Empire of the Damned Audiobook – Empire of the Vampire, Book 2

It was a cold, rainy afternoon in Portland when I pressed play on “Empire of the Damned,” wrapped up in an old flannel and letting the storm outside set the mood for Jay Kristoff’s dark, sprawling sequel. From the very first chapter, Damian Lynch’s gritty narration drew me straight back into Gabriel de León’s world—a place where hope is as rare as sunlight and every ally might be another shade of danger.

As someone who grew up losing myself in epic fantasy tales, I’ve always been drawn to stories that explore not just good versus evil but also the haunted spaces in between. Kristoff doesn’t disappoint here; he brings us further into a universe teetering on oblivion, saturated with moral ambiguity and heartbreak. The relentless night isn’t just atmospheric—it feels existentially real, especially as Gabriel navigates betrayals (both internal and external), clings to fading ideals, and faces ancient enemies determined to snuff out any flicker of redemption.

What really stood out this time was how vulnerable Gabriel is—he’s not your typical brooding hero. There were moments listening to him grapple with his own bloodlust that reminded me uncomfortably of times when my own darker impulses or insecurities threatened to get the better of me. It gave those battles real emotional weight beyond vampire lore.

The audiobook employs both Damian Lynch and Shakira Shute as narrators. On one hand, this duality gives extra dimension—Shute’s voice adds a refreshing counterpoint during critical scenes—but at times it broke my immersion when character voices subtly changed from one narrator to another within overlapping perspectives. Still, they both handle Kristoff’s dense prose skillfully: Lynch delivers gravitas and raw edge; Shute infuses her sections with nuance that makes even side characters feel vivid.

One thing I appreciated about this installment is how it refuses easy answers or tidy heroics. The quest for truth about Daysdeath—and what must be sacrificed for a chance at dawn—kept twisting away from anything predictable or safe. This isn’t just swords-and-fangs action (though there’s plenty); it wrestles with faith lost and found again through pain.

There are brutal stretches—the violence can be harrowing—but also surprising flashes of gallows humor that kept me going during heavy moments (a trademark Kristoff move). Some subplots felt slightly tangled due to intricate timelines and shifting points-of-view—if you listen while distracted (as I sometimes did while folding laundry), you might want to rewind occasionally.

A special mention goes to the bonus conversation between Jay Kristoff and Joseph Morgan at the end: as a fan of “The Originals,” hearing them dissect themes around immortality was such a treat!

Ultimately, “Empire of the Damned” is an audiobook experience best savored slowly—with your full attention—as shadows lengthen outside your window. It left me haunted but hopeful: proof that even amid endless darkness, there can be unexpected beauty in refusing to surrender our humanity.