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A review by theravenkingx
Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.75
Who the fuck told you I was a hero
The gruesome saga of Gabriel De Leon and his quest for revenge unfolds further in "Empire of the Damned."
Gabriel remains imprisoned by vampire Margot, an empress of wolves and men who wants the story of this infamous vampire hunter recorded for political reasons. As a war looms among the four vampire clans, Margot seeks to gain an advantage over her enemies, the key to which lies in Gabriel's past. As in the first book, we shadow Gabriel across two timelines: the present, where Gabriel is telling his life's story to the historian named Jean-François, and the past, where he, alongside the Grail - Dior, and his sister Celene, pursues a vampire possessing the secret to end "Daysdeath."
We only die if we are forgotten. Burn bright. Burn brief. But burn.
Their journey is full of deceit, blood, and deadly ancient vampires who seek the Grail for reasons unknown. Gabriel finds himself torn between upholding his promise to Dior and fulfilling his vow to kill the most ancient vampire, Fabian Voss - the forever king. One of the beloved characters makes a return and plays a significant role in the story. Yet, her character arc is underwhelming, often reduced to a mere plot device and a deus ex machina, who comes out of nowhere and saves the day. Despite this, she has some interesting and emotional scenes that make her an intriguing character. I hope the next book will do justice to her.
The narrative delves deeper into the atrocities of the vampires upon their Kith—individuals bound in servitude (some willingly, others not), tethered by their master’s blood—and the lengths they are willing to go to for their dominion. The author doesn't shy away from exploring the darker themes of slavery, addiction, and abuse of power.
Those hurt will hurt in kind. Cruelty is an infection, spread from one victim to the next; an avalanche rolling ever downhill and crashing worst upon those at the bottom of the pile.
A new POV is introduced in this book. This new yet familiar voice adds a new layer of deceit, guile, and carnage to the plot. This perspective, alongside Gabriel’s, makes for a more compelling read, blurring the lines between truth and fiction in their recounting of the events.
The book has a great cast of characters returning from the first book and some new characters that are equally as good as the ones we are familiar with. Jay Kristoff has outdone himself with his character work in this book.
The plot is as much about hope and familial bonds as it is about a gruesome world ruled by vampires and endless darkness. The author pens the book to dark places but also manages to keep it lighthearted with amusing banter and stories of love amidst the despair and darkness, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit.
Love is madness – or so the poets say – and a lover will do near anything to please their beloved.
As someone who has read every book by this author, I think I have a better understanding of how his mind works and, as a result, I was able to predict most of the plot twists; yet each reveal was entertaining and added complexity to the plot.
While nearly perfect, the book’s pacing sometimes stumbles. Some side stories could have benefited from more thorough editing. A tighter edit could have elevated this to a five-star read.
life without books is a life not lived, Dior. There’s a magik like no other to be found in them. To open a book is to open a door – to another place, another time, another mind. And usually, mademoiselle, it’s a mind far sharper than your own.
The gruesome saga of Gabriel De Leon and his quest for revenge unfolds further in "Empire of the Damned."
Gabriel remains imprisoned by vampire Margot, an empress of wolves and men who wants the story of this infamous vampire hunter recorded for political reasons. As a war looms among the four vampire clans, Margot seeks to gain an advantage over her enemies, the key to which lies in Gabriel's past. As in the first book, we shadow Gabriel across two timelines: the present, where Gabriel is telling his life's story to the historian named Jean-François, and the past, where he, alongside the Grail - Dior, and his sister Celene, pursues a vampire possessing the secret to end "Daysdeath."
We only die if we are forgotten. Burn bright. Burn brief. But burn.
Their journey is full of deceit, blood, and deadly ancient vampires who seek the Grail for reasons unknown. Gabriel finds himself torn between upholding his promise to Dior and fulfilling his vow to kill the most ancient vampire, Fabian Voss - the forever king. One of the beloved characters makes a return and plays a significant role in the story. Yet, her character arc is underwhelming, often reduced to a mere plot device and a deus ex machina, who comes out of nowhere and saves the day. Despite this, she has some interesting and emotional scenes that make her an intriguing character. I hope the next book will do justice to her.
The narrative delves deeper into the atrocities of the vampires upon their Kith—individuals bound in servitude (some willingly, others not), tethered by their master’s blood—and the lengths they are willing to go to for their dominion. The author doesn't shy away from exploring the darker themes of slavery, addiction, and abuse of power.
Those hurt will hurt in kind. Cruelty is an infection, spread from one victim to the next; an avalanche rolling ever downhill and crashing worst upon those at the bottom of the pile.
A new POV is introduced in this book. This new yet familiar voice adds a new layer of deceit, guile, and carnage to the plot. This perspective, alongside Gabriel’s, makes for a more compelling read, blurring the lines between truth and fiction in their recounting of the events.
The book has a great cast of characters returning from the first book and some new characters that are equally as good as the ones we are familiar with. Jay Kristoff has outdone himself with his character work in this book.
The plot is as much about hope and familial bonds as it is about a gruesome world ruled by vampires and endless darkness. The author pens the book to dark places but also manages to keep it lighthearted with amusing banter and stories of love amidst the despair and darkness, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit.
Love is madness – or so the poets say – and a lover will do near anything to please their beloved.
As someone who has read every book by this author, I think I have a better understanding of how his mind works and, as a result, I was able to predict most of the plot twists; yet each reveal was entertaining and added complexity to the plot.
While nearly perfect, the book’s pacing sometimes stumbles. Some side stories could have benefited from more thorough editing. A tighter edit could have elevated this to a five-star read.
life without books is a life not lived, Dior. There’s a magik like no other to be found in them. To open a book is to open a door – to another place, another time, another mind. And usually, mademoiselle, it’s a mind far sharper than your own.