Title: The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk

Series: Shadowborn Duet #1

Author: Carissa Broadbent

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BOOKS IN THE SERIES

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone- my review

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BLURB

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.

Back with Mische and Asar after the shocking ending of the last book.

I can tell you this book broke my heart in some places and made it sing in others!

What also made my heart sing was the deep love between Mische and Asar, a tale as old as time!

Nyaxia is back! I have a hard time with this character. Whilst she is inheritantly evil, I can also sort of see where she is coming from with her need for vengeance.

I did feel like this went on a bit, but I did LOVE seeing some old characters…..especially a dead one who has his redemption arc! 

Oh, and also Luce is my fave ever! Bring on Septimus!

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Sound like something you’d like?

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

I hope you had a great week!

It’s felt like Autumn here this week. The temps have dropped significantly, and it’s rained nearly every day!

The eye op saga never ends! I now have high eye pressure that they think was caused by the steroid eye drops, so I now have other eye drops that I need have for 2 months to bring the pressure down! And I woke up with a sore throat and a cold today so that’s not helping!

I actually read a book with my eyes this week! Go me!

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🎧 The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Direbound by Sabel Sorensen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

See my reviews soon!

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Unboxing – Illumicrate: August
Unboxing – Fairyloot Romantasy: August

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Feature – October Releases
Review – Direbound by Sabel Sorensen

What have you read lately?

Fairyloot Romantasy – August 2025

Crowned by the Stars

Perfect for readers that love:
❤️‍🔥 Slow-Burn Romance
🏛️ Political Intrigue
⚔️ Dangerous Alliances

Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer

🖤 An EXCLUSIVE REDESIGNED COVER with artwork by @artoffrostandflame and design by @aeadraws
🖤 A REVERSIBLE DUST JACKET featuring a colour variation of the trade cover
🖤 FULL COLOUR ARTWORK ON THE HARDCOVER with foil by @aeadraws
🖤 SIGNED ENDPAPERS FEATURING CHARACTER ARTWORK with foil by @artoffrostandflame (different front and back)
🖤 A DIGITALLY SPRAYED EDGE by @aeadraws with solid sprayed top and bottom edges
🖤 HEAD AND TAIL BANDS
🖤 Author letter with digital signature bound into the book.

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BLURB

WARRIOR. King Maddox Kyronan’s fire magic has earned him a ruthless reputation on the battlefield, but now his kingdom is slowly burning. Ky’s only chance to save his people is to enter a marriage alliance with the neighboring nation of Astranza, and hope that the royal family’s power to manipulate the weather will help his land flourish once more. He just needs to ensure no one finds out how the blaze began.

PRINCESS. With war looming on the horizon, Princess Jory’s home needs the protection of the fearsome warrior king, but she is hiding a dangerous secret: her family’s magic is fading. Tempting as it is to reject her duties and run away with her childhood friend, Asher, Jory knows that she is the kingdom’s last hope. When she meets her intended, Jory is surprised to discover that beneath Ky’s daunting exterior is a compassionate and sharp-witted man who sets her heart aflame. But what will he do when he realizes she’s deceiving him?

ASSASSIN. Asher’s done what he must to survive, even if that means getting his hands dirty. Once a young nobleman in Astranza’s palace, where he and Jory caused mischief together, now he’s part of the Hunter’s Guild, employing much darker skills. When a lucrative job comes his way, Asher can’t say no—until he discovers the targets. Someone wants Ky and Jory dead. With the Guild watching, Asher must decide what he’s willing to do to protect the woman he loves.

Sound like something you’d like? I gave it 5 stars!

August 2025 – KILL THIS LOVE!

These feelings are forbidden; I must kill this love to survive.

Fandoms this month: The Scorpion and the Night Blossom, Quicksilver, Silvercloak and Heavenly Bodies!

💛 Realm of the Immortals Containers – artwork by @juli_artwork inspired by The Scorpion and the Night Blossom
💛 Cloaked in Betrayal Cushion Cover – Silvercloak inspired with artwork from @riotbones
💛 Celestial Deception Rubber Stamp Set – artwork by @moehrenkunstshop inspired by Heavenly Bodies
💛 Storybook Setting Magnet: Yvelia from Quicksilver, artwork by @no0nedesigns

💛 FEATURED BOOK 💛

Voidwalker by SA Maclean

✨ An exclusive redesigned cover (art by @monafinden; design by @chattynora)
✨ Full colour art and foil on the hardback (art by @monafinden; design by @chattynora)
✨ Digitally printed edges (by @chattynora)
✨ Illustrated endpapers (by @northyme); different front and back
✨ Bound-in author letter
✨ Bonus content
✨ Digitally signed by the author

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BLURB

Fionamara is a smuggler. Antal is the reason her people fear the dark.

Fi ferries contraband between worlds, stockpiling funds and stolen magic to keep her village self-sufficient – free from the blood sacrifices humans have paid to Antal’s immortal species for centuries.

Only legends whispered through the pine forests recall a time when things were different, before one world shattered into many, and the flesh-devouring beasts crept from the cracks between realities, with their sable antlers and slender tails, lethal claws and gleaming fangs. Now, mortal lives are food to pacify their carnivorous overlords, exchanged for feudal protection, and the precious silver energy that fuels everything from transport to weaponry.

When Fi gets planted with a stash of smuggled energy, a long-lost flame recruits her for a reckless heist that escalates into a terrorist bombing – and a coup against the reigning immortals, with Fi’s home caught in the crossfire.

She’s always known the dangers of her trade – and of the power she’s wielded since childhood, allowing her to see the secret doors between dimensions, to walk the Void itself. But nothing could have prepared her for crossing paths with Antal. For the deal she’ll have to make with him, a forced partnership to reclaim his city that begins as a desperate bid for survival, only to grow into something far more dangerous.

A revolution.

And a temptation – for how sweet the monster’s fangs might feel.

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Villains……

I do love a villain….here are some of my faves!

Luc – Addie LaRue
Xaden – Fourth Wing
Serapio – Black Sun
The Darkling – Shadow and Bone
Rayvn – One Dark Window

The Villain – Assistant to Villain
Queen Saskia – Wooing the Witch Queen
Kharon – Blood of Hercules
Alaric – The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy
Ryder – Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac

 

Have you read any of these?

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer  It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.

I hope you had a great week!

My son went back to school on Friday so the week was spent ordering school supplies, washing his uniform etc etc!

Also this week, I was so sick of staying in so I took a bus to a shopping centre. However, after about an hour, I regretted going out because I got a massive headache! It was probably from the fact that I can only see out of 1 eye and my brain/head was having none of it!

I had my 2nd hospital check-up on Friday as well, and I don’t need another op, but it could be another 10 weeks until I can see properly again!

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🎧 The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

See my review soon!

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Calendar – September
Feature – Stacking the Shelves: August
Review – Damned by Genevieve Cogman

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Unboxing – Illumicrate: August
Unboxing – Fairyloot Romantasy: August

What have you read lately?

Title: Damned

Series: Scarlet Revolution #3

Author: Genevieve Cogman

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BOOKS IN THE SERIES

Scarlet book 1

Elusive book 2

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BLURB

1794. Eleanor, former English maid, is a member of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel – and now a promising mage. With a vampire plot thwarted in Paris, the League’s next daring rescue is that of the Pimpernel’s beloved wife, Lady Marguerite, imprisoned in her London townhouse on unjust charges of treason and espionage.

But Lady Marguerite’s captivity is only the first threat from the League’s vampiric enemy. With the King known to be ill, possibly mad, England is not as it should be. Vampires conspire to take control over the whole country whilst challenging Eleanor and the League at every turn.

But then, using her growing magical powers, Eleanor uncovers a devastating, centuries-old secret. It is one so steeped in blood, that it will change not only England, but the entire vampire world, forever . . .

Back with Eleanor in 1794 and the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. And the end of the series……

Vampires are hatching a plot to take over England, magic is real and the vamps have a secret…..and we have the return of Lady Sophie….

You can expect:
~ Clever writing with a fast-paced plot
~ Magic
~ Vampires
~ Eleanor’s character growth (again!)
~ Enemies to allies
~ Charles and Eleanor’s romance.

I really enjoyed this book and will be sad to say goodbye to the characters.

‘No time for objections. No complaints.’

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Sound like something you’d like?

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! And audiobooks. Don’t forget audiobooks!

In other words, if you can read it or if it can be read to you – no matter how you got it – it belongs in Stacking the Shelves.

The Stacking the Shelves meme was originally hosted at Team Tynga’s Reviews. It is currently hosted by Reading Reality.

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Well…..so much for cutting down!!! (I secretly love it, but ssshh, don’t tell!!!)

Books I Bought
Irresistible Urge to Fall for your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley (Illumicrate)
The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent
Nights Fall by Kristen Ashley
Quicksilver by Callie Hart
Voidwalker by SA MacLean (Illumicrate)

Advanced Reader Copies

Terms of Service by Ciel Pierlot
The Executioners Three by Susan Dennard
Blackthorn JT Geissinger
A Rather Vengeful Accord by Danielle Knight

I’d better get reading!

 

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Topic: Books With Occupations in the Title

So, as a mostly fantasy reader, I’ve had to pick occupations that are a stretch in the real world!

And there are only 8!

The Half King
The Gentleman and His Vowsmith
The Executioners Three
A Sorceress Comes to Call
Captain of Fates
The Knight and the Moth
The Hunters Gambit
The Maid

 

Have you read any of these?