Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent is a book in the Mortal Enemies to Monster Lovers series, a collection of standalone novels by different authors. However, this book is set in the Crowns of Nyaxia world from the author’s Serpent and the Wings of Night and The Ashes and the Star Cursed King. It was helpful, but not required, to have read those books. Tropes include enemies to lovers and forced proximity. The story focuses on assassin Sylina, who has been ordered to kill a vampire conqueror, Atrius, by infiltrating his army and gaining his trust.

The Lovely: I grew to really like the two main characters and their relationship. Sylina’s character development was expansive but not predictable. You can feel the weight of what she needs to do but that feels challenged by that same action.

The Mundane: As a book intended to be a standalone, I think more descriptions of the world was probably warranted. There are things I knew because I had read the other two books in the world and I think without that knowledge it would have been harder to understand this book. I wouldn’t say reading the other books was required, but I think it would help immensely.

The Dreadful: This book had a slow start for me because even though I knew the world, there wasn’t enough context to place this story in terms of geography of the world, or time period. I’m still not clear on if this story took place before or after the events of Serpent and the Wings of Night.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Recommendation: This is a definite “you should read” but I’d read it after The Serpent and the Wings of Night and the Ashes and the Star Cursed King (see my previous reviews of those books) I think that doing so will give you much more perspective on the story. ( )

4.5⭐️ 2.5🔥

"Close your eyes, child, and you will see the world"
"The fight will always be worth it"

StVC was so refreshing. It felt like Carissa's earlier writing and I loved that. I was really nervous that it would be rushed near the ending because so much was going on but it went smoothly. There were some plot twists that really caught me off guard and I did not see it coming and I was so shocked. Getting to see her seers was one of the coolest things! And Sylina is just a bada$$. Not having eyes yet still being able to See. I actually liked the slow burn in this one. It felt so natural but it wasn't some forbidden thing that they didn't want. Their relationship just simply grew and grew. If Carissa wanted to, this could have been extended into a series but it did end well. I am obsessed with the Crowns of Nyaxia world!

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Forced proximity

Ending Type: HEA ( )

I have not read any of Carissa Broadbent's books so I was a little hesitant to pick this one. The book starts out a bit slow. We do get some historical background for our female lead and glimpses of our male lead's past. But we also get some mythology woven into the story and I loved that a lot.

Vivi was plucked from the streets, made to give up her former life, given a new name of Sylina, and integrated into the Sisterhood of Arachessen, who many consider a cult, as an assassin. It is during one of her duties that she meets Atrius, albeit briefly when he and his warriors of vampires come ashore on the beaches. This forces Sylina to draw back from her plans and return to the Salt Keep. There, she is given a new job: get close to the vampire conqueror who is conquering their homeland and kill him.

As Sylina manages to infiltrate Atrius's army and become his seer, she finds she can no longer carry out her duty to kill him and now her heart is in danger of falling in love.

This book was an amazing read. The characters. The Mythology. The history. All this created by the author was amazing. I loved every bit of the book that I found hard to put down once the storyline really started getting interesting. Atrius and Sylina were beautiful together and I loved their interactions. I would love to see more of them later in the future.

Now I am not familiar with their world. Well, the vampire part of the world but I did hear that this is kinda connected to her series, Crowns of Nyaxia. I do plan to pick up the duology series just so I can understand this world a bit better.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I cannot wait to see what the next author brings to the table. ( )