Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Empire of the Vampire

Although I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy, it’s been a while since I read such an epic adventure book as Empire of the Vampire, and what an amazing experience it was! I came in with great expectations and despite being surprised with some aspects of the book, I was absolutely not let down!

󠁰󠁰󠁰󠁰First of all, a warning: this is definitely a very adult and a very violent book! Some scenes are very descriptive and can be quite appalling if you’re not expecting them. On the other end, it’s also a much more emotional book than it lets on. I shed some tears on more than one moment and there’s one particular chapter that it’s just completely heartbreaking. I would definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings if you are more sensitive to some kinds of topics.

Now, for the book itself, it was amazing! Although it’s quite a big one (700+ pages), the pace is just right, keeping you completely hooked to the story. The book contains three main timelines: in the present, the MC, Gabriel, is telling his story to his captors and he does so alternating between his younger self story (15-16 yo) and his quest adventure in his 32. Sometimes with the intercalation of different timelines (or POVs), I sometimes find myself wanting to skip the “less interesting” one(s), but in this case, there was a perfect balance. I was always super invested in all of the timelines, and the way in which you uncovered the secrets in each one was just so well matched!

I also thought that the “present timeline”, although “not necessary”, gave something very special and unique to the book. At the same time, the comparison between the 3 Gabriels allows this book to be so much more than just an adventure story: it becomes a story about humans and how we deal with war, faith, grief, glory, treason and love, not just on the short term but also throughout the years.

Gabriel, although a bit of a bastard and despite me not liking him very much in the beginning, revealed himself to be a great companion but Astrid was the character I fell in love with the most, closely followed by Dior. But even when the characters were not that likeable, they were all super well constructed and developed and right in that grey area where I love them to be (well, maybe the vampires were just really on the black side 😝). It was that kind of “I love to hate you!”

Now, to my one little critique (that is really just one small point): there were some plot twists that weren't that surprising for me personally. I wasn’t necessarily expecting them but at the same time when they did happen, I felt like I had read them somewhere else (and I had, I checked later 😝). But it was really just a minor point!

And apparently, we’re doing sandwich feedback cause we’re coming back to the good 😝 First of all: loved the queer representation! Second: absolutely freaking loved the illustrations! They made so much sense in the context of the story and they were so helpful to visualize some scenes. I think I’ve never seen illustrations make so much sense in a book. Big shout out to Bon Orthwick (also known as @monolimeart)! Third: loved the french vibes! Especially since I’m currently living in France, it just added to my whole experience. Fourth: loved the reference to the important part that women play in wars. No, wars are not and never were just fought by men! For me personally, it was so important! Even if it’s not something huge (not all books need to focus on these topics), I think is super relevant when authors make their MCs act, say or just even think about the kind of inequalities they see. It raises awareness and that’s always the starting point to something more.

Finally (and before I run out of space), I must say I was not expecting at all a book with so much religion in it (I identified a lot of Christianity but that is the one religion I had the most contact with by far so it could also be based on others). It didn’t particularly bother me, I was just surprised. But I gotta say: I thought it was done in the most tasteful and graceful way! There was never any attempt to defend either the existence or inexistence of God, or anything similar, so, in my opinion, it’s a book that doesn’t intend to criticize or support either believers or non-believers of any religion. It mainly focuses on faith and how it affects our actions, even our thoughts. It also addresses a bit the clash of religions and intolerance. But once again, all done in a way that is not to discredit anyone or anything, but more to maybe display the effects of religion in our lives and the ones of others.

Ok, now that I’ve clearly written too much (this is always the problem: never know what to write and then I start and I write way too much), a quick conclusion: if you’re the kind of person that enjoys a good old dark and epic fantasy adventure, read this! I honestly can’t wait to read book 2 in this series. There’s so much more to uncover, I loved how the first one ended and I heard we’re getting a second POV 🤭 Officially a fan of Jay Kristoff and I’m super curious to read some of his older books as well!

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di_the_reader's review against another edition

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3.5

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dkgreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense 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

3.75

I don’t know if it’s the funky mood I’ve been in lately, or if the Hype Monster struck again, but this book was not what I was hoping it would be.

It was bloody and gory and full of foul language, but that was definitely expected. Did I like it? I mean, yes. Was Mr. Kristoff’s take on vampires pretty cool? Also yes. Did it blow my mind as so many promised? Uh, not so much. Truth told, it wasn’t until it hit 70% on my Kindle that my interest perked its head up and took notice. I mean, some Big Things happen before that point, but I was just kinda….meh about it. I saw stuff coming. I basically figured out where things were headed. Nothing really surprised me. I never became truly invested.

Will I read the next book? Absolutely. There are still some questions I need answered, and some story left to be told for sure. Is it Kristoff’s best work to date (as he so boldly has been proclaiming)? Not in my estimation. But who knows, maybe my opinion will change when I read it again before the second book comes out…

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booksarefriends_notfood's review against another edition

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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

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bookishlypleasant's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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sarah837's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

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writingcaia's review against another edition

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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.

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grahammatthews's review against another edition

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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!

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