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.

The fact that this was only a sampler (yes, an extended sampler, but still not the full book) and cut off as things were getting good is a crime. 10/10 I loved this book so much. Jay Kristoff makes vampires cool again.

This was an expansive world that was beautifully rendered with very interesting and unique vampire lore.

Late review because I really wanted to give it a chance before deciding to not finish it.
I was so excited for this book and even pre-ordered multiple special editions considering Jay Kristoff is one of my favorite authors.
I actually love the setting of this book and it's overall aesthetic but unfortunately I couldn't get into it and ended up DNF'ing @ 20%.
This is a personal preference but I wish the illustrations through-out the book were done in a more traditional pencil drawing art style, the obvious digital art just didn't make sense to me.
I plan on giving it another chance sometime later, maybe near the release of the sequel.

I finished the excerpt of this book and immediately purchased the book when it came out. Jay Kristoff is one of my favorite fantasy authors and I will pick up anything he writes.

This book wasn't what I was expecting. I've never read a Jay Kristoff book so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. It was different to be sure and maybe if the world wasn't so crazy I would have liked it better, but it was too intense for me and I can't see myself recommending it to patrons.

Wow! Jay Kristoff did it again…that bastard. Like any high fantasy book worth reading, it took me a while to understand this one and really get into the story. But once everything clicked into place I just hung on for the ride. The world building was truly amazing. I fell in love with this whole Fantasy world and of course I fell for Gabriel. I loved the horse (who’s name I won’t say because it’s a spoiler kind of). I loved Astrid and Dior. Also, I love vampires and don’t have an issue with gore, so I knew this would be great for me. I laughed at all the ridiculous analogies and the hilarious dialogue. I also died a little inside by the end, like I knew I would. I’ve been putting off reading it for so long, because I just wasn’t ready for the emotional damage. If you want to be scarred for life by a book, go ahead and read this one. If you like audiobooks, I really recommend the audio to listen along. It was amazing to just lay there sometimes and let the story wash over me. I’m going to go cry in a corner now and wait for the bastard to write the second one.

Ugh so late... for some reason, I just couldn't get into it.

Thank You to Jay Kristoff and St. Martin’s Press, for the digital ARC provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I don’t know what else to say about this book other than it’s incredible. I loved every minute of this book and it was certainly worth what felt like an agonizing wait. Jay Kristoff is the master of entangling his readers and devastating them all at once. It’s a gift and a curse to his devoted readers.

I devoured this book as much as I tried to prolong it solely because I didn’t want it to end. I love the style of how the story is told. Showing both the current timeline and the past as it’s being told to someone. It was very well done too because sometimes this method can just straight flop if not done correctly.

The reader sees the defining moments of Gabriel’s life, from a young age and with each part of the book, showing him a bit older until he reaches the point of cynical man. There were so many characters I loved, even the baddies were such fleshed out in depth characters. The atmosphere was so dark as was the story itself, and I’m a sucker for dark anything so this met every need.

More than anything, I cannot wait for the next book. I want it ASAP.

Trigger Warnings: Human death (adult and child), animal death, physical abuse, mention of alcohol abuse

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff is the first book in the series of the same name. Told in a way that is very reminiscent of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, the reader is introduced to Gabriel de León, the last of the silversaints. His life has not been an easy one and as he weaves his tale he does not shy away from that fact. Becoming a silversaint is not easy and even more difficult is surviving in a land of everlasting night.

Several years ago the book market was practically flooded with vampire novels. While this isn’t a particularly bad thing when the market is oversaturated even new and unique novel ideas can seem old fast. This is one of the main reasons why I have reviewed only a handful of vampire-based novels here; there just wasn’t anything new or interesting on the market.

That’s where Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff comes in.

Told in a series of flashbacks, Empire of the Vampire is a novel that has taken numerous tropes and ideas and gives them a unique twist. It’s a coming-of-age story that isn’t quite that at all. It’s a story with secrets and mysteries a-plenty, the majority of them merely hinted at. It’s a story with fight scenes and battles where the good guys don’t always win – and that’s if you can tell who the good guys actually are.

At close to 900 pages and only the first book of the series Empire of the Vampire offers an incredibly tantalizing taste of the world Kristoff has created. The characters that populate the story are a varied bunch each with their own goals and ideals. What those goals and ideals are aren’t always readily known, leaving the reader to wonder. With as much that is said there is just as much left unsaid.

As many other reviewers have stated, Empire of the Vampire is NOT a book for young readers. There are some adult readers who might have difficulties with it as well. Personally, I really enjoyed reading it and devoured it (pun intended) in just over a week. Were it not for pesky things like a job or a family I likely would have finished it sooner.

Readers who love a good, bloody (again pun intended) vampire novel packed with fight scenes and questionable characters would do well to check out Empire of the Vampire.

Sample...over 400 pages
Gabriel tells the story of his search for the holy grail. He is a half vampire who was trained to kill the real vampires.
Vampires, some smut, special powers

I had heard so many great things about this book. I received a e-ARC of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press and then I went out and bought a copy from my local bookstore. I have picked this book up twice now and I even tried to listen to the audiobook while reading to help me get through it. However, this book is a no go for me. I could just not get invested in the characters or the storyline.

I really enjoyed this book, I loved the world building in this story, very well done. I would highly recommend this book to everyone

Dark, twisted, and bloody.

I loved it.

Follow Gabriel, a tortured soul indeed, as he recounts his quest as the last Silversaint to rid the world of Vampires. And you’ll find no sparkly, veggie, Vamps here. These mothereffers mean murderous business. Ancient, blood thirsty, ruthless… I almost want to root for them.

If you love chaos, murder and mayhem this book is for you. If you come down more on the side of sparkly veg, maybe skip it.

5/5 stars for the clever use of the word “fuck”

Never have I read something by Jay Kristoff that I haven’t loved, and Empire of the Vampire did not disappoint! The story is intricate and completely immerses you in the world. The storytelling is unique and the ending leaves you begging for book number 2. The world building is heavy so prepare yourself! But in my opinion it’s absolutely worth it. Once I started I couldn’t put it down!

After reading this preview, I am excited to get my hands on the rest! Jay Kristoff is a master of setting the scene and this crazy new world he's created is one that many fans have enjoyed so far. I will be writing a full review once I finish the novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this extended preview!

I was pretty intimidated to read this book but I have to say, after about 1/4 of the way through the book, I was hooked! The story was a story within a story done so well and I can not wait to see where our characters !