This sampler was great. I love jay kristoffs writing style, it really works well with how I read.
This book is so far both witty and serious. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the name people are calling each other!
I can not wait to get my hands on a complete copy and with the illustrations I can see this being up there with my favourite reads of the year.

Whilst reading this book I remained impressed by its ingenuity and uniqueness, and yet also found it distinctly similar in tone to two other books - Interview with the Vampire and The Name of the Wind. Upon later reading the author's own review I found he also cited these two books as representative for the book's contents. I'm glad to have belatedly found he delivered on this claim.

I loved how this story was delivered. It opened with protagonist, Gabriel de León's, incarceration. He was at the mercy of the vampiric creatures he had spent most of his life hunting and felt his painful execution was soon to be delivered. However, he was, instead, prompted to deliver his life story, detailing all events that led to the present moment in time. This he did, in a more-or-less chronological fashion.

There was just something so mesmerising to be first introduced to the present Gabriel before then witnessing his younger, more naïve and fearful self. I was instantly eager to learn how the former was bred from the latter.

Gabriel's life-story also provided a political, cultural, and geographical understanding of the kingdom. This is before also chronicling how the vampires continued to rise and overpower their human foe, with only figures like Gabriel to stand and defend them. Both human and vampire had spent centuries at war and the mythical Holy Grail was humanity's final hope for salvation. The vampire that Gabriel is now tied to hopes that his history will point him in the direction for where it lays, and prompt its destruction before any have the chance to use its force against him.

This was a very dark tale and it delivered exactly the ominous atmosphere and sinister tone that I desired from it. I am so eager to see Gabriel's story through to completion, and hopefully also see the human race, and his soul in particular, saved as it continues.

This was very different from what I was expecting. I found it a little hard to get into but will still give the full book a go when released

I need more now! Right now, right this second! This has been one of my most anticipated books of the year for so long and this sampler has only solidified this for me. I cannot wait to get this beast in my hands and devour the whole thing! Bloody, dark, twisted. I can't wait!

“A life without books is a life not lived”
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@misterkristoff completely mesmerised. He’s the most adroit writer!
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Empire of the Vampire is beautifully brutal.
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Am I glad I requested the 300+ page exclusive sampler of Empire of the Vampire on Netgalley and devour it straight away?!…Hell Yes!!
And is it going to slowly kill me waiting for the book release?!….Oh Lord help me!!
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Most probably the best Vampire book I’ve ever read. Vampires aren’t my favourite fantasy to read (ok I did obsess over Twilight when I was in my early twenties and I have recently enjoyed From Blood and Ash) but this is so much more than a Vampire story. We need more books like this, dark adult fantasy!!! It’s so eerie and so rich, the dialogue and format is perfection, the characters are delicious and dangerous. I love that the author does not shy away from sinful language and there is a lot, definitely forbidden to young readers!!
I wish I had been one of the lucky few to have been gifted a physical advance copy so I could have demolished the whole book. That little taste has me desperately craving more! I can already see this is going to be a auspicious book series! Just from reading this little sampler i already give this book a big 5 STARS rating!! Thank you so much Netgalley for letting me review this.
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I really can’t say anymore without spoilers! My lips are fully sealed #dontruintheempire
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I’ve already preordered 4 editions, before I even read this little taste sampler, and now I want every edition there is!!

I cannot believe I have to wait until September to finish this story! The writing style is beautiful - there were so many gorgeous and vivid descriptions. I was completely hooked by the end of the first page. It is rich, hypnotic and gothic - everything you want from a vampire story. Gabriel is a brilliant character and I cannot wait to see how his story develops. The world building is solid - from the language used, to the food and fauna, it screams dark fantasy. I will definitely be recommending this to anyone who loves vampires/dark fantasy/ great writing/ brilliant world building and adventure.

This was one big "sampler" with 300 pages of awesome story and I NEED more. Thankfully September not that far away!

The only thing wrong with this book is that I’ve got to wait until September to read the rest of it. I’m a fan of vampire books anyway, and this has a slightly different take on the subject. Well written and kept my attention all the way through to end of this excerpt. It’s definitely on my must read list
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The only issue I can find it that I have to wait till September to read how it ends.
It's brilliant, a real page turner that I couldn't read in the evening if I wanted to get some sleep.
Great storytelling and world building, excellent character development.
I was enthralled and loved what I read.
I can recommend it enough.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this sampler ARC, all opinions are mine

Reading the reviews, I feel like I read a sample of a different book entirely. It didn't do anything for me and I really struggled to stick with it

I was debating whether I wanted to read this or not. But after reading this sampler I really want to see how the story progresses.
The writing is easy to just fall into and become lost. Even with the little given I'm left wanting more. I've been wanting some more vampire books and I think this may be just what I've been wanting.

A HUGE HUGE thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc!!

This is my read of a first kristoff book, and I love it so far! I’ve always liked vampires since I was a kid- and this was such a spooky and cool take on them!

I cannot wait to read the full copy!

Well, I am definitely glad I have a handful of special editions of EotV on pre-order - on the basis of what I've read so far, this book deserves its own shelf in my library.
Absolutely loved the sampler, totally got caught up in the story, and can't wait to read the rest of it in September!

I HAVE A MIGHTY NEED FOR THE REST OF THIS BOOK!!! It’s absolutely incredible so far, I was instantly hooked and sucked into the story and I can’t wait to get the full copy 😍😍

I saw in the reviewers comments that V.E. Schwab stated this book is “bloody brilliant” she is right, it’s bloody, very very bloody and brilliant seems lacking somehow, I have read the sampler provided and I am now annoyed, I have 3 months to wait to read the rest of this extraordinary book! 😡