Skip to main content
Trope Trove home
Cover of Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

Book 1 in Empire of the Vampire

Empire of the Vampire

by Jay Kristoff

736 pages

Where to buy

We independently select and recommend books. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by each retailer.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff is a dark fantasy epic of vengeance, immortality, and war. In a world ruled by vampires, a lone warrior seeks justice, facing betrayal, bloodshed, and deadly secrets.

Empire of the Vampire series tropes

Tagged on the series as a whole, so not every book will feature each one.

About the book

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff is a gripping dark fantasy novel set in a world where humanity struggles under the rule of immortal vampires. The story follows a lone warrior driven by vengeance, navigating a society full of betrayal, political intrigue, and supernatural danger.

Kristoff immerses readers in a universe of nightmarish landscapes, complex factions, and morally grey characters. Themes of loyalty, revenge, sacrifice, and survival are woven through a narrative rich with blood-soaked battles, suspenseful twists, and epic confrontations. The protagonist must confront enemies both mortal and immortal, testing courage, strategy, and resilience in a world where trust is rare and betrayal is constant.

Empire of the Vampire introduces readers to the beginnings of a saga that explores power, ambition, and the consequences of immortality. The story combines fast-paced action with intricate worldbuilding, political scheming, and dark magic. Readers encounter classic dark fantasy and epic fantasy tropes such as anti-heroes, vampire clans, kingdom-wide conflicts, prophecy, and revenge-driven quests, all presented with Kristoff’s signature intense and immersive storytelling.

The novel also explores human emotion and morality in extreme circumstances. Characters face difficult choices, personal loss, and the moral ambiguities of war, highlighting the cost of vengeance and the price of survival. Kristoff’s visceral style, layered narrative, and philosophical reflection make the story both thrilling and emotionally resonant.

Ideal for fans of high-stakes dark fantasy, epic battles, and morally complex worlds, Empire of the Vampire is the first entry in a series that combines horror, adventure, and intense character-driven storytelling. It sets the stage for its sequels, including Empire of the Damned, while also standing as a captivating dark fantasy tale on its own.

Empire of the Vampire reading order

Full reading order

Similar books

Matched on shared tropes and genres
  • Who Fears Death

    Nnedi Okorafor

    Average Goodreads rating4.3

    • Quest for Revenge
    • Post-Apocalyptic
  • House of Hollow

    Krystal Sutherland

    Average Goodreads rating4.2

    • Gothic Fantasy
    • First-Person POV
  • Valour

    John Gwynne

    The Faithful and the Fallen, book 2

    Average Goodreads rating4.6

Still Looking?

More close matches for readers of Empire of the Vampire

Further down our similarity list, but still sharing tropes and genres with this book.

About Empire of the Vampire

Who wrote Empire of the Vampire?
Empire of the Vampire was written by Jay Kristoff.
Is Empire of the Vampire part of a series?
Yes. Empire of the Vampire is book 1 in the Empire of the Vampire series, and it is the best place to start reading the series.
How many pages is Empire of the Vampire?
Empire of the Vampire is 736 pages long.
What books are similar to Empire of the Vampire?
If you enjoyed Empire of the Vampire, readers also recommend The Kingdom of Copper, All the Stars and Teeth, Who Fears Death and House of Hollow.

About Jay Kristoff

Jay Kristoff is a bestselling fantasy and science fiction author known for Nevernight, The Lotus War, Empire of the Vampire, and The Illuminae Files. His work blends dark themes, sharp humour, and genre-defying storytelling.

Books, series and tropes by Jay Kristoff

Never run out of good books

Occasional emails with new recommendations, series news and trope round-ups.

Your data is stored securely and will be used solely for sending newsletters. We comply with GDPR regulations. Privacy policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA; Google’s Privacy Policy (opens in a new tab) and Terms (opens in a new tab) apply.