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alyssa_simard's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Animal death, Gore, Body horror, and Homophobia
Moderate: Torture, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual assault
kylahspages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Gore, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Violence, and War
holly_n's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Animal death
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Homophobia, and Alcoholism
Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, Torture, and Sexual assault
beckybookish's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, Death, Murder, Gore, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Self harm
booksarefriends_notfood's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Cursing, Death, Body horror, War, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Child abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Child death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Sexual content, Sexism, and Torture
writingcaia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It’s been twenty seven years of darkness, twenty seven years since the sun barely shines in the world, and now the black lion, the last of the Silversaints, the hero of the people, Gabriel de Leon has been captured by the new ruling vampire house.
There Gabe is forced to relay his life’s story which he fast forwards to when he turns fifteen just before being sent to the Ordo Argent, the Silver Order, to become a Silversaint. Half-human half-vampire it seems to his mother that the order will be his best option, and it is. It is there he will find a family, love, power, and recognition all he has ever dreamed and more, but at a cost. That price we see in another period of his life’s journey that he also relays to the vampire historian writing his story down, which is when he is thirty two, just two years before the present time.
In sum we will have a pretty clear idea of who Gabe was until he was seventeen and at thirty two, the rest we get only scraps that tease our appetite for more. One thing is clear Gabriel de Leon is now jaded and crushed, but the light of his hatred for the vampires is unbroken and mighty, and there seems to be hope for his current status as a prisoner or so we hope.
It is hard to review a book I’ve waited for for more than a year, the expectations were enormous, first because it’s Jay and second because I freaking love vampires.
So, what did I think?
I loved it, it was awesome. It’s medium-fast paced, has a great world building, the characters are amazing, well fleshed, and just overall super interesting. It is dark, bloody and the narration has the snarky-ness, which I adore, we are used to since Nevernight, and I mean Gabriel is mega hot, those illustrations wow, and another favourite is Dior. The only minus for me was the back and forth between timelines, I got so invested in one and then had to go back to the other, and vice-versa, plus on those almost seventeen years between them so much happens that we just know from small references dropped here and there, that specially annoyed me. I do prefer a more regular timeline particularly if we almost know what happen between the two timelines but not enough to quench the curiosity. But, honestly it didn’t take much from my love of the story.
And, now the suffering begins, the wait for the next two books in the series.
If you love adult fantasy, vampires and dark moody books, this is for you.
There Gabe is forced to relay his life’s story which he fast forwards to when he turns fifteen just before being sent to the Ordo Argent, the Silver Order, to become a Silversaint. Half-human half-vampire it seems to his mother that the order will be his best option, and it is. It is there he will find a family, love, power, and recognition all he has ever dreamed and more, but at a cost. That price we see in another period of his life’s journey that he also relays to the vampire historian writing his story down, which is when he is thirty two, just two years before the present time.
In sum we will have a pretty clear idea of who Gabe was until he was seventeen and at thirty two, the rest we get only scraps that tease our appetite for more. One thing is clear Gabriel de Leon is now jaded and crushed, but the light of his hatred for the vampires is unbroken and mighty, and there seems to be hope for his current status as a prisoner or so we hope.
It is hard to review a book I’ve waited for for more than a year, the expectations were enormous, first because it’s Jay and second because I freaking love vampires.
So, what did I think?
I loved it, it was awesome. It’s medium-fast paced, has a great world building, the characters are amazing, well fleshed, and just overall super interesting. It is dark, bloody and the narration has the snarky-ness, which I adore, we are used to since Nevernight, and I mean Gabriel is mega hot, those illustrations wow, and another favourite is Dior. The only minus for me was the back and forth between timelines, I got so invested in one and then had to go back to the other, and vice-versa, plus on those almost seventeen years between them so much happens that we just know from small references dropped here and there, that specially annoyed me. I do prefer a more regular timeline particularly if we almost know what happen between the two timelines but not enough to quench the curiosity. But, honestly it didn’t take much from my love of the story.
And, now the suffering begins, the wait for the next two books in the series.
If you love adult fantasy, vampires and dark moody books, this is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Homophobia, War, Religious bigotry, Torture, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, Gore, Sexual content, and Drug use
grahammatthews's review against another edition
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Drug use, and Sexual content
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Child abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Outing, Torture, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Violence, and Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Bullying, and Animal death
vicktorea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked it, pity the author is problematic
half the time I didn’t know what was going on but what I did grasp, gripped me.
I liked the characters, the adventure, the atmosphere but this was SO mfing loooooong!!!! Like did it really need to be that long ???! 😭
I listened to the audio via Libby which was great!
I bought the physical copy before I realized the author had made anti-Semitic comments and I don’t condone that whatsoever. Like why do authors have to do this shit. No only are they harming a whole populous of people but they take the enjoyment out of something that people shouldn’t feel guilty doing. So yeah, fuck you JK (and all the other racist/problematic authors) for that.
half the time I didn’t know what was going on but what I did grasp, gripped me.
I liked the characters, the adventure, the atmosphere but this was SO mfing loooooong!!!! Like did it really need to be that long ???! 😭
I listened to the audio via Libby which was great!
I bought the physical copy before I realized the author had made anti-Semitic comments and I don’t condone that whatsoever. Like why do authors have to do this shit. No only are they harming a whole populous of people but they take the enjoyment out of something that people shouldn’t feel guilty doing. So yeah, fuck you JK (and all the other racist/problematic authors) for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Violence, Sexual content, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Homophobia
ainslie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.75
Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed but (as I knew I would be) annoyed at myself for reading it before book 2 is out (still worth it)! I've got to say though, Gabriel de León (i.e. Jay Kristoff) sure does love a simile...
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia