5 Shadowborn Swords for The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent.

"𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.
𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦, 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯, 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.
𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦, 𝘷𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘰, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘵."

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for allowing me a copy of this arc via Netgalley.

I'm honestly struggling to put into words how mind-blowing this book is. Carissa Broadbent is my drug of choice and this book is no exception.

My only struggle with this book is the sheer magnitude of the worldbuilding. Morthryn and the Underworld are so intense and vast, and I'm not sure if this book was able to fully build them up. It was a bit difficult to follow in parts, not because Carissa didn't do an amazing job of explaining each level of the Underworld, but just because of how big and daunting the Underworld as a whole is.

That being said, it was my only issue with this book. We follow Mische, Raihn's best friend from the Nightborn Duet. In The Ashes and the Star Cursed King, Mische murders her creator, who happens to be the Shadowborn Crown Prince. This book starts with the Shadowborn capturing her and to not be executed, she is sent with Asar, the Shadowborn King's bastard son, on a borderline suicidal quest through the Underworld.

This is an amazingly, beautifully tragic story of Mische's life, how she was chosen by the sun god, and how her choices, character, and sins led her to this journey through the Underworld where she is able to discover herself, try and make peace with her life and fall in love. Asar's story is equally tragic and beautiful and his true character being unmasked is such an amazing thing to read.

The plot twists were amazing, the journey was tragic and the ending left me swearing, gasping, and demanding more. Please go read this book.

Life got in the way of reading this ARC in time but it was so worth the wait. I loved both MCs, the story was packed with an emotional journey alongside the physical one (Mische's journey with her faith was SO well done), and Carissa Broadbent's writing is always such a delight to read. Can't wait for the next book!

Ich habe den ersten und zweiten Band der Reihe schon sooooo geliebt und beide waren absolute Highlights für mich, weshalb die Erwartungen hier dementsprechend hoch waren. Und was soll ich sagen? Ich wurde nicht enttäuscht. Ich bin sowieso ein riesengroßer Fan der Welt und des Worldbuildings und habe beides hier wieder so, so geliebt! Zudem habe ich mich so gefreut, dass man vorherige Nebencharaktere jetzt hier auf ihrem Weg begleiten und tiefere Einblicke in ihre Gedanken und Gefühle bekommen kann. ES WAR GROSSARTIG! Ich habe mich mit ihnen verliebt, habe mit ihnen mitgefühlt und mitgefiebert, habe es vor Spannung kaum aufgehalten, mein Herz wurde natürlich wieder mal gebrochen, aber ebenso geheilt und ich habe jede einzelne Sekunde zwischen den Seiten dieser Geschichte geliebt! Brauche dringend meeeeehr!

This was such a great book and definitely different from the first two! I loved the whole underworld and trials, which I'm a sucker for! It was great to finally get more of Mische's story as well!

My gratitude to Pan Macmillan for the chance to read this book in advance.
What can I say?
What a wild ride!
I didn't know what to expect from The Songbird and the Heart of Stone, but even before starting it I was sure that I would have loved this book. Was I right? Of course I was!
Carissa Broadbent is one of the few authors that makes me still have faith in fantasy genre. In a time where fantasy stories seem often very similar, Crowns of Nyaxia series has the power to shine. And even if we have two new protagonists, very different from Raihn and Oraya, I felt attached to them since the very beginning. The readers already know Mishe from the previous books, but being in her head was something else entirely. This compassionate, good girl who had been hurt so much in more ways than those she already acknowledged, started a journey that will allow her (even if she didn't know it) to completely free herself, and I'm really waiting to see her burn all to the ground. And then there's Asar, the tormented necromancer I adored from the start. I loved his peculiar sarcasm, his silences, his composure, his intelligence and strength, despite a past that would have crushed anyone, Their stories broke my heart again and again during the whole novel, because they had been used and manipulated their whole lives in a way or another, and they really deserve to be happy.
Nonetheless it wasn't always easy to read them, I appreciated how Carissa inserted again tough themes like use of violence for pleasure, mental manipulation that led to subjugation and different kinds of abuse, which unfortunately, in different context or situations, are not so far from reality. I always hope that reading these issues in a book can make the difference for someone, so they can find the strength to stop and understand if something they're experiencing or living is wrong. Mishe's story is the proof of it.
At last, I don't know if I'll ever overcome the trauma of THAT ending until I'll have book 4 in my hands. I'll wait for it with open arms.

The most joyous read from start to finish and in every which way. I was fully engrossed in the story from page 1 and before I knew it, I was turning the final page. Just brilliant!

I really struggled reading the book. I felt like the plot was weak, a lot weaker than the previous two she wrote for the series. Some parts were quite repetitive. The same people (wraiths) chasing Mische and Asar and encountering the same kind of fight over and over again. I thought Mische’s story was very fascinating and wished that the book explored more ideas regarding that but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

2.5 stars

the only thing this book had going for itself?
Asar, the hot bastard. His role and character made me want to read more about him, other stories with him.
Unfortunately, I didn't like Mische (knew that beforehand) and it felt like Luce was so random?
Plot and world building felt like a fever dream, and not a good one. I didn't know what was going on for most of the book and I didn't care, it felt very repetitive. Didn't even care for the plot twists.

Not sure if I can be convinced to continue the series.

Wow! I cannot believe how much a enjoyed Mische and her journey! Her story is so heartbreaking and she does not deserve to suffer any punishment for what she did. When she is forced to work with Asan to resurrect the God of Death her life takes another turn, and it may just change everything. It is dangerous, action pact and full of excitement and tension. The path to redemption is fraught with peril and the path you think you want to be on may not be the one you need to be on. Her attraction to Asan may just change everything, for both of them.

I WILL NEVER NOT READ A CARISSA BROADBENT BOOK. they never fail to leave me feeling ALL the emotions.
I loved learning more about Mische, it was packed with gut-wrenching tension and irresistible chemistry. It was a dark journey into the underworld with heart-stopping trials, and the ending!!!!! i need the next book asap please !!!!!! i am obsessed!

Genuinely my all time fave Carissa Broadbent.

I loved the different levels of this book, I am a sucker for trials and this did not disappoint.

Not only did the plot slay, the romance was so intrinsic and stunning. Simply amazing.

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent is an emotional, captivating journey through a vividly imagined world.
Mische’s transformation into a vampire and her complex relationship with the gods make her a compelling protagonist. Her vulnerability, pain, and resilience immediately drew me in, and her dynamic with Asar added depth and tension.
Asar, the brooding yet patient prince, contrasts beautifully with Mische’s fiery determination.

Their slow-burn romance is magnetic, with banter and chemistry that kept me hooked. The dangerous journey to the underworld is packed with thrilling action, heart-stopping trials, and beautifully haunting moments that make the stakes feel real.
The writing is stunning, balancing intricate world-building with raw, emotional storytelling. The Descent into the Underworld was especially mesmerizing. While the pacing can feel slow at times, the payoff is worth it.
The ending left me breathless with its shocking cliffhanger.

A sow beginning but once the story got going I was obsessed! I loved that this was structured to follow the characters through each level of the underworld.

The romance was a perfect slow burn and the ending has me desperate to read book two!

The third novel in this exciting series, The Songbird and the Heart of Stone captures thrill, romance and excitement in one incredible package. I can't wait for the fourth one!

Carissa has such a knack for writing fantasy in and pulling you into her characters worlds.
As a lover of the dark underworld and to get misches story was exactly what I needed. And a necromancer… say no more.
I love how Carissa writes her FMCs. Cannnot wait for more !

Actual rating: 3.5 ish stars.

In preparation for this book, I reread the initial duology. Perhaps I shouldn’t have, because Oraya and especially Rhain were fresh in my mind, and I love their story! While this book is overall good, it didn’t quite reach the level of Serpent and Ashes for me.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Mische before, mainly because we didn’t get to know her that well. Given that she’s now a main character, my expectations were high. I did enjoy watching her evolve throughout her journey and appreciated the glimpses into her past. I wasn’t indifferent to her, but I didn’t find myself captivated either, if you know what I mean. Kind of an 'inbetween' feeling.

I was also intrigued by Asar, but I expected a bit more background on him. He’s portrayed as mysterious, so that initial spark of excitement on my side was definitely there, but he kind of stayed an enigma. I wanted and expected more from his POV.

Overall, the world Carissa created remains super creative and original, and her writing is just as good as ever. In terms of storyline, I would have loved a bit more romance, as it wasn’t a major focus. And I think a dual POV would have been so good with this story.

Even though I was a little bit underwhelmed, I will definitively continue reading this series.

I love this world so so much and Carissa’s writing is PHENOMENAL

I genuinely think this is her best book yet! It took me a little while to get into but Asar and Mische’s chemistry had me hooked😭

This is an incredible story with elements of Dante’s Inferno and I am obsessed

THAT ENDING?! HUH?!!? That’s all. No notes.

4.2⭐️

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

After finding the start of The Ashes & The Star Cursed King a bit of a struggle to get through, I enjoyed this book a lot more from the beginning. I always liked Mische’s character in the original duology and it was nice to see behind the “fun” face she put on in those books, and to understand a bit more about her obsession with Atroxus (although I agree with Asar’s opinions about him haha).

I also liked watching her relationship with Asar grow and change over the course of the book. That cliffhanger though - I’m very interested to see how the situation resolves itself in the next book (and hopefully see more from Asar’s perspective too!)

Thank you NetGalley and Pan MacMillian for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Oh how I loved The Songbird and The Heart of Stone - this type of romance and fantasy book is right up my alley. I loved the relationship between Mische and Asar. There was so much animosity, tension and so much at stake and I loved how their relationship grew slowly through the book. The ending was incredible and I can’t wait for the next book. Would happily recommend to anyone - even if you haven’t read the previous books.

“The Songbird & The Heart of Stone” by Carissa Broadbent is an extraordinary read during spooky season, keeps you hooked from start to finish. Well written story with goth vibes and an MMC to die for. Carissa has done an amazing job with this one yet again! Bring a cozy blanket, a hot black tea, gothic music in the background and enjoy this story, you’ll love it!

Pan Macmillan | Tor Bramble, NetGalley, and the editorial team - thanks for giving me the opportunity to review an audiobook ARC of this publication!

#TheSongbirdAndTheHeartOfStone #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning