The story - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The writing - ⭐⭐⭐
Overall - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Part review... Alright so I got the first 300 pages as an ARC and I am HOOKED, but not gonna lie it did take me a little while to get into it. I think the timeline jumps are a little irritating, I'm not a big fan of the telling a story of someone telling a story mechanism either, but luckily the story is engaging, it sounds like some shit is gonna go DOWN and I am here for it.

Fave quote - Let's finish this baby first!
Fave moment - ☝🏻☝🏻☝🏻

I am conscious that I have to be really careful with this review as I must guard the secrets of the empire but oh boy – I was gifted a sampler of this novel via Net Galley and it blew me away – so much so as soon as I finished the sampler I pre-ordered the novel straight away (out September 2nd). The novel’s premise has a similar feel to the movie/novel ‘Interview with a Vampire’ as the narrative is framed by a present-day interview in which Gabriel (the protagonist) is recounting his life story to a vampire. This book has an “epic” feel to it from the very beginning. The vampires are gritty, dark, horrifying and nightmare-inducing. The characters are flawed, broken and stumbling their way through the darkness. Throw in a few magical items, sex scenes, a large quantity of blood and gore, superstition, faith, gothic realness, a multitude of sins and you have reached EPIC – but what truly makes it epic is the writing, high quality suspense writing that leaves you aching for chapter after chapter. As well as the writing – you have to take a moment to appreciate the illustrations and artwork on the front cover – STUNNING.

It thrills me that this is only the first book in what is promised to be a dark fantasy saga, just those three words send tingles down my spine. I can’t wait to see where the rest of this novel/series goes and I will definitely be checking out Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight Chronicles series. Vampires are definitely making a comeback in this tale…

**Please note this is not a book for children or young adults!** Kristoff himself describes the book as, “If Interview with a Vampire hooked up with Name of the Wind in an S&M club while all eight seasons of GAME OF THRONES streamed in the background (consecutively not simultaneously)!”

As it's a sampler i'm not going to write a long review - I enjoyed this and looking forward to the full release. If you like vampires, gore, swearing and lots of world building then this is for you. Give it a shot.

If this sampler is any indication of just how incredible this book is going to be then I can’t wait for my copies to be delivered. I can tell this book is going to break me in half and never let me put the pieces back together again.

This is the review of a sampler 328 pages long (about 45 percent of the book). I would like to thank the publisher HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for providing me with the sampler.

Gabriel de Léon is a Silver saint, a member of a holy order of men tasked with the duty of annihilating the unholy and wretched creatures that thrive in the darkness. They failed, the dead walk the lands and rule it, the sun is nothing more than a mild patch of light in the sky, humanity is all but defeated and Gabriel now the last of his order is imprisoned awaiting his death for the murder of the forever King the previous ruler of the highbloods (the name vampires are called in this series). Before his execution, Gabriel is asked to tell the story of his life, his hate for the highbloods, how he became the hero that he was and how he partook in quest that could've saved humanity but ended up failing it. Immediately this reminded me of 'The Kingkiller Chronicle' and it was no surprise when the author mentioned that it was one of his inspirations for this book.
We follow Gabriel as he recounts the tale of his journey from a lowly peasant to the man he has become. Starting from his point of view of the event known as the 'Daysdeath' which blotted out the sun and plunged the lands into a perpetual cycle of night and twilight. This event emboldened the highblood's who until now choose to remain at the edge of civilisation to extend their hungry arms to the lands of the empire.
The story jumps forward and backwards in time (depending on how drunk Gabriel is) highlighting the trials and tribulations he faced. I really enjoyed Gabriel's character, we were introduced to him being a cold and cranky old warrior with an addiction to boot, then we see him as a naïve boy who seeks glory and later in another time point a warrior who couldn't give a sixth of a fuck about anything. A far cry from the man as he was described to us in the very beginning. What events that lead to his outlook is not specified (this is a sampler after all, I'm sure we'll learn more about in the full book). I also loved the banter between Gabriel and Marquis Jean-François his highblood "chronicler" where they argue each other about the ideals of their respective races in moments where Gabriel chooses to pause his tale. The author has crafted a world that keeps you interested even though the vampire genre is something that has been done to death. At no point did it feel like there would be a dull moment or the pacing might fall off. I will be eagerly waiting for the full release, considering this was the first time I'm reading a book by this author (I've known about Nevernight but wasn't really interested in it, i might give it a try later) The author has left me impressed with the world and characters he has created, If the rest of the book is just as good as what I've read then I can honestly say that this would become the best vampire novel released in quite a while.

The end of this what the helllllllllll! Can't wait for my copy to arrive, I've only preordered all the editions lol!!!

This has been really delayed in coming and I apologise for that.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Harper Voyager for allowing me acces to the sample for Empire of the Vampire by our wonderfully talented Jay Kristoff. I will admit shamefully that this has actually been my first book I have ever attempted reading and I must say I am in love.

I will be honest and say that though the sample I have been provided has about 300 odd pages maybe a few more I only read part one. Only because I want to enjoy reading the rest ad gush about this book even more. I mean who doesn't love sexy vampire men. I love the premise of where this book is going and I love Jay's snarky way of writing. I think it's brilliant. He is definitely not shy of having his characters saying exactly what they are thinking.

I can honestly say that we are all in for a treat come September. So I say bring it on!!! And Give me more Gabe!!!

#DontRuinTheEmpire #NetGalley

First off, this book is BEAUTIFULLY written! The descriptions, the language used to create story and perfect character and imagery is first class! From the first page, this held my attention. It has Page Turning Quality that left me hungry for more. Will definitely be buying a physical version of this.

Gabriel de León is the last Silversiant, a member of a holy order which protects humanity against the vampires who have waged war on the realm for generations. Now, as a prisoner of those he has fought against, he is forced to recount his life story to a coldblood who records his words in order that history is preserved - or perhaps to glean information on a lost relic.

I do love a good vampire story, and this book from the outset dives straight into all that a fight against the unholy should be. Violent and gruesome, and with perfect levels of dark and wonderfully foul gore, this is definitely not one for the kids. Through the prison setting in the dark castle tower and the world beyond described retrospectively, we are drawn into this realm ravished by war and tainted by death. From the San Michon monastery in the mountains to the haunting and empty villages, the world building is sublime. The characters are varied and diverse; protagonist Gabriel is instantly likeable in a rough heroic way, his sense of humour and no nonsense attitude balance out his pain and anger making him an easy character to root for.

It has been a while since I have read a vampire book that feels like a classic, and this novel has given me a huge sense of nostalgia. This book draws on all the traditional elements of the vampire genre and shrouds them in a new and ingenious adventure. This is a gothic masterpiece.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this sample. I cannot wait for the book to be released.

This taster has got me even more excited! I want it to be September now! I've be waiting for so long for a decent vampire book that links in sexiness and old school new Orleans vampire vibes!

Whilst I want to give huge thanks to Harper Collins U.K. and NetGalley for the EOTV sampler in exchange for an honest review…I also want to seriously kick your boney (or not so boney - don’t know, don’t care,) behinds!

How dare you just slip me a sampler and leave me dangling in a cliff edge for the next 6 weeks! Do you know the emotional damage you have done leaving me like this???

Kristoff has done it again! This is arse kicking, head chopping, foot stomping vampire madness of the highest order! The quotes, the snark, the bloody violence and hell forged damnation that pulls you in to a world of darkness, blood and silver!

I can say no more…except I want this book, NOW!!!

I am kicking myself for reading this sampler with still 2 months until the book releases because now I am dying. I need the rest of the book to be able to find out what happens next! So cruel.

On the plus side, this is an epic book written by an author who's work I already love so knew I was going to enjoy this too. Please hurry up and be September already.

Will write a full review on my blog when the book is released.
Thanks again

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the exclusive sampler of Jay Kristoff’s new book Empire of the Vampire. There are no spoilers in this review (#DontRuinTheEmpire).

Empire of the Vampire is dark, brutal, gory and funny- elements that make this book a fantastic read and left me wanting more. As it’s only a sampler, I got to read just over 300 pages of the story and I now have to wait until September to find out what happens! I’ve preordered the book and I’m counting down the days until it arrives. I love vampire stories and when I read the summary of Empire of the Vampire, I had to request it! I am slightly ashamed to say that I have not read any of Kristoff’s books before (currently have his books ordered and can’t wait to read them!).

I really love Kristoff’s writing style and the way he brings the characters to life in this book. One of my favourite elements of this book is the brutal banter between Gabriel and Jean Francois; it made me laugh out loud at how colourful (to put it mildly- mothers may be offended quite a bit!) and original the insults are! Another interesting element is how Gabriel creates a picture for us of the world in which he lives through his description of the battles, his enemies and his fellow brothers of the Silver Order. It’s unique and beautifully brutal so make sure you get a copy when it’s published in September. You won’t be disappointed!

Wow! Empire Of The Vampire sounds absolutely amazing, I'm so grateful to of received this sampler and now cannot wait for the book to be released! Would definitely recommend!

i promised myself that i wouldn’t request this as i knew it would probably end on a cliffhanger and then i’d be on edge for a whole two months waiting for release but oh my god, i’m so glad i broke that promise. EOTV has similar atmospheric vibes to castlevania (which is a huge plus because i love castlevania) but somehow darker and dirtier. the gasp i let out at the reveal at the end was so loud that it woke up my dog. i cannot wait for the release, i loved every single page.

ps. jay, if anything happens to astrid, you’ll break my little heart.

Absolutely gripped from the start of this and now I'm hanging by a thread until release. The characters were completely compelling but I expect no less from Mr K. I can't say that I can predict a thing about what's going to happen but I'm here for it.

The book is good with the blood and gore , and shouldn't forget the violence. I did enjoy reading it to some extent , the pages filled with blood made me get detached from the book for some time , but it pulled me back again with the unexpected twists. On the whole , it gave me a spine chilling experience.

WHY WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF.

September is too far away - after reading this I cannot wait to have the full book in my hands so I can devour the rest of the book! It is 100% going to be a five star read from me and I cannot wait to have three copies in my hands!

Damn you Jay! I am hooked and need to get this whole book asap!

The characters are amazing from just what you read in this book, it's full of dark humour and back handed comments

Just love it

I could not put this book down, I'm now desperate to get my hands on the book when it's finally published in September!

"Why do I feel like I'm striking a bargain with the devil?"
"Oh, I'm twice as crafty as the devil, Gabriel de Leon. But we'll not be striking anything lest you ask me nicely."

This book gave me vibes like a fairy-tale or heroic epic, like Odysseus, Gabriel de Leon has become a legend and myth with tales whispered among the humans. He has become a legend without flaws, a saviour, but of course what hero is truly imperfect? Gabriel de Leon certainly isn't and in truth like most hero's he has his flaws, he wants to be the legendary hero that others whisper about, but that leads to endangering and compromising others lives.

There is not one character that I didn't enjoy meeting in this book, I am so excited to learn more about each and every character from Aaron de Coste to Astrid Rennier and most of all I cannot what for more foulmouthed insults, what is a Kristoff book without that!

More importantly, this book is unlike any other vampire book. If you are exhausted by the vampire hype, then this book will wake you up! The world building and vampire system is unlike anything I've seen before. There are of course elements of cliché's but Kristoff manages to invent new exciting twists. I cannot wait to see how this world develops even further and this is only the first book, so I just know that there is bound to be more blood shed and surprises before the end.