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Crowns of Nyaxia #5
The Lion and the Deathless Dark
The Indigo Exclusive Edition of The Lion & the Deathless Dark.
#1 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 job: 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 goal: to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.
#1 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 job: 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 goal: to kill the goddess of vampires, even if it means sacrificing love for revenge.
576 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
Carissa Broadbent
30 books49.6k followersI'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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,319 reviews
August 4, 2026
OMGGGG I THINK THE LAST 10% HAD ME ASCENDED INTO MY PERSONAL HELL CAUSE HOW BRILLIANTLY PAINFUL WAS THAT ENDING
4.5 stars ✨
This is the book that reminded me why I loved Serpent and the Wings of Night so much. I'm still gonna pretend book 3 and 4 do not exist cause I genuinely did not like those two. But there has always been a charismatic aura about Septimus that has drawn me in since book 1. And I had a feeling he was going to deliver. He did. He abso-fucking-lutely did.
The book had me instantly hooked with Kyrene's cold armor she hides behind. And I do admit, she's not the most easiest fmc to like. She's difficult, she's meant to be. But it was the reckless arrogance in her that frustrated me multiple times. Sure, there's growth and a learning curve with lots of ups and downs. There's pride... And there's Kyrene level pride... It did not agree well with me, which at one point in the second half had me wondering if this was just going to be four stars. I do respect her and the woman she's becoming though.
But then Septimus, oh how I love him. This series gave me Raihn. Vale. Atrius. And now Septimus who stands out in his own manner. He's gorgeous, he's cunning and the world is his chessboard. But he's always a sassy vampire who is blunt and pays attention to detail. Someone who tends to your wounds while also telling you to humble yourself. I can respect that balance.
The slow burning romance is so good. There are surprisingly a lot of raw, tender moments that feel wholesome before it gets spicy towards the end. As much as I had hoped for more spice from Septimus, I think Carissa giving him a heart was much better take on his character especially when it was being set up for that particular ending.
The action and the plot were great. I was on the edge of my seat so many times. The gods and goddess had everything coming their way. Not once did the book lose it's rhythm. And yet, even I couldn't predict the outcome of that ending. I sat there jaw on the floor, so much to process, screaming, traumatized and completely lost for an hour. Sure, I have theories and I do suspect how the finale is going to be but for now, if I ignore Kyrene's arrogance? This is a work of art 😭
Brb now I'm gonna go cry.
~•~•~
IT'S HEREEEEEEE
I just know Septimus is gonna deliver. I've had my eye on this man since book 1. I'm coming for ya, boo 🤍
4.5 stars ✨
This is the book that reminded me why I loved Serpent and the Wings of Night so much. I'm still gonna pretend book 3 and 4 do not exist cause I genuinely did not like those two. But there has always been a charismatic aura about Septimus that has drawn me in since book 1. And I had a feeling he was going to deliver. He did. He abso-fucking-lutely did.
The book had me instantly hooked with Kyrene's cold armor she hides behind. And I do admit, she's not the most easiest fmc to like. She's difficult, she's meant to be. But it was the reckless arrogance in her that frustrated me multiple times. Sure, there's growth and a learning curve with lots of ups and downs. There's pride... And there's Kyrene level pride... It did not agree well with me, which at one point in the second half had me wondering if this was just going to be four stars. I do respect her and the woman she's becoming though.
But then Septimus, oh how I love him. This series gave me Raihn. Vale. Atrius. And now Septimus who stands out in his own manner. He's gorgeous, he's cunning and the world is his chessboard. But he's always a sassy vampire who is blunt and pays attention to detail. Someone who tends to your wounds while also telling you to humble yourself. I can respect that balance.
The slow burning romance is so good. There are surprisingly a lot of raw, tender moments that feel wholesome before it gets spicy towards the end. As much as I had hoped for more spice from Septimus, I think Carissa giving him a heart was much better take on his character especially when it was being set up for that particular ending.
The action and the plot were great. I was on the edge of my seat so many times. The gods and goddess had everything coming their way. Not once did the book lose it's rhythm. And yet, even I couldn't predict the outcome of that ending. I sat there jaw on the floor, so much to process, screaming, traumatized and completely lost for an hour. Sure, I have theories and I do suspect how the finale is going to be but for now, if I ignore Kyrene's arrogance? This is a work of art 😭
Brb now I'm gonna go cry.
~•~•~
IT'S HEREEEEEEE
I just know Septimus is gonna deliver. I've had my eye on this man since book 1. I'm coming for ya, boo 🤍
May 1, 2026
Like many of you, I am a slut for a self-destructive pretty boy, and they don’t get prettier and any more self-inflicted-suffering than Septimus, the hot snarky chain smoker who has been infuriating and arousing the masses (me) since he first appeared in Serpent. This book isn’t just about him, though: meet Kyrene, the special-sword-wielding conductor of the Hot Mess Express. She’s an absolute disaster on two legs so of course Septimus is into it because everyone here is in need of therapy like, yesterday. Septimus has a job to do and he needs Kyrene’s help to do it, so if you squint, this is kind of like a buddy-cop road trip romance! But with, like, a lot of murder and petty, vengeful gods and vampires being all bitey. 10/10 would be part of their throuple. Ending is super satisfying, no cliffhanger (I’m lying).
August 4, 2026
Well I didn't expect a book about vampires and zombie vampires to rip my heart from my chest, tear it straight down the middle, then put through a meat grinder till it's nothing but a pile of bloody emotional mulch and much of it within the first 20%, but here we are.
If you like cute animal companions, sorry you won't get that here, but you will get a motherly sentient talking sword so there's that, and trust me, Zefiah (the sword) is brilliant in all the literal and figurative ways.
Septimus + Kyrene's story delivered big time. Raging cliffhanger, wouldn't expect any less.
Is this my favourite book of the series yet? Possibly equal tie with Serpent.
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
Let's be real, the Septimus artwork in the newsletter summoned us (beastmodeactivated)
If you like cute animal companions, sorry you won't get that here, but you will get a motherly sentient talking sword so there's that, and trust me, Zefiah (the sword) is brilliant in all the literal and figurative ways.
Septimus + Kyrene's story delivered big time. Raging cliffhanger, wouldn't expect any less.
Is this my favourite book of the series yet? Possibly equal tie with Serpent.
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
Let's be real, the Septimus artwork in the newsletter summoned us (beastmodeactivated)
Want to Read
September 16, 2025is it too early to give that book five stars 😋?
![Profile Image for ariyel ⟡ [semi-ia].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1773105650i/112956157._UY200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
Want to Read
August 23, 2025i’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.
Want to Read
August 29, 2025Vampire’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. 🩸
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. 🩸
May 13, 2026
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!!
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!!
August 27, 2025
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?
August 5, 2026
4.75/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ✨
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
This might be the most complex character the series has given us yet, and I still wasn't ready to let her go. A whole year until the next one feels almost cruel at this point. She's far from a good person: reckless, shameless, and careless in ways that are genuinely hard to defend. But the more the story unfolds, the more her rawness comes through, that unfiltered, painfully human quality underneath the chaos. I don't like her, but I love her. No other protagonist could've carried this story the way she did.Both leads are so morally grey, written with a rawness that genuinely hurts to read.
Side characters:
Watching Oraya get wrecked by Kyrene was so satisfying. Sylvia and Atrius were fun to have back, it felt so good revisiting them. Now I'm dying to know more about Septimus's sister and younger brother in future books.
Septimus:
Silver hair, a ruby earring, and the way he smokes his cigarillos (vanilla, specifically, not just any cigarillo) is unreasonably attractive. And the way he calls her "Dove"? I'm done. Impeccable fashion sense, a total bookworm, especially for romance novels. This man is written to be perfect.
Kyrene:
I have so much respect for her. She stayed fearless even while completely broken by grief. She's earned a spot on my favorites list, easily.
Genuine enemies to lovers done right. The banter was top tier, the chemistry was undeniable, the slow burn was perfectly paced, and the spice was exactly where it needed to be.
Quotes :━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
“Monsters recognize monsters''
“We all need standards, Kyrene. And don’t come at me with your
hypocrisy. Just because you hide to fuss with your appearance every day
doesn’t mean I don’t see it.''
''Septimus, who wore his polished sophistication like armor, felt sacrilegious. Only now, with his self-control
in shreds, fully exposing what lay beneath, did I truly understand how hard
he had been working to maintain that facade.''
"I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. I was ensnared by him, and in this
moment, I understood him so viscerally. My chest was bleeding, too, and I
didn’t even care. I loved the pain of it, and I wanted to give it all to the only
person I knew who felt it just as I wanted to give it all to the only
person I knew who felt it just as I did."
“You’ve won, lyri,” he ground out. “If I’m your mark, you’ve taken me
long ago.”
“Vampires were all beautiful, but this was one of the prettiest I'd ever seen.”
''We all have bad dreams, lyri, I prefer to replace mine with better endings, even if books are the only place left to find them''
“in this pained, messy version of Septimus, I saw myself. I saw more of myself than I had ever seen in another person''
''he had always seemed so inhumanly beautiful, and yet now. I was struck by all the fascinating imperfect edges of his appearance. The only solid thing in a world of dreams.''
⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪
This might be the most complex character the series has given us yet, and I still wasn't ready to let her go. A whole year until the next one feels almost cruel at this point. She's far from a good person: reckless, shameless, and careless in ways that are genuinely hard to defend. But the more the story unfolds, the more her rawness comes through, that unfiltered, painfully human quality underneath the chaos. I don't like her, but I love her. No other protagonist could've carried this story the way she did.Both leads are so morally grey, written with a rawness that genuinely hurts to read.
Side characters:
Watching Oraya get wrecked by Kyrene was so satisfying. Sylvia and Atrius were fun to have back, it felt so good revisiting them. Now I'm dying to know more about Septimus's sister and younger brother in future books.
Septimus:
Silver hair, a ruby earring, and the way he smokes his cigarillos (vanilla, specifically, not just any cigarillo) is unreasonably attractive. And the way he calls her "Dove"? I'm done. Impeccable fashion sense, a total bookworm, especially for romance novels. This man is written to be perfect.
Kyrene:
I have so much respect for her. She stayed fearless even while completely broken by grief. She's earned a spot on my favorites list, easily.
Genuine enemies to lovers done right. The banter was top tier, the chemistry was undeniable, the slow burn was perfectly paced, and the spice was exactly where it needed to be.
Quotes :━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
“Monsters recognize monsters''
“We all need standards, Kyrene. And don’t come at me with your
hypocrisy. Just because you hide to fuss with your appearance every day
doesn’t mean I don’t see it.''
''Septimus, who wore his polished sophistication like armor, felt sacrilegious. Only now, with his self-control
in shreds, fully exposing what lay beneath, did I truly understand how hard
he had been working to maintain that facade.''
"I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. I was ensnared by him, and in this
moment, I understood him so viscerally. My chest was bleeding, too, and I
didn’t even care. I loved the pain of it, and I wanted to give it all to the only
person I knew who felt it just as I wanted to give it all to the only
person I knew who felt it just as I did."
“You’ve won, lyri,” he ground out. “If I’m your mark, you’ve taken me
long ago.”
“Vampires were all beautiful, but this was one of the prettiest I'd ever seen.”
''We all have bad dreams, lyri, I prefer to replace mine with better endings, even if books are the only place left to find them''
“in this pained, messy version of Septimus, I saw myself. I saw more of myself than I had ever seen in another person''
''he had always seemed so inhumanly beautiful, and yet now. I was struck by all the fascinating imperfect edges of his appearance. The only solid thing in a world of dreams.''
August 4, 2026
Another banger from vampire queen Broadbent!
I devoured this in like 24 hours and the conclusion was non-stop jabs to the heart and a barrage of breath-taking revelations... I don't know how I'm going to get through the finale in one piece.
Super early on I knew this was going to be an epic, gruesome, gut-wrenching adventure and I was totally locked in. I loved the gritty, post-apocalyptic vibes right off the bat, and as always, the writing and setup captured me immediately. The world is brutal, and the revenge driven storyline instilled instant investment and anticipation. Kyrene is a total badass, a smart and merciless one at that, and Septimus steals every scene he’s in—a cunning, magnetic presence.
The first cameo made me gasp so hard I choked. And I knew Carissa’s been working some magic with all these plotlines and characters, but man was she playing the loooong game. I was blown away by what I learned in this. The overarching plot of this series is actually insane—SO meticulously planned out and delivered masterfully. But the themes and plot devices of this particular book are genuinely so fucking heart-breaking. I sobbed multiple times. And as the story progressed and pieces fell into place, it became all the more significant and poignant. There was no holding back. Just one devastating gut punch after another.
I really applaud how well developed and unique each of the romances in this world have been. The slow burn between Kyrene and Septimus is delicious and like all couples in this world, their connection is built from deep mutual trust, vulnerability, and respect—after a decent amount of bickering and deception of course. This romance feels different to the others though... their pairing is like a conglomerate of everything that's come to pass so far.
“Any soul would be lucky to have a lion like you fighting for them. Anyone. A warrior, a priestess, a machinist, or a child.” The corner of his mouth slanted. “Even a vampire prince.”
There is something about the writing, as with all of Carissa’s work, that feels so natural but intentional. It’s smooth and effortless to read—like every word fits together seamlessly—while creating such intense vividness and emotion intended for a specific purpose to be felt at a specific moment for the most visceral impact. And somehow Carissa just keeps going above and beyond with each instalment; I am seriously reeling from this book. I want to go back and reread all the others now!
-
this somehow flew under my radar but now I have to stop everything else and start it!!
I devoured this in like 24 hours and the conclusion was non-stop jabs to the heart and a barrage of breath-taking revelations... I don't know how I'm going to get through the finale in one piece.
Super early on I knew this was going to be an epic, gruesome, gut-wrenching adventure and I was totally locked in. I loved the gritty, post-apocalyptic vibes right off the bat, and as always, the writing and setup captured me immediately. The world is brutal, and the revenge driven storyline instilled instant investment and anticipation. Kyrene is a total badass, a smart and merciless one at that, and Septimus steals every scene he’s in—a cunning, magnetic presence.
The first cameo made me gasp so hard I choked. And I knew Carissa’s been working some magic with all these plotlines and characters, but man was she playing the loooong game. I was blown away by what I learned in this. The overarching plot of this series is actually insane—SO meticulously planned out and delivered masterfully. But the themes and plot devices of this particular book are genuinely so fucking heart-breaking. I sobbed multiple times. And as the story progressed and pieces fell into place, it became all the more significant and poignant. There was no holding back. Just one devastating gut punch after another.
I really applaud how well developed and unique each of the romances in this world have been. The slow burn between Kyrene and Septimus is delicious and like all couples in this world, their connection is built from deep mutual trust, vulnerability, and respect—after a decent amount of bickering and deception of course. This romance feels different to the others though... their pairing is like a conglomerate of everything that's come to pass so far.
“Any soul would be lucky to have a lion like you fighting for them. Anyone. A warrior, a priestess, a machinist, or a child.” The corner of his mouth slanted. “Even a vampire prince.”
There is something about the writing, as with all of Carissa’s work, that feels so natural but intentional. It’s smooth and effortless to read—like every word fits together seamlessly—while creating such intense vividness and emotion intended for a specific purpose to be felt at a specific moment for the most visceral impact. And somehow Carissa just keeps going above and beyond with each instalment; I am seriously reeling from this book. I want to go back and reread all the others now!
-
this somehow flew under my radar but now I have to stop everything else and start it!!
August 14, 2026
« Brother, he said, but one look at the two of them told me that his role was closer to that of a father. » ❤️🩹
I’ve been sitting on this review for a week and I just don’t know what to say. It’s the curse of the breathtaking books, isn’t it?
« That’s the real joke of it. When you are surrounded by suffering, it’s easy to endure. You know nothing else. There is no other possible future or past. Everyone you know or knew or ever will know suffers as you do. But then. Then there’s a little spark of hope. One little piece of good, and suddenly, it all just becomes unacceptable. » ❤️🩹
I loved the characters, so much. The fmc & mmc were my favourite of this series so far. I connected to the mmc, deeply, because there’s also no limits to what I would do to protect my little brothers.
This one made me reminiscent of her daughter of no worlds trilogy and I loved it SO MUCH. Best book in this series for me so far.
« I had forgotten why I had once found such beauty in mortality. You reminded me. You cared so deeply. Yes, it was chaotic, it was illogical, it was bold. But it was genuine. I still find beauty in that. And I was wrong to attempt to smother it in you. » ❤️🩹
I’ve been sitting on this review for a week and I just don’t know what to say. It’s the curse of the breathtaking books, isn’t it?
« That’s the real joke of it. When you are surrounded by suffering, it’s easy to endure. You know nothing else. There is no other possible future or past. Everyone you know or knew or ever will know suffers as you do. But then. Then there’s a little spark of hope. One little piece of good, and suddenly, it all just becomes unacceptable. » ❤️🩹
I loved the characters, so much. The fmc & mmc were my favourite of this series so far. I connected to the mmc, deeply, because there’s also no limits to what I would do to protect my little brothers.
This one made me reminiscent of her daughter of no worlds trilogy and I loved it SO MUCH. Best book in this series for me so far.
« I had forgotten why I had once found such beauty in mortality. You reminded me. You cared so deeply. Yes, it was chaotic, it was illogical, it was bold. But it was genuine. I still find beauty in that. And I was wrong to attempt to smother it in you. » ❤️🩹
August 7, 2026
Everyone always looks at their heroes like that, in the end.
This is why Carissa Broadbent is one of my top authors, because every book of hers is amazing. I cannot emphasize enough how much I love her writing, not can I give justice to how beautiful it is; I just feel every single sentence, every emotion and how can every quote be so intense and impactful, I don’t know. Some books I prefer to others, but all have such complex, real, well written characters, who have to make terrible choices and there’s never a simply good one, and such felt stories, I mean, the events, the situations, the feelings, just hit so much.
“We have failed so many people. The one thing we have left to offer their memories is blood.”
(There'll be some spoilers about characters but not events)
This story is so captivating, with moves, turns and shocking moments; the book jumps straight into the action and there’s a lot of it, it's gripping and there are many heavy moments that carry emotional weight and it fits with the stakes and the type of character Kyrene is. It’s always the more reflective scenes tho, the ones that show the complexity of a situation, the reality of the world and people, character psychology and moments of confrontations that shine for me.
Leave the tears. Bring the anger. Only one is useful to you now.
[…] Her tears remained there in the bloody dirt, but she would carry the rage with her for the rest of her life.
This book continues from the previous duet to show the selfishness, entitledness and disregards toward anything except their own power the gods have, and doesn’t shy away from showing the violence and cruelty people are capable of, being vampires or humans; this never-ending war between them, we look at it from both sides and see that both are capable of acts of unspeakable cruelty. This quotes I think says it all Vampire children, yes. But a mind never gets used to seeing little bodies broken that way. Under all the blood, it was hard to tell the difference.
“We share a propensity for making the right beings bleed. So let’s make them fucking bleed.”
Kyrene is a different fmc than the ones before, she’s not easily likable and I had to warm up to her, but true to CB fashion, she is complex, layered and I understood and felt for her. She is jaded, disillusioned, reckless, impulsive, her answer to everything is killing; she tends to act without thinking with tunnel vision, just charges ahead bullheaded. She runs from emotions and reflection, covering hurt with aggression and throwing herself into anything that can numb her, because at the core of it all she’s full of pain and anger, crushed by loss, and believes her only worth is in killing with that sword.
Happy endings only existed between those pages. But I let myself believe in them—that anyone could be a princess, or a fairy, or a fucking hero. That maybe, I could rip the face off the woman I’d murdered ten years ago and pretend I was her, instead of no one at all.
But throughout this journey with Septimus, she smacks her head against uncomfortable truths, stats to see a bit beyond the “attack anything that’s in front of you” and has to reevaluate what she thought she knew. I enjoyed how she ends up here and I think by the end she’ll have had a very satisfying arc.
“They were noble. What a kind thing to say at their graves. What a nice story to tell their grieving families, if there’s even anyone left. All my other brothers, all five of them, fell chasing that. But I’ve never been like them. I’m the last resort.”
“I will be the last Bloodborn to suffer this curse. I think of that, every time I bow to her, every time I jump to her call. My brothers failed. I will not. And I will make any sacrifice to that end. Even, divine hero, terrible ones that were never mine to make.”
Septimus, what a character. Him, his story and all the House of Blood story was definitely the peak of the book for me and what had my heart, I found it all so powerful and heart wrenching.
“I know I will not live to see the world that will come after this. But goddess fucking help me, Kyrene, this will end with me. This will end with me.”
Septimus is someone who looks always put together, who shows the world only what he wants them to see, but underneath he cares so much and is fucking furious, determination made steel by hatred and grief. He’s cunning, manipulative, everything he does is thought out and planned, he has been playing the long game, shifting pieces, and making the tough decisions, all in order to reach the objective that the whole House of Blood is working toward, sacrifice after sacrifice, working for a common objective with Septimus at the helm: for the suffering of his people and his family to be paid back in blood and a chance for a future for his House. He dedicated all of himself to this, because failure for him is not an option, he’ll do whatever needs to be done to end this and he’s too angry to die before succeeding.
I wondered if anyone in my entire life had ever looked at me like this. Not with the reverence of a divine warrior. Not with the disgust of a shameless bounty hunter. But honest, genuine affection for exactly who I was.
Kyrene and Septimus are a great couple and slow burn, as always, with such tragic elements and with the development of the relationship being realistic, completely believable and incredibly done. Those two started with a very clear idea of the other, but as the book went on discovered each other little by little and saw beneath the mask they present to the world and found out they have much more in common than they thought.
But here, in this pained, messy version of Septimus, I saw myself. I saw more of myself than I had ever seen in another person.
Both are for sure people who love a challenge and never back down from it and they push each other’s button to get the upper hand; but most of all they share and understand the other same deep anger, hatred, pain and determination, they are both driven by a burning want for retribution. They also have a lot of great chemistry and sexual tension, but they shine the most in what CB always does superbly, slowly building a connection between two people who recognize the same thing in each other.
“I’m so angry. Angry at Nyaxia for making us suffer this way. Angry that I was ready to sacrifice my life for nothing. Angry that I thought I’d watched you die, and angry that even after, even when I thought you had betrayed me, even though you lied to me, even though I failed my people because of it, I felt like someone had ripped me apart.”
“I’m so angry, Kyrene,” he breathed. “And I should be angry at you. I know it, just as I know you. I know that you’ve wanted to cut out my heart from the first minute we met. Well, you’ve gotten your wish. You have it, and I don’t even mind. My chest is wide open, and all I want to do is lick the blood from your fingers and offer you more.”
And what a freaking ending!
I had expected to come to this place and find some great immortal magic. Something so ancient and powerful that it was wholly alien.
But the mundanity of the truth was so much more horrifying.
A cycle that went on and on and on. In this world, you were either the one with the open throat or the one with the full stomach. But all those full stomachs once had teeth at their throat, too.
I think it’s way past time that Oraya, Rahin, Mishe and Asar work with Septimus, Kyrene, Atrius and Sylina, and if all of the couple don’t get some sort of happy ending in the final book I’ll riot.
He was nearly unrecognizable from the pristine vampire prince I had first met. The man who used his beauty and dignity as a shield against the future he knew would one day come for him. That future was here, and it had taken so much from him. And yet, looking at him now, the words unfurled so clearly in my head:
You are perfect.
Because he had fought so hard. Given so much. All those sacrifices now shredded his defenses, leaving behind only the suffering they had hidden. And I knew that suffering. I felt it, too. And in this moment, I loved him for it, for all those failures in lockstep with mine. All those shattered hopes, so precious for having existed at all.
This is why Carissa Broadbent is one of my top authors, because every book of hers is amazing. I cannot emphasize enough how much I love her writing, not can I give justice to how beautiful it is; I just feel every single sentence, every emotion and how can every quote be so intense and impactful, I don’t know. Some books I prefer to others, but all have such complex, real, well written characters, who have to make terrible choices and there’s never a simply good one, and such felt stories, I mean, the events, the situations, the feelings, just hit so much.
“We have failed so many people. The one thing we have left to offer their memories is blood.”
(There'll be some spoilers about characters but not events)
This story is so captivating, with moves, turns and shocking moments; the book jumps straight into the action and there’s a lot of it, it's gripping and there are many heavy moments that carry emotional weight and it fits with the stakes and the type of character Kyrene is. It’s always the more reflective scenes tho, the ones that show the complexity of a situation, the reality of the world and people, character psychology and moments of confrontations that shine for me.
Leave the tears. Bring the anger. Only one is useful to you now.
[…] Her tears remained there in the bloody dirt, but she would carry the rage with her for the rest of her life.
This book continues from the previous duet to show the selfishness, entitledness and disregards toward anything except their own power the gods have, and doesn’t shy away from showing the violence and cruelty people are capable of, being vampires or humans; this never-ending war between them, we look at it from both sides and see that both are capable of acts of unspeakable cruelty. This quotes I think says it all Vampire children, yes. But a mind never gets used to seeing little bodies broken that way. Under all the blood, it was hard to tell the difference.
“We share a propensity for making the right beings bleed. So let’s make them fucking bleed.”
Kyrene is a different fmc than the ones before, she’s not easily likable and I had to warm up to her, but true to CB fashion, she is complex, layered and I understood and felt for her. She is jaded, disillusioned, reckless, impulsive, her answer to everything is killing; she tends to act without thinking with tunnel vision, just charges ahead bullheaded. She runs from emotions and reflection, covering hurt with aggression and throwing herself into anything that can numb her, because at the core of it all she’s full of pain and anger, crushed by loss, and believes her only worth is in killing with that sword.
Happy endings only existed between those pages. But I let myself believe in them—that anyone could be a princess, or a fairy, or a fucking hero. That maybe, I could rip the face off the woman I’d murdered ten years ago and pretend I was her, instead of no one at all.
But throughout this journey with Septimus, she smacks her head against uncomfortable truths, stats to see a bit beyond the “attack anything that’s in front of you” and has to reevaluate what she thought she knew. I enjoyed how she ends up here and I think by the end she’ll have had a very satisfying arc.
“They were noble. What a kind thing to say at their graves. What a nice story to tell their grieving families, if there’s even anyone left. All my other brothers, all five of them, fell chasing that. But I’ve never been like them. I’m the last resort.”
“I will be the last Bloodborn to suffer this curse. I think of that, every time I bow to her, every time I jump to her call. My brothers failed. I will not. And I will make any sacrifice to that end. Even, divine hero, terrible ones that were never mine to make.”
Septimus, what a character. Him, his story and all the House of Blood story was definitely the peak of the book for me and what had my heart, I found it all so powerful and heart wrenching.
“I know I will not live to see the world that will come after this. But goddess fucking help me, Kyrene, this will end with me. This will end with me.”
Septimus is someone who looks always put together, who shows the world only what he wants them to see, but underneath he cares so much and is fucking furious, determination made steel by hatred and grief. He’s cunning, manipulative, everything he does is thought out and planned, he has been playing the long game, shifting pieces, and making the tough decisions, all in order to reach the objective that the whole House of Blood is working toward, sacrifice after sacrifice, working for a common objective with Septimus at the helm: for the suffering of his people and his family to be paid back in blood and a chance for a future for his House. He dedicated all of himself to this, because failure for him is not an option, he’ll do whatever needs to be done to end this and he’s too angry to die before succeeding.
I wondered if anyone in my entire life had ever looked at me like this. Not with the reverence of a divine warrior. Not with the disgust of a shameless bounty hunter. But honest, genuine affection for exactly who I was.
Kyrene and Septimus are a great couple and slow burn, as always, with such tragic elements and with the development of the relationship being realistic, completely believable and incredibly done. Those two started with a very clear idea of the other, but as the book went on discovered each other little by little and saw beneath the mask they present to the world and found out they have much more in common than they thought.
But here, in this pained, messy version of Septimus, I saw myself. I saw more of myself than I had ever seen in another person.
Both are for sure people who love a challenge and never back down from it and they push each other’s button to get the upper hand; but most of all they share and understand the other same deep anger, hatred, pain and determination, they are both driven by a burning want for retribution. They also have a lot of great chemistry and sexual tension, but they shine the most in what CB always does superbly, slowly building a connection between two people who recognize the same thing in each other.
“I’m so angry. Angry at Nyaxia for making us suffer this way. Angry that I was ready to sacrifice my life for nothing. Angry that I thought I’d watched you die, and angry that even after, even when I thought you had betrayed me, even though you lied to me, even though I failed my people because of it, I felt like someone had ripped me apart.”
“I’m so angry, Kyrene,” he breathed. “And I should be angry at you. I know it, just as I know you. I know that you’ve wanted to cut out my heart from the first minute we met. Well, you’ve gotten your wish. You have it, and I don’t even mind. My chest is wide open, and all I want to do is lick the blood from your fingers and offer you more.”
And what a freaking ending!
I had expected to come to this place and find some great immortal magic. Something so ancient and powerful that it was wholly alien.
But the mundanity of the truth was so much more horrifying.
A cycle that went on and on and on. In this world, you were either the one with the open throat or the one with the full stomach. But all those full stomachs once had teeth at their throat, too.
I think it’s way past time that Oraya, Rahin, Mishe and Asar work with Septimus, Kyrene, Atrius and Sylina, and if all of the couple don’t get some sort of happy ending in the final book I’ll riot.
He was nearly unrecognizable from the pristine vampire prince I had first met. The man who used his beauty and dignity as a shield against the future he knew would one day come for him. That future was here, and it had taken so much from him. And yet, looking at him now, the words unfurled so clearly in my head:
You are perfect.
Because he had fought so hard. Given so much. All those sacrifices now shredded his defenses, leaving behind only the suffering they had hidden. And I knew that suffering. I felt it, too. And in this moment, I loved him for it, for all those failures in lockstep with mine. All those shattered hopes, so precious for having existed at all.
Currently Reading
August 24, 2025Edit: OMG THE COVER IS ✨STUNNING✨
”Septimus very much liked to be the solution to a problem.”
oh yeah…septimus is definitely daddy material
”Septimus very much liked to be the solution to a problem.”
oh yeah…septimus is definitely daddy material
November 29, 2025
⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚♡⋆˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽
I wasn’t at all thinking how much I was going to remember of this book from the last one! When you go back into series it does come back to you! Like yes okay the other books were a bit tediously slow… but can understand why all the characters flooding back especially with the voice it does get you immediately hooked when you understand the main plot of this aswell.
˚┊✦kyrene
It does take a while to like her character I found her really frustrating to enjoy when she just so belligerent at times aswell especially when it comes to vampire attacks like girl get a grip 🤦♀️I do feel like she is trying to grow into herself but still makes stupid decisions that can cause herself harm
˚┊✦septimus
Good lord how obsessed I was with him I loved how cheeky and really such a good sweetheart that he is he’s so hot 🥵 the way he cares for kyrene. Even though he such an arrogant vampire but he does know the right and wrong when things are very getting very wild and intense. This man just melts my heart in so many pieces he made the book what it was.
The romance:
The romance was very much of a slowburn throughout the entire book. Like yes okay there was so many good action don’t get me wrong that had you yearning for more. I loved how spicy it got half way through when things are about to take a turn why not release some steam? 🤣I loved how strong the characters got in this one despite there struggles to save there realm etc they did put up a good fight!
The ending :
I did love the book don’t get me wrong it took longer than I hoped it did there was so many action that had you gasping for more wanted to carry on reading ! At least aswell during the book considering how much in depth it was took a while to get into that ending had me jaw dropping though like what the fuck was that???! Now I need more answers than ever 😭😭
I wanted to give this 5 stars but 4 is decent enough for me I still really enjoyed it.
Cannot wait for the next book see how it all unfolds next!
﹏﹒✦﹒✶﹏﹒✦﹒﹏✦﹒﹏﹒✦﹒✶﹏﹒✦﹒﹏✦﹒
𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋🍉⋮ ⌗ pre read ⋆˙⟡
⤷ ゛ ˎˊ˗ Started August 2026
Before i start getting fomo with everyone reading thiss book im reading this over weekendgetting my plans reads done hehe trying to get better reading the new releases without the fomoLOL
cant wait for this one !! been loving the series so far so hopefullly it will be good !!
Omg we have a new one??! I still need to read the newest one why does this have to be next summer 😭cannot wait!!!
I wasn’t at all thinking how much I was going to remember of this book from the last one! When you go back into series it does come back to you! Like yes okay the other books were a bit tediously slow… but can understand why all the characters flooding back especially with the voice it does get you immediately hooked when you understand the main plot of this aswell.
˚┊✦kyrene
It does take a while to like her character I found her really frustrating to enjoy when she just so belligerent at times aswell especially when it comes to vampire attacks like girl get a grip 🤦♀️I do feel like she is trying to grow into herself but still makes stupid decisions that can cause herself harm
˚┊✦septimus
Good lord how obsessed I was with him I loved how cheeky and really such a good sweetheart that he is he’s so hot 🥵 the way he cares for kyrene. Even though he such an arrogant vampire but he does know the right and wrong when things are very getting very wild and intense. This man just melts my heart in so many pieces he made the book what it was.
The romance:
The romance was very much of a slowburn throughout the entire book. Like yes okay there was so many good action don’t get me wrong that had you yearning for more. I loved how spicy it got half way through when things are about to take a turn why not release some steam? 🤣I loved how strong the characters got in this one despite there struggles to save there realm etc they did put up a good fight!
The ending :
I did love the book don’t get me wrong it took longer than I hoped it did there was so many action that had you gasping for more wanted to carry on reading ! At least aswell during the book considering how much in depth it was took a while to get into that ending had me jaw dropping though like what the fuck was that???! Now I need more answers than ever 😭😭
I wanted to give this 5 stars but 4 is decent enough for me I still really enjoyed it.
Cannot wait for the next book see how it all unfolds next!
﹏﹒✦﹒✶﹏﹒✦﹒﹏✦﹒﹏﹒✦﹒✶﹏﹒✦﹒﹏✦﹒
𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋🍉⋮ ⌗ pre read ⋆˙⟡
⤷ ゛ ˎˊ˗ Started August 2026
Before i start getting fomo with everyone reading thiss book im reading this over weekendgetting my plans reads done hehe trying to get better reading the new releases without the fomoLOL
cant wait for this one !! been loving the series so far so hopefullly it will be good !!
Omg we have a new one??! I still need to read the newest one why does this have to be next summer 😭cannot wait!!!
August 9, 2026
To właśnie mam na myśli, jak mówię że chce przeczytać dobre romantasy - jest ciekawa fabuła, rozbudowane i krwawe sceny akcji, bohaterowie, którzy mają charaktery, swoje motywacje, no i do tego wątek romantyczny, który aż chce się śledzić i czekać te 70% książki aż wydarzy się coś więcej (i HOT scena picia krwi) 😌 Dziękuję Carissa, że jak zwykle nie zawiodłaś! 💖
series-i-need-to-complete
August 11, 2025SEPTIMUS IT IS!!! i can never not love a messed-up, morally grey character with a tragic backstory 😩
September 13, 2026
5⭐️
аааа карісса, як ти могла! відкладати найцікавіші історії на фінал. я протягом усієї книги декілька разів сиділа з такими емоціями 😳🤯🤯 і питанням «що бляха взагалі відбувається» 😶🌫️
але як же приємно знову казати, що це найкраща книга в серії. для мене точно 😎
✦ насамперед завдяки сюжету і твістам.
ця частина точно найтемніша, навіть депресивна. стільки жорстокості та болючих втрат від самого початку 😖
та й це логічно, коли весь їхній світ палає в хаосі, а пантеон богів веде свою криваву війну, використовуючи вампірів і людей як розхідний матеріал.
ще й елементи боді-горору завезли з цим прокляттям кровонароджених 🫣 і таак, нареееешті нам повністю розкрили історію того, чому ніаксія взагалі їх прокляла 😈
також в нас боги мруть як мухи. і вони на це цілком заслужили 😤 можливо, хотілося б, щоб деякі сутички були більш винахідливими, але най буде.
проте як же все перевернулося у фіналі 😱 з одного боку, все дуже очікувано, а з іншого - сидиш із думкою «і ти, бруте?!». ну септімус точно був у захваті від такої багатоходовочки 🌚😁
після завершення таке враження, що забагато сюжетних ліній вже закрито, але від цього ще цікавіше, як розгорнуться події в фінальній частині серії. на яку я дуже-дуже чекаю 🙂↔️
✦ і безумовно завдяки головним героям.
лиходії дійсно отримають найкращі історії і арка септімуса не виняток. цей маніпулятивний гівнюк краде увагу ще з першої книги і як же приємно було познайомитися з ним ближче. дізнатися його мотивацію, побачити ці крихти плану упродовж усього шляху, які зрештою вималювалися в цілісну картину. смачноооо.
а ці його білі костюмчики з червоною вишивкою (привіт, козаче!) та звичка читати в сексі-окулярах.. почитайте для мене, принце 🤓🫠
і те, як він благав під кінець.. за кірен, за народ 😭 мій зранений пиріжечок ❤️🩹
не бачу кращої пари для нього, ніж кірен (чи кайрін). відважна мисливиця за головами, гостра на язик, травмована, не ідеальна людина. а коли нарешті дізнаєшся правду про її минуле.. той розділ розриває серденько на шматки 😫🤧
чому головні герої мусять таак страждати?! утім, продовжуйте 🌚
внутрішні діалоги кірен та її меча - зефії, яка тут виступає повноцінною персонажкою, теж щось настільки рідне. і мусить же хоч хтось відповідати за ті дрібні крихти гумору в цій похмурій історії ☺️
яка ж смачна хімія між септімусом й кірен 🤌
вона - ідеальний виклик для септі, аби той на кожному кроці випробовував свій сталевий контроль поруч із нею. і в ті моменти, коли він майже зривається.. 😮💨🔥
тут кайфово все: від постійних перепалок, ворожнечі й гарячого сексу з ненависті 🥵 до тихих, інтимних миттєвостей - спільні читання, щоб позбутися кошмарів, купання, ніжна турбота, одкровення, зализування ран і кусь🩸
плюс пані карісса все краще прописує спайсі сцени з кожною наступною книгою 😋
а закінчу на цьому 🙌
аааа карісса, як ти могла! відкладати найцікавіші історії на фінал. я протягом усієї книги декілька разів сиділа з такими емоціями 😳🤯🤯 і питанням «що бляха взагалі відбувається» 😶🌫️
але як же приємно знову казати, що це найкраща книга в серії. для мене точно 😎
✦ насамперед завдяки сюжету і твістам.
ця частина точно найтемніша, навіть депресивна. стільки жорстокості та болючих втрат від самого початку 😖
та й це логічно, коли весь їхній світ палає в хаосі, а пантеон богів веде свою криваву війну, використовуючи вампірів і людей як розхідний матеріал.
ще й елементи боді-горору завезли з цим прокляттям кровонароджених 🫣 і таак, нареееешті нам повністю розкрили історію того, чому ніаксія взагалі їх прокляла 😈
також в нас боги мруть як мухи. і вони на це цілком заслужили 😤 можливо, хотілося б, щоб деякі сутички були більш винахідливими, але най буде.
проте як же все перевернулося у фіналі 😱 з одного боку, все дуже очікувано, а з іншого - сидиш із думкою «і ти, бруте?!». ну септімус точно був у захваті від такої багатоходовочки 🌚😁
після завершення таке враження, що забагато сюжетних ліній вже закрито, але від цього ще цікавіше, як розгорнуться події в фінальній частині серії. на яку я дуже-дуже чекаю 🙂↔️
✦ і безумовно завдяки головним героям.
лиходії дійсно отримають найкращі історії і арка септімуса не виняток. цей маніпулятивний гівнюк краде увагу ще з першої книги і як же приємно було познайомитися з ним ближче. дізнатися його мотивацію, побачити ці крихти плану упродовж усього шляху, які зрештою вималювалися в цілісну картину. смачноооо.
а ці його білі костюмчики з червоною вишивкою (привіт, козаче!) та звичка читати в сексі-окулярах.. почитайте для мене, принце 🤓🫠
і те, як він благав під кінець.. за кірен, за народ 😭 мій зранений пиріжечок ❤️🩹
не бачу кращої пари для нього, ніж кірен (чи кайрін). відважна мисливиця за головами, гостра на язик, травмована, не ідеальна людина. а коли нарешті дізнаєшся правду про її минуле.. той розділ розриває серденько на шматки 😫🤧
чому головні герої мусять таак страждати?! утім, продовжуйте 🌚
внутрішні діалоги кірен та її меча - зефії, яка тут виступає повноцінною персонажкою, теж щось настільки рідне. і мусить же хоч хтось відповідати за ті дрібні крихти гумору в цій похмурій історії ☺️
яка ж смачна хімія між септімусом й кірен 🤌
вона - ідеальний виклик для септі, аби той на кожному кроці випробовував свій сталевий контроль поруч із нею. і в ті моменти, коли він майже зривається.. 😮💨🔥
тут кайфово все: від постійних перепалок, ворожнечі й гарячого сексу з ненависті 🥵 до тихих, інтимних миттєвостей - спільні читання, щоб позбутися кошмарів, купання, ніжна турбота, одкровення, зализування ран і кусь🩸
плюс пані карісса все краще прописує спайсі сцени з кожною наступною книгою 😋
а закінчу на цьому 🙌
– я такий лютий, кірено, – видихнув він. – і я мав би гніватися на тебе. я це знаю, як знаю й тебе. знаю, що ти хотіла вирвати моє серце з першої ж хвилини нашої зустрічі. що ж, твоє бажання здійснилося. воно в тебе, і я навіть не проти. мої груди розчахнуті, і все, чого я прагну, – це злизати кров з твоїх пальців і запропонувати тобі більше.
...
– я хотів би дати тобі більше, ніж кінець, лірі.
я хотів. я хотів. 💔
August 21, 2026
I AM SCREAMING!
This book was electrifying! From the very first page, this book grabbed me & didn't let go. The characters are some of my faves & the cameos were such a fun surprise. Carissa's pacing can sometimes be a bit choppy for me, but was absolutely spot on here. The romance was 10/10, the action sequences were captivating, & the world? More terrifying than ever (in the best way).
That ending had me losing my mind. I'm already desperate for the next book & seriously considering a re-read of the first two books just to get more of SEPTIMUS!🔥
This book was electrifying! From the very first page, this book grabbed me & didn't let go. The characters are some of my faves & the cameos were such a fun surprise. Carissa's pacing can sometimes be a bit choppy for me, but was absolutely spot on here. The romance was 10/10, the action sequences were captivating, & the world? More terrifying than ever (in the best way).
That ending had me losing my mind. I'm already desperate for the next book & seriously considering a re-read of the first two books just to get more of SEPTIMUS!🔥
Want to Read
August 31, 2025actually need this more than i need oxygen
series-to-continue
November 29, 2025Apparently, 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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ 𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐒 ⚠️
only read this if you’ve read the entire book
𝐊𝐲𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞 🗡️
I feel like I’m so used to characters secretly being lost princesses or being special because of some innate magic, I was worried with the “chosen one” trope it would be like this, but Kyrene completely comes from nothing and builds herself into someone really powerful. Her character development is so well done, she reminded me a little bit of Aelin with how she never gives up with anything. I really liked how her and Septimus worked together. It was really interesting seeing all the other characters from her perspective. I also loved how action packed the story was with all the fighting scenes, I low-key think she’s my new favorite fmc character in this series.
𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐲 😘
Maybe unpopular opinion: from the start I’ve always really liked Septimus, when this book was announced I knew he’d probably be a favorite. He reminded me of Jacks (OUABH) and Lestat (IWTV) both morally questionable hot blonde vampire guys. I always felt like he was more of a caricature in the earlier books, but this one gave him so much more nuance and made him feel three-dimensional. I really hope there’s a novella of with parts of his childhood, I’m super curious how he was raised and what his relationship was like with his brothers. He was pretty funny and I’m glad he got so many cool moments. I feel like we’re so used to the guy being the fighter or protector, so I really liked that his strength came more from his magic and wit while Kyrene’s came from her fighting.
𝐒 + 𝐊
I loved Septimus and Kyrenes relationship and how it developes, when I heard this book was “super dark and spicy” I was worried it would be just kinda cringe and lustful but it’s definitely a very slow burn. They don’t even kiss until like 400+ pages in
I get annoyed when love interests argue for basically no reason (cough cough Voilet and Xaden) but anytime Kyrene and Septimus were mad at each other it was always pretty justified—and they always ended up talking afterwards like adults (Rebecca Yarros please take notes) I think it’s so dumb that in a lot of books when one character betrays the other they hold it against for hundreds of pages, (bridge Kingdom 🙄) just bc the author wants to delay them being together but when Kyrene betrays Septimus they’re able to move on after she explains everything.
I also liked how there wasn’t a huge power imbalance between them. Septimus hiring Kyrene for a job could’ve made for a creepy boss x employee relationship but once they excape Egrette’s kingdom, they’re basically just partners working together for the rest of the book.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐬
Ik you can technically read this as a standalone but it’s sooo much better if you’ve read the other books, so many of the important characters are from the previous books. It was interesting seeing the characters we already knew: Slyina, Atrius, Erekkus 💔
I also liked the new characters, I was super curious that Septimus has a sister and was worried she wouldn’t be in this but I’m glad she was included. I liked most of Kyrenes friends but really liked Valentina in particular bc she added so much to Kyrenes character development. I kind of have mixed feelings about Zefiah, I know she was supposed to be sassy, but I feel like most of the time she was just mean to Kyrene.
Omg I feel so bad for Oraya but it was kinda hilarious how much she gets her ass kicked. Imagining Oraya seeing Septimus and the Vindica Ultis getting along must have been so weird lmao. (I’m pretty sure there’s a special edition with an Oraya chapter in her pov so I’ll def be looking forward to that) also Kyrene and Septimus literally get freaky for the first time RIGHT after Kyrene leaves Oraya for dead, they were still in the temple, so Oraya could have literally come back at any moment 😭
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞
There is a LOT of repetition, the phrase “like shattered glass” was used to describe SO many things. There was also a time when Kyrene is fighting where she looks to Septimus and it says “he was no longer smirking” when she had looked at him multiple times before this, and he was not smirking! Another time Septimus mentions giving her food or feeding her offhandedly like they had done that even though that had literally never happened so it seemed like there was a scene that was cut out maybe and then they just left all of those lines in. SO many chapters end with “then there was nothing”. All in all an amazing book but it needs a little editing.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
What was that bro 🙏🏻
That plot twist was shocking and SO well done, genuinely thought that was going in a completely different direction. I was glad that more things got resolved than I expected but how tf am I supposed to wait for the next book?? I listen to the audiobook, partly, and Septimus’s narration at the end was a jump scare. His voice was a literal Dracula voice. Also I was so happy when I thought it was Seppy coming back but it was just Atrius 😒
𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬
“Vampires were all beautiful, but this was one of the prettiest I'd ever seen.” (34)
“She loved this. Because Shiket was the goddess of vengeance, and vengeance was useless with nothing to avenge.” (89)
“Sometimes, I could understand why vampires saw us as animals. Because the sounds that humans made when they were locked up with their own inevitable demise were the same ones that animals made at the slaughterhouse.” (180)
“I shrugged. "No great loss. Not much beauty left in this world, anyway.”
Septimus's gaze lowered, dancing over my body before returning to my face—so quick that perhaps I might have missed it if I hadn't been watching him so closely.” (209)
"You hired me because I'm very good at what I do, Seppy.” (223) SEPPY 🙏🏻
“a bit wrinkled at the collar and the cuffs, like he'd been fidgeting with it.” (237) awww 🥰
"You came to a seedy pleasure house in the middle of nowhere and then left your god-forged sword alone in your room?”
Oh, I didn't appreciate that judgmental tone.
"She didn't go with the outfit," I ground out.” (245)
"We all have bad dreams, lyri, I prefer to replace mine with better endings, even if books are the only place left to find them." (256)
"I know what I see when I look at you. But none of those qualities, admirable as they are, are ones typically appreciated by the gods." (259)
“in this pained, messy version of Septimus, I saw myself. I saw more of myself than I had ever seen in another person.” (274)
"It would have been a girl," Ix said softly. "A beautiful little girl. And she would have looked just like you. She would have thrived" (289)
“he had always seemed so inhumanly beautiful, and yet now. I was struck by all the fascinating imperfect edges of his appearance. The only solid thing in a world of dreams.” (291)
"Let us dispose of your captor, and-"
I stepped in front of Septimus.
"No," I said quickly. Then slower, "No. I would like to keep him." (291)
"You would have destroyed your daughter, just like you destroyed the other” (298)
“He had dragged her to me, I thought dimly. Even though he was on the edge of death himself.” (304) awwwww
“Wheres Septimus?" I gridded out.
She sighed. "Sun take me, don't give him the satisfaction of finding out those were your first words. He'll be insufferable."
Somewhere behind me, another door opened. "Too late." (317)
“one by one, all my older brothers fell—to failure or carelessness or bad fucking luck. But not me. This ends with me." (324)
“Surely you cannot think that your aloof act is all that good, lyri. Because anyone who is with you for any stretch would quickly learn that you're far more than that." (325)
“It's selfish that I care what you think of me, after everything I've done. But I want you to know why I did this. I want you to know that I’m sorry it led to so much pain for you. And I—“ He looked away. His hand twitched, as if reaching for me before he thought better of it. "I wish it hadn't." (333)
"Kyrene, meet Alric." He paused, just for a split second, the next words heavy despite his forced nonchalance: "This is my brother" (336)
"Careful, Septimus," I said. "You're talking like a hero." (347)
“he was magnificent. No—he was monstrous. He didn't even have a sword. He wielded blood and bodies like they were fine instruments, primed to be used against themselves.” (361)
“I was afraid. I was afraid of this curse. I was afraid that it had already taken something that would never come back. But I was not afraid of him.” (354-375)
“After all of this, after I had damned him and betrayed him and lied to him, he still reached for me.” (430)
"You say that you came back because it's what the hero would have done," he said. "But the only person I see here is you." (465)
“I began to unbutton his shirt, but he caught my hand. “You are about to see something that I have never let anyone else witness.”
I chuckled. “Full of yourself, aren’t you?”(465)
That’s not what he meant 🥀
“You’ve won, lyri,” he ground out “If I’m your mark you’ve taken me long ago” (479)
"Ready to fly, dove?" (496) her calling him dove 🥰
“his hand slid up my back, squeezing my shoulder. A reminder that we started this together, and we would finish it together, too.” (503)
“Just as he had told himself he did not believe in fairy tales, but read them every night, anyway.” (511)
“It occurred to me that it really could be beautiful, that blood. Red and black intertwined, like hands threading together.”
“what a curse to be so deathless." (520)
“You are perfect.” (523) started crying when I read this omg
“wish I could give you more than an end, lyri. I wanted to. I wanted to." (523)
⚠️ 𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐒 ⚠️
only read this if you’ve read the entire book
𝐊𝐲𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞 🗡️
I feel like I’m so used to characters secretly being lost princesses or being special because of some innate magic, I was worried with the “chosen one” trope it would be like this, but Kyrene completely comes from nothing and builds herself into someone really powerful. Her character development is so well done, she reminded me a little bit of Aelin with how she never gives up with anything. I really liked how her and Septimus worked together. It was really interesting seeing all the other characters from her perspective. I also loved how action packed the story was with all the fighting scenes, I low-key think she’s my new favorite fmc character in this series.
𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐲 😘
Maybe unpopular opinion: from the start I’ve always really liked Septimus, when this book was announced I knew he’d probably be a favorite. He reminded me of Jacks (OUABH) and Lestat (IWTV) both morally questionable hot blonde vampire guys. I always felt like he was more of a caricature in the earlier books, but this one gave him so much more nuance and made him feel three-dimensional. I really hope there’s a novella of with parts of his childhood, I’m super curious how he was raised and what his relationship was like with his brothers. He was pretty funny and I’m glad he got so many cool moments. I feel like we’re so used to the guy being the fighter or protector, so I really liked that his strength came more from his magic and wit while Kyrene’s came from her fighting.
𝐒 + 𝐊
I loved Septimus and Kyrenes relationship and how it developes, when I heard this book was “super dark and spicy” I was worried it would be just kinda cringe and lustful but it’s definitely a very slow burn. They don’t even kiss until like 400+ pages in
I get annoyed when love interests argue for basically no reason (cough cough Voilet and Xaden) but anytime Kyrene and Septimus were mad at each other it was always pretty justified—and they always ended up talking afterwards like adults (Rebecca Yarros please take notes) I think it’s so dumb that in a lot of books when one character betrays the other they hold it against for hundreds of pages, (bridge Kingdom 🙄) just bc the author wants to delay them being together but when Kyrene betrays Septimus they’re able to move on after she explains everything.
I also liked how there wasn’t a huge power imbalance between them. Septimus hiring Kyrene for a job could’ve made for a creepy boss x employee relationship but once they excape Egrette’s kingdom, they’re basically just partners working together for the rest of the book.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐬
Ik you can technically read this as a standalone but it’s sooo much better if you’ve read the other books, so many of the important characters are from the previous books. It was interesting seeing the characters we already knew: Slyina, Atrius, Erekkus 💔
I also liked the new characters, I was super curious that Septimus has a sister and was worried she wouldn’t be in this but I’m glad she was included. I liked most of Kyrenes friends but really liked Valentina in particular bc she added so much to Kyrenes character development. I kind of have mixed feelings about Zefiah, I know she was supposed to be sassy, but I feel like most of the time she was just mean to Kyrene.
Omg I feel so bad for Oraya but it was kinda hilarious how much she gets her ass kicked. Imagining Oraya seeing Septimus and the Vindica Ultis getting along must have been so weird lmao. (I’m pretty sure there’s a special edition with an Oraya chapter in her pov so I’ll def be looking forward to that) also Kyrene and Septimus literally get freaky for the first time RIGHT after Kyrene leaves Oraya for dead, they were still in the temple, so Oraya could have literally come back at any moment 😭
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞
There is a LOT of repetition, the phrase “like shattered glass” was used to describe SO many things. There was also a time when Kyrene is fighting where she looks to Septimus and it says “he was no longer smirking” when she had looked at him multiple times before this, and he was not smirking! Another time Septimus mentions giving her food or feeding her offhandedly like they had done that even though that had literally never happened so it seemed like there was a scene that was cut out maybe and then they just left all of those lines in. SO many chapters end with “then there was nothing”. All in all an amazing book but it needs a little editing.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
What was that bro 🙏🏻
That plot twist was shocking and SO well done, genuinely thought that was going in a completely different direction. I was glad that more things got resolved than I expected but how tf am I supposed to wait for the next book?? I listen to the audiobook, partly, and Septimus’s narration at the end was a jump scare. His voice was a literal Dracula voice. Also I was so happy when I thought it was Seppy coming back but it was just Atrius 😒
𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬
“Vampires were all beautiful, but this was one of the prettiest I'd ever seen.” (34)
“She loved this. Because Shiket was the goddess of vengeance, and vengeance was useless with nothing to avenge.” (89)
“Sometimes, I could understand why vampires saw us as animals. Because the sounds that humans made when they were locked up with their own inevitable demise were the same ones that animals made at the slaughterhouse.” (180)
“I shrugged. "No great loss. Not much beauty left in this world, anyway.”
Septimus's gaze lowered, dancing over my body before returning to my face—so quick that perhaps I might have missed it if I hadn't been watching him so closely.” (209)
"You hired me because I'm very good at what I do, Seppy.” (223) SEPPY 🙏🏻
“a bit wrinkled at the collar and the cuffs, like he'd been fidgeting with it.” (237) awww 🥰
"You came to a seedy pleasure house in the middle of nowhere and then left your god-forged sword alone in your room?”
Oh, I didn't appreciate that judgmental tone.
"She didn't go with the outfit," I ground out.” (245)
"We all have bad dreams, lyri, I prefer to replace mine with better endings, even if books are the only place left to find them." (256)
"I know what I see when I look at you. But none of those qualities, admirable as they are, are ones typically appreciated by the gods." (259)
“in this pained, messy version of Septimus, I saw myself. I saw more of myself than I had ever seen in another person.” (274)
"It would have been a girl," Ix said softly. "A beautiful little girl. And she would have looked just like you. She would have thrived" (289)
“he had always seemed so inhumanly beautiful, and yet now. I was struck by all the fascinating imperfect edges of his appearance. The only solid thing in a world of dreams.” (291)
"Let us dispose of your captor, and-"
I stepped in front of Septimus.
"No," I said quickly. Then slower, "No. I would like to keep him." (291)
"You would have destroyed your daughter, just like you destroyed the other” (298)
“He had dragged her to me, I thought dimly. Even though he was on the edge of death himself.” (304) awwwww
“Wheres Septimus?" I gridded out.
She sighed. "Sun take me, don't give him the satisfaction of finding out those were your first words. He'll be insufferable."
Somewhere behind me, another door opened. "Too late." (317)
“one by one, all my older brothers fell—to failure or carelessness or bad fucking luck. But not me. This ends with me." (324)
“Surely you cannot think that your aloof act is all that good, lyri. Because anyone who is with you for any stretch would quickly learn that you're far more than that." (325)
“It's selfish that I care what you think of me, after everything I've done. But I want you to know why I did this. I want you to know that I’m sorry it led to so much pain for you. And I—“ He looked away. His hand twitched, as if reaching for me before he thought better of it. "I wish it hadn't." (333)
"Kyrene, meet Alric." He paused, just for a split second, the next words heavy despite his forced nonchalance: "This is my brother" (336)
"Careful, Septimus," I said. "You're talking like a hero." (347)
“he was magnificent. No—he was monstrous. He didn't even have a sword. He wielded blood and bodies like they were fine instruments, primed to be used against themselves.” (361)
“I was afraid. I was afraid of this curse. I was afraid that it had already taken something that would never come back. But I was not afraid of him.” (354-375)
“After all of this, after I had damned him and betrayed him and lied to him, he still reached for me.” (430)
"You say that you came back because it's what the hero would have done," he said. "But the only person I see here is you." (465)
“I began to unbutton his shirt, but he caught my hand. “You are about to see something that I have never let anyone else witness.”
I chuckled. “Full of yourself, aren’t you?”(465)
That’s not what he meant 🥀
“You’ve won, lyri,” he ground out “If I’m your mark you’ve taken me long ago” (479)
"Ready to fly, dove?" (496) her calling him dove 🥰
“his hand slid up my back, squeezing my shoulder. A reminder that we started this together, and we would finish it together, too.” (503)
“Just as he had told himself he did not believe in fairy tales, but read them every night, anyway.” (511)
“It occurred to me that it really could be beautiful, that blood. Red and black intertwined, like hands threading together.”
“what a curse to be so deathless." (520)
“You are perfect.” (523) started crying when I read this omg
“wish I could give you more than an end, lyri. I wanted to. I wanted to." (523)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2026
The first book of this series that I’ve rated with 4 stars… all the rest, 5 stars. For me, this sounds more like an extra book, like Slaying the Vampire Conqueror, but not as good. I wouldn’t have put this one as the first book in the last duology. It isn’t a bad read, but it’s not what I was expecting for one of my most anticipated reads.
Want to Read
August 10, 2025I just finished the fourth book and now we have an announcement for the fifth book🙈😱
August 10, 2026
Carissa did it again!
A fast-paced, intriguing, emotional, and witty book with 2 MCs that gave me bi-panic 😅
This series just keeps getting better and better if that is possible because it was perfection since the first duology (so happy to see my babygirl Oraya being a badass queen in this one, even if an antagonist).
I fangirled so hard at every cameo or appearance of characters from the previous books, I hope the last installment does a big Avengers Endgame moment and everyone teams up to defeat the big baddie.
I love how the lore gets richer, the world building more intricate. For example, the bloodborn curse and the reason why Nyaxia did it was intriguing and not at all what I expected.
Septimus and Kyrene are exactly the reason why I read romantasy. Their banter was top tier, the way they came closer (and yes, their spicy tension too, good lord 🥵).
They were fleshed out, well developed, and we saw their arcs progress and eventually converge. I liked that we didn't have a Septimus pov in this book, it kept his mysterious allure and ulterior motives hidden, but I hope the next one will be dual pov.
Honorable mention for Zefiah, she's a God tier sentient object, in the company of Mort from ToG
I did not expect some major plot twists, I thoroughly enjoyed being surprised because, let's be honest, sometimes romantasy can get repetitive or predictable.
I cannot wait for the last book of the series, I know it's gonna be epic, but also bittersweet... I hope Broadbent will revisit the world of Nyaxia at some point.
A fast-paced, intriguing, emotional, and witty book with 2 MCs that gave me bi-panic 😅
This series just keeps getting better and better if that is possible because it was perfection since the first duology (so happy to see my babygirl Oraya being a badass queen in this one, even if an antagonist).
I fangirled so hard at every cameo or appearance of characters from the previous books, I hope the last installment does a big Avengers Endgame moment and everyone teams up to defeat the big baddie.
I love how the lore gets richer, the world building more intricate. For example, the bloodborn curse and the reason why Nyaxia did it was intriguing and not at all what I expected.
Septimus and Kyrene are exactly the reason why I read romantasy. Their banter was top tier, the way they came closer (and yes, their spicy tension too, good lord 🥵).
They were fleshed out, well developed, and we saw their arcs progress and eventually converge. I liked that we didn't have a Septimus pov in this book, it kept his mysterious allure and ulterior motives hidden, but I hope the next one will be dual pov.
Honorable mention for Zefiah, she's a God tier sentient object, in the company of Mort from ToG
I did not expect some major plot twists, I thoroughly enjoyed being surprised because, let's be honest, sometimes romantasy can get repetitive or predictable.
I cannot wait for the last book of the series, I know it's gonna be epic, but also bittersweet... I hope Broadbent will revisit the world of Nyaxia at some point.
August 8, 2026
The night that she became a divine hero, the girl was covered in blood. Some of it was hers. Most of it was not.
4.5 ★
This book raised my blood pressure and triggered my anxiety, but it reminded me exactly why I fell in love with this series. It was such a wild ride from start to end (the stakes are SO HIGH), but it’s a beautifully, cleverly executed story and I wouldn’t change anything about it. I love that we can see all the pieces that were laid in place to get the characters to this moment.
This duet gives us a new point of view, taking us to a world hungry for vengeance and blood. We’re no longer on the brink of a war, we’re fully in it, and hope is a fragile thing, easily shattered by powerful hands. There are no heroes left in the end, only monsters.
Septimus is the common thread that binds all the duets together and I’ve been eagerly anticipating seeing him as a protagonist. He’s had many faces throughout the series, and has taken on various roles, but to truly see him as he is for the first time felt akin to a holy sighting. Not a villain, certainly a schemer, perhaps a bit of a monster, a true mastermind, but definitely someone worth having by your side.
Female rage is a powerful thing and Kyrene has it in spades. She’s beautifully flawed - reckless and oftentimes brash, but a lioness nevertheless. Her past is a heavy burden, her grief a noose around her neck, but her pain fuelled anger helped her survive.
In a world consumed by anger and revenge, there are tiny little cracks where tenderness blooms. Septimus and Kyrene’s alliance is born from a common goal, but it slowly, painstakingly slowly, turns into something more. Before they even acknowledged it, it was already there for everyone to see. The way they cared for each other and fought together until the end was achingly beautiful to witness.
As it is to be expected in this series, there are plot twists, betrayals, lots of angst, and a devastating cliffhanger that makes one want to scream into the void until the next book magically appears. I’m eagerly anticipating the last book in the series, but I’m not ready to say goodbye to this world.
🗡️🗡️🗡️
The blade glowed gently. The girl felt it in her heart. Light, in freshly eternal darkness. Warmth, in an endless cold night.
It was like looking into a mirror. It scared me, actually scared me, how deeply I saw myself in that expression.
“We all have bad dreams, Lyri. I prefer to replace mine with better endings, even if books are the only place left to find them.”
The gods loved us when it suited them. Resented us when it didn’t. And it was so very easy to wipe us away once we stopped being useful.
Funny how we all hold on to things that hurt us. Markers of those who saw us as a savior.
A smile bloomed over his mouth. Not a smirk, but an actual smile—slowly, like the unfurling of a blossom in the springtime, rare and precious and the kind of beautiful that felt like a stolen gift.
It was just me, and Septimus, and all our wants, so close and so far away. Finding in each other depraved pleasure in a depraved world.
“I’m so angry, Kyrene,” he breathed. “And I should be angry at you. I know it, just as I know you. I know that you’ve wanted to cut out my heart from the first minute we met. Well, you’ve gotten your wish. You have it, and I don’t even mind. My chest is wide open, and all I want to do is lick the blood from your fingers and offer you more.”
I wondered if anyone in my entire life had ever looked at me like this. Not with the reverence of a divine warrior. Not with the disgust of a shameless bounty hunter. But honest, genuine affection for exactly who I was.
4.5 ★
This book raised my blood pressure and triggered my anxiety, but it reminded me exactly why I fell in love with this series. It was such a wild ride from start to end (the stakes are SO HIGH), but it’s a beautifully, cleverly executed story and I wouldn’t change anything about it. I love that we can see all the pieces that were laid in place to get the characters to this moment.
This duet gives us a new point of view, taking us to a world hungry for vengeance and blood. We’re no longer on the brink of a war, we’re fully in it, and hope is a fragile thing, easily shattered by powerful hands. There are no heroes left in the end, only monsters.
Septimus is the common thread that binds all the duets together and I’ve been eagerly anticipating seeing him as a protagonist. He’s had many faces throughout the series, and has taken on various roles, but to truly see him as he is for the first time felt akin to a holy sighting. Not a villain, certainly a schemer, perhaps a bit of a monster, a true mastermind, but definitely someone worth having by your side.
Female rage is a powerful thing and Kyrene has it in spades. She’s beautifully flawed - reckless and oftentimes brash, but a lioness nevertheless. Her past is a heavy burden, her grief a noose around her neck, but her pain fuelled anger helped her survive.
In a world consumed by anger and revenge, there are tiny little cracks where tenderness blooms. Septimus and Kyrene’s alliance is born from a common goal, but it slowly, painstakingly slowly, turns into something more. Before they even acknowledged it, it was already there for everyone to see. The way they cared for each other and fought together until the end was achingly beautiful to witness.
As it is to be expected in this series, there are plot twists, betrayals, lots of angst, and a devastating cliffhanger that makes one want to scream into the void until the next book magically appears. I’m eagerly anticipating the last book in the series, but I’m not ready to say goodbye to this world.
🗡️🗡️🗡️
The blade glowed gently. The girl felt it in her heart. Light, in freshly eternal darkness. Warmth, in an endless cold night.
It was like looking into a mirror. It scared me, actually scared me, how deeply I saw myself in that expression.
“We all have bad dreams, Lyri. I prefer to replace mine with better endings, even if books are the only place left to find them.”
The gods loved us when it suited them. Resented us when it didn’t. And it was so very easy to wipe us away once we stopped being useful.
Funny how we all hold on to things that hurt us. Markers of those who saw us as a savior.
A smile bloomed over his mouth. Not a smirk, but an actual smile—slowly, like the unfurling of a blossom in the springtime, rare and precious and the kind of beautiful that felt like a stolen gift.
It was just me, and Septimus, and all our wants, so close and so far away. Finding in each other depraved pleasure in a depraved world.
“I’m so angry, Kyrene,” he breathed. “And I should be angry at you. I know it, just as I know you. I know that you’ve wanted to cut out my heart from the first minute we met. Well, you’ve gotten your wish. You have it, and I don’t even mind. My chest is wide open, and all I want to do is lick the blood from your fingers and offer you more.”
I wondered if anyone in my entire life had ever looked at me like this. Not with the reverence of a divine warrior. Not with the disgust of a shameless bounty hunter. But honest, genuine affection for exactly who I was.
August 27, 2026
I was so disappointed with The Shadowborn Duet but this one was just awesome! I mean I got what I wished for since book one for the most part 😂
When it comes to our main duo. I agree with everyone that Kyrene was an acquired taste but she grew on me. I could understand her reasoning, at least sometimes. Now when it comes to Septimus... I'm sold! 💜 Morally grey is my favorite shade of color when it comes to MMC 🤣 I'm not sure yet if I like him more that Raihn.
I'm very curious how the next book is going to turn out, considering all those plot twists!
September 1, 2026
Kyrene got her ass handed to her the whole entire book. I'm not quite sure how she survived. It was literally just spite keeping her going, lol. 😅
On a serious note, this was the saddest, most gruesome, and frankly darkest book I've read from Carissa. I was emotionally devastated over and over again. It was just loss after loss. Seeing Oraya again in a role I didn't expect to see her playing really surprised me! I know her Septimus weren't on good terms and I love her, but am I going to have to choose a side? I hope not. Reading that last chapter hurt a whole lot. Whew. 😭 I needed the next book like yesterday.
On a serious note, this was the saddest, most gruesome, and frankly darkest book I've read from Carissa. I was emotionally devastated over and over again. It was just loss after loss. Seeing Oraya again in a role I didn't expect to see her playing really surprised me! I know her Septimus weren't on good terms and I love her, but am I going to have to choose a side? I hope not. Reading that last chapter hurt a whole lot. Whew. 😭 I needed the next book like yesterday.
August 4, 2026
this is by far the best crowns of nyaxia book to date. i'll be the first to say that i liked the first duet enough, and wasn't the biggest fan of the second, but this one pulls everything together in such a satisfying way. i love both septimus and kyrene as characters, and their romance develops so well.
it does, however, have some hints of the repetition i noticed in the first two duets (the second especially), but not nearly to the same degree.
i am beyond eagerly anticipating book 2 to this duet, and part 1 of this book is genuinely insane.
**thank you to Bramble for the ARC copy**
it does, however, have some hints of the repetition i noticed in the first two duets (the second especially), but not nearly to the same degree.
i am beyond eagerly anticipating book 2 to this duet, and part 1 of this book is genuinely insane.
**thank you to Bramble for the ARC copy**
August 27, 2026
“And yet… what is the value of a final act of selflessness?”
After 2 completed duets and 2 novellas I can finally read about Septimus, the character that stood out to me from the first book in this universe. Not even 100 pages in and I was bawling my eyes out. I’m obviously a massive Carissa Broadbent fan and I’ve read every single one of her books and honestly each new release instantly becomes my favorite. Something about her prose and just story structure in general truly reaches my soul.
“Inspiration wasn’t the only thing that would strike him.”
Waiting all this time for his books did not disappoint. Of course he wears slutty little silver rimmed glasses. And of course his personality is exactly what I expected it to be.
“He seemed like the kind of being whose entire existence was limited to turning up at inconvenient times and smirking conspiratorially.” A-fucking-men girl.
Both Septimus and Kyrene were more than what I expected them to be. They’re the most complex characters introduced so far and the 530 pages was not enough and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to wait an entire year?? While I like the cast, it’s the world itself and the plot that keeps me in a chokehold with this series. I’m not sure if it’s because of the constant changing of povs between the duologies and novellas, or just the progression of the overarching storyline, but The crowns of Nyaxia has me in a mental prison I don’t even want to escape.
I honestly have no more words or ideas on how to praise this further. I like a writer who can make me care about apparently the most insignificant characters, and it was the interludes that broke me the most in this one. And seeing everything come together and details meshing all the way from book 1, there’s no better feeling. What I definitely recommend is reading Slaying the vampire conqueror before this if you somehow haven’t yet. First of all it’s a good book, second of all the characters are actually important to the story and there are certain events that happen that definitely need that background.
6 glorious stars this is now my favorite CB book. And I’m 💯 sure I’ve said that about every new one and I’m also sure it will change when the final installment is released. Which I’m super excited about but also I am not ready to let go?????
After 2 completed duets and 2 novellas I can finally read about Septimus, the character that stood out to me from the first book in this universe. Not even 100 pages in and I was bawling my eyes out. I’m obviously a massive Carissa Broadbent fan and I’ve read every single one of her books and honestly each new release instantly becomes my favorite. Something about her prose and just story structure in general truly reaches my soul.
“Inspiration wasn’t the only thing that would strike him.”
Waiting all this time for his books did not disappoint. Of course he wears slutty little silver rimmed glasses. And of course his personality is exactly what I expected it to be.
“He seemed like the kind of being whose entire existence was limited to turning up at inconvenient times and smirking conspiratorially.” A-fucking-men girl.
Both Septimus and Kyrene were more than what I expected them to be. They’re the most complex characters introduced so far and the 530 pages was not enough and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to wait an entire year?? While I like the cast, it’s the world itself and the plot that keeps me in a chokehold with this series. I’m not sure if it’s because of the constant changing of povs between the duologies and novellas, or just the progression of the overarching storyline, but The crowns of Nyaxia has me in a mental prison I don’t even want to escape.
I honestly have no more words or ideas on how to praise this further. I like a writer who can make me care about apparently the most insignificant characters, and it was the interludes that broke me the most in this one. And seeing everything come together and details meshing all the way from book 1, there’s no better feeling. What I definitely recommend is reading Slaying the vampire conqueror before this if you somehow haven’t yet. First of all it’s a good book, second of all the characters are actually important to the story and there are certain events that happen that definitely need that background.
6 glorious stars this is now my favorite CB book. And I’m 💯 sure I’ve said that about every new one and I’m also sure it will change when the final installment is released. Which I’m super excited about but also I am not ready to let go?????
July 29, 2026
This book secured itself a spot in my top reads of the year. I couldn’t be more OBSESSED. Thank you so much, @torbooks, for gifting me a copy 😭
To start, this is book 5 in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. But each set in the series is a duet (books 1 & 2, books 3 & 4, and eventually books 5 & 6), so this book is the penultimate book in the series. That said, and from the Queen’s mouth herself (@carissabroadbentbooks), this book was written from the POV of a new character, so the world is revealed through her eyes. I think you’d have no issue whatsoever reading this book without reading any others, although you’d be missing fun context. But I’m OF COURSE going to recommend you start from the beginning because this is one of my favorite series ever.
This book is MUCH grittier and darker than its predecessors, and I was here for it. I’d even say this is horror-adjacent fantasy (I’m sure someone has a better term for it than me), because there are many horror elements included. This book packs a SERIOUS punch early on and absolutely never stops. A rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish and in typical Carissa Broadbent fashion, just go in expecting the end to completely gut you. 😩💔
I need to talk about two of my favorite characters ever ever ever. I loved Kyrene immediately. She is unapologetically fierce and independent, yet also a bit of a hot mess (relatable). But her growth trajectory was powerful and emotional to watch. And phewww 😮💨 what can I say about my man Septimus?! After seeing his character appear in the other books never thought I would say this, but he 👏🏻 is 👏🏻 easily 👏🏻 my 👏🏻 favorite 👏🏻 I adored him!! Masterful storytelling taking this villainous character and unraveling him in this book so that readers not only sympathize with his backstory, but understand him. Context you will only fully grasp if you read the whole series 😉 I’m a Septimus lover FOR LIFE.
Ugh, this is a book I could gush on and on about! I finished last night and it will be living rent free in my head for a long time. Could not possibly love it more.
To start, this is book 5 in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. But each set in the series is a duet (books 1 & 2, books 3 & 4, and eventually books 5 & 6), so this book is the penultimate book in the series. That said, and from the Queen’s mouth herself (@carissabroadbentbooks), this book was written from the POV of a new character, so the world is revealed through her eyes. I think you’d have no issue whatsoever reading this book without reading any others, although you’d be missing fun context. But I’m OF COURSE going to recommend you start from the beginning because this is one of my favorite series ever.
This book is MUCH grittier and darker than its predecessors, and I was here for it. I’d even say this is horror-adjacent fantasy (I’m sure someone has a better term for it than me), because there are many horror elements included. This book packs a SERIOUS punch early on and absolutely never stops. A rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish and in typical Carissa Broadbent fashion, just go in expecting the end to completely gut you. 😩💔
I need to talk about two of my favorite characters ever ever ever. I loved Kyrene immediately. She is unapologetically fierce and independent, yet also a bit of a hot mess (relatable). But her growth trajectory was powerful and emotional to watch. And phewww 😮💨 what can I say about my man Septimus?! After seeing his character appear in the other books never thought I would say this, but he 👏🏻 is 👏🏻 easily 👏🏻 my 👏🏻 favorite 👏🏻 I adored him!! Masterful storytelling taking this villainous character and unraveling him in this book so that readers not only sympathize with his backstory, but understand him. Context you will only fully grasp if you read the whole series 😉 I’m a Septimus lover FOR LIFE.
Ugh, this is a book I could gush on and on about! I finished last night and it will be living rent free in my head for a long time. Could not possibly love it more.
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