This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

This book everyone!! When I tell you I was so happy to receive an arc because I couldn’t wait to get back into the dark sinister world of Carissa Broadbent! This book was amazing from head to toe. I loved the characters and Mische‘s story (Asar is holding my heart) and loved the writing style. The world building part and some things of the plot were a little repetitive but I didn’t mind.

When I received this eARC, I screamed! Carissa Broadbent is one of my all time favourite authors, and The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

This book follows Mische, a devotee of the Sun God who lost everything when she was turned into a vampire. After killing the vampire prince who turned her, she is sentenced to death, but is saved by his half-brother, Asar. He needs Mische to travel to the Underworld with him to resurrect the God of Death. However, Mische is given her own mission from the Sun God; betray Asar by killing the God of Death once he is resurrected.

The writing in this book was just like all of Carissa’s other books - absolutely stunning. The prose was lyrical, and the descriptions of the Underworld painted such a vivid picture in my mind. The setting was dark and sinister, but also so beautiful and fascinating.

The plot was perfectly paced and had me gripped immediately. As you would expect with such a dangerous quest, there was tons of action, which was broken up perfectly with tender, heartfelt moments between the characters. This story really had me biting my nails one minute, then swooning the next.

I already adored Mische from the first two books in the series, but I loved getting to know her better in this one. Every few chapters we got a flashback from her life before she was turned into a vampire, which was so interesting, and such a great way to relay the information without it feeling like an info dump. My heart hurt seeing her grapple with who she was before and who she is now, but her transformation and character development was incredible to read.

Asar was as much of a complicated character as Mische, and I loved him so much! My heart also ached for his past, and I loved seeing him soften towards Mische as the book went on. Their slow-burn romance was incredible, and the spice was spicing!

The last few chapters were an absolute whirlwind, and the last page had my jaw hanging open. It’s not often that I’m that shocked by books, but I was lost for words! The wait for the next book will be torturous, but I am so incredibly excited to see what happens next.

A big thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was so excited to get to read an ARC for this! Reading Mische’s story didn’t disappoint and I loved learning about her background. The ending is sooo good and I can’t wait til this is out so I can talk to people about it!

Woah. This was an absolute wild ride.

Having read all of Carissa’s previous books, I was so excited to be able to read an ARC of this!!

I really enjoyed the first duology and was so excited to be back in the world! Mische was such a stand out character for me and I was so excited to find out more about her and her life.

The plot and world-building are truly second to none although I did find parts of it a little repetitive.

Asar, Asar, Asar. What a MMC. Layered and complex, he had me clutching my chest and kicking my feet!!

The ending truly left my jaw hanging wide open…Carissa, you truly are a queen of cliffhangers.

I cannot WAIT for the next!!

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Tor Bramble. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The Songbird and the Heart of Stone.]

Rating: 4/5

Oh it’s good to be back! Since finishing The Ashes and the Star Cursed King, I’ve longed to return to the deadly, vampiric lands of Obitraes, and despite the time that has passed it truly feels like I never left at all. The Songbird and the Heart of Stone begins the next duet within the Nyaxia series, and now that Oraya and Raihn’s story has come to an end, it’s Mische’s time to shine - literally!

After murdering a vampire prince in the previous duet, Mische narrowly avoids execution when she is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow. She is then forced into an impossible mission to the underworld where they will face trials, beasts, and countless vengeful ghosts, and where they must attempt to resurrect the god of death.

By this point you’ll probably know what you’re getting with these books and I’m happy to report that Songbird includes all of the fun tropes that we know to expect from Carissa. There’s a perilous quest that ensures danger is never far, complex characters you will fall in love with, and a heart-wrenching romance that will have you screaming when you reach the last page. This is truly romantasy at its finest.

Having spent the first two books in the House of Night, we now get to learn more about another of the three vampiric houses; the House of Shadow. One of the first things I loved about learning of this new place was how different it felt. You get a real feel of elements such as architecture and fashion having a different aesthetic which helps set this house apart from what we’re already seen, and it’s interesting to see how the style of each house compliments the gifts that they have.

This book also introduces us to a whole cast of new characters. There’s new friends and foes, but more importantly, there’s a new love interest to fall head over heels for. Asar hasn’t quite reached Raihn status, but he’s not far off. In contrast to Mische’s bright and bubbly personality, Asar is much more thoughtful and brooding, and as you might expect, he comes with a fair bit of baggage. I really loved seeing him fall for Mische as the story went on, and I’m so excited to see what’s in store for him in the next book.

And of course I have to mention how great of a character Mische is. In Songbird we learn so much more about her backstory which is a lot more darker and sinister than you would expect from this sunshine character who, as a child, devoted her entire being to the sun god. She makes me think of the saying, ‘the brightest light casts the darkest shadow’, which summarises her journey quite well. What Mische goes through could be a trigger for some so I’d urge readers to check out content warnings before diving in.

There are so many highlights and positives to rave about but there were also some elements that I didn’t love. For example, some plot points were quite repetitive (a few chapters end in very similar ways), and the writing in some places was a little clunky which took me out of the story. Songbird also doesn’t have as much romance and tension as previous books which readers might struggle with.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024 and I’m so happy that it didn’t disappoint. Although there were some areas I found jarring, that still didn’t massively affect my overall enjoyment and after that jaw dropping ending, I’ll be counting down the days until the next instalment.

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is the first book in an epic fantasy romance duology that follows Mische, a former devotee of the sun god who loses everything after being turned into a vampire. Condemned to death for killing the vampire prince who turned her, Mische is unexpectedly saved by Asar, the scarred bastard prince of the House of Shadow. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death. Along the way, Mische is secretly tasked by her sun god to betray Asar by killing the god they seek to revive. As they face numerous trials and grow dangerously close, Mische must ultimately choose between the light she once worshipped and the darkness that now calls to her.

This book was exciting from the very first chapter and I devoured the book in about half a day because it was just addictive. There's a beautiful and emotional slow burn romance combined with a high tension quest as Mische and Asar complete the Descent into the underworld. The path to the underworld grows more dangerous with every relic of the dead God they collect, so there's a lot of action and tension in the story. The last chapter and the epilogue were crazy, and it set up next book SO well. I'm desperate to know what happens now but it's so far away!

It was a fantastic first book in the Shadowborn Duet and it did stand up against the incredible first duet focused on Oraya and Raihn. I think all the essential information you need to know about Mische from that duet is well signposted in this book in case you're coming in fresh to the series here, but personally I'm glad I'd read the previous books just to understand the world and Mische better.

Mische was a favourite character of mine from the first duology in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, so it was fantastic to see her get her own duet. She's such an amazing character and you get to know her so well in this book. It feels weird saying that I instantly connected with a Shadow vampire with sun God magic but there's just something about Mische's relentless hope, courage and kindness despite everything that she goes through that I was just so drawn to. You'd have to have a heart of stone to not want this girl to get her HEA!

Be prepared for emotional damage in the final section and to go feral waiting for the next book!

Note: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

The third installment of the Crowns of Nyaxia series focuses on what Mische is doing after the end of the second book. And chronic people pleaser Mische is not having a fun time right from the get go..

The pace in this book has a great balance of fast high stakes moments and tender/heart wrenching rest stops. Broadbent's use of intermissions throughout the story to tease out character context is excellent and had me trying to guess which direction we were going in next, only to be surprised.

This installment was less romance, but what was there was just full of suspense, angst, heat and tension it really popped. If you like grumpy/sunshine on a joint trauma journey this book is going to be your thing!

Ultimately this story is a thinker. On a first read it is an unputdownable romp through purgatory. On a second read is an extremely clever dissection of the expectations we and others place on ourselves and the many ways that can affect the choices we make or the directions we take in life.

3.75🌟
Oh, I wish loved this more than I do, I am so sad!!!

I read anything Carissa writes, I am her biggest fan. The Crown of Nyaxia series is literally one of my favourite romantasy series ever. So I was beyond excited when I had the opportunity to read the ARC for Mische's book since I loved her in the first two!

This doesn't contain spoilers but it

Now I did not hate this book at all, it is a good book from start to finish. But I have some thoughts. Returning to the world of the vampires was amazing and I missed Carissa's writing so much. There is something so magical and poetic about it that sucks you right in. Her words take on their own form and create a movie-esque atmosphere. She describes scenery and emotion in such a detailed and beautiful way I loved every second of it.
This book dives deeper into the House of Shadow with its rulers and their special magical abilities. It was a nice change to the House of Night from the previous books. It also delves deeper into the God of Light, Atroxus, who Mische is a priestess for. Mostly, however, this plays in the Underworld, so you don't actually get introduced to the House of the Shadow which I found a little disappointing. I did, however, like that it explained more about Nyaxia's relationship and overall gave more insight into the current state of things after book 2.

My girl Mische, I love her so much. Her naivete, self-sacrificing, and strong girl. She is full of hope, courage, and kindness. She truly is in her redemption era and I loved seeing my girl grow. She beats herself up so much about her past and it was hard to read about. She endured many hardships which made her character development even greater. I already liked her but I especially liked her in this book. She is such a joy and I was rooting for her from the beginning. Her banter with Asar was so fun, I really liked them together.

Asar couldn't be more different to Rhain, but he was such an interesting mmc. Mysterious, cold-hearted, and fierce, he is a man on a mission. We don't know anything about this man, so going into this blind and getting to know his character was interesting. I like him, and he has definitely grown on me but my problem is that we hardly saw any personality from him until over halfway through the book. He is supposed to be this cold-blooded killer but we never get to see it, we only get told that he was. We got to see the side no one else typically sees which was lovely and I liked that side but it didn't leave any room for growth in my opinion.

Now on the topic of not seeing something until way too far into the book. The romance. It was basically non-existent until over the halfway mark. And this surprised me because Carissa is the slow-burn queen which is evident in her first book so I knew we had to work for it, but there was ZERO romance in the first half. No tension, no chemistry, no interaction?!! We got some glances and some hints that there would be romance later but in the first half they even hardly talked with each other.
Another thing that disappointed me was the storyline. In theory, it sounds exciting and while it was good and interesting it was SO. REPETITIVE. The same fights, the same exists, and the chapters all end in pretty much the same way. Oh, I am so sad!!!!

I didn't hate this book at all and the last third was SO GOOD, that ending? but as a whole, it was a letdown. I am for sure going to be reading the next book but with lower expectations since they were high for this book because none of her books are below 4.5 stars for me (including The War of Lost Hearts series) so this was really a bummer.

Thank you Pan Macmillan | Tor Bramble and Netgalley for the eARC!

Wow. Speechless. I don’t even know what to say after THAT ENDING. I need to scream to someone but the book isn’t even out yet 😩

I was so excited to get Mische’s story, and boy did it not disappoint. Learning more about her and her background was heartbreaking perfection. And Asar. Well. I knew I was going to love him from the moment I met him, and I wasn’t wrong 🥺

I will say, this wasn’t as good as the first two for me, they were both 6 star reads, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t still enjoy this one a lot. It’s a lot more slow burn, low stakes (in a way) and more slower moving than the first two. But I have a feeling book four is going to blow me out of the water. Here’s hoping 🤞🏻

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

I could not wait to get my hands on this book, honestly my most anticipated book for the end of 2024! Amazing that I got to read it early! We met Mische in the first two books of the Crowns of Nyaxia series and I loved hearing more of her story.

We follow Mische, the bastard prince Asar, and their companions through the layers of the Underworld on their mission. The journey is full of angst and tension.

I did miss Oraya and Rhain but found myself almost glad their duology didn't take away from Mische and that she was given her own book for a spotlight. The pacing was great, it builds and builds until you just can't put it down at the end. Mische is such a perceptive character which leads you to think that we can expect what happens next, but Carissa Broadbent just fools us all, perfection.

That ending, oh my. Give me the next one, immediately, please! The last few chapters especially are just incredible and so well written. I hope the next book has POV from Asar, and much much more of Luce please!

Everyone get ready for 19th November, clear the calendar and prepare yourself for a slow burn

Thank you to Carissa Broadbent, NetGalley and Pan Macmillian for providing me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Carissa Broadbent is a GOAT!!!!! I love her books oo much. The way she rights the angst EVERYTHING.

I am so happy that this books focuses on other people as i felt her first duology ended very well and i loved how she wrapped it up. In this set we are taken on a journey with forced to turn Vampire Mishce and Asar. Mishce is set to die but is saved by Asar and even though they seem to be on the same path, their road is paved with treachery, angst and so much more.

I was offered an ARC by the publishers for an honest review and my honest review is that if you do not get to this book and devour it instantly i do not know what you have been doing with your life. Carissa has a way of weaving you as readers into her stories and taken you and your emotions on a rollercoaster that never ends.

The ending!!!!!!! my gosh give me book 2 now

What a ride. Once it go going this was amazing! OMG the ending- WTAF! It was so good! I loved learning more about Mische- her story is amazing and Asar is brilliant in a grumpy but adorable way. Such a good new story for the Nyaxia world! I want to know what’s next! I am not patient.

Firstly I want to express my deepest gratitude to Pan Macmillan, NetGalley and Carissa Broadbent for allowing me the honour of reading this ARC. The Crowns of Nyaxia series is truly one of my favourite fantasy series and so this really was a dream come true!

For me you know a book is truly special when you feel physically and emotionally shaken upon finishing that last page. I didn’t think Broadbent could deliver a more shocking ending than we experienced in The Serpent & The Wings of Night but WOW. I was wrong!!

I NEED the next instalment immediately!

Miche was of course a fan favourite from the first duology, but I was slightly nervous at that start that I would severely miss Oraya and Rhain from the Nightborn Duology. I needn’t have worried. Miche and her story more than stands up on their own and her character once again draws the reader right in with her effervescent but complex personality. The main MMC of this story is also full of complexity and mystery like Miche, which only adds to the addictiveness of the pair's romantic storyline. We do LOVE a slow burn!

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone hooks the reader from page 1, dropping you straight back into the action. This was an unexpected and delightful surprise given that I though we might get a slower start in order to bridge the two duologies. The pace of the book continues throughout at an addictive rate and leaves your heart racing! The book has an incredibly original plot whilst also feeling right at home within The Crowns of Nyaxia series as a whole. The flashbacks and connections to the first two books are expertly woven into the book.

The themes of hope, courage and redemption throughout are beautifully written by Broadbent, with all readers I’m sure being able to connect in their own personal way. The blaring lines of love, devotion, pain and vulnerability are also phenomenally explored by the author, truly pulling at your own heartstrings each step of the way.

It is the twist, turns and utter shocks to the system that make this book so incredible! You think you know where it is heading or what will happen next but trust me. You don’t! Carissa Broadbent truly is a genius, albeit a slightly evil one for raising my stress level this high! The final few chapters build into such a crescendo that it is very reminiscent of the last 100 pages of a SJM book. I physically screamed aloud it was THAT good/torturous of an ending. The epilogue was particularly perfect - chef’s kiss!

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and it did not disappoint! If possible, it exceeded all my expectations and more! It truly was an incredible adventure and I anxiously and excitedly wait for the next instalment in this unrivalled series. Please don’t make us wait too long - I beg you!

This is an absolute 5/5 star read for me! One of the best reads this year!

This is my third read from this author and it charmed off my heart like the previous two books. Even though this is book 1 of a new series but it's in continuation to the previous two books which is amazing. I love the way the author writes her characters, so beautiful and interesting way.
Eagerly looking forward to the next book now.

I was a huge fan of the first two books in this series - the only thing I didn't like about this latest book is the title (sorry) . Otherwise this book features all the elements I've come to associate with this author: smart conflicts, subtle and inevitable plot twists, great characters and lots of action and tension. I think the ending of this book might be the strongest yet in the series - I'm looking forward to seeing where the next book goes and will be eagerly pressing this author into the hands of readers all winter long

Everything I wanted it to be and more! I am so happy I jumped into this series and I’m excited to read the standalone novels in the same world

4.5 stars ✨

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it exceeded my expectations. *The Songbird and the Heart of Stone* reinforces how spectacular the Crowns of Nyaxia series is.

The world that Carissa crafted is nothing short of breathtaking. This book takes us on a journey through the Underworld and I loved being able to explore it because even though it's a dark and sinister place, there's beauty in it. The characters embark on a very dangerous mission to resurrect a God, which means that the stakes are high from the start and there are so many unnerving scenes, the environment is tense and the pacing is fast, which I really enjoyed. There was never a dull moment, the plot is very intriguing and well constructed. Some of the plot twists at the end took me by surprise, the adrenaline rush I got while reading the last chapters left me breathless. *I wanted to scream!* The cliffhanger is brutal, but it's brilliant.I can't even be mad at Carissa, I'm in awe of her mind and her ability to create such fantastic stories.

While there's a big focus on politics in The Nightborn Duet, **The Songbird and the Heart of Stone touches on religion and faith**. This is such an interesting subject for me and I loved how the author explored it.

**The characters are deeply layered and fascinating**, the journey they take makes them vulnerable and exposes their deepest hurts and fears. It was very emotional to learn their story, my heart ached for them. Mische and Asar are both **broken souls** who believe nothing can ever make them whole again, they're filled with regret and guilt for things they've done in their past. They're both self-sacrificing idiots and I love them very much.

*[Luce is the star of this book, she’s the cutest and everyone will fall in love with her once they read this book]*

I love how **even the villains have such human traits** and aren't evil for the sake of being evil. And the gods are realistically portrayed. This is something I really appreciated in the previous books, Carissa excels at writing multifaceted characters.

ˏˋ꒰**Mische**꒱ˎˊ

I loved Mische in the precious books, but my love for her now runs so much deeper. It broke my heart to discover her full story, to know what she endured at the hands of a God who cared nothing for her and saw her only as a possession.

**Mische's light could rival the sun, and I hate that her God gradually dimmed it.** But she never lost her optimism, her hope for a better world, her belief that every soul can be saved and deserves a chance at redemption. She sacrificed body and soul for her God, and her blind faith led her to ruin, but I think her journey made her understand that her faith didn't have to be tied to a God, that she could pray and worship a greater power without self-sacrifice. *That she doesn't have to lose herself in the process.*

Mische begins her journey so broken and miserable, feeling lost and alone and struggling to come to terms with her vampire nature. But along the way, **she learns that light and darkness can coexist**, and when she finally accepts herself, she transforms into something magnificent.

ˏˋ꒰**Asar**꒱ˎˊ

I really need his POV in the second book because I want to be inside his head. I loved getting to know him; it happened slowly, he's very reserved at first, but once you peel back all the layers, you find such a **tender, loving, kind soul**. Despite the sharp edges, the darkness that surrounds him, and the anger and regret that linger within him, **Asar has a soft side that devastated me**. When I saw him fully, I shattered completely. *He's such a beautiful being, I'm so in love with him*. He's a healer and a protector, and he loves deeply. I just want him to know that he deserves to be loved, that he’s worthy of it.

ˋ°•*⁀➷ **Mische and Asar**

I live and breathe this trope: a broken boy who's convinced that no one can love him, and a girl who loves him easily. **It gets me every time!** The longing, the angst, the fear of exposing yourself to someone and risking getting hurt, but knowing you're powerless to fight what you're feeling. IT'S SO GOOD!

In many ways, **Mische and Asar healed each other**. Both carry scars, not just in their bodies but in their souls. They both carry fears and regrets, and they tried to fight their feelings, but it was an impossible task. Their romance blossomed slowly, but it was so beautiful to see them open up to each other. They were meant to find each other, **Mische is the light to Asar's darkness.**

Carissa's writing is stunning and **I love how much emotion she conveys through her words**. This was such a great reading experience, I lost my ability to think when I finished the book, I don't think I'll ever get over the ending. I can't wait to read the next book, I'll be eagerly awaiting it.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-arc!

I would like to thanks NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-arc! I never thought I would get approved for this one and to say I was excited about the prospect isn't even close enough to the truth. I loved The Serpent & The Wings of Night so naturally I couldn’t wait to get back into the Crowns of Nyaxia universe! Especially since in this one, we follow Mische’s adventures.

One thing about Carissa’s books is that entertaining doesn't begin to cover it. It’s so fast paced that it feels like being out of breath after running a marathon sometimes. In this one, be prepared to take a little trip to the underworld. And who doesn't like that? I know I do. In fact, I loved the way Mische sees the beauty of the underworld beyond the grim and terrible.
In The Songbird & the Heart of Stone we follow our protagonist Asar & Mische, forced to team up (in a way since one is kind of dragged into the mission at first) to resurrect a God and while they try to achieve this, they will obviously come across all sorts of demons, most of them within. This book tackles the questions of faith and the consequences of even one pawn in the big chess of religion.
While some of the plot was predictable, it still keeps you hanging and that’s the power of Carissa’s mind I would say. I cannot believe she’s done it again in the end.. and well, what an ending really.. Classical torture by Broadbent. I long for the next book and hope to found peace somehow, at some point. Will I?
I loved discovering Mische under a new light (pun intended - if you know, you know) and speaking of it, know that this book isn’t a standalone. You need to read the first two books or else, it will get pretty confusing for you and you won’t be able to understand her journey fully. Mische is quite different from Oraya but just as complex and endearing! I already loved her then and now I love her even more. Now Asar was also interesting (and I’m not only saying that because he’s a necromancer I promise - we know that’s a weakness of mine..) But then, there is the matter of Luce.. The best companion you can wish for and like Mische said « Dogs. We didn’t deserve them. » No, we don’t.

I honestly had a great time reading this book and it’s, just like its predecessors, a great romantasy! (And a great way to start the month really).

A enjoyable continuation in the Crowns of Nyaxia series!
I loved the quest and adventure aspect of this book.
The writing was also done really well I was always on the edge of my seat reading the big scenes.
I loved how Mische and her beliefs were handled and how that was portrayed. I was absolutely obsessed with how Asar and Mische bonded and the way they understood each other.
The cliffhanger has left me wanting so much more!