A review by litwithlesia
The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I am UNWELL after this. I have always loved Mische, and getting to know her on such a deep level in this book was magical. There are heavy themes of religious trauma and grooming as we begin to unravel Mische’s story, and it just made my heart ache for her. 

Enter Asar: the exiled bastard son of the King of the Shadowborn, and my newest morally grey love. Immediately you can feel the connection between them, and it’s like a live wire the entire book. The way that this man is so gentle and caring, helping Mische heal in so many ways, is just so beautiful to witness. I feel so connected to Mische’s character and this felt like a book that spoke to my heart and soul. 

I loved the Dante’s Inferno parallels in this book - it felt so dark and raw in the best way. The journey down to the underworld was so intriguing, and felt reminiscent of the Kejari trials from Serpent and the Wings of Night. I was hooked from the first page and I can’t believe that we are left with yet another wild cliffhanger! 🫠
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