Now this is a Carissa Broadbent masterpiece!

pro tip: read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror and Six Scorched Roses prior if you want the most impactful experience.

I struggled with the Songbird and the Heart of Stone... and everything came together STUNNINGLY in The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and loved every second of Mische and Asar's journey. The stakes keep getting higher and higher and Carissa rips our hearts out (literally) in this one and puts it back together.

Also obsessed with the appearances of some of our other favorite characters. No one's appearance felt forced and all of the characters added to the layers of the story. I cried and laughed and bit my nails too many times to count.

I also enjoyed getting to see more of the dynamics between the Gods (and would not mind more spin offs of theirs later on).

I cannot wait for the Bloodborn duet. that EPILOGUE was impeccable and I know Septimus' story is going to be so messy, and chaotic and beautiful.

Oh and Luce is the goodest girl forever and ever.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bramble for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Billions of threads…and not a single where you say no.”

Fallen built me up, broke me and rebuilt me. From the very first page until the last, I was captivated. Carissa managed to invoke a countless amount of joy and sorrow in this tale of redemption.

Sacrifices must be made while old friends are reunited, the ghosts of the past confront the living and the wrath of the gods bear down upon them.

4/5 ⭐️

I loved this book, and while I still find the first Duolingo superior, I adore the works building and character development!! The fact that we get to see old friends along with characters from novellas brings me so much joy!!

I do have to say I am currently undecided about my feelings for this book. I did give it 3 stars, because although I did not really love it, I do like Mische & Asar! Their relationship has grown and we love to see it! Although the world building is great, I cannot get past the end of the story! Since this is a spoiler free review, I will not go into details, but I guess I just wanted more? Or maybe it is the hater in me who doesn’t always want a happy ending!
This book has brought in so many new plot points within the universe, I am lowkey excited to see how it ends, even though this duology is not my favorite. It took me a month to read this book (at about 570 pages), which is slightly longer than all her others. I have no issue with reading long books, but my issue is that I believe some parts just were not necessary for the plot and overall just made me not want to read!
I would recommend reading Six Scorched Roses & Slaying the Vampire Conqueror if you have not done so! (These two side books are the best in the whole universe IMO)!!
Thank you NetGalley and Carissa Broadbent for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review – thanks for the copy!

Broadbent does it again. Immersive, atmospheric, tragic. I felt for Mische and Asar from beginning to end. This was a tale of love and trauma in faith - faith in yourself, in your loved ones, in your gods - and this couple was put to the test through it all. It's about sacrifice, about keeping from losing yourself in the dark. About love within tragedy. I'm happy - and relieved - Mische and Asar's story found the ending they deserved, and I'm eager to journey through the next duology.

Carissa you are definitely an insta-buy author for me! I never want to leave this world. A perfect continuation of Miche's story. I want more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
5⭐️!!!
Carissa Broadbent delivers her most powerful installment yet in The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk. This gripping continuation of the Crowns of Nyaxia series not only builds on the momentum of The Songbird & the Heart of Stone, but stands confidently on its own as a sweeping, emotionally charged fantasy romance book.

Packed with action, rich world-building, and a deeply moving love story, this book is as ambitious as it is heartfelt. Broadbent expertly weaves the romance between Mische and Asar into the broader plot with breathtaking emotional depth and narrative finesse. Readers will fall in love with these two complex, beautifully developed characters as they navigate impossible odds, personal growth, and the weight of sacrifice.

What truly sets this novel apart is its ability to evoke a full range of emotion—laughter, heartbreak, suspense, and joy. The supporting cast shines just as brightly, adding nuance and richness to every scene. Broadbent’s skill in balancing high-stakes fantasy with deeply human connection is on full display here.

Perfect for fans of epic fantasy romance and character-driven storytelling, The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk is a must-read. Expect to cry, cheer, and hold your breath until the final page—and be left desperate for the next chapter in this unforgettable saga.

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.

Siri, please play LET THE WORLD BURN by Chris Grey.

Oh man, what an epic. The stakes, the disasters, the emotions...everything ratchets up tenfold in this one. You would think, after the events of Songbird, how could things truly get any worse? And then BANG, you’re confronted with another dark night of the soul (and then maybe a couple more dark nights of the soul for good measure)! The Gods are not playing around anymore and the world gets blown wide open.

I know I say this with every single Broadbent book I read, but the number of passages I highlighted because of how compelling, emotionally debilitating, or just all-around searingly romantic they are is absolutely next level. Asar Voldari and Mische Iliae, the star-crossed lovers that you are!!!

The writing is beautiful, and the pacing--particularly the last 30 percent--had me turning the pages so fast! I'm already biting at the bit for the next book!

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent is part of the Crowns of Nyaxia world. This is the second book in a duology, I really enjoyed Miche's story and look forward to more from this world, I absolutely love these romantasy books that any reader can enjoy. Thank you net Galley for the ARC!!!!

This book is everything I want from a fantasy romance. It’s deep, passionate, and beautifully complex, making me both desperate to know what happens next and utterly captivated by every word. Broadbent has created something truly special here. I’m already eagerly waiting to read more from this author.

SPOILER FREE! Thank you to the queen herself for personally sending me this ARC, I quite literally screamed out loud in my own home and scared my cats!

To say I am amazed would be an understatement. I was not sure I could love anything more than the books Broadbent has already written but here I am, fresh off of this beautiful story completely at a loss for words that would do this review justice.

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk was everything I never knew I wanted this story to be. The tension, the yearning, the fighting tooth and claw for what you love no matter the cost. The entirety of this book was action, emotion and commitment. I could not put it down!

There is so much more I want to say about this story but I shall refrain from spoilers and wait patiently for the rest of the world to experience this masterpiece!

A note to Broadbent fans: make sure you have read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (and highly encouraged to read Six Scorched Roses already) for reasons <3

I fear I shan't recover.
You'll find me in a sickbed by the sea.
Mayhaps a beautifully tragic magically scarred man with a yearning soul will tend to my wounded tender heart?

5 stars.

Oh Carissa, the way I have fallen more in love with this series as more books continue being released. This story literally gripped me and didn't let me go until the very end. The yearning, the romance, the story, I couldn't get enough of it.

This story was magical and so beautiful that I could not put it down even if I tried. I cannot wait for everyone else to read this book and fall in love with it just as I have!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

I loved the first book in this duology. But the second book lost me unfortunately. I had no idea what was going on most of the time and I still could not tell you what exactly happened. I also just felt disconnected from the characters this time. Luce of course was the best girl ever!

4.5 ⭐️ Thank you Netgallery for giving me the chance to read an ARC for this!

Spoilers ahead
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This one definitely took me forever to read (partly a me problem but also there were just slower parts in the beginning where it didn’t really leave me itching to pick it back up immediately) but overall the story, the characters, the EMOTIONS, all immaculate! The last third of the book had me in a chokehold especially. I loved how much we got to see Mische and Asar grow and get really deep in this one, I liked them in the first part of this duet but this book made me LOVE them.
It’s giving “what if the way you hold me is actually what’s holy” -Taylor Swift vibes.
Absolutely loved seeing my favs Oraya and Rahin make an appearance and also VINCENT. Why is he making me CRY in this one?! I think I love him?

Overall Carissa got me again, I cannot wait to see where this series goes next!

Thank you Tor and Bramble for the advanced galley! I will admit, this took me longer to get through and the pacing varied throughout the book. I thought the beginning was a little too drawn out, but then the end felt very fast and rushed. However, it was an awesome story to read and the ending was beautiful. I love how it sets up the next duology, and I'm ready to see how this series will conclude.

Carissa Broadbent has ruined me again. This story is epic in scale, but the beating heart of it is so painfully intimate. It’s about grief and rage and desperation, but also about how love keeps choosing even when it’s broken and bitter and furious. The writing is lush and sweeping, full of this lyrical violence I’ve come to crave from Broadbent. The romance is jagged and aching and god-tier in every sense. Mische’s fire, her devastation, her choices; they destroyed me. Asar’s longing, his ruthlessness, his quiet moments of tenderness when you least expect them—I wanted to bottle it and never let it go. They burn for each other in this quiet, feral way that feels both divine and completely human. I’m in love with it.

✨Book Review✨

The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk - Carissa Broadbent

🌟 I am in love with this series! It’s such a unique world with intricate magic that is a bit unlike anything I’ve encountered elsewhere. Carissa Broadbent does a fantastic job creating a world that I want to explore and learn more about. She doesn’t fall prey to cliche fantasy molds and continues to make her stories gripping. I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this one. If you haven’t started this series yet - here’s your sign!

❗✋🛑 If you haven’t read The Crowns of Nyaxia Series, then you need to circle back and do that! Start with Serpent and the Wings of Night. If you have read this series - including The Songbird and the Heart of Stone - then keep reading for my thoughts. ❗✋🛑

📖 The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk picks up right where the previous book left off. Asar is desperate to escape the Gods to find Mische. Mische, who made the ultimate sacrifice to save the ones she loved, finds herself in the underworld with Vincent as her unlikely guide. Asar and Mische need to find their way back to one another and then survive mortal and immortal realms, friends and foes, and the gods preparing for war. One goddess will offer them a path to redemption, but the stakes are high and seemingly out of reach at every turn. Asar and Mische will have to decide what they’re willing to sacrifice, and they may have to learn that there are some debts that even love cannot repay.

📚 I am such a fan of this series. The last 30% of this book had me in an absolute chokehold. Carrisa has built out a world where there are plenty of characters to watch and be wary of, while also wanting a closer look at them. She has creatively given us a glimpse into the world of the gods and has unrolled more of their history in a captivating and stunning way. She’s brought back old favorites (wink wink) and newer, still somehow favorites as well. This book might be my favorite in the series so far!


🌟 If you’re invested in The Crowns of Nyaxia series, then preorder this immediately. It’s worth your time!

A special shoutout to @NetGalley and @CarissaBroadbentBooks for the advanced reader copy! It’s set to publish August 5th - and I’ve already got my preorder in because I need it as a shelf trophy!

#BookReview #TheFallenAndTheKissOfDusk #CarissaBroadbent #CrownsOfNyaxia #Asar #Mische #BookRecommendation

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk delivered everything I could have hoped for and more. The author crafted a breathtaking continuation of the Crowns of Nyaxia series—equal parts heart-wrenching romance, high-stakes adventure, and divine reckoning.
Mische and Asar’s love story burned with intensity and hard-won hope, set against a backdrop of crumbling realms and vengeful gods. The writing was rich and lyrical, the worldbuilding deeper than ever, and the emotional weight? Devastating in the best way. I was hooked from page one and didn’t want it to end.
A powerful tale of sacrifice, redemption, and the terrifying strength of love—Broadbent has outdone herself.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!