Well, it's official. Jay Kristoff has cemented his place in my Hall of Favourite Authors with his latest title; Empire of the Vampire. Full disclosure? I knew this book would more than deliver on its promises...I mean, It's Jay Kristoff. I'd read anything he wrote, even a half-baked, hasty scribble on a piece of receipt paper.

And let me tell you, this book had me head over heels from the first paragraph. It takes place in third person narrative format, opening with our half-vampire antihero Gabriel as he recounts the story of his life while incarcerated in the dungeon of his enemy. Gabriel's tale is told selectively, through non-chronological flashbacks that serve to maximise the emotional impact of what readers are shown; all the while scattering cryptic morsels of information that will leave them hungering for more as the story unfolds. Gabriel is a standout protagonist; it goes without saying that any morally grey character constructed in the mind of the legendary Mister Kristoff (Looking at you, Mia Corvere) will steal your heart entirely, only to break it at their discretion. Overall, the world of Empire of the Vampire touches on some deliciously dark themes. There's a plethora of foul language, dark and sensuous- not to mention bloody- sex scenes, and a whole host of gore and death that will leave any fan of Grimdark fantasy satisfied. The vampires are devilishly sexy, albeit utterly terrifying; make no mistake, these creatures of the night are out for blood.

Once again, Jay Kristoff has delivered a body of work so far beyond the realm of a 5-star rating system, that it borderline breaks the entire scale. There's nothing I can do or say to convince you to read this book, because it simply does not need my endorsement. There's also little I can say that wouldn't spoil it for you, so you'll have to just take my word for it! Read this book. Read it because it's everything that a book should be; a trifecta of captivating language, superb storytelling and character development that is- quite literally- to die for. Empire of the Vampire has thus far been my most anticipated read of 2021, so it's no surprise that I absolutely devoured the ARC I was given (thankyou kindly, Harper Collins Australia and NetGalley), and will now be existing in a state of unfettered excitement until September, when the book officially hits shelves!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for this very generous “sampler” of EOTV. When a sampler is the length of some books you have to think you are going to be in for a wild ride. I must say this book does not disappoint. When a book is as hyped as this one, you get worried that it will not live up to expectations. Have no fear.

Gabriel is telling his life to a chronicler. I love the witty banter and the insults that fly between these two characters. Tidbits are scattered through the book telling of the events to come but of course, this book is not told in chronological order so I am left waiting for answers as I only have half a book. Although, I suspect that since this is not a standalone, I still may be left waiting and cursing Jay Kristoff.

I ripped through this like the vampires on the page are ripping through the flesh of mortals. Now I have the problem of waiting 8 weeks until the book is published and my preorder arrives. September cannot come fast enough for me.

I absolutely loved Empire of the Vampire and I cant wait to read the full book when it releases in September. Jay Kristoff as yet again created intriguing characters and a world that I loved to explore.

I really enjoyed the story so far and couldn't put the book down. I can't wait til release day to continue reading and what happens next. It was fantastic diving into a world of vampires with a fresh new look from one of my favourite authors.

Couldn’t open the file, and its a sample piece. I am sure it is a good little sample, but unfortunately I can not open PDF on my IPad sand when I do its a hot mess to even try to get it to load and read. I will just be happy to wait for my pre order that i am getting in September.

While my despair at discovering that what I thought was a full edition of Empire of the Vampire was deep and very dramatic, I have managed to rise from my bed of tear-stained tissues in order to complete a review.

It says a lot about fans of Kristoff's work that multiple special editions have sold out months before the book is even published. There is very little that I could say that would deter such determined droogs even if my opinion were negative. On the flipside there is also very little that I can say that would manage to be entirely spoiler free.
The trauma!

However, with Empire, Kristoff has returned to the beautifully dramatic, even arch tone of his Nevernight novels. The writing is clever, labyrinthine, and quite delicious. Swear words abound, unsurprisingly. There is *gasp* the SEX, and even the slightest glimpse is gleefully bloody, gladly perverse, and very, very morally grey.

Perhaps my favourite thing about the book is something that is new for a Jay Kristoff novel. Unlike Nevernight with its mysterious (until the very end!) storyteller, or the unique structure of The Illuminae Files written with Amie Kaufmanwith its ephemera and collection of scraps and images, this is a story told by the protagonist. For the first time, this is our main character (NOT a hero, never a hero with this particular author) telling his own story.

In short, this is one that is guaranteed not to disappoint, and likely to have its release date marked in all sorts of calendars.