This small sample of Empire of the Damned got me even more excited to get back into the Empire of the Vampire series. The book immediately takes off from where we left off. Fast paced. Great build up and yet again the illustrations are exquisite.

Thank you Jay Kristoff, St Martins Press, and net galley for this sampler.

Like other reviewers, I didn't know this was a sampler and was shocked at the length. It accounts for the first two "books" in the book. While the first third is worth 4 stars, I know the full book will be an easy 5 stars.

It picks up where EotV left off. I was immediately engaged and read all of this in one sitting, which I honestly can't say for EotV. It moves faster since there is less back story. It's almost all plot, which is a great start for a second book. The sampler (so book two) ends where we will be getting a different pov, which I didn't think would happen in this series. While I love Gabe so much, I think a different perspective will be refreshing. We learn far more about the Esani and Liathe. There isn't much more revealed about Dior/the grail, but it's enough to keep you reading and wanting more.

I can't wait to finish the whole story. Liathe was somewhat on my nerves, but I'm looking forward to getting to know her more.

This book had everything I loved about the first one was and more. More vampires, more battles, more found family, and of course more misery. I got three quarters of the way done with this book and wanted to savor the rest because I just had a feeling it would end with a giant cliffhanger. But, I didn't. I devoured the rest and will now eagerly be waiting on the next book.

Thank you to Jay Kristoff and St. Martin's press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I did not realize when requesting this that this was only a "sample"- i.e. NOT the full length second book. I was a little shocked upon receiving it when I saw how short it was. I didn't understand why until I read some other early reviews. This seems to be maybe half or a third of the planned full-length book.


So, of course I am already a fan of this series. However, this so far is not really resounding with me the same way the first book did. The second book of a trilogy is always cursed- always too fast, or too slow, or too something. I will try my best to give some kind of review based on this sample *and* without spoiling anything.

The opening sequence is very attention-grabbing. It also includes some perspectives that I know fans have been waiting for. *minor error that I found- in the beginning, a character's eyes are described as dark green, but then only pages later, are described as being "chocolat."

The plotline picks up where the last book left off. The author does a good job on catching the reader up, and the no-spoilers cast list in the front is also quite helpful. As always, it's nice to see the relationship between Dior and Gabriel. Liathe was, quite frankly, irritating and a little boring. A lot could be done with her character, but she often said repetitive things and is barely characterized beyond her being bent on revenge and on fulfilling her quest. I honestly cannot believe that a group of people can travel together and just find NOTHING out about each other or have any moments of bonding.

I feel that the general plot of this and the sprinkling of action is very similar to some scenes in the first book, just with different characters. The illustrations are of course amazing, as are the antagonists. The book leaves off with the implication that the POV will switch again- a good change of pace, hopefully.

Any criticisms of the humor in this book continues to make me roll my eyes. I feel like people who grew up in an apocalyptic world will not tend to be the most enlightened individuals. I really don't feel like Dior is being unfairly targeted by sexist comments or anything like that- it's an equal exchange and they're joking.

So overall, I would say my rating leans more towards a 3.5 than a 4. I still enjoyed reading this, but generally this felt like deleted scenes from book 1 or something similar, so I think the slight disappointment brings my rating down.

This sample was EVERYTHING! I am far more excited for the full book. I reread EotV before diving in to this just to be sure everything felt fresh but I really didn’t need to. These characters are unforgettable and when I open this book I feel transported into another world, just how I like it.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a preview sampler.

Jay Kristoff is a bit of a dense writer and honestly this sampler could have been it's own novel. The characters are well written and I very much appreciate the primer at the beginning of the book. I don't have time to go back and reread the first book so this saved me a lot of time.

I can tell from the sample we're in for another bloody ride, I just wish it was faster pace. There is almost too much information and characters to keep track of.

One thing I feel I can count on with a Kristoff title, is the author does nothing at half-measure. Empire of the Vampire was a bloody, beast of a tale.. and from this massive sampler alone.. I can tell Empire of the Damned is going to be another of its kind.

This story pulls no punches, but that's really another Kristoff trait I've come to count on. The sampler doesn't just tease and leave you before you've grown invested. Honestly, it reads like a small novel in its own right.

The situations are dire, the action sequences are controlled chaos, and at the core of the story.. the beating heart remains ever true. I loved getting a glimpse at how Dior and Gabe's relationship has evolved.. and I really enjoyed the tension filled dynamic between Gabe and some of the other characters at play here.

I am definitely eager to continue reading.. and I know it's going to be a hell of a ride.

I will, unfortunately, be abstaining from sharing my thoughts about this title until St. Martin's Press adequately addresses the current boycott and its claims and questions.

For this only being a preview, I didn’t expect to have half the story already. What an incredible sequel; I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

Book starts right where the first one ends and oh man does it continue with the greatness that was the first book. They delve into the relationship between Gabriel and Dior even more. Kristoff's amazing writing and characterization continues. This is only a sample of the book but can not wait to continue where this story takes us. Definite recommend this book

Thank you for the amazing opportunity!

Bombastic sequel that took me dayss to read because i did not want it to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a sampler egalley of this title to give an honest review. The opinions here are my own.
I was excited to read Kristoff. I have heard many good things about his writing and stories and really wanted to be immersed in his fantasy world. Plus, it's compared to many things I have loved in the past: The Witcher, Interview with A Vampire,
I will say I love his writing. It's truly interesting. But the length of his stories leaves something to be desired. While this is only a sampler, I can see it will be just as long as the first. And while I understand this is often the case with fantasy books, I didn't feel like enough happened to move this forward, just as happened in the first book.
This sampler gives us more of that but we move on from only one POV to another POV which gives us more depth to the story. It continues with the dark post-apocolyptic fantasy world we learned about in the first book.
I'm doubtful I will pick this up when it is published as it just doesn't seem to be my thing despite my love of fantasy and all things paranormal. I think it's more the format of the book rather than anything else.

Just as dark and bloody as the first book. Also just as misogynistic.

I had the same issues as I did with the first book, sadly.

The humor falls flat for me. Snark is one thing, but this always just feels so juvenile and out of place. The name-calling while creative, really takes me out of the story that's so dark and atmospheric.

I still wish the time jumps were more spread out too. It's not confusing, it's just annoying.

I can't complain that it's too long like I did the first time, because this was just a sample. That would have been nice to know beforehand.

The art is still great, and at this point it's my favorite part.

I doubt I'll bother picking up the full version.

Picking up from where Empire of the Vampire left off, our favourite, foul mouthed last Silver Saint, Gabe, continues to find himself a prisoner at the hands of the Chastain. The tale he recounts on his quest with the grail to break the endless night is high fantasy at its best with well-choreographed action scenes, a talking sword , and a band of characters risking it all who cling to the threads of humanity in a perilous and treacherous fight against dark forces. Where humans are viewed as weak, it is these qualities: love, loyalty, and found family that draw them together and have us rooting for them.

Will Gabe live to tell the tail and see his quest through and what secrets will he learn about himself as he seeks his own answers to his identity?

After receiving an arc copy of this book I was disappointed to find out this was only the first couple hundred-ish pages of the book and not the full thing. However, other than not knowing this going into it, the part that I have read has been incredible. I loved the first book and so far this sequel is highly surpassing expectations. If the rest of this book is anything like the first part, this could easily be one of my top reads of the year. The ending has me highly anticipating the rest and I can’t wait until it comes out. I have a good feeling this will be an easy 5 star read.

Great horror/fantasy set in a vaguely French middle ages. This is a savior tale with a great grumpy warrior protector as the narrator. If you enjoyed Kvothe's tale in the Name of the Wind, you will most likely enjoy this one.

Was really disappointed that this was only a sampler. I have been looking forward to this book for almost two years! Empire of the Vampire was so fantastic! A true testament to Kristoff's talent and a writer. His world building is phenomenal and his characters are so likeable and full of emotion.

The first book was sooo big! The biggest book I have read in a while. This little taste of book two makes it a bit difficult to write a good review because we don't have everything to base it on, however I have written with less before. Though it is hard to get the big overall picture of the story, it is easy to see that Kristoff's second book is going to be as good as the first (at least from what I can tell).

Though a little confusing in the time line, the characters are still wonderful, the world building is clearly there, and the writing is beautiful.

A book as addicting as Sanctus itself…and not in a good way!

(I straight-up panicked when I finished the last sentence. It was extremely disappointing that NetGalley failed to disclose that this was only a 200-something page sample arc of the first two “books” of Empire of the Damned. This made a full review impossible and providing honest feedback challenging. I am still thankful for the opportunity to have read it, but knowing in advance that THIS WAS A SAMPLE may have shaped my initial thoughts into a more forgiving delineation.)

Everything that I loved about EotV–the three different timelines, interview as a framing device, the pacing and lore drops, the banter…In EotD, it all seemed to fall flat.
On its arse.
From the top of the battlements- or was it a bridge over a treacherous ravine?

I forgot, because honestly, the opening of this book was that repetitive. There’s only so much, “We are Running From Vampires! It is Snowing! We are Running out of Supplies and Gabe is Drunk! We are now Running From Vampires! It is Snowing MORE! We are Running out of Supplies and Gabe is Drunk AND out of Vodka–Oh Bless The Seven Martyrs, We Are Saved, Gabe Has Found Some Wine…” that a reader can take without making substantial headway in the overarching storyline.
This was a sample, but it shouldn’t take over 200 pages to amass, what is in total, a paragraph or two of world-building.

Like alcohol, new characters show up far too conveniently and are promptly shuffled off stage before we can wring any substance from them apart from an unresolved headache.

Orthwick’s illustrations are glorious, but portray no new information about the grimdark world Kristoff is weaving beyond expanding upon its population of Creepy Femme Fatales. There is nothing wrong with CFFs–I am particularly partial to this trope–but with so many highly cinematic, sweeping landscapes and viscerally-described scenes, I for one, was hoping for a touch more variety.

Overall, this read a lot like a sidequest: Fun, love the characters and the depravity, but the penultimate locked-chest-of-loot ended up being stuffed with cinnamon rolls. No one is going to say no to a chest full of cinnamon rolls, but when you’re going up against legions of the Damned, arming yourself with cream cheese frosting and cinnamon sugar may not yield the ending you’re looking for. A tentative three stars, and I desperately, hungrily hope that I am wrong. I will be saving my final thoughts until then.

Redeemer save us from another mid-series slump!

Great sampler. Iove when we get these and they're meaty enough to really give you a feel for the book and get excited for it

Jay Kristoff does not disappoint with this sequel. All the lore, gore, and drama from the first book have returned, which will please fans. Kristoff's way of conveying emotions is top notch and helps immerse the reader. Can't wait to read the whole sequel!