Book Review: The Songbird & the Heart of Stone -

Book Review: The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

Genre: Dark Romantic Fantasy

Length: 498 pages

Book 1 of 2 – Completed duology.

Currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

What is it?

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone is the third book in The Crowns of Nyaxia series. The series is unfinished and will have six main books. However, you don’t have to worry about horrible cliffhangers. The books are divided into three duologies- each focusing on one of the three vampire kingdoms. The duologies must be read in publication order, as they build the story off of the books that came before them, but each couple’s story is complete within their duology, so you can safely read them and have closure. The books also have a novella and a standalone book that the author says you can skip if you want. I’ve read them both though and if you love the series, they are definitely worth your time.

*** This is a dark fantasy romance intended for adults. It may not be suitable for all readers. Be sure to check the trigger warnings provided by the author to determine if the book is a good fit for you.

Reading Order

The Serpent & the Wings of Night (The Nightborn Duology book 1)

Six Scorched Roses (Optional novella. Can be read anytime after book 1 to avoid spoilers)

The Ashes & the Star Cursed King (The Nightborn Duology book 2)

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (Optional standalone.)

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone (The Shadowborn Duology book 1)

The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk (The Shadowborn Duology book 2)

The Lion & the Deathless Dark (The Bloodborn Duology book 1. Releases August 2026)

Official Blurb

Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire–her home, her humanity, and most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who Turned her, redemption feels impossible.

But when Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a past as brutal as his scars, she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself.

Yet, Mische’s punishment may be the key to her salvation. In a secret meeting, her sun god commands her to help Asar in his mission, only to betray him… by killing the god of death.

Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. But most dangerous of all is the alluring call of the darkness–and her forbidden attraction to Asar, a burgeoning bond that risks invoking the wrath of gods.

As her betrayal looms, the underworld closes in and angry gods grow restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

What I did/did not like?

I went into this book almost completely blind. I knew that it was the third book in a series that I already love and that it was about Mische. Other than that I really didn’t know what to expect. I just knew I was going to like it because Carissa Broadbent is one of my favorite authors. I have absolutely loved everything that I have read by her. She is so good at making complex characters. They are flawed, imperfect, and complicated- I love it! She is a master of heartache and always knows how to pull at my heartstrings. I have never read a book by her that did not give me a sense of deep despair at some point.

Carissa Broadbent is a master of finding the balance between plot and romance. The two are so intertwined that they cannot exist without each other, but not so much that the romance is carrying the book.

I was not disappointed by this book in the least. It is beautifully written and so much different from the rest of the series. It is not a copy and paste story like can easily happen in long series. Instead, it is something completely its own and feels so far away from the story told in book 1. But, it feels natural and fits into the world perfectly. If you are hoping for the same book as the one that made you fall in love with the series, this is not the book for you. Carissa Broadbent has said in interviews that book 1, The Serpent & the Wings of Night, is her “tropey-est” book. If you are looking for something filled with tons of tropes, this may also not be the book for you.

This book follows Mische as she struggles with her reality as a vampire. She had dedicated her mortal life to being a servant to the god of the sun, but after she was turned into a vampire, he abandoned her. We learn a lot about her past and her continued dedication to the god of the sun. We see her grow as a person as she falls in love with moody necromancer Asar.

Together they journey through the descent into the underworld on an important journey given to them by the mother of dragons, Nyaxia.

As expected, this book broke my heart along the way. I was just glad that I waited for the release of the final part of the duology to read it. This way I can have closure instead of remaining heartbroken. I cannot wait to dive into book 2!

What to expect?

Vampires

Necromancy

Struggles with identity

Dark world

Journey to the underworld

Is it spicy?

Yes. There are a few chapters in the book with very tense moments and one chapter with a spicy scene. If you already read Carissa Broadbent’s work, the spice level is about the same as in her other books. She focuses more on romance and plot than on this spice, but it is there. I will list the spicy chapters below for your reference.

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone Spicy Chapters:

Chapter 32

Chapter 39