Book Review: The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk
Book Review: The Songbird & the Heart of Stone
Book Review: The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
Genre: Dark Romantic Fantasy
Length: 638 pages
Book 2 of 2 – Completed duet.
Currently available on Kindle Unlimited.
What is it?
The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk is the fourth book in The Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent. 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 of this world. 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.
Being the second part of the Shadowborn Duet (the second duet in the series), means it completes the story of Mische and Asar- making it the perfect time to start the duet if you’ve been waiting because you (understandably) don’t like reading incomplete series. After all, sometimes those cliffhangers are just painful.
*** 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.
Crowns of Nyaxia 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 made the ultimate sacrifice to save those she loves – and plunged the world into an eternal night. Now, imprisoned by the gods and obsessed with revenge, Asar is desperate to find her again.
When a goddess offers them a final path to redemption – and back to each other – Asar and Mische embark on an extraordinary mission. Together, they must seize the power of the god of death so Asar may do the impossible: ascend to true divinity.
Their journey will take them through mortal and immortal realms, alongside both old friends and ruthless enemies. But as the underworld teeters on the brink of collapse and the gods prepare for a war, Asar and Mische must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the power to defy death. In a game of vengeful gods and ancient betrayals, there are some debts that even love may not be able to repay.
What I did/did not like?
Just like the previous book in the series, I went into this book almost completely blind. I had an idea of where the book was going, having read the first installment, but I never look to see what Carissa Broadbent’s books will be about. She is one of my favorite authors and I trust her completely to shatter my heart and piece it back together. And of course she succeeded yet again!
I would definitely recommend reading this book immediately following The Songbird & the Heart of Stone as The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk begins exactly where it left off.
I love the way Carissa Broadbent writes her characters. They are complex and perfectly imperfect. They are on a constant journey to accept their pasts and make a better future for themselves. She does a wonderful job of exploring who her characters are and what events led them to the places they are now. She knows her characters, she’s passionate about them and it shows.
This book was so much fun and dove deeper into the stories of the gods of this world. Their imperfection and meddling added so much to the story. If you love the way the gods intervened in old mythology, this is the duet for you!
The romance in this story was beautiful. Carissa Broadbent works hard to make sure the romance and the plot of the book are completely and utterly intertwined. One simply cannot exist without the other. Asar, our male main character, is grumpy and sweet and absolutely would do anything for Mische.
My favorite part of this series was getting to know Mische more. Her journey through becoming a vampire and accepting the change it forced on her life was gutting.
That being said, while I loved this book, it was not my favorite in the series. It was quite a bit slower than the previous books in the series. I found myself constantly forgetting important information. So, if you like your books to be completely action-packed and fast-paced this may not be a great fit for you.
What to expect/ Tropes
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 several chapters with spicy scenes. If you already read Carissa Broadbent’s work, this book is a little spicier than her other books. She focuses more on romance and plot than on the spice, but it is there. I will list the spicy chapters below for your reference. If you are trying to skip the spicy chapters, it is usually obvious they are about to happen and can easily be skipped over.
The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk Spicy Chapters:
Chapter 19
Chapter 38
Chapter 52
Chapter 55
Loved this book?
Be sure to check out other books by the same author!
The War of Lost Hearts Trilogy.
