“A life without books is a life not lived.”
Empire of the Vampire is unlike anything I've ever read. It's epic fantasy with vampires, how cool is that! I've always been a fan of vampire books, and Jay Kristoff's portrayal of vampires is just what I needed.
The book is set in a world where every human knows about vampires. The sun hasn't risen in more than two decades, Vampires do not always walk around during the day but have taken over kingdoms and villages. Humans try, but vampires are undead, and any human they kill might become a part of the enemy.
"Your past is stone, but your future is clay. And you decide the shape of the life you'll make"
The vampires in the book are in two categories, the Highborn, the beautiful and sensible vampires, and the wretch, which are more like zombies. There is a 50/50 chance for a vampire to turn a human into one. The person can either remain dead, become a high born, or a wretch.
Then they are the Silversaints, a spawn of a union between a human and vampire. They have the strength and speed of vampires, and they are among the few that can actually fight and win against vampires. The only problem is that they are few of them.
"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."
This book features lots of things that I love in books, some of which are great and well-depicted characters, good friendship, well-depicted fight scenes, and awesome world-building, to mention a few. Then there are some controversial religious statements that I'm unsure how I feel about. Below is one:
"The only possibility remaining is that he can stop it. He simply chooses not to.
The children snatched from parents' arms. The endless plains of unmarked graves. The deathless Dead who hunt us in the light of a blackened sun.
We are prey now, mon ami.
We are food.
And he never lifted a fucking finger to stop it.
He could have.
He just didn't.
Do you ever wonder what we did, to make him hate us so?"
The writing and world-building are both beautifully done. Unlike Nevernight's writing style, this was straightforward to read. The book is written in Gabriel's first and third person POV, third-person POV for the present, and first-person POV for the past. Just like Kristoff's other books, this book is not only gruesome but vulgar.
“What is that for?’ Jean-François demanded.
'I want you to take this coin to market, and buy me a fuck to give.'
'This is not the way stories are told, Silversaint.'
'I know. But I'm hoping the suspense will kill you."
The characters are diverse and well-written. I actually don't have a favorite character. Gabriel is more of an anti-hero than a hero.
Gabriel is the last silver saint in a world full of vampires, not an easy role.
Dior is a character that I didn't like at first, but she grew on me. She has been through so much pain, and still, she didn't break.
Astrid is awesome, but she was barely in this. I want more Astrid!
Then there's Aaron and Baptise, Aaron as a brave, courageous silver saint, and Baptiste is a smith like no other.
The plot though simple in synopsis, is more complex than I thought. Gabriel is now in a vampire's dungeon, and the vampire holding him captive wants his story written. The book goes back and forth between Gabriel's past and present, I'm not a fan of such writing, but this was so well done that I love it.
Can't wait for book two.
