The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent is a dark fantasy romance book. This is the fourth book in the author’s Crowns of Nyaxia series. The story follows Mische, a former acolyte, and Asar, a vampire prince. This book is the second book of a duology, and it begins exactly where the first book, The Songbird & the Heart of Stone, ended; a book I absolutely loved.
The story continues after Mische kills a god and saves Asar, dying herself in the process. Now, Asar carries a seed of divinity in him, and he is imprisoned by the other Gods. Asar is determined to find a way to bring back Mische; he is not ready to lose her. When he escapes, he is offered a chance to save Mische, but rise to divinity and take his place amongst the gods. Asar and Mische are tasked with a mission to save the world and each other by completing a quest. They need to collect three ancient relics of Alarus – his mask, eye, and heart.
Asar and Mische embark on this mission to save everyone and for Mische to be alive again. This book focuses more on Asar’s turmoil. He has lost so much in the past that he is determined to do anything that will save Mische. Like the previous book, this story also focuses on a divine quest. They have to deal with betrayals and the politics of vampire houses to succeed. The relics hold ancient god power, and Asar struggles to save his mortality. For him, no sacrifice is too much, especially if it saves Mische and the world. Sacrifice and redemption are elements that play an important part in the story.
Mische and Asar already had a strong connection in the first book, but now their love grows even more. They are bonded and connected in a way that is difficult to explain. They understand that they have limited time with each other and their future depends on the mission. I loved how their romance comes full circle in the story. Asar shows his love more through actions, while Mische knows exactly what to say to comfort him. Their relationship is beautifully developed, and the ultimate sacrifice Asar makes is for love.
The story has a lot of emotional intensity. Asar and Mische need to confront their past, heal, and learn from it so they can come to terms with it. Mische has guilt over her sister’s death, and then plunging the world into darkness. Asar has lost so much in the past; it’s clear that this time, he is not losing Mische, no matter what. Both of them are ready to make a sacrifice, especially for each other. Mische finally accepts herself and grows into a formidable character. The book is divided into parts; the climax of the story is not what I expected, but it was amazing.
I loved reading The Fallen & the Kiss of Dusk by Carissa Broadbent. The story completed Asar and Mische’s duology in a satisfying manner, but opened the door for the following books in this series. I loved the character development, romance, and fantasy elements of the book. Overall, I think this duology is so enjoyable, and I really liked both books.
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