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.

Another awesome book from Broadbent and I could not put it down. You need to have read the original series if I am honest, I think I would have been a bit lost without some previous knowledge.

I really enjoyed this standalone that sits within the Crowns of Nyaxia series. I'll be honest, since it has been a while since I read something in this series, I struggled to place it within the series. I couldn't remember whether I had come across these characters in the main series. I hadn't, but I believe there are plans to incorporate them into the series in the future.

The plot was really interesting and kept me hooked. There are plenty of twists and turns that kept this book so engaging. I devoured this book in a couple of days. It was exactly what I was looking to read at this point in time. It is action-packed with a dash of romance. It is a slow burn but the romance isn't the focus.

I loved Sylina as a character. It was interesting to have a visually impaired character who sees the world in a different way. Considering it is a standalone book, she is a strong and well-developed character. I'd happily read more books with her as the protagonist.

I would highly recommend this book for romantasy fans. You don't have to have read the rest of the series to enjoy this. This book will be released on 27th March so make sure you check it out.

Thanks to NetGalley, Carissa Broadbent, and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for sending me this arc!

I love Carissa Broadbents writing and if you are considering reading this one, you probably do, too.
This novel is set in the familiar world of the crowns of Nyaxia series - reading this series, however, is not necessary to enjoy the book, it just gives you a bit more context.

Sylina is a devoted follower of Acaeja, goddess of fate. After a traumatizing childhood she has dedicated her life to the goddess and joined the Arachessen, a cult-like following of Aceaja which follows the goal of making sure fate turns into reality. Joining this sisterhood demands sacrifices to prove loyalty to the goddess, which is the reason Sylina had to give up her eyesight as well as her past identity. Now, Sylina navigates the world by sensing threads and using these connections of fate and information to be able to "see" things her past self would have never been able to. This makes her a perfect assassin, now tasked with one big goal: to kill the Vampire conqueror who strives to take over her Sylinas native country of Galea. Her task seems simple: infiltrate the army as a seer, earn the conquerors trust and get close enough to kill him when the time arises.
However, as she joins Atrius' forces, she cannot help but notice that this brutal solider may not be the villain she expected. The once clear cut mission of killing Atrius is threatened not only by Sylinas connection to him, but more so by the unexpected moral questions that arise with their progress through the country. But the Arachessen are not tasked with moral judgement but with following the instructions of their goddess without questioning her motives. This forces Sylina to make a difficult decision: trust the goddess of fate she dedicated her whole life to or make a moral judgment of her own based on the facts presented to her. Either way, the decision may cost her dearly - maybe even her life.

I love Carissa Broadbents writing, so absolutely no notes on that.

Sylina is a complex and interesting character with a lot of backstory. We may not immediately understand every decision of hers, but her cult-like upbringing is a fascinating aspect of her character. Sylina is skilled, deeply flawed and has immense personal growth in this novel.
Atrius is pretty similar to the other love interests we met in Broadbents books. He is tall, handsome and has a disturbing past which leads him to the decisions he makes now. Whilst I do get his reasoning and am impressed with his moral code, his openness to critique and his reluctance to certain things, he still is a conqueror of another country. Again, I get his reasons and I kinda am a sucker for the "it pains me deeply but I have to do this" character but the conqueror-citizen of conquered state-dynamic is one I just don't feel comfortable with.
Relationship whise, I enjoyed following Sylina and Atrius whilst wishing we could have spent more time with them, seeing as there were lots of time skips.

The overall plot was good. I did not expect this outcome and was pleasantly shocked by it. The resolution to it made sense. I liked the structure of a moving army and the tactics behind it. I was especially pleased with the fact that vampirism was not really a plot point - it made sense for the overarching plot but the discussion of vampires-humans in the setting and relationship would have felt forced and is something we've read countless times before.

The world building was absolutely stunning. I really don't know how she does it every time. The magic system of the Arachessen, as was with every fellowship of the gods we saw in this series, was innovative, fun to read, unique to the goddess of fate and a great way to experience the story - not through Sylinas eyes, but through her magical senses. The world of Galea may be a bit overdone, which goes hand in hand with the "the conqueror is actually maybe not the bad guy" thing I already criticized, but I adored the dystopian settings of the different cities, the detailed descriptions of the buildings and the relationship between the citizens and its rulers. There is a lot of world building in this book and still I wished it to be more, it was, as always, breathtaking. I cannot wait for the release to go looking for fan art for it.

So why did I not give 5 stars? Well, the conqueror thing made me uncomfortable, but that is personal preference I guess. Additionally, I found some of the dynamics between Sylina and Atrius repetitive of those of other couples in the series. I know there are only so many ways one can write a vampire-human dynamic in a war-like setting and don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed it, but it just felt pretty reminiscent at this point.

Overall thoughts: Stunning world building, unique magic system, solid relationship and a great writing style. You can enjoy this book with the added context of the crowns of Nyaxia series, which will probably reference the characters of this one in the third duet concerning the house of blood, or read it as a standalone.
I definitely recommend picking this one up if you love romantasy, intricate world building and a great time!

Amazing! Everything Carissa writes is. I don’t know how she can make one book read like an entire series. Her character are so complex and relatable. You really feel or them, root for them, and hurt for them. I can’t wait to read more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Carissa Broadbent for this ARC.

An enjoyable Romantasy with disability representation

I loved how Sylina’s “seeing” was described throughout the book.

A delicious slow burn with some steamy scenes.

I just didn’t enjoy this as much as Carissa’s other books and wasn’t desperate to pick it up but is still a good read and well worth picking up.

Thanks for Netgalley and the publisher for an E ARC (although I read on KU due to formatting issues)

I AM OBSESSED!!

The plot? The tension? The original hatred turning into a slow burning passionate romance? Give me more!

Sylina is sent to assassinate the conqueror who is currently destroying villages and taking over her kingdom. The cult that she belongs to, the Arachessen, believe that you do not need to see with your eyes in order to see the world, so they offer their eyes to the Goddess of Fate and use threads instead. They send her on the most perilous mission, to gain the dangerously hot vampire conqueror's trust, infiltrate his army and kill him. Should be simple when you have a deep hatred for the vampire. However, Atrius is not all as he seems, he's got more secrets than Sylina could ever imagine. When he captures her, he gives her an ultimatum, she must become his seer or she dies. Sylina believes this is the only way she will ever get close enough to him in order to kill him. She did not expect to form some kind of deep connection to this tyrant, who is actually not as much of a tyrant as she actually believed.
Can she complete her mission and prove herself worthy to all her sisters or will she forget all about the vows she took?


The angst, the freaking slow burning passion in this book with these characters is simply marvellous. I love Carissa's way of describing each character and their personalities. I also love all the side characters she puts in each of her books, sometimes I even love them more than the main characters. I cannot wait to see when we'll meet Sylina and Atrius again because I most definitely need more of them.


Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This standalone story set in the world of Nyaxia is perfect for those who read and loved The Serpent and the Wings of Night. I will read anything Carissa Broadbent writes!

Thank you to PanMacmillan and NetGalley for inviting me to read this book.

I devoured this book. I absolutely devoured it.

We follow acolyte Sylina deep into enemy territory and the terrifying gaze of its cursed vampire commander, Atrius. Sworn to her goddess to kill this man, but with no choice but to aid him in his war, she falls deeper and deeper, further and further from the vows she made, as well as her only purpose. But underneath Atrius' battle-hungry exterior lies something more. Something painful, calling like to like to the scars of Sylina's past.

The tension and slow-burn elements of this book were impeccably written, drawn out in a tantalising journey between good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate, as well as fate itself.

Thank you Pan MacMillan for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series that can be read as a standalone. The story follows Sylina, a disciple of the Arachessen cult who is tasked with infiltrating a vampire’s army, earn the trust of their conqueror, Atrius, and kill him. Loyal to the Goddess of Fate, Sylina knows she will not fail this mission… until she becomes the conqueror’s Seer and starts to doubt her knowledge.

This is a true enemies to lovers story. Sylina’s motives are very clearly set from the beginning, and Carissa Broadbent has executed her character arc so well that we as readers are able to experience the story through her senses. Both Atrius and Sylina are well developed and believable characters, this is definitely Broadbent’s strong suit!

I was pleasantly surprised with the world building in this story. Being familiar with the Crowns of Nyaxia world, I was expecting something very different. I thought this new setting added depth to the story, and I found the magic system added a fresh spin to the typical Vampire lore.

The pacing was great, it didn’t drag or become boring at any point and the story concluded perfectly.

All in all this was an excellent addition to the Crowns of Nyaxia world and I look forward to seeing more of Sylina and Atrius in the future!

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror
Not usually a reader of fantasy literature I was impressed with the synopsis and reviews so thought I’d give this a try. I’m so glad I did, this is a wonderful fast paced exciting read with great characters that have emotional depth.
Sylina a priestess is tasked by her leader to infiltrate the Vampires and kill Atrius their leader, she does this willingly to stop them invading cities and killing as many people as they can, although he doesn’t trust her he allows her to stay with his vampire forces. As Sylina gets to see how Atrius operates when he invades areas she realises he and his men are not vicious murderers but are infact sparing innocent lives and riding the land of despots and abusers.
Slowly enemies become lovers as their relationship develops where actions and emotions are beautifully written. With a great finale I think we may be reading more of these two special characters.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

I loved being back in the Crowns Of Nyaxia world. It’s one of my favourite places to be in. The world building for this world is immaculate.

This one has been on my radar for EVER. And when I got approved for an ARC for the re release was my biggest sign to finally read it.

Atrius. You rude bastard. Now call me a bitch like you mean it cause I’m obsessed.
Sylina, my main girl. I adored her. She took what was right for her and ran with it.

I love that Atrius called her by her real name when they got comfortable with eachother 🥺

I also LOVED Erekkus so much!

I love all of the “Crowns of Nyaxia” books and this one is no exception. An earlier than expected introduction into the world of the bloodborn vampires, that already gets you excited for the bloodborn duology.

I love the Crowns of Nyaxia series and have devoured the first two books and novella and now Slaying the Vampire conqueror which might just take the lead to be my favourite book in this universe! Sylina and Atrius are now top of my list for most entertaining fantasy couples.

The mystery, intrigue and suspense intertwined with themes of duty, honour, religion and politics really kept the plot interesting and drove the characters forward, making their romance believable despite their enemy status'. The world in which Carissa builds this story is rich with an amazing and believable magic system based on the gods of their world.

There are some amazing moments and with its fast pacing, entertains throughout never leaving the reader bored. It also has some super emotional themes and events that I must admit made me shed a tear or two whilst reading as Carissa is an expert at drawing a reader in to empathise and build emotional ties to her characters.

I cannot rate this book highly enough and I would recommend it to any enemies to lovers spicy fantasy fans.

Thank you to the author and publishers for allowing me to read this ARC via NetGalley!

Let me start by saying this book was incredibly addictive. It was one that I kept thinking about, and I used any opportunity to read it that I could. I love a strong FMC, morally grey characters, enemies to lovers, and a slow burn romance, so this book hit the jackpot with all of those tropes. This book was an amalgamation of all of my favourite things and it absolutely did not disappoint. The world building was incredible and I love that this book can be read as a standalone, but further context is given by the other books in the series.
The FMC felt a bit confusing at times, as her morals seem to switch multiple times, but overall it was generally consistent. The slow build up to the romance was great, although it did appear that Sylina was very quick to switch from guarded and defensive, to fancying the pants off of Atrius in what felt like a short space of time.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and Carissa gave us another great story, so I can’t wait to read more from her

Rating: 4/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)