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wildflower030's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Gore, Religious bigotry, Torture, Violence, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Abandonment, Homophobia, and Cursing
el_pender's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, and Outing
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, and Child death
Minor: Addiction and Alcoholism
novaleestar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
I loved this book just as much as anticipated! It is a dark, macabre trek through an endless forest full of horrible frights, and I often felt as if I were a phantom being led through a bloody painting. Viseral, beautiful, heart wrenching. Jay Kristoff always does such a good job making me reach out to find the hope he has hidden in the darkest nooks and flaws of his characters. This was no exception, and I can't wait for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Animal death, Death, Alcoholism, Gore, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Grief, Violence, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Child death, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Torture, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Excrement, and Rape
n_j_k's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Blood, Death, Murder, Sexual assault, Bullying, Cursing, Gore, Torture, Vomit, Rape, Death of parent, and Sexual content
violet_gray's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This review is specifically for the audio version with no pretty pictures to distract me from the hot mess which is the writing.
The “banter” is early 2000’s edgy stand up style humor.
The inconsistent mix of random French, faux old English and modern day English breaks all immersion.
I’m ok with mixing timelines but they don’t pay off. Also the contant moving of the goal post robs the story of anything remotely resembling a satisfying conclusion .
The world building is not there. There’s mushrooms, potatoes, water and vague other races. Where are they? How does that impact who they are and how the world treats them? 🤷🏼♀️
Now specifically for the audio version… oh dear. That was a hot mess of accents and styles.
Less objective thoughts.
This reads like fan fiction of many different properties , most blatantly The Vampire Chronicles (French Nobel woman in exile in the country side, married to drunk husband has a child that extra special and their name is Lion something) and The Last of Us (hear me out: grumpy dude who loses daughter must deliver children to authorities that will use her to save the world but then decides he’d rather burn the world than have her die. Also fungus monsters) but the author likes gritty comics and George Carlin humour and things they can do better and this was their attempt at that.
And as someone that likes all those things as well, I do wish this worked.
Hence the two starts instead of 1. But it doesn’t work cause the writing is bad. There is no real reason for this book to be this long unless you are aiming to appeal to Sanderson fans but can’t do all the world building he does.
If books were kids toys, Sarah j Maas would purple sparkly toy and this would the exact same crap plastic toy but in blue and black.
The “banter” is early 2000’s edgy stand up style humor.
The inconsistent mix of random French, faux old English and modern day English breaks all immersion.
I’m ok with mixing timelines but they don’t pay off. Also the contant moving of the goal post robs the story of anything remotely resembling a satisfying conclusion .
The world building is not there. There’s mushrooms, potatoes, water and vague other races. Where are they? How does that impact who they are and how the world treats them? 🤷🏼♀️
Now specifically for the audio version… oh dear. That was a hot mess of accents and styles.
Less objective thoughts.
This reads like fan fiction of many different properties , most blatantly The Vampire Chronicles (French Nobel woman in exile in the country side, married to drunk husband has a child that extra special and their name is Lion something) and The Last of Us (hear me out: grumpy dude who loses daughter must deliver children to authorities that will use her to save the world but then decides he’d rather burn the world than have her die. Also fungus monsters) but the author likes gritty comics and George Carlin humour and things they can do better and this was their attempt at that.
And as someone that likes all those things as well, I do wish this worked.
Hence the two starts instead of 1. But it doesn’t work cause the writing is bad. There is no real reason for this book to be this long unless you are aiming to appeal to Sanderson fans but can’t do all the world building he does.
If books were kids toys, Sarah j Maas would purple sparkly toy and this would the exact same crap plastic toy but in blue and black.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Murder, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Rape, Sexual assault, and Torture
calton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
If there is one vampire book in this world, it's this one.
Truth be told, initially I bought this book simply because I love vampire stories and a look at the illustrations inside told me that there is a ravishing main character at play. And when I started reading it, I understood from the first fifty pages that this book was so much more. I've read a lot of books in my twenty-something years of life, and there are books that come to mind when I am asked to name a favourite, but I'm pretty sure that from now it, this will be the name that will be on my tongue. It's simply incredible. It's brutal, cruel, and cold like the word that it's set in, it's filled with hatred, contempt, pain, loss and grief like Gabriel is. But it's also full of hope and love, of faith that's so often the last thing a person clings to and that saves him.
I've lost count of the times I've audibly laughed at the jokes, gasped at the plot twist (I couldn't see ANY of them coming) and cried. Dear gods, I've cried rivers over this book, it seems. Jay Kristoff really does know how to slam a knife into your heart and twist it.
The world-building in this book is simply incredible. The last time I read something so richly imaginative and unique was probably "The Witcher" series and that is simply beyond all words. The concept of vampire hunters that are half-vampires themselves, the different ranks of vampires, the four bloodlines and a mysterious fifth one. The concept of daysdeath and the religion based on Christianity yet very different, with the Holy Grail that's not a chalice at all. Absolutely astonishing.
The mysteries that are drawn through the whole book and that only start really dawning on you by the end, before they're fully revealed, are done expertly. Figuring everything out yourself and then seeing the final confirmation is what really makes your heart race and your jaw drop. The way I broke into tears after "They're home because that is where you buried them" will probably never be forgotten by me.
Moreover, this book features one of my favourite tropes of all time: a tired, broken man and a troublesome teenage girl that he comes to love like a daughter despite himself and becomes ready to not only let the world burn to save her but to set it alight himself. This trope always gets to the very bottom of my heart (The Witcher, The Last of Us, Logan) and here, it's done perfectly.
There are a thousand things that I could say about this book and this review would be half as long as it is, but they would all sum up to simply perfection. I've heard some people say that this book is full of red flags but in that case, I'm fucking colourblind and I don't give a single shit. It's cruel and brutal, full of blood and gore and strong language and that is just how I like it. I truly don't know where I will find the patience to wait for the next two instalments of this.
Finally, I'd like to add that I listened to the audiobook as I was reading along, and Damian Lynch is an incredible narrator for this story. I hope with all my heart that he will also read the next two books because his Garbiel is the Gabriel I fell for.
P.S. If the raw tension between de Leon and Jean-Francois doesn't get resolved in the next two books, then gods help me.
Truth be told, initially I bought this book simply because I love vampire stories and a look at the illustrations inside told me that there is a ravishing main character at play. And when I started reading it, I understood from the first fifty pages that this book was so much more. I've read a lot of books in my twenty-something years of life, and there are books that come to mind when I am asked to name a favourite, but I'm pretty sure that from now it, this will be the name that will be on my tongue. It's simply incredible. It's brutal, cruel, and cold like the word that it's set in, it's filled with hatred, contempt, pain, loss and grief like Gabriel is. But it's also full of hope and love, of faith that's so often the last thing a person clings to and that saves him.
I've lost count of the times I've audibly laughed at the jokes, gasped at the plot twist (I couldn't see ANY of them coming) and cried. Dear gods, I've cried rivers over this book, it seems. Jay Kristoff really does know how to slam a knife into your heart and twist it.
The world-building in this book is simply incredible. The last time I read something so richly imaginative and unique was probably "The Witcher" series and that is simply beyond all words. The concept of vampire hunters that are half-vampires themselves, the different ranks of vampires, the four bloodlines and a mysterious fifth one. The concept of daysdeath and the religion based on Christianity yet very different, with the Holy Grail that's not a chalice at all. Absolutely astonishing.
The mysteries that are drawn through the whole book and that only start really dawning on you by the end, before they're fully revealed, are done expertly. Figuring everything out yourself and then seeing the final confirmation is what really makes your heart race and your jaw drop. The way I broke into tears after "They're home because that is where you buried them" will probably never be forgotten by me.
Moreover, this book features one of my favourite tropes of all time: a tired, broken man and a troublesome teenage girl that he comes to love like a daughter despite himself and becomes ready to not only let the world burn to save her but to set it alight himself. This trope always gets to the very bottom of my heart (The Witcher, The Last of Us, Logan) and here, it's done perfectly.
There are a thousand things that I could say about this book and this review would be half as long as it is, but they would all sum up to simply perfection. I've heard some people say that this book is full of red flags but in that case, I'm fucking colourblind and I don't give a single shit. It's cruel and brutal, full of blood and gore and strong language and that is just how I like it. I truly don't know where I will find the patience to wait for the next two instalments of this.
Finally, I'd like to add that I listened to the audiobook as I was reading along, and Damian Lynch is an incredible narrator for this story. I hope with all my heart that he will also read the next two books because his Garbiel is the Gabriel I fell for.
P.S. If the raw tension between de Leon and Jean-Francois doesn't get resolved in the next two books, then gods help me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Murder, Gore, Blood, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Torture
lifeonasofa's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Empire of the Vampire 🧛🏼♂️ Review
“Finally, he retrieved a tarnished royale from his pocket. 'Here.'
'What is that for?' Jean-François demanded.
'I want you to take this coin to market, and buy me a fuck to give.” - Jay Kristoff 🪙
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 Stars
If you’re looking for an adult vampire world to live in for the foreseeable future…this is it. At over 700 pages, this is only part one and Jay Kristoff is taking his TIME telling Gabriel’s tale. But for an opening, this book was art 😘
It took me some time to get through this. It’s definitely not a relaxing read, it’s an experience. Having said that, when I did read it, the plot still moved pretty quickly. The book jumps everywhere along the timeline so it keeps it interesting 🤔
I LOVED Gabriel, his character was so fleshed out. He felt so real. The whole silversaint thing, so interesting. Surprisingly, the religion side of this was probably my favourite part. Particularly, the loss in belief and light - it really helped flesh out the history of the world👌🏻
Heads up, it’s a blood bath so if you’re put off by blood, death (some pretty sad) and foul language…I’d be wary 😂 it’s definitely not a kids book. I really loved how Kristoff combined such a classic story telling writing style with the relaxed banter dialogue, it somehow kept it light 👏🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Violence, Blood, Death, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Torture, Animal death, Homophobia, War, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, and Misogyny
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Rape
aseel_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
While I liked the narrator style and the world we were in, it was super long for no reason? The amount of detail for someone recounting their life was absolutely ridiculous. I also can't believe there are going to be 5 books
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Child death, Gore, Grief, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Death, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, and War
haileyybean's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Violence, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Gore, Drug abuse, and Torture
Minor: Child death
jesicaj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Gore, Violence, Death, Cursing, and War