The Lion and the Deathless Dark

(Crowns of Nyaxia #5)

by Carissa Broadbent

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 Stars

Available Aug/04/2026

What to Know:

5/5 stars. I haven’t loved a book this far into a series since Empire of Storms. But this is not a cozy, cottage-core, fluffy read…

This is gritty, gory and not for the squeamish.

Spoiler-Free Summary:

Broadbent wrote this as part one of the 'Bloodborn Duet' in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. It can be read as a standalone, as it focuses on Septimus (yes, that Septimus) and the human Kyrene. For readers familiar with Septimus, he has found his match in Kyrene… That alone should tell you what a badass-yet-flawed female main character Kyrene is. Together they’re the perfect anti-hero duo. The vibes took me back to book one of this series — a surprising smack in the face I was not expecting from book five in a series.

What Works:

• Kyrene is a force. Although human, she is beyond a strong female main character who does whatever she must to survive. She is self-hating but still relatable and lovable as a character, and her decisions feel true to her character rather than forced to move a plot forward.

• Septimus finally gets his story. And what a story it is. Well worth the wait and worthy of both the penultimate and ultimate finales to the series. We've only glimpsed pieces of Septimus throughout this series, but this book reveals a much more complex character with a richer past and deeper thoughts than I expected. Of course, he's intense, dangerous, and morally gray -- but also one of the most compelling male main characters I've read in quite some time.

• The perfect anti-hero pairing. Broadbent has perfected the enemies-to-lovers trope, and this installment is no exception. Septimus and Kyrene pair perfectly.

• Vampire fantasy done right. Broadbent writes the ultimate non-cliché vampire, making Crowns of Nyaxia the standard I use when judging other vampire fantasies. She stays away from overused tropes, creating fresh worlds.

• High-Stakes. Although the vibes took me back to book one, the high-stakes plot continues in the Crowns of Nyaxia world.T

Read The Lion and the Deathless Dark if You Like:

• High-stakes plot

• High-stakes romance

• Strong female main character

• Strong male main character

• Morally gray characters

• Brutal action and violence

• The Crowns of Nyaxia series

• Morally gray heroes

• Powerful and ruthless heroines

• Enemies-to-lovers romance

• Vampire fantasy

• High-stakes adventures

• Dark, gritty fantasy worlds

Stay Away If:

Readers looking for lighter fantasy or lighter romance may struggle with this. Stay away from this if you are a reader who doesn't like a little violence with your reading.

My Recommendation:

Carissa Broadbent reminded me why I fell in love with the Crowns of Nyaxia series, why I (and other reviewers) use the Crowns of Nyaxia series as a pointer in our reviews, and why her vampires and their worlds are unforgettable. Septimus' story delivers. Maybe as much as the first book. After you read the Lion and the Deathless Dark, let me know what you think.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.