Kristoff is a sorcerer who continually takes the fantastical and create a cult following with each release. I would beg him for scraps of book three, but it would go unheard over all the fans begging. The Chalice, Gabe.....I will watch the fan art and reread this book again until I get more.

The style of writing for this book reminded me of Princess Bride. We have the Historian listening to the Last Silversaint telling a tale of his past while we, the reader, read along with what's shared. I really enjoyed the switching between present and past tense. The writing was masterful! This sequel has action, adventure, and humor. The characters have deep bonds that can only come from shared experience and it makes the reader invested in what happens. I liked the glossary of sorts at the beginning of the book that gets you right into the action. Oh, and the artwork, the artwork in this book is nothing short of stunning. I bookmarked every one of them to return to. I can't wait for book three.

I received this advanced reader copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press to provide an honest review and these opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this preview of Empire of the Damned and CANNOT WAIT for the full book. Where has Jay Kristoff been all my life? I'm not sure, but I do know that I definitely want to devour all of this book.

I feel so lucky to have gotten to read this sneak peek of Empire of the Damned! I love Jay Kristof’s work and this sequel promises to be equally as devastating as Empire of the Vampire. I love the dynamic between Gabriel and Jean-Francois. I’m looking forward to learning more about his sister, Celene. March can’t come soon enough! Thank you to Jay Kristoff, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free sampler in exchange for honest feedback.

Wow. If heartbreak ever needed a new definition, it would be this book. How much more pain and suffering can poor Gabriel handle? Like the first book, this one has a journey, but this time it is a quest to find Dior and what a journey it is. There are lighthearted moments, but this book makes you feel like your heart was ripped in two over and over again. I do love the cantor Gabe holds onto throughout the book, and cannot wait for the next one!

Honestly, I love anything that this author writes. I love this as much as his Nevernight series and swear they could sell me on reading any type of book of his. I absolutely love how there’s always more depth to his stories, and how he builds his characters throughout the experience. I have already pre-ordered the book and can’t wait to read more of it. This may cause me to start rereading all of the books I own of his, I can’t wait to read more of this series specifically. I also love how much depth and feeling you can get when reading this book.

Loved the recap! I cant wait to get this and be able to finish what I have started. I will read anything Jay Kristoff and just reading this sample proved that even more.

I’m sad that this is only a sample because I didn’t want to stop reading! The pace is great and I love the characters. As always, I love Kristoff’s writing. I was happy to see that this book did not fall into the classic second book syndrome trap. I can’t wait to read the rest of the book!

Empire of The Damned is the second installment in Jay Kristoff's grimdark epic vampire apocalypse romp and has all of the elements that made the last book fun with a slightly different flavor. Definitely don't even bother if you haven't read Empire of the Vampire. You will not understand what in the world is happening.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

Kristoff has an amazing writing style and an unmatched ability to tell a compelling story. Kristoff surprises you with unexpected turns, even when you think you know what is going to happen next. This sample was only a teaser and I'm eager to see how it all turns out!

I definitely recommend this series if you're searching for a dark fantasy with spice that will keep you on edge the entire time!

A great follow up story that continues the intrigue and ramps up on the excitement. A book worth the wait and one that leaves me longing for the next.

I was so excited to get this sample of Empire of the Damned. Jay Kristoff knows how to write a sequel and carries on the amazing story of Gabriel. These books completely draw you in and have amazing pacing, and plots. There is spice, so be ready. But Empire of the Damned will bring you in and not let you go until the last page. Great characters, with a great story.

If you're looking for a book that will keep you on edge from start to finish, I highly recommend Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff. The book is part of the Gabriel and Dior series and is guaranteed to leave you wanting more. Kristoff's writing style is superb, and his ability to craft a gripping narrative is unparalleled. Even if you think you know what will happen, Kristoff surprises you with twists and turns. The back and forth between Paleblood and the murderous death will keep you on the edge of your seat. Still, Kristoff can inject some light-hearted moments and witty banter between characters to give readers a break from the intensity. This unique take on vampires will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about the genre. I had previously read the first book in the series and was excited to see where the story was going. The characters are well-developed, and their personalities and motivations are fleshed out in a way that makes them feel real. I can't wait to see how it all ends, but reading titles like these only makes the wait for the next book feel even longer. If you're a fan of dark fantasy or just looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, read this! Five of five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for a review!

I loved this book! Unfortunately for me, I'm immature and roll my eyes at certain phrases in the adult scenes. It's not something that really truly takes anything away for me.. It's a me problem I swear lol. As always, we loveeee Kristoff's writing! It always has a sense to pull you in quickly and get you hooked.

Jay kristoff is one of my favorite authors- and I’m so thankful to have gotten this arc sample!! I will be saving any official reviews for once I have access to the full book, but I will ensure that I mention that I received the first section as an arc! I’m so invested in this story and now must wait to finish it, which is PAINFUL! But as always, Jay slays.

I love absolutely everything by Jay Kristoff! This novel was amazing and had huge twists and turns. So many great characters, scenes...I’m still processing.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall Review (spoilers)

So often books fall victim to the sequel curse. But not this one. Empire of the Damned may be better than Empire of the Vampire. The plot twist with his sister? The relationship with Dior? And the whole historian getting more of a personality was amazing. This book continues perfectly where the last one left of, and leaves you wanting more. I cannot wait for book three. I may actually have to reread this book after my physical copy arrives in March!

TLDR: we get to spend more time with our grumpy half vamp and his adopted daughter as they be absolute menaces.

Plot Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Genre: fiction, fantasy, high fantasy, vampires

Trigger Warnings: lots of cursing, blood, gore, murder, etc.

Though this is only a small sample of Empire of the Damned it sure packed a punch. I was a bit worried it would take me a bit to be able to fall back into the rhythm of the way this story is told since I read the first book a while ago, but I easily fell back into it and didn't want to put it down. We've already learned so many new things! The only part of this that was remotely disappointing is where this sampler left off! Thank goodness I've already preordered this so as soon as it comes out I can pick it right back up.

Oh! My! God!
Jay does it again, yanking me into this beautiful, nightmare world. The characters are continuing to develop, the world is growing, and the plot continues to thicken. There are so many surprises and twist in just the first hundred or two pages. Each moment gives the reader payoff on previous intrigue and builds more for the reader to discover. I am so curious about what’s going to happen next.

I enjoyed this sampler for the book! I didn’t know it was a sampler when I started it so that was a bit disappointing but it still made me very excited for the full book when it releases!