I’ve been hooked on Mische ever since she was introduced in The Serpent and the Wings of Night. At first glance, she seemed like the stereotypical carefree, slightly shallow character, but I always suspected there was more beneath her bubbly exterior. In The Songbird and the Heart of Stone, Broadbent delivers on that promise, unveiling layers of trauma, pain, and hidden strength that made me fall in love with her all over again.

After the events of the Nightborn Duet, Mische sets out on her own journey and, unexpectedly, finds herself thrust into the underworld with Asar, the bastard heir of the House of Shadows, and his loyal spirit wolf, Luce (the true MVP). Together, they embark on a dangerous quest to resurrect the God of Death. This journey turned out to be everything my dark soul craved, and I was shocked to find that I didn’t miss Raihn and Oraya at all—Mische and Asar’s story quickly took center stage for me.

The dynamic between Mische and Asar is pure gold. They embody the classic "grumpy/sunshine" trope, and their interactions are both amusing and heartwarming. The slow-burn romance that develops between them is a standout for me; Broadbent masterfully builds their emotional connection before the physical attraction takes over. This focus on emotional intimacy first made their relationship feel real, vulnerable, and deeply satisfying. Their journey to understand what love and devotion truly mean is a beautiful arc, and the way they each help the other heal and grow left me rooting for them every step of the way.

Beyond the romance, The Songbird and the Heart of Stone shines with its rich character development. Mische’s complicated relationship with her god, Atroxus, was a highlight for me, as it explored themes of trauma, faith, vengeance, and forgiveness. The novel doesn’t shy away from the darkness of its characters’ pasts, and I loved how these emotional wounds were unpacked slowly, creating a sense of both suspense and catharsis. The way Broadbent weaves these threads into the plot, revealing layers of complexity and conflict, is what makes this book stand out in the romantasy genre.

The pacing, particularly in the second half, does have some odd moments. While I was immediately hooked by the atmosphere and aesthetic (which gave me Empire of the Vampire and Asunder vibes), parts of the story felt rushed or uneven. Some key character and relationship developments happened off-screen, and a few secondary characters didn’t receive the depth I’d hoped for. However, once we hit Part 4 (of 7), Broadbent absolutely hits her stride, and from there on, it’s an emotional rollercoaster that I couldn’t put down. The ending, a brutal cliffhanger, left me staring at the wall in stunned silence—how dare she leave me hanging like that? But I love the pain.

In my opinion, The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is not just Broadbent’s best work so far—it’s a game-changer for the dark romantasy genre. With its morally grey characters, high-stakes vampire politics, haunting atmosphere, rich lore, and devastating emotional depth, this book raises the bar for everything that comes after. And let’s not forget, it’s got a loyal skeletal spirit wolf companion, which is basically the cherry on top. Even grimdark fans will find themselves captivated by the world of The Crowns of Nyaxia. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Songbird and the Heart of Stone.

I absolutely devoured several of Carissa Broadbent's past novels, so I was completely ecstatic for the newest in the Crowns of Nyxia series. When I found myself struggling through the first part of this one, I was frustrated and disappointed, but kept trudging on, then BOOM. I don't know when it happened (maybe around 30%) but I was suddenly hooked. The Songbird and the Heart of Stone may start off slow BUT KEEP GOING. The last 75% is full of action, turmoil, chaos, and smoldering chemistry. I finished this morning and am devastated that I have to wait until AUGUST for the rest of this story. MONTHS?!?!? The ending was perfect and I can't wait to see what happens!!!

Carissa Broadbent delivers an emotionally charged addition to the Crowns of Nyaxia series with The Songbird and the Heart of Stone. This time, the spotlight is on Mische, whose tragic backstory and inner strength take center stage.

Mische’s journey is one of heartbreak and sacrifice. Once chosen as a bride for the Sun King, her humanity was stolen when she was forcibly turned into a vampire, severing her connection to the sun god she loved. Her life has been defined by loss—of her beloved god, her humanity, and her autonomy. Now, Mische faces one final mission, demanding her to confront her past and take control of her fate, even if only briefly.

The story unfolds through a blend of present-day events and flashbacks, offering a layered view of Mische’s history. Saved from execution by Asar—a character with his own agenda—Mische goes on a perilous journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death. The stakes are immense, and the emotional weight of her story deepens as the plot progresses.

Admittedly, the beginning was challenging to get into. I wondered if rereading the earlier Crowns of Nyaxia books might have helped me. However, by the halfway point, as Mische & Asar's backstory came into sharper focus, I was hooked. Their sorrowful and sacrificial lives are heartbreaking, and it’s impossible not to root for them.

Broadbent’s writing is as compelling as ever, with her trademark blend of intricate world-building, high stakes, and dark emotional depth. Be prepared for a gripping tale—and mind the cliffhanger.

Thank you Bramble Books for my advanced reader copy. All opinions my own.

I have previously enjoyed Broadbent's work and like the first two books in the Crowns of Nyxia series. I found Mishe to be an interesting character in the previous two books, but I just could not get into this one. The story really dragged and got really repetitive to the point that I could skip large portions of the descriptions without missing any plot. Mishe's internal dialogue also got repetitive. There journey in the underworld was just the same thing, over and over again. Like, how many chapters can we end with Mishe passing out? The relationship between Asar and Mishe was fine, but I felt it was hard to get to know Asar.

The ending certainly delivers what this author is known for a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that leaves you itching for the next book. However, while the final twist lived up to my expectations, the journey there didn’t hit quite as hard as I’d hoped.

Mische, a character I adored in the first two books of this series, felt frustratingly different in her own story. Her internal monologue was so repetitive that it became a chore to read at times. I understand her struggles and emotional turmoil were key to the narrative, but it felt like she was stuck on a loop, which dulled some of the impact of her character development.

The magical quest into the underworld had all the ingredients for a high-stakes adventure. However, the execution left me wanting more. Despite the intriguing world-building and the high stakes, most of the plot felt overshadowed by the constant tension with Asar’s ex-lover, who seemed to exist solely to repeatedly endanger Mische. Beyond that subplot, I struggled to recall much of the quest itself, which made the underworld feel less vivid than it could have been.

Asar was a bright spot in the story. His brooding nature and complicated past added depth to the narrative, and his dynamic with Mische kept me engaged. Their forbidden attraction brought a spark to the story, even if it couldn’t quite carry the weight of the repetitive internal monologues and uneven pacing.

This book wasn’t bad, it was just shy of being great. While it didn’t fully meet my expectations, it still had its moments of brilliance, and I’ll definitely pick up the next installment to see how that cliffhanger plays out.

The premise is intriguing, and the prose is beautifully descriptive, creating vivid imagery and a sense of wonder. However, the book's emotional core left something to be desired.

While getting right to the action and plot has been successful in the previous books in the series, this time around it didn’t strike the right note. I didn’t feel like I knew the characters which made it difficult to invest in their journeys or to feel the tension when they were quickly thrust into life-or-death situations. Without a strong attachment to the characters, the high-stakes action of the plot lacked the emotional weight it needed to resonate.

For readers who prioritize emotional investment in characters, this might not fully satisfy, but those looking for a fast-paced, visually stunning fantasy may still find it enjoyable.

As a lover of Carissa Broadbent's books, this might be my favorite of hers yet and definitely the best in the Crowns of Nyaxia series so far. Mische is a great character to follow with a lot of depth, and I adore her love story. Vampires descending into the Underworld is a fun plot to start with, but one of the vampires wrestling with the fact that she's a vampire at all was so well done and gave this book a lot of heart and well-developed conflict. I can't wait for the next book in this duology and the rest of the whole series.

4,5 ⭐️

hey!! so!! what was that ending!! respectfully, Carissa can you fight??

this entire journey was so immersive. I could picture the Underworld setting so so perfectly and it felt like I was THERE with Mische & Asar. I love Mische so much!! that is MY GIRL and like get behind me!!!! I'll protect you. and Asar -- hot. I love how patient he was, and how he showed Mische time and time again that she deserves actual true love. he is a simp and so gone for Mische. I'm obsessed with him.

also please give me the next book immediately!!!!! thank you Bramble for the arc.

Unfortunately I DNF’d this book. I was so looking forward to this book because CB is one of my fav authors but I could not get into this book no matter how hard I tried

I LOVED seeing Mische at the center of her own story, and the dynamic between her and Asar was just as compelling as the one that exists between Oraya and Raihn in the first duology; even though I'm not usually a vampire-novel girl, the sheer humanity of Broadbent's characters (despite things like wings and a penchant for drinking blood) has me so thoroughly entrenched in their stories that I cannot wait to dive into each subsequent chapter. Mische has stood out for me since "The Serpent & The Wings of Night," and to get her story, to see her shine as so much more than just the token bubbly friend, was utterly fabulous. I just loved everything about this - including Luce, who truly is The Best Girl - and cannot wait to see what part two of this duology has in store for my girl and what I still hope to be her happily ever after.

I’ve been looking forward to this release for months! The novella is actually one of my top reads of the year. Sadly, this one fell a bit flat. The storyline was engaging but I didn’t find myself as invested in the characters or the conflict. I’m still a huge fan of the series and absolutely will follow Carissa’s future releases! I plan to give this another try via audio soon!

An easy 5 star read. Loved learning the back story of Mische and being introduced to Asar. A fantastic continuation of the world of Nyaxia. Already looking forward to the next part of Mische & Asar’s story.

Unfortunately, after LOVING the other two books and novella in this series this book fell very flat for me. First, I know this is a lot to ask but I do wish there was more of a recap from the last book to this one. It was hard to follow and remember what exactly was happening. I also didn’t feel any real connection or tension, which is what I enjoy the most, from the romance in this book. I would be willing to continue reading this series if it circled back to Oraya and Raihn, but this book didn’t really do it for me.

Thank you NetGalley & Bramble for this ARC!

While I loved the first two books in this series, The Serpent and the Wings of Night as well as The Ashes and the Star Cursed King, I found myself struggling to get into The Songbird and the Heart of Stone. I think it's because I loved Oraya and Raihn so very much that I wanted more of them!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, as the Crowns of Nyaxia series if one of my favorites. This book unfortunately fell very flat for me and didn't really contain any of the elements I loved from the previous 2 books. It felt extremely redundant and the connection between the FMC and MMC wasn't there for me personally. I'm super sad to not have loved this book and wish I could be writing a different review about it! Hoping to still enjoy the rest of this series in the future.

Despite a slow start, this book delivers in its Carissa Broadbent promise of intrigue, strong characters, and men we would go to war for. The ending made me want to scream (with delight) and I'm already excited for the next installment. Still screaming.

Great continuation of this epic fantasy series. Getting to see Mische's storyline play out was a delight

Thank you so much Tor Publishing Group/Bramble Romance for a free arc of The Songbird & the Heart of Stone in exchange for a review! I screamed when I found this one in the mail, Carissa Broadbent is one of my favorite authors, and the reason I fell in love with fantasy romance!

Mische is one of my absolute favorite characters, so when I found out this book was centered around her, I was thrilled. Mische is a character who is just so full of life in the previous books, but this book, you kind of feel the weight of the things that have happened to her. Mische's story is heartbreaking, and Carissa really took me on an emotional journey with her. In this book, you get so much more insight into who Mische is and why. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about her.

Now as for the plot, I am keeping this vague, so I don't ruin anything. Mische is a turned vampire, and her love interest, Asar, is the bastard Prince of the House of Shadow. The pair take a journey into the underworld with hopes of resurrecting the God of Death. It takes time to build and progress the MC's journey to the underworld, and there are so many layers leading up to it. Know going into it, it's a slow burn. Even the romance is a slow burn, our MC's take "earning" trust to whole new level.

Overall, solid start to a new duology.

Favorite Quote - "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."

Audience: Adult
Plot: 4.8 out of 5
Characters: 4.8 out of 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️ out of 5

Keywords: Vampires, Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Quest, Resurrection, Royalty, Magic, Slow-Burn, Heartfelt
Tea Pairing: Comfort Blend Black Tea (orange and cinnamon) from Plum Deluxe

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from Tor Publishing Group. Thank you! All opinions are my own.

Favorite Quotes:
–”There is no light without darkness. There is no life without suffering.” – (Chapter 11)
– ”I just played the notes that sounded like you.” – (Chapter 29)
–”We all have ghosts in our pasts, Iliae. We can’t give them the power to define our futures, too.” – (Chapter 20)

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is the first book in the new Shadowborn Duet by Broadbent. It follows the events of the Nightborn Duet (Serpent & Ashes), and is set in the same world of the other Crowns of Nyaxia novels. Songbird follows the story of Mische, after she has left the Nightborn kingdom and heads to the Shadowborn kingdom. When she arrives, she meets Asar, the second son of the king, and Wraith Warden. The pair go on a quest and descend into the Underworld, each tasked by their patron god/goddess to complete an important mission.

Songbird has such a different tone than the Nightborn Duet. In the Nightborn Duet there was a sense of urgency with the games and trials, as well as non-stop action. Songbird was heartfelt, and, for me, was a deeply-emotional journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance. As both Mische and Asar travel further through the Underworld, each comes to terms with their personal guilt, shame, and trauma. Mische and Asar are really two sides of the same coin, and I think that is why they are so well-suited for each other. There is such a sweetness to both of them, as they navigate what love truly means.

I enjoyed this novel immensely. Fans of Broadbent’s Crowns of Nyaxia novels are sure to delight in the first of the Shadowborn duet. This is a slow-burn romance, with elements of “Who did this to you” and “He falls first.” For me, this novel has only confirmed the phenomenal storyteller that Broadbent is, and has placed her in a tier all her own.

I think the question is: how many times DIDN’T I cry while reading this book? I could count that number with just one hand because honestly, I have no idea how I even managed to finish this book with all the tears blurring my vision and staining the pages of my book. This book had such a visceral effect on me, my heart was in a constant state of aching tenderness with precious moments of sweet relief and profound joy. I had so much love for Asar, Mische and Luce (who is the actual MVP of this book) and nothing pained me more than saying goodbye when I finished reading.

This was my first foray into Carissa Broadbent's worlds and by the end of it, I did not want to leave. Besides the incredibly immersive world-building, I was fascinated by the politics, magics, and religions in it. Everything had its own complex system that was both modern and steeping in tradition. And the structure of Morthryn will always inspire equal parts awe and terror in me, being the boundary between the mortal world and the underworld, and a part of The Descent, it goes beyond being just a building into an otherworldly experience.

I don’t think there are enough words to express how much I love Asar and Mische. Both scarred, looking for their own versions of redemption, and just wanting to be loved, they’re different sides of the same coin. They both have their own traumas to work through and we get to see what healing looks like for the both of them. It’s a process that’s painful, gut-wrenching and honestly had me straight up sobbing for most of their journey (especially with the way Carissa sequenced this book, it was genius). So many aspects of The Descent had them facing parts of themselves that they feared, hid away and hated and while they didn’t magically overcome all these things, Asar and Mische found ways to slowly accept these parts of themselves.

TSATHOS was honestly impeccable and every moment carried weight. I’m going to be staring at the wall yearning for book 2, especially after that ending.