The Songbird and the Heart of Stone: Crowns of Nyaxia, Book 3

trudiecreads

A Spellbinding Journey of Love, Power, and Sacrifice

"The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent is nothing short of extraordinary. From the very first page, I was pulled into a world filled with magic, danger, and heart-stopping emotion. Broadbent has crafted a stunning tale that is as beautifully dark as it is emotionally gripping—perfect for fans of epic fantasy with complex characters and slow-burn romance. The world-building in this book is truly immersive. Carissa Broadbent has created a world where every detail feels deliberate, from the rich lore to the political intrigue that keeps you on your toes. The setting itself feels like another character in the story, with its breathtaking landscapes and mysterious, magical elements that add a sense of wonder and tension to the plot. Whether it's the awe-inspiring castles, the dark forests, or the tension between rival factions, every element of the world feels alive and carefully woven into the narrative. The characters are what really make this story unforgettable. The protagonist, Mische, is a strong, determined heroine whose journey of self-discovery and empowerment is captivating. She’s fierce yet vulnerable, and I found myself rooting for her from start to finish. But it’s Asar—the mysterious, enigmatic love interest—that truly stole my heart. His cold exterior hides a complexity that kept me hooked, and the slow-burn romance between him and the songbird is absolutely electric. Their dynamic is full of tension, emotion, and a push-and-pull that will keep you eagerly turning the pages. What sets this book apart is the emotional depth. The themes of love, sacrifice, trust, and redemption are explored in such a way that you can’t help but feel deeply invested in the characters' journeys. There are moments that will break your heart and moments that will have you cheering for them. Broadbent doesn’t shy away from the tough choices her characters must make, and the emotional stakes feel real and powerful. The pacing is perfect—there’s just the right amount of action and introspection to keep things moving while also allowing the emotional beats to land with full impact. The plot twists are phenomenal and will leave you gasping for more. The tension between the characters, the world-building, and the unpredictable nature of the plot made it nearly impossible to put the book down. If you’re a fan of epic fantasy with complex, morally gray characters, a slow-burn romance that will have you swooning, and an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you breathless, The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is an absolute must-read. Carissa Broadbent has once again delivered a story that’s as enchanting as it is heartbreaking, and I can’t wait to see what happens next in this stunning series. ["

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September 1, 2025 Verified Purchase

Anastasia Goygova

A Beautifully Heartfelt and Soulful Read

"Wow, this book was good. It wasn’t just another fantasy romance—it was deep, emotional, and truly touched my soul. It wasn’t about passion or spice; it was about love. Real, soul-connecting, heart-wrenching love. The kind that’s raw, beautiful, and tragic all at once. The world-building was so complex and interesting, but never overwhelming. The details were rich, yet easy to follow, making it effortless to get lost in the story. While love was a big part of the book, it wasn’t the only thing. There were so many layers—adventure, sacrifice, kindness, selflessness, mistakes, and sorrow—all coming together in such a beautiful way. This book made me feel something. It wasn’t just another fantasy romance; it was thought-provoking and deeply moving. If you’re looking for a typical romance with lots of spice, this might not be your thing (there’s really only one scene like that). But if you want a story about sacrifice, connection, and the kind of love that stays with you, then The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is absolutely worth reading. ["

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April 3, 2025 Verified Purchase

Shivaani Mahabir

Heart pounding, breathtaking story from beginning to end!

"I was lazy to begin Mische’s journey since I was a bit lackluster about the first two books in the series. They were excellent by all standards, but I read them immediately after The War of Lost Hearts trilogy, which was the best fantasy series I have ever consumed. The two first books in this series following Raihn and Oraya, paled in comparison to the complexity, darkness and sheer chemistry between lead characters in The War of Lost Hearts. The stakes were also impossible to overcome in the War of Lost Hearts. I say all this to explain why this third installment is some of Carissa’s best work!!! We dive deep into the action immediately upon starting the story and it never stops being an intense ride. Twists and turns in the story, interspersed with tear jerking backstories from Mische’s life, made this novel so fleshed out and fulfilling. Even more, the chemistry between the leads was so palpable. Both characters were soft and compelling while being strong and morally grey. It was reminiscent of the part of Max’s and Tesannah’s journey that felt so real and raw to witness. Needless to say, I cannot wait for the second installment of this particular duology! It will be released in Aug 2025 and I’m counting down! It has all the potential to be even better than this book, as we anticipate more of Mische’s confidence in her power and choices, juxtaposed against Asar’s journey into his own role. Also, a favorite complex character from the first two books who made a lot of the story bearable, will be sharing a lot of page time it seems! Cannot wait! Would give this 10 stars if I could! Fantasy thriller done at its peak! ["

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January 10, 2025 Verified Purchase

Rebecca

I liked the other Crowns of Nyaxia books better

"3.25 I had a hard time getting through this book. A 417 page book would typically take me two days to read, 3 MAX. However this took me 8 days because I had a hard time getting myself to pick up the book and read it without my mind wondering off somewhere else. I loved Mische in the other Crowns of Nyaxia books and I always pictured her like Alice Cullen in Twilight with her bright, fun yet relatable personality. This book showed a completely different side of her, almost unrecognizable as she shows a much more vulnerable, fighting-my-demons side. While I don’t think there is anything wrong with that, because honestly you can’t expect someone to always be positive and bubbly, I think it really threw me off. I kept wishing the whole time that the book had the POVs of both Mische and Asar instead of reading Mische’s POV the whole time. I was also mildly confused for the majority of the book. While the plot itself was relatively simple, I had a hard time being able to picture in my head what exactly what happening or where they were and how they got there. On a positive note! I did enjoy Mische’s growth and development both individually and alongside Asar. I liked Asar and, again, I wish we would have been able to get his POV of everything happening. The ending was my favorite part for me. Okay, I know how that sounds, but I think it was done well, it had twists I wasn’t expecting, and it renewed my interest in the series. ["

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February 25, 2025 Verified Purchase

Ashley M. James

Not quite as magical as books 1 and 2

"I really REALLY liked this. And I LOVE Carissa's writing. I particularly loved the misdirection: Mische made us believe it was redemption from her god she was seeking, and Asar made us believe his ex was a monster... I can't say anything more because of spoilers, but the sentiments of holding onto guilt, grief, shame, were so well done! The very human parts of this book were perfect. However, the magic bits were disappointing. I'd like to go back and count how many times magic was just yada yada'd over, or how many times someone was yanked away, or ripped apart. It was all very dramatic, and yet it made little sense. I don't remember if books 1 and 2 did the same thing, but to my recollection, books 1/2 were more physical, and this book was more ✨magical✨ It was also a much slower read for me than the first two books. While I really liked what was going on, it was also plodding and slow. I easily fell in love with the characters even as the narrative was putting me to sleep. I'll most definitely continue for the characters, but this one was not my favorite. ["

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June 11, 2025 Verified Purchase