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    The Greyfriar
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    The Greyfriar
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    The Greyfriar
    Ebook415 pages10 hours

    The Greyfriar

    By Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Rousing pulp action and steampunk come together in a heartbreaking story of high adventure and alternate history. In the year 1870, a horrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world. 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. 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 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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPyr
    Release dateNov 10, 2010
    ISBN9781616142971
    Unavailable
    The Greyfriar
    Author

    Clay Griffith

    Susan and Clay Griffith are a husband and wife team who have written the original Vampire Empire fantasy series for Pyr Books, the tie-in Crown & Key series for Random House, and THE FLASH: THE HAUNTING OF BARRY ALLEN for Titan Books. They've written numerous short stories for anthologies, some featuring noted genre characters such as Kolchak the Night Stalker and The Phantom, and have scripted comics including The Tick, The Simpsons, and Vincent Price Presents.

    Read more from Clay Griffith

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    Reviews for The Greyfriar

    4/5

    188 ratings32 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The word that comes to mind at the thought of this book is enthralled. I am totally and completely enthralled with 'The Greyfriar'. The style of this book is eloquent, creating such a beautiful world and story with just words. Steampunk is not usually a visually beautiful world with its machines and steam powered alternate history. Despite a broken and bleak world in which this book takes place, the story of vampires and humans in a struggle for domination is nothing less than beautiful. After a vampire uprising in 1870, humans have been forced to live in the warmer climates because the vampires cannot tolerate high temperatures. The vampires have instead taken over the northern areas of the globe, where the cool temperatures allow them to live with little discomfort. Many of the known clichés of vampires are present in this book, but may or may not be factual. Do vampires have reflections? Do they create new vampires by biting humans? Do they heal quickly? Do you stake one in the heart to kill it? These clichés are challenged and the authors create their own unique brand of vampire.The love struggle involves Her Royal Highness Princess Adele, the 19 year-old heir to the Equatoria throne. She is to be married to the American Senator Clark in the hopes of bringing two great human nations together to unite against the vampires. Uniting the two most powerful nations by marriage seems logical and politically the right move for human kind. Side note is that Adele has never met nor laid eyes on Senator Clark. She only knows of his hero status as a vampire killer. Before the marriage can take place, Princess Adele is kidnapped by the most ruthless vampire clan leader in the world, Cesare. Technically, he is not the true heir to the London clan's throne, his older brother Gareth holds that honor. But, we learn Gareth doesn't hold the taste for battle and death to humans as his younger brother. The power struggle between the two brothers could very well set the tone of a future war with the humans. Cesare wants war at all costs and does whatever he can to ensure the marriage between Princess Adele and Senator Clark does not take place.In this world, there is a mysterious hero of which legends are made. Tall tales and books are written about his battles in the fight for human life. The Greyfriar, as he is notoriously known, fights for human life, but lives as a recluse. He is only seen when needed, like a modern day super hero. Greyfriar rescues Adele from the vampires and as with any two people who hold the other in high esteem and regard, they begin to grow in trust and in love. Not only does this cause a problem for Adele's impending marriage, but they are constantly on the run from the vampires. But, there is one dilemma that is heavily guarded throughout the book. Greyfriar has a secret that Adele may not be able to forgive him for keeping.The battle scenes with swords, pistols, vampire claws, and teeth are well described and fluidly choreographed to visualize the fight as it takes place. Greyfriar and Adele fight well together, him with elegant style and her with uncanny precision for a human. Adele begins to learn she is a powerful enemy to the vampires in more ways than combat skills. Adele has some sort of connection to the magic, religion, power, whatever you want to call it in the world that has abandoned all super natural ways of thinking for science and machines as their answers. Adele wields inner power she herself doesn't understand. A mysterious group of people exist that do know about her "potential" and have been laying the foundation to groom and use her for their own purposes behind the scenes. All the twists and side stories connect so well and paint such an elaborate picture that adds to the depths of this impending war.‘The Greyfriar’ is book one in Vampire Empire. The twists, turns, plot, pacing, character development all are done so beautifully that readers are well primed for book two. The story moved from scene to scene as if happening in real life, and character growth was believable. One thing I did question was when Adele and Greyfriar were on a boat together for days, sleeping on land at night. I wondered how they used the bathroom, especially Adele? Doesn't really matter to the story, but just one of those things I tend to think about while reading a book. This book is also a 'clean read'. There is no foul language that I can recall and the only scene even remotely inappropriate is when Adele learns how vampires make more vampires. The word "sex" is used once and that is that. Even Greyfriar is appalled that Adele says the word out loud in mixed company. The year is 2020, but the etiquette is Victorian era, so touching, what's acceptable to speak about in mixed company, etc. applies to that time. The authors have stated the book was not written with a specific age group in mind, but to be enjoyed by all ages. I would say it fits very well for Young Adult, since most of the book is told from the point of a view of a 19 year-old girl. I think high level middle grade readers may also like this. Adults who like steampunk, fantasy, paranormal, and some romantical conflict will love it.I do not give 5/5 ratings very often, but this book is a solid 5 for me. If I had book two right now, I'd immediately start reading. This is one of my 2010 best book picks and I cannot recommend it enough.
    • 4/5
      My thoughts:This book was great! I wished I could have read it all at once instead of bits and pieces here and there. Because it just sucked me in at once, and a few chapters in I already knew I wanted to read book 2.The book is about Princess Adele of Equatoria. She is touring her Empire and its fringes when attacked by vampires. And such awesome vampires. They are cruel and evil. They treat people like cattle, they never create anything new, they are parasites that took over everything in the North and pushed humans to the south. Those that they did not drink and kill. The mythology and creation of these horrible vampires are amazing, and that also include the new Human empires that emerged after the fall of mankind. It may be the year 2020 but Equatoria still rely on steam, but they do have airships, other than that the world has not moved forward much.I liked Adele as the heroine that is taken deep into enemy territory. She still had courage and behaved like a princess. No one could pressure her to anything. She also had depth in her. The other great character in this book is Prince Gareth, the heir to the Vampire Clan in England, but he is living alone in Scotland. He was so strange, and I wanted to know more. He asked questions and he saw that their society could not live on. And of course I, loving HEAs and such, wanted these two together. She with someone whose people see humans as cattle, and him with someone whose people wants death to all vampires. Yes, as you can see, it's totally and utterly doomed. But a girl can hope.This book was thrilling, it kept me turning page after page, hoping, wishing and fearing. There is no turning back. There can only be one winner and the vampires are truly evil so it should not be them. There is adventure, and a haunting Europe, a bloody Europe. A bloody good book.If I have to say something negative, oh I can't say it, cos it might just be a spoiler. So sorry there.Conclusion:I want more, I need more. Another book is coming out this spring, but I really want to read it now. I was enchanted by this world, even if it made me sad. I highly recommend this book to everyone.Is it Fall yet?Rating:Page-turner
    • 5/5
      Dangerous vampires, steampunk atmosphere, good characterization and fast-paced, well-written action scenes. What more could you want? This story was original and had an interesting vampire mythology. A series I'm looking forward to delving into further.
    • 4/5
      The Greyfriar is a steampunk vampire adventure romance. In regards to blending these different elements, I think the books succeeds in doing so quite well. In fact, for the most part, I really enjoyed the story. However, it was the writing that I found rather flawed.The steampunk genre seems to be experiencing an increase in renewed popularity these days. Sadly, some authors think that all it takes is a pair of goggles paired with a Victorian jacket and brass pistol to call something steampunk. They forget that it's as much about the technology and way of life as it is about the fashion and style. The Greyfriar, thankfully, incorporates steampunk concepts more thoroughly and effectively. I appreciated the fact that steam technology was plausibly developed, explained, and used in the story. I really liked how the airships were described and utilized throughout the book. I actually wish the authors would have given the reader a more in-depth look into life on such grandiose steam-powered vessels.I really enjoyed the authors' take on vampires. There was an interesting dichotomy to their description that developed as the story progressed. Initially, the vampires were introduced as savage animalistic creatures of little motivation or purpose beyond feeding and killing. They appeared to be driven solely by instinct, lacking concrete operational cognitive ability like reasoning and logic. However, as the plot unfolds, the reader begins to learn that some vampires are actually quite human-like. They can speak and think quite intelligently, they have families, they have rules and traditions, and they experience emotions. Consequently, just as the female protagonist is forced to question everything she thought she knew about vampires, so is the reader. I also liked the unique strengths and weaknesses of the vampires. In the book, they are able to fly by altering their body density and have retractable talon-like, razor-sharp nails. They don't turn to ash in the daylight, but they are weakened by heat. They also have limited tactile dexterity and sensory perception, making tasks like using tools difficult.I also quite enjoyed the protagonist duo. Adele is definitely a strong-willed, opinionated, tough female lead. I liked that despite her impressive fighting abilities, she still has moments of vulnerability and experiences fear and uncertainty. She doesn't always rush head first into a fight. She is able to recognize her limitations, rely on others, and run for her life when necessary. There were definitely some things I didn't like about her. Her pampered, sheltered existence becomes glaringly obvious at times, and I became frustrated with how self-absorbed and closed-minded she could be. But overall, I think she was realistic and grew as a character throughout the story.Greyfriar is a fascinating character primarily because of his true identity, which I can't say is much of a mystery (because pretty much from the very start I was able to figure out his secret). Nonetheless, his true identity presents a dualistic quality to his personality. On one hand, he is a fierce, fearless warrior and on the other, he is almost child-like in his curiosity and evolving emotions. I also appreciated that his romance with Adele develops slowly and believably based on their shared experiences and things they have in common. Unfortunately, I can't say that they have a lot of chemistry together. Their love is more innocent and subtle than passionate.Now onto some bad news. I hate to say this, but I found a lot of the dialogue to be stagnate and artificial feeling. The emotion that was meant to be expressed through some of the lines felt either shallow and dry or laughably pompous and forced. This was particularly evident with some of the supporting characters, who seemed to be molded out of cliches.Additionally, with the exception of chapters that provided the reader with the vampire perspective, I wasn't too crazy about the chapters that switched focus to the side characters. I didn't find the events of those chapters to be all that interesting or informative. I do understand though that the authors were probably using this as a way to make the story appear to develop on a grander scale. Perhaps if the other characters were more fleshed out, it would have worked better. This also brings me to the issue of transitions between events within the chapters. There were somewhat confusing moments that skipped over varying periods of time or jumped right into action without much preparation. For example, at one point a character is essentially calling it a day and heading off to bed and in the very next paragraph he's propelling from an airship into the midst of battle. Furthermore, some "time skips" covered a few hours, some a day or two, and others an entire week or more. I found all of this to be somewhat disrupting to the smooth flow of the story.Bottom Line:The Greyfriar is an interesting mix of steampunk adventure and paranormal romance. It possesses a somewhat unique take on vampires that is refreshingly different from the romanticized version that is currently oversaturating fiction. The book is action-packed with fight sequences that are well-written and exciting. The two main characters are fairly well-developed and grow throughout the story, but the side characters need more fleshing out. I didn't think the dialogue flowed organically and I had trouble connecting with the emotion it was supposed to portray. I also thought the pacing was a bit jagged. Nevertheless, I found this book to be a quick and entertaining read with lots of potential.
    • 3/5
      The Greyfriar
      3.5 Stars

      A well written story although the world building is quite dense and requires patience to wade through. The synthesis of post-apocalyptic, steampunk and vampiric elements is compelling as is the original take on vampires rising up against humanity and subjugating those who once oppressed them. The descriptions of the vampires' cruel domination are particularly gruesome and horrifying yet the authors still manage to convey that there are two sides to every conflict.

      Unfortunately, most of the characters come across as stereotypical from the obnoxious American war hero hungry for power to the Emperor who puts his duty over the welfare of his children and the senile vampire king under the thumb of his sociopathic son. Nevertheless, the two main characters are not as one dimensional.

      Princess Adele is an engaging heroine and the growth and evolution of her character is a significant aspect of her appeal. She starts out a naive and pampered princess but grows into a mature, confident woman understanding that the world is not black and white. It will be interesting to see what happens when she learns about the full magnitude of her power and how to wield it.

      The Greyfriar is a fierce fighter for the resistance, however, he has secrets that once revealed add an extra layer of complexity both to his character and to the plot. Adele and Greyfriar have an interesting dynamic that drives the action of the book and their parts are far more entertaining that those focusing on the political machinations of the two warring factions.

      All in all, a decent beginning to a promising series and their are enough unanswered questions to keep my interest.
    • 5/5
      I consider this series (and specifically this book) to be my Crackle Bar of my collection. It's a guilty pleasure and I have eaten/re-read it too much, but I keep coming back for more.This book was an impulse check out of the library that lead into a month long binge and a very speedy trip to my bookstore to buy my own copies. We are in a time where Young Adult vampire romances flood the shelves, however don't let that turn you away from this little gem. While it is predictable in most places and isn't challenging to read, it's proves to be a lovely little steampunkish adventure in an alternate history where vampires are a complex alternate evolution of humans (been done before, but the unique characteristics in the Greyfiar trilogy are quite smart), and they have started an all out war on humankind. Possible spoilers ahead from here on. I actually do not wish to spoil much of the story because I want readers to enjoy it going in rather blind. However, I must emphasize some points in the story to say just why I adored this book so much. Keep in mind, this book is not breaking too much ground or making too many grand leaps (though I did find how the vampires function and work all together to be quite interesting and unique in it's own way). It is it's execution that makes me love it. It's what you expect once you get the groove of the story. It's predictable and you know what's going to happen in most cases, but you are actually happy they happened. At one point there is a betrayal arch (you know where the friend/companion turns out to do or be something the protagonist can't accept) that you see coming from a mile away, but afterwards how things develop is so nice that you can't help yourself but keep reading. And may I just say, how refreshing it is to have an adventure/romance like this where the romance is slowly developed from a friendship over the course of the entire series. Yes, you see the romance budding as clearly as you see how blue the sky is. But, it's so healthy and fluffy that it's addicting. It feels natural and sweet. As someone who is constantly bombarded by very erotic novels from friends and who gets tired of the same rehashed sex scenes, this was so refreshing to see a slowly building relationship like this that does last over all 3 books. And this cute romance isn't any surprise as this book and series is written together by a very cute couple. Their tenderness and affection to one another oozes in the books. I loved it.That being said, the romance in the first book is not forefront. The conflict and politics along with the action and adventure are. It's just overall well executed I must say again.I enjoyed every character and I enjoyed almost every moment in the book. Gareth and Adele are lovely and reading their story is something I'll never regret. My only regret is that I'm a lone person in my circle of friends who was willing to give the series a shot and I'm still to this day trying to convince them this isn't some fantasy Twilight rehash.All in all, this book and this series (and I must warn you that the later books aren't quite as good as the first, but I can't say I regretted reading them at all in any way), is like that movie that you know isn't groundbreaking or doing too much new, but it's so satisfying to watch that whenever it's on tv, you leave it and enjoy the ride just to feel that warm feeling again. I also highly recommend the audiobooks if you don't have the time to sit down and read it yourself. Just please give it a shot.
    • 5/5
      I picked up this book due to All Things Urban Fantasy's 5 star rating and recommendation and it did not disappoint. This was the first novel I have ever read to be considered steampunk in any way. While the steampunk aspect is not a major part of the story it is great in setting the scene of this alternate history world. The vampires that have taken over most of the northern hemisphere of earth, or anywhere else that it is cold, are classic frightening vampires. It's hard to decide between Adele and The Greyfriar for which character I like the best because they both show tremendous strength throughout the novel. One scene in particular taking place in a "library" showed a great depth to this book that leaves you thinking. I can't say enough about this novel, and Clay and Susan Griffith are two outstanding new (to me at least) authors who have created a brilliant start to this trilogy.
    • 4/5
      I was very skeptical of this one. I wasn’t sure what to think of it. It’s got fantasy. With history and a bit of steampunk added. Which is a great combination, but it really all boils down to the story and its’ characters. It’s certainly got a nice blend of fantasy/history as well and I liked that. I was really expecting something cheesy with a romance in it that’ll make my stomach turn. Thankfully I was wrong!I enjoyed this novel until the very last page. The action was well done, the world building was really good and well established, and the characters memorable. The blending of different genres also is nice you have a bit of steampunk, alternate history, fantasy, paranormal, and just a little bit of romance. It’s perfect.Of course what adds to this awesome book is Gareth (one of the main characters) has a castle full of cats. No seriously. That is AWESOME. I reacted the same way I did when I saw Hellboy with his room full with cats. (I squeed and squeed until I couldn’t no more) so for me, that was a major added bonus. The chemistry between Adele and Gareth was good as well. Their characters seemed perfect for eachother I really enjoyed how they got along.I haven’t gotten around to reading the second book yet, but I’m hoping it will be just as good as this one! I definitely recommend this book to fantasy lovers out there. It’s definitely worth a read through.
    • 5/5
      This is yet another first for me. I normally do not read Sci/Fi Fantasy or steampunk, but yet for some reason Vampire Empire just caught my eye. I love Vampires and when a book has a mysterious character with a hidden identity.Adele is royalty and has always lived by the rules. She is proud of her family and is happy to follow the rules and do what is expected of her. On a trip one day her ship is attacked by Vampires and Adele is the Target. The Vampires want her and nothing is going to get in their way. When her shipped is attacked she is rescued by The Greyfriar, who to her was just a myth. Now on the run with a man she knows nothing about and had no idea he even existed, Adele needs to find a way to warn her family and find her way home.The relationship between Adele and The Greyfrair was just beautiful in every way. Who wouldn't fall in love with a mask man who is constantly putting himself in danger to protect you? I loved everything about Adele and The Greyfrair and thought they were very believable. Once Adele finds out who the Greyfrair really is, at first she feels anger and betrayed, but then the more time she spend with him she realizes he is just a broken soul who wants to find a place to belong. She fall's deeply in love with him. Did I forget to mention that she is set to marry someone else once she returns home? Forbidden love is the best!I actually read Vampire Empire a couple of weeks ago and wanted to put my copy up for grab, but I don't think I am ready to part with it. I absolutely love this book and cannot wait for part two of the story. I was taken by surprise at how much I enjoyed it. I never heard of steam punk and I normally don't read books from the Sci/fi section. After this, I see I am missing out on some good books.If you haven't read Vampire Empire, I recommend it. It has a beautiful love story that with very little words you feel every emotion the characters feel. It's written so well and it's so easy to picture scene by scene in your head. In my opinion, Vampire Empire is like Batman meets Beauty and The Beast. A MUST READ!
    • 4/5
      Hm. 3.5/5 but I'm rounding up to 4 stars. I loved the cats!The world was interesting, and I enjoyed the take on history, vampires, and the technology humans had to re-create after the great killing in 1850ish. I enjoyed the characters, Adele, the Heroine was strong, capable, and an intriguing woman. She has a quiet inner strength I admired, and I liked how she grew throughout the book. Greyfriar was awesome. Sure he's a bit cliche albeit a cross between Zorro and robin hood, but I liked him, and his secret life. The political ramifications were cool and interesting. As were the steampunk elements. They were well done, without being in your face and all Whoohoo I'm a steampunk Novel! Senator Clark... I'm not entirely sure I like him ;) He is the Heroine Adele's intended. She has never met him, only heard tales of his American Vampire Kills, and as part of the politics to unite the two empires, her father arranged the marriage. He could care less about her, only ruling the massive empire. The vampires were pretty darn awesome. Flay was ruthlessly vicious and cool. Overall, it was pretty good. I did have an issue with some of the wording the authors used, they seemed to change names a lot. It was written in third person, so sometimes they would refer to Adele as Adele, then in the next paragraph as the princess, or the girl, the young woman etc. It was confusing and I wished they had just stayed with Adele
    • 5/5
      Originally Reviewed at:Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Pyr Science FictionsReviewer: HeatherVampire Empire, Book One: The Greyfriar is a mix of paranormal, steampunk, and post-apocalyptic life. We are introduced to many of the key players that one can assume we will continue to see. Princess Adele, Greyfriar, Senator Clark, and one nasty vampire Prince who is set to take the throne as well as the whole world.You see, back in 1870 the vampires let themselves be known to all of mankind. In a well developed and plotted sweep that lasted only two years, the vampires undid the human world. Cities as we know them fell to their hands, and the people fled south to regroup. Now, in 2020, humans have been rebuilding, strengthening, and waiting for the day to start a major war against the vampires.One of the largest nations is the massive Empire Equartoria to which the Princess Adele is the rightful heir. When she is sent out on a mission tour, her air ship as well as the accompanying ships, are attacked by Prince Cesare the heir of the vampire clan in England. While his right hand woman, Flay, tries to secure the Princess, a mysterious man appears out of nowhere to save the day.Greyfriar comes to the rescue of the Princess, and tries to keep her safe. He wears a mask over his face to cover his identity, and he’s armed to the hilt with guns and swords. Princess Adele feels safe by his side, but she has no idea of the deep secrets he hides. The clandestine mask he wears is only the sheer beginning of who, or what, this man is.Will the Princess and Greyfriar thwart the plans of the twisted vampire Prince? Can Adele accept what lies behind the mask? Tsk, Tsk… You will have to read it to find out!I had a good feeling about this story just from the cover. It is such a lovely cover, really. Air ships, a good looking duo, dressed to kill – literally kill! But then I opened up the book, and found myself enthralled with the story presented to me. Each page is filled with conflict, action, mystery or suspense that kept me hanging onto to every word.I think the characters are highly developed, and I loved the word painted scenery of desolate Europe. I enjoyed the descriptions of the steam powered ships, as well as the other little knick knacks here and there. If it weren’t for the vampires, I wouldn’t have minded living there.Then there was the end, and my heart sank just a little bit. Then I remembered, “Hey, this is only the FIRST book!” I am really looking forward to the next part of the series. If you’re thing to read is alternate history, steampunk, or action then pick this one up for a downright good read.
    • 4/5
      Vampires and steampunk! The former, obviously, is a topic that's been wildly popular for years and years. The latter, as well, has been a subgenre gaining more traction in the science fiction and fantasy world lately, hence the fact that I would finally stumble across a book which unites both concepts in the foundation for its story was only a matter of time! What did strike me as a pleasant surprise, however, was finding a book that does this so well.The Greyfriar is set in an alternate history in which humans and vampires have been locked in a bitter war for more than a century. In 1870, the blood drinkers rose up to conquer the northern lands, driving the humans towards warmer climes. Now, the young princess Adele of Equatoria is to wed the famed vampire hunter senator of the American Republic, their marriage to be the start of an alliance to take back their lands. But a month before the wedding, an ambush on the princess' airship throws all plans into turmoil. Adele's way home now involves a partnership with the Greyfriar, a semi-legendary figure who has become a symbol of humanity's fight against the vampires.Notice I say "partnership with" and not "dependency upon", because as princesses go, Adele is far from your dainty damsel in distress and can most certainly hold her own. In this book, both the main protagonist and also the enemy vampire warchief are female characters one would not be wise to cross, as each woman has a commanding presence about them in their own way. With Adele, I loved her for her independence, intelligence, fighting skills, as well as for her protectiveness and love for her little brother. All the characters here are pretty well written, but it's extra nice having a heroine I genuinely like and enjoy reading about.Still, while I'm steadfastly rooting for Adele, it's hard not to be drawn to the vampires as well, with their fascinating empire, politics, family conspiracies and infighting among their peerage. The vampires in this book are atypical enough not to bore me, with their strange biological quirks allowing their bodies to be lighter and to "float" in the air, and it amuses me to no end how disdainful they are of human myths like the ones claiming vampires to be their own dead risen to life. Their culture is well defined, like everything else in this book's world.My favorite part, though, is the thread of romance woven through the second half of the book! Admittedly, as much as I enjoy love stories, romance in these types of books usually make me balk -- like, seriously, why spoil a perfectly awesome action adventure tale by forcing a contrived and cringe-worthy romantic side plot just for the sake of having it? And yet, the thing is, the love story in this book could not have been more natural and just...totally appropriate, like it belongs. I don't know what it is, but perhaps the fact that the authors are a married couple who have been writing and publishing together for years has something to do with it, because the attraction between Adele and Greyfriar felt passionate, gradual, sweet, real and -- most importantly -- earned. None of that insta-love nonsense.Plus, no worries if romance isn't your thing; as I've said, it's not the dominant focus and does not overtake the entire story, and I liked how there were just as many if not more action-oriented battles and fight scenes in this book. In fact, my only wish is that the novel was better paced and balanced. After a very bombastic introduction, it wasn't until halfway through the book that my enthusiasm spiked again, but once it did, you can be sure I was completely enamored. I read the second half all in one sitting, and loved every minute of it.
    • 5/5
      Quick & Dirty: This remarkable adventure hits all the right points. With complex and riveting characters and a captivating plot, this deeply emotional story is sure to win readers’ hearts.Opening Sentence: Your Highness would be safer below.The Review:Princess Adele is the heir to the Equatoria Empire. Adele is betrothed to the egomaniacal Senator Clark, ruler of the American Empire. The merging of these two vast empires will be a formidable foe for the insatiable vampires who rome freely over the Northern Lands. Destroying anything and everything in their path, the vampire clans are looking to gain more power and more land. The Greyfriar is a thing of legend. A fable told to empower humans in their fight against the vengeful and vicious vampires. The Greyfriar is a brave hero, risking life and limb to slaughter as many evil vampires as he can, stopping at nothing to defend Princess Adele. Shunning his duties and stepping back from political machinations, Lord Gareth, heir to the Vampire Empire, chooses a different path entirely. His younger brother, Cesare, ever the power hungry and gruesome master has designs on his brother’s throne. As matters intensify, the vampires and humans are preparing for another battle. War is coming! Who will emerge victorious in this deadly Game of Thrones?The Greyfriar is a wonderfully crafted story set in a world that will leave you breathless. The vampire mythology is truly unique and such a wonderful surprise. I don’t think that I will ever be able to forget the way in which vampires are portrayed. The vampires in this story are truly frightening. It reminds me a lot of how vampires are portrayed in 30 Days of Night. The vampires are cunning, cold, calculating, skilled in combat, feral and ruthless predators. They strike without warning. Delivering devastating blows and impressive kills, it’s easy to understand the anxiety that humans feel at the mere mention of a vampire.One of the things that most surprised me was how deeply emotional this story is. I enjoyed getting to know Princess Adele. She’s a fabulous and charming heroine. I didn’t like Adele merely because she is strong and kicks a lot of butt. I liked Adele’s unwavering humanity and compassion, which is often forgotten in grave times. Despite her station, Adele remained selfless, grounded and gracious. She genuinely cares for others and is willing to make sacrifices for her people.I can’t talk too much about The Greyfriar himself without spoiling something, so he must remain shrouded in mystery. I was completely shocked when he dropped the identity bomb on me. He’s a loyal and fierce warrior full of surprises. As for Adele and Lord Gareth, I’m hopeful that things will work in their favor. The connection that these two characters share is beautiful. Their shared conflicts are tragic and the obstacles in their path are daunting. Loyalties will surely be tested, and some alliances may prove to be deadly. The only real question is — how will the empires survive the fallout?The Greyfriar has it all. This story has intense action, strong and intriguing characters, marvelous characterizations, fantastic worldbuilding, and powerful emotion, which amounts to a passionate and thrilling adventure that won’t soon be forgotten.Overall, Clay and Susan Griffith have created a memorable story that will keep you riveted from start to finish. Treachery, action and intrigue are masterfully woven throughout the story, leaving your heart racing and your pulse pounding. The Greyfriar is adventurous, highly entertaining, dangerous, captivating, but most of all — unforgettable.Notable Scene:In that split second, Flay fell on the swordsman like a hawk. The two became a blur of arms, steel, and teeth. Flay surged, fell back, and surged again. Greyfriar dropped the wide-bladed scimitar and worked the tip of the rapier. His blade was a blur, and its sharp hiss filled the air, competing with Flay’s own snarling.The war chief parried with her claws, taking awful gashes across her hands but blocking Greyfriar’s killing strikes each time. The need to spill blood surged through her. This was the moment she’d waited for, the moment when she could kill the Greyfriar and feed on him. But she knew she could not. The princess was her charge. The princess mattered. And the princess had fled.Despite Flay’s need to kill this man, he was merely an impediment preventing her from going after Cesare’s vanishing prize. He seemed to know it and revel in his ability to delay her. Flay tried to slither past in a swift shadow, but he blocked her with a skill and agility that was extraordinary for a human. Each passing second carried the princess away into the chaos of London. The desperate vampire lifted herself only to feel Greyfriar’s grip on her ankle. She kicked him across the face, but his steel grasp refused to lessen.Enough, Flay thought. I have no time to duel this lucky wretch. The war chief threw back her head and screeched. Greyfriar flinched at the sound. Within seconds, the alley began to fill with vampires. Some responded to the old war call. Others were merely drunk and hoping for some bloody street burlesque. The sight of a human and a vampire battle sparked an instinct that presses them onto the swordsman.A flood of bodies tumbled into Greyfriar. Their claws and teeth ripped into him while he strained to hold Flay’s ankle. She took hold of an iron fixture high on the wall and pulled with all her strength. His fingers slipped from her foot and, through a web of arms and legs, he saw Flay rising into the sky.The Vampire Empire:1. The Greyfriar2. The Rift WalkerFTC Advisory: I purchased a copy of this book. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.
    • 4/5
      Believe the hype. I could stop here but I'll explain. The writing is superbly strong, Adele our heroine is an amazing girl to look up to, the world is rich and interesting to explore, the romance is realistic, well-developed and engaging. Minor characters are given more than two lines and their characterization is a stroke of genius. This book has some of the most well-written relationships I've ever come across - Adele and her brother Simon's relationship is spot on and endearing, the authors are incredibly warm and generous and it shows in the characters they create. I loved this book.
    • 4/5
      Like a bit of Romance with your vampire/steampunk/alternate history? Give this book a try! It took me several tries at the first few pages to get into it, but once it sinks its teeth into you (baaad pun alert), you'll be hooked! :)
    • 2/5
      The Greyfriar is set in alternative history where Vampires have taken over the Northern countries pushing human civilization to south through a heady war which inevitably freezes the world in a Victorian like society in 2020. The book promises to be a fun adventure with a kidnapped princess, Nosferatuian vampires, a swashbuckling vigilantly, and dashing lead vampire. That's about all that the story does, the world building is predictable and so are the predicament, though more importantly, the execution of the story is pedestrian.
    • 4/5
      It's no secret that I love a good vampire story. Vampire Empire Book One: The Greyfriar definitely falls under this category. This was a very exciting and engaging story. The vampires in this book are terrifying, blood-thirsty predators that do not sparkle in any way. The vampires have defeated the human race. They have wiped out many cities only keeping some humans around as slaves and food. They have few weaknesses and are a force to be reckoned with. Adele is the future leader of the Empire Equatoria. She has lived a sheltered life. She's taken captive by the vampires who are ready to start another war. She only has one hope and that's the Greyfriar. I liked Adele. She starts out in the story, a little naive. Her character grows throughout the story. I loved seeing her strength and weakness portrayed across the pages. The Greyfriar is mysterious. Few have seen him. He fights the vampires and is regarded somewhat like Robin Hood. I liked his character a lot too. The mystery and suspense of finding out who he is. The Greyfriar is very intriguing. The story is full of adventure and Adele and the Greyfriar go up against the tyrant, Cesare who is renowned for his cruelty and ruthlessness. Cesare is one bad dude and the heir to the vampire empire. He is bloodthirsty and ready to start a war that could end up killing everyone. The storyline is really good. It holds your attention throughout the entire book. I didn't want it to end. This is the first book of the Vampire Empire series. I will absolutely be reading the next one.
    • 5/5
      Vampire Empire, Book One: The Greyfriar is a mix of paranormal, steampunk, and post-apocalyptic life. We are introduced to many of the key players that one can assume we will continue to see. Princess Adele, Greyfriar, Senator Clark, and one nasty vampire Prince who is set to take the throne as well as the whole world.


      You see, back in 1870 the vampires let themselves be known to all of mankind. In a well developed and plotted sweep that lasted only two years, the vampires undid the human world. Cities as we know them fell to their hands, and the people fled south to regroup. Now, in 2020, humans have been rebuilding, strengthening, and waiting for the day to start a major war against the vampires.


      One of the largest nations is the massive Empire Equartoria to which the Princess Adele is the rightful heir. When she is sent out on a mission tour, her air ship as well as the accompanying ships, are attacked by Prince Cesare the heir of the vampire clan in England. While his right hand woman, Flay, tries to secure the Princess, a mysterious man appears out of nowhere to save the day.


      Greyfriar comes to the rescue of the Princess, and tries to keep her safe. He wears a mask over his face to cover his identity, and he's armed to the hilt with guns and swords. Princess Adele feels safe by his side, but she has no idea of the deep secrets he hides. The clandestine mask he wears is only the sheer beginning of who, or what, this man is.


      Will the Princess and Greyfriar thwart the plans of the twisted vampire Prince? Can Adele accept what lies behind the mask? Tsk, Tsk... You will have to read it to find out!


      I had a good feeling about this story just from the cover. It is such a lovely cover, really. Air ships, a good looking duo, dressed to kill – literally kill! But then I opened up the book, and found myself enthralled with the story presented to me. Each page is filled with conflict, action, mystery or suspense that kept me hanging onto to every word.


      I think the characters are highly developed, and I loved the word painted scenery of desolate Europe. I enjoyed the descriptions of the steam powered ships, as well as the other little knick knacks here and there. If it weren't for the vampires, I wouldn't of minded living there.


      Then there was the end, and my heart sank just a little bit. Then I remembered, “Hey, this is only the FIRST book!” I am really looking forward to the next part of the series. If you're thing to read is alternate history, steampunk, or action than pick this one up for a downright good read.
    • 5/5
      I cannot get over how much I luh-huvved this book!! I've read many reviews for it, all glowingraves, not a stink-a-roo in the bunch. Not many books can claim that as far as I know. Strong lead characters, intriguing story, highly excellent eeee-vil vampires, and the Greyfriar conflicted hero. And the steampunk...gotta love it. I know I do. Anything else I'd say would likely be spoilerific, so I'll stop. I hope the Griffiths hurry and get the second book in the trilogy written and out on the shelves. It will be a must buy ASAP for me.Five sparkly steampunk diamonds...
    • 5/5
      Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyI was blindsided by how phenomenal THE GREYFRIAR was from start to finish. Amazing vampire mythology, a chilling alternate history, and a poignant romance that grips your whole heart and refuses to let go.Imagine a world where vampires have decimated the population on nearly every continent for the past century, where the remnants of humanity have fled to the warmest parts of the earth and attempted to rebuild society, where the humans who didn’t escape (and those who are captured during raids) live as cattle. Welcome to the Vampire Empire.The vampires in THE GREYFRIAR are frighteningly fascinating. Cunning and merciless, they view humanity much the same way we would a hive a bees: useful yet bothersome, and ultimately expendable. They have a complex political structure steeped in tradition and social pedigree. They are preternaturally strong and, among other abilities, they can control their density enabling them to ‘fly’ along wind currents. As rich and absorbing as the vampire empire is, the heart of THE GREYFRIAR was the blossoming romance that grew between Adele and Greyfriar amidst the war between humans and vampires. It was moving and heartbreaking at every turn. She duty bound and promised to another man, he torn between family loyalty and the woman he desperately wants to understand. I’m amazed that a story as epic and lavish as THE GREYFRIAR comes in at just over 300 pages. That’s a testament to writing ability of husband and wife duo Clay and Susan Griffith who wasted not one word in their superb vampire steampunk novel. The action is exhilarating, the vampires are refreshingly sinister, and the love story a gentle force so captivating that I truly believe it will weather even the most daunting obstacles. Book two in the Vampire Empire can’t come soon enough.Sexual Content: Kissing.
    • 2/5
      After all the praise this book has received, I think I had my expectations set too high.I will give it this: the world building is fabulous. It may have felt like I was reading an RPG manual at times, but that seems fair since the world is so well developed you could use it to create an RPG.Unfortunately, as you probably picked up on, I didn't care for the actual writing.The pacing was awkward. Or maybe I should say that the transitions were awkward. More pauses within chapters in the form of space breaks might have helped alleviate some of the difficulties I had following some sequences. (Flipping pages back and forth multiple times to see if I missed something is not a good sign, and I had to do that repeatedly.)But what almost gave me a headache from all the eye-rolling I was doing was the characters. The dialog was stilted, the character descriptions were ridiculously repetitive and, with the possible exception of the titular character, the other character portrayals lacked depth. Cesare, Flay and Clark are from the scenery-chewing brand of Evil Villains, and Adele... seriously, Disney princesses have more subtlety.Also, I'm not sure what this is called (below), but these name repetitions drove me up a fricking wall:"Messages have been sent to your father, the emperor."..."My duty lies with Her Highness, Princess Adele."..."Her Highness, your sister, will be fine."..."Clark said to the properly attired prime minister, Lord Kelvin, ...."However, to be honest, if the cover art hadn't given me the impression that this would be a richly textured, highly nuanced story I think my expectations wouldn't have been so hard to meet. And if this had been a comic book, I probably would have bought into the whole thing (the dialog, for example, is very frame-by-frame and seems better suited to that genre).I will say that toward the end, when Gareth and Adele are in Gareth's library... those sections were sweet and funny and kind of touching. If there had been more of that throughout, I think I might have been more pleased with the book as a whole.Unfortunately, what changed this from a series-with-potential to a series-to-avoid (for me) was when... well, I won't spoil it, but there was a scene in which Adele's super-special-snowflakeness and a major UF pet peeve of mine combined to create what is probably going to be a major plot/character development point in future books. I'm really not the right audience for that and see no benefit to continuing with this series.
    • 5/5
      Concoction of a Review:This was a great ride – not your average ordinary bland bandwagon vampire novel. I wanted to read it fast because it was so good and slow because I didn’t want it to end. When Greyfrair finally did come to an end I was full of emotion for this book that once I read the last word I literally hugged the book. For the Mad Scientist this book was that good. No, it was an amazing string of words that needs to be put on a silver platter!Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar is quite a book that is made by twisting and welding together Steampunkery, a dash of horror, whipped with major action and adventure, if that were not enough lets top it off with slight romance with a side of politics and of course some bloody war. Really, what in the world is this book missing. Not a thing! However, this book was not good just because it was the ultimate at combining genres. Clay and Susan Griffith have a gift for providing the most wonderful words together to bring you right into the book. The images that were tossing about in my head were bold and full which had me thinking I was really along for the ride. Not only did the imagery of the world blow me away but the fight scenes had me all up in a huff of excitement! I wanted to grab a sword and a hero and jump into the fight! The Northern Hemisphere was attacked in 1870, nearly killing and destroying what we know to be the Western Civilization. The Great Killing.Princess Adele, the heir of Equatoria is due to wed a renowned vampire killer, Senator Clark, and united her Empire with America. This arrangement now poses a threat to the vampires that live in the northern areas of the world. Adele and her younger brother Simon are on their way to northern territories for political matters in Marseilles when their dirigible is intercepted by a larger than normal ban of vampires lead by Flay. She is warrior vampress that follows orders from her master, Cesare the youngest son of King Dimitry. He is known for mass killing of humans. Now the heir of Equatoria, Adele, is running from… Flay. These vampires are parasitic with very powerful physical characteristics whom roam freely in the colder areas, feedlot humans for dinner, and terrorize others so they are afraid of being enslaved by them. *Damsel in distress announces the entrance of said hero.* The Greyfriar swoops in to save her. I fell in love with him as soon as he pulled out all of these weapons and started hacking up the vampires on top of him in a gory morbid way. *sigh* It is also quite a shock because The Greyfriar is a man whose stories of heroism and acts of battle are all thought to be fables. He ended up being this strong yet mysterious man who drew in not only me but our lovely Adele as well. (I should mention that she is crafty with a weapon as well!) Ultimately is kidnapped… ah, heiress-napped albeit her best efforts of flight and the efforts of her masked mystery fighter, by Flay who brings her to England for Cesare.Enter… Gareth, the oldest son and heir to the Vampire Empire once King Dimitry leaves this world. He lives in Scotland away from his role of heir to the supposed throne. He pulls the heir card and takes Adele away from Cesare’s hand. He starts to learn more about “human” culture through Adele. I found myself chuckling when he was learning to write. There is one huge shocking twist to this tale that had me and probably most of the readers a bit shocked when it was revealed. It is something that makes this story just that more incredible. I urge you to read this one because if you don’t you are missing out, *wink*.The growth and development between Adele and Greyfriar was utterly touching, it had me dabbing a small tear away. Their emotions gradual grew to make it all that more believable. She was strong and held herself up to her values. He showed her that not all things you are taught are always right. She learned to trust another. The tender relationship between these two was very pleasing.Overall, Loved Loved Loved Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar. Tis was truly a grand tale of vampires and humans that was packed full of action right from chapter 1! I am going to be waiting for Book Two... Wait! I am already waiting for Book Two, from the minute this book ended! *Thanks to the wonderful people behind PYR I received a copy of this fabulous Steampunkery novel. However, this has not affected my actions, feelings, or review of this book.*
    • 5/5
      I have been wanting to read this book forever. I finally got a copy from the library and then that same week ended up going to BEA and was able to get a copy signed and meet Clay and Susan Griffith. They were a lot of fun to talk to and very nice. So, I was really excited to read this book and I wasn't disappointed. The second book in the series, The Rift Walker, is due for a September 2011 release.Princess Adele of the Equatorian Empire is on a ship that is attacked by a horde of vampires. At first things are looking up when the Greyfriar (a mysterious vigilante) saves her; but then she is captured by the evil Caesar and held in the Tower of London in vampire occupied Britain. Adele becomes the catalyst for a final battle between the human and vampire species; along the way she finds out that vampires may not be exactly what humanity thinks.This was an absolutely excellent book. The storyline is epic and the world incredibly creative. The story is part alternate history, part post-apocalyptic, and part steampunk...with a little epic fantasy thrown in for good measure.The Griffiths have created an incredibly detailed and interesting world. Vampires have trouble surviving in warm climates which has driven humanity to the hottest parts of the planet. The politics within human factions and vampire factions are complex and interesting to read about. There is a lot of creativity in this story and many things which I haven't seen anywhere else. The human parts of the world have a steampunk feel to them too which adds even more to the story.The characters of Adele and Greyfriar are engaging, have a lot of depth to them, and as a reader you really want to know them better. You can't help but root for them and hope that everything will work out. Side characters in the book weren't as filled out as they could have been, but that is a small quibble. I do hope that in future books we get to learn more about Adele's mentor and spend more time with her younger brother.The plot is full of twists and turns and you can never predict what will happen next. This makes for a very engaging book and really pulls the reader through the novel. The novel ends well, but leaves a lot of issues unresolved for future books. The writing style is well done and easy to read.The only other small complaint I have is that the chapters that depict Senator Clark (Adele's intended) going to war were a bit of a struggle to get through. It wasn't that they were poorly written...it was just that I loved reading about Adele and the Greyfriar so much more that I just wanted to get through the Senator Clark parts. I am hoping in future installments Senator Clark will be more filled out and we will learn either to love or hate him with greater passion :-)Overall this was a spectacular read. It is very creative, the world-building was incredible, and Adele and Greyfriar are captivating characters. The writing style was very well done and easy to read and it was hard to put the book down. I love the detail that went into world-building and love how many fantasy elements (historical, post-apocalyptic, steampunk, epic) went into making this story. I am very excited to read The Rift Walker when it releases in September.
    • 5/5
      This was a story in which I was able to really come to love the characters. Despite all the political matters whirling around that made up the central plot, it still managed to be a character-driven story. Princess Adele and the Greyfriar were both given plenty of room to grow and develop into very realistic and charming characters.I found myself being reminded of one of my favorite novel series, Trinity Blood, a Japanese light novel series in which the vampires have their own empire that goes up against the human nations. I love the set-up of that series and, although it was very different, The Greyfriar's premise was also fascinating. I won't write much about its steampunk elements, but they gave the story an old-fashioned atmosphere that was easy to envision, which was interesting given that the story was set in the year 2020.Still, I couldn't help but have a problem with how the shifting 3rd-person POVs were handled. We'd be inside Adele's head one paragraph, and then, without warning, we'd be inside of Greyfriar's, or someone else's, in the next—all during the same scene. It was very confusing and this was a constant problem from beginning to end. Also, I didn't much care for the overuse of passive voice. I found myself rewording sentences in my head as I read them to get rid of the “to be” verb.Despite these errors, I truly loved this story and its evolving characters, Adele and Greyfriar, as well as their relationship. Adele had to grow so much to overcome her extreme prejudices against vampires, even though they were warranted. But, her time spent with them taught her things she never knew about them, and therein, she grew in leaps and bounds. Prejudice is an ugly thing, and she was truly awful while displaying her bigotry, but when it started to crack and fade, it became a beautiful thing to witness.The story was not particularly sensuously romantic, but the feelings were all there and I loved how it was handled. No need for groping and whispers of sweet-nothings. Adele and Greyfriar seemed to have something more substantial between the two of them, and I anxiously look forward to reading more about how they could possibly continue their sweet romance in the next volume. More, please!P.S. The vampires in this series RULE! They can lower the density of their bodies to float in the air? How cool is that!?
    • 5/5
      This one is just fantastic fun. Set in an alternate history's future, one in which decidedly non-sparkly vampires are real and have risen up and destroyed human civilization throughout the temperate zone and colder climates just ahead of the industrial revolution, and humans have retreated to the equatorial regions, protected by the sluggishness which heat induces in their stronger, faster, crueller foes. Who can fly by the way, floating on wind currents. A princess of a neo-Victorian Alexandria is to be politically wed to a great American vampire killer, in advance of a great war to push the vampires back and reclaim Europe; however, Princess Adele's airship is attacked in force by vampires intent on her capture. Adele is combat trained and able, though when things look their bleakest... enter The Greyfriar, fast, skilled, strong, and tireless enough to match swords with vampire claws and spirit Adele into the French countryside. So: we have a kind of "Steampunked" alternate future of airships and goggles; we have deadly, amoral vampires and The Greyfriar; and we have the rise of a decidedly fantastic element, of mystical arts, amidst the rising tides of all-out war, circling around a badass and capably armed princess. All narrated wonderfully by Marsters, no stranger to vampires to say the least. Best known in audio as the long-standing voice of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden, he's absolutely landed on his feet in a role absolutely perfect for him, and one which allows him to display a range of accents, ages, genders, and give voice to breathtaking derring-do. This one's enthusiastically recommended.
    • 5/5
      This Fairy was surprised by such a great ride!! I must tell you right away; this is NOT your average ordinary bland bandwagon vampire novel. You will see no sparkle here. The Fairy devoured this book because it was so good, yet I wanted to read slowly because I didn’t want it to end. When Greyfrair finally did come to an end I honestly was sad to know I was going to have to shut the cover. However, when I did I quickly swooped up this book into a huge bear hug. I was so happy to have read a book this wonderful!Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar is a mess of genres in such a way that it works. Steampunk is why I wanted to read this book but it didn't take long to find out that it was choked full of horror, including horrid politics, action/adventure, romance, and some bloody war. I think I have to admit I'm fond of bloody wars. Yes, indeed!However, this book was not amazing just because of the genre mess... which made for different reading. Clay and Susan Griffith have a gift for stringing words together to provide minimal but optimal images. I was right there with Greyfriar the whole way! The images that were floating around in my head were amazing... if I do say so myself. Not only did the imagery of the world blow me away (& I have wings) but the fight scenes had me all up in a huff of excitement! Blood, gore, mayhem. I was in heaven. A bloody hero *sigh*.The Northern Hemisphere was attacked in 1870, nearly killing and destroying what we know to be the Western Civilization. The Great Killing!Princess Adele, the heir of Equatoria is due to wed a renowned vampire killer, Senator Clark (whom I didn't care for at all), which would unite her Empire with America. This arrangement of merging both of the biggest human empires together now posed a huge threat to the vampires that live in the northern areas of the world. Adele and her younger brother, Simon, are on their way to Marseilles when their dirigible is intercepted by a larger than normal ban of vampires lead by Flay. Her master, Cesare, is known for his human massacres & is the youngest son of King Kimitry, Flay follows his orders to capture the heir. Now the heir of Equatoria, Adele, is running from… Flay. These vampires are parasitic with very powerful physical characteristics whom roam freely in the colder areas, feedlot humans for dinner, and terrorize others so they are afraid of being enslaved by them. Classic damsel in distress... I think not. She takes out a few vampires before the hero enters. The Greyfriar swoops in to save her. I fell in love with this dark cloaked man right when he pulled out all of these weapons and started hacking up the vampires on top of him in a gory morbid way. *sigh* It must of been a beautiful sight. It is also quite a shock to Adele because The Greyfriar is a man whose stories of heroism and acts of battle are all thought to be fables. He ended up being this strong yet mysterious man who drew in not only me but our lovely Adele as well. He is mine, back off Adele! (I should mention that she is crafty with a weapon as well!) Ultimately she captured by the war crazed Flay albeit her best efforts of flight and the efforts of her masked mystery fighter, by Flay who brings her to England for Cesare. I love that the head warrior is a female. How hot is that!?!Enter… Gareth, the oldest son and heir to the Vampire Empire once King Dimitry becomes ash. He lives in Scotland away from his role of heir to the supposed throne. Drum Roll.... Gareth now swoops in to save Adele by pulling the heir card and takes Adele away from Cesare’s hand. He starts to learn more about “human” culture through Adele. It ended up being a cute situation.Surprise! Yes, there is a surprise twist. **Spoiler** I was doing the dreamy thing and thought maybe it would be awesome if he was he. Oh, that is code for trying to cover up the surprise twist. But my dreamy manner ended up shocking me anyway. **Spoiler Over** It is something that makes this story just that more incredible. I urge you to read this one because if you don’t you are missing out on some yummy twist!The growth and development between Adele and Greyfriar was well played. I was so happy to watch them become a tender relationship throughout the book instead of right away. It was refreshing not to have them jump in the sac by page 5. Gradual is more believable and needed at times. Overall, Vampire Empire: The Greyfrair was amazing. Truly. A Fairy even a Black or a Disaster of a Fairy would lie. It is a favorite book and will be forever. My copy will become greatly ragged from love. No... I will not borrow it out --> GET YOUR OWN!*Thanks to the wonderful people behind PYR I received a copy of this fabulous Steampunkery novel. However, this has not affected my actions, feelings, or review of this book.*
    • 3/5
      The first few chapters of this book were really hard for me to get into. The fighting among the vampires and the humans was sometimes boring and painstaking. However, I really started to enjoy this more to the end of the book. I've heard a second book is coming out and although this wasn't a favorite of mine, I wouldn't mind reading the second to see how things turn out.
    • 4/5
      A book that didn't suck. ^_^
    • 5/5
      This book was awesome! I love everything in it. It was definitely one that brought all kinds of giddiness to my heart. The adventure, the mysterious, and love makes for a great read. This is not your ordinary vampire tale. This is a complete unique reading experience that I can enjoy over and over again. The Queen, Adele is on the run from vampire. As as heiress, with her up and coming marriage arrangement she poses a threat to the vampires and they are set out to kill her. But not before The Greyfriar come into the picture. An extraordinary man who saves peoples lives, leaving great tales of heroism behind him.The Greyfriar blew me away! I love every moment in reading it. The plots and the fights were absolutely mind blowing. I love the Greyfriar. His mysterious and good heart immediately drew me to him. He wanted change and was doing it all on his own with asking nothing in return.The romance was touching. I just love watching two people get stuck together, then fall in love right before your eyes. The way that they enjoyed each other company was one you could tell was fulfilling and relaxing. I rooted for them all the way.The SECRET!! Was OMG! Major OMG! I was so caught up in the book that I failed to notice the signs of the mysterious Greyfriar. Even to have learn his identity in the end stole my heart. I knew at that moment that this man is the man of dreams.If you have not read this book you should. The Greyfriar is a must read of 2011! I can't wait for the next book!!
    • 5/5
      I finished the book and I hugged it. Yup, I’m gonna admit it. I hugged the book. It was THAT good. You are going to have many reviews for this book that will do an awesome job of detailing what the book is about and they will do a much better job of explaining the story. Therefore, I am going to do a funky bullet point list of what I loved about this book and what I did not like. What I loved about this book: • The characters- The book is full of them. These are not your superficial I’ll-put-you-in-to-take-up-pages characters but characters with meaning and a story behind each one. You have Princess Adele, the main character of the story. In addition to Adele, you have (and this is just a few of them) Greyfriar (but who is he really?), Clark- the American War Hero (again- who is he really?), Colonel Anhalt (I loved him- he is so sweet), Lord Kelvin (I think he will be big in book 2), Mamoru (such an interesting character), Selkirk, Simon and one of my favorite characters Flay. The characters are so well written, I was never confused. Trust me, that is saying plenty! • The combining of genres- The book combines horror, romance, action, adventure, politics, war, steampunk, and satire with such ease that you don’t even realize you are reading a book outside your comfort zone because it blends so perfectly. • The imagery- holy cow can the authors write (can you tell I cant!). The best I can do is give you an example- “Adele saw dark mounds scattered on the avenues, streets, and alleys. A closer examination revealed that the mounds were piles of dead bodies. The city’s wide circles and narrow courtyards were heaped with bones. The turgid river Thames was at low tide and, as the airship skimmed over it, Adele saw white femurs and rib cages protruding from the muck along the shoreline. Nearly all the glass windows in the city were smashed, except amazingly, some of the stained glass of….” • The vampires- These vampires are not your typical vampires. It would be easy to say they are vile, horrific, simplistic creatures that either destroyed or imprisoned most of the humans in the “Great Killing” of 1870 but that would be far from the truth. I cannot really explain the vampires since one of the rewards of reading the story is learning about the vampires as Adele does. Not everything is what it seems. Ok, so I am going to stop now since as the top line states… I am rambling. I forgot to write about what I did not like about the book…. It ended. Definitely my favorite book of 2010. A 6 star out of 5 (yup, I just wrote 6 out of 5).