Alright, it’s time for the final ride. If you thought, Daughter of No Worlds or Children of Fallen Gods was intense, Mother of Death and Dawn takes it to a whole new level. Hearts are broken, alliances are shattered, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance in this third book of The War of Lost Hearts Series by Carissa Broadbent.
Fair warning: This is a FULL SPOILER RECAP of the third book. If you haven’t read it yet, turn back now unless you’re ready for all the major twists and reveals!
Mother of Death and Dawn Book Recap
We Open With Desperation
The story kicks off with Tisaanah standing before the imposing white tower of Ilyzath, where Max is being held prisoner.
She’s tried to break him out again and again — and failed every time. Her body is scarred, her magic is fraying, and her mind is hanging on by a thread. But giving up isn’t an option — because Max is trapped inside that tower, and she can feel him through the bond they share.
This time, Tisaanah pushes herself harder than ever. She manages to sense Max’s soul beneath the layers of stone — but before she can reach him, the Syrizen guards (those creepy, eyeless magical warriors) overpower her.
And once again — she fails.
But failure isn’t an option anymore.
Max’s Imprisonment
Max, meanwhile, is not doing well.
- Nura has imprisoned him in Ilyzath under the pretense of holding him accountable for the destruction at Sarlazai — but really, she’s terrified of his deep magic.
- Max’s mind is splintering. His connection to deep magic — and to Reshaye — is fraying his mind. He keeps hearing voices and seeing visions that may or may not be real.
- Worst of all, Nura is trying to experiment on him — to see if she can harness the power of deep magic for herself.
Max, of course, is not the kind of guy who just sits around waiting to be saved. He’s fighting to hold on to his sanity — but without Tisaanah, he’s losing hope.
Tisaanah’s Rescue Mission (With Some Help)
After her latest failure, Tisaanah is on the verge of collapse — until help arrives in the form of Ishqa (the Wyshraj general from the House of Wayward Winds).
Ishqa tells Tisaanah that the Fey King (aka Caduan) is making moves — and it’s bad. Caduan is rallying the Fey Houses and preparing to unleash war on humanity. If they don’t stop him, the world could literally burn.
But first — Max.
Tisaanah, Ishqa, and Sammerin put together a high-stakes plan to infiltrate Ilyzath and break Max out.
- They slip into the prison during a storm.
- Tisaanah cuts through the layers of wards and magic protecting the prison using her bond with Reshaye (which still lingers despite Reshaye’s supposed death).
- They reach Max — but Nura’s guards are waiting.
Max, weakened and barely sane, still manages to fight them off. He and Tisaanah escape — but not before Nura realizes exactly how much power Max still has.
Aefe’s Awakening
Meanwhile, over in the land of the Fey — Aefe (formerly Reshaye) wakes up in the city of Ela’Dar.
- Caduan, now the Fey King, is thrilled. He thought Aefe was lost to him forever.
- Aefe, however, is… not thrilled. She remembers everything — being turned into Reshaye, the centuries of torment, and the years spent trapped in Max and Tisaanah’s minds.
- Caduan tells Aefe that he’s preparing to go to war with humanity. He blames humans for everything that happened to the Fey and believes that wiping them out is the only path forward.
Aefe isn’t exactly on board with mass genocide — but she’s torn between her loyalty to Caduan and her desire for revenge.
Rebuilding Max
After the escape, Tisaanah takes Max to Eomara (Max’s healer friend).
- Max is in rough shape — both physically and mentally.
- Eomara tells Tisaanah that Max’s connection to deep magic is tearing his mind apart. The only way to heal him is for Tisaanah to share her magic with him through their bond — which could kill her if it goes wrong.
Tisaanah, naturally, doesn’t hesitate.
- She opens their bond and channels her magic into Max.
- Max stabilizes — but their bond is now stronger than ever, tying their magic and emotions together in ways that might not be entirely healthy.
The Rise of the Fey King
Back in Ela’Dar, Caduan starts making his moves:
- He rallies the Fey Houses under his banner.
- The Fey are tired of hiding — and Caduan’s promise of revenge is tempting.
- Aefe, still torn, trains alongside Caduan’s generals — but it’s clear that she’s starting to question whether Caduan’s path is the right one.
Nura’s Move for Power
Oh, and Nura?
- After Max’s escape, Nura doubles down on her mission to “protect” Ara — which mostly involves building a terrifying army of magic-wielders.
- She also makes a move for political control — forcing the Orders’ Council to name her Arch Commandant.
- She’s planning for war — not just against the Fey, but against anyone who opposes her rule.
The Final Battle
Caduan and his Fey forces march on Ara.
- Tisaanah and Max lead the resistance — but they’re outmatched and outnumbered.
- In a desperate bid for power, Nura taps into dark magic and unleashes a devastating attack — nearly killing both Max and Tisaanah.
Aefe steps in.
- She confronts Caduan — and realizes that he’s gone too far.
- Aefe sacrifices herself to sever Caduan’s connection to deep magic — weakening him enough for Max to deliver the final blow.
Caduan dies — but not before telling Aefe that he only did it because he loved her. (Ouch.)
Aftermath
- Nura’s grip on power collapses. She tries to flee — but Max and Tisaanah stop her. Instead of killing her, they exile her.
- The Fey return to their homeland, leaderless and fractured.
- Aefe — after centuries of suffering — finally finds peace in death.
- Max and Tisaanah, scarred but alive, return to Korvius — determined to rebuild their lives together.
The Ending We Deserved
After everything they’ve endured, Max and Tisaanah finally get a quiet moment together.
- Max asks Tisaanah if she’s willing to try building a life together — not as warriors or weapons, but as two people who love each other.
- Tisaanah kisses him and tells him yes.
Finally, peace.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Max and Tisaanah have survived the war — but at a cost.
- Nura is still out there, and her obsession with dark magic isn’t over.
- The Fey are leaderless, and it’s only a matter of time before another conflict arises.
But for now — Max and Tisaanah have each other. And after everything they’ve been through, that’s enough.
Books in the War of Lost Hearts Series:
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