Reviews with content warning for War - Empire Of The Damned

The ending made me cry. I'm still reeling.

I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the first, but I still really enjoyed it. The first half was a little slow but it picked up around the middle and then raced towards the end. At some points I thought maybe it was becoming predictable, bit then the unexpected would happen.

I enjoyed the whole lore around Pheobe's clans. Since book one was so heavily monotheistic and christian-like, it was interesting for this book to have some focus on a matriarchal society who is pagan and believes in multiple gods, yet still has a prophecy about Dior, hinting that maybe all could be true.

I think something the writer does well is complicated characters. Even though some of the characters themselves believe in a black and white world of good and evil, its shown throughout the books that this isn't the reality, and every character comes with as many flaws as redeemable qualities. Even some of the more "villanious" characters can be enjoyable (like the Marquis and Kiara) and understandable in their own way. Book one very much was anti vampire - all vampires are evil - whereas this one was a bit more complex in that regard.

These books are so rich with world building, lore, love, loss and emotion. I'll truly miss this world when the third one is finished.

I genuinely cried at the end when Dior called Gabriel Papa. So hard. And cried again when she passed. I don't know what to make of the last few pages, although it made me reflect on one thing. Both Gabriel and his sister have said how the other is an unreliable narrator. And there's definitley things they're hiding from the historian. I'm intrigued for book 3 as I imagine it will combine both the events that happened after Dior's "death", how Gabriel killed Fabien, but also I think there will be some plot set in the present as we finally find our what Gabriel's plan is here.

I also think his sister is in on it. I think their fight is a rouse and I think maybe the grail isn't truly lost. But what keeps me afraid is that the author has said he doesn't believe in happy endings. So whether the dark days end or Gabriel lives or dies in book three I really don't know.

There is more explicit horror in this book. I didn't find the first book too disturbing horror-wise but this one does contain more torture and brutal deaths so definitley check the trigger warnings.

Content Warnings

booksandstarss's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

Content Warnings

kayceeisbookish's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-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? No

3.5

Content Warnings

t_higgsreviews's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Rating will be revealed after the St Martins Press boycott ends
#SpeakUpSMP

Content Warnings

pinknoface's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

I skimmed a lot of this, I liked the 1st and 2nd part, and the last, the middle was a lot of unnecessary stuff. This clearly suffers from 2nd book syndrome, the story kinda lost itself, the characters do a lot of stuff that doesn't make sense for the character. The plot is still good, but the dragging, the eternal dragging for 300 pages.

I truly think that it wasn't necessary for half of the cast to be sexually assaulted, Dior is 17. The things that happen in the castle are no necessary to the plot,it was giving torture p*rn. I was gonna give this book 4* but knocked off, 1 just for those scenes, and another for the dragging

This book is an example that shock value doesnt make a good read nor does it make the reader delighted that a book has decived you.

Content Warnings

the_sassy_sidekick's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I am not ok.

Also, is it possible I've read my top book for 2024 just 11 days into the year?

"If you fight for nothing? That's exactly what you'll give to defend it. But if you fight for something worthwhile-I mean something that truly matters-there's no length you won't go to. Brotherhood. Famille. Loyalty. Love. All worth trying for. All worth dying for. In the end, that's what makes us different from you, vampire. And that which makes us different, makes us mighty."

Empire of the Damned was even better than Empire of the Vampire. It's so fucking dark and brutal, but there were SO many times I laughed out loud. The wit and banter of these characters is a true delight, even with everything they suffer and endure. And so many times I felt the warmth and fierceness of the bond between characters, which of course made the events of this book all the more devastating. I am broken. I had to put the book down several times to have feelings before picking it back up again.

"...if this is victory...what the hell does defeat look like?"

I rejoiced when a certain character returned to the story, their demise in EOTV had hit me so hard. They became a real ray of light in this book and I will riot if anything else happens to them. They have suffered ENOUGH, Jay! I also really loved the new POV in the narration of the story of Gabriel de Leon and his doomed quest to save the world. It added new perspective and cast doubt on the validity of Gabe's version of the events, which made it all the more interesting. I was definitely getting some Geralt and Ciri vibes from Gabe and Dior. The grumpy father figure who never wanted to be in this position, who reluctantly comes to love the child of fate even though he has no clue what he's doing, and the spunky child of fate who worms their way into the affections of those around them.

"...there is nothing that grows as deep on this green earth, nothing that shines as bright in all the gables of heaven, nothing that burns as fierce in the blazing heart of hell, than a parent's love for their child."

Getting to see more of the history, the relationships, and the inner workings of the vampire communities was really interesting, too, and I'm looking forward to learning even more in book 3, now that we have seen so much of one or two bloodlines in particular, and glimpses of the others.
There are so many things I want to talk about, but I don't want to risk spoiling anyone, so for now, just read this book. And bring the tissues. This book will break you. It will show you light and you will go towards it, with jut the slimmest bit of hope, only for it to turn out to be one of those creepy lanternfish in the ocean depths, and your heart will be devoured whole. Empire Of The Damned is a masterpiece of desolate, misplaced hope and brutal destruction.

Content Warnings

More...