As soon as the ARC approval of The Lion & The Deathless Dark came through, I dropped everything to get straight into it! There's just something about a new Crowns of Nyaxia novel that I can't resist. I particularly love how each duology in the series substantially changes the world, and massively progress the plot rather than just slightly moving the needle. The ending of the Shadowborn Duet changed things A LOT, but I think this first book in the Bloodborn Duet changes it just as much as each previous duet has. You can definitely feel that everything is ramping up to a massive finale in the final book of the series.

Kyrene and Septimus are a fantastic main couple for this final duology. And it might just be recency bias, but I think this is my favourite book of the five books so far! It's the perfect mix of them as a couple and the fact that Carissa comes out swinging with this book, and doesn't hold back! It's brutal, emotional, and action-packed, and I can't wait to read the finale!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

The Lion and the Deathless Dark

by Carissa Broadbent
Release Date: 4th August 2026

Carissa Broadbent has once again delivered a dark fantasy that completely consumed me from beginning to end. The Lion and the Deathless Dark is brutal, emotional, addictive, and filled with the kind of tension that keeps you saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 3am.

Kyrene was an incredible protagonist. Hardened by grief, fuelled by vengeance, and carrying so much rage beneath the surface, she felt raw and real throughout the entire story. Her journey was filled with pain, sacrifice, and impossible choices, yet she never lost that fierce determination that made me root for her the entire way through.

Then there’s Septimus. Mysterious, dangerous, manipulative, and impossible not to love. Every scene with him crackled with tension, especially as the relationship between him and Kyrene slowly evolved. Their dynamic was layered perfectly with distrust, reluctant partnership, emotional vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry. Carissa Broadbent truly knows how to write complicated characters who pull you in completely.

The world-building was rich, dark, and immersive without ever feeling overwhelming. Gods, curses, prophecies, vampires, war — everything blended together seamlessly to create a fantasy world that felt brutal and hauntingly beautiful at the same time. The atmosphere throughout the book carried this constant feeling of dread and danger that worked perfectly for the story.

What stood out most for me was the emotional depth. Beneath all the violence, revenge, and political tension was a story about grief, rage, survival, and the cost of vengeance. Some moments genuinely hit hard emotionally, and the ending has left me desperate for the next book in the Bloodborn Duet.

If you love:

dark fantasy

morally grey characters

enemies-to-allies tension

vampires

revenge-driven plots

emotional slow burn romance

dangerous gods and prophecies


then this book absolutely needs to be on your TBR.

Carissa Broadbent continues to prove why the Crowns of Nyaxia series has such a devoted following. Dark, gripping, emotional, and impossible to put down.

What an absolute honour and privilege to not only get the opportunity to read this early, but to be one of the first to do so. This series is so deeply ingrained in me, and I have been bursting with excitement and anticipation for this book.
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My thoughts below are spoiler-free:

Carissa really threw her whole self into this book, and it shows 🙌 This took me through a full range of emotions - it had me SOBBING at so many different moments, whether from joy, despair, anger, or relief. Some of the themes throughout are heavier, and they are handled with such care and done beautifully.
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This book focuses on Kyrene and Septimus, the latter having already been introduced to us in the first duology. I have been anticipating Septimus as an MMC for so long, and getting to slowly peel back his layers and try to figure him out was amazing.
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As for Kyrene, she is an imperfect heroine, and I loved and appreciated that about her. It’s such an uncertain journey she embarks on, and you feel her hurt and her rage so viscerally. I felt completely consumed by her emotions throughout.
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This pair… they are the perfect push and pull for each other.
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The book felt impossible to put down - there was always something gripping me, whether it was the intensity of an action scene or the quieter moments where you want to soak up every glance, every word, whether spoken or implied between the lines.
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This has soared to being my favourite book in the series, and I do not say that lightly. I’m confident many others will feel the same way ❤️
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Thank you so much to @panmacmillan for trusting me with this, and for allowing me to share my honest thoughts.
The Lion & the Deathless Dark will be out August 4th.

The Crowns of Nyaxia series is one of my all time favourites, and I have been counting down the seconds until I could read The Lion and the Deathless Dark. I devoured this book in a few sittings, and it’s definitely up there as one of my favourites in the series!

If you would have told me while I was reading The Serpent and the Wings of Night that Septimus would eventually become my favourite Crowns of Nyaxia MMC, I wouldn’t have believed you. Some of his actions in previous books seemed downright villainous, but The Lion and the Deathless Dark really pulls back the curtain on Septimus. As well as being extremely hot, snarky, and delightfully morally grey, he truly is a mastermind. He has been playing the long game to try and break the curse that is making his people suffer, always scheming to tip the scales in his favour. This book really explains his motivations and every decision he makes in the earlier books, and I’m so impressed at how expertly Carissa Broadbent has woven his story.

I also really enjoyed Kyrene’s character; a fearsome bounty hunter with a gods-blessed sword that literally talks back to her! Kyrene is struggling with the weight of her grief, and is forced to make a deal with Septimus to exact her revenge upon the gods. My heart broke for her so many times throughout this book, and I was rooting for her the whole way through.

I loved following Kyrene and Septimus on their quests for vengeance, which was filled with action, secrets, betrayals, and plot twists. I really enjoyed learning more about the gods and the Bloodborn vampires and their curse, as well as seeing some of the characters from the previous books.

The tension and chemistry between Septimus and Kyrene was electric, and their slow burn romance was delicious. I’d say this is one of Carissa’s spiciest books, and the spice was so well written!

As well as being spicy, this book is also quite dark and gruesome at times, due to the war and the Bloodborn curse. I actually really enjoyed this new tone, which worked well with the bleak new world our characters find themselves in.

In true Carissa Broadbent fashion, the ending has me desperate for the next book. I am really sad that this series will be coming to an end, but I’m also so excited to read the epic conclusion (and be reunited with my darling Septimus!).

Overall, I adored this book. It was action-packed, dark, romantic, and emotionally devastating; all the things I hoped it would be! If you are a fan of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, it’s a must read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Bramble/Pan Macmillan for providing me with an eARC. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

My favourite in the series so far (closely followed by The Serpent & the Wings of Night). This one was much darker than the rest which is what I expected from the house of blood. I love Kyrene and I love Septimus and I think they just had such good, realistic chemistry. I loved the adventure in this one as well. I can't wait for the second book!!

Carissa Broadbent has absolutely outdone herself delivering a flawless five-star masterpiece that completely redefines the dark fantasy romance genre!

This first installment of the Bloodborn Duet pulls you straight into a brutal, eternal night where humans and vampires are locked in a devastating war.

The brilliant introduction of Kyrene, a fierce bounty hunter bearing a delightfully sassy, blessed sword, injects a magnificent energy into the overall Crowns of Nyaxia universe. Her overwhelming grief and relentless quest for vengeance make her an intensely compelling heroine to root for. When she is forced to strike a dangerous bargain with the cunning and captivating vampire prince Septimus (yes, the same Septimus from the Nightborn Duet books), the explosive tension between them practically ignites the pages.

Their chemistry is a breathtaking, slow-burning battle of wits and lethal attraction that perfectly encapsulates the absolute best elements of the enemies-to-lovers trope. The plotting is exceptionally tight, eschewing predictable tournament structures in favor of a fast-paced, high-stakes hunt to literally slay the gods themselves.

Broadbent seamlessly balances incredibly gritty action sequences with deep, intricate world-building that explores complex divine lore, ancient curses, and political intrigue. Every chapter delivers a visceral emotional punch, leading to shocking betrayals and jaw-dropping plot twists that leave you utterly breathless.

It is easily her darkest, spiciest, and most emotionally devastating book yet, maintaining an flawless balance of high fantasy stakes and heartbreakingly intimate romance. This spectacular novel is pure entertainment from start to finish, and it will undeniably leave readers desperately counting down the days for the sequel of this duology. Thank you SO MUCH for the ARC!!

“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔.”

I have loved this series since book one and somehow with each new duet, the series just keeps getting better and The Lion and the Deathless Dark is no exception!!

If you'd have told me back in the beginning of this series that Septimus would be our MMC in one of the books I'd have laughed but here we are.

Is Septimus still a scheming, smug asshole? Pretty much, and he has a filthy mouth and smutty little glasses!! But there's so much more to him and we really get to dive in to the reasons and motivations for his actions. I love how Carissa weaves this story together and makes you look back at things in the previous books in a different way!!

Kyrene is the perfect FMC for him! She's been through so much but she's a warrior, if a little reckless with it. Her and her gods made sassy sword Zefiah are just what Septimus needs!

“𝑳𝒚𝒓𝒊. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆.”“𝑳𝒚𝒓𝒊?”“𝑶𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. “𝑰𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔, 𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔.”

Together they bring out the best and worst in each other but the banter was on point!! I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Septimus but oh how he had me swooning, I mean this man reads to her when her nightmares wake her, who knew he could be so cute 🥹
'𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅, 𝒎𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒚 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒔, 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇. 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍.'

This book was jam packed full of action from start to finish, I went through every emotion possible! With the war against the gods, familiar faces and plenty of death I was locked in on this read and couldn't put it down! I'm not sure what Carissa puts in these books but I need it injecting directly into my veins!!

I knew there was going to be a cliffhanger, but that ending?? I am so excited for the next book but I also can't believe we're coming to the end of this series, I'm excited for the story but not ready for it to all be over!!

Thank you so much to PanMacmillan/ Tor for the gorgeous proof copy and eArc of this book. This series is one of my favourites and I'm so grateful to get to read it early 🫶🏻

Another brilliant book to continue this brilliant series! Carissa Broadbent is such an amazing writer, the world building is great and I was hooked from the start.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Another absolutely incredible book. Septimus has knocked the other boys off the top spot, I am infatuated. Carissa is back with her exceptional world building and fantastic clues and lore scattered about the story.
I was hooked from the prologue and I loved the darker turn this series has taken. Jumping forward 10 years was such a fantastic way to advance and rejuvenate the plot. It really was unexpected at the end of the last duet, and I think it really enhances the world - given that vampires live so long - we are almost feeling the jump as quick as they do.
I cannot wait for the grand finale, absolutely a top tier book in the Nyaxia series.

Romantasy with vampires, death and destruction

This book has darker themes than the others but it's written so well!

There is probably the most overlap of the other books in this duology so although It could be read as its own duology I was absolutely recommend reading the full series, including slaying the vampire conquerer because it's gunna hit...so...hard.

You can't tell me that Septimus does give off perfect Astarion vibes from baulders gate 3... I'm so here for it!

Carissa! I was not expecting the slow burn for Septimus but it was immaculate and I'm obsessed with him and Kyrene but what do you mean that ending!!! How dare you.

What I absolutely love about the way this author writes is the depth she brings to these characters and actually when we come across characters in other books they may very well not be the hero in someone else's story and honestly the way my feelings changed about some characters seeing them from someone else's perspective!

I don't want this series to end and actually thinking about the next book being the last one in this world makes me kinda sad 😢

I have no idea where the next book will go and who will survive.

FMC: 27
MMC: 100