Jay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. He is the winner of eight Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, has over half a million books in print and is published in over thirty five countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6’7 and has approximately 11,500 days to live. He does not believe in happy endings.
Today, Jay Kristoff is on the blog to answer some of our questions about his epic new fantasy novel, Empire of the Vampire. Read on …
Jay Kristoff (Photo by Christopher Tovo).
Please tell us about your book, Empire of the Vampire!
JK: EotV is the story of Gabriel de León, a fallen paragon of a brotherhood of monster-hunters called the Silver Order. In his world, the sunlight has failed—day and night still exists, but the sun shines far less brightly than it used to. In addition to the environmental collapse this brings about, sadly, vampires exist in this world, and they’ve figured out the sunlight doesn’t hurt them like it used to. So, they’ve started rising up around the realm, set on crushing the emperor’s armies, enslaving humanity and creating an empire that will last forever.
Gabe begins the story in prison, awaiting execution for his role in the vampire emperor’s death. Charged by a vampire historian to talk about his life, he begins 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.
Where did the inspiration for this book come from?
JK: I had the initial worldbuilding idea about how the vampires in EotV would work back in 2008, when I was writing my first (trunked) novel. But I found the heart of the story when I was writing the Nevernight Chronicles. My favourite relationship in that trilogy was between the protagonist Mia and her mentor Mercurio. I love the trope of the plucky young protégé and the world-weary cynical mentor. But Mia’s story immediately dragged her away from Mercurio—he was more a background character. So, I decided for my next project, I’d build a relationship like that from the ground up. Found family stories are my favourite.
You’ve tackled murderous assassins, vengeful androids and all manner of aliens in your previous books. What appeals to you about vampires as a fantasy writer?
JK: Vampires are a bunch of things to a bunch of different people, which is what makes them so fun to write. They can be an object of desire, a power fantasy, an exploration of immortality, a study in morality, or just plain terrifying.
The vampires I grew up with were frightening. Monsters to be fought. Somewhere along the way, we’ve drifted away from that, so I’m doing what I can to help bring it back. I want them to be terrifying again.
Your protagonist is Gabriel de Leon: half man, half monster and last remaining silversaint. What was your favourite thing about writing him and his story into being?
JK: I love Gabe for a million reasons. He’s world-weary and faithless, cynical and bitter, he’s truly been through some awful things in his life — I’m his author after all. But he’s also witty, self-deprecating, loyal to the death, and beneath the swearing and high-functioning alcoholism, he’s actually got a heart of gold.
He’s the most fun I’ve had writing in a very long time.
‘Vampires are a bunch of things to a bunch of different people, which is what makes them so fun to write. They can be an object of desire, a power fantasy, an exploration of immortality, a study in morality, or just plain terrifying.’
Do you listen to music when you write? If so, can you share some of the tunes that inspired you with this novel?
JK: Music is hugely important to me, and a lot of the bands I listen to inform the kind of books I write. But when actually sitting down to write, I can’t listen to music with lyrics — the words tend to get in the way of my own.
Ludovico Einaudi is my go-to guy — his music is beautiful. I also listen to a lot of Cryo-Chamber when writing. It’s dark and quite sparse, great for establishing a gothic mood.
As for other music that inspired the book, there’s an Empire of the Vampire playlist up on Spotify if you dare.
Empire of the Vampire features some amazing illustrations from Bon Orthwick (@monolimeart). What was it like to see your characters and world come to life like that?
JK: Incredible! 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 captured that idea and the aesthetic of the world perfectly. I’ve been a fan of her work for years, and she’s truly outdone herself this time.
Be honest: how prepared should readers be for you to rip their hearts out with this book?
JK: I won’t lie, Empire is the heaviest book I’ve written. Though there’s a strong thread of hope through the story, it goes to very dark places. The hardest scene I’ve ever written is in this book. After I finished it, I had to close the laptop and walk away for three or four days.
This is not a book for children.
What is the last book you read and loved?
JK: The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
What do you hope readers will discover in Empire of the Vampire?
JK: I’ll quote a review from a bookstore I got sent:
“This is a story of vampires and heroes, of love and sorrow, of friendship and loss, of joy and devastation. It is a story of death and darkness, but if you look closely you will find a thread of hope that shines brighter than the sun.”
And finally, what’s up next for you?
JK: The third part of my YA sci-fi series, Aurora’s End, comes out in November this year. It’ll be sad to say farewell to Squad 312, but Amie and I have given them a send-off we’re truly proud of, and I can’t wait for folks to read it.
After that, it’s full steam ahead on Empire 2!
Thanks Jay!
—Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff (HarperCollins Australia) is out now.
Empire of the Vampire
Empire of the Vampire: Book 1
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, half man, half monster and last remaining silversaint – a sworn brother of the holy Silver Order dedicated to defending the realm from the creatures of the night – is all that stands between the world and its end...
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