I was so excited to read this book after reading previous works from this author. Sadly this one was not for me. It was a great disappointment. If I had not picked it for a competitive reading challenge it would have been a dnf for sure. In addition to the numerous problematic themes throughout the choice of language and amount of derogatory outbursts from the characters made it impossible to enjoy. It really distracted from the plot and I just became totally bored.

Jay Kristoffs writing is always so amazing. I am not a fan of the story telling choice as an interview. It made it harder to follow for me and lost interest a couple times. The story is good. I just wish it weren't told in this particular way.

SCREAMING. CRYING. THROWING UP.

I read 222 pages when this first came out, and then put it aside for whatever reason. Partially because I think a different book I wanted to read even more was published, and partly because she is dense and I was just not feeling it. I just got back to it and started from the beginning, and I was hooked!

Yes, parts were still a bit dry and dense (especially given the premise of him telling his story, so that impacts the writing style and has things broken up) but I loved it.

I was genuinely so interested in each story line/timeline and was so eager to read about what would come next.

I really love Gabriel as a character and I think it's so fascinating to see him younger, with so much faith, and then older with all that faith gone. I'm so interested to see where his story goes next.

Dior is probably my favorite character! What a badass and spitfire! And I love that Dior is so selfless and self sacrificing. And funny.

And I love the relationship that Dior and Gabe have!!! It's so beautiful and pure! (It also really reminded me of Joel and Ellie from TLOU, among other things in this book.)

I also really loved Aaron, and I think had he been in it more, he'd also be my favorite character, but as it is, Dior squeaked by him. I'm so interested in his past and what happened with his first love. DEVASTATING. And the guilt he must feel! I love that we got to see the growth and him stand up for what he believes in! I hope we see more of him in book two, but I sadly doubt it.

I also really liked Astrid and Chloe. Astrid especially, and how she was so ballsy and confident.

The last 40 or so pages just blew me away and I can't wait to see what happens in book two given everything! And too see the tragedy of how Gabe gets to his present day. Even though I hope it's all a trick.

I tried my hardest to get into this one but I sadly couldn't. DNF @130 pages into the book just too much cussing for my liking which sucks because I loved Jay Kristoff writing but this one made me question him

This was an interesting take on vampires! Excited to continue the series. I gave it 4 stars because it was still missing something for me

While I did enjoy Empire of the Vampire while reading it, this story unfortunately falls into the category of fiction that I enjoyed reading while I was reading it and will probably never think about again. There just wasn't much about it entirely new or interesting to captivate me, but though it overworked the same common aspects of high fantasy that are seen in most adult fantasy series, it was still a fun read.

A great breath of fresh air in the Vampire genre with an epic dark fantasy setting. This will be an easy sell to any fans of Dark Fantasy or anyone looking to scratch their Vampire Hunter itch. The writing style really draws you in with the alternating timelines and the interesting characters really make you want to stick around.

This was so very underwhelming. I was bored. There were so many 'and were walking' moments. I was expecting so much more action and was severely let down. The story itself was fine. It left off on a pretty good cliffhanger to keep the reader interested, just not me. There were so many cliche pieces that it was easy tobpredict along the way. Very underwhelming for my first Jay Kristoff book.

This was only a portion of the book but it’s very dense and I had no clue what was going on to be honest lol. It didn’t feel like much was happening but I definitely will be giving it a better try maybe via audio in the future!

Did not finish. The writing was good but the story was not grabbing me. I know lots of people will love it for the different kind of vampires.

Jay Kristoff sure knows how to write a grim and grisly fantasy that has you on the edge of your seat and utterly unable to look away. The world building and history of this empire is what really took the cake in this one. The narration style mirroring that of Ann Rice was phenomenally done, and despite it not being my favorite stylistic choice in a novel, it was incredibly enjoyable in this case. I can tell that this is only the beginning of a gripping fantastical tale and I cannot wait to embark on it in the next installment.

I purchased the full book based on this sample, thank you! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jay Kristoff's "Empire of the Vampire" offers readers an exclusive and enthralling glimpse into a world consumed by darkness in this over 400-page sampler. The first illustrated volume of an upcoming dark fantasy saga, this sampler sets the stage for a mesmerizing tale of vampires, holy orders, and a quest for humanity's last hope.

The poetic and evocative opening lines immediately draw readers into a world where the absence of sunlight has spanned nearly three decades, leaving only scattered sparks of light in a sea of darkness. The premise of vampires waging war against humanity, building their eternal empire, sets a compelling stage for the narrative that follows.

Gabriel de León, a silversaint, emerges as a central figure—a lone defender against the creatures of the night and the last remaining member of the Silver Order. The story unfolds as Gabriel, imprisoned by the very monsters he swore to eradicate, recounts his experiences. Kristoff skillfully weaves a tale of legendary battles, forbidden love, lost faith, and enduring friendships, creating a rich tapestry that captures the essence of the Wars of the Blood and the quest for the Holy Grail.

The sampler introduces readers to a world steeped in lore, where the struggle for survival is intricately linked with the mysteries of the Holy Grail. The promise of epic battles and the exploration of complex themes, such as faith and friendship, add depth to the narrative. Kristoff's prose is masterful, immersing readers in a dark and atmospheric setting that is both haunting and captivating.

The inclusion of illustrations enhances the reading experience, offering visual cues that complement the vivid descriptions in the text. The combination of visual and narrative elements creates a fully immersive experience, allowing readers to envision the dark and fantastical world that Kristoff has crafted.

While this sampler serves as a tantalizing introduction, it leaves readers eager for more. The world-building is rich, and the characters are intriguing, leaving room for the full novel to delve even deeper into the complexities of this dark fantasy realm. "Empire of the Vampire" holds great promise as a captivating addition to the fantasy genre, and fans of epic tales with a dark twist will likely find themselves eagerly anticipating the release of the complete work.

This books exceeded my expectations! Not only was the story captivating, but the writing was phenomenal. I loved the world and the pacing. The dark gothic atmosphere escaped throughout the pages. Definitely my top 3 favorite vampire book that I have ever read.

This book just kept getting better and better as I got through it. I have really enjoyed many of Kristoff’s books - particularly the Nevernight series, but this book is so much different in style than those books. Such good world building and relationship building. I’m so excited for the next one!

While I definitely understand why a lot of people love this series and this author, this book just wasn’t for me.

I was intrigued by the vampire mysticism and world building and the prose wasn’t bad either but a lot of the dialogue felt repetitive as well as the end journey for almost every single female in this book.

After the 10th prostitute joke and the plethora of female death, violence, or use of underage characters to push the plot forward I was pretty much done. The excuse of “this book is historical fantasy so we have to show misogyny and mistreatment of women’ just doesn’t work when there’s literal vampires.

This one left a lot to be desired. Jay is a great writer, but the plot fell a bit short for me and left me wanting in terms of appropriate characterization and characters that are representative and realistic. It was hard to get over the use of specific derogatory words for women that took away from the overall plot and action of the book.
I would still use this book in the classroom if I were asking students to interpret the male gaze and problematic scenarios. However, on a whole. I feel let down by a fan of his previous work.

A popcorn read at best

Your voice will never feel so tiny as when you’re screaming at God”

I’ve had an ARC of this for awhile and just never got around to it until this past week. I was really itching for a fantasy vampire story and this was just what I needed. The main character Gabriel - half vampire half human but commonly known as a Silversaint - is gruff but funny (especially with Dior). Gabriel’s purpose in life as a Silversaint is to defeat the vampires or the “Dead” in repentance for being born as a half vampire. And when a young child (Dior) is found to be the Grail that may end the darkness, he goes along a journey to provide protection to Dior all while battling the Inquisition, the Dead, and the Forever Princes.

This narrative is a bit of a “Interview With a Vampire” type set-up with nonlinear/shifting storylines and the occasional interview-type interruptions during storytelling.

The world building mirrors a lot of our world in terms of language and religion so it’s not too confusing to grasp,

It was a bit predictable but enjoyable nonetheless and i look forward to what the sequel brings.

By far the biggest highlight of the book for me were the numerous illustrations throughout the text. The artist is phenomenal and I loved being able to see what the characters looked like as well as how certain scenes looked.

If your looking for a mix of Castlevania, Claymore, and Interview With a Vampire, then this is the book for you!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my eARC.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc! I am currently in the midst of working on a post and/or review in regards to this book that will be posted on my IG account! Thats where I do my reviews at as well as on GR & Tiktok! Thank you so much again!

It was a nice sampler. I hadn't read any book by Jay Kristoff so it would have been a gamble going into his book. Thankful for the sample that i got to know his writing style which in all honesty is not my cup of tea.