Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent, the first book in the War of Lost Hearts trilogy, is a self-published gem which has taken BookTok by storm, capturing the hearts of fantasy romance lovers everywhere with its rich world-building, relatable characters, and great balance of adventure and intrigue.
Broadbent’s talent has drawn comparisons to Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, with fans of the series highly recommending her books for their intricate plots, emotionally layered characters, and powerful heroines. But Carissa Broadbent doesn’t stop at Daughter of No Worlds. Readers have also been captivated by her dark and thrilling The Serpent and the Wings of Night—the first installment in The Crowns of Nyaxia series. With its deadly trials, complex vampire politics, and a romance that will leave you breathless, it’s no surprise these stories are dominating the romantasy genre.
.jpeg)
Don’t worry—we’ve got everything you need.
In this guide, we’ll break down Daughter of No Worlds with a detailed summary, and for fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night, take a look at our in-depth articles featuring character profiles, unforgettable quotes, and summary.
So without further ado, whether you’re new to Broadbent’s work or a devoted fan, this guide will help you explore the magic and passion that make her books a must-read.
Tisaanah always felt different as a Fragmented Valtain. But being separated from her mother and sold to slavers as a child truly changed her forever. Being purchased by Esmaris at a young age due to her unusual looks, she almost finds her owner as a blessing in disguise; Esmaris treats her well, she is his favorite, and he has promised her that she can buy her own freedom with one thousand gold coins. Tisaanah’s dream is to gather the coins and leave Threll, a cruel empire where she endured years of suffering. Her ultimate goal is to travel to Ara and join the Orders, an elite group of magic wielders who have the power to change the political landscape and free all slaves in Threll.
However, once she gathers the gold coins, she realizes Esmaris never meant to let his favorite slave go. Flogging her almost to death for her defiance, on the verge of death, Tisaanah uses her magic—which up to now she has only used to produce silver butterflies during performances—to kill Esmaris. With the help of her best friend, Serel, she flees Esmaris’ estate half-dead with a single purpose: to reach Ara.
Against all odds, Tisaanah manages to stay alive and reach Ara where she is taken in by the Orders, since she asks to see Zeryth, a Valtain wielder who visited Esmaris often and told her stories and brought her trinkets of Ara. As fate would have it, Zeryth is the most high-ranking magic wielder in Ara, and soon Tisaanah after barely surviving is ready to take on the world with one small problem: she has never received magic training at twenty-one years old, when apprenticeships—a requirement for any magic wielder—start at twelve years old in Ara. However, Nura, Zeryth’s mysterious second in command, gives her a chance. To prove herself, Tisaanah is sent to train under Maxantarius Farlione, a disillusioned war veteran hiding in isolation.
At first, Max is unwilling to help, haunted by his past and unwilling to rejoin the world he left behind. But Tisaanah’s relentless determination to free the Threllian slaves—and her growing magical abilities—force Max to confront his own past in Aran military, even though he cannot share it with Tisaanah. Soon, Max becomes more than just a mentor; he becomes her fiercest ally and, eventually, her greatest love.
Yet, Tisaanah cannot leave the slaves behind, and once it’s time to be tested by the Orders, both she and Max realize that this is not the typical testing. Soon, Nura and Zeryth present Tisaanah with an offer she can not refuse: receive a magical weapon that will eventually give her enough power to release all the slaves in Threll, but only after she has helped them win their own war in Ara.
Before Tisaanah walks into the meeting, Max begs her to walk away with him, telling her that whatever they try to make her agree to isn’t worth it, but Tisaanah has too much to lose. However, Max’s warning makes her wary, so when forming a blood pact with Zeryth to solidify their deal she asks for everything she can possibly think of to become their weapon, including Max’s freedom from the orders: she is to receive the weapon and spend two weeks in Threll to save Serel whom she left behind while escaping. After that, she will come back to Ara, fight the Orders’ war and once the war is over she will be allowed to get back to Threll and free the slaves with the Orders’ support.
Tisaanah receives the weapon, which is a magical entity/anomaly living within her mind and body, Reshaye. That is when she learns the truth of Max’s past: Max was Reshaye’s previous host. Nura controlled his mind and made Reshaye take over Max, annihilating the city of Sarlazai and winning the previous war by committing genocide, marking Max forever. Reshaye is presented as a malevolent entity with the urge to control and dominate its host, while also allowing them to tap into the deepest levels of magic and bringing destruction upon the world.
Against his better judgment, Max decides that he cannot leave Tisaanah alone. Honoring their end of the bargain, the orders dispatch our heroes to Threll. Tisaanah, Max, Nura and the Syrizen (select Aran soldiers who have undergone procedures to tap into deeper levels of magic) travel to Threll and Esmaris’ estate to free Serel and the rest of the slaves there.
The book’s climax takes place in Esmaris’ estate which has been taken over by his son. In a cruel twist of events, he almost kills Tisaanah who is battling for control with Reshaye, but not before Tisaanah bends the being to her will. With Max’s help, who for the first time is using Reshaye’s parting gift—a deeper level of magic living beneath his skin, they topple the Threllian Lord and save her friend. But nothing is ever easy. As they travel back, Zeryth has killed the child Queen Sesri and is waging war in Ara, waiting for his weapon to arrive, setting the stage for the sequel, Children of Fallen Gods.
Carissa Broadbent’s magic system is interesting, yet fairly vague, especially in the first book. Magic wielders among humans have surfaced in the world in the last 500 years, which coincides with the disappearance of the Fey race.
While not much is known, there are some things that we know to be true. Magic wielders are rare and cannot be predicted among humans. The headquarters of the magic wielders are in the Towers of Ara, and everyone is welcome as long as they possess magic.
There are two widely known categories of human magic wielders. The Valtain and the Solarie.
The Valtain are a race of magic wielders who possess the kind of “inwards” magic. With a typical appearance of what we know as an albino, the Valtain can access people’s thoughts, fears and emotions, working within a person’s body and mind, the manifestation of their magic silent but brutal. When it comes to elemental magic, the Valtain can usually manipulate water and air.
On the other hand, the Solarie have what we could call “outwards” magic. Fire wielders, stone wielders, explosions, and body manipulation are just a few things that a Solarie wielder is capable of. Their magic is clearly visible and tangible, in contrast to Valtain magic.
Both types of Wielders draw from a fairly shallow level of magic, which also tends to be weaker but is compatible with the human body.
While not much is known about it, Fey magic ran deeper but was vastly different from human magic, taking more time and having different manifestations.
Simultaneously, humans have restlessly tried to access deeper levels of magic, such as with the Syrizen. The Syzizen need to be specific types of wielders and undergo special training and procedures in order to access the deeper fabric of magic, more specifically removing their eyes in order to enhance their senses.
Following a similar logic, Reshaye—although it is very specific about its hosts when it lives within them, can harness its power to tap into an even deeper level of magic than the Syrizen, wreaking destruction on their path. However, both in the Syrizen and Reshaye’s hosts, since the magic is incompatible with the human body, it takes a significant toll on the wielder, sometimes resulting in A’Marill, magic poisoning, and ultimately in death.
From its vivid world-building to its beautifully complex characters, Daughter of No Worlds is a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy books and craves romance, adventure, magic, and heart-stopping twists. Whether you’re drawn to Tisaanah’s unbreakable stubbornness, Max’s “I was not made for this”, or the tangled web of politics and betrayals they face together, this story will leave you hooked and eager to dive into the rest of the War of Lost Hearts trilogy.
Looking for more bookish content? Check out our crewfiction character deep dives, magic system analyses, or comparisons to other romantasy favorites like Throne of Glass. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter for exclusive recommendations, sneak peeks, and more must-read titles to add to your TBR!
Yes, Daughter of No Worlds includes romantic elements, but it is not heavily focused on spice. The romance between Tisaanah and Maxantarius Farlione develops as a slow burn, focusing on emotional depth and trust before delving into physical intimacy. While there are some steamy moments, the book prioritizes character growth and plot over explicit scenes.
The primary characters in Daughter of No Worlds are:
Tisaanah Vytezic: The main character, a former slave turned magic wielder with a tragic backstory. She’s determined, resilient, and fiercely loyal to those she loves.
Maxantarius Farlione (Max): A reclusive ex-soldier with a troubled past, who becomes Tisaanah’s mentor and, eventually, her love interest. Max is broody, protective, and deeply scarred by his previous battles.
Daughter of No Worlds follows the journey of Tisaanah, a young woman who escapes slavery in the brutal empire of Threll. Seeking freedom and the power to protect others, she tries to join the Orders, an elite group of magic wielders. To prove herself, Tisaanah must train under Maxantarius Farlione, a former soldier who has retreated into isolation. As Tisaanah grows in her magical abilities, she uncovers the corruption within the Orders and the rising tensions between nations. Along the way, she forms a deep bond with Max, whose gruff exterior hides a wounded soul. Together, they face political intrigue, betrayals, and the looming threat of war.
