Netgalley Reviews

5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
After Mische sacrificed everything to save her loved ones, the world was cast into an eternal darkness. Now trapped by the gods, Asar is consumed with revenge and determined to find her. When a goddess offers them a slim chance at redemption, Asar and Mische must embark on a dangerous mission to harness the power of the god of death, giving Asar a shot at achieving true divinity.

I just know I am going to be bereft when this series ends. Carissa Broadbent continues to build a complex world with characters you can’t help but love (most of which we see here!). The Underworld can be a bit hard to fully grasp at times, and I had some difficulty visualizing their journey through its layers. However, I think this actually highlights Broadbent’s unique storytelling style. A must read series, for sure!

Absolutely phenomenal! Carissa Broadbent, as always, crafts a incredible story. “The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk” is the conclusion to Mische’s story that I was looking for. I was quite disappointed with how “Songbird…” played out, but would do it all again if it meant that I got to experience “Fallen…”.

This book is dual POV between Mische and Asar, and while I didn’t like the choice at the beginning – I wanted to sole focus to be on Mische – I very quickly appreciated seeing both sides of the story. It added a layer of complexity and a view of the world we wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

If you want to avoid spoilers, skip reading the contents pages. I think people can assume what will happen, but chapter POVs and Part titles give away the plot near the end.

We see a lot of characters from the Nyaxia universe on page in this book, but it actually feels meaningful and not fan service. The ending sets the stage well for our next Bloodborn duet. I highly recommend the Crowns of Nyaxia series to every fantasy reader.

Rated 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC ebook.

This was an ARC I was absolutely dying to get my hands on—I’m such a huge Carissa Broadbent fan, and I’ll read anything she writes.
I’ve loved the entire Crowns of Nyaxia series, but Mische & Asar have a special place in my heart. (Grumpy x Sunshine forever!) I love them. I really, really do. This novel wrapped up their story so beautifully and showcased Carissa Broadbent’s writing at its absolute best. I genuinely can’t recommend it enough and cannot wait for you all to get your hands on it!

Make sure to check out her other titles from this series: Slaying The Vampire Conqueror (recently rereleased with a stunning new cover!), The Serpent & The Wings of Night, Six Scorched Roses (also recently rereleased), The Ashes & The Star-Cursed King, and The Songbird & The Heart of Stone.

This world will completely SUCK you in. 🖤

Carissa is gently slipping her way onto my favorite authors shelf... This was exquisite. Seamlessly crafted, and beautifully realized. And the PROOOOSE! This was an absolute delight, thank you.

This may be my favorite! . The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk is an absolutely perfect follow up to The Songbird & the Heart of stone. Yet, it was also just a wonderful standalone book. It's fast paced. The world building is spectacular! I'm ready for the next one.

Carissa Broadbent delivers another masterclass in fantasy storytelling with The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk—a lush, tension-filled sequel that effortlessly weaves divine stakes, heart-wrenching sacrifice, and a slow-burn romance that simmers with intensity. From the first page, I was absolutely immersed in this dark, beautifully crafted world where love and vengeance collide in the most epic of ways. I devoured it in one sitting.

Mische has quickly secured her place as one of my all-time favorite heroines. Fierce, resilient, and driven by loyalty, her journey in this installment is both harrowing and inspiring. Her dynamic with Asar is electric—layered with longing, pain, and that irresistible pull Broadbent writes so well. Their bond, tested by gods and destiny, is the emotional core of the story, and it had me completely invested.

The world-building is breathtaking, expanding with rich lore and intricate realms that feel both vast and deeply personal. Broadbent’s prose is sharp yet lyrical, and the pacing is flawless—there’s never a dull moment. Twists and betrayals hit hard, and every chapter delivers new tension and urgency as the stakes rise not just for Mische and Asar, but for the fate of all mortal and immortal realms.

This book masterfully balances action, character development, and plot, with each twist adding depth to the narrative. The underworld’s looming collapse, the volatile politics of the gods, and the quest for divine power create a gripping backdrop for a love story that defies fate itself.

Broadbent once again proves why this series is a standout in the romantasy genre. I was hooked from the start, and now I’m desperately counting down the days until the next book—because this series is nothing short of phenomenal.

*oof* this one is going to take awhile to recover from, unless Carissa wants to finish and release book 5 like immediately? haha

Songbird struck such a chord within me, and so when given the opportunity to read Fallen early, I about *fainted*. Carissa has such a talent in writing about trauma and grief and growth and morality. Reading just felt like a masterclass in epic fantasy writing that still hits you in the feels. I swear i basically highlighted the entire book.

Fallen picks up where we left off with Songbird, brings friends that I was thrilled to see, parallels a story that has stuck with me since Serpent, and sets us up for the character I've been wanting to see more of since we met him in book 1. 10/10 - preorder this, obsess over it - cuz it's worth it.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"Luce just nuzzled my cheek. As if to say: You. I came for you."

"It was hard to question what kept you alive, even if it did terrible things with the life it gave you." (ouch Carissa)

"We should all be afraid of power. Anyone who isn't doesn't deserve to wield it."

“Are you going to tell me it’s not my fault?” I shook my head. “No. I’ve learned over the years that people think they want absolution. But that’s not what they really need to hear.” “What do most people need to hear?” For some reason, I had to speak past a lump in my throat. “They need to hear, ‘Even if it is your fault, I will love you anyway.’”

Carissa Broadbent delivers another epic and addictive fantasy romance in the Nyaxia series with “The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk” — and somehow it’s even better than “The Songbird & the Heart of Stone.” Mische has easily become one of my all-time favorite FMCs! This book is filled with the signature tension, rich world-building, and slow-burn romance that Broadbent does so well. The pacing is spot-on, with plenty of plot twists to keep you hooked from start to finish. Fans of “From Blood and Ash” will absolutely devour this series, and any dark fantasy romance lover should add this one to their TBR immediately.
Thanks to NetGallery and Tor Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This may be the best one yet. I ✨loved✨ this book with everything in me. The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk is an absolutely perfect follow up to The Songbird & the Heart of stone, but it was also just a stunning story all in itself. It's a big, fast paced adventure and I did not want to put it down. There's so much world building and plot in this book, and the way Carissa Broadbent has weaved Mische's and Asar's love story with the overarching plot of the series is incredibly skillful.

And now I will pour all my love and devotion to these characters out of my heart because oh my gods do I love them. I would to to the ends of the earth and back for Mische and Asar. Individually, they are beautiful, complex characters that feel so real it hurts my heart. I've loved watching them grow together and watching their relationship evolve. Their story shattered my heart into a million pieces and put it back together again. I won't say too much about the supporting cast of characters, but they are everything to me. There are so many scenes and interactions that filled my heart with (sometimes conflicting) emotions because of the complex relationships and the characters themselves.

I laughed. I cried happy tears. I cried sad tears. I sat on the edge of my seat. I screamed. I squealed. I kicked my feet. I felt so many emotions throughout this story and I feel so connected with the journey and these characters.

I can't wait to see what's next!

Well. My first read of 2025 was The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk and I will never be the same. I’m drained. That was probably my favorite in the whole series. I cried so much. For so long. And the ending. And the utter chaos that is this book—in the best way possible. It was epic, and beautiful, and gut-wrenching, and heartbreaking, and funny, and sexy, and sad, and stressful, and absolutely amazing. Carissa, you brilliant woman.