If fantasy is your go-to genre, but you haven’t picked up Empire of the Vampire yet, you are missing out. An epic read with strong world building and dark characters, EOTV is the kind of book you can get lost in.
If you’ve been eyeing this up or you’re just looking for a new fantasy rec, check out our review of the book below to see if it’s for you.
Empire of the Vampire: what’s it about
From holy cup comes holy light;
The faithful hand sets world aright.
And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight,
Mere man shall end this endless night.
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It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness.
Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order could not stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.
Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:
The Holy Grail.
Empire of the Vampire: review
Star rating: ★★★★★
Genre: fantasy, historical fiction, horror, adult
Patience.
Even though I love fantasy, I don’t usually gravitate towards vampire books for some reason however fomo got the best of me this time and I decided to pick up EOTV. Well, it was so worth it because honestly, it’s a fucking stellar book. The whole time I was reading this I was torn between devouring it and taking my time because this hopeless world completely captivated me.
“There’s no misery so deep as one you face by yourself. No nights darker than ones you spend alone. But you can learn to live with any weight. Your scars grow thick enough, they become armour.”
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What makes it good
⚔️ Dark and vivid world building
⚔️ A refreshing take on vampire lore
⚔️ Battles, hunts and trials
⚔️ Found family / camaraderie
⚔️ Deception, tragedy and heartbreak
⚔️ For a thick book, there are no fillers
⚔️ Truly villainous antagonists
⚔️ Smart twists I didn’t see coming
What did I think
I honestly don’t know where to start. I went in expecting a vampire apocalypse but what I found was a well-balanced story about a broken man and a world plunged into darkness.
A brilliant example of a character driven story, I thought the interview narrative style was an effective way of introducing Gabriel and this world. His journey felt more raw in this format and there were times I became overwhelmed by what was at stake for him. As the story builds, this style also aids in creating a tense atmosphere as mysteries, deceptions and tragedies unfold.
Empire of the Vampire also has some of the best world building I’ve read in a long time. Whether we were in San Michon, racing through a forest or in the midst of battle, I felt like I was right there alongside Gabriel. The story is also aided by the incredible scene art scattered throughout. Illustrator Bon Orthwick complements Kristoff’s writing by bringing key chaotic, gory and emotional moments to life with detailed illustrations that will take your breath away.
I can’t wrap this up without talking about how amazing the character work is. From Gabe to Astrid, Dior and more, I appreciate how well-crafted these characters are. I also felt that whether we were dealing with the sweetest or darkest of characters, everyone served the overall arc and helped our MC feel challenged, enraged, healed, humbled, and loved – all of which forge this man I came to respect.
With some dark reveals, heart-pumping battles and romances that made my heart full, Empire of the Vampire is the full package.
Happy reading x
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Written by Monique Renee
Usually barefoot and deep in wanderlust mode, Mon loves binging Netflix, cuddling babies and stalking through IG looking for boho decor inspo and new books to read. You’ll usually find her on holiday, planning a holiday or thinking about holidays.
Favourite Instagram to follow: @the_female_lead
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