The Lion and the Deathless Dark

Crowns of Nyaxia #5

by Carissa Broadbent

From New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, The Lion & the Deathless Dark – the first book in the Bloodborn Duet.

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

Under an eternal night, the world has been ravaged by ten years of war between humans and vampires. Kyrene scrapes by as a bounty hunter, bearing a blessed sword from the goddess of justice. But in the wake of a devastating loss, Kyrene commits a crime that makes her a target for mortals and gods alike – and she is still desperate for vengeance.

Her only chance at survival – and revenge – is making a deal with her enemy, the silver-tongue vampire prince, Septimus, who offers her one final to slay the gods themselves.

Together, Kyrene and Septimus must hunt the ultimate marks, all while navigating a web of prophecies and curses. Septimus is calculating and mysterious, masking secrets bloodthirsty enough to consume them both. Yet, most dangerous of all, Kyrene finds an unexpected kinship in him.

But their growing attraction is deadly in a world where the only currency is blood. And Kyrene will stop at nothing to fulfill her ultimate to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Vampires, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Fiction, Adult

Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 4, 2026

About the author

I've been concerning teachers and parents with mercilessly grim tales since I was roughly nine years old. Since then, my stories have gotten (slightly) less depressing and (hopefully a lot?) more readable. Today, I write fantasy novels with a heaping dose of badass ladies and a big pinch of romance.

When I'm not writing, I'm working at my day job in cybersecurity marketing, watching too many movies, or drawing. I live with my fiance, one very well behaved rabbit, one very poorly behaved rabbit, and one perpetually skeptical cat in Rhode Island.

Reviews

[ଘRory (Hiatus )]

is it too early to give that book five stars 😋?

[Ali L · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

[ariyel ⟡ [semi-ia]]

i’m seated. the barnes & noble employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s “not august 2026 yet” but i’m simply too seated.

[Maddy ✨ ~The Verse Vixen {AFK brb}]

Vampire’s Game. Hunter’s Strike. - A War Written in Blood..


One pact. One prophecy.. One spark that could ignite everything.
Will love survive when the night devours all?Or will destiny demand its ultimate sacrifice!?

The war has burned for a decade under an eternal night.Ten years of war have left humans and vampires at each other’s throats, and in the shadows of the eternal night, survival is a crime—and vengeance is the only law.

-One bounty hunter with grief carved into her bones
-One vampire prince with secrets sharp enough to bleed kingdoms
-A deal so dangerous it could burn the gods alive..

🔮Return to the realm of Nyaxia...

Enters -
⚔️ Kyrene — lion-hearted bounty hunter, armed with a blade blessed by a goddess. She hunts for vengeance, and vengeance alone.

🦇 Septimus — silver-tongued vampire prince, dangerous as the shadows he wears. He hides secrets sharp enough to bleed the world.

-She wants revenge.
-He wants survival.
-Together? They’re about to hunt death itself.

When loss drives Kyrene to commit an unforgivable crime, she becomes prey to mortals and gods alike. Her only chance at survival—and revenge—lies in a bargain with the very monster she swore to kill.

Some blood tastes like vengeance. Some blood tastes like grief. Some blood tastes like nothing at all.

~WHAT TO EXPECT: and spiral over-

🌬️ Enemies turned uneasy allies — every glare a threat, every touch a promise
🦇 The Vampire Prince Trope — sharp teeth, sharper secrets
🕯️ Blessed Blades & Doomed Prophecies — destiny doesn’t play fair here
💔 Grief as fuel — revenge is her heartbeat, vengeance is his language
⚔️ Deadly banter — “I should kill you” / “You should kiss me instead” energy
🔥 Forbidden attraction — the kind where love is more dangerous than war
👑 Gods, monsters, curses — all bleeding together in shadows
🌑 A world where blood is currency and devotion gets you killed🕯️ Prophecies, curses, and gods who demand too much blood
⚔️ “Touch her and die” but make it prophecy instead of bravado
🤺 Morally grey bargains in moonlit ruins
🦇 Fang-filled banter. “I hate you” tension. And kisses that taste like sin
🔥 A war where love isn’t salvation—it’s the final weapon.

The Fallen and The Kiss of Dusk left me wrecked… and now Carissa really said: here’s more pain, more blood, more yearning...
I LIVED for the last book, and now I can’t wait to dive headfirst into this deadly duet. Gods, vengeance, curses, enemies bound by blood?? Inject it straight into my veins. 🩸

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! This was a fantastic and heartbreaking fantasy romance about betrayal, power, love, survival, courage and revenge. The Lion and the Deathless Dark follows Kyrene, a bounty hunter who carries a powerful sword from the goddess of justice. Kyrene kills a god after facing a terrible loss and now is in trouble from gods and mortals. Kyrene makes a deal with her enemy Septimus, a vampire prince in order to survive. When she becomes closer to Septimus she must decide whether to stay on the revenge journey or find love.

Thoughts
I was completely immersed in this deadly fantasy world from the very first page. The plot was engaging and action-packed throughout the book! There were several plot twists and betrayals that had me truly shocked. I loved that this book didn't include trials like many other fantasy books instead focused on a bounty hunter on a journey to kill gods and goddesses. I also appreciated that while the main character wields a powerful sword, she is strong in her own right and knows how to fight. The pacing was perfect, it wasn't slow or too fast. The world building was excellent, the author put a tremendous amount of detail into the history of the world, the land, the languages and the mortals as well as the gods. The author also explained the differences between the mortals, vampires and the gods/goddesses. The magic was interesting especially the magic from items that gods crafted such as the sword that Kyrene wields, healing magic and blood magic. The writing was beautiful, descriptive and immersive. The storytelling was amazing, the author brought the characters to life by telling their story and emotions. I felt so many emotions while reading this book including happiness, sadness, anger, and heartbreak. The ending was exciting and also so devastating. I'm going to be thinking about this book and the characters for a long time

Characters
I loved Kyrene, she was a flawed character who made mistakes, but she was strong, resilient, fierce, protective of the people she loved, and didn't give up when she was on a certain path. I was in awe of how determined and resilient Kyrene was even after all of the heartbreak she went through. I adored Septimus as well, he was mysterious, sarcastic, strong, resilient, protective and had a soft side. Septimus' character development was great, I loved seeing the softer and caring side that he showed to Kyrene. The scene where he read to her made me swoon so much! Also when the nickname that he gave to her, I loved it. I loved that that there were some funny and heartwarming scenes alongside the deadly world they lived in. The side characters were intriguing and complex as well especially Zefiah, Valentina, and Mirie. I loved the interactions between the side characters and the main characters in particular the banter.

Romance
I loved that the romance was true enemies to lovers, they actually hated each other in the beginning. The chemistry and the tension was amazing!! I could feel the deep connection and similarities between the main characters. I also loved that the romance was slow burn, it took them a while to show their feelings. The banter was great and there were several scenes that made me laugh. The romantic scenes were spicy and made me blush. My only critique I have for the romance was they showed that they cared for each other, but didn't say the words out loud.

Thank you so much Bramble, Carissa Broadbent and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being Carissa's assistant does have its advantages. I read the first draft of this book (not edits at all) and I can safely say that this is the book that topped Serpent for me, and that's saying a lot because Serpent was always number 1 in my heart. Lion was dark, gritty, devastating, emotional, surprising, shocking, sexy, very sexy and genuinely a masterpiece in plotting. Did I mention that Septimus has a dirty mouth?

[✨sofia✨]

Edit: OMG THE COVER IS ✨STUNNING✨

”Septimus very much liked to be the solution to a problem.”

oh yeah…septimus is definitely daddy material

[Ri ♡]

SEPTIMUS IT IS!!! i can never not love a messed-up, morally grey character with a tragic backstory 😩

[Lucie V.]

Apparently, Septimus has a dirty, dirty mouth, and I am here for it. 😏


1. The Serpent and the Wings of Night ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1.5 Six Scorched Roses ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2.5 Slaying the Vampire Conqueror ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
3. The Songbird & the Heart of Stone ⭐⭐⭐.5
4. The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Anila]

I just finished the fourth book and now we have an announcement for the fifth book🙈😱

[enqi ☾⋆˚*̣̩✩ (slumping)]

need this more than i need oxygen

[☕️Meg (in Thailand! afk till June 9th)]

Omg we have a new one??! I still need to read the newest one why does this have to be next summer 😭cannot wait!!!

[brittany:)]

This is not a want….but a NEED✨

[Krysta ꕤ]

these covers continue to be so BEAUTIFUL 😭 can’t wait for Septimus 🤍

[Genevieve (GenLikesToRead)]

Sat and ready for the Bloodborn Duet. But also not ready for this to be the final duology in the Crowns of Nyaxia world!!

[Dawn ♡♡♡♡♡]

08/18/2025 Carissa is not sleeping on this world hot damn. I need to read Mische's story already

[vicky ꨄ︎]

YESSSS PLEASE I NEED HIS BOOK SO BADLY!!!

[Magic]

I FEEL AS THOUGH I NEED THIS BOOK MORE THEN I NEED AIR?????

[❋Rushna❋]

Gimme. Now.

[AlexX Depplito]

SEPTYYYYYY IS COMINGGGGGGGG!!!!! BEEN WAITING MY WHOLE LIFE FOR THIS MOMENT 🥲

[Chels ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ★ RTC closer to publication

[louise ʚଓ]

Septimus book...I'm so sat.

[Debbyy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm soo excited for this one. I love Septimus so freaking much because who doesn't love a beautiful morally grey character 😏.
I can't believe I have to wait till August 2026 to get it tho OMG! 😭😭

[Naz]

pre-read:

SEPTIMUS!! I repeat a book on SEPTIMUS! I’m beyond excited.

[Lindsey Fadden · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Real review to come

[Toriఌ]

Coming out August 4

[charity elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

septimus is the mmc that’s all i need to know

[Sophie]

THE COVER!!!!

[maggie]

GIVE IT TO ME NOWWWW

[Di Willemsen]

4 Aug 26