---

““We all have ghosts in our pasts, Iliae. We can’t give them the power to define our futures, too.””

What is the Book about?

Mische lost everything when she was forcibly turned into a vampire—her home, her humanity, and, most devastating of all, the love of the sun god she had worshiped with unwavering devotion. Now, condemned to death for slaying the vampire prince who turned her, redemption seems beyond reach.

But when Mische is rescued by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow—a man as scarred by his past as he is by battle—her fate takes a cruel twist. Instead of execution, she is bound to a mission far worse: a journey to the underworld to resurrect the god of death himself. Yet, her punishment may be the only path to salvation. In a clandestine encounter, her sun god appears to her with a command—help Asar fulfill his mission, only to betray him in the end… by slaying the very god she is sent to resurrect. Together, Mische and Asar must navigate the perilous descent into the underworld, braving deadly trials, monstrous creatures, and the vengeful ghosts of their pasts. But the greatest danger of all lurks within—the seductive pull of darkness and the forbidden bond growing between them. A connection that could awaken the fury of the gods themselves.

As betrayal looms, the underworld tightens its grip, and the gods grow restless. Mische must face an impossible choice: seek redemption in the light of the sun or surrender to the damnation of the dark.

---

Rating
Plot ★★★☆☆
Characters ★★★★☆
World Building ★★★☆☆
Atmosphere ★★★☆☆
Love Interest ★★★★☆
Writing Style ★★★☆☆

Favourite Character
Mische

My thoughts while reading it

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent is one of those novels that immediately immerses you in a world of both treacherous peril and profound wonder. For me, it also served as my very first introduction to both Broadbent’s writing and the Romantasy genre as a whole. Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical at first, but the story’s mixture of high-stakes magic, delicate emotional interplay, and a richly depicted setting quickly drew me in. There’s a sweeping grandeur to the landscapes and an undercurrent of tension that kept me turning pages—and by the end, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I’d enjoyed this blend of epic fantasy and understated romance.

From the start, Mische proves to be a refreshingly lovable heroine. Rather than leaning on the aloof, effortlessly cool persona often seen in fantasy, she’s downright goofy at times—she’ll blurt out an odd joke or crack a smile when the moment begs for seriousness. And honestly, that spark of humor and warmth is exactly what makes her so endearing. Mische’s emotional depth and resilience come into sharper focus when she’s thrust into the underworld on a dangerous quest alongside Asar, the bastard heir of the House of Shadows, and his skeletal spirit wolf, Luce. Asar, on the other hand, is the perfect contrast: quiet, mysterious, and brooding on the surface, yet genuinely caring at heart. He’s the sort of character who will prioritize others’ well-being over his own, and I appreciated that the book never tries to paint him as some toxic antihero. In fact, his kindness and sense of loyalty make him all the more compelling; he’s just a good person wrestling with difficult burdens, not a callous “bad boy” in need of redemption.

A major highlight for me was how deliberately slow-burn the central romance feels. The chemistry between Mische and Asar simmers with every glance and shared conversation, but never rushes headlong into overly explicit territory. While the plot offers plenty of action, some of it heart-poundingly brutal, some of it quietly sensual, the real fire between these two is stoked by shared vulnerabilities and an emerging faith in each other’s devotion. Despite a premise brimming with darkness, there’s an undeniable warmth in the narrative, largely due to the interplay between Mische and Asar. They perfectly capture the “sunshine and grumpy” trope. Mische with her well-worn optimism, Asar with his brooding silences and subdued mistrust. Their dynamic is laced with understated humour—quips and grudging bits of banter that gradually grow into an unexpectedly tender alliance. It also helps that Asar’s protectiveness comes across as genuine concern rather than an attempt to control Mische; there’s a considerate softness to their dynamic that makes each step toward closeness feel well-earned and deeply rewarding. It’s a relationship that feels authentic precisely because the physical attraction is secondary to a hard-won emotional bond.

One aspect that adds an intriguing layer to the world-building is the contrast between vampiric forces on one side and a sun god on the other. That tension between darkness and light permeates the narrative, shaping both the lore and the personal struggles of the characters. The presence of Atroxus, the deity Mische follows, underscores the themes of faith and devotion that course through the book. Mische’s complicated relationship with her god intensifies the emotional stakes, shining a light on how zeal, trauma, and hunger for vengeance can all exist in a single heart. In this regard, the novel deftly explores the fine line between love and hate, loyalty and self-destruction—a line that grows ever thinner as Mische and Asar venture deeper into the underworld, forced to confront the literal and metaphorical ghosts of their pasts. The underworld, in particular, exudes a sinister majesty—caverns and tunnels teeming with shadowy gods, necromancy, and old ghosts that refuse to rest.

If there’s one drawback, it’s that the overarching plot feels relatively predictable. The major twists aren’t exactly shocking, and the resolution isn’t the kind of epic crescendo you might anticipate from a high fantasy. However, I found that the richly detailed world and the compelling characters more than compensated for any narrative simplicity. Also some of the plot felt rushed and so some important developments happen off the page, which result, that there is no big connection to the supporting characters.

Even if the overarching narrative is somewhat predictable, the immersive atmosphere and the well-drawn characters ensure that you’re fully invested. By the book’s end, your heart may feel singed around the edges, but you’ll be too enchanted by Mische, Asar, and the haunting underworld they traverse to regret a single moment. It was also a pleasure to experience this novel as an audiobook, which suited its steadily building tension and evocative setting perfectly. As my first taste of Romantasy, it exceeded my expectations, hinting at the kind of rich, character-driven escapism I’d love to see more often in the genre.

Reading Recommendation? ✓
Favourite? ✘