Book Review: The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk (Crowns of Nyaxia #4) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantasy
Length: 557 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Bramble
Release Date: August 5th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Mische made the ultimate sacrifice to save those she loves – and plunged the world into an eternal night. Now, imprisoned by the gods and obsessed with revenge, Asar is desperate to find her again.

When a goddess offers them a final path to redemption – and back to each other – Asar and Mische embark on an extraordinary mission. Together, they must seize the power of the god of death so Asar may do the ascend to true divinity.

Their journey will take them through mortal and immortal realms, alongside both old friends and ruthless enemies. But as the underworld teeters on the brink of collapse and the gods prepare for a war, Asar and Mische must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the power to defy death. In a game of vengeful gods and ancient betrayals, there are some debts that even love may not be able to repay.

AUDIOBOOK IS KEY.

I LOVE the first two books in this series, big fan, reread them, loved them. I struggled with book three and didn’t feel compelled to get to book four IMMEDIATELY.

And then I decided to go with the audiobook and let me tell y’all, that’s the way to go. The narrators executed that beautifully and I found it much easier to pick and listen to rather than trying to read my physical copy.

I ended up liking this journey a lot. I do think it gets a bit scattered and dragged out but overall, there’s many good things here. I love the dynamic between Asar and Mische. The brightest of sunshine vs. the grumpiest of grumps. Filled with banter and tension, and the foreboding sense of wondering who will make it out alive and if that HEA will ever come.

I am looking forward to the next duet though!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 4ish open door
  • Violence: high

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Book Review: The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance/Sci-Fi
Length: 352 pages
Author: Christina Lauren
Publisher: Simon Audio
Release Date: July 14th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

An unforgettable novel in which one fateful accident erases a troubled marriage from memory—and love gets one extraordinary do-over.

Three years ago, Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.

But now, Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge research comes to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.

Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule to bring him back. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together…all of it is gone.

It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.

Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

WHAT IN THE SCI-FI?

I think I would have liked this book so much better if the COVER MATCHED ANYTHING ABOUT THIS STORY. At least the title had some nods to it. I didn’t read the summary, because I usually don’t, and man, was I thrown for a loop in the first few chapters.

This felt like a loose sci-fi romance more than anything. With some stretched scientific concepts and an amnesia plot to rule the story. There was even a secret villain and a whole villain monologue to go along with it. I just don’t understand why marketing went this way??

I wanted to like this. I tried. But the whole time I was too focused on the revival plot and the romance started to get lusty rather than actually working out their problems. That eventually came, but further down the line. I did like the communication when it happened and it was an interesting take on the *second chance* concept.

🎧: I did love the audiobook! Duel narrators. Great read. An easy listen and I would recommend that format.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: multiple open door
  • Violence: moderate+
  • Content warnings: near death experiences, being hit by a car, gun violence, kidnapping

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2026

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Fall is in sight! We’re almost to the -ber months and it was a great month of reading. I love seeing the combination of all of these books. Check out my Instagram for reviews or they will be out on this platform in the future!

  • Out of Her League by Ava Rani
  • [Reread] A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3.5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Rebel Season (Hockey Boys of Loft 3B #3) by Katie Bailey and Leah Brunner
  • The Assassin’s Way by J.M. Kearl
  • Abby Offsides by Anna McCallie
  • The Lion and the Deathless Dark (Crowns of Nyaxia #5) by Carissa Broadbent
  • [Non-Fiction] The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
  • In the Wake of the Wicked (The Siren Mage #2) by Kalie Cassidy
  • [ARC] Well Versed (Well Met #5) by Jen DeLuca
  • [Reread] House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] The Bodyguard’s Fall (Falling for Autumn) by Cindy Steel
  • Adversary to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #4) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
  • [ARC] House of Curses (Royal Houses #3) by K.A. Linde
  • Tropesick by Lauren Okie
  • The Gilded Blade (The Grandest Game #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  • [ARC] The Wretched Divine (The Wretched Divine #1) by Adalyn Grace
  • [ALC] Autumn on My Mind (Falling for Autumn) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #2) by Brigitte Knightley
  • The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren
  • City of Lost Kings (Lost Kings Duet #1) by Kristen R. Moore
  • Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo
  • [ARC] This Change Everything by Danielle McKechnie
  • [ARC/ALC] Daughter of the Dark (Daughters of Auquis #1) by R.J. Valldeperas
  • Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels
  • [ARC] Miss Beresford and the Beast (Daughters of Somerset #1) by Mimi Matthews
  • [ARC] Here We Go Again (Georgia Jaguars Hockey #2) by Jenny Proctor
  • The Butcher’s Masquerade (Dungeon Crawler Carl #5) by Matt Dinniman
  • [Reread] A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses #5) by Sarah J. Maas
  • [ARC] Harbinger by Geneva Lee
  • [ALC] Love Felt Like This by Julie Olivia
  • To Drown a Witch by Lindsey Olsson
  • Ashwalker (The Emberfall Trilogy #1) by S.M. Gaither
  • Immortal Rose (Immortal Rose Duology #1) by Alexandra Bracken
  • [Novella] All the Time in the World by Cara Bastone

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ARC Book Review: House of Curses (Royal Houses #3) by K.A. Linde

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Fantasy Romance
Length: 424 pages
Author: K.A. Linde
Publisher: Bloom Books
Release Date: September 1st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

New York Times bestselling author K.A. Linde returns to the story of Kerrigan Argon in the next in the Royal Houses series, an unforgiving world filled with magic, mayhem, and romance. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and V.E. Schwab.

Thank you to Bloom Books for the ARC.

CONTINUES TO BE GOOD.

It’s been a minutes since I’ve been able to work through a whole, new to me series, in a shorter time frame rather than waiting years for the sequel and I am still locked into this one y’all!

This one had some good turns and political intrigue. I’m still loving all of the dragon content and seeing how this world is growing and changing. There were a few plot points I didn’t love but the FMC and love interest are top tier. I do wish the characters were older than 18 because I feel like that would fit the themes better but it’s fine I guess.

I don’t want to say much more since this is a book in the middle of a series but it’s filling that dash of Fourth Wing void for me right now at least!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: vague/quick open door
  • Violence: high

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