Reviews - Slaying the Vampire Conqueror

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent

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Carissa Broadbent has ruined me in the best way possible with Slaying the Vampire Conqueror. I went into this novella expecting a dark, bloody, fast-paced bridge story in the Crowns of Nyaxia universe—but what I got was a gut-punch of raw emotion, political intrigue, heartbreak, and a romance that absolutely consumed me. It’s rare for a shorter book to hit me harder than a full-length novel, but this one did exactly that.

The atmosphere was phenomenal. Broadbent has this incredible talent for crafting worlds that feel both vast and intimate at the same time. The looming presence of the Vampire Conqueror was terrifying and magnetic—he’s one of those characters you want to hate but can’t stop being drawn to. And then there’s the heroine, whose strength, cunning, and vulnerability made me connect with her immediately. Watching her navigate impossible choices, torn between survival, loyalty, and her own heart, had me holding my breath.

The romance in this novella? Absolutely devastating in the best way. It’s not soft or easy—it’s sharp, dangerous, and full of tension that builds until it bursts. Every interaction between them was laced with intensity, whether they were clashing or connecting, and I found myself highlighting line after line. Carissa doesn’t just write romance—she writes the kind that burns into your chest and leaves you thinking about it long after you turn the last page.

What impressed me most was how layered this story was, even at novella length. The themes of power, freedom, and sacrifice were so beautifully woven in. It wasn’t just about vampires and battles—it was about love in impossible places, the lies we tell ourselves, and the price of survival. Broadbent doesn’t shy away from moral grayness, and that’s what makes her stories so compelling.

And can we talk about the ending? My heart shattered into a million pieces and yet I couldn’t imagine it ending any other way. It was brutal, beautiful, and haunting. I turned the last page and just sat there, staring into space, because I wasn’t ready to leave that world or those characters behind.

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror proves once again why Carissa Broadbent is one of the most exciting voices in romantasy right now. She can take a novella and make it feel like an epic, with characters and emotions that linger long after the story ends. This is a must-read if you love the Crowns of Nyaxia series, or if you crave dark, passionate fantasy that will rip your heart out and make you thank the author for it.

Five glowing, bloody stars—I’m obsessed.

foxy_ave's review against another edition

4.0

Not Carissa’s strongest. She does an amazing job at creating an expanded world through her novella stories. The isle of Glaea was phenomenally developed. Loved the Arachessen and how they stand for what is Right, and how the Right path may conflict from the ethically and morally right perspective. Sylina and Artrius are great characters as well.

Overall a good story, there just wasn’t anything absolutely shining in this. Great writing as always from Carissa though

nikkib115's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ericachitra's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoy Carissa Broadbent’s writing. The way she develops the characters and tells their love story always has me feeling giddy. And she always manages to surprise me with unexpected twists in the plot, keeping me on my toes. This book was no exception. Another banger