From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
Praise for The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King:
“Broadbent builds realistic and gripping tension as Raihn and Oraya navigate the roles of rivals, lovers, and potentially co-rulers… There’s plenty here to sink one’s teeth into.” – Publishers Weekly
Praise for the Crowns of Nyaxia series:
“Fans of dark romantasy won’t want to miss this.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review
“[A] haunting, action-packed political fantasy with a doomed romance at its center, full of heartbreak and intrigue.”– Library Journal, starred review
“Vampire romance lovers will drink this series down to the last drop.”– POPSUGAR, “The 18 Best Fantasy Romance Books”
“Danger, intrigue and a hell of a lot of blood are splashed across the pages of Carissa Broadbent’s gripping fantasy romance” – Bookpage
“A heart-pounding, ultra-slow-burn romance.” – Bustle
“Slow burn that pays off” – Vulture, “12 Romantasy Authors to Know”
“Carissa Broadbent’s The Serpent and the Wings of Night has all the fun of A Court of Thorns and Roses, but it will also appeal to Twilight fans.” – Insider
“This suspenseful, unputdownable novel is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games ― with a fantastical vampire twist!” – Woman’s World
“If you are a fan of dangerous fantasy worlds, bloodthirsty vampires, swoon worthy romance and a completely terrifying deadly competition, The Serpent and the Wings of Night is going to be a book you will love.” – Book Briefs
“Unputdownable!” – FIRST for Women
freya.nightwolf –
I loved this book so much. I can’t put it into words. Simply PERFECTION. I see I have a pattern of having the second book of a series becoming my favorite book :))) and I can see why. “The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King” is my favorite book of this year so far.This review contains some spoilers. For the ones that haven’t read the first book but heard and read other reviews, my review might have spoilers.This book broke my heart and restored and broke it again and patched it back up. The pace is perfect. It has a lot of action, A LOT (which is perfect for me). The world-building is intertwined with the plot twists and every time you find something new. The history of the characters is beautifully written, and every time you find something new about them, you get to understand them more (Vincent’s actions for example).The romance is perfect. I love Raihn and Oraya, and I think with the betrayal in the first book, they got a second chance in this one: to really know each other, to understand each other, and most importantly, to accept each other with their vulnerabilities, griefs, and past. To give themselves a second chance at happiness and to be willing to risk anything and everything for one another.I love Carissa’s writing a lot, and the way she put the “Interludes” there is perfect. The way she created this world and the interactions between characters are perfect. I loved the side characters. Vale, Lilith, and Mische are my favorites from their inner circle. I would’ve loved to see more of them, but we got a full book for Vale and Lilith (Six Scorched Roses), and I have a feeling we will see more of Mische in future books/duologies.The backstory of Vincent is just wow, and I’m so happy that, even if power was still a priority to him, he still gave himself a chance to feel something different, something that changes his heart. The moment he found Oraya, we get his perspective of how things went out, and what he felt in those moments is perfectly written. Maybe he didn’t know how to show Oraya his love, but he damned well loved her, and I think he “trapped” her in her weaknesses because he was scared that one day he will lose her. And for his “immortal” life, the death of someone who allowed himself to love, will literally kill him and make him an even more dangerous thing to everyone. No matter what everyone will say about Vincent, good or bad, he made Oraya strong and gave her the tools to protect herself and believe in herself. He did love her and he showed her that in his own way.Septimus is the same slime bastard, even worst. I didn’t like Simon one bit, but the atrocities that Septimus did to him… literally turned him into a monster, a killing machine. I don’t know about the next books, but I think Septimus will remain the worst of all the worst.I can’t wait to see what Nyaxia will be preparing for them, but I think it will be ugly. I hope the other Gods will take their heads from their asses and do something other than nothing (something for the greater good, not something worse). The fighting scenes are incredibly written, and if for humans and vampires is this well written, I would love to see how the gods would fight.Now. I agree will all the readers of this book. CHAPTERS 44-45 killed me!!! Fans of ACOMAF, you better read this series and you will find yourselves another two chapters that will stick in your heads for eternity. The emotions and the passion in those chapters are perfect!!!! For me, chapter 63 is also a killer. No boundaries, no regrets, only pure love, and everything was written on their faces, on their bodies, on their movements, in their eyes. I actually think I love this chapter more than 44-45 because they let down their guards, even if they aren’t saying the words. The emotions are much bigger than the words.Also, the history of Oraya’s mother is heartbreaking. I really wished that she somehow survived, but if this was the case, Oraya would’ve been too distract by the situation they were in.EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED FROM CHAPTER 74 AND ON KILLED ME!!!! I screamed and cried and cursed Nyaxia and then cried again and then screamed for happiness. This whole book is a masterpiece and a rollercoaster. From the first page till the last. Everything is perfect.Thank you Carissa for creating this amazing world. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.
Sharayah Bunce –
Frustratingly interesting and a definite page turner for being so (occasionally) poorly executed. I wish the “reveals” happened more over time rather than explaining things in the moment. I feel like a lot of exposition was happening in the moments when we are learning something that the characters **already know** about their world, that the world building is like “oh yeah you should probably know this so that this big reveal is exciting” rather than learning it in advance and then enjoying that “reveal” later. Other than that, the story is good and interesting and it’s got gripping characters. I did enjoy it and obviously gave it 4 stars haha! Just noticing the lack of world building, which I know is hard to do anyway.
Felicia Ford –
The second book may be better than the first. The author manages to keep the plot flowing and keep the pacing perfect. The writing style of this author is so easy to read and really allows me to feel to characters. It’s hard for romance and action to be split well and only a few series can do it with success and this is one of them. I really liked that she was able to keep the tension between the characters without making it feel strained just to be strained. The storyline is unique and kept me guessing on what was going to happen next.
Christine Schuman –
The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King ,pulls you in with its rich characters and captivating plot. The world-building is top-notch, making the magical and intriguing world feel real. However, the story hits a bump with a key “sacrifice” that throws off the momentum. It feels abrupt, almost like the author lost their way a bit. Despite this, it’s still a great read for fantasy fans who love complex characters and detailed worlds, even if the sacrifice scene might leave you a bit disappointed.
Emily –
I’m not sure if it’s the seller of the item or if all the books but I didn’t know I prefer thicker paper till I received this book.It’s a great story I listened to the first one, love the plot an the main characters being rivals to lovers an lovers to rivals only half way done but otherwise story is great
Practical –
I was a little worried about reading the second book, as I read many negative comments about it. I loved it. I like to see the story through the eyes of Oraya and Raihn. I feel that the story follows a normal development. If anyone has been betrayed and loved they can understand the turmoil. The emotions are real and as much as one of them can use words it is nice to see how someone cannot express all of their emotions. I also had the audio book and both voices are very nice. The use of F… and other, i feel had more justification than in the first book. Overall both of these books were good and really a third one could be added!
BeaWilson –
Carissa Broadbent’s The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King is an exceptional romantasy that masterfully blends mystery, action, and romance. This book captivated me from start to finish with its intricate plot and richly developed characters.The story’s tropes-mystery, action, groveling, and lovers-to-enemies-to-allies-to-lovers-are executed perfectly, creating a compelling and dynamic narrative. The slow burn romance is beautifully paced, adding depth and intensity to the characters’ relationships. The twists and turns kept me hooked, never knowing what to expect next.One of the standout aspects of this book is the emotional growth of the female main character (FMC). Her journey is both beautiful and heartbreaking, culminating in an ending that showcases her strength and development. The dual POV provides a deeper understanding of both protagonists, enhancing the emotional impact of their story.The world-building continues to grow perfectly, expanding on the universe introduced in the previous book. Broadbent’s attention to detail and vivid descriptions create an immersive reading experience. I was very satisfied with the ending, which tied up the story’s threads in a satisfying and emotionally resonant way.In summary, The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King is a brilliant romantasy filled with mystery, action, and emotional depth.The beautifully crafted narrative, combined with well-developed characters and a richly imagined world, makes this book a must-read for fans of the genre.
Reed –
Ohraya and Rahian faced many dangers and fought together And killed many lives in the hopes of freeing their people, Ohraya didn’t know the power that she had or that she was Vincent’s daughter. She struggled so much with her memory of her father, and that he took care of her but yet he kept so many secrets from her and kept her weak but yet she still loved him. The story continues with the battles and not having enough soldiers to fight Ohraya learning that she has wings and learns to fly When Rahine pushes her off the tower and she thought she was gonna die and that he was the one who killed her, but she took off and flew at the last minute and had beautiful wings like Vincent had, which was very surprising to her She has so much power in her veins that she never knew she had and her blood is powerful but the confidence and the man of her heart That she fought against thought about killing than hating to being everything in her world that she had begged so many times, to save his life. They became one soul, and they both realized how much they needed each other to face anything that came their way. This is excellent saga worth every book.
Kristen –
????? ??? ? ??? ???? ?????????, ?????????, ???????? ????? ??’? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ????. — ?????I am so freaking glad that I returned to Raihn and Oraya. I freaking loved rereading story again. And I cannot wait for The Songbird and the Heart of Stone! I’m so glad we get to see so much more of our girl Mische.? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????✍? ??????? ?????????“??? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???. ??? ?? ????? ???? ????, ???? ????, ???? ?????. ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??????? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ?????. ?? ? ???? ?? ???, ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ?? ???? ????. ??????.”— ???????????: ?????? ?? ???????ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇʀᴘᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴɢꜱ ᴏꜰ ɴɪɢʜᴛ #1 (ᴏʀᴀʏᴀ x ʀᴀɪʜɴ)?ꜱɪx ꜱᴄᴏʀᴄʜᴇᴅ ʀᴏꜱᴇꜱ #1.5 (ʟɪʟɪᴛʜ x ᴠᴀʟᴇ)?ᴛʜᴇ ᴀꜱʜᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀ-ᴄᴜʀꜱᴇᴅ ᴋɪɴɢ #2 (ᴏʀᴀʏᴀ x ʀᴀɪʜɴ)?ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏɴɢʙɪʀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴛᴏɴᴇ #3 (ᴍɪꜱᴄʜᴇ x ᴀꜱᴀʀ)?ᴛʙᴅ?ᴛʙᴅ?ᴛʙᴅ??????? ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ? ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ? ᴠᴀᴍᴘɪʀᴇꜱ? ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ꜰᴍᴄ? ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ? ᴅᴜᴀʟ ᴘᴏᴠ? ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ? ?????? ?⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⚠️ ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ?? ???? ?. ?? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ?????’? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ?????We pick up in this book with Oraya dealing with the betrayal of Raihn. There are reasons behind this betrayal obviously, but we see how much that has taken a toll on Oraya. Who has always been hard of trusting anyway.?? ???????? ??? ?? ????????. ?? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ? ??? ???? ?????. ??? ?? ???? ?? ??? ????. ??? ??????. ??? ???? ? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ???, ???? ?? ?????????, ???? ?? ??????. — ?????She also comes to new realizations about who Vincent is as the father and who Vincent is as the King. Which she did battle with in book one, but now that we know that she truly is his daughter, biologically and not adopted as she once thought— this brings out a slew of raging emotions. And we see her struggle with that line of love and hate for him.Which brings me to Vincent. I love this character. Who he was as a king, is less than desired. But he truly did love Oraya with all of his heart. Did he hold her back from her full potential, yes. But this is the man he has become over centuries of life. This did not take away his love of his daughter. His memories towards the end always fills me with such emotion when I read it. And it is one of my favorite parts of this book. So, don’t come at me. But I am #TeamVincent??? ???? ?? ????. ?????? ?? ??? ????, ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????. ??? ???? ?? ????, ???. ??? ????????????. — ???????And last but not least. The love of our lives, our sweet baby Raihn. Raihn is doing what he thinks is best not only for his people but to protect Oraya. But he does come to the realization of how things ended at the Kejari and what Oraya was forced to do.“??? ??? ??? ??????. ?????. ?? ??? ?????????? ???”— ?????Raihn has always strived to uplift Oraya, and never waiver in that. Never show her pity. But forever be a pillar of strength for her to lean on, only when she needs it. Because we already know what a force she is on her own.??? ??? ????? ????’? ??????? ?????—??? ???? ? ??????????? ????? ??? ????? ??????. — ?????
Sheena –
In the way the first books ending was gut wrenching, the ending of this book was faith affirming.Many reviews will talk about how they hated Vincent, the MFC’s father, but I love him as deeply as she does. Maybe more so. Because the author did something so brilliant with this character. He was a brutal man brought up in a brutal world, but unlike every Night King that came before him, he really managed to do it. To love something more than himself, and to never despise that love. Even knowing it had every chance of unraveling all he’d sacrificed so much for.Yes, he did so many things wrong, but it is hard not to distill some of your trauma to your children. But with no template on how to do it, he loved his daughter so deeply she knew it, even if he never could allow himself to say it. That really is a miracle in the world these characters exist in, and I’m really impressed with how the author brought that duality to life and melded it in to something beautifully tragic and relatable.As for the main couple, their arc is also tragic, as is everything in this word, but this book leaves you utterly believing that love really can conquer anything if you just give yourself to it. And to watch two wounded people, who have guarded themselves so deftly from weakness, learn to find strength together in that aching vulnerability was just a work of art I’m left applauding this author for pulling off!I almost don’t want to read the next book, because I don’t want to see these two struggle anymore, but I know I will because this world is too good not to dive back into. But whatever comes next, I know these two can handle it.Bravo Carissa Broadbent! Bravo!