A review by karenholmes
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

5.0

Jay Kristoff does it again. A miserable hero, someone who is already defeated wins my heart and makes me tumble with him al the way to the tower where he is imprisoned (this is not a spoiler, it's just the first thing you learn, and everything else is an interview telling his life and important moments).
Anyway, Kristoff has themes that really resonate with me, the most important one, found family. Also dark academia, and the mentor relationship that I could already appreciate in Nevernight.
This is a story of how Gabriel de Leon, a Silver Saint, someone born to slain vampires, looses the best chance they had to end them forever, or so he says. But I'm not sure he is a reliable narrator. You'll have to read to discover on your own.
I love how Jay writes, I love the style and the dialogues and his metaphors when you least expect them. I also love his found families and the grim and dark atmosphere. It's been a great read. But I need book 2!