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A review by aksmith92
Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.0
Carissa Broadbent's world-building is impeccable, and I can't get enough of her novels. I thoroughly enjoy everything, and I feel like I am present with the characters in this whole other world. I loved this world in Slaying the Vampire Conqueror - while in the Crowns of Nyaxia universe, this novel takes place in an entirely different continent (Glaea) outside of Obitraes - if you're interested in figuring out what I am discussing, then I HIGHLY suggest you read Broadbent's The Serpent and the Wings of Night and The Ashes and the Star Cursed King. This novel is standalone in the same universe, but I appreciated seeing another side of the world. This book is about Sylina, a woman who is part of the Arachessen, a group of humans bound to Acaeja - Goddess of Fate. The sorcery-like plot was fantastic. I enjoyed a better understanding of seering and the magical system of Acaeja, as it was referenced in Broadbent's The Ashes and the Star Cursed King, which I just read. Sylina's character was, in all essence of the word, badass. Typical of the main female characters in Broadbent's novels, she portrayed stealth, agility, strength, and resilience. As part of the Arachessen, she devoted so much of her life as an acolyte, but there was a deep sense of "outsideness" that she couldn't shake. Then comes Atrius, strong and aloof, battling some intense inner "blood" demons (iykyk). I enjoyed his character as the main male character, and it was interesting to get insight into the House of Blood (part of the Nyaxia world from the other books previously mentioned). I liked their respect for one another, and they were lovely to read about as action scenes progressed. I don't think I felt their relationship like I did Oraya and Raihn or Vale and Lilith from the other books in the world, but I still thought it was well done.
Now, I rated this novel lower than my typical 5-star ratings for Broadbent's books only because I REALLY struggle reading about spies. I'm not sure why, but this plot usually frustrates me. I feel like it's because whoever's point of view I'm reading from, I feel like they are being childish or too pushy. Yes, yes, this is part of the plot, but I think spying in a novel is incredibly hard to capture, and it tends to fall flat or be too frustrating for my tastes. It's just like poor decisions after poor decisions and minimal critical thinking skills. Additionally, it generally leads to miscommunication around the third act. I tried not to let that part of the book sway my review too much because this is going to be part of a series where this spying/"slaying" the male lead is the main plot, but I must admit it was annoying to me at times, even if Broadbent has such beautiful writing skills. I must say, this spying/deception novel takes the cake with how you wrap it up. I became very much less annoyed and liked how it unfolded. Broadbent did an excellent job at making the miscommunication make sense.
Furthermore, I was a bit confused about Sylina's "vision." She was required to give up her sight when she joined the Arachessen, and she wore a blindfold to cover her eyes. Instead, she "sees" in threads and other magical elements rather than typical sight, but for a lot of the novel, she talks about seeing everything, and sometimes I forgot she didn't see things the same way; her surroundings, the people, etc., were all described by someone who I felt like had human sight instead of her visioning. It wasn't a big deal because I knew Broadbent still had to describe landscapes, architecture, and other elements to us no matter what. Still, it did seem downplayed, even though Sylina portrays the world vastly differently.
Additionally, I found this novel to be a bit predictable, having guessed, at a high level, the major plot twist near the end, in the first 20 pages. However, with that said, even if predictable, it was articulately written, and I enjoyed the process leading up to the plot twist and getting the specific details. Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I was fascinated by the lovely magic system, Sylina and Atrius's banter, and the action-packed scenes. I can't wait for future Carissa Broadbent novels!
Now, I rated this novel lower than my typical 5-star ratings for Broadbent's books only because I REALLY struggle reading about spies. I'm not sure why, but this plot usually frustrates me. I feel like it's because whoever's point of view I'm reading from, I feel like they are being childish or too pushy. Yes, yes, this is part of the plot, but I think spying in a novel is incredibly hard to capture, and it tends to fall flat or be too frustrating for my tastes. It's just like poor decisions after poor decisions and minimal critical thinking skills. Additionally, it generally leads to miscommunication around the third act. I tried not to let that part of the book sway my review too much because this is going to be part of a series where this spying/"slaying" the male lead is the main plot, but I must admit it was annoying to me at times, even if Broadbent has such beautiful writing skills. I must say, this spying/deception novel takes the cake with how you wrap it up. I became very much less annoyed and liked how it unfolded. Broadbent did an excellent job at making the miscommunication make sense.
Furthermore, I was a bit confused about Sylina's "vision." She was required to give up her sight when she joined the Arachessen, and she wore a blindfold to cover her eyes. Instead, she "sees" in threads and other magical elements rather than typical sight, but for a lot of the novel, she talks about seeing everything, and sometimes I forgot she didn't see things the same way; her surroundings, the people, etc., were all described by someone who I felt like had human sight instead of her visioning. It wasn't a big deal because I knew Broadbent still had to describe landscapes, architecture, and other elements to us no matter what. Still, it did seem downplayed, even though Sylina portrays the world vastly differently.
Additionally, I found this novel to be a bit predictable, having guessed, at a high level, the major plot twist near the end, in the first 20 pages. However, with that said, even if predictable, it was articulately written, and I enjoyed the process leading up to the plot twist and getting the specific details. Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I was fascinated by the lovely magic system, Sylina and Atrius's banter, and the action-packed scenes. I can't wait for future Carissa Broadbent novels!