The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

Here is a summary with spoilers of The Songbird and the Heart of Stone

Mische: A pious yet flawed heroine, Mische’s forced vampirism and struggle with her faith make her one of Broadbent’s most compelling figures. Her internal conflict—balancing her old beliefs with her new reality—drives much of the story. Asar affectionately calls her Iliae.

Asar: Embodying the “grumpy sunshine” trope, Asar is physically and emotionally scarred yet exudes strength and sensitivity. His reluctant partnership with Mische evolves into an intimate, forbidden bond. Mische’s nickname for him is Warden.

Atroxus: The sun god whose rigid demands and cryptic orders symbolize the oppressive weight of divine will.

Alarus: The god of death, cloaked in danger and mystery. His resurrection is central to the story.

Elias: Often depicted as kind and compassionate, Elias is linked to celestial or positive forces but hides darker motives.

Chandra: A powerful and enigmatic figure, she often serves as a source of conflict or temptation for Mische.

Mische is first introduced in the original Crowns of Nyaxis duology, though it’s not necessary to read those books to understand her journey here. At the end of that series, she departs to explore other parts of her world. Her story is marked by tragedy: as a mortal, she devoted herself to Atroxus, the Sun God, and served him faithfully for years. However, her life was irrevocably changed when she was turned into a vampire. Atroxus abandoned her, leaving her with only fragments of his power and no further contact.

Her tale resumes at the vampire court, where she recently killed the vampire who turned her—a decision she deemed justified for the ruin it caused her life. Facing execution for this act, Mische is unexpectedly spared by Asar, a prince of the House of Shadows, who insists she’s needed for a mission. Despite the court's objections, Asar takes her under his protection.

With no other choice, Mische agrees to accompany Asar on his mission: to journey to the underworld and resurrect Alarus, the God of Death. This task is a directive from Nyaxia, the goddess of shadows and Alarus’s former lover. Asar, possessing necromantic abilities, has been chosen to carry out the task. While preparing for the journey, Mische is shocked when Atroxus appears after years of silence. Desperate for his approval, she agrees to his terms: help resurrect Alarus, and then kill him.

Accompanied by Luce, Asar’s necromantic guardian animal, Mische and Asar descend into the underworld. Initially, their relationship is marked by mutual distrust, but they slowly become reluctant allies. Along the way, Mische struggles to harness her fragmented sun-given powers, which manifest unreliably. Asar repeatedly challenges her belief in Atroxus, pointing out his manipulative and neglectful nature. These insights unsettle Mische, forcing her to confront the abuse and abandonment she suffered under the god she once revered.

As they venture deeper into the underworld, Mische learns about death and Asar’s role in easing trapped souls into peace. This strikes a personal chord when she fears for the fate of her friend Eomin, but Asar reassures her by showing Eomin has moved on. Along the way, they are joined by Elias and Chandra, two enigmatic allies assisting with their task. Throughout their journey, they encounter trials, including fighting increasingly fearsome monsters, and rely on signs of light to guide them back when they stray—signs Mische interprets as messages from Atroxus.

After surviving numerous life-or-death situations and growing closer, Mische and Asar finally share a kiss. Soon after, an Heir Mark appears on Asar’s arm, signifying his ascension as the rightful King of the House of Shadows following his father’s death. Asar struggles to process this revelation, but before he can act, Elias—revealed as a betrayer—stabs him, claiming Asar would make a terrible king. Chandra and Mische manage to drag Asar to the next level of the underworld, which warps their memories. When they regroup, Asar discovers he only bears half of the Heir Mark; his sibling holds the other half.

The group seeks refuge with Esme, a wraith who provides them a temporary safe haven to heal and plan. However, their respite is short-lived as monsters attack, forcing them to flee to the next level. During this escape, Mische is gravely injured and collapses. When she awakens, she finds Asar has offered his blood to heal her—a necessity she’s resisted for fear it would sever her last connection to Atroxus. Consuming his blood to survive leads to a passionate moment between them, though Mische is plagued by guilt.

As they delve further, memories and secrets surface. Mische confronts her sister Saescha, a former acolyte of Atroxus, in a heated exchange about who should have been chosen by the god. Asar pulls Mische from the fabricated memory, and they find themselves in the Sun God’s church. There, Mische fully surrenders to her feelings for Asar, and the two share an intimate moment. However, their act spills blood on Atroxus’s altar, weakening the veil between worlds. Atroxus appears in a rage, accusing Mische of betrayal and disloyalty. He spares Asar temporarily and gives Mische a final chance: complete her mission, and Saescha will find peace in the afterlife.

As they near their destination, they discover a god-forged golden arrow meant for Alarus to kill Nyaxia. Mische intends to use it on Alarus instead. At the tomb of Alarus, Asar begins the resurrection ritual but reveals that Mische must finish it. To awaken Alarus, the blood of his kin must be sacrificed. Mische realizes Asar, sharing Alarus’s lineage, intends to sacrifice himself. Before he disappears, he promises Nyaxia will grant Mische any wish in gratitude for her role.

Atroxus reappears, urging Mische to fulfill her task. Instead, she turns the golden arrow on him, stabbing him in the neck. His final words—“I made you; you end with me”—precede her loss of consciousness.

Mische awakens to find the ritual incomplete. Asar is alive but now wields Alarus’s powers. Nyaxia, furious at their failure, abandons them both. The other gods arrive, mete out punishment, and tear Mische away from Asar, killing her. She awakens in the underworld, where she meets Vincent, King of the Nightborne and a figure from the Crowns of Nyaxisseries. He declares they have work to do.

The book concludes with a chapter from Asar’s perspective. Imprisoned by the gods, his thoughts are consumed by Mische’s death and his vow to find her in the underworld. His rage simmers as he contemplates vengeance against the gods.