We know from the present that Gabriel managed to kill Fabien Voss, the Forever King but his beginnings are humble as he is taken into the Order of San Michon which exists alongside the Silver Sorority. It is here that the Silver Order come for him consisting of Frere Greyhand and Aaron de Coste. Gabriel has an encounter with vampires early on when his sister is turned and he himself learns when he bites his girlfriend, Ilsa that he is a half-vampire or paleblood. He is telling his story to Jean-Francois and he begins as a child when Daysdeath arrived, this was the day that the sky became shadow and no longer gave light or warmth allowing the creatures of the dark like vampires to roam freely.

We are introduced to our protagonist, Gabriel de Leon, the last Silversaint, a brother of the holy Silver Order who has been captured by vampires and they want him to tell his story as he is the last of the Brotherhood and he agrees.

In a book this size we are obviously introduced to a lot of characters and information early on but I honestly loved it. I read Nevernight back in the day and loved it but Godsgrave was a disappointment for me and I still haven’t picked up Darkdawn yet but Jay Kristoff’s writing with vampires meant I couldn’t wait to read it.

Title: Empire of the Vampire (Empire of the Vampire Book 1) by Jay Kristoff

Empire of a vampire