The Songbird & the Heart of Stone is an absolutely stunning start to Carissa Broadbent’s new duology, and wow, did it live up to the hype. Fans of the Crowns of Nyaxia series will remember Mische, the former Priestess of Atroxus, who’s now grappling with her new life as a vampire. After killing Malach, the Shadowborn prince who turned her (totally justified, by the way), she’s sentenced to die. But then Asar Voldari—exiled prince, brooding warrior, and all-around heartthrob—shows up, claiming he needs her Sun God magic for a mission that could change everything. Together, they set off on a perilous quest to the Underworld, where trust is fragile, betrayal feels inevitable, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

I loved Mische as the FMC. Her optimism and inner light, even in the face of all this darkness, were so beautiful to see. She’s one of those characters you can’t help but root for. And Asar? Don’t get me started. His backstory unfolds perfectly, and his chemistry with Mische is next level. The slow build between them is so angsty and delicious—Broadbent nailed it.

And let’s talk about the world-building. Returning to the Crowns of Nyaxia universe felt like coming home, even if it’s a home full of terrifying monsters and deadly vampires. The deeper look into House of Shadow, the expanded lore, and all the little callbacks to characters from Oraya and Raihn’s duology had me grinning. Plus, Luce, the dog, stole every scene she was in. As the book says, “Dogs. We didn’t deserve them.” Accurate.

But fair warning: this book will break you. The ending gutted me in the best way, and now I’m counting down the days until the next installment. If you’re already a fan of this world, you’re going to fall in love all over again.

Love the world and mische is one of my favorite characters so I loved her story. I loved the romance and the dynamic between them. The dog though had me 🥹🥹🥹 the pacing wasn’t my fave but I enjoyed it nonetheless!

Like everyone else in the book-loving world, I too fell head over heels for Carissa Broadbent's Crowns of Nyaxia series a couple of years ago. She is one of the reigning Romantasy Queens along with SJM and JLA. I was hesitant to move on from Raihn and Oraya in THE SONGBIRD & THE HEART OF STONE, but I should have known better. I loved learning more about former sidekick Mische in book 3, especially getting to know more about her faith and toxic relationship with Atroxus. Also, Asar? DANG! What a scarface dreamboat. Any dude that loves his dog as much as he loves Luce is crushworthy for me. *swoons*

Thank you to NetGalley and TOR for the arc of this memorable, heartfelt book.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor for the EARC!
There are things I absolutely loved about this book and things I could’ve done without. Mische was one of my favourite characters from the crowns of nyaxia series so I was so excited to get her story… unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. I did enjoy the romance between her and Asar, but my favourite character was Luce 😫🥹
The pacing of this book felt off. We went from super intense vivid action scenes to agonizingly slow resting periods that were too repetitive. I felt like I kept reading the same thing over and over. The main villain was… odd… interesting choice…
I will say the ending intrigued me so I am interested to see what will happen next. I haven’t decided if I am excited or annoyed yet though.

Dare I say I might have enjoyed this as much as 'The Serpent and the Wings of Night' by Carissa Broadbent?! I absolutely love her books, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC!

This book was so so good that I might pin it up next to The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

I loved these characters and their journey and I was shocked at how the book ended. I seriously can't wait for the next one!

Carissa Broadbent does it again! I can’t wait for the next installment. I’m so happy we got a book with Mische!!

🕊️🎶🕊️🎶🕊️🎶🕊️🎶🕊️🎶
𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 & 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞
𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐲𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐚 #𝟑
𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐭
4.5/5 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️

•𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑦
•𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 & 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑐
•𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑦
•𝑉𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑠 + 𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑠

Y’all. gone and done it again 🫠

Tbh I did not know if I would be interested in Mische’s story…but I was proven decidedly wrong at the end of this one (this book is the first of the duo as a part of the larger series of Nyaxia).

Although this one ended on a cliffy, I’m an automatic buyer of everything Carissa Broadbent. Her story telling, character development, twists & turns, and emotion evoking have not let me down yet. I needed the concluding duo yesterday.

🕊️🎶🕊️🎶🕊️🎶🕊️🎶🕊️🎶🕊️🎶

This was my first Broadbent, so I am reading it without ANY understanding of her world or characters for this series -- AND I STILL LOVED IT. WHAT IS THIS WITCHCRAFT?? Hands down one of the best romantasy authors; I do not understand why I am so late for this amazing train.

3.5 stars

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024 and I'm so sad about how I felt about this book. I first want to say that Carissa's writing has grown so much between this and Ashes. It was impressive. So many quotable lines. Chef's kiss.

Where this book let me down was the romance. I was not convinced that these 2 people were falling in love. I would have preferred this to be more slow burn than it was and I wished there were more moments of Asar and Mische together growing their relationship outside this plot.

There were also some parts that were highly predictiable, but some parts that did surprise me. I will be continuing the series and I have high hopes for book 4 because of that ending. Crossing my fingers I love it more than this one.

I adored The Serpent & the wings of night so I was eagerly awaiting Mische's story! I enjoyed her and Asar's story but it wasn't a full 5/5 for me. I did love the romantic build up and the travels but it just wasn't a book I was obsessed with. I am definitely continuing on with the series and I am excited to see what happens after that cliff hanger ending!

A story reminiscent of the Hades and Persephone myth. A journey through the underworld to kill a god, set against the backdrop of a tension filled romance. An overall enjoyable read, with some pacing issues in the middle. If it were 100 pages shorter, I would rate it 4 stars.

Broadbent breathes new life into her Crowns of Nyasia series with the first installment of the Shadowborn duet!

“The Songbird & the Heart of Stone” follows Mische as she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself. Her sun god commands her to help Asar, the bastard prince of House of Shadow, in his mission, only to betray him…by killing the very death god she’ll help resurrect. Together, Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their past. Yet, most dangerous of all is the alluring call of darkness and her forbidden attraction to Asar.

I absolutely loved Mische’s character in the Nightborn duet, so getting to read from her perspective was everything. I experienced a full range of emotions as Broadbent shed light on her past—one that is riddled with trauma and grief—and her relationship with Atroxus (the sun god to whom she had devoted her life).

Asar’s past is just as brutal, scarring his soul and his body. I loved him as an mmc and necromancer. He’s broody, yet soft in the way he cares for Mische, his dog Luce, and the wraiths who have strayed from their paths in the underworld.

I loved watching Mische and Asar’s bond form the further they ventured into the depths of the Descent. Their romance was slow burn and I held my breath as the two leaned on each other to survive the wrath of the gods and the underworld.

One of my favorite aspects of the novel was Broadbent’s world-building. I really enjoyed getting to explore Shadowborn territory and learn more about the abilities attributed to such vampires. Additionally, Broadbent further elaborates on the lore surrounding the gods of the White Pantheon to reveal the role they play in Asar’s mission. Her depiction of the underworld is haunting, dark, and dangerously alluring.

I eagerly await what’s next!

“You asked me what love should feel like… it should make you think of nothing else… it should make you see star.”

STOP😭 how are you going to end this book like that and make us wait for part 2. This book ripped my heart out and left it in crumbs. I absolutely loved Mische from the moment I first met her. And when I found out we were getting NOT ONE BUT TWO BOOKS following her I screamed.

WE GOT ANOTHER SHADOW DADDY🥵🥵 Asar was literally perfection and that epilogue OMGGGGGG he loves Mische so much😭 go get your girl!!!

4.25⭐️ just like so many others, this books was so highly anticipated for me! I really enjoyed it, however I will say, the vibes are very different from the first two books. Not necessarily in a bad way, but I feel like it’s good to go in expecting that.

Mische and Asar were both very strong characters. They really made the story for me. Seeing them grow and form a connection with each other added a lot of depth to the story. It was a slow burn, but had a high payoff. The underworld concept was super intriguing for me and made a very unique story and plot line. However, the plot did get a bit repetitive for me as they went on their journey through the underworld. The writing is very descriptive as well which was a bit difficult to follow at times, but that could definitely be a me problem.

I will say the ending was rough, as in emotional damage!! I was not ready or expecting that at all. It has me itching for the next book like yesterday. I’m excited to see where they rest of Mische and Asar’s story. I think Carissa did a great job of setting up for an even better next book!

Thank you so much to Carissa & Bramble for the ARC copy of The Songbird & the Heart of Stone!

“Ignite, Mische.” He was commanding me. He was begging me.
“Fall with me,” I whispered. Because I was oddly terrified to lose control—terrified to do it alone.
“I’d burn with you till the end of it all, Dawndrinker.”

Ok, this book delivers powerful intimacy wrapped in an immersive descent through the 5 Sanctums that a soul must travel between life to death. An impossibly dangerous quest, deadly trials, forced proximity, and the two damn easiest main characters to root for that ever existed!

I think we all fell in love with Mische in the opening duology of the Crowns of Nyaxia series. I envision her like the Peloton instructor, Olivia, nicknamed the glitter assassin. Mische is small, freckled, cheery, talkative, and loyal friend who is not afraid to thrown down and stab a man in the throat. This book dives deep into her past from her experience as a God’s chosen bride to her traumatic fall from his favor after being turned by a Shadowborn vampire.

Asar is the bastard son of the King of Shadowborn, forced to rule over the Descent as the Wraith Warden. A scarred master of death, he is the opposite of Mische in every way except one: they are both haunted by their pasts and feel undeserving of love.

Full disclosure: this book only has Mische’s POV, and has heaps of world building and backstory about the Gods and Goddesses. So there is a departure in a way from the human world (and the various Vampire courts) that readers know from the first duology. But this book will be crucial to setting up the next book which I anticipate will be action packed and more plot development. But in many ways, I flew through this book faster than Ashes simply because I was so drawn to Mische and Asar’s love story. It is haunting, healing, intimate, and beautiful. You can expect a slow burn build up with an incredible payoff, a gut wrenching cliffhanger, and an epilogue that will get you pumped for Book 2!

there is a lot to like about this book. I have been very excited for this release since I finished the second book in this series. I loved Mische and was so glad to get more of her back story and see her grow. I was intrigued by the premise of this story, so I went in with semi-high expectations.
Now, the story is great. I really liked this book. I will say, however, from the 25% to the 45% mark, it was hard to conceptualize the setting, which made the story drag a bit. Usually, I can have a clear picture of what’s going on in the story, but when I can’t, it’s hard for me to get through. But after that, I was really able to get into the story and it was so good. Definitely will be recommending this one!

I received an ARC for this book! Thank you to Carissa Broadbent, the publishing team, and netgalley for allowing me to read this masterpiece early.

If you have ever loved or been interested in Dante’s inferno and/or the levels of hell, then you will LOVE this.

Going along this journey with Mische as she grows into an amazing and STRONG woman was everything to me. Her story is so tragic, but this book was beautiful. We got so much more backstory on her time as a human, and why she tried so hard to stay connected to her religion after she turned.

Her journey with Asar to the underworld was incredible. The trials they had to face were so cool, and their romance was beautiful and patient.

I’m so obsessed with this book. I cannot wait until book 2, but unfortunately for me that is a long time from right now. After the insane ending of this book, I know book 2 is going to be INCREDIBLE!!!!

Carissa Broadbent just gave us a master-class in fantasy, and maybe even writing itself!

I was excited for this book as soon as I heard it was coming out, and it did not disappoint! The author was able to make Mische's story one that was all her own and showed us so many new layers to this world she has created and the gods that rule it. With every page I fell more and more in love with this world and showed us new elements that we have not yet seen.

Mische's story is one that caries so much heart and soul, and I know it will resonate with so many. Although we learn little glimpses of her past from previous books, the unveiling of her childhood and her forgotten memories is masterful and indulgent.

We meet Asar and his heart of stone and we have yet another perfect male main character from Carissa Broadbent. This man is the epitome of making the world a better place by just existing, and his interactions with Mische are top-tier slow-burn romance!

I can't wait for the next book in this series, but I will also wait as long as Carissa needs me to because I have complete faith in her writing and her process.

I’m a diehard Carissa Broadbent fan, she has a way with words that just tickles my brain, I get completely immersed on her stories and so invested in her characters that I feel their struggles as if they were my own.

When she announced the new duology would be centered on Mische and a mysterious new mmc I knew I needed this book injected on my veins asap. I was so intrigued by Mische as a protagonist cause previous books had hinted at her complicated past, but her personality was so at odds with everyone else’s in the Nyaxia world.

In “Songbird…” Mische proves to be fierce and strong and unravels into a one of a kind heroine after much needed insight into her character is given, specially into her relationship with her god Atroxus, imo one of the most interesting aspects of the book.

I also loved that her romance with Asar felt very different than the author’s previous pairs, idk how to explain it, but it does, they are two broken souls with heavy backstories filled with so much guilt. Both thinking they don’t deserve love, I was rooting for them so hard, still am. Theirs was at the end a very tender and precious love.

Also, the reveals and plot twists broke my heart and blindsided me time and time again, in a very quintessential Carissa way im not surprised by now, but that still amazes me. THAT CLIFFHANGER THO was criminal! Brutal! In true Carissa fashion, the prologues and epilogue were masterpieces, carefully crafted to hit you like a ton of bricks, I can’t wait for the next book.

The third installment of the “Crowns of Nyaxia” series “The Songbird & the Heart of Stone” is OUT TODAY and I cannot recommend it enough. I’m here just patiently waiting for Miss Carissa to ease my pain in the next one, knowing her she won’t but double her efforts jsjsjs

A thousand thank yous to Pan Macmillan, Tor/Bramble and NetGalley for the eARC copy I’ve never felt luckier in my whole life, appreciate it so so much.