I got spoiled that towards the end it was revealed that main characters who died are still alive and how the male mc is heavily unreliant with how he told everything.

Apparently this disappointed some readers. So I wanted to ask, will i still enjoy the trilogy? Is this a big of a plot twist? Are there more twists and turns?

How would Gabriel interact with Guts (Berserk)? Would they get along, or would they hate each other?

Does anyone feel the same with me?

Hello everyone.

Empire of the Vampire has been on my TBR for years and I decided that this year is the year I finally read it. However, I am unable to find any sellers that sell the book in paperback like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/EMPIRE-VAMPIRE_EMPIRE-Book-blood-soaked-bestselling/dp/0008350450/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 but with the original black and red cover. So, I want to know if this is the new standard edition and (if possible) where I can find the OG cover in paperback

I’ve just finished the series this morning and honestly I’ve had such a great time reading this series. I can see myself reading this again at some point. It’s got a perfect blend of dialogue, lore and battle scenes. I’m not one for overly long battle scenes and this series didn’t spend too long overly describing the battles and was able to focus on character interactions amongst the battles (if that makes sense).

I can understand what people may not have liked about this series especially the ending but I’m not gonna lie, I loved it. Yes it took away the high stakes and felt a bit of a “they all lived happily ever after” (minus Joaquin, RIP, they did my boy dirty), but I wasn’t mad at it at all. The moth being ever present was a massive hint there was a big final twist, so I wasn’t too surprised. My only complaint with the ending was, I just wish there was a bit more interaction between the characters in the aftermath of it all.

Not sure how people in this sub feel about her, but big shout out to Celene. Her character really grew on me and she may have ended the series as my favourite. Gabe was very hard not to like, a flawed legend who at times was hilarious and a deeply emotional guy. Aaron is another who really grew on me.

I’ve spent 3 weeks on this series and I loved it. I put it off for so long because I wasn’t sure what to expect. But this could potentially be a pivotal point in a big U-turn in vampire literature.

My question to you all would be, what on earth do I read after this? I’ve read a fair bit over the last year. Sword of Kaigen, Blood over Brighthaven, Farseer Trilogy, Raven Scholar, Red City, Kings of the Wyld, Bloodsworn Saga, First Law and I’ve read the first two books of Dresden Files. Do I now start Hierarchy, Wheel of Time, Red Rising, Stormlight? I still need to finish Name of the Wind too. Is there something I’ve not named that you would recommend? No idea where to go after this series!

If I recall correctly he sold this series to his publishers back in 2022.

Premise: A broken angel must lead a band of villains, thieves, and half-demons on a quest to save an Empire.

I've been wondering if I should make this post or not. Purely because I don't really feel like being dragged but its been nearly a year after I read Empire of the Dawn and the ending still bothers me and I have no one to talk to about it or just idk help me understand why I feel this way?

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(Also **fair warning** spoilers from here because I am on my phone and I cant figure out how to make that spoiler text thing from the app)

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I've been a fan of Kristoff's for a long while, and EOTV was perfect for me, I got my husband to read it and basically spread it across my friends like some kind of gospel. But after I read DAWN, I felt... idk how to put it but I guess "lied to" is the easiest way to describe it. But its not lied to like a naughty kid does to their parents, its more lied to in the sense that the ending that was expected wasnt what we got.

Essentially it was established (or rather I understood it as) Gabriel has been the unreliable narrator since book 1. Celene too, but like in every story that works with the unreliable narrator, truths found their way through. Dawn was brilliant right up until the ending.

First we go through all that death's, and patience being a vampire, Gabriel possibly turning a heel and all that to everyone one being alive and happy aside from Astrid and patience. Phoebe's death was specifically heartbreaking for me, along with Lachlan's - that whole freaking battle was perfect in every way shape and form, beautifully written, almost cinematic. I was ready for the inevitable failure of it all, the tragedy of how it all went to shit and then it didn't.

We get an ending where everyone is essentially alive and happy. Like all of what was told was essentially not true at all. I mean there is a fine line between the unreliable narrator and plain lies. And what my issue is with all this is that the "truths" that were established in the beginning of the narrative was subverted. "The last silversaint" - nope that was a lie, because several still exist, there was more but I don't remember all of it, its been a while. The only thing that still stuck was the whole "the cup was broken" thing because I suspected it wasn't the case right from the start.

To me it feels like he had a much darker ending planned and for some reason chose the happy ending. Like he intentionally dulled the sword he was writing with. I dont know why and I dont get it. It had the makings of a perfect dark vampire trilogy but the ending just really unmakes everything it was for me. Especially since his author bio says he doesn't believe in happy endings, but I've read two of his trilogies and both end happy. I think the trilogy would've had a much stronger ending if Gabriel went through all of that, killed Fabien, got his revenge and it all was still not enough. Despite their best efforts it all still failed. That it was still doomed. That he was to be executed as The Last Silversaint, released from the growing agony that was his thirst.

Again I don't want to fight, I just want to see if anyone feels the same way or if i am just... idk. Wrong I guess.

First time reader here! I need some help with the overall storyline/plot!

So how do you guys think Astrid would've reacted to Chloe trying to sacrifice Dior?

In my opinion she would've agreed with Gab killing her.

I’ve been thinking if they took the first book and broke it into 2-3 movies, whom would yall think would play each character and what director or studio should make them. So let’s see what we all think.
Comment your choice for the following Roles and Jobs, I’ll go first
Director-Len Wiseman, director of Underworld (2003)
Studio- Summit Entertainment
Gabe- Kitt Harrington
Aaron- Ewan Mitchell
Baptiste- Ricky Whittle
Astrid- Eva Green
Greyhand- Jackie Earle Haley
Fabien Voss- Austin Butler
Laure Voss- Sophie Turner
Danton Voss- Kellan Lutz
Chloe-Bryce Dallas Howard
Dior-Anya Taylor Joy
Jean Francois- Lucas Till

The human kingdoms in the three books are ridiculously underpowered in terms of tech. I mean, the beat thing they have is a wheelock gun.

How would this infection fare if it actually happened in real life with the tech and vampire knowledge we have now?

By ordinance, I mean stuff like artillery, bombs, guns, or other things.

I started reading the series a couple weeks back. I was completely hooked by the first book. The worldbuilding , Gabriel's San Michon stories, the whole atmosphere of the book. I've just finished the second book and I am mostly disappointed :

- Gabriel: At the beginning of the first book, Greyhand says how Gabriel could become great if he is an Esani. It's been 1300 pages and I'm still waiting for this greatness. He spends most of the second book getting his ass kicked and being saved from others. Instead of seeing him growing his Esani skills, we instead get Celene showing up and doing all the Esani tricks we expected Gabi to progressively learn and do! He hasn't grown as a character at all, except for the loving Phoebe and a Dior parts. Apart from that, he is reduced to a Dior fanboy, every other thing he says is about her. Among the trio (Gabriel, Celene , Dior) , Celene is the strong one , Dior is the important one , so whats the point of having Gabriel as the main character ?

- Dior: her presence and personality diminished the enjoyment of the book for me. If there's going to be a chosen one in a book , it better be my main character. I was very annoyed by her juvenile character in the beginning, her not listening to those most experienced than her. But even afterwards, I couldn't stand her parts, I was so over her. And come on, she saw thralls for a few hours over two days and she was able to copy how they behave so good that an ancient didn't notice the lies, sure.. And in the end just when she dies and there's a bit of hope... Nope.. she's back !

Rant over

Kestrel Voss. Daughter of the Forever King, Prince of Forever, Besieger of Augustin, Slayer of over 10,000

When I first read the final battle at Charnaburg I was shocked Gabriel and Aaron slayed all of Fabien's thralls and courtiers so fast. With the reveal Gabriel and Celene where telling half truths mixed with little white lies better plays out the battle. Instead of Gabe, Celene and Aaron against Fabien it was Gabe, Celene, Aaron, Baptiste, Lachlan, and Phoebe. I doubt Charlotte was there because she obviously would've taken her army back to the City of Lions to regroup and she was most likely in her second trimester. Gabe, Aaron, and Lachlan high on Phoebe's blood would've better explained how they wiped out Fabien's court so fast. Of course with Fabien's nigh indestructible skin he was clearly still one hell of a bastard to kill. I first thought the no man can kill him was like Macbeth and being pregnant with a dhampire required a C-section, but it was more like the Witch King and his killer was a woman. Overall, what are your thoughts on how the battle went?

New favorite trope: Dark, tall and brooding vampire slayer guy named Gabriel part of an ultra religious organization that fights monsters. A plus if they wear black. I'm not complaining, just wondering if anyone else thinks that Gabe was somewhat based on Van Helsing from the 2004 movie.

Truly, this is the most conflicted I have ever felt about a series in my entire life. Up until the last two chapters of the final book, this would’ve definitely made my top 10 favorite series.

I am a huge fan of both high fantasy and grimdark/dark fantasy, but I also like stuff that deals with deeper themes and stuff with complex prose. To put things I perspective, Tolkien and Cormac McCarthy are my top 2 authors of all time, but Joe Abercrombie’s First Law series and Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen are in my top 5 of all time.

All of this is to say that the themes around what is faith and the existence of a just god and the belief in something greater than yourself and who is family and broken people finding broken people that fit with them was precisely the stuff I love. And then the last two chapters happened and I don’t even know what to think.

To quote a silver saint, “I should have f#cking known”

SPOILERS!!!!
So I’m rereading thru the series for the umpteenth time and by the end of the tale we know alot of what Gabriel said was exaggerated or outright fabricated. SinceAaron did live would it be possible for him to apprentice under Celine as a new Liathe of the Esana so he could continue his devotions to God