The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia, 2)

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Carissa Broadbent, comes The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King, the gutting second installment of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, full of heartbreak, redemption, blood intrigue and heart-pounding action.

Love is a sacrifice at the altar of power.

In the wake of the Kejari, everything Oraya once thought to be true has been destroyed. A prisoner in her own kingdom, grieving the only family she ever had, and reeling from a gutting betrayal, she no longer even knows the truth of her own blood. She’s left only with one certainty: she cannot trust anyone, least of all Raihn.

Raihn’s own nobles are none too eager to accept a Turned king, especially one who was once a slave. And the House of Blood digs their claws into the kingdom, threatening to tear it apart from the inside.

When Raihn offers Oraya a secret alliance, taking the deal is her only chance at reclaiming her kingdom–and gaining her vengeance against the lover who betrayed her. But to do so, she’ll need to harness a devastating ancient power, intertwined with her father’s greatest secrets.

But with enemies closing in on all sides, nothing is as it seems. As she unravels her past and faces her future, Oraya finds herself forced to choose between the bloody reality of seizing power―and the devastating love that could be her downfall.

Crowns of Nyaxia Reading Order:
The Serpent & the Wings of Night
The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King
The Songbird & the Heart of Stone

Crowns of Nyaxia Standalones
Six Scorched Roses (short novel)
Slaying the Vampire Conqueror

I've been concerning teachers and parents with mercilessly grim tales since I was roughly nine years old. Since then, my stories have gotten (slightly) less depressing and (hopefully a lot?) more readable. Today, I write fantasy novels with a heaping dose of badass ladies and a big pinch of romance.

I work as a cybersecurity marketing professional during the harsh light of day, and am also a visual artist. I live with my fiance, one very well behaved rabbit, one very poorly behaved rabbit, and one perpetually skeptical cat in Rhode Island.

To keep up with my work, join my mailing list at www.carissabroadbentbooks.com!

Praise for The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King:

"Broadbent builds realistic and gripping tension as Raihn and Oraya navigate the roles of rivals, lovers, and potentially co-rulers... There’s plenty here to sink one’s teeth into." – Publishers Weekly

Praise for the Crowns of Nyaxia series:

"Majorly addicting." - Marie Claire on The Serpent & the Wings of Night

“Fans of dark romantasy won’t want to miss this.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review

“[A] haunting, action-packed political fantasy with a doomed romance at its center, full of heartbreak and intrigue.”– Library Journal, starred review

“Vampire romance lovers will drink this series down to the last drop.”– POPSUGAR, "The 18 Best Fantasy Romance Books"

“Danger, intrigue and a hell of a lot of blood are splashed across the pages of Carissa Broadbent’s gripping fantasy romance” – Bookpage

"A heart-pounding, ultra-slow-burn romance." – Bustle

"Slow burn that pays off" – Vulture, "12 Romantasy Authors to Know"

"Carissa Broadbent's The Serpent and the Wings of Night has all the fun of A Court of Thorns and Roses, but it will also appeal to Twilight fans." – Insider

"This suspenseful, unputdownable novel is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games ― with a fantastical vampire twist!" – Woman's World

"If you are a fan of dangerous fantasy worlds, bloodthirsty vampires, swoon worthy romance and a completely terrifying deadly competition, The Serpent and the Wings of Night is going to be a book you will love." – Book Briefs

"Unputdownable!" – FIRST for Women

The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent picks up in the aftermath of the brutal Kejari tournament, where everything Oraya thought she knew about her life has been shattered. Oraya, the half-human daughter of the late Nightborn King Vincent, now finds herself a prisoner in her own kingdom. She is grieving the father she loved while wrestling with the devastating betrayal of Raihn, the man who killed Vincent and claimed the throne. Raihn, a former slave turned king, faces his own impossible challenges. The nobles of the House of Night resist his rule, viewing him as an unworthy upstart, and the ambitious Prince Septimus of the House of Blood exerts dangerous influence over the fragile new regime.

Oraya and Raihn are forced into an uneasy alliance when Raihn offers her a secret partnership. In exchange for helping him stabilize his reign and push back against their shared enemies, Oraya gains a chance at revenge and the possibility of reclaiming power for herself. Their arrangement requires them to uncover ancient secrets tied to Oraya’s father, including the location of the god blood of Alarus, which holds immense power. As they navigate political intrigue, assassination attempts, and shifting loyalties, the two former lovers must confront whether any trust can survive the blood between them. Oraya’s journey takes her through hidden passages, forgotten cities, and painful revelations about her own heritage, while Raihn battles to prove he can lead without repeating the cruelty of those who came before him.

The story expands the world of Nyaxia with rich detail, from the tense court politics of the House of Night to the ruined homeland of Lahor, where Oraya confronts the last remnants of her father’s past. Along the way, Oraya discovers abilities she never knew she possessed, including the power to summon wings of her own. These moments of growth are intertwined with deepening intimacy and conflict between her and Raihn, as old wounds are reopened and new ones are formed. Supporting characters like Mische, Vale, and Jesmine add layers of loyalty, betrayal, and unexpected alliances that keep the stakes high on every front.

Broadbent weaves together romance, revenge, and high-stakes fantasy in a way that feels both intimate and epic. Oraya’s internal struggle between her desire for vengeance and her lingering feelings for Raihn drives much of the emotional weight, while Raihn’s arc explores what it means to rule with both strength and compassion. The novel builds toward a sweeping climax involving divine intervention, god-level powers, and a final battle that will determine the fate of the House of Night. By the end, Oraya and Raihn must decide what kind of future they are willing to fight for and whether love can endure in a world built on blood and betrayal.

The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King is a darker, more mature continuation of the series that deepens the characters and raises the stakes considerably. It balances heart-pounding action with tender, complicated romance and leaves readers with a sense of hard-won hope amid the ashes. Broadbent’s writing captures the raw pain of loss and the fierce determination to survive, making this a compelling read for fans of vampire fantasy and enemies-to-lovers stories alike.