Review + Giveaway: The Kingmakers

THE KINGMAKERS
(Vampire Empire #3)
Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
Urban Fantasy
392 pages
Pyr
Available Now
Received from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Amazon)
A war to the death.

Empress Adele has launched a grand crusade against the vampire clans of the north. Prince Gareth, the vampire lord of Scotland, serves the Equatorian cause, fighting in the bloody trenches of France in his guise as the dashing Greyfriar. But the human armies are pinned down, battered by harsh weather and merciless attacks from vampire packs.

To even the odds, Adele unleashes the power of her geomancy, a fear- some weapon capable of slaughtering vampires in vast numbers. However, the power she expends threatens her own life even as she questions the morality of such a weapon.

As the war turns ever bloodier and Adele is threatened by betrayal, Gareth faces a terrible choice. Their only hope is a desperate strike against the lord of the vampire clans—Gareth's brother, Cesare. It is a gamble that could win the war or signal the final days of the Greyfriar.

The Vampire Empire trilogy rushes to a heart-wrenching conclusion of honor and love, hatred and vengeance, sacrifice and loss.

MY THOUGHTS
Completing a dark and brilliant trilogy, The Kingmakers beautifully balances the brutality of the war Equatoria wages against the vampires in the north with the warmth and tenderness emanating from the relationship between Adele and vampire prince Gareth. We are continuously subjected to the death and destruction claiming the front lines – the frailty of human bodies remarkably apparent as the claws and fangs of the vampire hordes easily rend flesh from bone – but just as we are reminded of our physical vulnerabilities, the Griffiths pull us out of the darkness with a display of mental fortitude and strength of will from Adele and those around her, keeping us hovering on a precipice between success and failure in the many battles facing our beloved protagonists.

The highlight of this series is the should-be impossible relationship between Adele and Gareth, their quiet moments together ones that hold us captivated as we revel in Gareth’s unexpected sense of humor and their clear love for one another. Gareth possesses a dry wit, bantering with Adele in a way that never fails to surprise us given the dark seriousness of his brethren, and delighting us with a laugh before the reality of their circumstances sobers us one again. Part of Gareth’s appeal has always been his unusual interest in everyday human activities, and in this last installment we get to see that inquisitiveness in all its glory as he attempts to make a suitable dinner for Adele and accompanies her to the opera. We’re never able to forget what Gareth truly is despite the differences in his personality, and it’s an equal pleasure to watch Gareth use his vampire abilities to come to the defense of Adele and the country she loves as it is to see him obliterate everything humanity thought it knew about vampires.

The Griffiths do a spectacular job of bringing Adele and Gareth’s story to an end in a way that satisfies without tying up every last thread into a perfect bow, allowing us the freedom to use our imaginations as to their future without overwhelming us with a vast expanse of uncertainty when we finish the last page. The battles with the various villains aren’t perhaps quite as epic as we might have anticipated given the build-up, the fight with Flay in particular over with unexpected speed given her fighting capabilities and her surprisingly human motivation to hurt Gareth as much as he’s hurt her. That said however, things toward the end are anything but easy for both Gareth and Adele, and we can’t help but grip the pages of the final chapters with such force our fingers tingle for long minutes afterward as the blood finally returns to them. Powerfully romantic, gritty, and compelling, the Vampire Empire series is a success on every level.

Rating: 4/5

More information on Clay, Susan, and the outstanding Vampire Empire trilogy can be found here:
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GIVEAWAY

Today kicks of the blog tour for The Kingmakers (ignore the starting date on the banner, it lies ;-), so be sure and check out Clay and Susan's blog for the full tour details and the list of participating blogs. As part of this promotional tour, the Griffiths are offering up an amazing giveaway including autographed copies of the entire Vampire Empire trilogy as well as a stunning steampunk-themed necklace:

How gorgeous is that? To enter, please just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vampire Empire Special Giveaway + Other Fun Things

Today I have some very fun news to share with all of you. Clay and Susan Griffith, authors of the fantastic Vampire Empire urban fantasy series, are celebrating Valentine's Day with a very special giveaway on their blog. The Vampire Empire series (a particular favorite of mine, I can't recommend it enough), while by no means a romance, does feature a beautiful relationship between Adele and vampire hunter The Greyfriar, and so the Griffiths are offering up a replica of Adele's geomancy talisman in honor of the upcoming holiday.


To enter, just leave a comment and valid email address on their blog post HERE (do not leave an entry on my post, it will not count toward the giveaway). A random winner will be chosen on February 7th. Good luck everyone!


Next, there have been some new cover reveals this week for upcoming Spencer Hill Press titles and I thought I'd share them with all of you in case you hadn't had a chance to see them yet!

TOUCH OF DEATH (January 2013)

Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

PODs (June 2013)

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.


Lastly, I've had a few giveaways the past couple weeks, the winners have been emailed and are listed below. As always, thank you to everyone who took the time to enter and to JL Bryan and Big Honcho Media for their generous prizes!

THE WAY WE FALL

Winners:

Teril
Savannah from Books With Bite

FAIRY METAL THUNDER

Winner:

Vivien

DEEP SKY and THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX (audiobook)

Winner:
Sariah

Review: The Rift Walker

THE RIFT WALKER (Vampire Empire #2)
Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith
Urban Fantasy
400 pages
Prometheus Books
Available Now
Received from publisher for review

Warning: Contains spoilers from The Greyfriar

THE STORY
After being forced to separate from Gareth, the vampire she loves who also masquerades as vampire hunter the Greyfriar, princess Adele of Equatoria is struggling with returning to the life of an heir. Forced into a relationship she doesn't want with senator Clark in order to form an alliance with the Americans, she's truly dreading each day that brings her closer to her wedding.

When plans for her big day go awry, Adele finds herself reunited and on the run with Gareth, fighting to stay hidden from both human and vampire enemies. The political situation in Equatoria becomes increasingly intense with the battle-loving Clark vying for control and her father the emperor reluctantly agreeing to his plans, so while she cares for a weakened Gareth she's also sets out to find a way to make her father understand what's at stake.

As if politics weren't enough for her and Gareth to deal with, they also find danger in the form of Adele's ever-growing powers–what lives inside her having the potential to destroy all vampires in her path should she lose control of it–and no vampire is closer to her than the one she loves.

MY THOUGHTS
After introducing us to a world of astounding technological advancement and creativity combined with the nightmarish yet innovative portrayal of creatures of the night in The Greyfriar, we find in this installment an increased focus on the truly labyrinthine world of politics. Navigating the twists and turns of Equatoria’s political maze is fascinating, and we read with our noses pressed to the pages as the desire for power blinds some to the cruelty of their actions, while those who have little desire to assume what is theirs by birth rise to the occasion. The Griffiths do a brilliant job of building their characters, writing in degrees of villainy and heroism so that nothing and no one is ever easily definable or clear cut, but rather everything exists somewhere on the incredibly long spectrum between black and white. The words “human” and “monster” hold little meaning in this tale, with humanity proving it can be every bit as brutal as the vampire race, and certain vampires proving the numbness of their long lives has not reduced them to beings enslaved by only the basest of urges.

Adele shows remarkable growth both physically and mentally from book one, refusing to fully cow to the demands her status as heir places on her and rising up in defense of the man, the people, and the country she loves. While Greyfriar repeatedly came to her rescue in rather brave and daring fashion previously, it is Adele who is protector and defender in this tale, caring for Greyfriar as he struggles with the heat of the southern regions while she contemplates how to make her father and senator Clark see reason with regard to the impending vampire war. Though her thoughts and opinions sometimes get lost in the churning sea of testosterone surrounding her, she remains steadfast and persistent in what she believes, and we can’t help but be excited about where this attitude will lead her moving forward.

This story is by no means a romance, but the relationship between Adele and Gareth is one that never fails to bring a smile to our faces, the tension and distrust prevalent in The Greyfriar melting away and leaving behind a comforting camaraderie consisting of genuine affection and witty banter. Though their situation is often dire and the reasons why they can’t be together increase in number and significance, they still find time to tease or share a gentle touch that reminds us of all the reasons they should fight for what they’ve found in one another. Things for them are never easy, but both are confident in their feelings and in their purpose, making them a couple we will to succeed with all the strength we possess.

Though the number of characters and stories running parallel to one another in conjunction with some epic political maneuvering can be just a touch tedious at times, the richness of this world never fails to enthrall. The separate plotlines, though numerous, do come together beautifully–cogs in a bigger machine we can’t wait to see revealed in all its glory in the final installment. This series is an absolute joy to read, and something we long to experience again and again during the wait for book three.

Rating: 4/5

Review: The Greyfriar

THE GREYFRIAR (Vampire Empire #1)
Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith
Urban Fantasy
301 pages
Pyr/Prometheus Books
Available Now

THE STORY
In 1870 everything changed. Humans went from the dominant species to outcasts, fighting for survival and struggling to rebuild the empires they lost when the vampires swept through and destroyed everything in their path. Now in the year 2020, the surviving refugees, who fled to the areas south of the equator where the heat prevents vampires from traveling, have gained back their strength and amassed an army to rival their vampire enemy's forces.

Princess Adele of Equatoria is sent on a mission to build alliances for the new war against the vampires, but before she can play at politics, her airship convoy is attacked and she is separated from her younger brother and her people, saved from a lethal vampire's grasp by The Greyfriar, a man of myth and legend rumored to have destroyed hundreds of vampire foes single-handedly.

The Greyfriar leads her deeper into enemy territory in an attempt to expedite her return to Equatoria and the hands of her American fiance, then loses her to the clutches of vampire Prince Gareth and his brother Cesare. While trapped at Gareth's stronghold, Adele learns more about the vampires and the humans that live among them than she ever learned through her studies, and her relationship with Gareth changes her view of the impending war forever.

MY THOUGHTS
The world of The Greyfriar is one the likes of which we've never seen before, combining both familiar and unfamiliar vampire lore reminiscent of an ancient past with the hypnotic newness of the technological advancements defining the steampunk genre. This world of vampires is brutal, their fangs not used only for sustenance or pleasure, but instead to tear, maim, and dominate the human population. While we read on in grim fascination at the singular killing instinct of these beings, we also blink in awe and wonder as the pages paint pictures of regal airships and progressive weaponry, thereby thrusting us into a juncture where old world mythology meets futuristic possibility, and we have the pleasure of experiencing both the childish sense of giddiness at all things novel combined with the full emotional depth and character attachment the rest of us so desperately craves. This story provides us with not just a spectacular world, but also with characters who leap from the pages to take form right before our eyes, their images leaving lasting imprints on the insides of our lids so we see them fully and completely while awake or asleep, and whether we're reading their story or continuing with our lives, they remain forever with us.

Adele is a truly spectacular heroine, exuding a strength and fighting ability that makes us wish we could follow her lead and take up arms beside her, but also maintaining a feminine vulnerability that allows us to penetrate her impressive royal warrior visage and find the leader, the friend, and the memorable woman underneath. Though she harbors the same prejudice and hatred for the vampire race as her countrymen, when presented with the possibility that her opinion isn't completely incontrovertible, she doesn't clutch to her righteousness for an extended period of time to the detriment of her relationship with Gareth, but expands the understandable narrow-mindedness and allows him to show her what she never imagined possible.

The connection between Adele and Gareth is one of extreme potency, yet the intensity stems not from grandiose actions or bold declarations, but from the simplest of gestures that, in the context of these two individuals, are extraordinarily poignant and moving. Suddenly, amidst the chaos of vicious fighting, blood, and death, we find ourselves sequestered in the blissful warmth of the growing affection between our two protagonists, basking in the glow as adorable misspellings and awkward haircuts transform from mundane occurrences to moments thrumming with an innocent passion and a mutual trust that speak far more loudly than any voice ever could. Gareth, for all that he is physically similar to his vampire brethren, is a knight-errant, choosing to be different in mind and soul where he cannot be different in body, and bearing witness to Adele's gradual acceptance of both the man and the presumed monster is a heartwarming intimacy not soon forgotten.

The Greyfriar is a pleasure to read, and surprising in the emotional reaction it evokes as our attachment to Adele and Gareth grows with every passing moment they spend in our thoughts. Their journey is just beginning, and though they are separated by distance, race, and politics, they are bound in feeling, the strength of Adele's affection breaking through the numbness of Gareth's vampire reality and creating the possibility of a future where their obstacles may be overcome. A future where their time together will no longer be defined by brief moments, but by days, weeks, and years. We are left with the knowledge that miles of rough terrain remain underfoot for the two of them, but their newfound ardor radiates from the pages nonetheless, melting the chill we feel when confronted with the difficulties they're sure to face, and we close the back cover with a soaring hope for their inevitable reunion.

Rating: 4.5/5

Teaser Tuesday: The Greyfriar

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading and here's how it works:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share a snippet from somewhere on that page but be careful not to include spoilers

My teaser this week is from The Greyfriar by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith:

Wiping the excess blood from his lips with the back of his hand, Gareth strode back into the forest to his human clothes. Adele would wake soon, and then they would move on. Soon he would have to reveal himself to her, and he knew what her reaction would be.

His numb heart broke at that realization.


THE GREYFRIAR (Vampire Empire #1) from Barnes and Noble:

In the year 1870, a horrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world. Millions of humans were killed outright. Millions more died of disease and famine due to the havoc that followed. Within two years, once-great cities were shrouded by the gray empire of the vampire clans. Human refugees fled south to the tropics because vampires could not tolerate the constant heat there. They brought technology and a feverish drive to reestablish their shattered societies of steam and iron amid the mosques of Alexandria, the torrid quietude of Panama, or the green temples of Malaya.

It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming.

Princess Adele is heir to the Empire of Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire. She is quick with her wit as well as with a sword or gun. She is eager for an adventure before she settles into a life of duty and political marriage to a man she does not know. But her quest turns black when she becomes the target of a merciless vampire clan. Her only protector is the Greyfriar, a mysterious hero who fights the vampires from deep within their territory. Their dangerous relationship plays out against an approaching war to the death between humankind and the vampire clans.

The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1) is the first book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternate history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, the Vampire Empire series brings epic political themes to life within a story of heartbreaking romance, sacrifice, and heroism.