OH. MY. GOSH this was so so epic and phenomenal I loved every single minute of it!! Having all the players back on the board for this has been amazing and I cannot wait for the next! Mische & Asar are so swoon-worthy and the fast paced plot kept me up way past my bedtime to finish! This author is BRILLIANT!

I’m seriously all about this arc!

This series has quickly become one of my favourites. The character development is on another level, and the world-building is so well done, everything feels so vivid and clear.

Carissa Broadbent has a real gift for storytelling, and she definitely didn’t disappoint this time around. This book completely gutted me! The romance between Asar and Mishe is just truly beautiful—it's a perfect mix of heart-wrenching and beautiful. I apologize to anyone on the train who had to witness me crying.

thank you so much to netgalley for sending this ARC!

carissa is truly becoming one of my favorite fantasy authors ever. she is so talented and her character development is outstanding! this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and i am immensely thankful to have gotten to read it early. mishe is so special and i loved getting the conclusion of her and asar’s story. with this in mind, i just do not think the underworld plot is for me. it started getting way too crazy for me and there were parts in the middle where i had no idea what was even being talked about. the ending to this was absolutely amazing and i am already sad the next book hasn’t even been announced. tip — make sure you read slaying the vampire conqueror before this book! i was bummed i hadn’t and would have gotten a lot more out of parts, i think, if i had. this is still a good book and one of the most unique stories i’ve ever read but just not as good as the initial two.

This book absolutely devoured me, and I liked it. If you’re already a Crowns of Nyaxia fan, prepare to suffer in that deeply satisfying, screaming-into-the-void kind of way. If you’re new here, maybe hydrate first. You’re about to experience romantic yearning on a divine scale.

I need to read this book a thousand times because I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. If I could give it ten stars I would in a heartbeat!!

Carissa is such a beautiful writer, I could have never guessed all of the twists and turns we took and the plot development through the entire story. I fell more and more in love with Mische with every sentence (as if that’s even possible) and was just in awe of Asar’s resilience and determination. They’re the kind of couple you just know would find each other in every single lifetime and I adore that so so much.

I also loved getting to know the history and personalities of the gods more. I am such a nerd when it comes to lore and world building and when I tell you it felt like I was just turning every page to a new realisation and discovery… I’m not even exaggerating. It was just so so brilliant in every sentence with every plot point. I love exploring this world of Carissa’s I have absolutely no idea how she has this much imagination haha.

Thank you so much to Naomi for the ARC, this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it has exceeded every expectation. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

(4.75/5) The Crowns of Nyaxia world will forever have me in a chokehold. I cannot emphasize enough how much I love Carissa Broadbent’s writing and the way she brings her characters to life.

Mische and Asar's dynamic is devastatingly beautiful. The development of these characters is truly unmatched, and I couldn't help but fall even more in love with these two. Carissa Broadbent gave us the best gift of all by making Asar such a simp.

This book felt like scratching an itch I've been dying to scratch with how many pieces finally fell into place. Although the pacing felt a bit off at times, there was so much happening that I had to force myself to slow myself down so I could make sure I was taking in every detail.

*chefs kiss* for the most perfect ending.

I'm going to need the Bloodborn Duet right now because I'm not sure how I'm supposed to wait to return back to this world.

A sincere thank you to Bramble Romance for gifting me an eARC ahead of this book's pub date.
I'm going to need the Bloodborn Duet right now because I'm not sure how I'm supposed to wait to return back to this world.

A sincere thank you to Bramble Romance for gifting me an eARC ahead of this book's pub date.

Clarissa, Clarissa, Clarissa, you absolute wizard! Honestly, every single thing she writes, I end up gobbling up like it’s my favorite snack. Her original duology has been my all-time favorite for so long, but when she decided to dive back into Asar and Mische’s story, I was beyond excited. And trust me, it did NOT disappoint.

Her latest book, The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk which is book 4 in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, picks up right where book 3 left off. That ending was such a crazy cliffhanger! It had me on the edge of my seat, wondering how Asar and Mische’s story would continue. And wow, this new installment definitely delivers.

Asar and Mische’s journey gets even more intense and complex. Mische’s huge sacrifice at the end of book 3 plunged the world into eternal night, and now Asar is trapped, obsessed with finding her and seeking revenge. The story takes you on this epic ride through mortal and immortal worlds, filled with old friends, deadly enemies, and gods ready to wage war.

What I love most is that the romance between Asar and Mische isn’t the whole story — it’s way more than that. Clarissa layers in deep twists, amazing world-building, and a mystical system that feels fresh and exciting. The way she builds her world — with gods, legends, and all the ancient mysteries — is seriously next-level. It’s clear she keeps pushing herself to make every book better than the last.

Sure, I thought some moments between Asar and Mische in this book felt a little less natural, but with how deeply Clarissa writes their characters, I think it just adds to the story’s tension and growth. Plus, other characters also have their own journeys, growing and surprising us along the way.

For anyone who loves fantasy with complex characters, layered plots, and incredible world-building, this book is a must-read. It’s dark, thrilling, and packed with emotion and epic stakes — like, gods preparing for war and a world on the edge of collapse. And the themes of sacrifice, love, revenge, and redemption make it feel real and powerful.

If you’re already a fan of Carissa Broadbent’s original duology, The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk will only deepen your love for her writing. And if you’re new to her work, this is a perfect place to jump in but be ready for a wild ride! Clarissa’s storytelling magic shines through everything she writes, and this book proves it again.

Honestly, this is my auto-buy and auto-favorite now. She stands out in the fantasy world because she creates characters and stories that stick with you long after the last page. Don’t miss out on this, it’s everything you want in a fantasy series and so much more.

Can I give her anything less than 5 stars? No. Absolutely not.

Thanks to Tor Publishing Group for the ARC!

Read This Book If…you love gods warring!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The Fallen & The Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent

Genre: romantasy
Series: Crowns of Nyaxia # 4
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 explicit scenes
Setting: fantasy world
POV: dual, 1st person, past tense
Tropes: no touching curse, blood play, “good girl”
Content Warning: animals killed on the page

My Thoughts:
I am looooooving all the lore we are getting about this world! We see a lot more of the gods in this one, as well as their battles with each other. Divinity and what it means for humanity (and vampires) is a big theme of this story.

AND THESE TWO… Wow, talk about the definition of “I would burn down the world for you.” This romance is epic, with plenty of angst, yearning, and heartbreak. The character development was particularly deep and I could see why they made all of their choices, even when they broke my heart.

This book will have you holding your breath for the conclusion, which I found more than satisfying.

Memorable Quote: “Billions of threads, and not a single one where you say no.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

I will be so sad when this series is over! I'm rereading this series based on how much I love these books. Amazing worldbuilding and characterization, great relationships, beautiful covers and writing.

“There was always someone that could be saved. And there was always a reason to have faith.”

What a powerful book. I have been a fan of the Crowns of Nyaxia series since the very beginning, so I was extra excited to receive an ARC from NetGalley to review. As expected, Part 2 of the House of Shadow duology did NOT disappoint.

I fell in love with Mischa and Asar’s story in the novel before, but Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk highlighted how deep their love truly is. Not only that, but themes of forgiveness and redemption weave together to create a beautiful story of hope. I highly recommend this novel and cannot wait to see what is in store for the next two books in the series based on the House of Blood.

This book made me want to cry. And then scream. And then cry again. And then celebrate. Overall, it was an emotional rollercoaster.

This novel takes place directly after the events of The Songbird and the Heart of Stone. We have one main character trapped by the gods, and one trapped by death itself. When presented with an opportunity to not only ascend to full godhood, but also to raise Mische from the dead, the two embark on a quest to find the three objects powerful enough to do the unthinkable. Along the way, they must battle the alive, the undead, the divine, and their love for each other. Because although the two have been reunited, Mische is still dead until they complete the task, and the dead were not made to embrace the living.

The tension in this book is insane. For Asar to finally have his lost love back, but be unable to touch her? Pure torture. The longing made the spicy scenes that much more intense.

I wasn't a fan of yet another trial involving having to collect objects in order to achieve a goal. That trope feels very overdone in this series, and it's getting repetitive. However, the ending of this completely blew me away, and I thought it was so beautifully done! I loved how it all came together, and couldn't imagine a more perfect way to wrap up Mische and Asar's story.

Overall, I'm taking off a star for the repetitiveness of the trials / collecting objects of power, but I think this was otherwise very well done!

What an epically awesome conclusion to this second duology from the Nyaxia series! The world gets expanded DRASTICALLY and so much happens in this book. (This is one of the longer books in the series.) There is a bit of a lull in the middle that had me questioning for a bit but it really took a turn I wasn’t expecting towards the end. It felt like a very satisfying end but with plenty of plot points to lead in to the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing me with an e-ARC of The Fallen & The Kiss of Dusk in exchange for an honest review.

From the beginning of Asar and Mische’s relationship, I’ve loved their dynamic. It’s the classic grumpy/sunshine pairing, but both are deeply traumatized and driven by an innate need to fix things for others. As someone with my own religious trauma, watching Mische’s journey over the last few books was incredibly moving. What I appreciated most was that the love and adoration she once gave Atroxus wasn’t simply redirected to Asar. Instead, it first went inward—with guidance—and then overflowed into their relationship. Her symbolism as a phoenix is perfect: Mische had to die, in more ways than one, to let go of her old beliefs. Without the courage to trust, she never would have found peace or a true home in the ashes.

Asar. Oh, Asar. We love a tortured soul burdened with glorious purpose. The monster and the scientist. He embodies the classic dilemma: “Save them, or save the world?” and he chooses his person without hesitation. His relationship with relationships is messy, as we’ve seen before, and it continues here with Egrette, Gideon, and even Raihn and Oraya. While his bond with Mische seems straightforward, it’s laced with fear of loss and uncertainty. I especially enjoyed the chapters from his perspective after his ascension. As a reader, I expected the trope of “love conquers all and he returns immediately,” but I should have known better. The author stretches time, leaving us to wonder if Asar will truly overcome the odds. Through these books I have enjoyed Asar's arc from a discarded should-have-been, to a sought after what-could-be, to somewhere in the middle. A more than just a person with a heart too large to ignore those in need.

The theme of “you are the one thing I could never sacrifice” resonated deeply. For so long, they tried to out-martyr each other—Mische because of her upbringing, and Asar because of his fate. She was taught to give everything for others; he felt like he didn't have anything to stay for. Yet they went to Hell and back—again and again—to stay together. They never apologized for what they did to protect each other. The author delivers a satisfying conclusion to their story, and I felt at peace with where Mische and Asar were left. While I’d love to see them again in future installments, I’d also be content letting them rest in the peace they’ve earned.

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk follows Asar and Mische as they make their way back to each other. After Mische killed the sun god, the whole world went dark. Now Asar must figure out how to get back to Mische and bring her back to life. With the help of the god of fate, Asar can see all of the possible out comes by heading back into the vail. In order to bring the Dawndrinker back to life Asar must find all three relics of the god of death that are spread across the lands. In order to attain them Asar and Mische must depend on not only past friends but also their enimies. The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk picks up right where The Songbird & he Heart of Stone ended. I can't wait for the next installment in theCrowns of Nyaxia series. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Bramble for letting me read an advanced copy of this novel.

Thank you so much to Bramble for the advanced copy of The Fallen & The Kiss of Dusk! I was ridiculously excited to get back into this world, and this book gave me exactly the kind of emotional intensity I was craving.

There’s something about the way Carissa Broadbent writes devotion that just hits. Asar adores Mische—not in a soft, delicate way, but with the kind of reverence that feels carved from bone and blood. It made the whole story feel bigger, more brutal, and more intimate all at once. That dynamic was easily my favorite part of the book.

I also loved seeing Mische come into her own. The way she fights, suffers, and sacrifices—not just for the world, but for Asar—was powerful and honestly kind of devastating in the best way. Her growth really grounded the entire arc for me.

The pacing in the middle did lose me a bit. Some of the plot felt repetitive, and I found myself craving a little more momentum or variation in how things played out. But then that twist at the end? Absolutely worth the wait. I didn’t see it coming, and it gave everything a new layer of meaning.

This duology reshapes the larger Nyaxia world in ways I didn’t expect, and I’m already mourning the end of Mische and Asar’s story. Fierce, tender, and unforgettable—what a ride.

I really, really, really wanted to rate this book higher. I am a huge fan of the series, and Mische's first book was an easy 5 star for me. Words cannot describe how STOKED I was to recieve an early copy for review. I am hopeful that my rating will change when the final version comes out and hopefully addresses some of the issues I had with Fallen.

Without going into too much detail, I felt the mechanics and details of the magic system/lore were not quite explained enough and left me confused about details and questioning what exactly was going on during the culmination of parts 2 and 3. As much as I adore the characters, Broadbent's writing, and the world she has created I found the first half of the book especially difficult to keep up with. If the details of the world/lore/magic were given more clear explanations, my rating would definitely jump to 4 or 5 stars.

I ADORE Mische and Asar, and it was such an honor to get an early look at their story.

As a shock to no one, Carissa ATE this one up! Genuinely love how easy and immersive Broadbents writing style is, and Mische has soared so high in becoming one of my favorite characters in this world. The last Half of this book had me in a chokehold and I CANNOTTT wait to see what happens to the character We follow in the epilogue! Eeek!

Did I finish the book or did it finish me? I think carissa is the next big name in fantasy (I know she's pretty big name already) but I adore everything she has ever written and have been an ARC reader from before the trad publishing, this was another amazing entry in the nyaxia world, i love Mische and Asar (and Luce 🥹) theres action and adventure, tension, spicy, angst, has it all! Can't wait for more books on this world!

Broadbent is a strong contender to rival Sarah J Maas in writing ability and worldbuidling. In her latest Romantasy release, readers finish the duology featuring Mische and Asar. There is heat, angst and adventure as they must transcend worlds and kingdoms, perform grant heists in order to save each other and the others they love.

I can’t even put into words how much I loved this duology. Asar and Mische Will forever have a place in my heart. As I said before if CB write it, I’ll read it. Asar and Mische‘s light banter and all the twists and turns made this book fantastic and I can’t wait for everyone to read it and enjoy it as much as I did!