Lately, I’ve been trying to figure out what makes some romantasy books hit all the right notes while others are just… fine. And then, I came across Brandon Sanderson dropping the perfect analogy: writers can either be chefs or cooks.

Chefs, as opposed to formulaic cooks, know why certain flavours work together, how to balance the spice, and when to throw in something to elevate the dish.

Carissa Broadbent is undoubtedly a chef. This is the 5th book I’ve read of hers, and can attest that she uses classic tropes like enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, Beauty & the Beast monster vibes and understands why they work, where to push boundaries, create layered compelling characters and how to build tension.

Take our FMC Sylina, for example. Sylina is a fighter. A survivor. She’s spent years trying to suffocate the parts of herself that don’t align with her faith, but devotion is a double-edged blade, and her cult isn’t quite the forgiving type. They won’t hesitate to chop you into tiny pieces if you break your vows. It makes for quite the dynamic when she’s sent to infiltrate a cursed vampire warlord’s army.

And Atrius, said cursed vampire warlord with big black horns, yep he’s horny 😏! But he’s less terrifying predator and more tragic cinnamon roll who just wants a hug but is too busy and too focused on the task at hand to ask for one.

And this is where Broadbent’s storytelling truly shines because what makes this book hit isn’t just the romance or the intrigue. She adds profound themes such as whether devotion is strength or a cage, whether fate is a force or a shackle. And it does it all while serving up a slow-burn romance with tragic backstories, women who are done playing by the rules, well portrayed differently-abled representation (Sylina has blindness but can still see using other means) and a story that cuts deep.

The re-release of this edition couldn’t have come at a better time, bridging the gap between The Songbird & the Heart of Stone and The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk, with the bonus Septimus chapter. Although you can technically read this as a standalone, or at any point in time in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. Highly recommend picking up this edition of Laying, um I mean, Slaying the Vampire Conqueror, especially if The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk is on your radar.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Tor Bramble for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was dark, delicious, romantic, and completely addictive,an absolute must for romantasy lovers.

Sylina has spent her life serving her goddess as a priestess and assassin, unquestioning in her devotion. But when Atrius, a ruthless vampire warlord, conquers her homeland, she’s given one mission: gain his trust and kill him. Simple right? Until she begins to see beyond the lies she’s been told, and the line between duty and desire starts to blur.

Carissa Broadbent does not miss .Her worldbuilding is immersive, her characters unforgettable, and the tension between Sylina and Atrius? *Flawless.* Their slow burn, enemies to lovers dynamic had me hooked, every moment between them crackling with intensity. The magic system, so unique and refreshing-sacrificing sight for divine power,was uniquely crafted, adding even more depth to an already rich story.

I already miss these characters and am begging for a future cameo. If you love fantasy romance that’s equal parts intrigue, passion, and breathtaking character development, this NEEDS to be on your TBR. And for Crowns of Nyaxia fans, KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN for some sneaky easter eggs!

Carissa Broadbent can do no wrong. Her writing style is just my absolute favourite. She writes romance so organically and the pacing of the plot is always perfection. This book was no exception.

Slaying the Vampire Conquerer is 2.5 in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. Despite being a .5 it is a full length book at around 400 pages. I’m not sure why it took me so long to pick up this book after devouring all the others because I think it is now my favourite one so far. The relationship between Sylina and Atrius grew so naturally through out the book, none of it felt rushed for the sake of Romantasy. The FMC Sylina is one of my favourites Broadbent has ever written. Her powers and the unique world of “seeing” as a Arachessan is one of the most unique magic systems I’ve seen in some time. The way she is blind and sees through the threads of the world was such a fresh concept and even though it was complex, Broadbents writing is so easy to grasp as you’re immersed in the world.

I will for sure be recommending to all my friends and I will also be praying for a special edition to add to my ever growing Crowns of Nyaxia collection

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

I absolutely loved the other books in the Nyaxia series and was very excited for the opportunity to read this book which is written in the same worlds. It took me quite a while to get into, which I am not sure if that it due to the plot or my ADHD struggling with the names etc. Once I was around 40% in I felt the plot really picked up as we got to know more of our FMC, Vivi, and our MMC, Atrius.

Atrius is exactly what people want and expect in a romantasy novel, he is brimming with darkness, a mighty warrior and also extremely caring once you break the surface. Vivi, is a great and brave female main character and I enjoyed watching her character arc progress throughout the pages. She is courageous, honest and loyal. I love that she allowed herself to be emotional at times (especially with Naro) whilst also being aware of what was required of her.

All in all, it is a great read if you love fantasy and romance. There was nothing truly unique for me in the story but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Carissa Broadbent's writing is as brilliant as ever, with great world building and descriptive language.

Thank you to the Tor Bramble, Netgalley and the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4 ⭐️
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Format: ARC ebook
Pages: 369
Spice: 2 🌶️
POV: Single first POV
S/S: Crowns of Nyaxia #2.5
Check trigger warnings for any book.

CARISSA NEVER MISSES

I am so happy that we get one more side book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, I love this world, I love the lore, and I love learning more bits and pieces linking everything together

Sylina and Atrius were a slow burn, with so much trust and respect between one another. The magic use was quite different and interesting, not something I’ve read before.

We get a lot of relationship-based build up, I’d say it’s a good portion of the book and then the quest.

Side characters are quite minimal in this book, which makes sense since it is on the shorter side for Carissa.

This is best read after the first duology, as you need some understanding of the world before going into this. As a pure standalone, I don’t think it’s as strong. It truly is a companion novel to the main series.

I can’t wait to read more from Carissa, I’ve loved every single one of her releases so far!

Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok / instagram / fable / storygraph

It’s been a while since I read the first Nyaxia duology and I’d forgotten just how urgent and cinematic Broadbent is as a writer. From the first chapter I was strapped in, unable to put this down, frantically turning the page to follow this incredible story to its conclusion. The dynamic between Sylina and Atrius is addictive and their dialogue riveting; from their first interaction it’s clear how thick the tension is, and Broadbent manipulates that - and me - oh so well. Two halves of a whole, violent, wicked little things drawn to one another in spite of everything that says their love is forbidden. Forced Proximity x Enemies to Lovers x She’s Sent To K!ll him makes for a perfect recipe.

This was another incredible edition to the Crowns of Nyaxia world. This bloody, tension-filled forbidden romance is just as beautifully written as its predecessors and just as addictive.

Sylina is a dedicated acolyte of the Arachessen who, as a youngling, sacrificed her sight to become a follower of the goddess of fate – and a trained assassin. Atrius is a cursed Vampire exiled from the House of Blood; a merciless conquer leading his brutal army across kingdoms. She has one mission: become his private seer, infiltrate his inner circle and kill him.

Sylina is a strong and endearing FMC. She's cunning and deadly, yet gentle in places too. Despite the cruelties she was forced to endure as a child, she never lost her morality despite being made to feel like this made her weak.

I absolutely adored this book. It's advertised as a standalone and it definitely can be enjoyed as one, but I recommend at least reading the original Nightborn Duet and the Six Scorched Roses novella first in order to truly appreciate the lush, gory, atmospheric world Carissa Broadbent has cultivated.

A small criticism is that I loved the original indie cover. This new one, although aesthetically pleasing, doesn't capture the tension and yearning the original illustration does.

Another gorgeously written, atmospheric incredible read from my favourite author.

I am beyond obsessed with this book. I honestly think its my favourite Carissa book so far. I just loved every second and felt myself NEVER getting bored. At the end of every chapter i wabted to keep reading. I love Sylina as a character who was pretty much left on her own in a world she felt different to those around her i instantly connected with her, she was strong and determined and watching ber grow and her mind open to the real world around her was beautiful to see. Atrius is my love, that poor man is damaged beyond repair he has faced a life of pain and suffering and the only person to ease that pain was Sylina when he slowly dropped his guard down to her. It was such a wholesome and beautiful relationship, they shouldn’t want eachother, but they do, they yearn for eachother and you see their emotions truly develop. The plots in this book at the end were killing me, all i want is for them to be happy. I wish they had another book because i would read about them again and again

Carissa Broadbent can genuinely do no wrong for vampire romances and this one..... Like she's literally sent to k*ll this man. We love a badass fmc. I genuinely loved this when it was indie and am so happy it's finally more accessible to people to read.

I loved being back in the Nyaxia world!

The romance isn’t the main event but it fits in so well with the plot, I loved it! The slow burn and tension was top tier!

The story was a little predictable but I still really enjoyed it!

Another great book from Carissa Broadbent. It was great to be back in Nyaxia again, I loved the wicked characters and the plot kept me engaged throughout.

I loved being back in the Nyaxia world!

The romance isn’t the main event but it fits in so well with the plot, I loved it! The slow burn and tension was top tier!

The story was a little predictable but I still really enjoyed it!

Edward Cullen, eat your heart out, there's a new vampire in town and he's better than you in every single way.

I love morally terrible characters (including supernatural people) and there should be more of this. I love everyone in this, they're all terrible to everyone but each other. I want more immediately and I will be flying through the rest of her books asap.

I am loving this book so far, I am still currently reading it so will update my review here once finished!

4.5⭐️- one thing about Carissa Broadbent is she’s going to create a female character that I’m going to be obsessed with. I love the Crowns of Nyaxia series and after finding out this was a must-read before the next book comes out I rushed to pick this one up.

This story follows Sylina, a devoted acolyte of the Archaressen who worship the goddess of fate. She’s also a trained assassin who has been tasked with infiltrating the army of the conqueror, a terrifying vampire named Atrius. Her orders are to gain his trust as a seer and eventually kill him, but she soon glimpses a side of him that makes her question her entire faith.

I loved this book, it was so well paced and the plot had me hooked from start to finish. Sylina’s character was so strong, complex and entirely shaped by the hardships she’d suffered in life. Her unique magic of being tied to fate and being able to sense everything around her, having lost her sight after devoting herself as an acolyte, and there was so much depth to her character. I loved her journey of learning what she really wanted out of life, which was just to find a place to be accepted for who she was.

And Atrius was the perfect love interest! He was morally grey on the surface but the more you get to know his character, you find out he’s an antihero you want to root for. The romance in this was the perfect slow burn, forever my favourite trope, and the tension between them was off the charts.

The world building in this was perfect, it never confused me and I knew exactly what was going on as the story panned out. This is a must read for anyone who loves Carissa’s other books or the romantasy genre!

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent is a dark and gripping fantasy romance filled with tension, intrigue, and stunning world-building. Sylina, a devoted assassin, is tasked with killing Atrius, the feared vampire conqueror. But as she gets closer to him, she realizes he may not be the villain she believed.
Sylina is a fascinating protagonist—strong, complex, and shaped by her past. Her unique magic, tied to fate, adds depth to her character and the story. Atrius is the perfect morally gray love interest, and their slow-burn romance is full of chemistry and conflict.
The world-building is breathtaking, and the plot is packed with twists that kept me hooked. While some dynamics felt very easy going , the emotional depth and high-stakes tension made it impossible to put down. A fantastic read for fans of dark fantasy romance!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

This books IS a standalone but I would recommend tinread It after the first two books set in this world.

Sometimes I feel like novellas like this are bland but not this one, I've enjoyed as much (or even more) as the first duology books.

The plot is easy, maybe even predictable, but It has a great rhytm so IS really enjoyble.

I really liked the female character and her development.

I just LOVE a good enemies to lovers... Also I feel this books has the perfect amount of spice for me.

After this book I'm dying to continue reading the series and hopefully see again Sylina and Atrius.

This isn’t my favourite Crowns of Nyaxia book but it has filled the hole that I’ve had in my soul waiting for the Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk so thank you <3

As the first in the "Mortal Enemies to Monster Lovers" series, this novel delivers a dark, seductive tale that left me utterly spellbound.

Let’s start with Sylina — a protagonist who crackles with fury and purpose. From the very first chapter, her rage radiates off the page, mirroring the bloodlust that simmers beneath her skin. Her powers, obtained at the cost of her sight, are as unique as they are haunting, making her one of the most compelling main characters I’ve read in a long time. Experiencing the story through her point of view made every moment even more immersive, and I found myself hanging on every word as she grappled with the tension between duty and desire, justice and vengeance.

Then there’s Atrius — the Vampire Conqueror himself. Brooding, dangerous, and morally gray in all the best ways, he’s the kind of antihero that lingers long after the last page. His people’s exile from Obitraes adds layers to his character, revealing a depth of pain and loyalty that drives his every action. Atrius's sharp wit and unrelenting intensity made him the perfect foil to Sylina’s simmering fury. Their slow-burn connection was deliciously agonizing, with each exchange crackling with tension and unspoken longing.

The worldbuilding was nothing short of breathtaking. Broadbent skillfully expands the Crowns of Nyaxia universe, weaving together history, magic, and mythology in a way that felt both fresh and familiar. The rich lore of the Bloodborn Vampires and the tragic legacy they carry added so much depth to the narrative, painting vivid images of exile, revenge, and forbidden magic.

But what truly made this book shine was the dynamic between Sylina and Atrius. Their relationship felt like a dance — each step measured, every glance a weapon. As they slowly unraveled each other’s secrets, I found myself desperate for every shared moment. The banter was sharp, the tension palpable, and when their guards finally fell... it was electrifying.

Broadbent’s prose is nothing short of poetic. Her ability to craft moments of quiet introspection amidst the bloodshed and intrigue is a testament to her storytelling prowess. I highlighted countless lines, each one more beautiful and heart-wrenching than the last.

This story gripped me from start to finish. The pacing was masterful, each chapter pulling me deeper into its dark heart. One more chapter became two, then three, until I realized the sun was rising, and I’d devoured the entire book in one sitting. The perfect blend of passion, violence, and heart, Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a story I’ll revisit again and again. As for Atrius and Sylina, I can only hope their journey isn’t over — they deserve more pages, more battles, more love.

My absolute favorite of the series. Love the characters and cant wait to see them again soon. The newly added epilogue gives as a slight hint into their future reappearance and I cant wait!
Its a standalone and can be easily read without reading the other books, though its worth checking them out as well.