sure whether it is because the characters are older and have much more balanced (even if still somewhat inconsistent) personalities. Maybe it was just giving Broadbent a chance to reset and also work with a clearer structure.

Maybe she got a better editor or maybe I just got used to her prose. It seems much more competent than previous novels. (I think she mentioned she was working on 2 or 3 at the same time while pregnant and then as a new mother. Maybe she had more time to revise this one, as per the order of publishing?)

That being said, I still feel like the novel really falls apart towards the end. Also difficult to put death as a high stake event when people have been dying and been resurrected left, right and centre consistently.

This is so much more readable than the original duology. It feels less like it is trying to be edgy which then also makes it less cringe. Not sure whether it is because the characters are older and have much more balanced (even if still somewhat inconsistent) personalities. Maybe it was just giving Broadbent a chance to reset and also work with a clearer structure.

Maybe she got a better editor or maybe I just got used to her prose. It seems much more competent than previous novels. (I think she mentioned she was working on 2 or 3 at the same time while pregnant and then as a new mother. Maybe she had more time to revise this one, as per the order of publishing?)

That being said, I still feel like the novel really falls apart towards the end. Also difficult to put death as a high stake event when people have been dying and been resurrected left, right and centre consistently.

What an ending. Amazing. The book was a little slow at some part but the ending made up for it.  

Aleksander.G

Did not like this one as much as the others in the world, however, I could not be happier that there was no betrayal of a lover at the end. Thank you, thank you, because I'm tired of people who love and trust each other not being on the same page at the end of a book. I wish that I didn't feel like the stakes were so low. I felt more heartbreak for Alarus and Nyaxia in the flashbacks. I was more attached to the Mi who was a scared girl trying to appease a god. I hope she struggles with that more in the next book. ANYWHO, I'm excited for the next book, because I really do love this world (especially the gods, sue me!).

Kiersten

Repetitive at times but didn’t see the plot twist coming at the end.

Christen 

This was a good first book in this new duet. It was slower but I think it was a good introduction to the characters and setup for the second book. As of right now I do like the first duet more but you never know what the second book will bring so I’ll still keep an open mind. 

Priscilla Stanfield

4/5⭐️ • 2/5🌶️

This was a good first book in this new duet. It was slower but I think it was a good introduction to the characters and setup for the second book. As of right now I do like the first duet more but you never know what the second book will bring so I’ll still keep an open mind. 

taylor


i love

vampires

religious guilt

the underworld

chapters that end in cliffhangers

a dog

I NEED AN AMBULANCE ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️