Before Carissa Broadbent became a #1 New York Times bestselling author with The Serpent and the Wings of Night, she wrote a trilogy that would establish her as a master of romantic fantasy. The War of Lost Hearts series is a sweeping tale of romance, magic, vengeance, and redemption that has earned its place as a modern classic of the romantasy genre.
Originally published as an indie series, The War of Lost Hearts has now found a new home with Bramble (Tor's romantasy imprint), introducing Broadbent's exquisite storytelling to an even wider audience. If you love slow-burn romance, complex magic systems, and characters who will steal your heart, this series belongs on your reading list.
The War of Lost Hearts Reading Order
The series consists of one prequel novella and three main novels:
Ashen Son (Book 0.5) – A prequel novella focusing on Maxantarius
Daughter of No Worlds (Book 1) – Where Tisaanah and Max's story begins
Children of Fallen Gods (Book 2) – The war intensifies
Mother of Death & Dawn (Book 3) – The epic conclusion
Ashen Son (Book 0.5)
Before meeting Tisaanah, Maxantarius Farlione was a skilled magic Wielder and a military leader. This prequel novella delves into Max's past, exploring the events that shaped him into the reclusive, haunted man we meet in Daughter of No Worlds. For readers who want to understand the full depth of Max's character and the trauma he carries, Ashen Son provides essential context.
While Ashen Son can be read before or after Daughter of No Worlds, reading it first gives you a deeper appreciation for Max's reluctance to engage with the Orders and his initial coldness towards Tisaanah. The novella showcases Broadbent's ability to write complex, morally grey characters and sets the stage for the emotional journey to come.
Download here on Carissa Broadbent's website
Daughter of No Worlds (Book 1)
Daughter of No Worlds introduces us to Tisaanah, a woman who was ripped from her homeland as a child and sold into slavery. Armed with nothing but sharp wit and a touch of magic, she has survived for years. But when her attempt to buy her freedom goes terribly wrong, Tisaanah is forced to flee – leaving behind Serel, the best friend who is the only family she has left.
Desperate to save those she abandoned, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders – the most powerful organisations of magic Wielders in the world. To join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders and wants nothing to do with her.
What follows is a beautifully crafted slow-burn romance set against a backdrop of political intrigue and looming war. The chemistry between Tisaanah and Max is electric, built on a foundation of mutual respect, shared trauma, and the kind of yearning that makes readers want to scream. Broadbent's prose is poetic and immersive, drawing readers into a world where magic comes at a cost and love is the most dangerous power of all.
Why You'll Love Daughter of No Worlds
Incredible slow-burn romance: The relationship between Tisaanah and Max develops naturally, built on friendship, trust, and undeniable chemistry
Strong female protagonist: Tisaanah is fierce, determined, and refuses to be defined by her past
Complex magic system: The world of Wielders and the Orders is richly developed and fascinating
Mentor/mentee dynamic: The forced proximity and training elements add delicious tension
Beautiful prose: Broadbent's writing is lyrical and emotionally resonant
Themes of freedom and justice: The exploration of slavery, power, and liberation gives the story depth and weight
Children of Fallen Gods (Book 2)
The second instalment in the trilogy raises the stakes considerably. War is no longer looming – it has arrived. Tisaanah and Max find themselves caught in conflicts that test everything they've built together, and the choices they must make become increasingly impossible.
Children of Fallen Gods expands the world Broadbent created in the first book, introducing new characters and deepening our understanding of the magic system and political landscape. The romance continues to evolve, moving beyond the initial slow-burn into something even more profound and heart-wrenching. Readers who loved the first book will find the sequel delivers on every promise whilst opening new emotional wounds.
Why You'll Love Children of Fallen Gods
Higher stakes: The war brings devastating consequences and impossible choices
Deeper worldbuilding: New locations and political complexities enrich the story
Character development: Both Tisaanah and Max grow in unexpected ways
Emotional intensity: Broadbent isn't afraid to put her characters through the wringer
Complex villains: The antagonists have understandable motivations that blur moral lines
Mother of Death & Dawn (Book 3)
The harrowing finale of The War of Lost Hearts trilogy brings everything to a devastating and ultimately satisfying conclusion. In the wake of crushing defeat, Tisaanah and Max have been ripped apart. Tisaanah is desperate to rescue Max from imprisonment, even as her people's fight for freedom grows more treacherous.
Meanwhile, a third perspective emerges as Aefe is dragged back into a world that wants to use her for destruction. The human and Fey worlds are thrust towards cataclysm, and the unique magic that Tisaanah, Max, and Aefe share may be the key to either winning the war or ending it entirely – but that power demands sacrifice.
Mother of Death & Dawn is an emotionally devastating conclusion that will leave readers sobbing. Broadbent masterfully weaves together all the threads she's been building, delivering payoffs that feel both inevitable and surprising. The ending is one that readers describe as unforgettable – prepare to have your heart thoroughly destroyed and rebuilt.
Why You'll Love Mother of Death & Dawn
Epic conclusion: Every storyline reaches a satisfying and emotionally resonant end
Multiple POVs: New perspectives add depth to the final conflict
Emotional devastation: Readers consistently report crying harder than any other book
Beautifully crafted villains: Antagonists with motivations you can understand, even whilst hating them
Themes of sacrifice and love: The question of what you would do for love is answered in devastating fashion
Tropes and Themes in The War of Lost Hearts
For readers who choose books based on tropes, The War of Lost Hearts delivers:
Slow-burn romance
Mentor and mentee
Forced proximity
Strong female protagonist
Morally grey characters
Found family
He falls first
War and political intrigue
Female rage
Dark magic with consequences
Who Should Read The War of Lost Hearts?
This series is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and anyone who loves high fantasy romance with substance. If you've already devoured Broadbent's Crowns of Nyaxia series, The War of Lost Hearts showcases her storytelling talents in a different world with equally compelling characters.
Readers who appreciate character-driven fantasy with a strong romantic subplot, complex worldbuilding, and emotional depth will find everything they're looking for here. The series deals with heavy themes including slavery, war, and trauma, but handles them with care and uses them to fuel character growth and meaningful storytelling.
Content Considerations
The War of Lost Hearts is adult romantasy and contains mature content. Readers should be aware that the series includes depictions of slavery, violence, physical abuse, war, and references to sexual assault. These elements are handled with sensitivity but are integral to the story's exploration of trauma, survival, and healing.
Final Verdict: Is The War of Lost Hearts Worth Reading?
Absolutely. The War of Lost Hearts stands as one of the best romantic fantasy trilogies of recent years. Carissa Broadbent crafts human characters who love, fight, despair, and triumph in ways that feel achingly real. The relationship between Tisaanah and Max is the kind that stays with you long after you've turned the final page – built on a foundation of trust, respect, and the kind of devotion that moves mountains.
Broadbent's writing is gorgeous and gripping, her worldbuilding immersive, and her ability to make readers feel every emotion is unparalleled. Whether you're new to her work or a devoted fan of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, The War of Lost Hearts deserves a place on your bookshelf. Just make sure you have tissues ready – you're going to need them.
Books Featured in This Article
Daughter of No Worlds
by Carissa Broadbent
Her life for freedom. Her blood for love. Her soul for vengeance. Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life. Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders. The Orders' intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future...or the downfall of them both. But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders' deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart. Even if it means wielding death itself. Fans of romantic high fantasy like Sarah J. Maas and Miranda Honfleur will devour this tale of dark magic, passionate romance, and a powerful heroine fighting for justice.(Note: This book contains adult material.)
Children of Fallen Gods
by Carissa Broadbent
No war can be fought with clean hands. Not even the ones waged for the right reasons. Not even the ones you win.Tisaanah bargained away her own freedom to save those she left behind in slavery. Now, bound by her blood pact, she must fight the Orders’ war - and Max is determined to protect her at all costs. But when a betrayal tears apart Ara, Max and Tisaanah are pushed into an even bloodier conflict. Tisaanah must gamble with Reshaye’s power to claim an impossible victory. And Max, forced into leadership, must confront everything he hoped to forget: his past, and his own mysterious magic.All the while, darker forces loom -- far darker, even, than the Orders’ secrets.As Tisaanah and Max are ensnared in a web of ancient magic and twisted secrets, one question remains: what are they willing to sacrifice for victory? For power? For love?
Mother of Death and Dawn
by Carissa Broadbent
Tell me, little butterfly, what would you do for love? In the wake of a crushing defeat, Tisaanah and Maxatarius have been ripped apart. Tisaanah is desperate to rescue Max from his imprisonment, even as her people's fight for freedom grows more treacherous. But within the walls of Ilyzath, Max's mind is a shadow of what it once was... leaving his past a mystery and his future at the mercy of Ara's new, ruthless queen. Meanwhile, in the Fey lands, Aefe has been dragged back into this world by a king who vows to destroy civilizations in her name. But even as her past returns to claim her, her former self is a stranger. Tisaanah, Max, and Aefe are thrust into the center of a cataclysm between the human and Fey worlds. The unique magic they share is key to either winning the war, or ending it. But that power demands sacrifice. Tisaanah may be forced to choose between love and duty. Max cannot forge his future without confronting his past. And Aefe must decide between reclaiming who she was, or embracing who she has become. The choices they make will either reshape this world forever...or end it. In the harrowing finale of the War of Lost Hearts trilogy, a tale of romance, magic, vengeance, and redemption comes to a close - perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Miranda Honfleur, and Danielle Jenson.