The Serpent and the Wings of Night: Guide & Reading Order

If you’ve stumbled onto Carissa Broadbent’s dark fantasy romance through TikTok or a friend’s recommendation, you’re probably wondering just how many books are in this world—and whether the spice level lives up to the hype. This guide lays out the Crowns of Nyaxia series, focusing on The Serpent and the Wings of Night, its reading order, difficulty, and all the questions readers ask before diving in.

Author: Carissa Broadbent ·
Published: August 16, 2022 ·
Series: Crowns of Nyaxia (Book 1) ·
Duet: Nightborn Duet

Seven key facts about the series, one pattern: every entry builds on the same world but belongs to a distinct duet with its own romantic arc.

How many books are in the Serpent and the Wings of Night series?

Is The Serpent and the Wings of Night a series?

• The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series (Official Author Site (author’s own series guide)).
• It is also the first book in the Nightborn Duet, which consists of two books (Pan Macmillan (publisher blog)).
• The second book in the duet is The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Official Author Site).

The implication: if you’re here for Oraya and Raihn’s romance, you only need two books. But if you want the full world, six main novels are planned.

What is the Serpent and the Wings of Night about?

Oraya, the adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, enters a deadly tournament called the Kejari to gain power (Rebel Angel Blog). The story blends dark fantasy, romance, and vampire politics. Enemies-to-lovers is the driving trope, with Raihn, a rival competitor, becoming both ally and love interest.

Why this matters: the setup avoids the “human girl stumbles into supernatural world” cliché. Oraya is already inside that world, and her struggle is to be seen as an equal.

Is The Serpent and the Wings of Night a hard read?

The novel uses straightforward prose and is considered an accessible entry into romantic fantasy (Rebel Angel Blog). Readers often describe it as fast-paced and engaging, not overly complex. Audiobook listeners also report easy following.

• Reading level: about 350 pages, typical for fantasy romance.
• World-building is introduced gradually—no info-dumps.

The catch: if you dislike the “tournament” trope, the first quarter may feel familiar. But the political layers deepen quickly.

Is The Serpent and the Wings of Night a spicy book?

Yes—the book contains explicit romantic scenes and is known for its spice level (Rebel Angel Blog). Specific spicy chapters are frequently discussed by readers. The romance is a significant subplot, not just a subtext.

The trade-off: the romance does not overwhelm the plot. The Kejari tournament and political maneuvering get equal page time.

What is the reading order of the Crowns of Nyaxia series?

Do I need to read The Serpent and the Wings of Night before The Songbird and the Heart of Stone?

• Recommended order: publication order—The Serpent and the Wings of Night, then The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King, then The Songbird and the Heart of Stone (Official Author Site).
• The Nightborn Duet (first two books) should be read before moving on to other series books (Rebel Angel Blog).

For readers new to the world, the author’s official site recommends starting with the Nightborn Duet. That gives you the full Oraya/Raihn arc without any spoilers for later books.

For a reader picking up The Serpent and the Wings of Night, the choice is simple: commit to the Nightborn Duet (two books) and you get a complete arc. If you want the full Crowns of Nyaxia experience, plan for six main books plus novellas. The risk of disappointment is low—the series has strong ratings and a clear duet structure that rewards sequential reading. Readers who start with Book 1 get a complete duet arc without waiting for later installments.

Frequently asked questions