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.

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!