The following version of this novel was used in the creation of this study guide: Broadbent, Carissa. The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King. Carissa Broadbent 2023. Paperback.

The prologue opens with a king giving his kingdom to the Bloodborn to save the life of a human woman and, simultaneously, bait her into killing him.

Part One: “Night” shifts to Oraya days after her husband and lover, Raihn, assassinates her father, King Vincent, to take the throne. While she is grieving and angry, she still has feelings for Raihn and understands that her father could never have made a better kingdom. Still, after she finds a magic mirror that lets her contact her father’s allies, Oraya gives them information to challenge Raihn’s army. At the same time, Rain struggles to earn the respect of the nobles, his own allies, and Oraya whom he still loves and has named his Queen.

In Part Two: “New Moon”, Raihn is suspicious when Septimus announces that he will not send the Bloodborn to Misrada, claiming that they will not make it in time. However, Oraya’s ally Jesmine attacks the armory and Oraya escapes to help. This leads to a fight with Raihn where she has the chance to kill him, but hesitates.

Later, Raihn and Septimus confront Oraya, and it is revealed that Septimus tricked her into finding Vincent’s mirror because he wanted to see if she could use it. Now, he wants her to track down the blood of a dead god, believing that Vincent is hiding it somewhere. Only when Raihn asks her directly to help him betray Septimus does Oraya agree, leading to a journey to Vincent’s homeland.

In Part Three: “Crescent Moon”, Oraya and Raihn arrive in Lahor where they meet Oraya’s cousin, Evelaena. While she looks young, it is revealed that she is the only one who survived Vincent’s massacre of his family before he became king. However, when Oraya is able to access a pendant Vincent left in a ritual, Evelaena becomes enraged that a half-human became Vincent’s heir rather than herself. This leads to a fight where Oraya manages to kill Evelaena when Raihn arrives to save her from the others. As he helps heal Oraya’s new wings, Raihn learns that there is unrest in Sivrinaj and leaves to deal with it alone.

In Part Four: “Halfmoon”, Oraya and Mische return to Sivrinaj where Raihn and his inner circle plan a celebration for Vale and his newly turned wife’s wedding. However, Raihn is convinced that Vale is a traitor. Meanwhile, Oraya struggles with her feelings for Raihn that boil over in a sensual dance during the party in front of the leader of the rebels, Simon, and Septimus. Then, Cairis betrays Raihn, but Oraya saves him from execution and the two flee the castle.

Part Five: “Waxing Moon” continues as Oraya and Raihn rekindle their relationship and resolve to save those still loyal to them. After finding Mische, Vale, Lilith, and Ketura, the escape to a series of caves a week away from the city. There, they coordinate with Jesmine to build a Hiaj and Rishan army willing to fight for Oraya and Raihn. When they attack the city, however, they learn that Simon has been infused with god’s teeth and Vincent’s pendant, and Oraya is gravely injured by him while the rest of the army is forced to retreat. Raihn rushes to the town mentioned in letters by Oraya’s mother, grateful to find a woman named Alya willing to help.

Part Six: “Full Moon” continues as Oraya wakes up and meets Alya, her aunt, who heals her. When they combine the gem from Oraya’s ring with her mother, Alara’s necklace, it draws a map onto her skin, revealing the location of the god’s blood Vincent hid. The group goes together with Raihn staying with the soldiers up top while Oraya goes underground. There, she meets a piece of Vincent’s soul capable of speaking to her. He reveals that he planned to kill her as a child, but fell in love and wanted to protect her. However, he acknowledges that it was not enough and Oraya is finally able to let her anger go as she leaves with the blood.

When she reaches the top, however, she is unable to stop Simon from gravely wounding Raihn. Desperate, Oraya offers the blood to Nyaxia, as it once belonged to her husband. The goddess answers and murders Simon, but refuses to give Oraya and Raihn the bond that would save his life. So, Oraya calls for the second, lesser known goddess of her mother, Acaeja, and convinces her to give the bond instead. She does, but warns them that Nyaxia will return.

In Part Seven: “Dawn,” Oraya and Raihn realize they now have matching Heir symbols, representing the merging of their bloodlines. They give an offering to Nyaxia to bless their rule, and she reluctantly accepts it. Meanwhile, Cairis- who they have imprisoned but decided not to execute- says that Septimus will return. Oraya and Raihn resolve to face him and the rest of their enemies together.