Slaying the Vampire Conqueror Summary, Characters and Themes

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent is a dark fantasy tale that brings together war, gods, and slow-burn romance. 

It follows Sylina, a blind assassin of divine training, sent to kill a terrifying vampire warlord who threatens the balance of her world. But the deeper she goes into enemy territory—and into the heart of the conqueror himself—the more tangled her loyalties become. With gods watching, betrayal brewing, and feelings she can’t afford, Sylina must choose between destiny and her own convictions. This is a story of rebellion, love, divine manipulation, and what happens when you dare to change fate itself.

Summary

Sylina is an elite assassin of the Arachessen, a ruthless order of warrior-priestesses devoted to the goddess Acaeja. 

Trained since childhood and having given up her physical sight in return for magical “thread-sight,” Sylina is chosen for a mission of divine importance: infiltrate and kill the Vampire Conqueror who is ravaging her homeland of Pythora. Her world is already scarred by bloodshed when she sets out—her dearest companion Raeth has just been killed, and her people are on the brink of collapse.

The conqueror’s name is Kalyvas, a vampire warlord whose brutal campaign is unstoppable. With the blessing of the heretical goddess Nyaxia, his army uses dark magic to conquer entire cities. 

To complete her mission, Sylina kills his human seer and assumes her place, allowing herself to be captured and installed in his camp. From there, the story pivots into a complex game of espionage, manipulation, and tension as Sylina walks the knife-edge of pretense.

But Kalyvas is not what she expected. 

Though undeniably dangerous and commanding, he also carries scars—emotional and literal. As she uses her thread-sight to navigate the battlefield of vampire politics and divine war, Sylina finds herself reluctantly drawn to him. He is calculating but not cruel for cruelty’s sake. 

His past, haunted by betrayal and a mysterious divine curse, begins to unravel before her.

The longer she stays embedded in his camp, the more morally complex things become. 

Sylina’s initial mission—kill the monster, restore balance—fractures under the weight of nuance. Kalyvas reveals that he is not merely a general, but a cursed being, created as an unwanted offspring of Nyaxia in a failed attempt to merge mortal and divine power. His very existence threatens the divine balance, which is precisely why Acaeja demands his death.

Despite this, Sylina sees cracks in her order’s absolute faith and purpose. Her emotional connection to Kalyvas deepens through shared trauma, mutual respect, and, eventually, reluctant desire. 

Together, they fight through attempted coups within his ranks, battles against external enemies, and pressure from divine forces pulling them in opposite directions.

When Sylina prepares to finally kill Kalyvas, torn between prophecy and personal conviction, he catches her in the act. In a raw confrontation, their truths spill out. He doesn’t kill her—instead, he lets her choose. Her decision spirals into open rebellion against her own order. 

The Sightmother, her former mentor, appears to execute her but Sylina kills her instead, declaring herself free of Arachessen chains.

As divine powers stir, Sylina and Kalyvas become something more than enemies or lovers—they are revolutionaries. Together, they defeat the remnants of the Pythora monarchy, sparing cities when they can, and forging fragile peace between vampires and humans. 

Kalyvas rules not with cruelty, but with vision. Sylina stands at his side, no longer his spy, but his equal.

In the end, both of them have been rewritten—no longer puppets of fate or tools of gods. Sylina comes to believe that fate is not a thread to follow, but one that can be woven anew. 

The final scenes—quiet, intimate—show them watching a sunrise over a land they helped reshape. The war is over. But the real victory is in the freedom they carved out for themselves.

Characters

Sylina

Sylina, the protagonist of Slaying the Vampire Conqueror, is a complex character whose journey unfolds through her deep internal conflict and the evolution of her loyalties. As a highly trained assassin from the Arachessen order, Sylina is initially a devoted agent of divine will, tasked with eliminating the vampire conqueror.

She is skilled in the use of thread-based magic, which allows her to perceive emotions and intentions, making her a formidable foe and an invaluable tool for her order. However, as she infiltrates the vampire ranks and spends more time with the conqueror, her sense of duty is challenged.

Sylina is driven by a mix of grief, duty, and a desire for justice, which complicates her mission as she finds herself drawn to the conqueror’s charisma and emotional depth. Despite her training, she begins to question her beliefs and her role in a larger, divine plan, culminating in her breaking away from the Arachessen to follow her own path.

This transformation from a cold, calculating assassin to a woman who defies fate and embraces her own will is at the heart of her character development.

The Vampire Conqueror

The Vampire Conqueror, initially introduced as a ruthless and cold leader, reveals more layers as the story progresses. He is a character who defies expectations, blending cold ambition with a deep, hidden vulnerability.

His backstory, marked by betrayal and a divine curse, explains his often harsh actions. He is not merely a conqueror but a man shaped by forces beyond his control, particularly the goddess Nyaxia, who cursed him as part of a failed divine experiment.

Despite his outward cruelty and power, the conqueror grapples with isolation and the need for control, both of which stem from his complicated relationship with his origins. His interactions with Sylina grow increasingly complex as they share moments of emotional connection and psychological sparring.

The conqueror’s depth as a character is revealed not just in his brutal strategic mind but also in his internal struggles and the surprising glimpses of tenderness he shows, particularly toward Sylina. His evolution from a mere villain to a tragic, sympathetic figure is central to the story’s emotional impact.

Acaeja and the Divine Forces

Acaeja, the goddess who is central to Sylina’s order, plays a significant role in shaping Sylina’s beliefs and actions. Throughout the story, Acaeja represents divine control and predestination, encouraging Sylina to follow her mission without question.

However, Acaeja’s influence wanes as Sylina becomes more conflicted, particularly as Sylina realizes that her mission may not align with her own moral compass. Acaeja’s presence in the story is a symbol of divine manipulation and the dangerous consequences of believing that fate is unalterable.

She contrasts with the character of Nyaxia, the goddess who cursed the Vampire Conqueror, creating a duality between two powerful but manipulative divine figures. Both goddesses, through their interventions, represent the theme of control, but it is Sylina’s eventual rejection of these forces that allows her to break free from fate and choose her own path.

Raeth

Raeth, though a secondary character, plays a crucial role in Sylina’s emotional development. As a fellow assassin and close companion, Raeth’s death serves as a turning point for Sylina, marking the beginning of her internal struggle.

Her grief over Raeth’s loss is profound and becomes a catalyst for her questioning of the Arachessen order’s teachings. Raeth’s death also serves as a reminder of the personal stakes Sylina faces in her mission, making her transformation from duty-bound assassin to someone capable of compassion and emotional complexity all the more significant.

The Arachessen Order

The Arachessen order, as a collective group, represents the traditional values and rigid structure that Sylina is initially loyal to. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the order’s passivity in the face of the growing vampire threat and its dogmatic adherence to fate create tension within Sylina.

The order is depicted as a force that suppresses individuality and free will in favor of divine will, and Sylina’s eventual rejection of this mindset is symbolic of her broader rejection of fate and predestination.

The Arachessen serves as a counterpoint to Sylina’s evolving character, highlighting the theme of personal freedom versus divine control.

Themes

Fate and Free Will in a World Dominated by Divine Control

One of the most prominent and complex themes in Slaying the Vampire Conqueror is the interplay between fate and free will. Sylina’s journey begins within a strict religious order, the Arachessen, whose divine beliefs dictate her every action.

As an assassin, she is taught to follow the will of the gods, viewing her mission to eliminate the vampire conqueror as part of a grander divine design. However, as the narrative progresses, Sylina’s sense of duty is repeatedly challenged.

Her growing emotional connection to the Conqueror forces her to confront the idea that fate may not be as fixed as she was led to believe. This theme comes to a head when Sylina must choose between completing her divine mission, which she has been raised to uphold, and embracing her own desires and agency.

By the end of the novel, Sylina’s decision to reject the gods’ predetermined path reflects a powerful assertion of free will, as she opts to forge a new destiny with the very being she was once ordered to kill.

An Exploration of Strength in the Face of Trauma

Another deeply explored theme in the book is the duality of power and vulnerability, particularly embodied in the Conqueror’s character. While he presents himself as a ruthless leader, capable of commanding armies and shaping the course of history, his hidden traumas and emotional scars gradually reveal a more complex personality.

The Conqueror’s curse, stemming from his forced creation by the goddess Nyaxia, marks him as both powerful and tragically cursed, living in the shadow of divine manipulation. His relationship with Sylina is a compelling study of how strength can coexist with vulnerability.

As they grow closer, Sylina begins to understand that the Conqueror’s seemingly unyielding power is in part a facade, hiding a deep internal conflict. His actions, often driven by his need for control, are also fueled by his desire to escape the constraints imposed by his divine origins.

This theme explores how true strength is often rooted in one’s ability to confront and navigate their vulnerabilities, rather than suppress them.

The Nature of Betrayal and Loyalty in a World of Political Intrigue

Slaying the Vampire Conqueror also delves into the theme of betrayal and loyalty, particularly in the context of political intrigue and shifting alliances. Sylina’s mission, initially clear-cut, becomes muddied as she is forced to navigate a web of deception, both within the vampire ranks and her own order.

Her loyalty to the Arachessen and its divine mission is tested by her growing understanding of the Conqueror’s true nature, as well as her developing emotional bond with him. The internal betrayal Sylina feels toward her order is mirrored by the political betrayals within the vampire army.

As Sylina uncovers plans to overthrow the Conqueror and seize power, she is forced to decide whether to remain loyal to her goddess or align herself with the very enemy she was meant to destroy. The novel highlights how loyalty in a world rife with deception can be a shifting and complicated force, where personal feelings, moral judgments, and political interests often collide.

Transformation through Love, Loss, and Sacrifice By Reinventing Your Identity

Finally, the theme of self-transformation is at the heart of Sylina’s journey, with her identity evolving as she experiences profound love, loss, and sacrifice. Throughout the novel, Sylina grapples with her purpose as an assassin and a servant of the gods.

Her mission to kill the Conqueror is not just a physical task but a spiritual one, tied to her beliefs and her sense of self. However, as she becomes more intertwined with the vampire conqueror and witnesses the destruction of her former worldview, Sylina begins to question the foundations of her identity.

Her growing love for the Conqueror and the trauma of losing her sister Raeth force her to confront the limitations of the role she was given. The sacrifices she makes—her loyalty to her order, her own safety, and ultimately her old identity—mark a profound shift in her character.

In the end, Sylina’s transformation is a powerful commentary on the fluidity of identity, illustrating how love, loss, and the courage to defy one’s past can lead to a more authentic and self-determined existence.