This fairy tale follows a cursed prince and a brave young woman who must face dark magic and hard choices to break the spell. Broadbent’s writing is lyrical and sharp, balancing danger and hope in a story that feels both classic and fresh. It’s a dark, emotional journey that sticks with you.

This is an amazing fantasy read. When I first read the Crowns of Nyaxia Duology from Carissa, I immediately fell in love with her writing style. The world she created, the pacing, the characters and the plot, everything captured my attention right away. So naturally I was very excited for Mische’s book. I loved her sunshiny personality in the first two books and was very excited to get a deep insight on her story and her history most importantly. And this book did not disappoint. I am very grateful to Netgalley and Tor Bramble for the arc of this book.
This is set after the events of The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King and gives us a deep insight on Mische and Asar’s painful past and the struggles they have faced. This also deals with some deep layered themes so it is emotionally heavy. Hence, please check the content warnings before reading. The book does start slow but then after 45% or so, it picks up and takes you for a ride. The tropes include slow burn, Angst, Trials, Shadow Prince MMC and Sunshiny FMC. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend,

Unfortunately, I didn’t like this one as much as the first two. I struggled a lot to get through parts. I was pretty disappointed because I had high hopes for this one.

The plot was very slow for me (and repetitive). Which was unfortunate since this book was very plot driven.

I also didn’t care for the romance. (Although there wasn’t a lot).

I requested this book so long ago not realizing that it was a part of a series. I have since read the series and this book and wanted to come back and review this book.

I also want to review the other books as well! What an amazing story and I have to say this was far more than 5 stars. This was more along the lines of a 6 star read for me.

I’ll definitely be checking this authors other work out.

Thank you!

4.75⭐️ ARC REVIEW-
Oh my fucking god! I loved everything about this book! It reads like Greek mythology mixed with Dante’s Inferno with different levels of Hell. I love Mische so much, she is an amazing fmc. She is extremely strong and SO loveable. I loved the deep dive into her past with Atroxus and seeing her begin to confront and realize the trauma behind this mortal and God relationship. I think Asar was such a good freaking match for her! Their relationship was a grumpy and sunshine type of thing where he only has a soft spot for her! And omfg I love Luce bc we love a doggy sidekick!!! The ending is so heart wrenching shocking and I can’t wait to see what happens with Asar and Mische.
Critiques: There was A LOT of description and imagery that sometimes it got difficult for me to keep up with and would sometimes take me out of the plot line that was happening. And a lot of the action seemed repetitive slightly, like it was a lot of the same thing happening over and over.

The Songbird & The Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent is a beautifully written and emotionally layered addition to the Crowns of Nyaxia universe. From the first pages, I was drawn into Mische’s story—a former priestess turned vampire, struggling with the loss of her faith and identity. Her journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring, especially as she’s thrust into the underworld alongside the brooding and scarred Prince Asar. The slow-burn relationship between them is one of the most compelling parts of the novel; the way their bond grows from guarded mistrust to genuine connection feels authentic and deeply earned. Broadbent’s world-building is absolutely stunning, especially the eerie and symbolic Descent through the five Sanctums. Each realm presents not just physical trials, but emotional and spiritual ones that push the characters to their limits. I loved how the story delves into themes of grief, redemption, and belief, all while delivering gripping fantasy and rich character development. Broadbent’s writing is lyrical yet clear, full of heart and nuance. This book made me feel everything—hope, fear, love, and loss—and it’s one I’ll be thinking about for a long time. If you love dark fantasy with soul, a strong heroine, and a romance that burns slow and deep, this book is a must-read

୨⎯ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔 ⎯୧
rating: 3.5
plot: 3
characters: 3.25
writing: 4
romance: 3.25
spice: lvl 2
narration: 4

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

°•*⁀➷ my thoughts
it was refreshing to come back to the world of nyaxia again! i was so thrilled to get a Mische book, i really liked her character in the first two but this book just felt different. it didn’t have that spark. regardless, i did enjoy the story and thought it was different and interesting and especially didn’t expect that ending. i can’t even imagine what Aras is going to do now considering the lengths he’s been through for his past lover and such.

also Luce deserves some love because she’s one loyal pup! literally if she could talk imagine how sassy she would be.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

ᝰ.ᐟ thank you netgalley for the arc!

I absolutely loved serpent and the wings of night and this book was a very different vibes in my opinion buuuut it was so good!

I listen to the audiobook while read the book and it had me laughing because I definitely wouldn’t have read some of what they said the way they say it. Made it extra enjoyable.

I love how the gods keep appearing in the series and learning more about them.

The ending!!! Criminal! I need the next one NOW!

Giving it a 4 star

I love Carissa Broadbent, but when I tell you I had a very hard time finishing this book? I certainly did not expect to struggle through and actually cheer when I got finished. It's sad to say but this is my least favorite book in the series, but I am hoping the next one will be fabulous. I appreciated the information about Mische and her background, but I sincerely had issues keeping an interest on what was going on.

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent is a gripping fantasy filled with rich world-building, romance, and intrigue. The story follows a strong protagonist navigating a world of magic and danger, with powerful emotional stakes. Broadbent’s writing is engaging and fast-paced, making it an enjoyable read for fans of fantasy and complex relationships.

This is a must-read author for me. I absolutely adore the world that she has built with these books and this one is a fantastic addition. I will definitely be recommending this one, and reading the next!

This magic system was so unique that I needed to take breaks and write down what I learned/know so far. I love Carissa and her writing is always on point! I feel heartbroken by that ending and need to know what is happening ASAP!!!!

I love Carissa Broadbent's books and this series too! It was a such a fun ride and I can't wait for more from this series in the future!

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I loved learning more about Mische’s backstory and the world’s mythology—especially the gods and the underworld. Carissa Broadbent always builds such rich, immersive worlds, and that part definitely delivered. But as much as I enjoyed the lore, the story itself dragged in the middle, and I found myself waiting for things to pick up.

The biggest letdown? The romance. It just didn’t have the spark I was hoping for. There was no real tension, no slow-burn magic like in her other books. The characters felt a little underdeveloped, and the male lead didn’t leave much of an impression on me. I kept wanting more—more depth, more chemistry, more something.

Overall, this is probably my least favorite Broadbent book so far. I still enjoyed parts of it, but it didn’t quite hit the way I wanted it to. Solid worldbuilding, but the romance and pacing left me wanting. 3.5 stars.

The ending has me intrigued to read the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series is so creative and another slam-dunk by Broadbent. I look forward to seeing how it all ends in the final book.

THE ENDING!!!! It left me up and had me sobbing. I loved that this book covered Mische's story however, it was my least favorite of the series.

I was so so eager for this book. I mean it's about Mische! The sunshine in the dirt! I could not wait to dig in while she went on her own adventure.

And then....

I loved getting her back story. I have been curious over the first two books. I was even very interested in Asar's story.
But the story dragged and dragged and then about half way through it sped up .

If the entire book had been like the last half...this would have gotten 4-5 starts. As it is, I felt that i was underwhelmed for most of it until it got.. interested. And Now, I HAVE TO KNOW how the story ends.

HAVE TO!

3.5 /5 stars.

Thank you to NetGally for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

3.75 ⭐️
I was really looking forward to Mische’s story after the Nightborn duet, as she was one of my favorite characters. Unfortunately, this book fell a little flat for me.
I enjoyed getting to know Mische’s backstory. I still do really like her as a character.
But, there was just something about the book that couldn’t quite keep my attention, and that holds me back in my rating.
The end was crazy, but I’d expect no less from Carissa.
Ultimately, I liked this book, but just not at the same level as the previous books in the series.
Trust me when I say I’m still looking forward to the next book with my whole heart, though.

This is one of my favorite romantasy series of all time. Carissa Broadbent is immaculate in her writing style and world building. I loved how there was light and darkness in this story and how the two MCs were determined to get through their challenges. The writing was immersive and vivid, and the story itself was extravagant and beautiful. I appreciated how well developed the characters were throughout and thought they experienced a lot of growth by the end. This one had depth and made me feel so many emotions as I was reading. There were even times I got lost in the story and forgot where I was! I was looking forward to reading about Mische's story and it most definitely did not disappoint!! I cannot wait for more in this series.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.