‘Empire of the Damned’ Review: A Wickedly Good Time

It’s time to make vampires cool again. “Empire of the Damned” has breathed new life into the gothic aesthetic to reignite readers’ obsession with all things dark and wicked.

Whether it was “Twilight,” “The Vampire Diaries,” or “Vampire Academy,” these narratives were often nearly identical and relied on the same reused tropes. However, Jay Kristoff’s new fantasy novel “Empire of the Damned” is gory, thrilling, and crafted with care, ensuring readers will fall in love with the vampire genre all over again.

The second novel in Kristoff’s dark fantasy series, “Empire of the Damned” picks up where “Empire of the Vampire” left off by following its main character, Gabriel de León. Gabriel has left behind the brotherhood of the Silver Order, a group of half-vampire monster slayers, in the hope of protecting something larger — Dior, The Holy Grail herself. Dior’s blessed personage is the last ray of hope in a world without sun, and Gabriel’s mission is to protect her until his dying breath. However, Gabriel and Dior’s journey to save their sunless land is the fear of the Blood Voss, a bloodline of noble vampires who thrive in the dark and will do anything to preserve their tyranny.

“Empire of the Damned,” like its preceding book, has a unique story-within-a-story structure that keeps the plot constantly engaging. The reader follows Gabriel as he recalls his memories of a vampire captor. This narration challenges the reader to decide if Gabriel remembers his heroic feats correctly. The narrative is further complicated when Kristoff introduces a second narrator — Celene, Gabriel’s sister — halfway through the novel. Celene and Gabriel, who have bad blood due to not supporting each other after their childhoods, present very different approaches to recalling the past. These twin stories, which often directly squabble with one another, keep the story engaging and mysterious. Readers must hold onto every detail and consider whether or not the main characters’ remembrances are trustworthy.

The novel’s biggest strength is its breakneck plot. On multiple occasions, Kristoff writes his characters into corners that are so wretched and hopeless that escaping them seems impossible. These problems do not stagnate but instead accumulate into bigger and bigger threats, enticing readers to the very end of the finale. Kristoff also gives Gabriel room to grow throughout the arc of the book instead of rushing his character development. Every page is filled with action that eventually leads to larger character moments for Gabriel.

Readers can truly invest in this action because Kristoff ensures that the characters become dear to their hearts through careful character development. In the first book of the series, Gabriel’s personality often felt one-dimensional; he was simply a hardened badass. In “Empire of the Damned,” Gabriel and his surrounding cast are given extra characterization that was sorely missing. Gabriel and Dior’s relationship strengthens, taking on a paternal tone. The duo’s other protector, Phoebe, is also provided with a backstory as fierce as the lion skin she wears. Phoebe and Gabriel clash in a whirlwind romance that is especially exciting, considering their passionate personalities. Meanwhile, Gabriel’s sister, Celene, turns into a demonic vampire and gives the central hero a connection to his past. Every person in the story neatly fits into a web of backstories that makes Kristoff’s world feel realistic despite being filled with bloodsuckers.

The novel is therefore cemented by a variety of strong storytelling techniques, but this attribute is sometimes weakened by Kristoff’s penchant for the dramatic. The writing style and tone of “Empire of the Damned” lean heavily into the gothic and horror aesthetic of vampire novels. As a result, the book sometimes feels incredibly verbose and reads as histrionic. This tone is acceptable and even a positive aspect for those who love dark fantasy and its theatrical narratives, but for the general reader tired of recycled vampire tropes, “Empire of the Damned” must be approached with a certain caution.

“Empire of the Damned” is drenched in an intense atmosphere that will make readers feel like they are personally battling hordes of bloodsucking demons. The novel reignites readers’ fascination with vampires within a thrilling fantastical world, even if the writing relies on some melodramatic tendencies, typical of the genre. Kristoff’s novel proves that we are ready for vampires once again — long may the “Empire of the Vampire” reign.

“Empire of the Damned” will be released on March 12.

—Staff writer Hannah E. Gadway can be reached at hannah.gadway@thecrimson.com.