“You will never be free, Sylina, until you let go of the hold your past has on you. The past cannot dictate the future.”

Which House do you feel the most drawn to...Nightborn, Shadowborn, or Bloodborn?

Assassin vs. Vampire Conqueror? Say less. Thanks Pan MacMillan for the invite to read this reissue, I had the privilege of diving back into Carissa Broadbent's Slaying the Vampire Conqueror. And even on a second read, it was just as gripping and delivers on every front.

Sylina, raised by the Arachessen, a cult devoted to the Goddess of Fate, Acaeja, was trained to kill without hesitation. Her latest mission? Infiltrate the ranks of Atrius, the vampire conqueror feared across the nation. Gain his trust, and strike when he least expects it. Simple. Or at least, it should be. But the more she learns about him, the more everything she thought she knew starts to unravel. The mission is clear-cut, so why does killing him feel impossible?

Have you read this book yet? I went on a full Crowns of Nyaxia binge last year and read this one right after The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King. And as a certified Bloodborn House simp, the new epilogue had me losing my mind! I can’t spill any details, but let’s just say… Carissa knows exactly how to leave us desperate for the next duology! 🤭

I rated this book 4 stars last year, but with the new epilogue!? it’s an easy 5 stars. I’m telling you, it got me so hyped. I need more of the Bloodborn's unhinged, exiled selves. Nyaxia did them dirty, but honestly, they might be all the better for it.

Read this if you love:
🩸Vampire x Assassin
✨Forbidden Romance
🩸Enemies to Lovers
✨Forced Proximity
🩸Dark curses
✨Tragic Backstories
🩸Morally Gray Characters

The reissue is coming on March 25, and let me tell you, it’s not just a want… it’s a NEED. The new epilogue is crucial and setting things up in a BIG way for what’s coming next in the Crowns of Nyaxia series. And with the gorgeous new cover, how can you not add it to your shelf? Trust me, you’re going to want to preorder this one.

Thanks to the author and Pan MacMillan for granting early access to this book. Please note that this review is based solely on my personal thoughts & opinions.

This book exceeded all expectations- I loved every second of it like all of Carissa broadbent’s books

The characters were lovable and well written. The plot was written in the pace I love most!

My favourite quotes were:

“I jumped a little, startled, as he touched my cheek, the rough pad brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You’re lucky,” he said, “that I have a soft spot for caged birds.”

“Death is what happens when you stand still,” I said. “Don’t stand still. Not for anything.”


——-
I will never not recommend!!

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent is an exhilarating blend of epic fantasy and forbidden romance, weaving a dark and addictive tale of war, magic, and the ever-blurred lines between good and evil. The heroine is a force to be reckoned with—strong, complex, and on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery. What really drew me in was the cult element, as I’m always captivated by the deep exploration of why a character might join or stay within such a group. And then there’s the brooding, grumpy male lead, whose slow-burn connection with the heroine was impossible to resist. Watching them lean on each other and grow together added such a rich layer to the story. I had no idea this was book 2.5 in the series, and now I’m kicking myself for not reading it sooner. My mind is buzzing with theories about how this will tie into the larger plot in the next books!

Four and a half
As someone who has only recently started reading this authors work I very much enjoyed this story that works as a stand-alone and yet fits neatly into her Crowns of Nyaxia series.
Sylina serves the Goddess of Fate and is tasked with getting close to the Vampire Atrius who is currently engaged in invading their land. Having sacrificed her eyes in order to perceive the threads of fate hidden from mortals Sylina struggles to gain the trust of Atrius whilst at the same time ensuring that she stymies his plans. Yet they do progress and Atrius begins to conquer but this Vampire is not just out for glory and Sylina realises that she might not be able to complete her mission !
This is a romance that had me questioning if I actually liked the hero for much of the story. I could quickly get behind Sylina as yes she’s morally grey but boy is she a fighter ! Atrius felt cold and distant for much of this story and yet I did like seeing them work together to become both warriors and well friends I think. It’s not a story full of steamy scenes and I don’t think it needed to be as it was a good action packed story that had me eagerly turning the pages. Definitely a slow burn romance and I very much hope we meet them again as the series progresses.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Carissa Broadbent can DO NO WRONG! I adored this, it was perfect, when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it. The perfect strong female heroine, the perfect pacing, the perfect romance, MMC that matches her freak (on and off the battlefield iykyk). STUNNING.

I absolutely devoured Slaying the Vampire Conquerer! As a fan of Broadbent's Crowns of Nyaxia series I was so excited to explore a new part of the world in this standalone novel, and it did not disappoint.
The exploration of identity, faith and belonging was beautifully handled - making a magical story with vampires somehow relatable to real life. Anyone who's read Broadbent's other books knows her romances are phenomenal and Sylina & Atrius are no exception. The slow burn was delicious, and had me both screaming at them and kicking my feet in glee.

I adore Carissa Broadbent so much and this was an excellent novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia series! The way she seems to encapsulate uniqueness whilst furthering an entire world within each of these books astounds me. The tension, lore, stakes and ALL of the character development is phenomenal and her pacing is the perfect balance of allowing you to immerse yourself within the story whilst sitting on the edge of your seat. YOU will NOT want to put this down!!!

I will ALWAYS scream about / recommend this series!

This book had me so gripped in the pages that I literally couldn't put it down... Sylina and Atrius story of 2 tortured souls in different forms finding eventual peace within each other. How long can the peace last? Hopefully forever because I don't think I'm ready for either to meet their end... Full of personal growth, lies, betrayal and surprise at the ease of which 2 differing people come together to work towards a common goal. I can get forever lost in the world that Carissa has built around this series and I can't wait to see what happens going forward.

i LOVE anything and everything carissa broadbent gives us, and this was no exception! it was so good being return to this world that carissa has built and i really enjoyed finding out a little bit more about the house of blood!

i am a HUGE fan of stories where a loyal, sneaky assassin who's there to do one job and one job ONLY, finds themselves getting closer and closer to their victim, it hits EVERY TIMEEEE! i really enjoyed sylina's character, i thought she was SO strong and intelligent, and i absolutely loved getting to know her!! i also absolutely adore atrius, deep down he was SUCH a lil softie and i loved seeing the depth to his character as the story progressed.

if you haven't jumped into carissa broadbent's books yet, i HIGHLYYYY recommend doing so!! carissa has become one of my favourite authors, and i can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is a standalone fantasy romance set within the expansive "Crowns of Nyaxia" universe. The narrative centers on Sylina, a devoted assassin of the Arachessen cult, who's tasked with infiltrating the ranks of Atrius, a formidable vampire warlord, to end his life. As Sylina integrates herself into Atrius's inner circle, she uncovers layers of his character that challenge her initial perceptions, leading to a profound internal conflict between her sworn duty and burgeoning emotions.

Once again, Carissa has amazed me. This is the only book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series that I hadn't read and being gifted an ARC for its rerelease was a dream come true and just the push I need to finally read it. This is a standalone that adds so much more depth to the world we already love and its main character will be important in future books, so reading Slaying The Vampire Conqueror is very much recommended. This books is a breathtaking, emotionally charged fantasy romance that completely captivated me from start to finish. It delivered everything I craved—rich worldbuilding, heart-pounding action, and an unforgettable slow-burn romance.

Broadbent's prowess in crafting immersive worlds is evident, with rich and detailed settings that enhance the storytelling. The romance between Sylina and Atrius is a slow burn, evolving naturally and allowing readers to savor the development of their relationship. The characters are well-developed, with Sylina's depth and Atrius's multifaceted nature drawing readers into their journey. The plot is engaging and the pacing is appropriate with the narrative remaining captivating, with well-executed battle scenes and a balance between action and romance. Every quiet moment between Sylina and Atrius ached with longing. The emotional depth of this book is astounding, pulling me into their struggles and making me question who the true monster really is in this story.

The ending leaves you wanting more, especially with the bonus chapter that this version brought. I can't wait to see Sylina and Atrius more in future books in the series. And the guest character that appeared at the end made everything even more intriguing. I love him so much, but he's a character that many don't like so much, it was cool to see him in an environment among real friends, it adds another layer to this character that is already so full of layers. You have to read to find out who it is despite my tips, you won't regret it, I'm telling you! On a side note, like usually happens in whatever book I read by Carissa, I highlighted the hell out of this book. There are so many amazing quotes, I loved it.

If you love high-stakes fantasy, brooding yet noble vampires, and an enemies-to-lovers romance filled with angst and passion—this book is an absolute must-read. Five glowing stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Pan Macmillan | Tor Bramble for the invitation to read this ARC!

✨ RATING
- C (characters): 10/10
- A (atmosphere): 8/10
- W (writing): 10/10
- P (plot): 8/10
- I (intrigue): 9/10
- L (logic): 10/10
- E (enjoyment): 9/10
↬ TOTAL: 9.14 = ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💦 SPICE: 🌶️🌶️

🔖 TROPES:
- Vampire x Seer
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forbidden Romance
- Forced Proximity
- One Bed
- Hurt x Comfort
- Slow Burn
- Assassin FMC sent to kill MMC
- Found Family

"One day, the pain won't matter anymore, and the power it grants you will matter immensely"

Carissa Broadbent has done it again!
Slaying the vampire conqueror is a standalone novel that takes place in the same world as The Serpent and the Wings of Night, but I would suggest to read it after the first duology to have better familiarity with the wordbuilding.

The human realm in which Sylina lives is invaded by an army of vampires determined to conquer it, and in order to defend it Sylina is given the task of getting close to the vampire commander Atrius, to understand his plans and eventually kill him.

But nothing is ever as easy as it seems, because the more Sylina spends time with Atrius, the more she gets to know him, the more she discovers that behind the conqueror's mask lie secrets, curses, and a strong respect for all his subjects, vampires and humans alike.

As usual in her books Broadbent manages to fit a WELL constructed love story (no insta love here) with a sensible plot, complex and well-rounded characters, and even a plot twist. She has never let me down, her writing always manages to draw me in, I love this dark and complex world she has created and I can't wait to read more books in the series!

Another great enemies to lovers story. A seer who is asked to kill a vampire.

I've read the first 3 books of the Crowns on Nyaxia series and fell in love with the character and the world created. I didn't realise there were stand alone books that were part of the world.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romantacy books, whether they have read the other books or not.

It has great character development and world building as well as references to thing mentioned in the other books.


I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Although it is a Crowns of Nyaxia novel, you don't really need to have read the other books in the series as it does work well as a standalone. There is a crossover character towards the end that implies this book takes place during the events of The Ashes & The Star Cursed King. I have heard that book 4 (which comes out later this year yaay!) will involve the characters and/or events from this book. Carissa Broadbent writes these characters soooo well, I am obsessed with all of them. You learn more about The House of Blood which was so fascinating to me. I loved the world building so much, I felt I could really immerse myself into each place we travelled to with the vampires and Sylina. The romance was a slow burn and the tension was delicious. I liked that the romance didn't take away from the main plot too.
Basically, Carissa Broadbent can do no wrong and I would read anything she writes at this point.

Carissa Broadbent has become one of my favourite authors and even though I am a huge fantasy and romantasy fan, I find her books and writing consistently top tier, I have never been disappointed with any of her books. The world in this series is so brilliantly well thought and delivered to the readers, so detailed and yet easy to understand and follow, you get sucked into this world and never want to step out! In terms of worldbuilding, this book brings us a new corner, Galaea, and we immediately are drawn and get invested in the storyline. The fact that so much is packed in a standalone is truly impressive.
The magic system of the Arachessen is unique and I loved getting to know more about their history and lives, I genuinely hope that Carissa is just going to keep giving us stories of the followers of all the different gods, it was SO GOOD! Sylina and Atrius were great main characters and their character development and romance was very enjoyable/satisfying to follow. Side note, Erekkus, loved him so much! The chapters are short, which made this put so hard to put down and the last 25% had me on a chokehold (took me back to the good old ACOTAR days!).

For fans of the genre and Carissa, this a solid choice and you will not be disappointed. thank you to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Carissa Broadbent for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

“You’re just his type, actually.” “His type?” Erekkus leaned forward and gave me a conspiratorial smirk. He held out a finger with each word. “Beautiful. Mysterious. Dangerous. And an obvious, clear-as-the-fucking-moon mistake.”

Oh my heart! Carissa you have done it again with your earth shattering love stories.

The feeling I feel while reading this is just… soul altering!

I loved glimpsing into another couple from this world.

Atruis had a quiet confidence about him! He’s powerful yet fair. He is contradictory to what he is described as, the conqueror!

Sylina is brave but also broken. She fights against her self, her beliefs, her past and the present! And what she seeing about the enemies is not what she thought it was.

This is a slow burn but it delightful in how both the main characters slowly open up their broken parts to each other. There is a lot of grief and sadness in this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. Although it's a standalone, it's set in the same world as the crowns of Nyaxia series and has a lot of references to the blood court. We meet Sylina, an Arachessen assassin and Atrius, a cursed vampire conquerer. With my favourite enemies to lovers trope, this vampire romance introduces us to new characters in the Nyaxia world. I hope we meet these characters again when we delve deeper into the different vampire courts!
I love getting to read about different parts of this world that I love from so many different perspectives. I can't wait to see how all these stories come together.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is an easy-to-read, captivating romantasy published as part of the multi author married to monsters series.

If you’re a fan of hate-to-love relationships, this book offers that trope in spades, wrapped up in an intriguing setting.

One of the most interesting aspects of the story for me is the cult-like vibe of the Archesson. The mysterious, almost religious devotion to the cause for the main character had me shouting at her to realise there was more going on than she knew. It definitely kept me hooked.

The romance between the main characters is built on the classic "hate-to-love" dynamic that makes for some intense and satisfying moments. The gradual shift in their relationship, with all its tension and chemistry, is well written and had me rooting for them way before we saw any actual romance.

As for the plot twist, while it’s a bit predictable, it’s still well executed and adds an extra layer of excitement.

Overall, Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is an entertaining, fast-paced read with solid characters, a fun hate-to-love romance, and some intriguing world-building. If you're looking for a quick, engaging read with a satisfying mix of romance and fantasy, this one’s definitely worth a shot!

Charissa Broadbent has once again hit it out of the damn ballpark. I want to start this by stating that I firmly believe this is the BEST book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series, closely followed by the Six Scorched Roses novella.

Fast paced, clearly driven plot? ☑️
Strong, plot driven characters with complex back stories? ☑️
An AMAZING romance with the perfect amount of spice? ☑️
Side characters you’re invested in? ☑️
Added layers of world building to a pre existing series, while also being strong enough to read as a solo book? ☑️

I devoured this in just under two days and quickly fell in love with our main characters, their individual goals and their development throughout this story. The primary duology is good, but Broadbent truly shines in her spin off novels and short stories within the Crowns of Nyaxia world! It’s truly making me look forward to the upcoming book in November!

4.5 stars

It was interesting spending time with the outcast vampire clan of the Nyaxia world, it feels like we've not had insight into that world as much and their ways seemed mysterious to me.. But even so, the MC Attrius was shunned by the House of Blood and so there was much to learn about his situation, the problem he had and why he was ostracised.

Sylina was even more intriguing as a character. She was part of a sisterhood that felt mysterious and unusual. Her situation with physical sight and psychic sight made me latch onto this read pretty quick. Sylina's spying quest was tense as was the relationship between the two MCs. Both characters, Attrius and Sylina were incredibly morally grey.

The connection between these two happened over quite some time which made their slow trust believable, especially considering their different allegiances. The plot was super strong, exactly what I expect from Carissa Broadbent, I felt on edge reading it more and more as the book progressed.

It was nice to have a standalone wrapped up in this world but I would be rather pleased if we got more of this couple.

Thank you PanMacmillan for the review copy.

How can a novella be so good? Of the entire Crowns of Nyaxia series, this one has got to be my favourite book and couple!

The story was addictive, the enemies-to-lovers trope had good tension, and the world-building was chef’s kiss. Let’s not even start on the action scenes because they were pure on-the-edge-of-your-seat adrenaline rush. I couldn’t have asked for a better romantasy jam-packed with action and adventure. My only wish is for Atrius and Sylina to have a duology of their own too.

With a long tbr list, I usually skip novellas since it’s complementary and not compulsory to the overall storyline but wow am I glad to not miss this one. I’ll be backtracking to read Six Sorched Roses asap!

Thank you Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc!