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4.53 AVERAGE
4.53 AVERAGE
I just couldn’t care less about anyone who matters 🤪
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Goodreads and to The St. Martin's Publishing Group for the giveaway copy of Empire of the Damned. This has been my most anticipated book of the year, and to WIN a copy of it felt like winning the lottery. Except I am still in debt…
4.25 Stars
It is no secret that I am an over-the-moon fan of Kristoff’s books and writing. However, don’t for a moment think that this will color my look at his work. I am also very honest with my reviews. Each star for this tome has earned its place.
And what a tome this is. I thought I was chunky, but this book is the second in its series and weighs in at over 700 pages (as did the previous novel), and I can honestly say, it needed a bit of the fat trimmed. Not much, but a bit. While the story progresses in a compelling enough fashion, I often felt like it dragged in sections. It was, at times, a rinse-wash-repeat of near-successful attempts at achieving something that was somewhat of the same goal, only to meet well-timed devastation that either throws a wrench in the plan or serves as a traumatic moment for a character. I felt that many of these moments could be skipped or somehow condensed. At times I found myself putting the book back down and not picking it back up for a few days for this reason. This was not an issue I had with the first book, which I couldn’t wait to pick back up and had trouble putting down. Aside from this, there is not much criticism I can find for this second offering.
Empire of the Damned throws us back into the dark medieval landscape of the first book. In this novel, as with the first, this story is relayed in a split narrative to the Silversaint Gabriel de Leon’s captor, the Vampire Historian Jean-Francois, with Gabriel’s narrative being the weightier portion. The narrator(s) here are morally grey unreliable, and somewhat unlikable. Kristoff’s characters are not always likable, but somehow still beloved. The story resumes where it was left, following Gabriel, and Dior shortly after Gabriel saves Dior, the Holy Grail, from death.
He and his sister, the vampire Liathe, try and keep Dior from being snatched by the wrong hands, as they travel to Esani to find someone who can explain to them how to put an end to the endless night that has overtaken the lands, and do so without having to end Dior’s life. Of course, the trip does not go to plan in a way they would hope. In this world enemies become new friends, and people you once thought to be friends, become enemies.
This novel gives the blood-soaked world of the vampire clans an even closer look. It pulls no punches with its descriptions of gore, violence, and atrocity. Just as it tugs at our heartstrings with its descriptions of found family, love, and friendship. I found myself both gasping and at a couple of points near tears at some of the more shocking and heart wrenching moments. Especially those toward the end of the novel. There is no doubt that Kristoff can grab your attention and hold it in his fists with his words. The vampires and creatures in this offering are both terrifying and intriguing. They will make you recoil, but they will keep you reading. Many things are revealed to the reader in this novel, albeit slowly and deliberately.
Kristoff’s writing can be described as purposeful, colorful, wry, and very self-aware. Yes, it is full of metaphors, but I feel that Kristoff’s metaphors are often well down, or at the very least, charming in the turn of phrase. He is a master at crafting a world through storytelling.
This was overall a fairly satisfying build-up to the final book, and not one that I would say suffers much from “second book syndrome”. I would love to get further into detail, but will refrain from doing so until after the book's release. At that time, I may return to this review to add some spoiler-y thoughts.
4.25 Stars
It is no secret that I am an over-the-moon fan of Kristoff’s books and writing. However, don’t for a moment think that this will color my look at his work. I am also very honest with my reviews. Each star for this tome has earned its place.
And what a tome this is. I thought I was chunky, but this book is the second in its series and weighs in at over 700 pages (as did the previous novel), and I can honestly say, it needed a bit of the fat trimmed. Not much, but a bit. While the story progresses in a compelling enough fashion, I often felt like it dragged in sections. It was, at times, a rinse-wash-repeat of near-successful attempts at achieving something that was somewhat of the same goal, only to meet well-timed devastation that either throws a wrench in the plan or serves as a traumatic moment for a character. I felt that many of these moments could be skipped or somehow condensed. At times I found myself putting the book back down and not picking it back up for a few days for this reason. This was not an issue I had with the first book, which I couldn’t wait to pick back up and had trouble putting down. Aside from this, there is not much criticism I can find for this second offering.
Empire of the Damned throws us back into the dark medieval landscape of the first book. In this novel, as with the first, this story is relayed in a split narrative to the Silversaint Gabriel de Leon’s captor, the Vampire Historian Jean-Francois, with Gabriel’s narrative being the weightier portion. The narrator(s) here are morally grey unreliable, and somewhat unlikable. Kristoff’s characters are not always likable, but somehow still beloved. The story resumes where it was left, following Gabriel, and Dior shortly after Gabriel saves Dior, the Holy Grail, from death.
He and his sister, the vampire Liathe, try and keep Dior from being snatched by the wrong hands, as they travel to Esani to find someone who can explain to them how to put an end to the endless night that has overtaken the lands, and do so without having to end Dior’s life. Of course, the trip does not go to plan in a way they would hope. In this world enemies become new friends, and people you once thought to be friends, become enemies.
This novel gives the blood-soaked world of the vampire clans an even closer look. It pulls no punches with its descriptions of gore, violence, and atrocity. Just as it tugs at our heartstrings with its descriptions of found family, love, and friendship. I found myself both gasping and at a couple of points near tears at some of the more shocking and heart wrenching moments. Especially those toward the end of the novel. There is no doubt that Kristoff can grab your attention and hold it in his fists with his words. The vampires and creatures in this offering are both terrifying and intriguing. They will make you recoil, but they will keep you reading. Many things are revealed to the reader in this novel, albeit slowly and deliberately.
Kristoff’s writing can be described as purposeful, colorful, wry, and very self-aware. Yes, it is full of metaphors, but I feel that Kristoff’s metaphors are often well down, or at the very least, charming in the turn of phrase. He is a master at crafting a world through storytelling.
This was overall a fairly satisfying build-up to the final book, and not one that I would say suffers much from “second book syndrome”. I would love to get further into detail, but will refrain from doing so until after the book's release. At that time, I may return to this review to add some spoiler-y thoughts.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Holy hell, just intense as all crap from start to finish. God, I love series where every book matters and actually moves things along; I've read too many trilogies lately where the second book contributes almost nothing to the story - that can definitely not be said for this but, man, did it put me through the wringer.
At one point, I actually had the thought: it would've been kinder if he'd killed Aaron and Baptiste. And I love them, I cannot adequately express in words how much I love them and I still was like: gah, maybe stop hurting them though??? But then when we finally got them BACK? The joy was all-consuming.
I continue to adore the fuck out of Dior, she is unstoppable and kind and devious and I want only the best things in the world for her. Including Reyne, who seems amazing. I already love her (and Joaquin) for just naturally telling no one and betraying nothing about no longer being thralled and continuing to play along until they figured out what the fuck was going on. It's not everyone who could've put that together or acted it so well if they had. (Super sad that almost all their named co-conspirators died though - FUCK NIKITA, MAN.)
Celene sucks. Amazing amounts of suck but I also find her so damn interesting??? She let Gabe fall though so we're never going to be friends. Reluctant allies ONLY. I just don't trust anything she says and she doesn't care about the same people I care about soooo...
I even liked the villains a ton here, too? Kiara, Nikita, Lilidh, truly awful non-humans that were terrifying and that you couldn't look away from.
I'm so sad for Phoebe, she should've gotten Connor. Because while I think she and Gabe are good for each other, it's in the sense not of who they are but what they are - people with similar scars - and their connection isn't built on anything more than that. So, yeah, Phoebe deserved Connor and it was so cruel to bring him back just to immediately snatch him away.
Lachlan is a great addition! Really glad he got his head out of his ass, also he saved Aaron and Baptiste so points forever for him. I've noticed this series has one of my favorite qualities from all my best reads - it has a core group who's always ready to add to itself. It picks people up and I love books that do that, especially in high stakes scenarios like this where the person you pick up can easily be your doom (Isla) or your salvation (Joaquin) but you get a chance. You get a chance to be a part of this famille, and that's freaking lovely!
Oh, I am with Celene on one thing though: Jean-Francois and Gabriel should just kiss already... and use that as an excuse to get close to each other so one of them can try to kill the other. Because, lbr, that is so their dynamic.
At one point, I actually had the thought: it would've been kinder if he'd killed Aaron and Baptiste. And I love them, I cannot adequately express in words how much I love them and I still was like: gah, maybe stop hurting them though??? But then when we finally got them BACK? The joy was all-consuming.
I continue to adore the fuck out of Dior, she is unstoppable and kind and devious and I want only the best things in the world for her. Including Reyne, who seems amazing. I already love her (and Joaquin) for just naturally telling no one and betraying nothing about no longer being thralled and continuing to play along until they figured out what the fuck was going on. It's not everyone who could've put that together or acted it so well if they had. (Super sad that almost all their named co-conspirators died though - FUCK NIKITA, MAN.)
Celene sucks. Amazing amounts of suck but I also find her so damn interesting??? She let Gabe fall though so we're never going to be friends. Reluctant allies ONLY. I just don't trust anything she says and she doesn't care about the same people I care about soooo...
I even liked the villains a ton here, too? Kiara, Nikita, Lilidh, truly awful non-humans that were terrifying and that you couldn't look away from.
I'm so sad for Phoebe, she should've gotten Connor. Because while I think she and Gabe are good for each other, it's in the sense not of who they are but what they are - people with similar scars - and their connection isn't built on anything more than that. So, yeah, Phoebe deserved Connor and it was so cruel to bring him back just to immediately snatch him away.
Lachlan is a great addition! Really glad he got his head out of his ass, also he saved Aaron and Baptiste so points forever for him. I've noticed this series has one of my favorite qualities from all my best reads - it has a core group who's always ready to add to itself. It picks people up and I love books that do that, especially in high stakes scenarios like this where the person you pick up can easily be your doom (Isla) or your salvation (Joaquin) but you get a chance. You get a chance to be a part of this famille, and that's freaking lovely!
Oh, I am with Celene on one thing though: Jean-Francois and Gabriel should just kiss already... and use that as an excuse to get close to each other so one of them can try to kill the other. Because, lbr, that is so their dynamic.
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.
That's all I have to say.
Thanks.
That's all I have to say.
Thanks.
dark
emotional
Had high hopes after the first book and they got all blown out of the water. I couldn't put the book aside it is THAT good. Can't wait for the 3rd one.
Fuck. My. Face.
I should have known better.
I need the next book NOW.
I should have known better.
I need the next book NOW.
Fast paced and action packed this sequel delivers where the first left off, with extra characters and a few more unexpected turn of events.
I did not know what to expect and with such a good book 1, I had high hopes. This book wasn’t as great as the first but it still written well and the depth of the characters shine.
I highly anticipate book 3
I did not know what to expect and with such a good book 1, I had high hopes. This book wasn’t as great as the first but it still written well and the depth of the characters shine.
I highly anticipate book 3