This book was everything. I loved Mische and Asar in The Songbird and the Heart of Stone and couldn't wait to finish their story. Angsty, heartbreaking, and full of action, The Fallen and The Kiss of Dusk gripped me from start to finish!

Absolutely jaw-dropping. I loved this sequel to The Songbird and the Heart of Stone. Carissa Broadbent has truly outdone herself. From page one, it’s an emotional rollercoaster. One moment I was crying, the next I was shouting at the book. It’s that kind of ride.

Getting back into the world of Mische and Asar felt like coming home, and their story just keeps getting more intense, more beautiful, and more tragic in all the best ways. The stakes are higher, the gods more dangerous, and the emotions rawer than ever.

The world-building is epic. The pacing is spot on. And the love story is still very much at the heart of it all and just as gripping. The plot twists hit hard, the writing is rich and immersive, and the tension never lets up. I could not put it down.

I highly recommend reading Slaying the Vampire Conqueror beforehand. Six Scorched Roses adds some extra context that makes everything even more satisfying.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. What an absolute gift. I am already in withdrawal and dreading the wait for the next one. Please hurry, Carissa. I need more!

NB. If you have NOT read any of the Nyaxia novels, be advised there are some spoilers in this review for earlier books.

It is recommended that you read all available books in the Crowns of Nyaxia series before you read The Fallen & The Kiss of Dusk (and this review), in this particular order:   

01 - The Serpent & the Wings of Night
01,5 - Six Scorched Roses
02 - The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King
02,5 - Slaying the Vampire Conquerer
03 - The Songbird & the Heart of Stone
04 - The Fallen & The Kiss of Dusk

The Fallen & The Kiss of Dusk immediately continues Mische and Asar's story from the end of The Songbird & The Heart of Stone. As punishment for killing Atroxus and plunging the world in endless night, Mische has been killed by the Gods and is a wraith, stuck below, where she's urged by Vincent (of all people) to make her way back up to the Veil separating them from the mortal world as soon as possible.
Meanwhile Asar, now a demigod imprisoned by the Gods, is devastated after losing Mische. Hell-bent on vengeance against the Gods for discarding the love of his life, he will stop at nothing to get her back. But not all Gods are as they seem: when Goddess Acaeja shows him a path of Fate where he and Mische can be together, he agrees to go on one more perilous mission. He is to retrieve Mische from the Underworld; together they are to obtain the rest of Alarus's power so Asar can ascend to full Godhood, taking the place of his distant ancestor as the God of Death.

Just like Crowns of Nyaxia's Nightborn duology, the second novel of the Shadowborn duology features a secondary PoV, adding in Asar's with Mische's. I already adore Mische, but absolutely love Asar's narration and getting to know the man who stole Mische's heart in Songbird. This man is of the "will burn down the universe for her" variety and he's everything I want in a male lead. His perspective adds so much to the romance as it progresses in Fallen, but perhaps more so as he revisits moments from Songbird, offering the reader small but effective glimpses into how he experienced falling in love with Mische. And boy, he fell hard. 
The interlude chapters in between flash back to various points in Asar's life, giving more layers and insight into this character who up until this point has remained rather mysterious, and perhaps even somewhat unattainable, hard to grasp. The mystery definitely added to his sexiness in Songbird, but the decision to reveal the depth of his character in Fallen is exactly right. Knowing him better allows the reader to fall in love with him, too - and the way Broadbent executes this through Asar's flashbacks, call-backs, and passionate narration is sheer perfection. Asar's devotion to Mische is deep and intense in the very best way. Goosebumps.

And the spice. Ohhh, the spice. Broadbent's love scenes are always creative and unexpected; her descriptions of sex scenes are vivid and titillating without being too much, and the atmosphere surrounding these moments are typically rather intimate but highly erotic. Even when there's no actual sex. This is vampire romance, so a big aspect to that is blood exchange. The way her characters react to drinking and sharing blood is next level: there's a literal hunger transcending into a passionate craving for each other, that characters lose themselves in one way or the other. It's always consensual (not unimportant); furthermore, because there's already an established attraction or affection between them, these moments lead to an intense shared experience between the romantic leads which translates so, so well on the page. The blood drinking and/or sex scenes never disappoint. Broadbent is by far at the top of my list when it comes to vampire romance and The Fallen is yet more proof of that.

Without giving too much away, Fallen has the most beautifully written romantic arc, at times almost poetic in its execution. I usually don't enjoy reading about my couples having to be apart but in the case of Mische and Asar, the strength of their love can be seen in how they find their way back to each other again, and again, and again - defying Gods, gravity, worlds, everything. Fallen romances HARD.

But Kaat, is there a plot? Oh right. YES. Of course there is, and it is thrilling and fast-paced. Songbird was a little bit slower in its story progress (but once it took off, there was no stopping it either), but there is never a lull in Fallen. So much happens. Mische and Asar are sent on another sort of a scavenger hunt, but it's still very different from the first book; I see it as an addition to their first mission... a continuation, rather than a repeat, their journey coming full circle in this novel.

But that's just one of the many subplots in the Crowns of Nyaxia universe overall. Together, all the novels build up one overarching main plotline, and Fallen probably has the most development regarding the bigger story to date. Broadbent keeps the reader focused on the main arc by inserting call-backs regularly and by having (some less) beloved characters make re-appearances, cleverly tying all her Nyaxia novels together. I loved having Raihn and Oraya back again, but perhaps the most fun appearance is by Victor. He doesn't feature heavily but his presence has a bit of a buddy comedy type effect here and there, his character perfectly annoying enough to get Mische's butt into gear. And it wouldn't be a Nyaxia novel without Septimus showing up: I enjoyed the opportunity it gives Mische to b*tchslap the heck out of him.

At the same time, Broadbent shifts some things around, particularly when it comes to the world that has been built so far and the mythology of the Gods. They are being featured more as characters in their own right, which I welcome. Their infighting and actions lead to thrilling upheaval. Alliances shift, rules bend and break, the entire freaking world changes. Broadbent keeps the universe she's built in stunning detail surprising and fresh by flipping the script here and there.

The more subtle but equally vital development can be found in anything to do with the Bloodborn, their duology being the one in which everything regarding the main plot will inevitably come to a head. I will stress again that it's imperative you read the other available novels first. Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is especially important for Fallen: its main characters - Atrius and Sylina - make an appearance in Fallen which I don't think you'll fully catch the intention of unless you've read their book first. Knowing who they are and what they've been through so far helps the reader catch some subtleties that will absolutely matter in the final duology, as well as understand their motivations for certain actions in Fallen. All I'm going to say is: I could NEVER hate Atrius. Read his book, if not before Fallen then at least read it before the Bloodborn duology comes out.

Fallen ends on an absolute BANGER of a cliffhanger, and after all of this amazing build-up, I am sure the Bloodborn duology will be nothing short of epic. The wait will feel extra long because of this anticipation, but thankfully all of the Nyaxia novels are fast favorites which I've read, and reread, and will read again to tide me over. 

Thank you NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Tor Bramble for generously providing me with a copy of this book; as a fan of the Nyaxia novels I felt honored to be able to read this early. All opinions expressed are honest, voluntary and 100% my own.

The Fallen and Kiss of Dusk is a fantastic sequel—the stakes are higher, the emotions are deeper, and one of my favorite parts? All the iconic characters from other books in the Crowns of Nyaxia universe show up and actually contribute to Mische and Asar’s journey!
Seeing Oraya and Raihn (forever obsessed with them), Atrius and Sylina, and even Septimus pop in? Chef’s kiss!!

Mische and Asar story picks up right where book one left off, and thank the stars—they’re not apart for long. Together, they dive into a quest that pits them against fate, gods, and everything standing between them and their happy ending.

The character work in this duology is top-tier—the arcs are rich, raw, and beautifully layered.
I can’t help but root for Mische and Asar. They’ve come so far, and their bond just keeps deepening with every trial they face.
And Luce?? Best girl. She’s a total star and always shows up when it matters most.

That final part of the book was wild. I did not see that twist coming, and now I’m bracing myself for what’s next. The gods, vampires, and humans are clearly gearing up for something massive—and that epilogue?? Septimus is giving mysterious mastermind vibes and I need his story ASAP.

Overall, this duology is a well-written story. The Crowns of Nyaxia series never misses—amazing characters, epic world-building, and a plot that made you always crave for more.
I’m beyond excited for the final two books in the Crown of Nyaxia series – the Bloodborn Duet!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: War, death, violence, sexual content, animal death, child death, confinement, discussion of grooming and sexual assault, discussion of religious trauma, off-screen torture

I'm still processing this. OMG.
I had so much fun. The story starts right away, and the tension building was perfect.
This is definitely another great duology from this saga. Mische and Asar are the perfect couple.
I love you Carissa, I won't ever stop reading your books!

4.5 stars

The first book in the Shadowborn Duet (part of the Crowns of Nyasia) left on a pretty devastating cliffhanger. I could not wait to get my hands on The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk to find out how my beloved Mische and Asar could reunite to spite the gods, and if there was any hope for either of them to get the happy ending that they so very much deserve.

Overall, this was a great conclusion to Mische and Asar’s story, getting chapters from both Mische and Asar’s perspective in this book quickly made me forget the doubts I had about their connection in the previous book and gave a greater insight into Asar which made me fall in love with him, he’s everything Mische deserved and more!!! This man has it down bad for my favourite girl.

This duet explores a lot of emotional damage to both of the main characters and seeing Mische in particular accept the horrors of her past and the person that it has made her today was very emotional. Watching her grieve her mortal life, her god and accept the mistakes she made along the way has made her the strongest version of herself. Carissa has an incredible way of exploring difficult emotions and conflicting thoughts that create such a fantastic dynamic to her story telling.

One of the biggest highlights of this book was the inclusion of so many cameos from the other books in the series. I had been desperate to have Raihn and Oraya back in the story, I simply adore the relationship that Mische has with Raihn and how significant their relationship is to the development of her character. it also provided some comedic relief to the very heavy storyline.I also have to mention the very emotional scene with the letter given to Oraya and how perfect of a moment this was, giving her the closure she needed in such a touching but realistic way was just one example of the fantastic storyteller that Carissa Broadbent is.

There were a few niggles I had with this book much like the first in the duet, there was perhaps one too many spicy scene which felt a little forced and unlike the earlier books it felt like spice for the sake of spice rather than a tool to develop the intimacy of the relationship with the characters. This is perhaps a more personal choice for level of spice/ spice to plot ratio that I prefer in a fantasy and prior to this book Carissa Broadbent’s books have always been spot on with my tastes.

The God’s play an even bigger role in this book within the series and I was excited to learn more about the history of the other God’s as well as Nyaxia. I am very excited about where the bigger arc of the story is heading and can’t wait to read more in the next books with the Bloodborn Duet.

Carissa can do no wrong!! I absolutely adored the journey in this book and I love mische and asar so much!! The book kept me on my toes and engaged all the way through. I cannot wait for the next 🤩 there’s something about the way this is written that is so beautiful I cannot explain properly in words. I loved seeing old faces (no spoilers) and the plot is a nice wrap up to Mische and Asar’s story 🩷 although I hope we continue to see them because I might even like them more than Raihn and Oraya if that’s possible!!! Thank you to NetGalley for this arc 🫶🏼

Thank you NetGalley and Carissa and Pan Macmillan for the ARC of this book!!

Did I understand some parts of this? No not at all. But I don’t think that’s down to any writing or plot issues it was just ALOT. This book was BRUTAL and devastating and absolutely gorgeous.

I will never ever get over that Asar turned away but my god the way this story took off from there was insane.

The ending was perfection - absolutely glorious book and I am so excited to read book 6 when this comes out!

The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk gave me epic love story meets underworld chaos, but also had me screaming, “GET A MOVE ON” at the pacing more times than I’d like to admit 😭

This is the fourth novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series and technically a direct sequel to The Songbird and the Heart of Stone. And YES, I was buzzing to be back in this world. Like – I missed the dark, messy, blood-drenched drama. And Carissa delivered vibes.

⚠️ A quick note before diving in:
You can jump in with just the main novels, but I highly recommend reading the novellas (Six Scorched Roses and Slaying the Vampire Conqueror) first before reading The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk — they add depth to certain characters that show up here and make the emotional beats land harder.

Also, if your memory’s a bit foggy after book three (I get it, there’s been a lot of time in between), Carissa has a super handy spoiler-y recap on her publisher's website. Bless her. 🙌

So, back on track...
This one picks up right after the events of The Songbird and the Heart of Stone. Like... eternal night, the gods are angry, Mische is MIA, and Asar is on a rampage of pain and vengeance™.
It was SO GOOD to see our faves again – Oraya & Raihn, Vale & Lilith, Vincent (forever dramatic), Atrius & Sylina – and of course, 🐶 Lady Luce, the Goodest Girl.
_____________

✨ What I loved:

• Asar's dialogue?? ICONIC. The way this man romantically simps while simultaneously threatening gods is just... perfection.
"You are an event, Mische Iliae. God slayer. Dawndrinker. Shadowborn queen. And I would die to taste your skin."
"I think it's best if only one of us is dead at a time."– Mische, delivering peak deadpan queen energy.

• The Vasythian ceremony scene? Soft. Devastating. Perfect.
• 💔 The romance? Emotionally devastating.
This is not a fluffy, flirty kind of love story. This is soulmate energy dragged through hell and back, literally and emotionally. It’s about earning your happy ending. Choosing life. Fighting for each other and for yourself.
• 🧠 Thematic weight
What really hit for me was the shift from sacrifice to survival. So often in romantasy, love is tied to self-destruction. But this book quietly flips that. It says — what if love means not being the martyr? What if greatness isn’t in what you give up, but what you refuse to lose? 💥
• 🗺️ The world-building?? STUNNING.
Carissa is the queen of crafting worlds that feel ancient, magical, and lived in. We get to explore new areas of the underworld, witness divine courts at play, and honestly? Some of the settings gave me chills. She has that "beautiful but deadly" energy down to a science and the world-building in The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk remains immaculate – the Deadlands, the Underworld, the House of Shadow... I could see it. Like, someone give this woman a Netflix budget, stat.
"It was pristine, flawless beauty... but the imperfection of it was what made it remarkable."
Carissa’s prose hits like a dagger in a silk glove. Painful and pretty.
• 🐶 LUCE. THE DOG.
Deserves rights. That is all.
_____________

😬 What didn’t hit as hard for me:

• The pacing. First half? A bit of a trudge. I kept waiting for the momentum to build, and while the second half delivered, it took a while to get there.
• 🤔 Some character decisions felt off.
There were a few moments where I went: hmm, would YOU actually do that? Especially if you’ve read the previous books and know how these characters have been shaped by trauma, war, and divine manipulation... some choices felt slightly out of character. But to be fair — these two are traumatised. They’re messy. And maybe that is realistic. Just not always satisfying to read.
• 🤌 I needed more Septimus
I know, I KNOW. This isn’t his book. But his shady lil vampire energy haunts me and I kept waiting for him to do something chaotic and clever Instead, he’s just lurking like a cryptid with a plan — and I need his book now. Desperately.
_______________

💔 Mische and Asar’s relationship is messy, broken, and tender in the most devastating way.
"You are the sacrifice I will not make, Mische. You. Don't ask me to apologise for that."
"Maybe greatness should come not from the sacrifices you make, but the ones you refuse to."
They’ve been through hell (literally), and watching them try to choose life – not just for each other, but for themselves – felt earned. But I also wanted more of that earlier on.
____________

🎯 Final thoughts:

This book is emotionally rich, vividly written, and packed with heartache, healing, and higher stakes. If you're here for shadowy gods, poetic prose, intense romance, and characters who love HARD and HURT HARDER — you’ll enjoy it.

But it’s also slower than I wanted, with a few narrative choices that didn’t fully land for me. Hence the ✨3.75 stars✨ — still a strong installment, but not my absolute favourite of the series.

What it does do well is set the stage for what’s clearly going to be a divine-level war, and I am so ready to see where things go from here.

Give me more Septimus and more gods being terrible
________________________________________
👑 Stand out moments?
When Raihn looked at Mische and said:
“You and me, right? Two fucked-up people getting through the worst of our Mother-damned lives together.”
My little heart shattered. 🖤
Suddenly, necromancy felt...much more romantic.
UGH. If you know, you know. If not, go read it and find out. I won't spoil it.

🖤 Quote of the book?
“I told you that strength is measured by the sacrifices we refused to make. You were mine.”
And that’s the whole damn thesis.

🔥 Would I recommend?
Yes – but ideally as part of the full series. If you're a new reader, start with The Serpent and the Wings of Night and let yourself fall in love with this world from the beginning. The emotional payoff hits harder that way.

If you’re already a fan? You’ll definitely want to read this one to witness Asar and Mische fight their way back to each other and to themselves. It’s equal parts aching and hopeful.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I DEVOURED THIS. I was speaking to friends about how badly I wanted to finish this, solely because it’s SO GOOD. This book was amazing. This was like, a perfect sequel and I’m STILL trying to find all the right (write? haha) words to describe how I feel about this book. This was such a fantastic addition to a series I already adore. I need more in this world (always) as I’m obsessed with this worldbuilding and the characters and everything.

That ending?? I’m SO happy for Mische and Asar and I’m so scared for the next book. I feel like we have little happy endings and I just want to leave them all in a happy little bubble before everything goes wrong.. or more wrong.

This is my favourite so far from Carissa Broadbent, and I’m hooked waiting for more.

Another incredible instalment by Carissa. With each book her world just gets better and better. I love that we got more about the gods. Give me the next book now 🤣

Thank you, Pan Macmillan/Tor Bramble, for this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

What. A. Ride.
Carissa Broadbent has done it again—this sequel is beyond anything I could’ve expected. My heart? Shattered. My stress levels? Sky high. My obsession? Fully reignited.

From the very first chapter, I was asking, "What is happening???" and honestly, I never stopped. The stakes were apocalyptic, the emotions intense, and the characters? Don’t even get me started. Luce continued to be the best girl ever, and Asar… oh Asar. That man is on another level of shadow daddy and also, somehow, a total sap?? I love him with my whole heart 🖤🥵🔥

There were so many moments I just needed to scream—“GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY WIFE!” being top tier. The tension, the ladder/bookshelf scene (if you know, you know)… I swear I couldn’t breathe. The world-building was just as stunning as ever, and the themes of sacrifice and love were woven in beautifully. Also, shoutout to Rainh & Oraya Atrius & Sylina and Vale & Lilith —I loved that they were there!

This book was everything I love in romantasy: heartbreak, epic stakes, powerful love, and characters I’ll be thinking about for weeks. The epilogue left me staring at the ceiling, whispering “Carissa, WHAT??” I need the Bloodborn Duet immediately because Septimus & (no spoiler) are going to be the ultimate badass couple!!

Trigger warning: there is some animal harm (horse)

Well this got me in the feels.

Such an epic fantasy with romance but it also had so much heart.

It honestly felt like such a journey reading these characters overcome their traumas.

Reasons to love this one:

❤️ Gorgeous characters that would literally go to hell and back for each other
😡 Brilliant villains to hate
✨ Gorgeous world building and magic
❤️ All the side characters and links to the other characters in the series

Some books entertain you. Some books make you feel. And then there are the rare few that reach into your chest and hold something fragile. This was one of those.

The moment I read the dedication “for every mortal heart trying to find their way home” I knew I was going to feel this one deep. That line alone made me emotional before the story had even started. It set the tone perfectly for what turned out to be one of the most intense and beautiful reading experiences I’ve had in a long time.

I was lucky enough to receive an eARC and I devoured it. This book is easily the most emotionally heavy and high-stakes installment in the Crowns of Nyaxia universe so far. The plot hits hard. There is pain and power and heartbreak on every page but the beating heart of the story is still the bond between Asar and Mische.

Asar is one of my favorite romantasy male leads of all time. His love is so steady and selfless it genuinely hurt in the best way. He would tear the world apart for Mische and you believe it. And Mische has always had this quiet strength but in this book she fully steps into herself. She is radiant and real and someone you want to root for with your whole soul.

The worldbuilding continues to be some of the strongest I’ve read in fantasy romance. It’s not just immersive. It feels lived in. There is so much weight behind every place and piece of lore. Carissa Broadbent doesn’t just build worlds. She breathes life into them.

The spice is definitely there and it’s 🔥 but what stayed with me most were the soft moments. The glances and the grief and the quiet ways love shows up when everything else is falling apart.

There are also some familiar faces who show up and I genuinely squealed. Rayne fans, you’re going to lose it. And Luce is still the best girl ever created. No arguments.

This book made me cry. It made me reflect. It made me sit in silence when I finished it because I wasn’t ready to let go. I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait for the Bloodborn Duet. I don’t think I’ve fully said goodbye to Asar and Mische yet. Maybe I never will.

If you haven’t read this series yet you’re missing out. These books don’t just tell a story. They offer healing.

As always, 6 out of 5 stars.

This book concludes the Shadowborn Duet and has seriously upped the stakes for the next duology. You thought Nyaxia was mad before?! Hold on to your hats.

But before we get to that, this is a story about love and loss, life and death, and so, so much yearning. High levels of emotional devastation, returning favourite characters, and Luce! What more do you want?

This was an emotional, action-packed continuation of the Shadowborn Duet! I’ve loved following Mische and Asar’s journey, and this book gave their story a powerful and heartbreaking conclusion. While the first part of the book felt a bit slow, the second half was intense and full of twists, romance, and high stakes.
I enjoyed seeing familiar characters from earlier books, especially Raihn, Oraya, and Vincent, it really helped tie the whole series together. Asar’s POV added so much depth, and I completely fell for his character. Mische remains one of my favorite heroines, strong, loyal, and still humble and human.
The themes of sacrifice, love, and redemption were beautifully written, and the world of Nyaxia continues to impress with its rich lore and emotional storytelling. It’s not my favorite in the series, but still an epic read. I can’t wait to see where the author takes us next!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

I am so blown away by this book. An instant 5 stars. I almost don't have the words to describe what I just experienced, so I'll start with this: I know Carissa Broadbent's writing gets some scrutiny, I know some people didn't like the first duology in the Crowns of Nyaxia series (I adored it), and I know these books just arent some people's cup of tea. But wow. This book blew me away. When I first read The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King I had to sit and stare at my wall with tears silently streaming down my face for HOURS. I have never read a book so good that simultaneously transported me to a different world and also healed a little broken part of me. The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk was better than that for me.

Mische and Asar were lovable to me from the get-go in The Songbird & the Heart of Stone, and if anything this book only cements my relationship with them. I really think if you're going to take anything from my review of this book it's that you need to believe in the character development Carissa instils in her characters. The first Crowns of Nyaxia duology healed so much trauma for me in terms of my childhood, and this second duology inspired me to not only grow but *choose* to grow.

Asar remains one of my most favourite romantasy MMCs. I honestly stand by it when I say I don't think this man can do any wrong, even when he looks like he's doing wrong. Mische was radiant in the first duology and I have loved learning so much more about her in this second one, and adore how resilient and strong-willed she is.

The world-building in not only this series but in it's predecessor is some of the best fantasy world-building I've personally experienced, and if you haven't read this book or any of the other books in this series I wholeheartedly recommend you go out and buy them.

Review: The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent

I was incredibly lucky to receive an eARC of The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk and I absolutely devoured it. This is, without question, the darkest and most emotionally intense installment in the Crowns of Nyaxia series so far. From the very first page, it’s a relentless, heart-wrenching rollercoaster, I loved every second of it.

The plot moves at a fast pace, packed with action, tension, and high stakes, but at the heart of it all is the beautiful, unwavering bond between Asar and Mische. Their quiet, tender moments were some of my favourites. The depth of Asar’s love for Mische, his willingness to go to war with the gods, conquer the underworld, and quite literally tear himself apart for her was nothing short of breathtaking. And yes, the spice? Absolutely on fire.

There are some familiar faces who make an appearance, and I got so excited each time they did. I may have actually squealed when Rayne showed up. Luce of course is still the best and goodest of girls!

This book made me cry, laugh, scream, and feel everything in between. It was devastating and beautiful in equal measure. I honestly don’t know how I’m supposed to wait for the Bloodborn Duet, I need more of this world. Though I’m not ready to say goodbye to Asar just yet… maybe he could come with us?

The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk releases on August 5th, and I can’t recommend it or the rest of the Crowns of Nyaxia series enough.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I was so excited to get back into the world of Nyaxia and to see the rest of Mische’s and Asar’s journey. Book two picks up right where book one left off, which made it easy for me to get back into the story.

One thing I loved about this book was how much it extended the worldbuilding. I enjoyed learning more about the different gods and their rivalries. It made me really excited for what’s to come in the next duology.

Even though the middle part dragged a bit, most of the story was really engaging thanks to the high stakes and fast-moving plot. And the ending blew my mind! I need to know more about one specific character and his house…..

Concerning the characters, I absolutely loved all the different cameos. There was one that I did not see coming, but I absolutely loved. It was bittersweet and brought some well-deserved closure. Moreover, seeing Mische’s and Asar’s character development throughout this book was another highlight for me. These two have really grown on me and I hope we will see more of them in the next duology. That said, I missed the more intimate and soft conversations they had in book one. The spicy scenes were great, but I personally would have preferred a few less of them in exchange for more heartfelt moments.

Overall, a great end to this duology! Now I’m so curious about where the story goes next. 4.25 stars!

You know how sometimes you open a book and you're ready—like, you already put your heart on the table and said: go ahead, crush it? That’s me with The Fallen. I thought I was prepared. I wasn’t.

We pick up right where Songbird left us—emotionally destroyed, eyes red, heart hollow—and then Carissa says, “oh you thought that hurt?” and proceeds to drag us through eternal night, godly quests, and heartbreak that tastes like ash and stardust.

And Asar?
ASAR.
The way he loves Mische is borderline feral and I want ten more books just of him being completely undone by her. I swear I could feel his grief in my bones. His devotion hums through every line, and Mische… she’s still the fierce, kind, soul-carving heroine we fell for—but with a quiet power that feels unstoppable.

The tension? Unrelenting. The worldbuilding? As rich and dangerous as ever. The side characters? Give them all their own novellas. And Luce? My emotional support creature. I would die for her fluffiness.

This book aches. And heals. And then aches all over again.
It’s gods and monsters, pain and purpose, love that defies fate and characters so raw they bleed on the page.

Carissa’s writing makes you feel like you’re inside the story—like you’re standing between death and devotion, gripping your own heart because you don’t know how else to hold on.

And that ending? Wow.