I have been looking forward to this book for months and was not disappointed! I love how introspective these books are compared to the first two books, and how much more they resemble a Greek myth in their storytelling than expected from a romantasy novel. I love this couple in particular as they bring out the best in each other and are so supportive! This was a beautiful conclusion to their story and an intriguing continuation of the overarching narrative of the series. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

The fallen and the kiss of dusk
By Carissa Broadbent
Release date 5th August

Rating 5 stars 9.83 on CAWPILE

My word this book was such a wild ride of emotions. I screamed, I cried, I shouted all because of how much I care for Mische and Asar and as I was reading there was times I was not sure this was going to be a happy ending and that is something that carissa did so well even to the last moment I was worried that at any moment this world could end, I know realistically we have another duology coming but this was how high stakes this story was that I had my jaw on the floor.

I will say do not go into this if you haven’t read everything else because there are spoilers this is not a book series that you can just pick up where you want to fully comprehend the severity of this book you need to know all of the context. That includes the novella I am looking at you all. This book just wow. I have no words for how much I went no not… oh how I have missed… what just happened, and now I have to wait until others
have read it and also feel the ride I have been on.

I can’t give more away as spoilers but know this book had my jaw on the floor, my heart breaking and a doggo I want to protect with my life.


Thank you to Pan McMillan for allowing me to review this, all views are my own.. and I cannot wait for the next book… because ahhhhh.

Going up on instagram now

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. Another brilliant read! I just love this world and everything about it so to get to dive back in before it’s published was AMAZING

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Goodreads.

I have been looking forward to this book for months and was not disappointed at all!
I wont give away any spoilers, but tears were spilled.

Do read!

I love love love love love love looooove this! A beautiful conclusion to the duet and also brought some important closures to something lingering from the first duology. I won’t go into plot or characters to avoid spoilers, but this series is just so well-balanced and written. Highly recommend it. This second duet just like the first one has everything I wanted. The romance is so so good. It’s action-packed. It feels more epic than the first duology. I think the concept is quite ambitious in this one, but the author pulled it off impressively well. Glad I’ve read the spin-off books too and I recommend to read them before you start this book. Looks like there will be more books set in this universe, so I am so so excited about that!

I’m never going to emotionally recover from this I fear.

EVERY TIME CARISSA. EVERY DAMN TIME. The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk is not only the perfect follow-up to Songbird, it’s yet another stunning and gut-wrenching instalment in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, with high stakes adventure and romance, tension, yearning and a whole lot of tears (from me)

I’ve said it before that I will read anything that Carissa writes but this has truly solidified that for me, her world-building and the way that she writes her characters is unparalleled.

I’m so so stoked and grateful to Carissa, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

The fallen and the kiss of dusk
♾️⭐️

Forget Nyaxia! Carissa is the true Mother here!!! My god, this series, THIS DUOLOGY!!! Perfection!! No notes!
Fallen was next level epic and I already know that this is my top read of this year!

Firstly, the characters! Every single one of them, cameos included, were well rounded, amazing and I simply loved them all. Their personalities are still well define and even tho the clear leads of the book are Mische and Asar, the rest had their moment to shine and I enjoyed every single scene where they interacted.

The worlbuilding was also one of my favorite things!!! Drama between problematic gods and godesses is my kryptonite and it's incredible for me to witness how the seeds that the author has been slowly planting since Serpent sets for everything that happens on this story and all that, I'm sure, will be coming next. Everything gets messier, complicated and with not one single plot hole in sight!!! I'm in awe with Carissa's talent for writing.

As for the romance, Mische and Asar have my hole heart! My boy is down bad for her (and viceversa) and I ate every interaction up. The intensity and the pinning were off the charts delicious. From start to finish beautifully developed.

And speaking of the ending, that epilogue was INSANE and what do you mean I have to wait, only Nyaxia knows how much for the next duology??? However, I do have my many theories to keep me entertained till then and I just KNOW the drama will be served with that MMC and whom I imagine to be the FMC. I cannot wait.

This book has left me emotionally compromised. Asar my broken devoted prince, raised to destroy but built to heal and protect. Mische my beautiful, saviour, warrior goddess , so full of love, strength and hope. I loved them individually and adored them so much together. This made me cry, rage, sad, happy, terrified but also hopeful and I loved every minute of it. These characters, past and present, the world Carissa Broadbent has built and how this conflict between the gods and the mortals is ramping up just grabs you, pulls you in and won’t let go. Bring on the House of Blood. 5⭐️

My most anticipated read—and it delivered everything I hoped for and more.

I don’t even know where to begin—this book was everything. Carissa Broadbent has outdone herself. The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk completely swept me off my feet. The romance? Perfection. The world-building? Dark and gorgeous. And that couple… THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

I was already obsessed with them from the previous books, but this one just took everything to another level. The tension, the devotion, the impossible choices—they broke my heart and put it back together again. Their dynamic is electric but also so deep, like they see each other’s souls in a way that made me feel every page.

The stakes are higher, the emotions hit harder, and the writing is just stunning. It’s one of those stories where you finish the last page and just sit there, not quite ready to say goodbye.

Easily my favorite in the series so far. I already need more. Like, immediately.

Rating: 6/5 if that were a thing.
All the stars. All the love. All the feels.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There's so much I want to say about this book, but I don't want to give spoilers! I will say, though, it takes you on a ride of emotions!

It follows from the cliffhanger of the last book, and within the first couple of chapters, we find ourselves meeting a familiar face and an unlikely ally! They are just the first familiar face but certainly not the last ❤️

This story draws you in and doesn't let you go. There is just so much going on! There are battles to fight, big and small, quests to find long-lost items, and of course, secrets and betrayal!

We not only have Miche and Asar's story but whilst they fight to try and get back to each other which is far from an easy task, there is also bigger things in motion that will effect the whole of Obitraes!

I think I love this duology even more than the first, and that's saying something because Oraya is my girl!!! This series has had me obsessed since The Serpent and the Wings of Night, and it just keeps getting better!

This may be the end of Miche and Asar's duology, but it also feels like just the beginning of something even bigger. I think the last duology is going to be jam-packed with action!

Thank you for the arc of this for my honest review ❤️

Well that was an emotional rollercoaster!Thank you Pan MacMillan & Tor for this eARC! I neeeeeded to know what happened to Mische and Asar after that ending in Songbird. And wow, it’s hard to write this without any spoilers so I’m just going to say that was a journey! And also I cried…twice. I absolutely love Carissa’s writing, the story is so beautifully told and I loved it! Vengeful Gods & Godesses, The Underworld, all of the Vampire houses, it was the perfect conclusion to their duology and I’m very excited for what is to come after the epilogue!

The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk completely stole my heart. This was hands down one of the best books I’ve read recently—it’s a stunning, fast-paced adventure filled with heart-pounding tension and deep emotion. Carissa Broadbent has absolutely outdone herself with this continuation of Mische and Asar’s story, weaving their love and heartbreak seamlessly into the larger plot of the series. I genuinely could not put it down.

Mische and Asar are such beautifully developed characters. Watching them grow—both as individuals and together—was an emotional rollercoaster. Their relationship had me completely invested, and I felt every moment of their journey, from the happy highs to the heart-wrenching lows. Asar, in particular, is the kind of obsessed, deeply in-love hero that just makes you feel things. Their love felt raw and real, and even though I knew a happily-ever-after was coming, there were moments I genuinely doubted they’d make it through.

The world-building in this book is just incredible. Carissa’s ability to bring a world to life is unmatched. Every detail—from the gods’ intricate schemes to the way past plot points are reintroduced with new meaning—left me amazed. There were moments where I literally gasped, realising how earlier events tied perfectly into the climax. And the way she incorporated characters from earlier books into this story felt natural and so satisfying. It was like catching up with old friends, with each cameo adding layers to the overall story.

I laughed, I cried, I chewed my nails, I sat on the edge of my seat—the full spectrum of emotions. Carissa’s writing pulled me in so deeply that I didn’t want the story to end. The stakes kept rising with every chapter, and the complex dynamics between the gods kept me guessing.

I’m still not over this book. It’s one of those stories that leaves a lasting impact, and I just know I’ll be thinking about Mische, Asar, and this world for a long time to come.

Phenomenal. Utterly phenomenal.

Thank you NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and Carissa for the continued honour of being allowed to experience this series early. I am forever eternally grateful for the opportunity.

I have NEVER read a book like this! This masterpiece continues to showcase how incredibly talented Broadbent is as a master of her craft that she somehow manages to transcend her own brilliance once again.

I make no secret of the fact that I LOVED the first two books (The Nightborn Duet) in ‘The Crowns of Nyaxia Series’ with a passion. Oreya and Raihn are two of my favourite fictional characters and continue to be so. When I was first given ‘Songbird’ to read I thought there was no way I could possibly love it as much. I was WRONG. Miche and Asar captured my heart and in this book they did not let go. In fact, they managed to take my mind and soul too! Their story will forever be ingrained into my being.

The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk was wildly intense from start to finish. From page one the pace, action, tension and emotional damage were stratospheric! The whole book was like read the last 100 pages of a normal fantasy read!! I have never had to pause so many times whilst reading to catch my breath and prepare for what I was to come next.

Miche and Asar’s continued story is EPIC. There is no other way in which to describe it. I have never cried so much throughout an entire book. No seriously. From chapter 1! Happy tears, sad tears, anxious tears, tears of relief, just ALL the tears possible!

The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk was the perfect continuation and conclusion to The Warden & Dawndrinkers incredible story as they try to find their way back to each other when gods and worlds separate them. By the time you finish you feel like you too have transcended the various realms and worlds alongside them.

Miche is such a special character in so many ways, but what I admire most about her is the strength she has outside of physical prowess. The strength of her heart, her kindness and her faith in the people she loves is what really makes her stand out from the crowd and undoubtedly makes her a fan favourite. Her journey this book is extraordinary just like her.
Asar what can I say. His intensity is unrivalled and his devotion through this book is truly heartbreaking and beautiful all in one.
This book truly cements them as the new power couple of the series in so many ways. And we have to mention our good girl Luce as always for being the best of bestest girl!

Carissa has made it no secret through her socials that we would see some familiar faces again and gods did I LOVE these scenes. Vincent (no spoiler since we saw him at the end of the last book) was a marvellous addition to the storyline. I will always like him more than I probably should and his moments in this story were brilliant.
Like most I always melt at the romantic connections Carissa beautifully crafts in her stories , but what I truly appreciated about this book was the focus on the love between friends and just how beautiful and important that is too - yes Raihn I’m looking it you.

I have said for a while that I feel an avengers assemble style storyline coming and I believe this book is only the beginning with the final duet now on the horizon. All I can say is that I cannot wait for the final instalments of this god tier series!

Beyond the books own storyline the world building in this fourth book was exceptional! To see how Broadbent is starting to weave so many threads together, some we have had glimpses of in the past and as always one’s we never see coming, is genius! These books are always a joy to read as duets but now we are really starting to experience how these duets will come together in what I have no doubt will be an extraordinary finale!

This book has truly been the most difficult to review because I don’t want to give away any spoilers as every reader deserves to experience this story as I have, but know it is one of the best books I have ever read. As always the complexity of Broadbent’s story telling, world building and character development is unrivalled, unmatched, unforgettable.

Infinity stars.

⭐ Infinite stars ⭐

I have no words. When I picked up the book, I already knew there would be emotional damage. But what do I do now that I know for a fact that I won’t read anything as good as this story this year?

This book is epic, moving, tragic, devastating, comforting, brilliant and unputdownable. It is a rollercoaster of emotions that will trigger you an existential crisis, because it is that good.

Mische is in the top 3 of my favourite FMCs. Her nurturing, caring and cheerful personality felt like a breath of fresh air. Her character development is one of the best I have ever read. And Asar… the simpest simp to ever simp. I just love him so much and how utterly obsessed he is with Mische.

The pace is so fast that you won’t be able to take a breath, while the plot is simply insane. The world¬-building expands quite a lot and starts letting us see the bigger picture, which I am quite looking forward to reading in book 5.

The prose is beautiful, just as everything Carissa Broadbent has ever written, and it makes the romantic plot come to life. As Mische said in Songbird: “it felt so good that it hurt.”

And that epilogue!!! The Bloodborn Duet can’t come any sooner, I’m so excited!

This is, hands down, the best book I have read (and will read) in 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan | Tor Bramble and Carissa Broadbent for the eARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent is such a good book. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

I love these books so much. And I think I may prefer to Misxhe and Asar to Oraya and Raihn (though I love them too!)
I hope there will be more in this series because I kinda need it :)

The previous book had left me with my heart broken, and this one is putting it back together piece by piece - just to break it all over again.

Mische... Mische. One of my top three FMCs (with Vasya from Winternight and Addie LaRue being the other ones) that has buried herself deep in my heart.
Carissa Broadbent writes female characters that just refuse to be broken, in dark and dangerous worlds where gods can be real jerks.

What can I say? The book is perfection. Asar and Mische are fighting with everything they have to save themselves and each other. They are both so raw and vulnerable while being incredibly strong.

The plot and pacing are insane, so don't expect to breathe while reading this conclusion to the second duology in the series. Just let the angst and all the emotions wash over you. And if ever the term epic is suitable for a story, it suits here.

It took me a bit to fully get into the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia, but since Songbird I'm so in.

5/5 stars no question

Thank you @netgalley and @panmacmillan for the eARC!

#TheFallenAndTheKissOfDusk #CrownsOfNyaxia #Netgalley #Bookstagram

Alexa play Hozier - Work Song, ‘no grave can hold my body down i’d crawl back to you’!!!!!! Oh my god this book is the definition of I WILL FIND YOU IN EVERY LIFETIME.

This has to be, hands down, my favourite book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. I forgot how much I absolutely adore Carissa Broadbent’s writing! It’s so complex and raw and not just your average romantasy but a story of faith and grief and how love can be the thing that destroys you but also saves you. I actually don’t know how to explain my love for what I just read.

Every relationship (not just Asar and Mische’s), every interaction, they mattered and they changed something in the people involved and pushed the characters and plot forward, and don’t get me started on how Asar is the new blueprint for every book boyfriend going forward. That man!

The plot was insane, I was on the edge of my seat throughout, high stakes from start to finish, and somehow Carissa pulled it all off - the gods, the politics, the layers, without making it overwhelming or confusing.

Cannot wait for the Bloodborn duet!!!

Absolutely brilliant. I was hooked and engaged from the start to the end. This was such a good conclusion to Miche's and Asar's duology. The pace was definitely faster but I ate it up. Absolutely recommend this series to everyone

The gazillion stars will not come as a huge surprise, my goodness Carissa did NOT hold back with this one!!! This was a truly EPIC conclusion to Miche's and Asar's duology and the only reason it took me three days to finish instead of two was the fact that there were so many moments I had to physically put my kindle down and take a deep breath and collect myself and my thoughts. This book doesn't give you a break, the pace and action are absolutely relentless and Carissa had me on a chokehold during the whole reading experience. I was so invested it ended up being torture. How are they going to survive all of this? How could this ever result in a HEA? Beyond stressful, honestly!
The brilliance of these books lies within the worldbuilding which is impeccable and the characters which are so lovable and relatable. You get sucked in and refuse to come back to reality. I am genuinely at awe with the thinking that has gone into every single facet of this world, it is one thing to imagine a complex and unique world but Carissa is next level because even though it's so elaborate, her writing delivers it seamlessly. And with every book, we develop our knowledge and understanding, I could go on for hours, it truly is masterfully done.

The love story is one of my all time favourites, Mische is so endearing (I keep picturing Zendaya) and I was rooting so hard for her and Asar to find her happy ending.
I could probably write an essay but the gist is: If you've read the previous books and have eagerly been anticipating this one, you will not be disappointed. It was everything I hoped for and so much more!

Thank you to Carissa, Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

Let me stare at a wall for a minute while I get my thoughts together!

What a way to wrap up Asar and Mische’s story, all while changing SO MUCH in the Nyaxia world and setting up the Bloodborn Duet in a way that has me desperate to get those books in my hands, like right now.

We saw a lot of familiar faces, so I will say I recommend reading not just the Shadowborn Duet, but also Slaying the Vampire Conqueror and Six Scorched Roses, so that you have a full grasp on who everyone is and why they’re so awesomeeeeeeeee.

All I can say is, is hail Queen Carissa of the House Broadbent… we are not worthy 🌹

I would like to thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Carissa Broadbent remains one of my favourite authors at present, with a writing style so beautifully descriptive that I cannot get enough of her work to satiate my needs. It is the type of writing that hooks an individual from beginning to end, with a continuous itch to keep going until you've reached the end. I adore the way she develops her world, varying from political intrigue and wars to divine beings and the glorious lands that they rule over.

Not only that, but Carissa writes main-characters that you connect with deeply and side-characters that you care for just as much. Mische and Asar are two very broken people who have placed their faith in the wrong places and gotten hurt. They show you that no matter your flaws; you deserve love and you can still do good in the world if given the chance and the tools. I adore them both completely, saviour complexes and all. Their relationship development from book one is formidable, and Asar is definitely a main male character who knows how to both yearn and worship... perhaps why he is my favourite. Many side-characters were re-introduced in this book, though it never felt claustrophobic as each individual had their time to shine.

I feel as though the beginning was hectic, something I feel is done within Carissa's second books often. Almost as if the entire plot had to be laid out then and there, instead of letting the reader get to grips with how the first had ended and how this one continues. The plot was quite similar to the first, though I found how it was done kept it different and interesting enough. This book was also very bittersweet; I teared up and cried more than I would like to admit, and I very much look forward to seeing where that Epilogue will take us next.

This was my first series I've read by Carssia and it's jam packed full of betrayal, gods, magic and more. I strongly recommending reading the first three books or you will be lost. It's such a fantastic series.

Looking forward to more. Thank you for an advance copy.

THE SCREAM I SCREMPT WHEN I SAW THIS HIT MY INBOX. i absolutely adore this series and im so so grateful, i will be posting my review to all retailer sites!!

This story is good and I’m sad this is the second duology complete now I never ever want to leave this world

I had to sit with this a little while after reading it because it broke my heart and put it back together again!

What an amazing conclusion to the duology. Carissa Broadbent has such a wonderful ability to depict characters with flaws in a way that feels so human and so realistic, even when we're reading about gods and humans. The two main characters learning to want to live and who they want to be after a lifetime of being the sacrifice is heartbreaking and beautiful and you just can't help but root for them.

It was a real treat to see some of my favourites from the Crowns of Nyaxia series pop up - definitely pick up this duology, but read the previous books first (including standalones) for the full experience.

With thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

this was hands down the perfect ending to the duet - Asar and Mische have my heart forever!! 🖤

at 500+ pages, the book was a wild ride from start to finish. the plot was incredibly fast-paced and there were so many dangers coming from all sides that Mische and Asar could not catch a single break, which meant I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. also, Luce continues to be the best girl and I love her.

the fact that I spent the last pages crying at how beautiful the ending was is proof enough that this book is amazing and Carissa Broadbent is brilliant and I absolutely can't wait to read the next one!

thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dear Carissa Broadbent,
Can I sue you for emotional damage and also hug you forever? Because this book—THIS BOOK—turned my soul into confetti, set it on fire, and then somehow whispered “it’s fine, you’ll thank me later” while slow-burning me into romantic oblivion.
This isn’t a book. This is a religious experience in fantasy romance form.
A.k.a. 487 pages of:
✅ Heart-stopping stakes
✅ Heart-breaking lovers
✅ Heart-WRENCHING sacrifices
…and maybe a few moments where I had to pause, clutch my face, and whisper “these two are going to end me.”
Let’s talk about Asar and Mische, the most deliciously tormented couple in existence.
She gave up everything for the world.
He’s ready to burn that world to ashes just to find her again.
Honestly, at this point, I’d ascend to godhood just to keep these two from suffering another second.
Tropes we’re gloriously blessed with:
🖤 God-tier angst
🖤 Lovers separated by fate, trauma, divine chaos, and a very dramatic eternal night
🖤 The “we could destroy the world, or kiss, or both” dynamic
🖤 Actual journeys through the underworld, like it's just a casual Tuesday
Reading this book felt like being thrown into a battlefield with a sword made of feelings. Every chapter was either action, betrayal, or longing that could bring down empires. And don’t get me started on the side characters—I love them all and would die for them, even the morally questionable ones (especially them).
I laughed, I sobbed (multiple times), and I screamed silently into the void because Carissa does not miss when it comes to delivering epic fantasy romance with the emotional stakes of a Shakespearean tragedy and the heat of a dying sun.
By the time the ending hit, I was crying on my kitchen floor, whispering “love is real, vengeance is justified, and gods have nothing on a couple with trauma and determination.”
I’ll never recover.
I don’t want to recover.
Send tissues and therapy.

Carissa Broadbent does something so rare with her writing. She doesn’t just craft worlds, she makes them pulse. From the very first page of The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk, I was pulled right back into the hauntingly beautiful ruins of Mische and Asar’s love story, and it felt like returning to something sacred.

This book is the second half of a duet, so the romance is already established, which shifts the emotional focus. Instead of tension and will-they-won’t-they, we get something quieter but more devastating: two people clawing their way back to each other through guilt, grief, and divine chaos. Asar, still obsessed and broken, carries the burden of his past choices like a second skin. Mische is equally changed, fierce but deeply scarred by sacrifice. Watching them fight side by side, still half-destroyed by love, was one of the most rewarding parts of the entire Crowns of Nyaxia series.

The plot centers on another high-stakes quest, and while it leans a little familiar in structure, the emotional weight behind each decision keeps the tension real. The world is falling apart, the gods are stirring, and death is no longer just a concept. Broadbent’s divine politics are slippery and sharp, and I loved how this book expanded the mythology we glimpsed in earlier installments. The underworld especially is a standout—dark, strange, and full of eerie beauty.

There is something very bittersweet about how this story unfolds. It is about redemption and survival, but also about accepting that even the most powerful love cannot undo everything. The writing is lush, but never overwrought. And yes, I cried. More than once.

If I have one small critique, it is that the opening felt slightly rushed. It takes a bit of time to settle into the new stakes, and there are places where the quest structure feels a little repetitive. But emotionally, this book hits every mark. The payoff is rich, the romance is deeply earned, and the ending felt like both a goodbye and a quiet promise.

A stunning conclusion to Mische and Asar’s story. I already miss them.