This was between a three and a four for me. I was on the fence about reading Empire of the Damned at all, as after the Empire of the Vampire I wasn’t sure if I would continue with the series, but I’m so glad that I did because I ended up really enjoying this one. I think the pacing was better than the first, so it drew me in pretty quickly. And after that ending, I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment.

While only a “sample,” this eARC was packed with action, revelations, and of course a dash of bloodshed. Picking up immediately where EOTV left off, Empire of the Damned takes the reader on a continuation of the epic quest to save the Grail and end daysdeath. I love how Jay makes the leading characters both irreverent and lovable, blending them into something so complex and real, the reader will feel like Gabriel is recounting his tale directly. I love this dark and gruesome tale and I cannot wait to continue it with the full installment.

Huge huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital arc!
This second installment from Mr. Kristoff did not disappoint! We’ve gone deeper into Gabe’s tale and also were gifted other POVs as well, like his sister Celene. We got more on Dior also giving us some of that history as well.
EOTD dives into more of this twisty and complicated vampire world and is ensuring we are ready for the epic conclusion.

Wow! Just Wow! My mind is blown away with this beautifully written and epic building world. It just builds, builds, builds, and when you think there can be no more…… Wrong!! The hits keep on coming. This book builds on what the first book laid out. This book had me in knots in what was going to happen next. I flew through this book in two days and it’s a pretty hefty book at 709 pages. This book was just awesome!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jay Kristoff, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this sample

You can say a lot of things about Jay Kristoff’s book but his writing will absolutely blow my mind. The way he tells a story just sucks you in and makes you read until the last page.

This book is not an exception. I absolutely love how the story is unfolding and absolutely terrified how much Gabriel and Dior care about each other and remind each other about their humanity. But also I feel like something very bad as coming. As usual

Perfect For….

Fans of vampire hunter stories full of action

Quick Synopsis (2 or 3 sentences)

This story continues from where it left off in the previous novel. Gabriel de León saved the Holy Grail, but must now find out how to stop Daysdeath.

My Review

I gave this book 5 stars. I loved the previous novel and this one as well. The story is well written, pulling you into this world. These books also have some amazing memorable lines. I really like the plot of this book and how it is actually him telling the story. I feel like it adds more depth, since we wonder if he will be free again or what the cold bloods want to really do. I enjoyed reading both books in this series. I would highly recommend these books to other people, no matter what their preferred genre is. This book is just good. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The second book in the Empire of the Vampire series was everything I hoped it would be. We were back with characters that we met in the first book, I loved the development of them as well as meeting new characters Lachlan and Phoebe who propel the story forward. We learn so much about the history of the world and the other ruling Vampire houses. We also learn more about the skinchangers & duskdancers. Gabe's sister Celene who we learned is an Esani Vampire with some unique abilities is much more present in this story as she bands together with the others. Jean Francois, is still with us as Gabriel recounts his story. Just as I hoped there are intense and bloody battles that keep you at the edge of your seat. I was emotionally invested in our characters and gripped by their race to end the endless night. This was so atmospheric and I felt transported while reading. I am a little sad that I read this so quickly and now I have to wait for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for my honest review. This reading experience was such a treat.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

From beginning to end, Empire of the Damned was an incredible journey. The general pace of this book was so quick that I'm almost shocked I put it down. As before, the characters were excellent. Everyone had a delightful banter, wit, and general personality. To keep the pages spinning, there are also twists, betrayals, and never-ending struggles. I'll confess that I wasn't sure who to trust, but after finishing this book, I'm at a loss for ideas.

I will probably never be able to get over the reveal in the very last chapter. I can't wait for the next book to be released mostly because it might be told from Celene's perspective. I have a lot of questions. For example, are Phoebe and Dior still alive and well, and where are they exactly?

Ultimately, I'm overjoyed to have the opportunity to return to this world. I'm eager for this book to be published so that I may recommend it to others. One last thing before I go: when will the next book be released?

I am really enjoying the story thus far; the first two "books" of this novel. I was, however, disappointed to find out that this was only a portion of the book, not an entire eARC. In the future, I will not be applying for books which are only portions of the book.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for a free sampler copy of Empire of the Damned.

First and foremost, I'd like to extend my gratitude to Jay Kristoff for including a concise recap of the characters from the previous book, as well as a brief overview of the events that transpired in the first installment. This thoughtful addition is something I believe many readers will find incredibly helpful.

Having delved into the sampler, I find myself thoroughly intrigued. The glimpse into this action-packed adventure has left me eager to uncover more about Gabriel's destiny, Celene's revelations, and Dior's whereabouts. The tantalizing preview has effectively set the stage, and I am now eagerly awaiting the release day to immerse myself in the full narrative. Jay Kristoff's ability to weave suspense and anticipation is commendable, and I am poised on the edge of my seat, keen to explore the depths of this thrilling saga.

Empire of the Damned was just as enthralling and action packed as Empire of the Vampire. It was so hard to put down once started and let’s be real, incredibly anxiety inducing with non-stop danger and the knowledge that not one character is ever safe. If there’s one thing the first book taught me it’s that anyone could be killed at any moment and this was a feeling that hung over the entirety of the sequel. It picks back up right where the first left off, both in Gabe’s present telling the story of his life, a short time after where the break in his story had occurred at the end of Empire of the Vampire, and within his retelling of his life itself, where he is venturing forth with Dior, trying to stay alive before everything else.

This sequel contained something that the first did not which was both intriguing and informative to me. The reader gets the opportunity to hear part of the story of the Grail from a different perspective for a bit, which to me was an interesting shift because it for the first time officially shows how potentially unreliable the narrator is. Whether this be Gabriel, the second narrator, or both is up for the reader to decipher. I’m a bit of a sucker for this because I feel it forces the reader to really think about what they’re reading and not take everything at face value, and considering who Gabriel is and what you know of him by this point, it seems so fitting because, in my opinion at least, why wouldn’t he be an unreliable narrator in this scenario. Not to mention the insight it gives into this other character and their perspective of that time.

I don’t want to go too deeply into detail about certain plot points to avoid spoilers, but I really loved the further insight into duskwalkers this book presented. Getting the chance to learn more about them and see more of their people was such a highlight as they are one of the most intriguing groups in my opinion and I grew very much fond of a certain character throughout the course of Empire of the Damned when they were present, a fondness I wasn’t expecting and low key dreaded because it just made me afraid for their wellbeing. Because that’s what getting attached to characters in this series is all about. Constant dread that they’ll be the next to die. There was also a certain point in the story that took place in a spooky forest that I loved because it had such unexpected horror vibes and had me so hooked for those chapters.

Honestly the entirety of this book had me gripped in its pages. I’m not sure if I could choose a favourite between Empire of the Vampire and Empire of the Damned because I feel like they are both incredible in their own ways and I love the both of them so much in the end. Once again, this sequel had me completely shook and always unable to turn away from the events taking place on the page. The emotional rollercoaster is absolutely insane. As I’ve said, not one character ever feels safe, which makes for some next level stress over the characters you can’t help but grow attached to because there is the constant fear of them dying or something somehow worse happening to them. I felt this deep in my soul throughout the entirety of this book. Particularly because I’ve already had a chance to grow attached to character with the first book, and having to go through another book worrying about them makes that attachment so much more real because there is more time spent with them. Reading had me happy, sad, in awe, holding my breath, wanting to jump up and battle with these characters, just all over the place because it is so emotionally rife and impossible not to be effected by the characters.

Flipping the last page of this book was in large parts agony, and just incredible loss. It was honestly such a wild ride and by the end I was a little broken over it being finished. I also feel the ending was so much worse of a cliffhanger than Empire of the Vampire in the sense that I feel this inability to wait for the next volume to know what happens next. I am completely lost having finished Empire of the Damned and I can say with the utmost certainty I have now entered into a severe book hangover. I don’t even know how to go on to something else after being so immersed in the world Jay Kristoff has so masterfully created in this series. I can’t even handle the idea of having to wait for the next book at this point. Must. Have. Now. Suffice it to say I highly recommend this sequel, and most definitely the series in general. Don’t sleep on this series if you haven’t started it yet!

"𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳.'
"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.'

SCREAMS IN COLDBLOOD.

Exceeded my expectations. I was expecting nothing less than excellence for the sequel to such a standout first book and I was not disappointed. Empire of the Damned picks up right where we left off in EotV. Dior and Gabe are heading out to look for safety, still on the run from The Forever King. They team up with unlikely allies on the way in this stunning sequel.

Gabriel is a great character. He’s so damaged, still reeling from his past and the hardships of his present. He puts up a hell of a fight against bloodsuckers, and despite everything he’s gone through, his aegis still burns bright. He cares deeply for his friends. I love the familial bond that grows between him and Dior in this book. Training in the art of the sword, spats about safety, comfort and care in the throws of despair. *chef’s kiss*

We got some new characters in this book. The introduction to Lachlan, an old friend and former apprentice to Gabe and a roaring good time. “𝘠𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘔𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘦.” He forms an early nervousness in the group when he says all the Silversaints have been called back to San Michon. He encourages Gabe and Dior to join him but of course, they’ve just come ffrom the slaughter of Gabe’s former friends. We are reunited with Phoebe, a lion companion from EotV, in an interesting twist. And of course, the duo teams up with Celene who is eager to take Dior to an ancient vampire clan tied to Dior’s bloodline. The tension is palpable throughout the story, everyone on edge as they flee the dark that hunts them.

I liked the introduction of the Dyvok line. We mostly dealt with the Voss clan in book 1, so getting to see the sheer viciousness and brutality of the Unmade was great. The Wolfmother and her casket sized warhammer will haunt me.

Kristoff’s prose is second to none. He has this eloquent way of writing while using every curse from here to Neptune. It’s addicting to read. The fight scenes are phenomenal, I can picture the crunch, the savagery. The conversations are littered with quotable moments. It’s a fantastic read I highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed EotV! Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an early copy!

“𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥.”

For full thoughts and details, check out my Goodreads review. One of the easiest 5 star reads and a front runner for best modern vampire saga.

Empire of the Damned defies middle books stereotypes by boldly showcasing a plot of fast-paced try-fail cycles that advances the plot at a breakneck pace. The tension is palpable on every page and with the author’s penchant for killing off his beloved characters the possibility of a gruesome death - if not an endless nightmare of suffering wasn’t enough- is a real and ever present possibility. The strong character dynamics between Gabriel, Dior, and an eclectic supporting cast of new and returning faces makes the gory trek for answers through literal armies of enemies an emotional roller coaster that had me turning the pages at breakneck speed.

With the single timeline that resumes the plot immediately after the events of book one as well as some minor tweaks to improve the framing device Jay Kristoff has rounded off the abrasive edges of my most minor complaints in regards to Empire of the Vampire. There isn’t a single weakness to this installment except the wild and unforeseen ending that has me desperate for the next book already.

Another fantastic book from Jay. This little snippet makes me feral for the rest of the book. This story is so intricate and well thought out. I love all of these characters even when I hate them. So good.

This preview just made me even more rabid to have the full book in my hands. I am counting down the hours at this point because this was just as brilliant as I thought it would be.

This snippet was so good!!! Making me so excited to read the rest and basically love anything that includes vampires.

Gabriel escaped murder from his brethren among the Ordo Argent after rescuing Dior from becoming Sister Chloe’s sacrifice in an ancient ritual intended to end daysdeath. With the aid of his sister, Celene, the three seek the answers to the importance of the Holt Grail and Dior’s purpose in the ending of the damned ending of the world.

The relationship between Gabriel and Dior is a pleasure to behold as truths are laid bare and their bond flourishes as hearts are hardened against tearing cuts and bruises.

Dior is a girl who has survived the streets, leaving her with a gutter-sharp pragmatism, a bawdy wit, and courage that finds her charging headfirst into trouble as Gabriel rebukes her whilst chasing hellbent after her.
Gabriel is a bastard through and through, not shying away from his immorality and selfishness. ”Who the fuck told you I was a hero?”
Their relationship is heartbreaking and heart pounding to behold as they try and negotiate their meaning to each other, not daughter, not father, not mentor, not friend. And yet…

”Hear me now. If the legions of heaven stood between me and that girl, I would slay every angel in the Host to get back to her side. She and I have walked through hell together. I will never leave her, you hear me? And I would never hurt her."

Again, I have to highlight and applaud Kristoff’s genius with language and characterisation. This is an author who knows how to write darkness. Who knows how to articulate those feelings of hopelessness, grief, depression. He writes a beautiful story of paving ahead even in desolation set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by vampires.

”The road is black ahead," I told her. "And it's hard to keep walking when you can't see the ground beneath your feet. But that's what courage is. To believe the end is just beyond your outstretched hand, rather than a million miles away. believe the end is just beyond your outstretched hand, rather than a million miles away.

We get perspectives from both the vampire historian Jean-François, as well as from Gabriel’s undead sister Celene and this is where the narrative format of telling a story within a story really shines.

One thing that did take away my enjoyment, and I know might bother other readers, is the opening with a sex scene. This seems to be on brand with many of Kristoff’s other books, but I sometimes worry he alienates potential readers because his books are not sexy. They are not erotica-filled. Yet, he always makes his opening as dirty, foul-mouthed, and bloody as possible.

I read this arc straight after completing a re-read of book one, and so I can confidently say book one is my favourite. Yet, that in no way means this suffers majorly from middle book syndrome. This is still action-packed, twisty, fast-paced, and as frustratingly, excitingly elusive as book one.
Overall, Fuck my face as Gabriel is so fond of saying.

The sequel to Empire of the Vampire starts off with a bang and never lets up. I loved this with every fiber of my being. I love the fact that Kristoff makes Vampires scary again, not sexy. The fact that he WANTS to dehumanize these creatures and turn them into monsters not people is genius. Anyone who enjoyed book one will love this one as well, as I have. An easy 5 stars!

*Spoilers!*

Okay. I just finished my most anticipated read of 2024, and it was incredible. I was very much looking forward to actually meeting Mr. Kristoff in person March 15th to gush over his books to his face, but alas, I will be busy attending my own wedding. Perhaps the groom would be open to rescheduling...?
Anyways. I squealed like a baby when I was approved for an eARC of this book and then reread the first one immediately to refresh my memory. I will start by saying I think this sequel is a step down from book 1. Part of this was inevitable, as Gabriel seems to have put his struggles with his abandoned faith behind him (probably my favorite part of EotV), as well as churned through his OG traveling party. To me, this did start to feel a bit like Fellowship of the Ring, in that it was quite good, but doesn't really have the great stuff. It feels more like a build-up. I still absolutely loved it, and I thought the twist at the end could possibly mean more than one more book (!!!), just because I'm not sure how everything can get resolved in one more book. But that could be my hopeful heart speaking. Gabriel has a new struggle, but it doesn't feel nearly as immediate to me. I found the highlight of this book to be the fight scenes (obviously), the humor, and the relationship Gabriel and Dior have. The addition of a new set of intriguing characters was quite fun, and I loved the illustrations, as before. I am very eager to read the next book! While I had a blast reading this, it really felt like a setup, as I mentioned before, and I'm expecting some really juicy things in book 3! For my wedding gift, Mr. Kristoff, may I please read book 3 right now?? 🙏

I'm still trying to digest this one. Full review to come. I will say that you'll want to read book 1 before this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.