This is a long one that kept losing me. I tried to love it, but I couldn't care about any of the characters; I'm not crazy about the plot, but the world building is fantastic.
Throughout the book, every time I would pick it up to read, I would fall asleep after a few pages, which means it took me forever to finish.

I wanted to love this because it was such a highly anticipated sequel, but this one wasn't for me.

I can see where readers of the genre will love it, and many fans of Kristoff will absolutely love this one.


Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

I was soo happy to be back in this world again. I really love Gabriel and Dior, and all of the religious iconography dripping from this book. I cannot wait to get my hands around the throat of the rest of this novel!

**Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the e-copy of the sampler!**

The first thing that stood out to me was that there was a recap included at the beginning which was super helpful! I've never seen this in a book and it's something I wish authors did more in their series.

The writing was good but a little dense at parts which made it hard for me to follow and really get into this book fully. I’m not sure this series is my cup of tea, but I think those who are into dark fantasy would enjoy it!

My thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for giving me a digital sample for review.

I loved this so much! I can't wait to read the rest of it, and if it's anything like the sample, it is going to be well worth the wait. It continues right where the first one left off and we get to return to these beloved characters who are trying to survive in a brutal world that just wants to kill them. I love the journey they are going on, loved the writing and the atmosphere. I felt transported while reading this, which is sometimes a rare phenomena anymore. Again, loved this so much!

Sorry I’m a little late I needed to sit on it a little bit like I did with book 1. I highly enjoyed this one just like I did with Empire of The Vampire. As always my love for anything vampire has done it again. I highly enjoyed Empire of The Damned so much. I highly recommend it to everyone. I will be doing a reread of both books during spooky season for anyone who wants to join me I am BookLovingNerd_87 on instagram. Just message me if you want to join me in my reread during spooky season.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC.

Ready for round two with Gabriel de León? I thought I was, but this book far exceeded my expectations

I loved Empire of the Vampire, and I actually enjoyed this more. There was a lot of action right from the beginning, which set the tone for the rest of the book. Gabe was wittier than he was in the first book, leading the reader on this journey he finds himself a part of again. I

If you liked the first one, you'll like the first one. What a great read.

If you loved EOTV then you're most likely going to love EOTD. EOTV was my favorite book in '21 and I believe this will be my favorite in '24. Gabe is still held captive and is again acting as the narrator for book 2, so you're going to be giving the story in the same delivery and format as book 1. I did like how there was very little recap at the beginning of the book. I personally don't like to wade through an hour or so of recap, I want to simply get back into the story, and book 2 does this. We spend more time with Gabe's sister Celene, we get to see more growth in Dior, as well as Gabe. You're going to get a ton of those great one liners and dark whit like the first book gave us. There's tons of great action filled fight scenes that everyone loved from book 1. There are hooks after hooks, because this is one huge long book, Jay has got to keep you reading. You're going to get a big delivery towards the end at maybe a hour to a hour and a half left. Overall, lots to love about book 2.

What an amazing and intense sneak peak into this fabulous book! I've already purchased the physical book and cannot wait to dive in!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this sneak peak into this exciting read!

Wow, where do I even start? Empire of the Damned did not fall victim to the second book syndrome, because I actually think it was better than the first. While I liked the first one a lot, I LOVED this one! Even though the first one came out years ago, If felt like no time had passed, and Kristoff did a great thing by giving us a complete character summery at the beginning of the book.

Gabe was even funnier and wittier in this book, and really stepped up in the father-like role for Dior, and their relation ship in this book was extremely heartwarming and tender. Dior also went through a tradition in this book, and in my opinion, was way more likable. Celene also became a favorite character in this book because we get a little more of the relationship between her and Gabe. I personally loved all of the character developments in this book.

I also loved the second point of view in this book, as where we were limited to Gabe’s in the first book, it was refreshing to hear what someone else thought of the story as it is unfolding for both them and us.

My only negative was the excessive use of quotation marks, like I get that we were bouncing between dialogue, and also different points of view but I think it could have been framed differently. It just left me confused and had to backtrack a bit to make some things make sense.

Overall, this book was fantastic and I was so happy that one of my most anticipated books was a success!

Thanks again to NetGalley and the Author for an advanced copy for an honest review!

Fuck my face. Holy shit what a great sequel! More character development, more relationship development! Ahh. Why must wait until the third comes out? Such a dark and amazing world building!! Loved every second of it!! Gabriel is such a good character. I can’t get enough. So dark, so funny! Give me more!!

This was such a fun sampler and follow up to the first novel, I cannot wait to read the entire full length once it arrives on my doorstep!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this sampler in exchange for an honest review!

There's not a Jay Kristoff book I'm not blown away by, and Empire of the Damned is no exception. I read breathlessly from start to finish.

I don’t know how Kristoff does it, but he has written a sequel that not only lives up to my expectations, but surpassed them in leaps and bounds. I loved EOTV, but this book was even better! There is no middle book syndrome here. The world building is so rich, so visceral, you feel like you’re on this journey with Gabriel and Celene and Dior. Living the horrors and celebrating the victories. It’s one of those books where you forget you’re reading because you’re so far immersed in the story that when you have to come up for air you feel disoriented. In the best possible way. I knew going in that Kristoff would break my heart, and f*ck my face if he didn’t succeed. I need book 3 like yesterday!

An entertaining and enticing excerpt from this novel. It’s much anticipated from me and looking forward to finishing the story.

This sequel captivates with its deep dive into Gabriel de León's tumultuous journey. Tasked with an almost impossible mission, Gabriel's alliances and inner battles paint a rich tapestry of conflict and intrigue. Introducing multiple perspectives breathes life into the story, offering a panoramic view of the dark world Kristoff has masterfully created. Dior's character growth is particularly striking, adding a layer of resilience and depth to the ensemble. This sequel skillfully dodges the second-book slump, weaving action, emotion, and character development into a compelling plot that leaves readers yearning for more. The added illustrations only amplify the immersive experience, making every page a journey. Kristoff's storytelling prowess shines brightly, setting an anticipatory stage for the series finale.

How is it that a sequel can be so amazing, and still leave a person SO GUTTED??? Do you love horses? Don't read this book. Do you love darkness, blood, love, lust, adventure, surprise, CRYING, and laughing out loud in public while reading? Then read this book. But if you love horses... well, hearts can mend after they are broken, right? The wait for this book was well worth it, and so the wait for the final book should be worth it as well. Creating worlds, writing them on paper, and transforming thought and vision in a reader's mind is such a magical gift and Jay Kristoff is master! Read this book, even if you love horses and hate death! READ IT.

I absolutely loved Empire of the Vampire. I loved Empire of the Damned but it was just 1/2 a star short of a 5 star read. The story was GREAT, but there were just a couple parts in the middle that was hard to get through. It did pick back up and so glad it did.

"Empire of the Damned" delivers a highly anticipated sequel that lives up to the excitement generated by the first book in the series. As someone who thoroughly enjoyed "Empire of the Vampire" and eagerly anticipated this follow-up, I found Jay Kristoff's continuation of the story to be engrossing and well-paced. The dynamic relationship between Dior and Gabriel is further explored, adding depth to the narrative. Kristoff's inclusion of a recap serves as a helpful refresher for returning readers, ensuring continuity. Despite its darker themes, the book is engaging, with a cliffhanger ending that leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. Overall, "Empire of the Damned" is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and vampire tales, offering a compelling continuation of the saga.

4 Stars
I enjoyed the pacing of this book. I loved Dior and Gabriel's relationship it was so good! I can't wait to see the finished copy.
Thank you to the St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

5 Stars!! LOVE Jay Kristoff's writing. The sampler was amazing. I can't wait to read the whole book.