Fantastic, just as brilliant as the first and I can’t thank NetGalley and the publisher enough for allowing me a copy of this book!

Empire of the vampire is my absolute favourite book of all time, so empire of the damned had some pretty high standards to meet. Starting off where EOTV finished, EOTD continued the adventures of Gabriel de León. This book had me enthralled from the start, and Jay Kristoff did not disappoint. I’ll tell you who did disappoint- harper Collins! You drew me in and then bam left the taster on a cliffhanger of epic proportions! I hope you are all happy with yourselves. I now have to wait till March to find out what happens next. I’m fairly confident however that this will be my book of 2024!

This was an absolutely amazing sampler- I’m delighted to be back in this world again! Impeccable writing style as always from Jay Kristoff and I’m loving how the world has been expanded on further! We see our favourite characters again, with some exciting new introductions! So much has already happened I can’t imagine what the rest of the book has in store!

I wanted to be strong and wait for the full book but the Empire just dragged me back in. This was a sampler and it did its job well - making me long for the full version to be available now!

I did not realise that this was a sampler, I do apologise as this means that I can't fully review this but what I did read sounds promising. I like the tone of the book so far and I an excited to see where it goes.

Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff releases on the 29th of Feb 2024.

Thank you to Harper Collins for providing me an sampler in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, this is a book-sized sampler. Secondly, #DontRuinTheEmpire so this mini review is guaranteed spoiler-free.
Anyway, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT’S HOLY when is my Waterstones pre-order arriving?
Oh yes, 29 Feb.
*Drums fingers. Wets lips. Chews a nail. Side-eyes the letter box. Checks watch.*
Is it February yet?
Ruination be upon you, gods of NetGalley and unholy demons of the publishing house known as Harper Collins UK , and curse you into the seven depths of hell for granting me the torturous pleasure of reading this ARC.

Gabriel escaped murder from his brethren among the Ordo Argent after rescuing Dior from becoming Sister Chloe's sacrifice in an ancient ritual intended to end daysdeath. With the aid of his sister, Celene, the three seek the answers to the importance of the Holt Grail and Dior's purpose in the ending of the damned ending of the world.

The relationship between Gabriel and Dior is a pleasure to behold as truths are laid bare and their bond flourishes as hearts are hardened against tearing cuts and bruises.

Dior is a girl who has survived the streets, leaving her with a gutter-sharp pragmatism, a bawdy wit, and courage that finds her charging headfirst into trouble as Gabriel rebukes her whilst chasing hellbent after her.

Gabriel is a bastard through and through, not shying away from his immorality and selfishness. "Who the fuck told you I was a hero?"

Their relationship is heartbreaking and heart pounding to behold as they try and negotiate their meaning to each other, not daughter, not father, not mentor, not friend. And yet...

”Hear me now. If the legions of heaven stood between me and that girl, I would slay every angel in the Host to get back to her side. She and I have walked through hell together. I will never leave her, you hear me? And I would never hurt her."

Again, I have to highlight and applaud Kristoff's genius with language and characterisation. This is an author who knows how to write darkness. Who knows how to articulate those feelings of hopelessness, grief, depression. He writes a beautiful story of paving ahead even in desolation set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by vampires.

"The road is black ahead," I told her. "And it's hard to keep walking when you can't see the ground beneath your feet. But that's what courage is. To believe the end is just beyond your outstretched hand, rather than a million miles away. believe the end is just beyond your outstretched hand, rather than a million miles away.

We get perspectives from both the vampire historian Jean-François, as well as from Gabriel's undead sister Celene and this is where the narrative format of telling a story within a story really shines.
One thing that did take away my enjoyment, and I know might bother other readers, is the opening with a sex scene. This seems to be on brand with many of Kristoff's other books, but I sometimes worry he alienates potential readers because his books are not sexy. They are not erotica-filled. Yet, he always makes his opening as dirty, foul-mouthed, and bloody as possible.
I read this arc straight after completing a re-read of book one, and so I can confidently say book one is my favourite. Yet, that in no way means this suffers majorly from middle book syndrome. This is still action-packed, twisty, fast-paced, and as frustratingly, excitingly elusive as book one.

Overall, Fuck my face as Gabriel is so fond of saying.

Thank you to Harper Collins for providing me an arc in exchange for a review.

This sampler has made me yearning for more and I can't wait for Empire of the Damned to be fully released.

Vampires suck but this certainly didn’t

Fear not, as this is an anticipated book these will be the most basic of thoughts so absolutely nothing is spoiled

This was a wickedly bloody good time from start to finish. The ability to capture a modern vampire story has really been achieved in this sequel and it’s shaping up to be the epic vampire adventure I never knew I needed in my life

It’s dark, gruesome, spicy, humorous and managed to have me in a chokehold with the plot twists, this is your warning. Although this is a dark world, the standout moments were those of pure anguish by the decisions made by those who had others at heart

There was never a dull moment following these characters. They are savages with a thirst for a multitude of desires, accompanied by their edginess, they made for high levels of entertainment. The antagonists were also likeable in their own twisted way leading to some excellent dialogue and action scenes

I’ll be damned, this was very good and you should be excited! Thanks again to @harpervoyager_uk for sending me this 🤩

As lush and rich and gruesome as a mouthful of blood, drink deep of this second instalment: Kristoff delivers more dark fantasy adventure with his usual vivid, over-the-top style. Sex, violence, drama: high octane scenes give this a lurid comic-book feel that you’ll want more of. Can’t wait for the full story come February!

I was able to read the first 200ish pages of the sequel to Empire of the Vampire. And based on that little teaser, I could see this becoming another 5 star book, just like the first in the series!

If you enjoyed the previous instalment, this will probably provide a similar experience! Great writing, amazing characters with brilliantly developed and complex relationships, swashbuckling action and the most creative form of swearing I’ve ever come across!

I can’t wait to read the rest and find out more about what’s really going on! The suspense in these books is stressful in the best way!

I loved this sample of Empire of the Damned and can’t wait to continue the book as soon as it comes out! Jay’s books always make me laugh, yet cry and shock me at the same time lol. I love these characters he has written who are so complex and interesting. I know this book is definitely going to be worth the wait!

For this book, I was waiting for the most in 2023, and even if this is only a sample I can confirm that the story has a grip over readers' souls the same as the first book in this series. Jay Kristoff is a master designer. He creates a world doomed and full of pain, sorrow, and despair. But even in this creepy place, there is always hope. Hope in the flesh of a broken warrior with a broken sword and a savior who doesn't even know what to do with her powers.

I love the atmosphere of this book. It's like watching Castlevania again with way better characters and plot. Can't wait to see the rest of the story.

Wow! This is a brilliant continuation of the story begun in Empire of the Vampire. I didn’t realise that this wasn’t the whole book when I requested as I was just so eager to read the next book about Gabriel, the last silver saint. However, it is definitely a chunky sampler and so I don’t feel too disappointed and it certainly did the job of making me even more eager to read the novel when it come out in February.
The story picks up almost immediately after the end of the previous novel as Gabriel continues to tell his story to the vampire historian Jean Francois. Gabriel has appointed himself the protector of Dior whose destiny is possibly that she can end the everlasting twilight. Together with Gabriel’s sister, they travel to try and find answers before the cold bloods find them.
All the elements that I loved in the first book are present in this sample. Gabriel is a brilliant protagonist, determined to carry out his self-appointed task despite what it costs him or others. I loved Dior’s character growth too during this part of the book. The atmosphere is just as dark and forbidding as in the previous book and you really get a feel for what it might be like to live in a world where the sun never rises.
I cannot wait to read to read the rest of the book!
Thank you Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for allowing me to read this sampler of Empire of the Damned.

I will admit i did not realise this was a sampler when i ordered it which i found very disappointing especially as the full book was offered last time which i loved.

This is a large sampler and almost feels like a good half of the book. It leaves on a bit of a cliffhanger and a warning not to post any spoilers of any kind so i wont be posting about the storyline at all except to say it picks up immediately after the events of the first book, and we continue with the adventures of Gabriel, Dior, and Celene amongst others.

From what i have read so far its a good 4/5. Will be interested to read the rest.

I absolutely loved Empire of the Vampire so I was really excited to read this sampler and get a taste of Empire of the Damned.

It was probably a bad idea because now I’m all the more desperate for the release date! I need the rest of this book now!

It very handily gives us a reminder of the main characters and their role in the story, which really helped me jump back in without a reread of EOTV.

I was once again quickly immersed in this epic story. We pick up almost exactly where we left off, and are quickly back into the action. A lot happens in this sampler, and I am fully invested. Empire of the Damned is one of my most anticipated books of 2024.

Well, this review is difficult, not because of the book but because it isn't the full book, and giving a review of just a bit of the book doesn't seem fair, plus it wasn't correctly advertised as such. For this reason, my review is not of the empire of the damned but of the sample. 

But for what I've read, this book would be spectacular, I seriously doubt I won't love it, as I loved what I read. But for me, what makes or unmakes a book is the ending, a wonderful book with a bad ending will go from 5 to 1 stars for me. Therefore, making for me impossible to give this sample an accurate rating. 

I never request samples because of this, but unlike every sample I've seen on Netgalley, this one didn't say it was a sample in the title where it should have, specially with a second book in a series, most readers requesting won't read the book description, as they already know whether they want to read it or not.  

Not being clear about the book on offer being a sample and not the full book is calling your readers for disappointment.
And no matter how much I loved what I read, it was impossible to ignore the disappointment.

Didn't realise at first that this was only a sampler but what a brilliant sampler it was to give you a taste of what's to come.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this sample!

So, it's appears to be roughly half the book. I did not re-read EOTV prior to beginning, so I was concerned I would forget a lot. But Jay did a great job of working some recapping into the beginning of the book, and I don't feel I missed anything or was confused.

This book has the same tense, emotional and dark tone of book one. I absolutely loved seeing the relationship development in this book, it really built on the foundation of book one so beautifully.

Seeing Gabe struggle so much with the fallout of book one was touching, and sad.

Beautiful addition to the series, gorgeous art yet again! Can't wait to read the rest, it's my most anticipated book of 2024!

My review is based on the sampler. I really enjoyed what I have read so far and cannot wait to read the whole novel.
I'm excited to read it all