Tension, Unexpected Outcomes and Pure Satisfaction

Rating 5/5

Happy New Year and what a better way to end 2025 than a review on the final tale in Jay Kristoff’s Empire of The Vampire trilogy.

Originally, I had intended to sink my teeth into Empire of The Dawn at a later date. But after finishing Empire of The Damned I just had to know how it was all going to end for Gabriel de León and Celene Castia.

Looking over my year’s reading journey, this is the first trilogy I’ve finished. It has been a superbly tense ride with ever evolving characters, unpredictable outcomes and a satisfying conclusion. I don’t know why it took me this long to get around to this trilogy but I am really glad I did.

Following the shocking ending of Empire of The Damned’s, Empire of The Dawn sees Marquis Jean François return to his interrogations of the last Silversaint, Gabriel and blood Esani, Celene. Judgement day has arrived for all three and the pressure is mounting, tempting us with the answers we’ve been thirsting for; what really happened to The Grail? Will Daysdeath end? Will Gabriel succumb to his dangerous impulses? Will there be a ‘happy ending’; the very thing Kristoff detests enough to put in his bio.

Impressively all this and much more will be wrapped up and tied in a little bow. For the purposes of keeping this spoiler free, I’m not going to detail any specifics. However, what I can say is Holy Saints! Empire of The Dawn has been an incredible read.

The writing was so seductive it almost felt as if Jean’s flirtations were bleeding into the text. Pacing was sharp, on point and heart-racing, especially during the exquisite fight scenes. An example I can speak of are the final battles that take place near the end when both Gabriel and Celene share their viewpoints in the same time frame. It portrays the chaotic feel of war giving an adrenaline rush as you read it.

It was also the most emotionally driven book yet. Whether through old or new characters, it felt like Kristoff was really pushing them to their limits, leading to unexpected and sometimes heart-rendering moments.

One thing I particularly liked about Empire of The Dawn was how it delved further into Celene’s origins, explaining how she met her mentor and became this fanatic at odds with her brother. The same can be said about Gabriel. Readers witness more of his spiralling decent into his addiction. The cracks are widening and you’re unsure if the silver saint will recover his humanity or succumb to the seductive darkness Jean is tempting him with.

But more importantly you still do not know who to trust? The fanatic or the fallen hero, keeping to that idea of the unreliable narrator. 

There isn’t much negative to say about Empire of The Dawn. Only the artwork. Don’t get me wrong it is nice. But I felt the previous art style suited the trilogy’s religious undertones. That being said I’m willing to admit after a while the pictures did grow on me. The only other upsetting aspect I can think of was having to say goodbye to this trilogy. The journey through the Empire of The Vampire universe has been amazing, the characters unforgettable and the conclusion satisfying. It is a shame it is over but I am content and looking forward to what Kristoff has installed for us next.