Carissa Broadbent has added another milestone to an already notable career: according to the Westport Library's best sellers guide, her latest novel, The Lion and the Deathless Dark, appears on the 2026 New York Times Best Sellers list.
The achievement marks a significant commercial validation for an author who built her audience well outside the traditional publishing establishment before breaking through into the mainstream.
The Lion and the Deathless Dark and the Crowns of Nyaxia Series
The Lion and the Deathless Dark is the first book in the Bloodborn Duet, a new chapter within the broader Crowns of Nyaxia universe, as noted by Beware of the Reader.
The Crowns of Nyaxia series, per Broadbent's own website, now includes five prior titles — beginning with The Serpent and the Wings of Night and running through The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk — making the new duet an expansion of an already substantial fictional world.
For readers only now discovering the series, The Serpent and the Wings of Night: Crowns of Nyaxia, Book 1 is where the universe begins — a natural entry point before following it to the Bloodborn Duet.
From BookTok Sensation to NYT Best Sellers: Why Broadbent's Trajectory Matters
Broadbent's path to the list is one of the more instructive case studies in how reader-driven platforms have reshaped fantasy publishing.
The phrase Beware of the Reader uses — "BookTok sensation" — is not mere flattery; it points to how Broadbent cultivated an intensely engaged readership through social media before traditional publishing caught up with her momentum.
That trajectory — self-publishing to mainstream imprints to repeat NYT list appearances — is precisely the kind of story the fantasy genre has been producing with increasing regularity in the 2020s, and Broadbent is among its clearest examples.
What makes the current moment particularly interesting is where the series stands narratively. As Books of Brilliance noted in September 2026, Broadbent had not yet announced a title or publication date for what comes after The Lion and the Deathless Dark — meaning the list placement arrives at a point of genuine reader anticipation for the duet's conclusion.
That combination of a confirmed bestseller status and an unresolved narrative thread is a commercially powerful position: it brings in new readers while keeping the existing fanbase actively engaged.
For fantasy readers, the broader implication is worth watching. The Crowns of Nyaxia universe is now large enough — and commercially proven enough — that it occupies a structural position in the genre comparable to other multi-book romantic fantasy franchises that have dominated shelf space and online conversation over the past several years.
The Lion and the Deathless Dark is the latest entry in the Crowns of Nyaxia world, and with its place on the 2026 Libguides Best Sellers list now confirmed, Carissa Broadbent's standing as one of fantasy fiction's most commercially successful voices of this era is well established.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Serpent and the Wings of Night: Crowns of Nyaxia, Book 1 worth reading in 2026?
Yes — with the series now encompassing multiple books and a confirmed [Libguides](https://westportlibrary.libguides.com/c.php?g=431564&p=11278253) bestseller in The Lion and the Deathless Dark, there has never been a better moment to start the Crowns of Nyaxia universe from the beginning.
What is The Lion and the Deathless Dark by Carissa Broadbent about?
The Lion and the Deathless Dark is the first book in the Bloodborn Duet, a new arc within Carissa Broadbent's Crowns of Nyaxia series. No full plot details have been published in the sources reviewed here.
Do I need to read all the Crowns of Nyaxia books before The Lion and the Deathless Dark?
The Crowns of Nyaxia series spans at least five prior titles beginning with The Serpent and the Wings of Night, so starting from the beginning is the recommended approach before reaching the Bloodborn Duet.
How many books are in the Crowns of Nyaxia series?
As of late 2026, the series includes at least six titles, running from The Serpent and the Wings of Night through The Lion and the Deathless Dark, with the second book in the Bloodborn Duet not yet announced.
Is Carissa Broadbent a New York Times bestselling author?
Yes — she is listed as the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, and The Lion and the Deathless Dark appears on the 2026 NYT Best Sellers list.
Where should I start with Carissa Broadbent's books?
New readers should begin with The Serpent and the Wings of Night: Crowns of Nyaxia, Book 1, which is the series entry point before following it through to the newer Bloodborn Duet.
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