Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

60 reviews

grahammatthews's review

adventurous dark 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

4.5

There are only TWO LITTLE WORDS to explain this book. It’s FANG-tastic!

Out the gate I want to say I listened to Empire of the Vampire. Thats the version that was recommended to me to and the Audio performance by Damian Lynch was Great!

This is a book about Vampires, and Jay Kristoff wears his influences on his sleeve. It's a combination of  Interview with a Vampire/Vampire Hunter D/Castlevania/JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, all great things that involve Vampires. Jay took the greatest parts, put it into good world building, and made an epic story.

The story follows Gabriel, the last silversaint, an organization of Half Bloods that specialize in exterminating Vampires. Gabriel has two perspectives, one when he is young learning about his abilities, and older and more veteran, as he tells a tale about finding the Holy Grail.

This tale is not for the faint of heart or as Jay Kristoff says “It’s not for Kids!”, foul beast and GRAPHIC descriptions of VIOLENCE, SEX, and all manner of things that vampires are usually known for is in this story, but it's done so well. I found myself rooting for Gabriel wanting him to succeed, shocked at betrayals and twists I enjoyed the ride.

With that I feel that there were a few parts and chapters in young Gabriels point of view that weren't needed, or they are not needed yet (because this is gonna be a series for sure), but also It coils of not being received well through audio too! 

So as this book sits on a shelf, or at your desk, or like me, in an audio book library, there are only TWO LITTLE WORDS that this book dares you to listen to. COME IN.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff gets a 4.5 out of 5!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Homophobia

It's Religion based so Same Sex is a sin and you see how other characters outside of the main react to that.

cakeylu's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, and Child death

bookjedi98's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Violence, and Blood

heather34's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Gore, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Pregnancy

hildaahlstrand's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, and War

It's extremely dark, but if you can handle it, it's an amazing experience.

lunaruprising's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Murder

rabidpookie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Death of parent

fromlindenmere's review

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

itsraveekah's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, and Blood

no1willnot's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Religious bigotry

It’s a book about vampire wars that centres around a religious order of vampire hunters based heavily in Christianity, so there is a LOT of blood, violence and institutional abuse