Publishers Weekly
07/19/2021
A rancorous antihero narrates a chilling tale of revenge in this unfocused dark fantasy from Kristoff (Aurora Burning). Gabriel de León is the Last of the Silversaints, a devout brotherhood of half-vampires, half-humans who have sworn their lives to the Church in defense against the coldbloods, or full-blooded vampires, who have hunted their lands for decades. After the coldbloods arrest Gabriel for crimes against them, their ruler, the Undying Empress, sends her historian to chronicle his life before his execution. Gabriel offers an acrimonious recollection of how he earned his reputation as “the most fearsome swordsman who ever lived” and why he abandoned his faith to devote himself to killing the Forever King, the coldblood who set him on a monstrous path for vengeance. But despite his blackhearted hatred, there’s one thing that gives Gabriel pause in his relentless quest for revenge—the crusade for the Holy Grail, which represents the last hope for men. Kristoff’s multifaceted exploration of morality is enticing and complex, but the narrative misses the mark with unsteady pacing and a proliferation of melodrama. There’s enough action and bloodshed here to please Kristoff’s diehard fans, but the choppy storytelling make this one to skip for more casual readers. Agent: John Adams, Adams Literary. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Empire of the Vampire:
“Brilliant and unputdownable, with tenderness and light bound into the bitterdark of a grim and fascinating world.” —Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer
“This book is bloody brilliant.” —V. E. Schwab, New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
"Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire is a wonderfully crafted tale, the pieces as meticulously interlocked as fine woodwork." —Robin Hobb, New York Times bestselling author
“Jay Kristoff’s latest dark fantasy, Empire of the Vampire, is a gothic bloodbath that will leave any reader—including this one—breathless. The story is a vast apocalyptic canvas, reminiscent of Justin Cronin’s The Passage, even Stephen King’s The Stand, yet Kristoff’s work stands on its own ruthless merit as the opening gambit of a richer tale yet to unfold. I can’t wait to return again to this rich, lush, and bloody world. Until then, read this book now!” —James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Odyssey and The Starless Crown
"With Empire of the Vampire, Jay Kristoff has once again shown why he is a master storyteller. Gabriel de León is a complex and complicated new hero for Jay’s legion of fans, and soon-to-be fans… I absolutely cannot wait to share this book with my friends and fellow book lovers." —Sarah Danforth, Towne Book Center (Collegeville, PA)
"Empire of the Vampire is an epic marvel! …This is the best book that Jay Kristoff has written. He is a master storyteller …This is a story of vampires and heroes, of love and sorrow, of friendship and loss, of joy and devastation. It is a story of death and darkness, but if you look closely you will find a thread of hope that shines brighter than the sun." —Meghan Vanderlee, Schuler Books (Grand Rapids, MI)
"Kristoff's multifaceted exploration of morality is enticing and complex." —Publishers Weekly
"Simply put, Empire of the Vampire is an impressively built beast, bursting with supernatural lore and promise. With plenty of detail and twists to keep the reader intrigued, we’re predicting this to be a new favorite of the genre." —The Nerd Daily
“Empire of the Vampire is not for the faint of heart…. this is a book bursting with darkness of both the literal and the figurative variety….Empire of the Vampire is also genuinely compelling, a rich, layered story that embraces real stakes and wrestles with complex questions about faith, belief, and family, both found and otherwise.” —Den of Geek
“...the most I’ve enjoyed a fantasy novel for a long time...Empire of the Vampire is packed with many stand-out scenes, and knowing that this is only a portion of de Leon’s legendary tale, I’ll be picking up a copy of the sequel as soon as I can.” —Grimdark Magazine
"Beautiful, brutal, and breathtaking, Jay Kristoff's world violently crashes into a reader's soul and leaves them gasping for air." —Independent Voice
Praise for Jay Kristoff:
“Kristoff wields his writing like a fine blade—well-balanced, graceful, and wickedly sharp.” —V.E. Schwab, New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
"The twists and turns start early in this volume, and readers expecting wry humor and high body counts will not be disappointed....Kristoff's characters are fully formed and jump off the page. The world building, borrowing its structure from Italian political history, remains as intricate and fascinating as it was in Nevernight." —Booklist on Darkdawn
"Sexier, grittier, fiercer, bloodier — Jay Kristoff’s Godsgrave is an action-packed showstopper. ... Godsgrave thrums with unrelenting tension and suspense and you won’t know what to do with yourself once it’s over." —USA Today
"Come for the vengeful assassins, stay for the fear-drinking shadowcats. Godsgrave is a stylish, fast-paced and welcome return to the world of Nevernight." —Peter Newman, award-winning author of The Vagrant
"Assassins, magic, strange creatures are all pluses for me. But my favorite thing about this book is the voice...I adore well-done omniscient narrators with snark and a slight bit of disdain for either the reader or the main character." —Book Riot on Nevernight
"Kristoff's bold writing style...joins lyrical high fantasy with f-bombs aplenty, Pratchett-like humor and unflinching descriptions of violence." —SciFiNow on Nevernight
"A sensuous, shades-of-moral-gray world; a compelling, passionate heroine; a high-stakes quest for revenge—this is a fantasy fans won't be able to put down." —Kirkus Reviews on Nevernight
