Reviews tagging 'Death'

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

110 reviews

thecourtofreading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious slow-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

4.5

this only took me so long because a) it’s massive, and b) i realise i have a very short attention span. regardless, this book was such a rich, dark fantasy book and i love the worlds jay creates. can’t wake for book 2! 

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jesicaj's review against another edition

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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


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alba_marie's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

Finally threw in the towel after réalising getting to the end wasn't going to change anything. I really didn't care for this book. I like vampire tales but this one was just not for me. Could be sumerised as "I killed a vampire, bloood, death, silver, random mention of a holy grail, ooh sexy nuns, grr don't want to tell my story to à vampire bloodsucker so I'm gonna tell it in a random order just to be annoying.... OK gonna kill another vampire." 

It was incredibly boring and repetative. It was described a Name of the Wind plus Interview with the Vampire. I liked the first but hated the second (never finished it either) and this one feels very remanent of that book. So maybe that explains why I couldn't stand it! Anyway, I won't be continuing with the series and don't think I'll try this author again as I was already on the fence with him. It's way too long for what it is. Audiobook is NOT the way to go with this one.... Had it on 2.5x speed and still couldn't get through the book! Gah.

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taryn_g's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


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andromeda_1998's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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alanis_thespookyreader's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny 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? Yes

5.0


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sandrae04's review against another edition

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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


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jlynnelseauthor's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective sad tense fast-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

3.0

 
"Empire of the Vampire" is a journey. Its a long one as our main character, de Leon, is recounting his heart-rending life to a vampire historian. This is like, perhaps, an 18th-Century-esque French setting. There's a large amount of world building particularly around religion. The religion is basically Christianity but with subtle differences.

The book goes down a bit for its treatment of women. Many women are clearly there to entice the male reader. The main female vampire is often touching herself and trying to sexually manipulate the men chasing her...in public no less--very annoying. Women are often brutalized more explicitly than male characters. And if you're a woman, stay away from de Leon.

Besides a couple people, everyone else curses like a sailor. Every. Single. Person. There is an excessive use of the word c*nt, but most often its variations on f*ck. The book is also much more sexually explicit than I'm used to reading. There's even underage sex, including a drawn photo in the book, which is not a welcome addition. Finally, it's extremely violent and bloody.

With everything being said, there are epic battles, hidden religious secrets, a vow of vengeance, and a struggle of faith. De Leon is an intriguing character. Kristoff does have some beautiful passages about choice and life and fate. I don't know if I'd be able to read a book 2 as I can't imagine keeping all of this in my head!

 

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hotpinkmess's review against another edition

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3.5

 I hate comparing someone's work to another. Yet, I am not a writer, so I don't think I can precisely capture why you should read this book without listing all the things it reminded me of, that I liked, and that you might like. If you are a fan of Dracula, in any of the stories' media forms, Castlevania, the animated series, if you love pomp and gore, blood and sex, and True Blood and everything that makes vampires and those that fight them vampy...well...Then this is a book for you.

It's not a bright romp filled with sunshine and hope, but it has its moments. The viewpoint and presentation can be awkward in places, but it still pulls you in.

And while it has elements of all the things I listed above, Jay creates a world that turns out to be entirely his own, so don't expect exactly the above in anything.

This was an entertaining, grim, dark, sensual, and in many places, hilariously fun read. I recommend it for those looking for a bloody good time.

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patrissia10's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad 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


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