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Cover of The Songbird and the Heart of Stone

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone

by Carissa Broadbent

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·Crowns of Nyaxia #3
4.4 on MoodReads (4 ratings)4.0 on Goodreads (123,450)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

Mische is pure sunshine trapped in a vampire body, and Asar is a grief-hardened prince of shadows—their dynamic is the grumpy/sunshine trope executed at peak emotional devastation. The journey to the underworld gives it mythic weight, and Broadbent writes their slow thaw with aching precision.

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author and BookTok sensation Carissa Broadbent returns with a brand new novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, Songbird and the Heart of Stone , where A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Dante's Inferno , in an epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods. Features beautiful case art and a detailed map. In the descent to the underworld, a bride of the sun must choose between the light of her redemption… or a dark love that defies the gods themselves Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire – her home, her humanity, and most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who Turned her, redemption feels impossible. But when Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a past as brutal as his scars, she’s forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself. Yet, Mische’s punishment may be the key to her salvation. In a secret meeting, her sun god commands her to help Asar in his mission, only to betray him… by killing the very death god she’ll help resurrect. Mische and Asar must travel the treacherous path to the underworld, facing trials, beasts, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. Yet, most dangerous of all is the alluring call of the darkness – and her forbidden attraction to Asar, a burgeoning bond that risks invoking the wrath of gods. As her betrayal looms, the underworld closes in and angry gods are growing restless. Mische will be forced to choose between the redemption of the sun or the damnation of the darkness.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Book 3 of Crowns of Nyaxia but first of the Shadowborn Duet—new couple (Mische and Asar) so you get a fresh entry point, though prior books add context. Mische was forcibly Turned into a vampire and lost her connection to the sun god she devoted her life to. Asar is the bastard prince of the House of Shadow carrying brutal scars and heavier secrets. Their mission to the underworld to resurrect the god of death is the framework, but the real journey is two deeply traumatized people learning to trust again. Heavy content warnings—check before reading.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

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Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.04 ★ (123.5k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

498 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2024

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Fantasy Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Dual POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Ama Leigh

Narrator Count

Dual

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
enemies to loversforced proximityfated matesgrumpy sunshinemonster romanceforbidden love
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintenseepicromanticsuspensefulbroodingangstyatmospheric

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

lyricalatmosphericimmersiveemotional

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

forbidden desiremorally complex

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

sunshine/optimistsurvivorhealer

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

dark/tortured soulmorally gray MMCimmortal/ancientgod/deity

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

grumpy sunshineenemies to loversslow burnforbidden lovehurt/comfortonly soft for themreluctant allies to lovers

Spice Details 🌶️

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🌶️
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Spice Level 3

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

intense / passionateemotional

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

tensiontouch starvationlonging glancesanticipation

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

bonding/claiming/markingpossessiveprimal play (hunting/chasing)
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (13)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
child abusesexual assault (past)graphic violencetorturereligious traumadeathmurderanimal deathinfant death (off page)warcaptivitygroomingdubious consent
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

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World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

high fantasy

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

underworldroyal court / palace

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

gods/deitiesvampiresdemons

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

the angst deliveredaddictive readobsessedbook hangoverferal brain activated

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

autumn

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

at nightrainy weekend

Crowns of Nyaxia

The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1)

#1 The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1)

Six Scorched Roses

#1.5 Six Scorched Roses

The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia, #2)

#2 The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia, #2)

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror

#2.5 Slaying the Vampire Conqueror

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone

#3 The Songbird and the Heart of Stone

The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk

#4 The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk

The Lion and the Deathless Dark

#5 The Lion and the Deathless Dark

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
PagesHow long the commitment is.498
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2024
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.04 ★ (123.5k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Crowns of Nyaxia #3
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