A massive THANK YOU to the publisher Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of Slaying the Vampire Conqueror

In Slaying the Vampire Conqueror, we follow Sylina who is a seer and is tasked to kill Atrius the Vampire Conqueror, but the more time she will spend with him, the more she’ll realise that he is not as bad as she thought he was.

I had a marvellous time reading this book. It was a short, easy, and gripping read. You could feel how Sylina just wants to do the right thing but is also a bit lost as she does not have all the information having been raised by the Arachessen. And you could also feel that Atrius was not the bad guy as soon as he started speaking!
I just LOVED this book and cannot wait for The Fallen and The Kiss of Dusk to come out!

I'm such a big Carissa Broadbent fangirl! I will read absolutely everything she writes. My favourite thing about her writing is the world building. The intricacies of the universe she has created absolutely fascinate me, and I adore each and every single character she drops into this world. I thought Sylina was such a complex character and really enjoyed following her journey. The almost cult-like religion she was a part of really served to give the character depth and conflict in a very interesting way.

The story balanced stealthy and quiet scenes with loud action-packed moments incredibly well. This kept the pace up and made the whole book a fairly easy read.

I stopped short of giving 5 stars, because I felt this book read more like a novella than a full length novel, despite its actual length. Perhaps if i hadn't already read Carissa's back catalogue I wouldn't feel like this one fell just shy of perfection. But knowing how well she has written the character development of her other couples, I couldn't help but compare.

What is it about this author that makes me fall in love with every book she writes?

Is it the:
~ Strong, likeable female leads?
~ The fierce but troubled males?
~ The plot?
~ The absolute delicious-ness of the story?

I think it might be all of it combined and this book was no exception. I’m so glad I found this author!

Anyway, gushing aside…..

Syrina is an Arachessen. A group of assasin women who gave much up to their goddess, Acaeja, the Weaver of Fates, the Keeper of the Unknown, the Mother of Sorcery.

Atrius is a cursed, vampire conquerer who comes to claim Syrina’s world as his own so she is sent to infiltrate his camp.

There was double crosses, action, drama and, of course, romance and schexy times! And, excuse the pun, Syrinas eyes were opened!

This was a great addition to the Nyaxia world!

Thank you to PanMac and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I’m a little surprised as this book was released years ago but there you go… and it’s initially confusing as it doesn’t state on the cover that it’s a Crowns of Nyaxia book.. otherwise I would have picked it up long ago.

I love Carissa’s books, especially the Crowns of Nyaxia series. She writes so beautifully and the words just flow from the page and into my mind, creating vivid imagery of places and characters, each of which are distinct and carry their own voices.

This book is part of the Crowns of Nyaxia world but can be read as a stand alone. I would encourage readers to maybe at least read Serpent first though, just to get an idea of the lore as there isn’t all that much hand-holding in this book in terms of world building.

Characters were a strong pull to why I loved the book. Their development is above par. And there’s a solid plot. Two things every book should have.

I would say that this book was very, very good, but not quite as good as the three other currently released books in this universe (Serpent, Ashes, or Songbird). But I do so love a good intertwining of stories and I feel it’s cleverly done. Overall, a very solid read, I’m glad the publisher pointed out to me because it would have been a shame to miss it.

Seeing Carissa Broadbent books being traditionally (re)published has been an absolute joy! I can’t stop raving about her writing and I can’t wait for more people to appreciate her talent and get to know her beautifully crafted characters.

I’ve devoured all of Carissa’s books and Slaying the Vampire Conquero was no exception: I couldn’t put it down.

Like all of her books, Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is well-written, action-packed, and bursting with tension. From the moment I met Sylina and Atrius, I was hooked—not just in their slow-burning connection, but in the mystery of their pasts. Sylina, a sightless assassin bound by duty, and Atrius, a warlord vampire with a carefully guarded heart, made for a fascinating pair. Despite their emotional walls, their chemistry is palpable, feeling both electric and organic. Broadbent masterfully weaves their tension into every interaction, making their relationship one of my favourites.

My only complaint? I couldn’t get enough of this!

I need to know what role these characters will play in the main series, because their presence already feels so significant. I also wanted more of Atrius’s past! The book teases us with glimpses of his history—his curse, his relationship with the prince and the goddess, his rise to power—but many of those threads remained unanswered.

This book can be read as a standalone, being a possible good starting point for those afraid to commit to ongoing series. Regarding, Crowns of Nyaxia, this is a must read as it adds significant depth to an already exciting world. And if you are a fan of Broadbent’s books, you already know you'll love this one too!

<i>My huge appreciation to Pan Macmillan | Tor Bramble for the invite to read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This is my fifth book now in the Nyaxia series that I read, and at this point I'll read anything in this world that Carissa Broadbent will throw at me.

What fascinates me most are the FMCs. They are lost, obedient, traumatized, and have sacrificed everything for a diety - or a combination of these things. And then, under the worst of circumstances, they find themselves and rise above, they become strong and fierce - and I can't help but root for them.

This is Sylina's story - assassin, sightless, devoted. She is being sent on a mission to kill the Vampire Conqueror, but uncovers lies and deception. True power lies elsewhere, and she has to find her own path.

The world of the Nyaxia series is well built, with much darkness and glimmers of light. And the characters are all really interesting, while fighting their own demons.

4,5/5 stars and gimme more in this world!

Thank you @netgalley and @panmacmillan for the eARC!

#SlayingTheVampireConqueror #Nyaxia #Netgalley #Bookstagram

If you’re into dark fantasy romance with rich worldbuilding, morally complex characters, and sizzling enemies-to-lovers tension, Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is exactly what you’re looking for. Carissa Broadbent delivers yet another spellbinding story set in the Crowns of Nyaxia world, and honestly, I couldn’t get enough.

Sylina is such an incredible protagonist—fierce, thoughtful, and full of inner conflict as she tries to reconcile her devotion to her goddess with her own sense of morality. She sees the world through threads of fate, which was such a cool concept that added this unique layer to the story. Her growth throughout the book was amazing to watch, as she slowly begins to challenge the beliefs she’s held onto for so long.

And then there’s Atrius. He’s the brooding vampire conqueror who’s ruthless in battle but surprisingly kind and vulnerable beneath all the blood and steel. He’s got major “grumpy with a hidden soft side" vibes, and his respect for Sylina is one of the best parts of their dynamic. Their romance is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers perfection. The way they go from mistrust to understanding, and eventually to something deeper, is so satisfying to watch. There’s no unnecessary drama between them—just raw honesty and two lost souls finding solace in each other.

The story itself is steady and keeps you turning the pages with a mix of action, betrayal, and just the right amount of twists. It’s more character-driven than plot-heavy, but honestly, the characters are so good you won’t even care. The human lands of Glaea were fascinating, and learning about another goddess in this world added even more depth to the mythology. And even though this book stands alone, it’s worth diving into the rest of the Crowns of Nyaxia series to fully appreciate Atrius’ background.

If you love romantasy, this one needs to be on your TBR. It’s romantic, dark, and absolutely addictive. Broadbent has such a talent for creating rich, immersive worlds and characters you can’t help but fall in love with. I already miss Sylina and Atrius, and I’m crossing my fingers we’ll see them pop up in future stories.

I've had this book on my TBR for a long time, so when I received a widget for it on NetGalley, I knew it was the perfect time to read it. and I'm so glad I did, because this was amazing, exactly what you'd expect from the awesome Carissa Broadbent!

this book is set in the same world as the Crowns of Nyaxia series, though it can be read as a standalone and it doesn't take away from the enjoyment at all because the lore of the world is explained very well throughout the story. it was also a great opportunity to learn about Acaeja, one of the gods mentioned in Crowns of Nyaxia - everything about her, her acolytes and how they experienced the world and the magic they had access to was completely fascinating! I honestly wouldn't have minded for the story to spend a bit more time in the beginning exploring this religion.

as it stands, the main plotline starts pretty quickly and we're introduced to Sylina and Atrius. these two were everything (and the romance was perfect!). on one hand, Sylina was such a compelling main character, because her journey (both physically and figuratively) forces her to look past everything she's been thought while serving as an acolyte of Acaeja and come to terms with what she knows in her heart is right. she is compassionate and resilient and her POV was very enjoyable! on the other hand, Atrius was the vampire conqueror who'd come to take control of Glaea and who didn't care about the lives he destroyed in his quest for power - or so Sylina thought. the truth was a bit more complicated than that. I loved Atrius because of his no-nonsense attitude, and his genuine desire to lead his warriors with honour and help them find a land they could call home.

to sum up, I loved everything about this book - the worldbuilding, the intricate magic system, the characters (although I would have liked if there'd been more side characters from Atrius's warriors), the romance and the storytelling. I 100% recommend it!

Was so pleased to receive an advance copy of this!

This was a decent read - definitely didn’t captivate me the same way Mische/Asar’s book did, but it was a quick read and I was interested in the world that Broadbent was putting together. Unfortunately, while the book flows quickly and has an interesting concept with the Arachessen (probably the most interesting of the acolytes from the Nyaxia series so far), I never really cared. Not about Sylina. Not about Atrius, none of them, which kind of pulls you from it. The characters just didn’t feel as rounded as some of her previous works.

Still a good read and a decent addition to the world, and I would be interested to see where this all goes and ties in with others.

This book really surprised me!

[original review updated Feb 2025 for the re-release]

I delayed reading this originally as I didn’t realise how much it intersects with the Nyaxia series, but I’m so happy I finally started it! This is definitely not one you skip in the series, as it gave so much more insight into the bloodborn curse as well as the other gods.

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Premise: Sylina, is a trained assassin, who has grown up carrying out the wishes of Acaeja (Goddess of Fate). When Atrius (from the House of Blood in Obitraes) and his army set out to conquer her land, she is sent to gain his trust as his seer and kill him. With plenty of hidden pasts and political secrets to uncover.

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The story is very addictive from the start. I love a murderous FMC and an assassination plot. Sylina was fantastic, and I loved seeing her thought process, essentially fighting a lot of the conditioning that a cult had brainwashed into her. Oh yes, did I mention the cult of assassins, if that doesn’t convince you to read it, I don’t know what will!

Atrius was a solid MMC. Broody and cold at first but with a lot of deep emotionally trauma. I don’t think he’s going onto the book boyfriend list but he was very entertaining to read about. And has some extremely sweet and tender moments with Sylina.

And I loved the world building, as we are transported across this new land as they conquer each city. The cave system in particular was a fantastic read!

All in all, a fun read, that I read as quickly as any of Carissa’s books! And the added Epilogue for the rerelease, literally had me squealing with excitement. I’m now, so much more excited for the next book!

Definitely read this book if you love the Nyaxia series, or even just a good vampiric romantasy (this can be read as a standalone). And even if you’ve read the indie version of this book, be sure to reread the new epilogue!

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Tropes: Badass FMC ; Vampire MMC ; Assassination plot ; Slow burn ; Cursed by the gods ; Seer / fate based magic ; Enemies to lovers

4.5 ⭐️
𝑪𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅. 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎, 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒖𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆.

This book follows the fmc Sylina who has sacrificed her life, freedom and her eyes to the Archessen, a cult of the goddess of fate and the vampire Atrius who is known as the conqueror who Sylina finds herself given the mission to become his seer and then to kill him but she ends up finding out so much more about him and the world that might change her whole plan.

I love the way Carissa writes her fmc, they are strong and formidable but also have a vulnerable quality that makes them so much more relatable. The world building she creates is also one of my favourite things about her writing, it’s vivid and descriptive while also at the same time being clear and understable.

The pacing in this book is a lot slower than the previous two books set in the Crown of Nyaxia world and it is heavily filled more round plot and action but still has a really beautiful slow burn romance that works. Sylina and Atrius complement each other perfectly they don’t talk about their feelings instead showing it in their actions towards each other.

This can easily be read as a standalone but reading the Crowns of Nyaxia duology before will give more insight into the world building.
Carissa is such a beautiful storyteller that you can’t help but look forward to what comes next.

Thank you so much to the Pan Macmillan team for the ARC via NetGalley and for the opportunity to share my honest thoughts.

It has been years since this book sat on my shelf like a trophy, a constant reminder that I needed to read it. When I got an email from PanMacmillan with the ARC, I knew it was a sign to finally start the book. You know that feeling when you're 10% into a book and you realize you're already in trouble because you're so hooked? That's exactly what happened with this one for me. I have to thank PanMacmillan for sending me that email because I was seriously missing out.

My obsession with Carissa started with her Crowns of Nyaxia series, so I ended up buying everything she ever wrote (including this book) and somehow forgot about it until now. I truly believe stories find their way to you when you need them the most, and my book-hungover self needed Atrius and Sylina's story.

I love strong women in fantasy, a good plot twist, and a unique take on the enemies-to-lovers trope, and this book has it all. I also love that Carissa knows how to write slow burns that go up in flames with a bang and how these broken characters find each other and mend their shattered pieces to hold themselves together.

Although it can be read as a standalone, it's part of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, so if you haven't read those, you definitely should. I couldn't put it down, and now I need more.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and PanMacmillan for sending me the ARC, and thank you, Carissa, for another book-hungover masterpiece!

4.5⭐️

Is there anything mother Carissa can't do??? The answer is clearly NO, this is an author that can literally do anything she wants, destroying her readers in the process (and we thank her for it).

Slaying the vampire conqueror is standalone romantasy novel that even tho can be read as a unique story, it's actually set in the same world as The crowns of Nyaxia series, and I definitely recommend reading them all.

The best thing about Carissa's books is that every single one of then feels like a new original concept. Vampires stories? Yes. But none of them feels as the rest. In the case of this book we follow Sylina as she is task to earn the trust and kill one of the strongest vampire warrior and I do love the "I came to kill but fell in love trope" and the way that it's done in Slaying is off the charts. Cause, what do you mean this is a standalone!? Carissa gave lore, intense worlbuilding, characters with unique habilities (like, I haven't yet read any book that show the skills of Sylina and her "blindness"), emotional conection and spice while writing the slowest of slow burn.

Another thing that I love is that Carissa, specially in the Crown of Nyaxia series, tackles what it's like to be raised or shaped in the middle of religious fanatism and having, in this case, the FMC confronting her on believes gave her so much depth that at times made feel emotional.

In summary, everybody should read Carissa, all of her books! End of the story.

I absolutely loved this book!

Carissa Broadbent has long been an auto-buy author for me, and while I enjoyed the War of Lost Hearts trilogy a lot, she really captured my heart with the Nyaxia universe. I love that she is doing these spin-offs that still perfectly fit into the world and also give more background and depth to it.

I love a good cult so I was immediately excited for this book, and it certainly did not disappoint!
Even though it was a classic enemies to lovers story, it still felt unique due to the background of the characters, especially with the FMC.
The chemistry between the two main characters was amazing, and I loved how their relationship developed.

The plot was engaging as always in a CB novel, and of course, it really took off towards the end! The ending was satisfying and I thought it was a great standalone, but since I loved the main characters so much, I definitely wouldn't mind another book starring these two.

Overall, this was amazing and I highly recommend reading this!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This is a standalone book set in the same world as The Serpent & The Wings of Night, which was my biggest and most resounding 5 stars, chef’s kiss, no notes read of 2024. This book didn’t disappoint!
I have found Carissa’s worlds to be so complex and her plots to be twisty and wonderful in the absolute best way.
Sylina is a STRONG FMC with amazing amounts of depth and lore, who wants to prove herself. Her complicated history makes her someone you really start to root for and I live for that in a main character.
And if she was complex? Good grief Atrius is that x1000000000. He is grumpy and sexy and honestly just so well written! Their love is understated and lovely and they break down each others’ walls in the most respectful ways. It wasn’t a ~spicy book~ but it was spicy, and I think that’s an important differentiation. Don’t read this if you’re not angling for a killer plot and story. This is plot heavy and incredible and honestly the romance might be the last thing on your mind!

I will say the plot was a tiny bit predictable, but that might just be because I think I’ve read every fantasy under the sun, and have a keen eye at this stage!

Carissa Broadbent has such effortless worldbuilding that you easily slip in amongst her characters. Sylina is an Arachessen, trained as an assassin she gave up her sight in sacrifice to her goddess and sees the world around her in ‘threads’ this makes her a formidable opponent and is an amazing concept. Atrius is the vampire conqueror, and she infiltrates his army as a seer and waits for the order to kill him. A superb plot that twists around the characters beautifully.

The way Carissa Broadbent mixes plot and romance is one of my absolute favorite parts of her books!! The tension of “I really shouldn’t like this” between the characters just hits the right spot every time and the plot line never misses either.
I really loved Sylinas way of seeing and experiencing the world, the way she feels things rather than seeing them was very immersive. I loved how her relationship with herself and her spirituality changed together with her evolving relationship with Atrius. How she learned that feelings and memories are not always supposed to be controlled and forgotten and that she is not the only one struggling with her past.
Her struggles with herself, her wants, and needs and the role she should play really made her seer and healing role within enemy territory even more interesting.
I’m really intrigued where these characters will come to play in the Crowns of Nyaxia series and can’t wait to see more of them!

.Enemies to lovers
.Forced proximity
.Hurt/comfort
.Vampire and Assassin
.Forbidden

The world is fascinating, the characters are incredibly well-developed, each with their own contradictions that make them feel real, and the plot never disappoints. I couldn't stop reading, I needed to know what would happen next, what new strategies they would use to keep advancing, and what new threats they would face.

Sylina is everything you could want from a fmc. She's fierce, yet understanding and compassionate. Her story is one of resilience and belief. Atrius is just as compelling, morally grey but with a softer side. He's a tortured, lonely soul doing everything he can to save his people, even at great personal cost.

And I think this is what makes the romance aspect of the book so beautiful. It's full of the hurt/comfort trope that I adore and can't get enough of. The connection between Atrius and Sylina felt so organic, from how they started trusting and relying on each other to how they complemented each other so well. They began to leave their loneliness behind together.

You'd think a book with a vampire and an assassin wouldn't be sweet, but it is. Their relationship is tender and affectionate, yet also explosive and, let's be honest, so hot.

My heart goes out to Erekkus; I wish his story had a happy ending too.

I can't wait for the next book in The Crowns of Nyaxia series to come out. I really hope to see Sylina and Atrius again.

I love this world so much. The story was predictable but I loved the slow burn nonetheless. Could have been a little less war/fighting scenes and a bit more romance but I loved Sylina and Atrius. Can’t wait for more books!! Carissa has created such an interesting world full of vengeful gods and goddess, interesting vampires and different houses. While this story may be less intricate than Broadbent’s other series—designed to be able to read as a standalone—it still delivers exceptional writing, rich with layered, relatable characters, gripping action, an addictive pace, and stunning world-building. As always, Broadbent excels at crafting compelling characters, delving deep into their motivations, fears, and flaws, making them easy to understand even when their choices are questionable. If you’re a fan of her work and enjoyed her previous books, you’re bound to love this one as well!

A warm thank you to Pan Macmillan, Tor Bramble, and NetGalley for sending me an Advanced Reader Copy of this book for an honest review.

If Carissa Broadbent can do anything, it’s writing a strong, unconventional female lead. We meet Sylina, a seer and priestess of Fate, who was (literally) blinded in devotion of her goddess. She has been tasked with foiling the plans of the invading vampire conqueror, Atrius, in the interest of humankind. We learn about their pasts, their story’s link to the vampire world, and about the future they each aim to build.

Broadbent is unmatched in her ability to weave dark, intriguing plots in with compelling, well written characters and romance. While written as a tangential standalone and companion to the wider Crowns of Nyaxia series, it truly holds its own as a brilliant work. This is well worth a read for lovers of romantasy who require real depth, thoughtful worldbuilding, and strong plot!