It’s the end of the road for Gabriel De León. The Grail, and his final hope of salvation, has been lost. With nothing left to lose, Gabriel, along with his loyal brothers, set out for vengeance against the Forever King. But how to do you kill the unkillable, and can they have any hope of surviving the battle to come?

Yet under the ruins of Maergenn, the Grail draws breath. She has her own mission: to end Daysdeath once and for all. To have a chance to do so, she’ll need to beat the legions of the dead to the capital, while consulting with ancient powers. As bloodthirsty tensions rise and deadly truths come to the surface, Gabriel, Dior, and the Last Liathe will each face their own worst nightmares as they race to undo Daysdeath.

For those who have enjoyed the previous two novels, Empire of the Vampire and Empire of the Damned, this next instalment will have all your favourite bits, and more. Readers can expect more epic battles, bigger pay-off moments, a few new faces amongst old favourites, and all wrapped up in the author’s signature writing style. Kristoff has the holy trinity: plot, passion, and prose. His passion for his characters and their individual story arcs clearly comes across on the page, and as a third novel, Empire of the Dawn consistently delivers, both with the big battle moments, the magic explored throughout, and the quiet reflective moments between characters. 

Coming to the foreground in this instalment is the battle of wills amongst the vampire factions. Through Jean-Francois’ point of view, we’re given a front row seat at the politicking between the higher powers. The ambitions of House Chastain are revealed, and the need to know the truth of what happened to the Grail is crucial to their next big move. As Jean-Francois continues to dig for this truth by interviewing Gabriel and the Last Liathe, present events begin to collide with past events, creating an impressive multi-strand narrative.  

Once again, Kristoff’s characters are the true beating heart of this story. If Gabriel brings the (well-earned) sardonic humour, and the Last Liathe portrays fanatical devotion, Dior is the embodiment of hope. While she takes on some traits from both her mentors, it’s her quiet courage in amongst the self-doubt that makes Dior shine in Dawn. It’s impossible not to feel for these characters as they continually come up against increasingly insurmountable odds and yet still try to stay the path and save humanity.

Kristoff’s impressive character work also leans into one of the main themes of the book – the price one pays for victory. By understanding, and therefore knowing, these characters more intimately, it makes the sacrifices made throughout hurt that much more. We know that Gabriel has survived the battles mentioned throughout, but it’s through understanding what each cost him that makes readers sympathise with him.   

Perhaps the most polarising moment in this series will be the ending. Throughout the series, Kristoff has promised a big finale, and in Dawn, he delivers it. For those paying close attention throughout, it will draw together the breadcrumbs the author has scattered throughout the story. However, the device used will either have readers flipping back through the book to find the clues, or will leave them shell-shocked. Readers can also expect more beautiful illustrations throughout, this time by artist Gonzalo Mendiverry and with additional design consultation by Bon Orthwick.

Empire of the Dawn delivers on all fronts, and firmly cements itself as the next go-to novel for fantasy lovers. 

Empire of the Dawn is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Empire of the Dawn? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

From Jay Kristoff, New York Times bestselling author of the Empire of the Vampire and Empire of the Damned, comes the epic conclusion to the #1 internationally bestselling series.

From holy cup comes holy light;
The faithful hand sets world aright.
And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight,
Mere man shall end this endless night.

Gabriel de León has lost his family, his faith, and his last hope of ending the endless night―the Holy Grail, Dior. With no desire left but vengeance, he and a band of loyal brothers journey into the war-torn heart of the Augustin Empire to claim the life of the Forever King.

Unbeknownst to the Last Silversaint, the Grail still lives―speeding towards Augustin’s besieged capital in the frail hope of ending Daysdeath forever. But deadly treachery awaits within the halls of power, and the Forever King’s legions march ever closer. Gabriel and Dior will be drawn into a final battle that will shape the very fate of the Empire, but as the sun sets for what may be the last time, there will be no-one left for them to trust.

Not even each other.

The post Review: Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Jay! Thank you for once again sitting down with us to answer some of our burning questions, this time for Empire of the Dawn. It feels a bit surreal that we’re here already, at the publication of book three, so firstly, thank you for the incredible ride!

How are you feeling after wrapping up the Empire of the Vampire trilogy?

A little sad to say farewell, but mostly incredibly grateful. This series has been an amazing journey, and I couldn’t be happier with the final book. I know you’re SUPPOSED to say this when you’re promoting the New Thing, but EMPIRE OF THE DAWN is honestly the best book I’ve written. I can’t wait for it to be out in the world.

The title of this novel, Empire of the Dawn, is, dare we say, a bit more hopeful than the last. What can readers expect?

DAWN came out in Australia last week, and early readers have been sending me videos of them crying and throwing the book across the room, so make of that what you will.

You always manage to throw in some big, unexpected, but very much appreciated, reveals. What were you most excited to explore/write in this final instalment?

That’s very hard to talk about without spoilers! But the end of Part 3 is probably the best kick to the soft parts I’ve ever written (you’ll know it when you get there).

It’s been an incredible ride alongside these characters, who each embody a different core aspect of human nature. Which character will be the hardest to say goodbye to?

That’s like asking which one of your kids you like best! I’ve spent the most time with Gabriel and Dior, so I know them best. But there’s a piece of me in all of these characters. A third book in a trilogy feels a little like the last day of school – you’ve spent years with these people, seeing them almost every day, and now you’re never going to see them again. So it’s all a little hard.

Dawn delves deeper into the deadly politics of the different vampire factions. Which noble vampire faction was your favourite to explore, and why?

Probably the Voss. I spent the most time with them, and they’re a interesting exploration of how morality declines in the face of eternity, and how tedious and awful immortality would actually be. Living forever sounds like a good deal at first, but the more you think about it, the more it feels like hell.

The Voss make good devils.

You have such a great knack of humanising characters that ought to be unforgivable (Jean-Francois and the Last Liathe, to name a few). What’s your go-to piece of advice for aspiring writers when building polarising characters?

Every villainous character should have an understandable guiding principle. Even if their moral core is rotten, your reader needs to understand the WHY of how that rot set in. People doing awful things for what they believe are good reasons is far more compelling than villainy for the sake of villainy. 

One of my favourite themes explored is the role of hope – of both losing it, and finding it again – and of humanity in crisis. How important is it to include both the dark and the light in your work?

It’s imperative! I write dark books, but nobody wants to slog through 800 pages of hopelessness and turn the final page to discover the villain standing atop a pile of charred hero corpses, laughing maniacally. The search for the light, and the idea of holding on to hope when all seems lost is really at the core of the books.

As a long-time reader, it’s been incredible to watch your career grow from strength to strength. This is your 18^th book (!!). How do you like to celebrate when you hand in a completed manuscript?

A bottle of good whiskey is usually on the cards! And I tend to reread the novel on the week of publication – just to take a breath and acknowledge all the work it took to get there. Writing is hard, and taking a few short moments to pat yourself on the back is time well spent at the end of a long road.

You’ve just kicked off your Australian and US tour. What’s one tour must-have while you’re on the road?

Exit row seats with extra leg room (I’m six foot seven).

Lastly, recommend us a book to add to our TBR!

Careless People by Sarah Wynne Williams.

It’s the best and scariest book I’ve read this year.

Will you be picking up Empire of the Dawn? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jay Kristoff, Author of ‘Empire of the Dawn’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Author powerhouse Jay Kristoff is back with his next instalment in his cut-throat, vampire dominated world. Gabriel de León, last Silversaint and lost cause, must make an uneasy alliance with the vampire Liathe in a last-ditch effort to undo Daysdeath, and free the human population from their endless nightmare. Faced with troubles both within and without, Gabriel recounts the next heart racing chapter of his tale to his vampire captor as he faces enemies of the Blood Voss, deadly conflict with the Blood Dyvok, and encounters ancient magics in the frozen Highlands, all while battling his own rising bloodlust. Supported once more by beautiful illustrations by Bon Orthwick (@monolimeart), Empire of the Damned is a masterclass on how to successfully continue, and build upon, an epic fantasy series.

Kristoff gives this book everything it needs to be a success. We get to explore new areas on the map, learn more about different magics only briefly mentioned in book one, experience epic action sequences, and see new characters come to life on the page. Readers will love sinking their teeth into the meat of this story, as Kristoff provides more of our favourite things: mythology, bloody conflict, heart-wrenching moments, and new relationships, just to name a few. Paired with our favourite swearing pessimist, Gabriel, this book is a worthy addition to the series.

Narratively speaking, this book feels more linear and cohesive than the first instalment, as we settle in to hear more of Gabriel’s story. This is supported by having an additional point of view character coming forward. While the character themselves isn’t new, seeing events happen through their eyes assists in uncovering certain mythological aspects of the world. The play between them and Gabriel, as well as the vampire historian, Jean-Francois Chastain, creates both hilarious and heart-wrenching moments, and keeps the reader wanting more.

Damned also features a bunch of new characters to both love and loathe. Kristoff shares Robin Hobb’s (author of the Realm of the Elderlings novels) ability to make you hate a character to the extreme, while also showing how the monster was made in the first place.

Tension is also maintained brilliantly throughout, as plot strings pull tighter and funnel the story towards an intense climax. And while the author very cleverly orchestrates a huge pay-off moment, he also promises an epic conclusion brewing in the next book. This is easily Kristoff’s best work, as he once again delivers in all aspects of story.

This series is not for the faint hearted, with graphic scenes depicting the use of human lives as cattle, and bloody conflict between creatures that only value their own eternities. But it is this raw, unflinching look at the fabled vampire in relation to the last of humanity that makes this book tick. Through the vicious portrayals of the different Blood factions and their war games, Kristoff weaves tiny threads of hope. By slotting heart-warming moments in between the violence, we see humanity hang on, reminding us all that there is always hope in the darkness.

Damned comes with a handy summary of book one at the start of the novel, so it isn’t completely necessary to do a re-read of Empire of the Vampire before diving in. Pace and pay-off will have you finishing this book in a few sittings, and wishing for the next already while you wipe your tears away after that ending.

Empire of the Damned is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of March 5th in the UK and Australia, and March 12th in the US.

Will you be picking up Empire of the Damned? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Nevernight Chronicle, Jay Kristoff, comes the much-anticipated sequel to the #1 international bestselling sensation EMPIRE OF THE VAMPIRE.

From holy cup comes holy light;
The faithful hands sets world aright.
And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight,
Mere man shall end this endless night.

Gabriel de León has saved the Holy Grail from death, but his chance to end the endless night is lost. Drawn into an uneasy alliance with the mysterious vampire Liathe, Gabriel must now deliver the Grail to ancients of the Blood Esani, and learn the truth of how Daysdeath might be finally undone.

But the Last Silversaint faces peril, within and without. Pursued by terrors of the Blood Voss, drawn into warfare between the Blood Dyvok and duskdancers of the frozen Highlands, and ravaged by his own rising bloodlust, Gabriel may not survive to see the Grail learn her truth.

And that truth may be too awful for any to imagine.

The post Review: Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

It’s 1994 and Carrie Soto finds herself watching Nicki Chan in the US open, a tennis player who’s threatening Carrie’s own world record of twenty grand slam wins. After six years in retirement and at the age of 37, Carrie makes the monumental decision to return to tennis for one final season. It’s the showdown of a lifetime, and all eyes are on her.

The highlight of this novel is Carrie Soto herself. Originally mentioned in Jenkins Reid’s previous book, Malibu Rising, Carrie gets to tell her side of the story in this novel. And this is where Jenkins Reid does her best work. Carrie is blunt, focused, and relentless—characteristics that could render her unlikeable but which only serve to make her more relatable, especially as this story is told through her point of view. We see a character who has given everything to her sport, and at great personal cost.

The sheer heart of Carrie is what makes this book so special—whilst she’s a sore loser and seen as ‘ungracious’ towards her rivals, her passion and love for tennis shines throughout the story. This ties in with one of the main themes—that a good female tennis player should be courteous and downplay her hard work. Carrie comes along and completely dismantles this stereotype, and instead shows that yes, she is the best, and no, she’s not afraid to acknowledge it because she’s worked hard to get there. This opens up much-needed further discussion on gender roles within sport, as we see the public grapple with their opinions of Carrie because she doesn’t behave like a ‘typical’ female tennis player.

In true Jenkins Reid style, we also have a different narrative style within this novel. The author utilises different forms of excerpts, like sports and media broadcasts, and dedicates entire chapters to particular tennis matches, alongside standard form chapters. Perhaps most reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this narrative style fully immerses the reader into the story, and provides a front row seat into the life of Carrie Soto. This also feeds into the pacing of the novel, which never feels like it’s dragging, as the book is constantly working towards its end goal.

In addition to this, there’s also some outstanding relationship work done throughout the story. Jenkins Reid has a knack for writing real, believable relationships, whether they be familial, platonic, or romantic. By capturing a range of different emotions, providing compelling backstory for each character, and giving them room to take up their own space within the story, you get some standout combinations. Take, for example, the dynamic between Carrie and her father, Javier. His role as both Carrie’s coach and father brings out the best—and worst—in Carrie. We learn enough of Javier’s backstory to know his motivations, but then we return to Carrie and experience it through her, too. The duality of relationships like this is another reason why this book works so well.

It’s fair to say that if The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was your top pick by this author, then Carrie Soto is going to give you a similarly jaw-dropping experience. With characters full of heart and bursting to be heard, Carrie Soto is Back is a must-add to your bookshelf.

Carrie Soto is Back is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Carrie Soto is Back? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

In this powerful novel about the cost of greatness, a legendary athlete attempts a comeback when the world considers her past her prime—from the New York Times bestselling author of Malibu Rising.

Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion himself, Javier has trained her since the age of two.

But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning player named Nicki Chan.

At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even if the sports media says that they never liked “the Battle-Axe” anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.

In spite of it all, Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season. In this riveting and unforgettable novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid tells her most vulnerable, emotional story yet.

The post Review: Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Meet Alex, a single mum of two who is intent on starting over somewhere new. When Alex discovers Pine Ridge, an eco-village set on the picturesque Central Coast just north of Sydney, it seems like the perfect fit. The people are (mostly) welcoming, the ethos of the community is refreshing, and the timing is crucial. Everything seems perfect—until it isn’t.

It starts with a bone, a doll, and blood. As gruesome parcels begin arriving on Alex’s doorstep, and the rumour’s of a witch and an unsolved disappearance resurface, it just might be that Alex has run into something even more dangerous than she left behind.

The main selling point for this novel is its ability to keep the reader in a constant state of suspense, which the author achieves through an expert use of tone. Simply put, The Shadow House oozes eeriness. With a combination of masterfully crafted suspenseful moments, red herrings, and a dose of local urban legend, the author promises a thrilling ride from start to finish. This, along with the use of a dual narrative, creates a foreboding atmosphere. As the story begins to unfold and we see alternate chapters from Alex and Renee, the delicate dance between these two characters and their all too similar paths helps to maintain the drawn-out suspense.

The role of the flawed narrator is another tool utilised by the author. Much like Emily in Downes’ debut, The Safe Place, Alex in The Shadow House is continually humanised through her flaws. Portrayed as a woman intent on making her own path, alongside being a single parent wanting to connect with her children, Alex is set to tackle multiple hurdles from the start. Add to this the disturbing parcels being delivered to her doorstep, and the circumstances that led her to the idyllic setting of Pine Ridge in the first place, and we’ve got all the ingredients for a character wanting to do better but also running from her past.

At times, Alex’s reactions to certain situations are infuriating, and yet, still very believable—she reacts like any desperate person could or would in her circumstances. This is something that the author pulls off incredibly well, as the reader is left wanting to shake the main character while also silently rooting for her.

It is also fascinating to witness Renee’s story unfold alongside Alex’s. At its heart, The Shadow House is about what a mother will do to protect their child. In Renee’s chapters, we see a family slowly coming apart as their central axis—their son—begins to withdraw. It’s this showing of vulnerability that feels most authentic as we witness Renee begin down a road seemingly without end. Her struggle to reconnect with an increasingly distant teenager is all too familiar. Similarly, as tantalisingly creepy events begin to unfurl in Alex’s chapters, and her own son Ollie becomes more withdrawn, the limits of Alex’s mettle as a parent are tested. At this stage, the comparison between our two main characters cannot be ignored, as chapters begin to switch between the two faster and faster.

“Some things, she realised as the brightness consumed her, would never end. But perhaps others – cautiously, tentatively, would begin.”  – The Shadow House, p. 355.

The idea of the ‘perfect’ place is an interesting one to explore, especially in relation to the setting of a thriller novel. When first glimpsed through Alex’s eyes, the eco-village seems to be the answer to the typical 9-5 burn out—who wouldn’t want to be a part of something bigger and more sustainable? But soon Downes begins to reveal the cracks beneath the perfect setting, and every resident transforms into a potential suspect.

Unravelling Pine Ridge and its residents is as satisfying as it is destructive—we know that we will find out things better left buried, but still, we feel the urge to pick up the shovel and start digging.

Overall, The Shadow House successfully executes an extremely eerie and intriguing plot while maintaining the reader’s expectations. The exploration of Alex and Renee as both mothers and individuals richly adds to the story, and the straight-forward, honest prose keeps the narrative grounded. Recommended for readers who are looking to branch out into the thriller genre!

The Shadow House is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up The Shadow House? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Extraordinarily tense and deliciously mysterious, Anna Downes’s The Shadow House follows one woman’s desperate journey to protect her children at any cost, in a remote place where not everything is as it seems.

A HOUSE WITH DEADLY SECRETS.

A MOTHER WHO’LL RISK EVERYTHING TO BRING THEM TO LIGHT.

Alex, a single mother-of-two, is determined to make a fresh start for her and her children. In an effort to escape her troubled past, she seeks refuge in a rural community. Pine Ridge is idyllic; the surrounding forests are beautiful and the locals welcoming. Mostly.

But Alex finds that she may have disturbed barely hidden secrets in her new home. As a chain of bizarre events is set off, events eerily familiar to those who have lived there for years, Alex realizes that she and her family might be in greater danger than ever before. And that the only way to protect them all is to confront the shadows lurking in Pine Ridge.

The post Review: The Shadow House by Anna Downes appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Set in 1958, All Theses Bodies is the perfect example of what happens when true crime meets supernatural fiction. 17-year-old Michael Jensen is the son of the local sheriff in rural Minnesota and has aspirations of becoming a journalist, but little does he know that the biggest story of his life is about to be dropped in his lap when a local family becomes the next victims in a string of bizarre murders. Their bodies, like the others, are drained of blood, and there’s not a drop left in sight. Enter Marie Catherine Hale, who is found standing covered in blood in the middle of the crime scene. At first, she is perceived as a victim and key witness, but when it’s revealed that none of the blood is hers, she is soon labelled as an accomplice.

As those around him hunt for answers, Michael must turn to the one person who may just know the truth. But is he willing to hear it, and most importantly, will he believe what Marie has to tell him, before their time runs out? With the perfectly suspenseful backdrop of a small town set to ignite, Blake once more crafts a powerfully atmospheric novel with characters that stand up off the page. This unique way of weaving urban legend with true crime will have readers racing to find out what happens next.

So, let’s begin at the heart of the novel. The scary thing about All These Bodies is that it reads very closely to true crime. The ominous presence of the supernatural vampire does little to dissuade the reader’s belief, and that is the true power of this author—to make us believe in the inconceivable. Blake has also stated that she drew inspiration from two real-life crime events. These include the 1958 murder spree of Charles Starkweather and his girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate—the young couple left eleven people dead in Nebraska and Wyoming. As for the murder that happens in Michael’s small town, this is inspired by the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kanas. It’s this carefully handled fascination with true crime that brings this book to life, as the author takes things one step further and includes the ‘what if’ element of vampiric lore.

And here’s the thing—while we should know outright that something like this couldn’t be real, the way in which the author handles suspicion and disbelief makes this story that much more believable. Michael’s constant struggle with his want to believe Marie and his need to get to the bottom of the story is transferred onto us as the reader: whenever he outrightly questions her truth, we are also there for when he experiences something unexplainable. It’s this constant play between truth and what we perceive as believable that suspends the audience’s disbelief enough for the story to flourish.

Blake has also very cleverly chosen her main protagonist. Michael is an open book, not yet completely tainted by the views or opinions of the adults around him, and is extremely likable. He is chosen by Marie because she recognises him as one of the only people that may accept the tricky position of believing her story. The range of emotions we as the reader experience through him is well done—his interaction with Marie’s story is set to change his life in more ways than one.

As for Marie, she is purposely complex. She’s a young teenage girl, seemingly without guardians, in a small town run by middle aged men. Here we see the author push back against outdated views of fragile femininity, as Marie’s role in the story is revealed. Initially, she is thought as of ‘just a girl’ without power. While recounting her tale to Michael, we see a different version of Marie emerging. As Michael states, this unknown girl is about to challenge everything he knows. It is through the exploration of Marie that the author also provides an important discussion on the role of one’s choices, and how the choices we make in the moment define our path. Sometimes, as Marie finds out, there are no right choices to make, only equally hard ones.

The only main critique for this book concerns its villain. While the focus is predominantly on Michael, Marie, and the ‘Bloodless Murders’, we experience this ominous figure who menaces the story from the shadows. For those that like a fully resolved ending and a secure ‘gotcha’ moment, this may be the only piece of the story that doesn’t quite come through. However, it can be argued that the intent of the author is clear here: not all stories, especially in the instance of true crime cases, are so easily wrapped up; and not all villains are so easily defined.

Perfectly combining fact, fiction, and urban legend, All These Bodies is definitely a book for your wish list—especially if you’re a lover of a good true crime podcast. Blake’s experience as an author is clearly evident throughout the novel as she takes the reader on a suspenseful, and original, supernatural man hunt.

All These Bodies is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up All These Bodies? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Sixteen bloodless bodies. Two teenagers. One impossible explanation.

Summer 1958—a string of murders plagues the Midwest. The victims are found in their cars and in their homes—even in their beds—their bodies drained, but with no blood anywhere.

September 19- the Carlson family is slaughtered in their Minnesota farmhouse, and the case gets its first lead: 15-year-old Marie Catherine Hale is found at the scene. She is covered in blood from head to toe, and at first she’s mistaken for a survivor. But not a drop of the blood is hers.

Michael Jensen, son of the local sheriff, yearns to become a journalist and escape his small-town. He never imagined that the biggest story in the country would fall into his lap, or that he would be pulled into the investigation, when Marie decides that he is the only one she will confess to.

As Marie recounts her version of the story, it falls to Michael to find the truth: What really happened the night that the Carlsons were killed? And how did one girl wind up in the middle of all these bodies?

The post Review: All These Bodies by Kendare Blake appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

We were lucky enough to (virtually) sit down with the author himself, Jay Kristoff, to talk all things vampire!

Hi Jay! Thank you for taking the time to answer a few of our burning questions regarding your highly anticipated new release, Empire of the Vampire, which is out September 14^th in the US, and September 7^th in the UK and Australia.

Firstly, congratulations! This is an absolute epic, and it was such a thrill to read from beginning to end. How does it feel to finally share EOTV with the world?

Thank you! It feels amazing. EMPIRE is the biggest and most ambitious book I’ve written, which means I worked on it longer than any other project I’ve ever tackled. It feels like I’ve been living with this beast for 5 years in my head, so it’ll be nice to let it out of the cage and share the pain.

I’m sure people are sick of me talking about it by now.

I’ve heard this book was a long time in the making. How long exactly?

It took three and half years to write it, but the thought at the heart of the worldbuilding—how vampires pass on their disease, and the worldbuilding fallout from that—was stolen from my first (terrible, unpublished) novel, which I wrote back in 2008. So in a way, EMPIRE is a monster 13 years in the making.

Following on from that, was there a certain turning point when you felt you could start taking the concept of EOTV and putting it down onto the page, or did the construction of this novel depend on scheduling and working around other projects?

EMPIRE was written around other book and tours, yes. But it wasn’t just schedule dependent—it was also skill dependent. EMPIRE isn’t a book I could have written 5 years ago. It really feels like the culmination of everything I’ve learned and done over the course of my career. EMPIRE is the best thing I’ve ever written.

Even as it was, the book almost broke me. There were times I genuinely thought I’d bitten off more than I could chew. Mid 2019, I realized this was either going to be a book I absolutely killed, or would absolutely kill me.

What are the first five words that come to mind when you think of EOTV?

Heavy. Bloody. Broody. Pretty. Smutty.

Tell us a bit about our main character, Gabriel!

Ah, Gabe. You poor bastard.

Gabriel is a halfbreed, born of a vampire father and mortal mother—what’s called a Paleblood in this world. He was inducted into a monastic sect known as the Silver Order at a young age, and trained to hunt the monsters of the night. He became something of a legendary figure in his time, but being one of my protagonists, he had some . . . troubles.

The book is at heart three timelines—young Gabe, full of fire and faith, and older Gabe, who has become a bitter, faithless man—and an exploration of how one man became the other by an even older version of Gabe, waiting in a prison cell for his execution.

I think Gabe wins the award for “Jay Kristoff Character Who Has Been Put Through The Most Hell By His Author”.

Poor, poor bastard.

It felt like you had a lot of fun with the play between Gabriel and Jean-Francois, considering their official relationship was that of captive and captor. What role does humour play in your work?

Humor is a huge part of my writing, and always has been. EMPIRE is a very heavy book—the darkest moments I’ve ever written are in these pages, and it’s definitely not a book for the feint of heart. So the humor is one way to lighten the mood of what would otherwise be a fairly relentless journey through a world of murder and occasional smut.

Humor is also a way to make your protagonist more likeable. We all want a friend who can make you laugh in the face of tragedy. Gabe has had a lot of practice, believe me.

Now, we know your vampires don’t sparkle—not that there’s anything wrong with a little dazzling. What were two lore-related characteristics you wanted your vampires to have from the very start?

Nothing wrong with some dazzle. Or a little love triangle action (#teamdamonforlife)

But I wanted my vampires to be old school. AnneRicepires. Monsters of the night, terrifying and seductive and utterly bereft of human morality. If you’re killing people every night to survive, you’re very quickly going to stop seeing them as people and start seeing them as food.

They also share a lot of traditional weaknesses from vampire lore—repelled by holy symbols, can’t enter holy ground, can’t cross running water, burn in full sunlight. A monster’s limitations are important in a book like this. Humanity is on the back foot in the world of EMPIRE, and we need every advantage we can get!

EOTV pays, in part, homage to Interview with a Vampire in its mode of storytelling. How did you find the challenge of telling a story that consistently plays around with multiple timelines?

It was brutal. Like I said, EMPIRE almost broke me. Traditionally, I’m not a plotter—I tend to find my stories as I write them. But EMPIRE was so big, and so complex, I reached a point where I had to force myself to sit down and plan on a level I’d never done before. But, change is good for the soul, and EMPIRE is the best thing I’ve ever written, so the hard work paid off.

But yes, it was tough.

One of the main themes in this book is what happens when the consequences of one’s actions are taken away. What was it like to slip into the mindset of a monster like the vampire?

Oh, it was great fun. I grew up reading about monsters, so it was brilliant to step into their shoes for a while, and imagine the way darkness could twist you.

Fabièn is a dark father achetype—kind of an unkillable Tywin Lannister, determined to carve an immortal family legacy. Laure is the immortal temptress, the vampire princess. Liathe is the dark enigma. And while I love me some Vampire Diaries, there’s something disturbing about a guy who’s hundreds of years old pursuing highschool girls. So Danton is a dark exemplar of where that trope could lead (spoilers: nowhere good)

There’s certainly some amazing payoff throughout this book, whether it be in the form of hilarious banter-filled moments between characters, intense battle scenes, or big bombshell revelations—some of which had me swearing out loud (I even used Gabriel’s choice curse at one point, ‘F___ my face’). Without going into spoilers, can you tell us one of your favourite moments to write in EOTV?

It’s a tie. The first is a conversation between Aaron and Gabriel in Aveléne cathedral about the nature of faith. Firstly, because EMPIRE is really a book about faith, and those two characters are basically me arguing with myself about it. And second, because Aaron was a hugely surprising character for me—I wrote him as a kind of teen antagonist for Gabe, but he blossomed into so much much more over the book. His journey is one of my favorite parts of the whole story.

My other favorite scene is when Dior gets a new coat. But I can’t say any more than that.

We’re lucky enough to have beautiful illustrations throughout the book by the amazingly talented Bon Orthwick (@monolimeart). What was it like working with Bon and sharing your creative vision?

She’s amazing. Bonnie did such an extraordinary job on this novel. I wanted the illustrations to be more than just a gimmick—I wanted them to serve a narrative purpose, and breath a different kind of life into the story. Bonnie not only captured that idea and the aesthetic of the world perfectly, but she brought her own ideas and themes and inimitable style. I’ve been a fan of her work for years, and she’s truly outdone herself this time.

I love the way you play around with different ways of telling a story—from footnotes in the Nevernight Chronicle, mixed media formatting and dossier files in the Illuminae Files (co-written with the brilliant Amie Kaufman), and now an interview type format with EOTV. What would you like to try next?

You sound like my agent! Let’s wait til one series is finished before we jump too far into the next one. I’m hip-deep in EMPIRE 2 at the moment, so I’m going to be playing in this world for a while yet. We’ll see what the future brings when it arrives.

Thank you for sitting down and chatting with us here at The Nerd Daily, and for letting us pick your brain on your creative process! It’s been a pleasure watching Gabriel suffer on the page and to witness the rise of vampires once more.

Empire of the Vampire is out on September 14th in the US, and September 7th in the UK and Australia, and it promises to bruise your heart, but not entirely break it, as long as you say ‘please’. Beware: this is a book with serious bite.

The post Q&A: Jay Kristoff, Author of ‘Empire of the Vampire’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Set in a world where the sun hasn’t risen for 27 years, and vampires are no longer confined to the shadows, Empire of the Vampire is a must-have for any adult fantasy reader. As different vampire factions fight for control over the remaining human territories, and the future of humanity appears bleaker than ever, our main character Gabriel de León must recount the tale of his illustrious life to his vampire captor. De León is one of the last of his kind, a silversaint from the holy Silver Order, and he may or may not have information on the myth surrounding the Holy Grail—the last hope for humanity, and the one threat to the empire of the vampire.

The first in a new series, and accompanied by beautiful illustrations from Bon Orthwick (@monolimeart), Empire promises to be a new cult classic with its gothic inspired take on vampires. It is action-packed from start to finish, introduces an immersive (and terrifying) world that can be further explored in later books, and delves into deeper discussions on topics such as belief, hope, the making of a monster, and more.

Timeline wise, this story does jump around quite a bit—something which even the author makes fun of a few times within the novel—but overall, this adds to the book’s mode of storytelling, and also helps to develop our main character, Gabriel. There’s a nod to Interview with a Vampire in the way this story is framed, as we see Gabriel recount his highs and lows to Jean-Francois, a vampire historian set on chronicling the silversaint’s life. Expertly, the author keeps the reader entertained throughout and continually builds an ominous tone, even though, in some instances, we know Gabriel must have survived in order to live to tell his tale. We see Gabriel as a young initiate of the Silver Order, filled with belief and bursting to become a hero, and then we are slammed back into the present with the very weary, jaded Gabriel who constantly questions his faith.

As Gabriel’s journey with his faith is explored, it becomes clear that he is a man pushed to the brink. He reflects on battles won and sacrifices made, of powerful enemies and tantalisingly forbidden love, and of situations where there is no right way forward. Bit by bit, the erosion of Gabriel’s faith becomes evident. But the author takes this one step further, and instead of only including the viewpoint of the destruction of faith, he instead opens up the conversation on the complex nature of belief, and what belief can look like to different people.

Kristoff also explores what it would mean to have consequences removed from the equation, as he depicts his vampires in all their bloodlust finery. When you consider what it means to be eternal, and to have the promise of forever, there are going to be changes to one’s psyche. Kristoff explores this concept head-on, portraying exactly what that would look like. His vampires are deadly, showing their lack of conscience in the darkest of deeds, and, compared to the modern-day vampire, they’re not always beautiful. Most importantly, they do not care for human life. But even though the author includes so much darkness with the representation of these monster freed from consequence, there is a thread of hope throughout Empire that pulls it all together.

It’s this underlying tone of hope that keeps the novel from becoming too bleak. Through a hearty dose of humour, sarcasm, and play between characters, Empire proves entertaining while also fearsome, and pays off a lot of great moments. Factor in a diverse cast of characters to offset Gabriel’s surliness, a slightly insane talking sword, and some thought-provoking discussions on humanity, and this novel proves to have it all. Oh, and there’s a sprinkling of smut in there, too.

Simply put, Empire of the Vampire is an impressively built beast, bursting with supernatural lore and promise. With plenty of detail and twists to keep the reader intrigued, we’re predicting this to be a new favourite of the genre.

Empire of the Vampire is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 14th in the US and September 7th in the UK and Australia.

Will you be picking up Empire of the Vampire? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From New York Times bestselling author Jay Kristoff comes Empire of the Vampire, the first illustrated volume of an astonishing new dark fantasy saga.

From holy cup comes holy light;
The faithful hand sets world aright.
And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight,
Mere man shall end this endless night.

It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness.

Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order could not stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.

Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:

The Holy Grail.

The post Review: Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Kinch Na Shannack is down on his luck—or rather, his luck’s just fine, it’s the damn guild he’s indentured to that’s the problem. As a Prank in the Takers Guild, Kinch’s main worry in life is making sure he steals enough to repay his ‘tuition’ debts. But everything is set to change when his crew picks the wrong mark. When the job goes sideways, Kinch finds himself the companion of the very lethal, but thankfully merciful, warrior knight he just tried to rob.

Filled with magic, humour, and a slow boiling political plot, this entertaining tale explores the themes of war and the greed of men, while outlining Buehlman’s strength as a storyteller. Most importantly, this was a delight to read, armed with killer punchlines that will make you laugh aloud and bittersweet moments that will draw a jagged breath.

The Blacktongue Thief reads as a love letter to epic journey-based fantasy. As Kinch relays his various exploits in first person to the reader, we get a look into the wider world around him. This colourfully described world includes multiple grades of magic, an expansive war-focused history, a mix of cultures and languages, and more. And at the centre of all this is our mismatched travelling band of characters, made up of a thief, a warrior knight, a witch, an old nemesis, and a blind cat. As they begin their quest and set out into the unknown, the reader is teleported into a brilliantly imagined, slightly nonsensical world with a new location every odd chapter.

One of the main strengths of this novel is its characters. Kinch Na Shannack likes to portray himself as, paradoxically, an honest thief. He’s clever, knowing how to get out of tricky situations and when to trust his luck. But reading between the lines, he’s also a product of his upbringing; he’s shifty and doesn’t trust easily, preferring to make limited connections with people instead of long-lasting relationships. But as he is thrust into an ambiguous adventure with the warrior knight, Galva, and the witch, Norrigal, Kinch’s character growth is evident through small, heartfelt moments that pin-point crucial turning points within the story.

And, given time, these characters will definitely grow on you—thought you might not want to get too attached to some of them. . .

There are also some great discussions had throughout the novel; namely on the wastefulness of war, and the greed of men. Buehlman expertly builds upon these main themes, adding in little details piece by piece over the course of the novel and linking it up with his plot. We see the disturbing and widespread impact of war, alongside the depiction of the Guild and their overreaching hand. These main themes, paired with the author’s direct writing style, prompt the reader to draw their own conclusions about the worth of war, and who really profits from it.

It’s also these themes that provide a contrasting element to the book’s seemingly juvenile tone. On multiple occasions, the reader is pulled up short as what started in jest actually reveals a darker side to the narrative. This use of tone in conjunction with theme is what sets The Blacktongue Thief apart from its peers.

Simply put, Buelman’s latest novel is a raucous laugh followed by a punch in the gut—it’s brilliantly wild and full of heart. If you’re looking for an entertaining fantasy tale that slyly delves into deeper topics, try this one.

The Blacktongue Thief is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up The Blacktongue Thief? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler that crosses his path.

But today, Kinch Na Shannack has picked the wrong mark.

Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death. She is searching for her queen, missing since a distant northern city fell to giants.

Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds his fate entangled with Galva’s. Common enemies and uncommon dangers force thief and knight on an epic journey where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford.

The post Review: The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Jayne’s older sister, June, is unstoppable. She has her own apartment in New York, a competitive job, and doesn’t seem to need her younger sister at all. Until she gets diagnosed with uterine cancer. Jayne herself is drifting through university, barely getting by in the big city. When June re-enters her life, Jayne is reluctant to open old wounds and return to her sister’s orbit. But family is forever—at least, it’s meant to be. Not for the faint hearted, Yolk is an emotional ride back to family, and easily Choi’s most confronting work yet.

Let’s start with our main character, Jayne. Not only struggling to make rent, complete university, and navigate a toxic roommate situation, Jayne also struggles with bulimia and body dysmorphia. She’s both mentally and physically self-destructive as she navigates how to deal with her eating disorder, alongside the pressure of being successful within her family. Jayne is raw; she’s purposely callus at times, and full of hurt. And Choi absolutely nails it when bringing her to life. Having a flawed main character is a tricky tightrope to walk, and there are definitely times when, as the reader, you want to shake her and put her on the right path, but that is also the beauty of Jayne—she feels so real.

Being more of a character-based story however comes with a cost; the pace of the novel is meandering. The story, while overflowing with emotion, does not rush from one plot point to the next. Instead, it concentrates all its effort on building its characters and exploring their relationships. Choi fully fleshes out her characters and makes them feel scarily realistic, but this does sometimes drag the reader through certain parts of the story.

Family is also a main theme explored in Yolk. As daughters of Korean immigrants, Jayne and June feel the weight of expectation from their parents, and by extension, other families from their church group. When Jayne reconnects with a childhood friend, the two reflect on how their upbringing differed from the ‘typical’ American childhood. This is another major strength of the author, who depicts her culture so well in her novels that others can experience it first-hand. Discussing family sacrifices and expectations within the novel also helps to better understand Jayne’s motivations and her shaky relationship with her parents and sister. Slowly, we begin to understand the dynamic between Jayne and June, and how crucial it is for them to find their way back to each other.

As for Choi’s writing style, it can perfectly be described as evocative, and full of hard edges. Choi writes loneliness like no other, making it raw, physical, and all consuming. Each of her characters holds a facet of a lonely person in a big city, surrounded by people. She writes about disassociation, and connection, and messy families. She writes a version of the truth that can hurt to look at, with her characters feeling a little too familiar at times that they come across as slightly unlikable. They cut to the quick. Put simply, Choi isn’t backing down on this one, and so she shouldn’t.

Overall, this is not an easy book to read. It’s emotional and uncomfortable, something which feels purposely done as we, the audience, never truly gain our footing, much like Jayne throughout the majority of the book. But I think this is the point—real life is not about always knowing what direction to take. In Yolk, we experience the life of a character who is torn between two cultures, who is constantly uncomfortable in her own skin, and who is trying to help someone when she can hardly look after herself. It’s a book about the many steps to take before starting the path to healing. Choi’s latest work is a force to be reckoned with.

Yolk is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Yolk? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From New York Times bestselling author Mary H.K. Choi comes a funny and emotional story about two estranged sisters switching places and committing insurance fraud to save one of their lives.

Jayne Baek is barely getting by. She shuffles through fashion school, saddled with a deadbeat boyfriend, clout-chasing friends, and a wretched eating disorder that she’s not fully ready to confront. But that’s New York City, right? At least she isn’t in Texas anymore, and is finally living in a city that feels right for her.

On the other hand, her sister June is dazzlingly rich with a high-flying finance job and a massive apartment. Unlike Jayne, June has never struggled a day in her life. Until she’s diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Suddenly, these estranged sisters who have nothing in common are living together. Because sisterly obligations are kind of important when one of you is dying.

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