I’ve been in a reading slump but this book pulled me back in. Having read the first two books in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, but having a long break between reading those and this one I was worried that I wouldn’t grasp the world. Luckily, Broadbent’s world building and hints made it easy to remember the world and the complexities. The relationship between Atrius and Sylina was fascinating to read and I enjoyed the aspect of the cult which Sylina is part of, and the fact that as a lead she has no eyesight but relies on ”threads”. It’s rare you read books with a vision impaired lead and it made this book all the more fascinating. At times the pacing was quite quick and I’d have liked more depth, greedy as I am, but hopefully Atrius and Sylina will appear in future books and then I’ll get even more insight into their interesting relationship.

The Crowns of Nyaxia strikes again! I love everything written by Carissa, and this did not disappoint. I just want to stay in this world forever! Also live laugh love a murderous FMC

Might come back to this someday, but at the moment, this just isn't holding my attention at all and I'm not retaining anything.

I don't really feel anything for the characters and it's feeling quite repetitive.

✨️6/5 stars as always✨️

Carissa Broadbent just writes the most beautiful prose. She writes in a way where every now and then you put the book down just to admire the writing.

The story was well paced, Atrius is my new favourite vampire (sorry Asar), the romance was a great slowish burn and I stress-read the last 10% because as soon as the White Pantheon/Nyaxia puts their nose in the story you know it's going to be awful.

Guess I just sit here now and wait patiently for the fallen and the kiss of dusk. *impatience intensifies*

Carissa Broadbent could hit me over the head with her keyboard and I would say thank you. Wow. What a masterpiece this was, to get so much into a book that can stand on its own?! To explore grief, addiction, desperation so beautifully?? I’m in awe. Atrius and Sylina will now always hold a special place in my heart, and the fact they are going to play a role in the crowns of nyaxia series later on makes me SQUEAL with excitement and nerves. Take a bow Carissa, take a bow 🙇🏽‍♀️

“‘You shouldn’t be here.’
This time he spoke against my mouth–not quite a kiss, but the promise of one.
I whispered, ‘Why?’
‘Because you make me ravenous.’”

Leí el primer libro de esta saga cuando salió hace años, y la verdad es que extrañaba muchísimo la narración de Carissa y lo épicas que son sus historias. Cada vez que la leo, solo puedo pensar: "Ya lo ha vuelto a hacer, menuda escritora tan increíble." Su capacidad para crear romantasys autoconclusivos que realmente valgan la pena siempre me asombra. Si te gustó Six Scorched Roses (su novela 1.5 de Crowns of Nyaxia), este libro también te va a encantar.

Una de las cosas que más me ha sorprendido es cómo, a pesar de ser un libro relativamente corto, el worldbuilding es completamente inmersivo. Desde el primer capítulo te atrapa y te sumerge en su universo sin esfuerzo, haciéndote sentir que formas parte de este mundo lleno de dioses, vampiros y humanos.
La trama política es uno de los aspectos más fascinantes, ya que amplía la perspectiva que teníamos sobre este universo y nos muestra nuevas capas de la relación entre las deidades y las distintas facciones.

Y, por supuesto, los protagonistas me han ENCANTADO. Son todo lo que necesitas en un romantasy: enemigos, badass e increíblemente magnéticos. yo leía y me quedaba en SHOOOOCK con la prota femenina!!! MENUDO PERSONAJAZO! (Y ncesit más desarrollo de Atrius, lo he adorado, pero me falta saber MÁS de su historia)

“I don’t think it was an offer. Offers can be accepted or rejected.”
“You can reject it.”
“But you’ll kill me after.”
He didn’t say anything. Just gave me a grim little half-smile.

Literalmente terminé la historia y solo pude pensar: "Necesito más de ellos." (Lo mismo me pasó con SSR, no os voy a mentir, jaja). La dinámica entre ellos es intensa y adictiva, con ese equilibrio perfecto entre tensión y química que hace que no puedas soltar el libro.
ADEMÁS, si te has leído el libro sabrás de quien estoy hablando, pero ESE PERSONAJE SECUNDARIO? necesita un final feliz, punto. No puedo vivir sin que Erekku tenga su final feliz. (si te gustó Lucien en el primer libro de ACOTAR, Erekku te va a encantar<3)

No quiero hacer muchos spoilers, pero si de verdad queréis sumergiros por completo en la saga más famosa de Carissa Broadbent, ¡leed este libro! Es una historia que logra ser épica, emocional y completamente absorbente en pocas páginas, y que sin duda deja con ganas de más.

“Close your eyes, child, and you will see an entire world.”

I knew I would love this before I’d even started, Crowns of Nyaxia is one of my absolute favourite series. But I am glad I’ve only just read it now, so I already had an understanding of the world and houses. I mean I would have loved it regardless but this story and the characters you meet add to the richness and complexity of the Nyaxia universe. Plus some you realise you’ve already met 👀

Sylina and Atrius 💕 I really enjoyed Sylinas POV, warring within herself with what she believed was right and allowing herself to really see the conqueror she had sworn to destroy. I related to Sylina in the way of thinking you were where and who you were supposed to be only to have situations arise that made you reevaluate and set you on a different path. She really went on an emotional roller coaster. But I’m glad she decided to make her own decisions and back herself. Here’s me trying not to give too much away 😂 but let’s just say dont believe all the stories about Atrius, you’ll love him just like I do.

The world was incredible, the story was intriguing and twisty and I love how it’s all connected back, I cannot wait to read The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk next to see how the story continues!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror completely sank its fangs into me, and I loved every second of it! Carissa Broadbent delivers again with a story full of high stakes, forbidden longing, and two characters who stole my heart.

Sylina is fierce, loyal, and utterly compelling, while Atrius is the perfect mix of terrifying and tragically complex. Their dynamic? Utterly addictive. I couldn’t get enough of their slow-burn tension and the unraveling of their truths. Plus, the deeper dive into the gods? SO GOOD. I think this might be my favourite in the series so far!

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, and the author for this ARC! Slaying the Vampire Conqueror releases on the 25th—you don’t want to miss it!

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent

Publish date: 27 March 2025

Carissa Broadbent again does no wrong in her world-building and gripping characters. The perfect level of spice vs plot.

A wonderful story with a blind FMC. Sylina is just so heartwarming and you instantly connect with her as a character. As a dedicated acolyte to her Goddess, she is given a task to infiltrate the army and then murder the vampire conqueror Atrius.

This book can be read as a standalone or part of the wider series. But my heart screamed for the bonus epilogue!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for providing me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this so much! It's very well written and the plot is very intriguing. It is the kind of story that once you start it you cannot stop reading.
Did I guess some things? Yes, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment.
And the romance! Oh, the romance! I found myself giggling and grinning with every interaction between the two main characters.

Thank you so much for inviting me to read Slaying the Vampire Conqueror! This story reminded me again why I love Carissa’s writing so much! The world building, the unique use of magic and the TENSION (both in the story’s progress and the romantic tension).
I obviously couldn’t put it down, and need more!
This might be my new favourite book and I’m looking forward to the next additions to the series.

Really really loved this book! It can definitely be read as a standalone but I do recommend reading the first 2 in the series to get an understanding of the world. I loved Sylina’s character and getting to see into the seer world was so interesting! I loved Atrius as the brooding vampire conqueror, I can’t wait to see how both of them come into play later on in the rest of the series!! The romance is definitely slow burn, it’s teased out and you don’t get many major moments between the two of them but that isn’t to say it isn’t good. The plot itself kept me engaged all the way through, I kinda came to the conclusion that the end result would be the end but it didn’t detract from the excitement. Can’t wait to continue the series!

Thank you to Pan McMillan & Tor for this eARC. I’m a big fan of the Crowns of Nyaxia books but I hadn’t read this! I read the Six Scorched Roses novella (loved it) but this slipped past me! It’s really really good! It’s the story of Sylina & Atrius and the bloodborn vampires. I think that these characters play a part in future Nyaxia books (after the current duology with Mische & Asar) and this is how their story began! Atrius is the cold vampire conqueror and Sylina is an assassin who has devoted her life to a goddess and is sent to kill him…things are more than they seem and maybe there’s more than meets the eye to this tragically misunderstood vampire. This was a great standalone, set in the same Nyaxia world, familiar goddesses make an appearance as does a certain cigarillo smoking vampire

The Crowns of Nyaxia series are my new favourites. Having read The Songbird and the Heart of Stone last year I was dreading the long wait for the next in the series. So imagine my joy when I found this stand alone story. This is set in the same universe and, although it is a stand alone story, the plot does slot neatly into the main series story arc and I would not be surprised to see these characters reappear in the main series. (I am hoping that the author plans on giving us a House of Blood story!) This novel focuses on a vampire on a mission from the goddess Nyaxia, to conquer a new land for her, and on the sightless acolyte of Acaeja sent to kill him. I don't want to spoil anything, suffice it to say this has everything that we've come to expect from Carissa, preconceptions challenged, alliances shifting, plenty of action and maybe some romance too. I thoroughly enjoyed this and can't wait for the next book, The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk.

Carissa Broadbent really delivered another forbidden, morally grey, tension-packed romance that had me clutching my Kindle and screaming into my pillow. 🤌🏼🔥

This book throws you right back into the world of Nyaxia, but this time with a vampire warlord and a blind assassin spy sworn to kill him. I mean… THE DRAMA. THE ANGST. THE BANTER. 😮‍💨

🩸 THE VIBE?

Slow-burn, forbidden romance with enemies-to-lovers goodness.
A morally grey warlord who is actually a softie for her.
A snarky, hilarious side character (Erekkus, I adore you 💀😂)
Magic, fate, and a heroine questioning everything she’s ever believed.

🕷️ Sylina (aka Vivi to our MMC) is a seer trained to kill in the name of her goddess, and let me tell you—she is badass but also so lost. She’s spent her whole life thinking she knows her purpose, but when she meets Atrius? Yeah, things get COMPLICATED.

🩸 Atrius is supposed to be this ruthless, unstoppable warlord but instead, he’s soft for Sylina in the best way. The grumpy-but-actually-cares, terrifying-but-protective, reluctant-but-completely-gone-for-her vibes? Yes please. 🙋‍♀️ And when these two finally give in? EXPLOSIONS. 💥

And let’s not forget Erekkus, who stole every damn scene with his sass and zero-filter commentary—

🔹 “So there was coming.” – Erekkus 💀

I was cackling. This man has zero shame and I adore him for it.

📖 Final Verdict?
If you love forbidden romance, knife-to-throat tension, broody warlords who would BURN THE WORLD for their girl, and deliciously messy betrayals, this is for YOU. It’s got spice, war, a kickass heroine, and a hero who never stood a chance. 😈❤️

✨ Favourite Quotes: ✨

📌 “You'd think that a child of your goddess would understand that the world looks awfully different depending on where you stand. Or maybe they took your eyes so you wouldn't see that.”

📌 “Told you. Just his type. Beautiful trouble.” – Erekkus (he’s not wrong 👀)

📌 “To think I let such a dangerous creature sleep beside me every night.” – Atrius (SIR 😭❤️)

📌 “Death is what happens when you stand still. Don't stand still. Not for anything.” – Sylina

✨ READ IF YOU LIKE:
✅ Mortal enemies to lovers but make it forbidden
✅ Sassy side characters with elite one-liners
✅ Morally grey MMCs who are only soft for their girl
✅ A romance that feels dangerous but soooo worth the risk


Would I read it again? YES. Would I sell my soul for another book in this world? Also YES. 🩸👀

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just be dreaming about a vampire conqueror who looks at me like I put the stars in the sky. 😌✨

If you know me, you know I'm not really a romantasy girlie. Nothing against the genre, I just don't vibe with it.

Carissa's works, however, are my exception to the rule. There's always something so nostalgic about her writing and characters that takes me right back to falling in love with books in school; reminiscent of my Buffy/Twilight/Vampire Diaries/Underworld days.

I loved the pacing; full of action and slows down perfectly for you to get to grips with the characters. The romance is always FIERCE.

5⭐️

This book completely took me by surprise in the best way. I went in expecting an intriguing fantasy, but what I got was a deeply layered story filled with tension, heartache, and characters I couldn’t stop thinking about.

One thing I have to mention is how much I love the way the author writes her male main characters.
Atrius is exactly the kind of character I’m drawn to—fierce, powerful, and dangerous, but with layers that unfold in such a satisfying way. He’s not just a conqueror; he’s complex, haunted, and at times even vulnerable. The way his dynamic with Sylina evolves kept me hooked, and the tension between them was perfect. A true slow burn 🤍

Beyond the romance, the worldbuilding is rich and immersive, with a dark, almost haunting atmosphere that lingers even after you turn the last page. The pacing is perfect, and just when you think you know where things are headed, the story pulls you in a different direction.

If you love fantasy with depth, high stakes, and an emotional undercurrent that sneaks up on you, you need to read this.

I received an ARC copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was thrilled to be able to return to The Crowns Of Nyaxia series, as it's one of my favourites, and I loved that this focuses on the characters from The House Of Blood.

Sylina hasn't had the easiest start to life, an orphan living in a place that doesn't have much wealth or opportunities for her she sacrifices everything to join the Arachessen, a cult of the goddess of fate. She's given up everything, her freedom, her soul, and even her eyesight to the goddess and, in turn, is trained to become a disciplined warrior.
Determined to overthrow the tyrannical king of Glaea, Sylina prepares for battle, but when a brutal vampire conqueror called Atrius arrives and kidnaps her making her his seer, it seems she has a bigger adversary after all. Her task becomes to infiltrate his army, gain his trust, and then kill him. The Conqueror must not live, but as Sylina begins to seer for him, she develops a connection, a connection that could cost her everything.

It took me a little bit to get into this one as the first half seems a little slower paced than other books in The Crowns Of Nyaxia series, but once I was hooked, I was HOOKED! I love Carissa's writing style and the way she completely immerses you in this world. It's so addictive. I absolutely loved the connection between Atrius and Sylina. Both of them individually are such great characters, but the way they compliment each other and the way the romance forges in a slow and strong way. Their chemistry, ugh!
The battle scenes were epic and felt more gory, which I personally love, and the second half of this book had me on the edge of my seat.
Overall, I absolutely loved Slaying The Vampire Conqueror. This series and this author has me in a chokehold, and at this point, I will read anything Carissa writes! I know this is a standalone, but I wouldn't be mad if we got more of this couple, please.

“Slaying the Vampire Conqueror” by Carissa Broadbent is a standalone set in the “Crowns of Nyaxia” world.
It can be read separately, but I would recommend reading it after “The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King”. Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending me an advance digital copy of the book. Opinions from this review are completely my own.

The book follows the story of Sylina, a seer tasked with killing Atrius, a vampire from the House of Blood. She was raised in a cult and trained as a killer, but after spending more time with Atrius, their connection grows stronger.
This is an enemies to friends to lovers story with a slow burn romance. I like that the relationship and the trust develops slowly. They have chemistry and I enjoyed all the interactions they have.
Sylina is a strong and complex character with a traumatic past that struggles with fulfilling her duty and her feelings for Atrius. The world building is good as well as the writing. Also the pace is pretty fast and there is a lot of action.

The book was initially released independently and the new version has a few differences.
It also has a bonus chapter at the end that ties the plot with the rest of the “Crowns of Nyaxia” series. The characters will appear in the next book “The Fallen and The Kiss of Dusk” that I look forward to reading.

Carissa Broadbent delivers an electrifying, emotionally rich fantasy in Slaying the Vampire Conqueror. This book masterfully blends high-stakes action, political intrigue, and a slow-burn romance that keeps you hooked. The world-building is immersive, the characters are deeply complex, and the tension between them crackles with intensity. A must read for fantasy and romance lovers alike!