I received this book as an ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. The book was published on 15th April.

Overall I did enjoy this read, I've always been a fantasy genre fan and this has sapphic vampires in it, so it's my cup of tea from the offset! However, I couldn't sing the praises of this book like I really wish I could.

I really enjoyed the slayer Kas, she gave me butch knight vibes and reading about how tall and strong she is with lovely broad shoulders had me swooning. Claudia was your dainty looking but fierce femme, able to easily hold her own and protect Kas who would become her lover. Just living up to the butch x femme dynamic even more! I enjoyed seeing their character growth individually and how that impacted their romance.

A notable mention for this book though is its predominantly female cast. It was great to see all the strong powerful characters in this story to be women, and these women be a mix of LGBTQIA+ representation. It did well to create a good little found family dynamic, I couldn't help but enjoy their bickering and will the development of their family dynamic. This book was described as a feminist Witcher, and I don't think it disappointed on that theme.

However, there are a few issues with this book that bring the rating down to what it is.
Firstly would be the plot pacing; i think it was intentionally meant to be fast paced but this did not always feel the case. Some chapters felt to drag on occasions, which even made me pause reading this book and is the reason it took me over a month to finish.
Secondly, I really enjoyed the intermissions to learn more of the antagonists history, but we only really meet two slayers and have very limited story of them or from their time in the slayers keep. Something of the First Slayer defeating the Dragons or more of the slayers we meet backstory would have been an amazing addition to help understand their journey.
Thirdly, I was bothered by a plot hole. How did Serisa know where the Slayers keep is? The Slayers keep had been there for so many years and no monsters have gone in and killed the slayers, something I'm sure they would have tried to do if they knew where to go! They couldn't have used the magic talking head as Claudia wasn't there yet. This just bugged me and took me out of the story for a bit.
And lastly, as much as I love an enemies to lovers trope and feel at points this book hit the mark for this, it also fell a little flat and felt superficial at times. The attraction between Kas and Claudia seemed to be purely off physical attraction alone, which there is no shame in of course, but with this trope I feel it needs more than that to really sell it.

I really did enjoy this read overall, and would even recommend it to other sapphic fantasy lovers. I would say it's a nice easy read to enjoy, could even help to get someone out of a reading slump.
Thanks to the author and Netgallery for letting me read this ARC!

A Ballad for Slayers and Monsters by Rita A. Rubin is quite the adventure—equal parts sapphic slow-burn romance and save-the-world fantasy. I enjoyed the ride.
Following the death of her family, Kas becomes a monster slayer. Claudia is a monster—or at least half-monster, for what it’s worth. The two are brought together by chance and a magical remnant capable of releasing vanquished dragons who threaten to annihilate humanity. As the two journey to Slayer's Keep, where the only thing they think can destroy the remnant is kept, they realize they are both more than just a slayer and a monster. 
Rubin creates a volatile world filled with all manner of monsters, as well as monstrous humans. The dragon lore is interesting and distinct from anything I've read before. I appreciate the complexity of the antagonist and her relationship with Claudia. One of my favorite supporting characters is Aara, the little werecat. She brings lightness to the group and softens Kas, while also being smart and adorable. Claudia is another favorite character, for her strength and fortitude. This quest is undertaken by some very competent, formidable women with swords and serious butt-kicking skills, and I am here for it.
Great world-building and character development, action, a big battle final boss scene, and some lady love make this a satisfying read.
My only critiques are that more time could have been devoted to the protagonists’ relationship development during their journey and that the high fantasy elements could have been explored in greater depth.
I recommend this enemies-to-lovers romantasy. I am giving it 3.75 stars, rounded up.
#enemiestolovers #fantasy #highfantasy #romantasy #dragons #shifters #vampires #quest #swords #HEA

Described as a queer feminist version of The Witcher, this book had me intrigued from the start—I’m a fan of all those elements, even if romantasy isn’t usually my genre. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to the hype for me.

The pacing felt uneven—dragging in some sections and then rushing through others—and the dialogue often pulled me out of the story rather than immersing me further. The seemingly endless parade of monsters began to feel like a checklist, rather than adding meaningful stakes or tension.

That said, I did enjoy the enemies-to-lovers dynamic, which was well-executed between the two leads. Kas and Claudia were both charming and distinct, with personalities and issues that made them feel real. However, I found the main villain a bit grating, especially in how her arc was resolved.

Despite the YA-leaning cover design, I wouldn’t categorize this as YA due to the explicit sex and violence. Just something to keep in mind for potential readers.

And maybe this is just a personal quirk, but Claudia will always be the werewolf from Monster High in my head—so remembering she’s a vampire (sorry, vampiric) was a recurring mental hiccup. That brings me to another small gripe: why tweak the names of every single monster just slightly? It felt unnecessary and occasionally distracting.

In the end, this one wasn’t for me, which is a shame because I really wanted to love it. Still, I did find moments of enjoyment, and I can see it resonating more strongly with the right audience.

Thank you Netgalley for the free ARC ebook in exchange for an unbiased review.
I enjoyed this book! The first thing i noticed was the writing style, which was a little odd and took taking used to. But as i read on it was fine. I do think there was many times that there was filler sentences that felt unnecessary and even repetitive; that the author could have left out. These were sentences that often pointed out a very obvious thing that happened when it was already inferred in the previous paragraph. Also, just as a preference i would have liked the characters’ inner thoughts to be italicized, as well as call backs to other characters’ quotes. It helps differentiate them from the other paragraphs a bit more.
The plot was interesting, love a good journey. I do think a map would have been nice to go along with this book so you could follow the journey. Since this is a stand-alone i think there could have been more world building and lore, especially surrounding the Slayers and the dragons. We only really meet two Slayers and do not have any backstory from them or about time in the Slayer’s Keep. An interlude or prologue of the First Slayer defeating the Dragons would have been an amazing addition.
I did like all the different monsters that the characters encountered including the smaller ones such as Aara..
I am glad that Serisa decided to go herself, she was irredeemable at that point with all she had killed and intended to kill with the release of the Dragons.
I liked the romance, it did not feel rushed and it felt genuine

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

I really struggled with this book. It has feminine Witcher vibes, which I was so excited to read it. I love The Witcher. It even has my favorite trope enemies to lovers. And it has a lot of action.

I just could not get into the story, and sometimes, it felt rushed. I liked that we got the POV from different characters (slayer, vampires, etc.). But something was missing.

Sadly, this book wasn't for me.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. #ABalladforSlayersMonsters #NetGalley

Action packed fantasy novel with monsters from Slavic mythology, with a bit of Witcher vibes going on, but with an all female main cast. The main highlight for me was the romantic plotline. I loved Kas and Claudia, and from the other characters, Aara. The number of featured monsters was a bit too high for me, and it did break the narrative from time to time, with lots of recalled chapters from the main villain's past. Although I enjoyed reading her thoughts as well, her share of the story was excessive.

All in all, I enjoyed the book, would definitely recommend it to fantasy fans!

I stumbled upon this book while scrolling through NetGalley. I really liked the cover and that was enough. All that to say, I went in blind. I knew nothing about the story, the author, anything. I went in with no expectations, but it blew me away anyways. This authentic, thought-out, wholehearted feminism that doesn't compete with the plot. The scenery of this book was exceptional and immersive. It never slows down to a boring pace so I ripped through this book. I was only disappointed when I reached the last page and ran out of words. I can't wait to reread it.

It breaks my heart to read a book that includes both vampires & Sapphics, two things I adore, and fail to feel like I want to shower it with praise. Unfortunately, the writing style and consistent typos in this novel made it very challenging for me to get through. It's with geuine disappointment (and apologies) that I say I DNFed this one... Than you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Wow! Where do I even begin with A Ballad for Slayers & Monsters? This book is an absolute gem that deserves all the hype it has been receiving! From the stunning cover, which perfectly captures the essence of the story, to the well-crafted characters, every element comes together to create a compelling narrative.
Having first come across this book on Twitter, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read an ARC. The story revolves around a Slayer falling for a Vampire, and it’s sapphic! What's not to love? I found myself utterly captivated and unable to put it down—each page pulled me further into this enchanting world.
The characters are deeply relatable and dynamic. Aara, their daughter, is adorable, and I can't help but root for her happiness. Claudia, a fierce cinnamon roll, has a sweet side that shines through amidst her strength and resilience. And Kas—my heart! She’s the epitome of strength and beauty, and her relationship with Claudia gave me all the feels. Their witty banter and reluctant allies-to-lovers arc is delightful and relatable.
One of the standout aspects of this book is its strong, predominantly female cast. The feminist themes are seamlessly woven throughout the narrative, making the experience refreshing without feeling preachy. Rubin's ability to infuse humor and heart into difficult subjects is commendable, and the emotional depth of the story is truly moving.
While the pacing is thrilling for most of the book, I did feel the final battle dragged a bit. There could have been a major twist that would elevate the stakes even higher, but that didn’t significantly detract from my overall enjoyment. The emotional writing during Serisa’s arc tugged at my heartstrings, although it left me wanting a bit more in terms of resolution.
In a genre often filled with clichés, A Ballad for Slayers & Monsters is revolutionary with its original all-female cast. It’s an empowering read that reminded me of the strength and resilience women possess, all while delivering a gripping adventure filled with excitement and emotional depth.
With beautifully written prose, well-developed characters, and breathtaking world-building, this book will surely stay with me for years to come. I can't wait for its release in April—I've already pre-ordered multiple copies! This book deserves a spot on everyone’s reading list—trust me, you won’t regret it.

Perfect for fantasy fans (think The Witcher with more women), with family drama and a sapphic romance twist. The worldbuilding is great fun, and Kas and Claudia are a WLW slayer/vampire enemies-to-lovers romance to root for. I would definitely read more stories set in this universe, with its Eastern European fantasy elements, a rip-roaring adventure vibe, and, dragons. Always love dragons.

A Ballad for Slayers and Monsters opens with a dark, tragic backstory for our heroine, Kas, who then devotes her life to hunting monsters. Trouble arises when she falls in with a half-vampyric, and together they must go on a quest to save the world from destruction at the hands of ancient dragons.

Content warnings: fantasy violence, including mentions of cannibalism; child and parental death; trauma/grief; moderate sexual content.

A lesbian Witcher-esque monster versus hunter is totally my vibe! And I really liked the characters, however the plot was a bit flat in parts and in ways it felt more young YA? I still enjoyed the read but felt there was more to give.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. Unfortunately, I found the writing to be too on the nose and stilted--I really felt like the author was trying to keep "The Witcher" vibes going, but the mix of humor and monster fighting was not working in the same way those books do so well. The dialogue just felt super cheesy and the descriptions were repetitive --I kept rolling my eyes when Kas talked, especially. I also felt like the three POV switches were not needed and didn't offer much new perspective when we did switch. There was a lot going on and not enough time to really flesh out the storyline in a way that felt meaningful because things just happened offscreen a lot.

This was great! Basically a sapphic ‘The Witcher’ meets epic fantasy with vampires, warecats, slayers and monsters a plenty plus more fantastic beasts throughout.

We meet Kas a slayer who lost her family to a set of vampires at a young age who sets to rid the world of the terror she faced. She is one tough, sword wielding, monster slayer that runs into Claudia the half human, half vampire. There are sparks almost immediately that throws both of them! They are set to stop Sersia (Claudia’s half sister, vampire half that is!) from her rampage to free a terrifying monster of the ages.

This story is a wild ride that cuts into three POV plus parts that drift back to an origin story with Sersia and what made her the monster she is.

There is a lot separate parts that really build to the budding found family that has various members of their tribe including lesbian, bi and trans representation . There is a trigger warning at the start by the author to murder, loss, violence, blood, suicide (off page) and a few spicy moments. The budding romance is not lost in the pace of the tale. At some stages I was exhausted for Kas and Claudia during some of the fight scenes.

My only criticism is that I would have liked more of the budding romance and the ending exhausted as it was a bit flat in comparison to the body of the story.

I would highly recommend as it was a very enjoyable read and come out of the 15th April 2025. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the ARC team to read this prior to release via NetGalley, the publisher and the author.

The plot of this book didn't really feel like it was going anywhere. The relationships felt either rushed or they just didn't have chemistry. The writing also felt very choppy at times with pretty bad pacing.

I really enjoyed A Ballad for Slayers and Monsters!
I liked the characters, the LGBTQ+ rep, the world building and the character relationships.
Personally, Kas’ development is my favourite. I think out of the main characters she changes the most in terms of adapting her world view based on what she sees and experiences. I love the different kids of monsters!
I did not enjoy how quickly the villain changed right at the end. It didn’t feel particularly natural or realistic to the character. I would love to see Kas and Claudia on their new travels and what happens with them!
A Ballad for Slayers and Monsters is a fun, action packed, enemies to lovers, found family, badass women fuelled read!

Honestly I don't have much to say. It's Vi Arcane in the Witcher with unoriginal fantasy ideas. The issue with most romantasy is that they all have boring uninspired fantasy setting so they need to compensate with good romance and romance writing but most can't even do that. Nothing made the characters stand out. They're basic, I have seen this story before with nothing to spice up the clichés. I am not even happy that lesnians are also getting low quality romantasy like the straights because we can barely get good ones.

This book was fun to read but I felt the plot was lacking. It should take place over a few months but almost none of that was shown. Because of that, all the relationships between characters seemed rushed and/or flat. Neither really had any attraction to each other until other than physically; and only after Claudia bites Kas on the ship. They don't have a moment of reflection on how they like non-physical aspects of the other.
There were also some plot holes. The main one I have issues with is how Serisa knew where the Slayers keep is. The Slayers keep has been there for hundreds or thousands of years and no vampyre/ or other monsters have gone in and killed the slayers? How does that make sense? Was there a reason this hasn't happened yet? Kas describes it as a place where not a lot of Slayers are there at one time so maybe that's why, but it still doesn't have sense. The fighting/ action scenes were really fun. This is one of the books you read you read for vibes not to read something life changing; or if your in a reading slump and need a quick read.

When I started reading this book, I was expecting a very different story and for the first 20% I even thought I would not like this book very much. Fortunately, this changed and I enjoyed the plots, spins and POVs more and more.
Were the side characters more fleshed out and the final plot twist a bit more detailed, I would have landed on 4 stars, so its 3,5 for me.

4.5 stars!!
Thank you to Rita Ruben and Netgalley for the ARC!!
Wow this was honestly such a breath of fresh air for me
I loved the story and plot for this book so much, it felt like I was embarking on the adventure with them and the banter and conversations between all of the characters felt so natural!
Kas and Claudia have my heart, like I love the lesbians so much
There was a lot of rep in this book!! I loved Aara’s trans rep, got a lot of lesbian relationships and different character traits and looks
I felt like this was just a super fun ride and I loved it the whole time
The pacing was also pretty good, it had plenty of action while also having lots of downtime for character development and exploring their world which I loved, all the traveling they did felt fun
Not to mention how Kas and Claudia had a pretty good enemies to lovers relationship, it worked out super well
The only thing I would change is for it to be longer :D

This is a great book for fans of fast paced monster/hunter dynamics with a multi-POV focus. For readers looking for something akin to The Witcher with classic fantasy lingo and settings that will leave those hoping for a darker, stormier, grungier slayer-book satisfied.