Where to Start with Carissa Broadbent
Carissa Broadbent has rapidly become one of the most celebrated voices in modern romantasy. Her worlds are dark, her magic systems are dangerous, and her romances are slow-burning and intense. For new readers, deciding where to start depends on what you are looking for:
- For Vampires, Gladiatorial Tournaments, and Gothic Romance: Start with The Serpent and the Wings of Night, the first book in the massively popular Crowns of Nyaxia series.
- For High Fantasy, Magic Wars, and a Mentor-Protégé Dynamic: Start with Daughter of No Worlds, the opening volume of her completed War of Lost Hearts trilogy.
Both of these main entry points are completely independent of one another. You do not need to read one series to understand the other, so you can freely choose whichever premise appeals to you first.
The Crowns of Nyaxia Reading Order
The Crowns of Nyaxia universe is Broadbent's flagship vampire fantasy setting. The series is structured as a sequence of character-focused duologies set within the same world, accompanied by crucial novellas and companion novels. To get the best experience and avoid spoilers, you should follow this hybrid release and chronological order:
- The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Book 1) (2022) — Focuses on Oraya, a human adopted by a vampire king, who enters a deadly legendary tournament.
- Six Scorched Roses (Novella 1.5) (2023) — A gothic standalone novella following Lilith, a terminally ill human, and Vale, a cold vampire lord. While optional, reading this before Book 2 is highly recommended as the characters reappear and play a crucial role in later entries.
- The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Book 2) (2023) — Concludes the story of Oraya and Raihn (the Nightborn Duet).
- Slaying the Vampire Conqueror (Book 2.5) (2023) — A standalone companion novel focusing on Sylina and Atreus. It is highly recommended to read this before Book 3, as it introduces factions and concepts that become critical later in the series.
- The Songbird & the Heart of Stone (Book 3) (2024) — Launches the Shadowborn Duet, centering on the fan-favorite character Mische and her journey through the underworld.
- The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk (Book 4) (2025) — The conclusion of the Shadowborn Duet, following Mische and Asar as they navigate the realm of the god of death.
- The Lion and the Deathless Dark (Book 5) (2026) — The beginning of the Bloodborn Duet, introducing Kyrene, a human bounty hunter, and Septimus, a vampire prince.
Why You Shouldn't Skip the Novellas
While you can technically read only the main numbered novels, the companion works are much more than simple spin-offs. Six Scorched Roses introduces Lilith and Vale, who cross paths with the main cast in The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King. Likewise, Slaying the Vampire Conqueror establishes important lore about the House of Shadow and the god of death, serving as the perfect bridge into Mische's story in The Songbird & the Heart of Stone.
The War of Lost Hearts Reading Order
This is Carissa Broadbent's completed epic high fantasy trilogy. It follows Tisaanah, a former slave who fights for her freedom and magic, and Maxantarius, a reclusive former war hero. Unlike the vampire-focused Nyaxia books, this series features an expansive magic system, political intrigue, and sprawling military conflicts. The recommended reading order is:
- Daughter of No Worlds (Book 1) (2020)
- Ashen Son (Prequel Novella 1.5) (2022) — A prequel focusing on the backstory of Maxantarius (Max).
- Children of Fallen Gods (Book 2) (2021)
- Mother of Death and Dawn (Book 3) (2022)
Caveats for Ashen Son
Although Ashen Son is chronologically a prequel, readers are strongly advised not to read it first. Reading it before Daughter of No Worlds spoils the mystery surrounding Maxantarius's tragic past, which is a major plot element of the first book. Carissa Broadbent herself has recommended reading it after Book 1 and before Book 2. Keep in mind that Ashen Son was originally serialized for Patreon and is sometimes harder to track down in standard formats; if you cannot find it, you can safely proceed directly to Book 2 without missing core plot beats.
Out of Print Works: The Valtain Books
Before achieving mainstream success, Broadbent wrote several early fantasy novels. In publication order, these are:
- A Palace Fractured (The Valtain Preludes Book 1) (2017)
- A Crown in Shadows (The Valtain Preludes Book 2) (2017)
- Shrouds of Silver (The Valtain Testaments Book 1) (2019)
What to Know Before You Search
If you see these titles on Goodreads or book-tracking sites, you should know that they are currently out of print and unavailable for purchase. As Broadbent transitioned to traditional publishing, she removed these early works from ebook platforms. She has stated that the series remains incomplete and would require extensive revisions before any potential future re-release. Readers should not spend money on overpriced second-hand copies expecting a polished or finished story.
Understanding the Multi-Author Series Ties
If you see Carissa Broadbent's name associated with the Mortal Enemies to Monster Lovers series, here is what you need to know. This is a multi-author project of standalone fantasy romances. Broadbent only wrote one book for this collection: Slaying the Vampire Conqueror. The other books in the series, such as Slaying the Shifter Prince (by Clare Sager) and Slaying the Shadow Prince (by Helen Scheuerer), are written by different authors and are set in completely different fictional worlds. You do not need to read them to understand Broadbent's work; you only need to read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror because it connects directly to her Crowns of Nyaxia universe.