I have enjoyed every book of this author that I have read, and this one was no exception! This was such a fun read with a unique look into the world of the Crowns of Nyaxia. The world building was so good, a little dense a couple times but overall really well done! The characters were fantastic and I cannot wait to see them pop up again in the series!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror was a fantastic addition to the Crowns of Nyaxia universe! Carissa Broadbent has crafted a compelling narrative that delves deeper into the world's lore and political landscape, enriching the overall series arc. I was particularly impressed with how this installment expanded upon the existing mythology and offered new perspectives on previously established events. It truly adds layers of complexity and intrigue to the world Broadbent has created.

Beyond the world-building, the heart of this book lies in the captivating connection between the two main characters. Their dynamic was electric, filled with both tension and tenderness. Broadbent expertly navigates their evolving relationship, crafting moments of genuine emotional resonance that left me completely invested in their journey. The push and pull, the vulnerabilities revealed, and the slow burn romance were all masterfully handled, making their interactions a true highlight of the book.

While there were a couple of minor pacing issues in the middle, the overall story was engaging and kept me hooked from beginning to end. The world-building, the compelling characters, and the sizzling chemistry between the leads more than made up for any minor shortcomings.

*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the eARC.

I originally read the crowns of Nyaxia duology before reading this book. As a stand alone there is no correct reading order so I really enjoyed diving deeper into the world I had already come to love.

Carissa Broadbent never fails to empress me with her world building and character development. I have been her fan for a very long time so I was very excited for the opportunity to read another one of her books!

<i>Thank you Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the E-Arc</i>
Carissa Braodbent knows how to write a strong female character and a boy who refuses to underestimate her! Sylina in my opinion has a great arc. Going from being loyal to the Arachessen to grappling with what the outside world shows her. Carissa has always been good about explaining the inner turmoil a person has when trying to battle with the views that they have and what is actually going on in the world. Atrius is just like her other main male characters who won't underestimate the FMC. I love that because we get to see bad ass women be bad ass women! Over all this was a good story and book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Carissa Broadbent, and Tor/Forge for the E-ARC!

I've been wanting to read this book since finishing the first few books in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, so when I saw ARCs available for the re-publishing of the book, I was very quick to apply! This was such a great addition to the series, expanding it's world a bit more and adding some new characters (that I hope will have a cameo in future books).

One of the things I've been loving in Broadbent's series is the uniqueness of each FMC. I've loved them all for different reasons, and Sylina is no different! Trained from the age of ten, she's an impeccable fighter, adapt at reading the intentions and movements of her opponents. She's also great at masking her emotions and thoughts, making it so she can manipulate or trick people when need be. She's fierce and well-spoken, standing up for what is unjust, even at the risk of herself. I loved following her throughout this book as she broadened her view of the world and the vampires.

Sylina, as a part of the Arachessen has had her sight taken from her. She's unable to see things through her eyes, but instead sees the world through threads. At first I was worried that this would be confusing to read, making things hard to visualize, but I was very wrong! The way Sylina sees things was very clearly written out, and also strengthened the story. It was a very nice surprise!

The romance was a perfect slow-burn, the characters starting off on opposing sides. It was never rushed, they never felt forced together. Reading as they started to grow closer, understanding each other was very nice. My favourite couple in the series so far has to be the one from Six Scorched Roses, but this is definitely my second!

If you've read the Crowns of Nyaxia books I would recommend picking this up! Even if you haven't read the series, I believe this can still be enjoyed as it's own story. I can't wait to read more of Broadbent's books!

If you're a fan of dark fantasy with a touch of forbidden romance and moral dilemmas that will leave you questioning everything, Slaying the Vampire Queen by Carissa Broadbent is an absolute must-read! (A novella by the way)

Sylina, a trained killer and devoted servant to a goddess, has spent her life serving a cult with a singular mission: kill the tyrannical vampire king. But when she’s sent to infiltrate the forces of Atrius, a powerful and ruthless vampire conqueror, things take a sharp turn. What was supposed to be an easy assassination quickly becomes a tangled web of connections, secrets, and forbidden emotions.

Broadbent expertly weaves a story of betrayal, duty, and the tension between following orders versus following the heart. Her books always provide this charm that makes complete sense why her books are always the first to be picked up by readers at the library.

Trust me, this is a world you’ll want to get lost in. Can’t wait to add to the library’s collections!

Mortal enemies to monster lovers? Say less. Carissa Broadbent is here to steal our sleep, our sanity, and possibly our souls with this one.

This book is dark, seductive, and dripping with the kind of tension that makes you forget to breathe. We’ve got a fierce warrior heroine, a brooding vampire conqueror, and a slow-burn romance so deliciously angsty you’ll be screaming at your Kindle. The worldbuilding? Immaculate. The stakes? Deadly. The yearning? Off. The. Charts.

If you loved The Serpent & the Wings of Night, this novella will wreck you in the best way. Prepare for blood, betrayal, and a romance so intense it’ll ruin you for all other monster books.

✨Book Review✨

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror - Carissa Braodbent

📖 Sylina turned to the Salt Keep of the Arachessen as a young girl who had no where left to go. They raised her up to be a disciplined killer, able to feel the threads of the world around her. She exchanged her soul, her freedom, and her eyes for the Goddess of Fate. Now a vampire conqueror has invaded their shores and is carving a path straight through Glaea. Sylina has been tasked with infiltrating his army, gaining his trust, and then ending him. As she inches closer to fulfilling her mission her own heart betrays her and it could cost her everything.

📚 This is a Crowns of Nyaxia Standalone, but I would recommend reading it after you’ve fully submerged yourself into the Crowns series. Carissa has created a world that I love falling into. Her characters are unique and she is continuing to build out the magical abilities of the different types of Vampires and those around them. The magic systems that she creates link together well and are clearly well thought out. This book was the perfect combination of betrayal, duty, and the strain between following orders while also wanting to follow your heart. I cannot help but wonder if we will see some of these characters in future books!

🌟 If you like a bit of romance in your fantasy, morally grey characters, and high stakes battles then you’ll want to order this book immediately.

I am sad to have missed the original release of this book! It is rereleasing March 25th and I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy from @NetGalley and @CarissaBroadbentBooks Do yourself a favor and dive into this series!

#BookReview #NetGalley #SlayingTheVampireConqueror #CarissaBroadbent
#BookRecommendation #Bookish #BookLover

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror was originally published in 2023. It is a stand alone novel so no need to worry about reading out of order.

I absolutely love Carissa's books and will continue to read every book in this world! Her romances never feel stale or common and the fantasy parts are fully realized. My fave fantasy romance to recommend.

I loved the main characters and really enjoyed the unique magic system introduced in this book! It’s a great standalone book if you like the other books in this series!

“It’s impossible not to notice everything, with you.”

Carissa Broadbent’s recipe for taking seemingly-villainous characters and turning them into anti-heroes I love to cheer for always does it for me, and she hits the target again with Slaying the Vampire Conqueror. I mean, come on, I’m always going to obsess over an enemies-to-lovers storyline where the assassin falls for their mark!

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a great addition to the Crowns of Nyaxia world, and I’m looking forward to seeing all these characters come together throughout the series.
—

this and that:
♡ assassin falls for mark
♡ blood magic
♡ enemies-to-lovers
♡ forbidden romance
♡ forced proximity
♡ gods and goddesses
♡ hurt x comfort
♡ open door spice
♡ overthrowing corrupt regimes
♡ single pov
♡ vampire x human

triggers:
☞ blood
☞ death of loved ones
☞ drug addiction
☞ gore
☞ grief
☞ manipulation
☞ violence (including children)
☞ warfare

I struggled a bit to get into this at first but I'm so glad I stuck with it because this was so good. I don't know what Carissa puts in her books for me to become obsessed with vampires again, but every time I read one of her books, I'm sitting wondering how I can get my own vampire conqueror? The tension and chemistry between Sylina (Vivi) and Atrius was incredible, you could feel it through the pages. I was on the edge of my seat as they fought their way through the warlords together. I did see the twist coming but it was still a good and shocking twist that kept me reading. I can't wait for more of the Crowns of Nyaxia series!

Book review 📖

📜Slaying The Vampire Conqueror
✍️Carissa Broadbent
📠Tor Publishing/Bramble
📚Fantasy Fiction
🗓️Pub date: March 25, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @brambleromance for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨Sylina has sacrified all for The Goddess of Fate. To be a part of Arachessen, a cult that turned her to a fine-tuned killer, she has given up everything, including her eyesight.

✨Determined to overthrow Glaea’s king, Sylina’s attention is suddenly shifted once a brutal vampire conqueror, Atrius, arrives on their shores. Now her crucial mission is to infiltrate his army, gain his trust, and then kill him.

✨However, once Sylina becomes his seer, tides turn and she sees a dark and devastating past that reminds her much of her own. With Glaea’s king demanding bloodshed, Sylina has no choice but to form an alliance with Atrius, even if it means death for herself.

✨Set in the Nyaxia world, this is a complete standalone book. The writing is paramount, as is the case in all of Broadbent’s books. I will say I loved the storyline of Serpent And The Wings Of Night better, but this is everything a vampire lover would want.

#netgalley #slayingthevampireconqueror #carissabroadbent #torpublishing #brambleromance #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #springreleases #fantasyfiction

“Slaying the Vampire Conqueror” is a standalone novel in Carissa Broadbent’s Nyaxia universe. Just like with her other novels, her writing style and story telling is phenomenal. She really is a master of the genre and I’m so excited to have read this one.

I love our main characters and their relationship. Our main character Sylina is strong and I love the relationship she forms with Atrius. The plot and other characters are unique and interesting.

This is a great companion to the main Nyaxia series. It can (and should) be read at any point in the series.

Rated 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ebook ARC.

Sylina is a trained assiassin since she joined Arachessen, a cult of the Goddess of Fate., at the age of 10. Part of being a sister of Arachessen she no longer has the ability to see. When Atrius and his army of vampires land in Glaea, his only goal is to conquer it. Atrius uses a seer to help him with what to expect during the battles that he and his men are up against. Sylina's orders are to kill Atrius and stop him from overthrowing Glaea's kingdom. As Atrius seer Sylina must keep her ture agenda to herself in order to complete her mission When Sylina finds out that Atrius is not interested in killing innocent lives, she starts to see him in a different light. Now Sylina doesn't know who to trust, Atrius or the Sight Mother. Just like with her other books Carissa Broadbent weaves a kingdom of unforgettable characters. If you haven't read her books yet I highly recomend them. They will leave you wanting more by the end of them. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Bramble Books for letting me read an advance copy of this book.

I really loved the characters of this book. Sylina is a bad bitch who gave up her eyesight for her faith. She is an assassin who is sent to take down the vampire conqueror but instead of killing him she fell in love with him. Sounds cheesy at first but the story was really interesting from the jump. She becomes his seer, earns his trust, and falls for Atrius. For this being a standalone I thought the world building was done very well. The plot was pretty predictable which is why I only gave it a 4, but I had a great time. I liked the ending a lot and I hope I see these characters again in other books for this series.

Very equal parts plot to romance. I love a good romantasy and carissa broadbent knows how to deliver. I do think there is some importance to reading serpent and the wings of night first for more in-depth understanding of the world though

“Slaying the vampire conqueror” is a novella in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. It is recommended to read after book two if you want to read in the timeline order; however it works as a stand alone and you can read without having read any other books in the series and still enjoy it / understand what’s going on.

If you are looking for hardcore enemies to lovers, this is not it. If you are looking for longing and angst, this is also not it. I found that Atrius and Sylinas relationship is built on mutual respect, even though they have different goals they appreciate each others honesty, straight forward ness, talents and inner strength. Despite coming from different origins they are both very similar people and their respect for each other lays the foundation for a gentle compassion and trust. I actually loved this aspect about the book, it differs from the typical enemies to lovers trope which was a refreshing change of pace.

Honestly the first 30% of the book was a bit too slow burn for me, although the book as a whole kept my interest throughout, I found myself really getting into the plot around the 30-40% mark when Atrius army started raiding kingdoms and over throwing corrupt kings.

Erekkus is a fun side character although I would of liked to see him get more spotlight overall because I think he had potential to include a lot more banter and funny quips I think the author missed an opportunity here.

Overall thoughts - I liked it!

Thank you to Tor publishing and Carissa Broadbent for the EARC!

Carissa Broadbent has some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read and I need to get that across in my review first and foremost. Her writing is insightful, and filled with beautiful lyrical metaphors.

I'm pretty sure all of her books will get at least a three from me just on prose alone. I'm obsessed with it.

Now to the review,

This is the fourth book of hers that I've read. I flew through the first two books and novella in the Nyaxia series first. And loved the duet with my entire soul, and really enjoyed the novella.

This is a standalone sent in that same world but elsewhere. I really enjoyed the expansion we got in this one about the gods and the white pantheon.

But sadly I just didn't vibe with our MC.

We follow Sylina who is an acolyte of Acaeja. In order to gain power from Aceaja our acolytes give up there eyesight (they are blinded when young). But throughout this story I don't think this added anything. Sylina could see, she just did it in another way that I still don't fully understand. If you are going to have a blind character. I want some good rep. The author often mentioned her "seeing" things like the smirk of his lips. I wish we had relied on our other senses, maybe she felt his lips move into a smirk, instead.

I also just found her a character who didn't really grow and then bam all of sudden her motives change. I wanted a little more nuance in her arc. In the brainwashing of the cult and her realizing these things. It just felt like too easy of a switch for me.

I did really enjoy our love interest he is a little bit more of a vanilla and brooding character then I normally like. But I loved the small jokes he made.
However I do wish in general the two of them had more chemistry.

BUT I did still really enjoy this story. It has some of my fav lines so far I've read from Carissa. And also so many fun Easter eggs for serpent and I think we will be seeing these characters again. Even though this is a standalone.

I will be recommending especially to ppl who don't like as snarky of an MC as I prefer. Or as logic driven as I am (because a lot of other ppl buddy reading with me barely noticed the times that things were described as seeing)!