3.25 Less meandering than the second with fewer plot points that served no purpose besides bloating the book. This is a fun series that I’m enjoying. Definitely a bit tighter. Expansion of the more. I did LOVE the reveal about the originations of vampires. Got me good. I also did love the exploration of love and connection (with other people, with the world, with oneself) after earth shattering grief. Is continuing to live a betrayal to those we’ve lost? Is continuing to live and find happiness going to diminish memories of the past?


Sadly it was definitely a filler book and it’s obvious. Lots of things happen and at the same time nothing happens. It’s all just a set up for the third book. The ending was predictable about a quarter of the way through the book. It didn’t feel rewarding to guess it so much as ah. I know what the third book will be about.

There are such good bits in this book! I think it gets lost in making sure the third book is set up. Definitely a fun series.

This series seeks no remorse for the blissful pain I’ve endured.
I really enjoyed getting more of Celene’s story and point of view.
What a beautiful story this is with real passion behind it. Can’t wait for the next installment.

What if I choose the wrong one?
""Then we'll get lost together.'
"She looked up into my eyes, and I saw that old spark kindling in hers.
"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. The will to keep walking in the darkness. To believe the end is just beyond yo outstretched hand, rather than a million miles away. And while some migh falter, some might fail, some might curl up like babes rather than walk on through that lonely night, you are not that girl.’

"The right book is worth a hundred blades'
"All I'm saying is a book won't cut your next purse or steal your next supper.'
"But they might teach you a better way to do both." My voice turned serious, then, all jest vanishing A life without books is a life not lived, Dior.
There's a magik like no other to be found in them. To open a book is to open a door-to another place, another time, another mind. And usually, made-moiselle, it's a mind far sharper than your own.'

'Look here, I know it's what you do? But the cryptic deadgirl shite is wearing awfully thin, Celene.'

"That's not fair.'
"Fair is for dead men and losers, Dior.’

“You are not where you were born, Mlle Lachance. Nor who you were born of.’

Absolute chills on page 545.

"Nae need to ask. It's mine to give to whom I choose.' She touched my face then, and though she spoke of blood, I knew she meant more besides.
I choose ye.’

I audibly gasped page 692. How did I not put those pieces together sooner? Where is Gabriel’s happy ending?

Tears falling down my face page 700. “It was the scream of the damned.

To hate the thing that is completing you.
To love the thing that is destroying you.

4.5

I really can't decide if I liked this one or the first one more, but I think it's this one. A masterpiece. I love the framing device. I love the bleak ass world. I love all the blood and tears and hopeless scenario our characters are in. The unreliable narrator(s!) now add so much amazing depth and subtext. The ending was a fantastic twist and I'm bereft that I can't read the next one immediately.

Jay Kristoff’s bloody sequel to Empire of the Vampire exceeded my expectations on every level. Despite its length, Empire of the Damned is a true page turner. It was impossible to even guess at what was going to happen next as the main characters were thrown curveball after curveball. This read was more action packed and gruesome that its predecessor.
Empire of the Damned is seriously dark, yet Kristoff somehow makes even the most horrific scenes humorous. The writing is ingenious, and I love the ‘interview’ style of the narrative. Kristoff makes the style completely his own in this novel by pushing boundaries and creating entirely unique action sequences. This book is in no way weighed down by the way that it is told and in fact, I would say it is one of the book’s greatest strengths.
But the true highlight of this book for me was its characters. Sure, I liked them all in Empire of the Vampire. But in Empire of the Damned, I love them all. The development, the banter between characters and even the newly introduced characters were perfect. I am well and truly invested in this story and these characters now and I am very excited to see how everything progresses in the next book.

Whereas I enjoyed EotV, Empire of the Damned just brings this universe, these characters and this story to the next level in pretty much every dimension possible.

Do I usually read gory and dark books? No. But this had me wanting more.

Do I usually like highly emotional books? No, because I usually read to just shut my brain off and escape to lalaland.

Did I read this solely because Jay Kristoff wrote it, and I trusted him? 100%. Although that trust is only based on his ability to write a good story, not necessarily for a happy ending or sanity of his characters.

Should you read it even if it's very different to your usual style? Yes, just as long as the prospect of reading very detailed and graphic descriptions of bodily fluids that aren't a result of a spicy intercourse doesn't put you off.

Woah this book really does not hold back its punches.
I really enjoyed this second book and while it suffered a bit from middle-book syndrome, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved that we get a second POV in this book as this gives the book a bit more depth and us as readers a bit more perspective.
I loved that basically, every character in this has a lgbtqa+ representation.
The cliffhanger in the end shocked me but at the same time, I saw it coming. Therefore I would love to have the third book immediately.