Tag: carissa broadbent

Book Review: Mother of Death and Dawn (The War of Lost Hearts #3) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 722 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: February 10th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tell me, little butterfly, what would you do for love?

In the wake of a crushing defeat, Tisaanah and Maxatarius have been ripped apart. Tisaanah is desperate to rescue Max from his imprisonment, even as her people’s fight for freedom grows more treacherous. But within the walls of Ilyzath, Max’s mind is a shadow of what it once was… leaving his past a mystery and his future at the mercy of Ara’s new, ruthless queen.

Meanwhile, in the Fey lands, Aefe has been dragged back into this world by a king who vows to destroy civilizations in her name. But even as her past returns to claim her, her former self is a stranger.

Tisaanah, Max, and Aefe are thrust into the center of a cataclysm between the human and Fey worlds. The unique magic they share is key to either winning the war, or ending it.

But that power demands sacrifice. Tisaanah may be forced to choose between love and duty. Max cannot forge his future without confronting his past. And Aefe must decide between reclaiming who she was, or embracing who she has become.

The choices they make will either reshape this world forever…or end it..

In the harrowing finale of the War of Lost Hearts trilogy, a tale of romance, magic, vengeance, and redemption comes to a close — perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Miranda Honfleur, and Danielle Jenson.

ON THE SLOWER SIDE.

This finale had everything I wanted, and 200 pages I didn’t need.

I loooove these characters. The strong friendship and found family through war is powerful and I couldn’t get enough of the continual support offered over and over as things only became more dire.

The romance between Max and Tisaanah melts me too. I thought the steam in this felt a bit random (like, gotta throw it in here because this is the only chance!). There relationship though was sweet. And intense and I love the partnership they formed over the course of this series.

This was filled with beautiful writing and many lovely sentiments about life, love and more. I really liked the ending and thought it worked out well for all parties. Everyone got the deserved ending and I looove a epilogue at the end. There’s plenty of action and politicking mixed in with the world building and magic system.

I look forward to Broadbent’s next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3-4 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes, physical and magical altercations, weapons violence, descriptive torture scenes, massive loss of life, grief depictions

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ARC Book Review: The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia #2) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 600 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 14th, 20223
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Love is a sacrifice at the altar of power.

In the wake of the Kejari, everything Oraya once thought to be true has been destroyed. A prisoner in her own kingdom, grieving the only family she ever had, and reeling from a gutting betrayal, she no longer even knows the truth of her own blood. She’s left only with one certainty: she cannot trust anyone, least of all Raihn.

The House of Night, too, is surrounded by enemies. Raihn’s own nobles are none too eager to accept a Turned king, especially one who was once a slave. And the House of Blood digs their claws into the kingdom, threatening to tear it apart from the inside.

When Raihn offers Oraya a secret alliance, taking the deal is her only chance at reclaiming her kingdom–and gaining her vengeance against the lover who betrayed her. But to do so, she’ll need to harness a devastating ancient power, intertwined with her father’s greatest secrets.

But with enemies closing in on all sides, nothing is as it seems. As she unravels her past and faces her future, Oraya finds herself forced to choose between the bloody reality of seizing power – and the devastating love that could be her downfall.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Carissa Broadbent for an eARC.

INCREDIBLE.

I went in to this with some VERY high levels of hype and I was NOT DISAPPOINTED. I can NOT handle when the MMC is absolutely gone for the FMC. And Raihn WAS GONE. There’s even dual POV SO WE GET BOTH SIDES.

I CAN’T STOP THE CAPS I’M SORRY (but not really).

There was this beautiful slow build to the plot and romance that kept me wholly engaged. And about the 45% mark I was GLUED to my screen. I devoured the rest of the book needing to know all the answers and finding that amazing ending. I loooove how Raihn and Oraya both worked on their relationship. There was plenty to apologize for and concessions to be made and these two found love in a hopeless place AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

And the Vincent story line?? That about made me cry. It was EMOTIONAL. I am in absolute awe of how Carissa Broadbent took this character’s story line and gave it such an impactful and raw telling. That was not easy to do and she absolutely nailed it.

The high levels of action will have you fearing for everyone’s lives and desperately flying through pages to see who comes out on the other side. I loved all of the reveals, betrayals, big moments, little moments, and 100+ things I highlighted and bookmarked.

YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open; high explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: discussion of rape and sexual assault (off screen), blood play, violence against children, complicated father/daughter relationship

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ARC Book Review: Six Scorched Roses (Crowns of Nyaxia #1.5) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance Novella
Length: 187 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 21st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Six roses. Six vials of blood. Six visits to a vampire who could be her salvation… or her damnation.

Lilith has been dying since the day she was born. But while she long ago came to terms with her own imminent death, the deaths of everyone she loves is an entirely different matter. As her town slowly withers in the clutches of a mysterious god-cursed illness, she takes matters into her own hands.

Desperate to find a cure, Lilith strikes a bargain with the only thing the gods hate even more than her village: a vampire, Vale. She offers him six roses in exchange for six vials of vampire blood–the one hope for her town’s salvation.

But when what begins as a simple transaction gradually becomes something more, Lilith is faced with a terrifying realization: It’s dangerous to wander into the clutches of a vampire… and in a place already suffering a god’s wrath, more dangerous still to fall in love with one.

Six Scorched Roses is a standalone fantasy romance novella set in the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, perfect for those who love dark, romantic tales with bite and fans of Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer L. Armentrout.

Thank you to Book of Matches Media and Carissa Broadbent for the eARC.

LOVE.

I devoured this real fast when it dropped in my inbox and I am not upset with my choices one bit. It’s an easy book to fly through and to get lost in. I love how romantic it was and how even with the quicker pacing, still felt natural and not rushed.

I adored Lilith. I felt like she tried to make the best choices she could and over the novella really found some new pathways forward. I loved the STEM vibes and the bloodwork that Lilith worked on to try to help her sister and town survive. Throw in some cranky gods dealing out punishments and I was sold.

The romance was so sweet!! I don’t know, this book is on the dark spectrum and yet, this romance was tender. It felt slow and moving as they went from strangers to friends to lovers. I love how Vale started to respond to Lilith and the back and forth grumpy/sunshine nature of their relationship.

Ending was fantastic. I am incredibly excited to see how these characters will interact with others in The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King.

**Note: This can be read as a standalone before the first book, but recommended to read it after The Serpent & the Wings of Night.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance Novella
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: attempted sexual assault, loss of loved ones, a disease endemic, physical and magical altercations, near death experiences

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Book Review: Children of Fallen Gods (The War of Lost Hearts #2) by Carissa Broadbent

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 666 pages
Author: Carissa Broadbent
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: March 31st, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

No war can be fought with clean hands. Not even the ones waged for the right reasons. Not even the ones you win.

Tisaanah bargained away her own freedom to save those she left behind in slavery. Now, bound by her blood pact, she must fight the Orders’ war — and Max is determined to protect her at all costs.

But when a betrayal tears apart Ara, Max and Tisaanah are pushed into an even bloodier conflict. Tisaanah must gamble with Reshaye’s power to claim an impossible victory. And Max, forced into leadership, must confront everything he hoped to forget: his past, and his own mysterious magic.

All the while, darker forces loom — far darker, even, than the Orders’ secrets.

As Tisaanah and Max are ensnared in a web of ancient magic and twisted secrets, one question remains: what are they willing to sacrifice for victory? For power? For love?

WHOA.

I hardly noticed this was 600 pages I was enjoying the ride so much. This is a captivating fantasy series that I am allllllll the way here for. I can’t wait to get to book three.

I like that this didn’t have the dreaded sequel issues. While still slower in nature the plot kept moving forward in turns I didn’t see coming. I loved the character growth for Tisaanah and Max AND them together! I think I would have loved even more romance (those little quiet moments I love so much), but I’m especially grateful there’s not some dumb breakup involved in this story.

There’s a bunch of moving pieces that keep unveiling themselves. I was excited about the third POV wondering why in the world it was there, but trust me, IT MATTERS. I think this was a really exciting and interesting piece to add in because it provides a lot more sustenance to the entire story.

I’m nervous to see what darkness rises in book three, and to see how my sweet couple survives.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: two open door
  • Violence: med-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, war themes, loss of life, near death experiences, possession, medical experimentation

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