Carissa Broadbent didn’t just write another vampire book. Honestly, she kind of rewired the whole genre for a lot of us. If you’ve spent any time on BookTok or lurking in fantasy subreddits, you’ve seen that black-and-gold cover everywhere. The Serpent and the Wings of Night, which is technically Crowns of Nyaxia Book 1, hit the scene like a lightning bolt. It's gritty. It's bloody. It’s got that specific kind of emotional ache that makes you want to throw the book across the room and then immediately go pick it back up to apologize to it.
People call it The Hunger Games meets Vampires, but that’s a bit of a disservice. It’s way more than just a "deadly tournament" trope.
Oraya is a human girl living in a kingdom where everything—and I mean everything—wants to eat her. She’s the adopted daughter of the Nightborn Vampire King, Vincent. Imagine growing up in a house where your dad is the apex predator and you’re basically a walking Capri Sun. That’s her life. To survive, she enters the Kejari, a legendary tournament held by the goddess Nyaxia. If she wins, she gets a wish. If she loses? Well, she’s lunch.
What Actually Makes Crowns of Nyaxia Book 1 Different?
Most fantasy romance is predictable. You know the girl is going to be "special" and the guy is going to be "misunderstood." Broadbent plays with those expectations but keeps the stakes feeling dangerously real. Oraya isn't some super-powered human who can magically fight vampires because of "destiny." She’s just fast, smart, and incredibly desperate.
Then there’s Raihn.
He’s her main competition. He’s a rival vampire from a different house, and their dynamic is basically the "enemies-to-lovers" gold standard. It’s not just about flirting over swords; it’s about two people who are fundamentally broken trying to figure out if they can trust anyone in a world designed to kill them. You've got these two characters who should be tearing each other’s throats out, but instead, they’re forming this shaky, terrifying alliance. It’s tense.
✨ Don't miss: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
The world-building isn't dumped on you in a massive prologue. You learn about the different vampire houses—the Rishis and the Hiaj—through the scars they leave. Broadbent uses the environment to tell the story. The city of Obitraes feels heavy. It feels old.
The Kejari Isn't Just a Game
A lot of readers get hung up on the tournament aspect. It’s the backbone of Crowns of Nyaxia Book 1, but the trials aren't just physical. They are psychological. They force Oraya to confront the fact that her "father," Vincent, might be a monster. He loves her, sure, but it’s a sharp, violent kind of love.
There's a scene involving a massive labyrinth that honestly stressed me out more than most horror movies. The pacing is weird in a good way—it goes from high-octane violence to these quiet, simmering moments between Oraya and Raihn where the dialogue actually feels like something humans (or vampires) would say. No "thees" or "thous." Just raw, honest conversation.
Why the Ending of the First Crowns of Nyaxia Book Wrecked Everyone
We need to talk about that ending without spoiling the absolute guts of it.
You think you know where the story is going. You think you’ve got the politics of the Nightborn figured out. You don't. The final third of the book shifts from a survival story into a political tragedy. It’s a gut punch. Broadbent is known for her "shatter-your-heart" endings—she did it in The War of Lost Hearts series too—and she doesn't hold back here.
🔗 Read more: Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 23 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
The betrayal isn't just a plot twist for the sake of having a twist. It’s earned. It’s the result of every choice Oraya makes throughout the book. It’s also why the sequel, The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King, became one of the most anticipated releases in the genre. You literally cannot finish book one and not immediately need the next one.
Let's Clear Up the Hype vs. Reality
Is it perfect? No. Some people find the beginning a little slow while the rules of the Kejari are established. If you hate the "only one bed" trope or "he heals her wounds" moments, you might roll your eyes once or twice. But for the most part, the prose is way more elevated than your average Kindle Unlimited find.
- The Magic System: It’s tied to the moon and the goddess Nyaxia. It’s subtle but impactful.
- The Violence: It’s actually quite high. This isn’t a cozy fantasy. People get ripped apart.
- The Romance: It’s a slow burn that eventually gets very hot, but it never overshadows the actual plot.
Honestly, the reason it ranks so high on everyone’s "best of" lists is that it treats Oraya's humanity as a weakness and a strength simultaneously. She has to be ten times better than the vampires just to stay in the room. That kind of underdog story always hits home.
How to Read the Series in Order
If you’re diving in, don't just stop at the main novels. There’s a specific way to get the full experience of the Nyaxia world.
- Six Scorched Roses: This is a novella. It features different characters (Lilith and Vale) but it’s set in the same world. Some people say read it after book one, but reading it first actually makes the world-building in the main series feel even richer.
- The Serpent and the Wings of Night: This is your starting line. The big one.
- The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King: This concludes Oraya and Raihn’s primary duology.
- Slaying the Vampire Conqueror: Another standalone in the same universe.
Actionable Steps for New Readers
If you're ready to start your journey into the House of Night, don't just go in blind. The lore is deep, and the emotional payoff is better if you're paying attention to the small details.
💡 You might also like: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
Watch the shadows. Broadbent hides a lot of foreshadowing in the descriptions of Vincent’s palace. The relationship between Oraya and her father is the most complex part of the book—don't take his "kindness" at face value.
Check the content warnings. This book deals with heavy themes of grief, parental abuse (of the emotional variety), and significant gore. It's an adult fantasy for a reason.
Prepare for the hangover. You’re going to want to talk about this book the second you finish it. Have a friend on standby or head over to the r/fantasyromance subreddit. You'll need the support group once you hit the final fifty pages.
The best way to experience Crowns of Nyaxia Book 1 is to go in expecting a character study wrapped in a death tournament. It’s about the cages we build for ourselves and the people who help us break the bars. Whether you're here for the wings, the fangs, or just a really good cry, this book delivers exactly what it promises. Go buy a physical copy; the map in the front is actually useful for tracking the different territories of the Rishis and the Hiaj as the political landscape starts to shift.