I LOVE THIS SERIES. I LOVE CARISSA. I LOVE THIS WORLD.

This was a perfect read. The chokehold this series has me in should be studied. I am in awe of Carissa Broadbent’s mind and her writing. The gothic atmosphere & aesthetic added so much to this story. The characters where well flushed & I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

If you love, slow burn, vampires, fantasy romance, trials, gods, character depth, twists and turns, gods & a beautiful gut-wrenching love story, I highly recommend this book & obviously this entire series.

obsessed doesn’t begin to cover it. this series is THAT girl.

Another beauty from her majesty! Carissa is my favorite vampire romantasy writer, and for a good reason. Her characters are dynamic and sexy, and I just adore her work. I hope I can meet her at a signing someday!

4/5 stars.

I love what Broadbent is doing with the Crowns of Nyaxia series. She has set up a second entry point to the series for new readers while also providing enough additional world-building that those who did read the first duology have some continuity. The Songbird & the Heart of Stone follows a new female and male main character (FMC and MMC respectively) from the previous duology. Mische is a reoccurring character from the first duology and we really get to unravel her past. This is at its core a quest book with increasing stakes as the quest goes along. This is a fast-paced read that I could not put down. Overall, I really love what Broadbent has created with this world and I would absolutely recommend these books and will be continuing on.

I adore this world and I was so excited to read this next installment from Mische's POV! It did not disappoint. Exciting and romantic, I couldn't put the book down! Now I just have to wait impatiently for the next book!

The Songbird and the Heart of the Stone started off strong. Mische's personality and character I have admired in the past two books. I wasn't sure how she'd be on her own. I have to preface this review by saying that The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is a book that explores religious trauma. It's about pouring all of our heart and soul into our faith and being burned. The ways devotion often requires unquestioning obedience, complicity, and silence. That has to be my favorite element which I was not expecting. That being said, it certainly wavers in terms of its presence throughout the story.

OBSESSED. This was such a great follow-up to the first duology. I seriouslly cannot wait for the next book!

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

I think Carissa Broadbent is the sole reason I'm able to read romantasy -- she does it so well and so magically, with characters that feel true to life and Mische and Asar are two of my favorites. I think I actually prefer this book to Raihn and Oraya's story; they're both radically different from one another but there's something about these two that just speaks to me. That's particularly true when it comes to Mische, easily one of my favorite characters in the series, if not one of all time for me. She's strong and vulnerable and I love romantic pairings that make each individual a stronger person, and this book has that tenfold.

I feel a bit conflicted about this one, but overall liked my time with it. The writing flows well and I found the worldbuilding intriguing. I liked the overall premise of a journey down to the underworld. I also enjoyed some of the character development we saw, but I struggled a bit with the romance. I wish we had seen more of it develop on page instead of being told it was happening. That being said, the ending was great and I'm definitely interested in reading the next book.

LOVE this next installment in the incredible world of Nyaxia that Carissa Broadbent has created. For me, this series is vampire fantasy at its finest and The Songbird & the Heart of Stone was everything I wanted and more!

Book one in the House of Shadow duology follows FMC Mische (who we met in the House of Night duology) who, after killing the prince of the House of Shadow, is sentenced to die. Before she can be killed, the bastard prince Asar steps in to save her life–and in turn, Mische must join him on a perilous quest to the underworld to resurrect the god of death. As they embark on their quest Mische is approached by the sun god who she had devoted her life to as a human, but who abandoned her once she was Turned into a vampire. He offers her his own deal–a return to his side if she betrays Asar at the end of their quest and murders the god of death after his resurrection. Their journey into the underworld is full of surprises–including Asar himself. Mische must decide between winning back the love of the sun god who was the light of her former life, or whether her building relationship with Asar is worth surrendering herself to a life of shadows.

>❤️ What I loved: High stakes, a delicious slow-burn romance between our main characters, and a banger of an ending are leaving me ravenous for book two.
>💔 What I didn’t love: While near-perfect for me, a slow burn start to this story (both in plot pacing and romance) might be a detractor for some. Luckily, it felt well worth it by the end, and I think will pay off even more in the context of the full duology.

Fans of the series and darker romantasy tales should definitely pick this book up! 

**Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (4.5-5)**

**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers** ✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Carissa Broadbent, and Tor Publishing, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book. ✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. ✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

The Nightborn Duet is a favorite so I loved that Broadbent finally gave us Mische's story. And it did not disappoint. Though it had all the elements of what made the first duology so exciting, this one felt different enough to offer something new. Enjoyed the two leads hugely. Highly recommend for readers wanting more of enemies to lovers, ToG/ACOTAR.

This book was too good! Everything we wanted in this series! I highly recommend if you love romantasy, this series serves.

"But faith meant that you never stopped letting yourself hope, even if it hurt."

Oh my goodness! I knew I was going to love Misches' story, but I wasn't planning on loving it more than Oraya and Raihns... but that's exactly what happened. Mische is such a conundrum. She's a vampire who had originally been chosen as a bride of the sun. She's from the house of shadows yet has the sunniest disposition. She is a light in the darkness.

Asar, on the other hand, is a grumpy, broody, enigmatic vampire that you can't help but adore. He's fierce and bossy, and after a while, Mische manages to wear him down to get to his gooey center.

And so I wait.... for the rest of their story. IYKYK

Oh I just adored this! Carissa Broadbent is easily becoming one of my favorite fantasy book authors. I didn't read the summary before diving in, so I was a tad confused where the story was going. I felt like once I got through the first half of the book it flew by!! The romance and plot became so fas paced and I loved it.

Another beautifully written, but emotional addition to an amazing series.

I am so happy to see Mische take center stage since I really loved her in the first two. She is bubbly but so complex and layered and very different from the typical romantasy FMC in a refreshing way. We see her emotional baggage, religious trauma, and personal struggles evolve and grow over this book and gives layers of complexity that add such depth.

Broadbent is a master on worldbuilding - this books takes place in an entirely new world but it still fits in perfectly with all the previous books and the overarching world that's been established without being overwhelming or feeling like the prior worlds are lost.

I would read anything Broadbent writes, and every book I read proves this true again and again.

Overall well written book! The story dragged a little at times but pushed through since the character development continued to get better

I enjoyed the newest part of this series. I will admit that it had been awhile since I read the second book, and I had to reorient myself with the side characters from that book. Those characters become the main characters in this book.

I was nervous starting this book. The Nightborn Duet is my favorite romantasy series and I was worried about where Carissa Broadbent might be taking these characters. I should've known that the characters I love would be in good hands. The Songbird & the Heart of Stone leaves Raihn and Oraya behind, we only see them in flashbacks, and follows Mische as she goes on an adventure all her own. I liked Mische in the first duology, but my focus was mainly on Raihn and Oraya and their relationship. I fell in love with her in this book. She is a great and unique heroine with a bubbly personality that hides a really dark past. Her love interest in this book is the perfect complement to her. He is extremely serious and focused. I wouldn't say he's the grumpy to her sunshine, but moreso the stoic to her free spirit.

Broadbent did an amazing job with the plot, the characters, and the world building. We're not only in an entirely new kingdom, but also in an entirely new scenario with unique stakes. The draw of The Serpent & the Wings of Night was the competition aspect of the Kejari. I won't spoil, but this book has a similar draw with a more hero's labor framing than the Kejari.

I highly recommend this series to anyone that loves Sarah J. Maas. Jennifer L. Armentrout's Of Blood and Ash didn't do it for me, but Broadbent's vampires and world are exactly what I want in a romantasy. There is spice, but the yearning is where it's at in this book. I cannot wait for The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk!

Thank you to Carissa Broadbent and Bramble Romance via NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I love every single piece of work that Carissa Broadbent has ever put out. I read the War of Lost Hearts trilogy earlier this year, and I am just so obsessed with everything that Carissa works on. I would read her grocery list and I have no problem pushing this story.