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4.53 AVERAGE
4.53 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed this book, It was certainly able to answer many of the questions left from the first. I don't think it deserves to be entirely showered with 5 star reviews either. There are a few things with how this book was written that made it hard to keep with the rhythm of the story. Whether that was a purposeful choice or not I don't quite think it landed as well as hoped for. I do hope the final book in the series avoids too many time jumps and POV changes.
dark
emotional
tense
Meets all the necessary requirements for a great vampire book - aggressive levels of bisexuality and unapologetically evil vamps with no reason to be evil other than “fuck you I’m a vampire”.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
"Please," I beg, "no more books where vampires are just bored rich people or who refuse to drink human blood because it's 'wrong' or some dumb shit." Tears fall pathetically from my eyes. "Please, no more straight vampires who are somehow 'hot' but possess no eroticism."
And Jay Kristoff replied, "Say less" and delivered the vampire novel I've literally always wanted.
It's not often that a sequel (and middle book besides) triumphs over its predecessor, but that's exactly what Empire of the Damned has done. The lore and character relationships which Empire of the Vampire established sink deeper here, emphasizing the father-daughter relationship between Gabriel and Dior, the treacherous sibling relationship between Gabriel and Celene, and the burgeoning trust growing between Gabriel and Phoebe. Though the Blood Voss lurk as a constant threat to Gabriel's party and his goal to protect the Holy Grail, it is the Blood Dyvok and their depraved court who take center stage as this novel's horror show.
And what a horror show it is! Humans in livestock cages! Branded thralls! Killing for sport! An entire dún enslaved and at the mercy of the Blackheart Nikita and the Heartless Lilidh, ancien siblings whose lust for power at once unites and divides them. And since Jay Kristoff isn't an author who believes in shielding his characters from death, harm, or injury using plot armor, the tension was palpable. I felt the sword hanging over my head as surely as it did the characters', and—ricocheting wildly between being horrified and titillated—I had the time of my life.And honestly, the side plot with Aaron and Baptiste had me wanting to rip out my own heart. Such incredible work.
While the first book was largely about trying to find your faith in something, Empire of the Damned is much more interested in asking, "Now how do you keep your faith? What does it mean to have it truly tested? And what does it look like to have faith rewarded?" Dior having to find a way to survive alone, Gabriel needing to trust his enemies, Celene chasing a holy calling while she herself is damned. We're not just given the pieces; Kristoff explores them all to their fullest potential. I loved it here. I'm so relieved there's another book.
Also, gosh, it's so nice to read a fantasy story that puts hair on your chest. That trusts the reader's intelligence. That's beautifully descriptive without being overwrought by flowery emptiness and melodrama. That doesn't hold back its punches but isn't deliberately cruel for the sake of being cruel. There's a lot of darkness here, but Kristoff always balances it with hope, faith, and light—to the point where even the smallest glimmer of it shines all the brighter as a result. Characters try, characters fail, and then they get back up all the stronger for it because they believe in something! The payoff in Empire of the Damned is exquisite, but more importantly than that, it is earned.
And despite what I said at the beginning of this vague review (because I want you to read this book and this series as fresh as possible), though the vampire lore is rich and the vampires themselves are hot, cruel, sadistic, and beguiling, I'm hardcore rooting for humanity to triumph. For the near powerless to fight back and overcome close to impossible odds. It's the underdog element for me, always. After having read a slew of fantasy and """romantasy""" books that bend over backwards to praise otherworldly and immortal beings at humanity's expense, I'm over it. Human supremacy, baby! Crush those pointy-eared/fanged/scaled/winged bastards!
Kristoff's on it and delivering better and more meaningful sex scenes than all of romantasy besides, just because he can. I can only throw my head back and laugh.
And Jay Kristoff replied, "Say less" and delivered the vampire novel I've literally always wanted.
It's not often that a sequel (and middle book besides) triumphs over its predecessor, but that's exactly what Empire of the Damned has done. The lore and character relationships which Empire of the Vampire established sink deeper here, emphasizing the father-daughter relationship between Gabriel and Dior, the treacherous sibling relationship between Gabriel and Celene, and the burgeoning trust growing between Gabriel and Phoebe. Though the Blood Voss lurk as a constant threat to Gabriel's party and his goal to protect the Holy Grail, it is the Blood Dyvok and their depraved court who take center stage as this novel's horror show.
And what a horror show it is! Humans in livestock cages! Branded thralls! Killing for sport! An entire dún enslaved and at the mercy of the Blackheart Nikita and the Heartless Lilidh, ancien siblings whose lust for power at once unites and divides them. And since Jay Kristoff isn't an author who believes in shielding his characters from death, harm, or injury using plot armor, the tension was palpable. I felt the sword hanging over my head as surely as it did the characters', and—ricocheting wildly between being horrified and titillated—I had the time of my life.
While the first book was largely about trying to find your faith in something, Empire of the Damned is much more interested in asking, "Now how do you keep your faith? What does it mean to have it truly tested? And what does it look like to have faith rewarded?" Dior having to find a way to survive alone, Gabriel needing to trust his enemies, Celene chasing a holy calling while she herself is damned. We're not just given the pieces; Kristoff explores them all to their fullest potential. I loved it here. I'm so relieved there's another book.
Also, gosh, it's so nice to read a fantasy story that puts hair on your chest. That trusts the reader's intelligence. That's beautifully descriptive without being overwrought by flowery emptiness and melodrama. That doesn't hold back its punches but isn't deliberately cruel for the sake of being cruel. There's a lot of darkness here, but Kristoff always balances it with hope, faith, and light—to the point where even the smallest glimmer of it shines all the brighter as a result. Characters try, characters fail, and then they get back up all the stronger for it because they believe in something! The payoff in Empire of the Damned is exquisite, but more importantly than that, it is earned.
And despite what I said at the beginning of this vague review (because I want you to read this book and this series as fresh as possible), though the vampire lore is rich and the vampires themselves are hot, cruel, sadistic, and beguiling, I'm hardcore rooting for humanity to triumph. For the near powerless to fight back and overcome close to impossible odds. It's the underdog element for me, always. After having read a slew of fantasy and """romantasy""" books that bend over backwards to praise otherworldly and immortal beings at humanity's expense, I'm over it. Human supremacy, baby! Crush those pointy-eared/fanged/scaled/winged bastards!
Kristoff's on it and delivering better and more meaningful sex scenes than all of romantasy besides, just because he can. I can only throw my head back and laugh.
I was fully expecting this book to break my heart, make me feel some kind of rage and sadness all at once. Yet, I did not expect the PAIN… I will be thinking about this book for the next few weeks making myself sad again. I don’t know how Kristoff does it but my god can he make you fall deep in love with the characters and then just FUCK WITH YOUR EMOTIONS.
I will be laying in bed tonight being sad over this 700 page book of TORMENT.
Although as a side note, I do have to say, as much as I loved book one this sequel is just fucking incredible
I will be laying in bed tonight being sad over this 700 page book of TORMENT.
Although as a side note, I do have to say, as much as I loved book one this sequel is just fucking incredible
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
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
Absolutely love. I cannot wait for the final book in this trilogy. These books have a bit of all my favorite things: horror, humor, spice, unexpected twists, and lovable, flawed characters.
Plodding. Literally and figuratively, desperately in need of an editor.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Me ha gustado un pelín menos que el primero, porque es más desagradable y oscuro, pero engancha muchísimo. Lo más destacable: hay párrafos dignos de la mejor literatura épica, sigue manteniendo su negrísimo sentido del humor y, sobre todo, cada personaje nuevo que aparece es muy bueno. Tantos personajes y todos tienen su "aquel", qué difícil. ¿De verdad tengo ahora que esperar a noviembre a que salga el tercer volumen?