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Cover of Empire of the Vampire by Jay KristoffEmpire of the Vampire
Modern · Fiction, Fantasy, Horror

Empire of the Vampire

by Jay Kristoff
2020 · 725 pages · Fiction
Lifetime bestseller
≈ 18 hours to read · about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

It has been twenty-seven years since the last sunrise, and vampires have waged war on humanity ever since, building an eternal empire. Gabriel de León, half man, half monster and the last of the Silversaints, a holy order sworn to defend the realm, is imprisoned by the creatures he swore to destroy and forced to tell his story: of legendary battles, forbidden love, lost faith and the search for the Holy Grail.

Why it's worth reading

It's one of the most popular dark fantasy novels of recent years, and its sequel was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's brutal, epic and gorgeously told.

You'll love it if you liked

Good to know

It's long, violent and full of swearing, with illustrations in many editions. It's the first book of a trilogy.

By the numbers

77.2Must-Read Score
  • Readers93 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Bestseller43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Goodreads Choice (fantasy) finalist (2024, for Empire of the Damned)

Reads as

Dark, Epic, Thought-provoking

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →

Quick answers

Is Empire of the Vampire worth reading?

Yes. It's one of the most popular dark fantasy novels of recent years, and its sequel was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #598 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 77.2 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Empire of the Vampire about?

It has been twenty-seven years since the last sunrise, and vampires have waged war on humanity ever since, building an eternal empire. Gabriel de León, half man, half monster and the last of the Silversaints, a holy order sworn to defend the realm, is imprisoned by the creatures he swore to destroy and forced to tell his story: of legendary battles, forbidden love, lost faith and the search for the Holy Grail.

How long does it take to read Empire of the Vampire?

About 18 hours (725 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Empire of the Vampire?

If you liked it, try The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice or The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.