Carissa Broadbent
Carissa Broadbent is a fantasy author known for dark, romance-forward epic fantasy. She is best known for the Crowns of Nyaxia series, including The Serpent and the Wings of Night, and the War of Lost Hearts series, beginning with Daughter of No Worlds. She is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.
Biography & Author's Journey
Carissa Broadbent came to fiction early. By her own account, she was writing dark stories in childhood and posting a first novel online in her early teens. She later studied graphic design and digital media at UMass Dartmouth and moved into marketing and technical marketing work. In her early twenties, dissatisfied with a conventional corporate path, she returned seriously to fiction, treating the craft as something to be learned through repetition, failed drafts, and persistence. ((https://carissabroadbentbooks.com/about/))
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Dark romance books
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Dark romance has emerged as one of the fastest-growing subgenres in contemporary fiction, blending psychological depth with intense emotional stakes that challenge traditional romance conventions. This learning path is ideal for readers seeking more complex, morally gray narratives, writers looking to understand the genre's nuances and tropes, or literature enthusiasts interested in how Gothic traditions continue to influence modern storytelling.
To read a lot of dark romance
To read a lot of dark romance
Dark romance has exploded in popularity, offering readers emotionally intense stories that explore the complex psychology of obsession, power, and forbidden love. This learning plan is perfect for readers seeking progressively darker content, from accessible beginnings to extreme taboo themes, while building literacy across mafia, fantasy, and supernatural subgenres that dominate contemporary romance.
Read romance and fantasy
Read romance and fantasy
This learning path serves readers seeking to explore two of the most popular and emotionally engaging literary genres, perfect for both newcomers wanting structured guidance and experienced readers looking to expand their horizons. By progressing from foundational works through hybrid and darker subgenres, learners gain both breadth and depth in understanding how romance and fantasy create powerful escapism, emotional resonance, and imaginative storytelling that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.
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Explore the best Nebula Award-winning books that push the boundaries of science fiction and fantasy with bold ideas, deep themes, and unforgettable worlds.
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Myth, Magic, Psych, Art & World Building
Myth, Magic, Psych, Art & World Building
This interdisciplinary curriculum is essential for creators who want to build immersive worlds rooted in human truth and psychological depth. It is ideal for writers, game designers, and concept artists seeking to blend ancient storytelling wisdom with modern creative frameworks.
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Community Voices
"Romantasy author Carissa Broadbent had spent much of her career writing about magic and kissing"
— ELLE ((
"Danger, intrigue and a hell of a lot of blood are splashed across the pages of Carissa Broadbent's gripping fantasy romance"
— BookPage ((
"Emotionally intense and richly detailed... Broadbent proves this series has legs"
— Publishers Weekly ((
"Carissa Broadbent's latest book is her first released through a major publisher — but she's already a New York Times best-selling author"
— ABC News ((
"Their story and that of the broader world of vampires continues throughout Carissa Broadbent's majorly addicting Crowns of Nyaxia series"
— Marie Claire ((
"Broadbent ratchets up the action, treachery, and romance in the second installment of the Crowns of Nyaxia series"
— Library Journal ((
"Carissa Broadbent marries a thoughtful look at religious and family trauma with epic adventure and romance"
— BookPage ((
"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 ((
"Broadbent has a solid technical grasp on writing action and romance scenes"
— Kirkus Reviews ((
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
