A standalone book in the Crowns of Nyaxia world. Although I feel more is to come!

Sylina is tasked with the assassination of Atrius from The House of Blood, but does she follow her head or her heart?

I really enjoyed this. Having read the first 2 books over a year ago, I didn't need a refresher to jump straight back into this world.

The story was fast-paced, and the characters well thought out. An ending that reached a conclusion, but could continue should Carissa chose!

I’ll read every book Carissa releases without fail. She is a spectacular author and this series is no exception. The characters and world are second to none. Knocked it out of the park as usual

After reading The Serpent and the Wings of Night, I'll pick up any book written by Carissa Broadbent without hesitation. This is a standalone book, still set in the same world as the Crowns of Nyaxia series. It follows a seer who is tasked to slay a vampire conquerer after he invades her land.

I loved the writing style and the book drew me in from the first chapter. The FMC is very unique - a blind assassin and seer who uses threads to see the world. It was interesting to read the story from her point of view and how she "sees" the world. The other main characters were also extremely likeable and well developed.

The ending was a touch predictable, but at the same time, I didn't want it to end any other way! Sometimes standalone books can feel as if too much has been added, but the pacing and content were perfect. And although its a standalone, you could easily see where a second book could lead. I truly hope these characters pop up again in some of the other books!

Thank you Pan Macmillan for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. This is my honest and unbiased review.

4.5 stars.
I read the majority of this in one day.
This was such a unique harrowing but beautiful concept of a fmc who gave up her eyesight for her sisterhood, sent on a mission to infiltrate the movement of a vampire conqueror.
We knew where this was heading but I ate it up. Having only read The Serpent and the wings of night, I am looking forward to reading more of Carrissa’s books now

I couldn’t believe this was available to read thank you so much for sending it

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a standalone novel set in Carissa Broadbent’s Crowns of Naxia World. There is no requirement to have read any of her other books before starting this one – but why miss out? Go read them after you’ve finished this.

Our protagonist this time round is Sylina, a blind assassin and seer in service to the Arachessen. Sent to gather information on and kill the leader of an invading vampire force, Atrius, she soon comes to question everything she thought she knew.

Both of our lead characters are well-rounded and strongly written and the chemistry between them sizzles from their first encounter. The plot that follows is perfectly paced. I thought this book was the strongest addition to the Crowns of Naxia world yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers, Pan MacMillan, for an ARC I exchange for an honest review.

The way I devoured this books should be illegal!

I initially read this book last year and I was obsessed with it. As a huge Carissa Broadbent fan, I couldn’t not read this again.

This was absolutely brilliant. I personally love that even though this could be read as a standalone, is a whole experience if you previously read the other books is the series.

The story has everything a romantasy lover wants: forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, slow burn, etc, is just pure perfection 🤌

Definitely a must read for fans of the author or for everyone that loves romantasy.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a standalone novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia world. You could definitely read this having never read anything else in the series, though some understanding of the world would help you get a greater enjoyment from the story.

Sylina is in service to the Arachessen, a cult of blind assassins and sometime seers. Sent to gather information and kill the leader of the invading vampire force, she becomes his seer to get close to the action and finds herself questioning everything she knew about the land where she was raised and the cult that saved her when she was a child. Warrior and vampire leader Atrius intends to conquer the continent in the name of his Goddess as his people have no home, but they want to treat the humans well – they are not fodder or food for the vampires.

Sylina and Atrius build trust by working together, despite starting as enemies, this develops into a kind of friendship, followed by a slow burn adoration and love. Both perform acts of service for each other, and they’re powerful moments under real pressure when their commitment to the cause and to each other is palpable.

What’s lovely about Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is that their feelings are demonstrated rather than the reader simply being told and therefore is so much more powerful. It’s another great addition to the Nyaxia world.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan McMillan for the ARC, this is my honest opinion.

This was a huge disappointment. I’ve really enjoyed the other books in this world but I feel like this fell massively short. Almost like Broadbent is just churning out books without any care.

I liked the concept, but it was very predictable. I wouldn’t have minded, but the characters were too bland to give it any umph.

The writing was repetitive, and over explained everything with us being told rather than being shown.

I can see how others might like it, but it’s most definitely one I’ll forget.

I’m four books in and Carissa Broadbent has wowed me yet again.
I loved the leads of this book, Atrius and Sylina are my favourite couple yet. The way they complement each other is just gorgeous and their chemistry is off the charts. You want it you get it; forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, slow burn, morally grey characters and the whole sent to kill him but fell in love fiasco and I ate it all up. Sylina is a freaking badass assassin and my favourite lead in the whole series. And I also love how we are slowly getting to know more and more about the Gods and Goddesses as well. The pacing felt a bit slower than the other books but I wasn't bored even for a second.
This universe and its stories just keep getting better and better, the more I read them. And the astonishingly good thing is that it’s not all based on just a couple of characters and we get to know new characters and stories without any repetition of personalities. All characters are distinct and unique.
I need to read The Fallen and The Kiss of Dusk now cause I am way too invested to know everything about this universe.

I was so excited to dive back into the World of Nyaxia and again, Carissa Broadbent did not disappoint. I really loved how we got to see a different part of the world and how the worldbuilding in this book expands the world and possibilities for the entire series. The plot also convinced me that the author just can not write a bad book. I was engaged the entire time, and the pacing was perfect. Not too slow, but also not too fast so it would get confusing. But my highlight were the characters. Sylina and Atrius were both complex, imperfect and so well written. Their chemistry was everything to me and I really really really hope, that we will see them again in the main Crowns of Nyaxia series (and after reading book 3, I can definitely see that happening). So to sum it up, if you loved the The Serpent and the Wings of Night duet, there is no doubt in my body that you will love Slaying the Vampire Conqueror as well. 5 stars.

Carissa Broadbent literally never misses, ever.

A heart-racing, thigh-clenching standalone fantasy set in the Crowns of Nyaxia. I absolutely love this world, and I’ve been wanting to pick this one up so I’m eternally grateful to Carissa, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy for the re-release of this book.

Character development is truly the standout of this book for me, as with the rest of the Nyaxia series. We have Atrius aka The King of Yearning, our conqueror is painted as ruthless and cold but the man is a CUPCAKE. I am so in love with him it hurts.

Stylina, our FMC has had….a life. But her character development is so heartwarming and emotional I just CANNOT with this book 😭😭

Slaying The Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent is a stand-alone vampire romantasy set in the world of Nyaxia and the story of Sylina and Atrius.
 
Sylina had a difficult childhood until she entered the service for the Goddess of Fate and was formed into the perfect weapon. Sylina is such a fierce, strong, and inspiring heroine and I absolutely loved her and she’s the perfect heroine. I also liked the representation because she’s blind and nothing is stopping her.
 
Atrius is a vampire warrior and leader of the army. He’s a brute and a bit terrifying at first. But the more I saw of him, the more I liked him. He’s seen and experienced this world in a way that is remarkable.
 
Sylina is tasked to kill Atrius and she infiltrates the army and becomes the seer. And that alone was so thrilling and I’m amazed what Sylina can do. The more time they spend together, the more they feel drawn to each other and the longing in this story was unreal. And the forbidden aspect added a whole lot of angst, and I was completely enraptured by this story. They must risk everything for their world and more importantly their love and I just loved it so much. Also, it’s so difficult to come across a stand-alone romantasy and this book is just perfection.
 
Slaying The Vampire Conqueror captivated me from the first to the last page and I’m just obsessed with Sylina and Atrius. 5 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

Carissa Broadbent writes such solid fantasies. I don't read much fantasy anymore (slowly getting back to it), especially from authors I am not familiar with, but I'm so happy I took a chance on Carissa's books. They're incredible.

The plot was pretty straightforward but made interesting by the protagonist, who had their beliefs repeatedly challenged by the other's actions, especially Sylina. It had a lot of action moments with conquest of new cities, battles against magical creatures, and coming face-to-face with their true enemy.

Sylina is such a strong FMC. Carissa has the ability to write such complex and compelling FMCs. They're full of vengeance, fire, and darkness, yet they fight for those that cannot fight for themselves. They're selfless in their quest to protect the ones they love. Sylina had a terrible past that her new family tried to beat out of her, yet they never could. She feels so much when she should feel nothing. She defies what is expected of her. I really liked her character.

Atrius carries guilt and hope from an entire army. His quest is one of nobility, redemption, and desperation for a new dawn. He is full of layers shaped by a past of regret and guilt. His respect and willingness to sacrifice for his army is what makes him such a great potential ruler. He was so full of pain that it devoured him at times.

The development of their relationship was slow. They didn't trust each other for a long time, especially Sylina, as her quest was to kill Atrius after all. Their protectiveness over each other was so tender. It made the ending even more impactful. The epilogue set up book 3 in the series very well, it bridged the duologies in a way. I can't wait for book 4!!

Carissa Broadbent never disappoints! This was actually amazing! I loveeeee the lore, the world building and the vampires in this so much. The romance is incredible and books in this world never disappoint. This was truly no exception, I loved the chemistry, the drama, the plot! The characters were deep and interesting and I just loved it so much

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent is a dark and enthralling fantasy romance that expertly blends political intrigue, forbidden desire, and emotional depth. The story follows Sylina, an acolyte of the Arachessen and a deadly assassin, who is tasked with a dangerous mission: infiltrate the army of Atrius, the vampire conqueror terrorising her homeland, and kill him. But as Sylina embeds herself in Atrius’s inner circle, things grow complicated when she starts to see the man beneath the monster — and realises that her mission may not be as black and white as it seemed.

Sylina is a fierce and morally conflicted heroine, torn between her duty to her goddess and the undeniable pull she feels toward Atrius. Her internal struggle is palpable, and Broadbent does a fantastic job of showing how her past traumas and the weight of her faith shape her decisions. Atrius, meanwhile, is the perfect dark hero — brooding, dangerous, but hiding a wounded soul beneath his cold exterior. The chemistry between Sylina and Atrius is electric — full of tension, forbidden longing, and quiet vulnerability — making their slow-burn romance both painful and deeply satisfying.

The worldbuilding is rich and immersive, with a deep sense of history and mythology. The political tensions between the humans and vampires are layered and complex, adding stakes beyond just the romance. The writing is atmospheric and lush, pulling you into a world that feels both brutal and beautiful.

While the pacing slows a little in the middle, the emotional stakes keep you invested, and the unraveling of Atrius’s backstory adds depth to his character and their connection. The ending delivers a powerful emotional punch, leaving you eager to see where Sylina and Atrius’s story will go next.

Overall, Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a seductive, emotionally charged fantasy romance that delivers high-stakes action, forbidden love, and complex character growth. Perfect for fans of dark romance and morally grey heroes.

Somehow I went into this one completely forgetting that it was connected to the Crowns of Nyaxia series and I have no idea how I missed that, even more so because I really didn’t like the series (but I might go back and re-read it now because THIS WAS SO FREAKING GOOD ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?)
I might just be a Carissa Broadbent convert now.

I didn’t have any expectations going into this, just roughly knew what the story was about and that there would be a lot of tension/angst/romance between the two enemies to lovers. It’s just a mix of things that are bound to work together and be a seriously good time!

This was so captivating from the world building which was truly insane, complex, and had so much depth that it’s clear just how much love the author has poured into this series, to how intricate and real each of the characters were. For me they really seemed to jump out of the page and had such a range to them that I felt like I was getting really attached to each of them (even the side characters) as the story was progressing.

Some of the quests and events that took place seriously floored me, and I was left heartbroken for the majority of them, even more so when a certain really devastating thing happened about half way through (that i don’t wanna spoil) that left one of the side characters reeling because his whole world had just been ripped out from under him. It’s not often that an author can make side characters just as appealing and interesting and integral to the story, but it was smashed out of the park here.

The FREAKING ENDING had me in awe. It’s probably the main reason that I’m going to have to go back and read the rest of the series, because truly what the heck was that?!?! So so sooooo good!!
Wasn’t expecting all the double crossing, the backstabbing and the grovelling but my god was it good! Seeing both of the Goddesses almost fight it out over their followers was seriously so interesting, and I hope that it’s a recurring theme for the rest of the series because OMG.

Truly an amazing (stand alone?) book. I would urge anyone and everyone to at least pick it up and give it a go if you already enjoy the romantasy genre because this has got to be one of the best that I’ve read in a really long time!

3.5 Stars for this one. I LOVE Carissa Broadbent. I first read this when it was on KU as part of the Monster romance series and it did not disappoint. The angst and the push and pull between Sylina and Atrius was to die for. Highly recommend!

I will read anything this woman writes. She just hits different every single time. Everything she touches is dipped in gold.

This definitely wasn't as developed as her other books, considering it was a standalone, but considering it was a standalone, what she managed to do with it was fucking impressive. The slow developing understanding and respect between Sylina and Atrius was so well paced and so well done. I couldn't have imagined myself at the beginning rooting for the man literally invading and conquering a nation but here I am.

I loved the Arachessan's and their powers. I'd take an entire book on their adventures alone.

I'm so sad this is a standalone, though. I know we'll see Sylina and Artius in future books, since we were literally told that at the end, but I'd take three more of just them and their adventures together.

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0 STARS

God Carissa is amazing at writing fantasy stories. I adore this series so much and will read anything she writes about this world. This novella, which is a part of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, can be read as a standalone.

If you normally avoid novellas, but enjoy this series, I would still recommend picking this one up. Its just different enough that it feels separate, provides more back story to the main storyline and is a super fast read!

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for a copy of Slaying the Vampire Conqueror.

- enemies to lovers
- vampires
- who's the real bad guys here
- delicious tension

I'm sorry what, how have I only just picked this book up, I will eat up whatever Carrissa Broadbent writes at this point!

This was delicious! I loved the tension between the two main characters, the way they size each other up and are trying to suss eachother out, I'm just living for.

The story line was past paced and had me rooting for the main characters, despite the set backs.

FMC: 26
MMC: 200+