Carissa Broadbent has written “Slaying the Vampire Conqueror” as a stand-alone novel set in the world of Nyaxia. It works very well by itself, but is probably of more interest to readers of the broader series.
Sylina is a follower of the Arachessen, the goddess of fate, and a trained assassin. She’s given her sight and most of her life to her goddess. When vampires invade her human homeland, she’s given a challenging and dangerous assignment: infiltrate the vampire army and kill the leader, Atrius.
The only way for a human to successfully join the vampire army is to make herself necessary to Atrius himself. Sylina does that with considerable skill, but before long, she begins to fear that Atrius is also making himself necessary to her. And what she sees as she fights with his army causes her to begin questioning her seemingly straightforward mission.
Both Sylina and Atrius are strong characters, and we quickly understand what motivates Sylina. It takes longer for Atrius to emerge – we get to know him more gradually, as Sylina comes to know him. Both are ultimately understandable and quite vivid. I’m not entirely sure I found a pair of warriors sympathetic, exactly, but I did find their emotional arc and decisions believable.
The story is a relatively straightforward one, and Broadbent appears more interested in her characters and their relationship. This worked perfectly well for me: I was interested in the pair of them, the decisions they’d make, and how things would work out – or not – for them. I didn’t mind that the story of conquest and political dirty dealings was familiar. It worked.
This is a relatively slim novel, so for some people it’s going to be a very accessible introduction to the Crown of Nyaxia series. It does stand alone, as promised, although the world-building is not very complex.
I enjoyed this novel: it’s an absorbing story of two characters in a challenging situation. I found it interesting and entertaining.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember, and I love sharing that joy.
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember, across all genres. There’s not much I won’t at least try. I’ve been an enthusiastic book reviewer for years. I particularly enjoy discovering writers new to me, and sharing good writing with others.
My career has included time spent writing and editing technical documents, but it’s fiction that really moves me. I’ve reviewed for a number of different outlets over the years, and have been a judge in literary competitions.
I’m now raising little bookworms of my own, which brings a whole new kind of joy to sharing books.
More of my reviews can be found on my review blog www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog .
Vivi was a bit older than most when she joined the Arachessen, renamed Sylina and gave up her eyes to walk and see throught the threads of life. A trained assassin now, tasked to infiltrate the Vampire conquerors group, gain his trust, find his plan and dispose of him when the time is right.
He took from her, her anger and will to seek revenge spurring her on her task. Becoming his seer she gets closer to him, Atrius, finding that not all is what it seems. Likewise he too sees more in Sylina than an escaped Arachessen, hiding for her punishment for abandoning her faith.
Yes, not all is what it seems and the characters, their strengths and pasts intertwine to entice you in. Will she achieve her mission, will he achieve his? Will their path like the threads that guide us intertwine and change the future using the history of the past?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s escape and am curious for its future.
Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent
A fantasy romance full of tension, danger, and forbidden love.
Sylina is an assassin sent to kill the vampire conqueror Atrius, but falling for him was never part of the plan.as this can be fatal and cost her everything. Dark, emotional, and beautifully written .
Thanks beauty and lace another great fantasy book.
Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent was my first foray into the romantasy genre craze, and i must say, I quite enjoyed it!
I found the novel filled with creativity, discovering a whole new world/s and people’s. Some of their skills were quite magical and inspiring.
I definitely enjoyed the slow burn romance of the story, it was a case of opposites attracting, with a bit of enemies to lovers thrown in.
The one thing I didn’t like was not knowing how to pronounce many of the names, I wish there was a phonetic breakdown included in the glossary.
Thank you Beauty and Lace for introducing me to a new, very interesting and easy to read, genre.
Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent was my first step into the romantasy genre, and I was hooked. Sylina, a blind assassin bound by duty, is sent to kill vampire conqueror Atrius—but falling for him was never part of the plan.
The slow-burn romance and enemies-to-lovers tension worked so well, and the world-building (especially the threadwalking magic) felt fresh and original. Both characters are layered and emotionally complex, which made their connection feel earned.
Dark, immersive, and beautifully written. Can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
If Carissa Broadbent writes a book I don’t like, I haven’t found it yet. Every single one of her books pulls me in. I’m immersed in the world she creates, feeling myself right there with the main characters.
I love that she has created this entire world of stories that are explored in her books and each one feels like it could hold up on its own. I normally get annoyed when stories are interconnected or in the same world but different characters, then I give up reading the series. However her writing, these books, gets me every. Damn. Time.
She writes characters that are three dimensional, with hopes, dreams, fears, positive and negative attributes. The main characters you truly get to know, and you can see different sides to them, it helps readers relate so much more. Nobody is written to be perfect, they make mistakes, they act out of anger, they act out of fear. I love that about her writing and how her characters come across.
A massive thank you to Beauty and Lace magazine for letting me read this one.
My first time reading Carissa Broadbent and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Being a stand alone novel it didn’t require any previous knowledge of the world of Nyaxia, but after reading “Slaying the Vampire Conqueror” I may have to start venturing into that world.
Sylina, who has given up her eyesight for her goddess, must infiltrate the enemy vampire camp to align herself with the warrior conqueror Atrius, learn his plan to invade her human country and then kill him.
But through many battles, fighting side by side with Atrius, she sees him for who he is, the warrior, the friend, the leader who does what he does for his people.
Does she betray everything she has be taught, everything she thinks she knows or does she follow her orders and carry out the mission given?
This story has it all, magic, vampires, family, gods, love, betrayal and a nice twist that will keep you engaged all the way through.
Slaying the vampire conqueror by Carissa Broadbent is a fantasy novel set in the Crowns of Nyaxia world. The novel opens with a spicy scene and introduces us to the Arachessen Sylina, a trained assassin and the vampire conqueror Atrius, an invader of the lands of Glaea.
Sylina was a10-year-old girl when she was saved by the Arachessan, a cult which is guided by the god of fate. She sacrificed her freedom and sight for the Arachessan and in return was trained as an assassin gaining speed, strength and impeccable fighting skills all while forming a bond with the sisterhood which saved her from a terrible fate as an orphaned street kid. After her home land is invaded by Atrius she is given the ultimate task of killing the Vampire conqueror.
Atrius is a strong commander, with an army of vicious vampires, killing him will not be an easy task, first Sylina must gain his trust infiltrating his army as a Seer. But by gaining his trust she starts to reveal her true self exposing her heart and potentially the mission of killing the conqueror.
This dark fantasy romance is a moving story with strong world building, although I found the storyline predictable at times it was enjoyable to read. Slaying the Vampire Conqueror will resonate with fans of forbidden romance, with action packed battle scenes and strong character development intertwined. It is the first book I have read by Carissa Broadbent, it was an easy to digest novel and a good introduction to the Crowns of Nyaxia world.
Sylina, an assassin who has traded her sight for thread sight, a bad ass in her own rights is on the mission of her lifetime trying to take down the vampire warlord, Atrius. In an intense and dangerous quest, she’s faces some of the most mentally and physically challenging moments of her life and why not throw in some forbidden feelings.
Great book! An easy read that keeps you involved.