This is the first book in a trilogy of high adventure and alternate history. Combining rousing pulp action with steampunk style, "Vampire Empire" b...
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Feb 20, 2011
Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker
rated it: 
Update- Book 2 is The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire, #2), it will come out in September 2011, Yeah!!!
Review is still below: :)
The rambling review of a book fanatic…
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 More...
Review is still below: :)
The rambling review of a book fanatic…
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 More...
90 comments
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(34 people liked it)
Jan 23, 2011
Isamlq
rated it:
Here’s what the blurb on the back says,
“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 grey 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 t More...
“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 grey 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 t More...
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(9 people liked it)
Mar 28, 2011
oliviasbooks
rated it: 
What a potent mixture:
- An alternative history setting that has the human states and kingdoms huddled around the equator since the repelled-by-warmth vampire (homo nosferatii) clans crawled out of their hidden spots to initiate the Great Killing in 1870, leaving only enough human prey alive to keep as cattle herds.
- Steampunk elements like pneumatic sailboats cruising the skies that somehow underline both the excotic atmosphere of the strange British-Egyptian-Persian Empire and the More...
- An alternative history setting that has the human states and kingdoms huddled around the equator since the repelled-by-warmth vampire (homo nosferatii) clans crawled out of their hidden spots to initiate the Great Killing in 1870, leaving only enough human prey alive to keep as cattle herds.
- Steampunk elements like pneumatic sailboats cruising the skies that somehow underline both the excotic atmosphere of the strange British-Egyptian-Persian Empire and the More...
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(9 people liked it)
Jan 15, 2012
Marg
rated it: 
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
The Greyfriar is a steampunk vampire adventure romance. In regards to blending these different elements, I think the book 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 a More...
The Greyfriar is a steampunk vampire adventure romance. In regards to blending these different elements, I think the book 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 a More...
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Sep 23, 2011
Justin
rated it:
http://staffersmusings.blogspot.com/2011...
As I was nodding off last night to the thundering pops of at home fireworks outside my window (northeast D.C. thinks the 4th of July lasts for a week), I couldn't get Disney's Beauty and the Beast out of my head. Beautiful Belle is trapped in the Beast's castle and held against her will. During her imprisonment Belle comes to see the Beast for what he is and not what he looks like. He's smart, gentle, and compassionate. Outside the castle, Be More...
As I was nodding off last night to the thundering pops of at home fireworks outside my window (northeast D.C. thinks the 4th of July lasts for a week), I couldn't get Disney's Beauty and the Beast out of my head. Beautiful Belle is trapped in the Beast's castle and held against her will. During her imprisonment Belle comes to see the Beast for what he is and not what he looks like. He's smart, gentle, and compassionate. Outside the castle, Be More...
Mar 14, 2011
Jess the Romanceaholic
rated it:
I swear I have no words, but dangit I'm going to try!
This book has a little bit of everything. There's steampunk, romance (the heartfelt kind, not the steamy kind), swashbuckling adventure, horror (complete with gore), politics, religion, family issues, intrigue, betrayal, all wrapped up int a giant ball of awesomeness.
What worked for me:
*The whole secret identity of Greyfriar. I actually had a hard time deciding who I liked better -- "Greyfriar" o More...
This book has a little bit of everything. There's steampunk, romance (the heartfelt kind, not the steamy kind), swashbuckling adventure, horror (complete with gore), politics, religion, family issues, intrigue, betrayal, all wrapped up int a giant ball of awesomeness.
What worked for me:
*The whole secret identity of Greyfriar. I actually had a hard time deciding who I liked better -- "Greyfriar" o More...
Apr 13, 2011
Mad Scientist
rated it:
Review appearing at Steampunkery & Book Reviews http://madsteampunkery.blogspot.com
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 amazi More...
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 amazi More...
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Aug 13, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
When I finished The Greyfriar I was at a loss for words on what to say in my review. That never happens to me. After sitting in stunned silence for a few moments, here where the first words that flittered across my mind: Thank you, gracias, merci, danke, arigato Clay and Susan Griffith for writing a strong female character who didn’t whine, bitch, or basically annoy the living hell out of me. And thank you for writing a novel that I simply adored.
Where to begin, where to begin, where More...
Where to begin, where to begin, where More...
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(2 people liked it)
Mar 12, 2011
Suz
rated it:
In the late 1800s the vampires, previously believed to be nothing more than fictional fancy, rose up in savage masses and turned against humanity; driving them south to the warmer climates that were intolerable for vampires. They then proceeded to occupy and rule the northern lands and those humans who did not escape to the south became the vampire's subjugated herds. The escaped humans abandoned magic and faith for technology; and steam, steel, and chemicals became the acceptable future of hu
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 12, 2010
Liviu
rated it:
The Greyfriar by Susan and Clay Griffith is a steampunk alt-history with vampires and a debut of a series in which vampires - homo nosferatus, a parasitic but with very powerful physical attributes cousin species living in clans in zones of moderate temperature - banded together and attacked the Northern Hemisphere states in 1870, almost destroying the western civilization; the survivors retreated South and mixed with the locals creating the Empire of Equatoria (India, S.Africa, parts of Africa,
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Dec 08, 2011
Sonia
rated it:
Siamo tutti stanchi dei vampiri.
Appena incrociamo un libro che nel titolo contiene le parole sangue, dark, vampiro (appunto), diari del & affini, distogliamo immediatamente lo sguardo prima che quella copertina possa convincerci. Non ci facciamo più fregare. Sappiamo che ormai tutte le storie sono le stesse, i protagonisti sono gli stessi: ne abbiamo abbastanza!
Ecco perché il titolo Vampire Empire avrebbe dovuto tenermi lontana... no? Stando a ciò che ho appena detto, il mio sguardo n More...
Appena incrociamo un libro che nel titolo contiene le parole sangue, dark, vampiro (appunto), diari del & affini, distogliamo immediatamente lo sguardo prima che quella copertina possa convincerci. Non ci facciamo più fregare. Sappiamo che ormai tutte le storie sono le stesse, i protagonisti sono gli stessi: ne abbiamo abbastanza!
Ecco perché il titolo Vampire Empire avrebbe dovuto tenermi lontana... no? Stando a ciò che ho appena detto, il mio sguardo n More...
Nov 02, 2011
Dawn
rated it:
I received this book from the authors' publicist for a review.
This book combines alternate world history, steampunk and vampires. In short, it's awesome! I really loved the characters, they were all drawn strongly and had their own personalities. The main characters are:
Princess Adele, The Greyfriar, Senator Clarke, Colonel Anholt, Lord Kelvin, Mamoru, Flay and Prince Cesare.
The story goes that vampires rose up in The Great Killing of 1870 and began killing all t More...
This book combines alternate world history, steampunk and vampires. In short, it's awesome! I really loved the characters, they were all drawn strongly and had their own personalities. The main characters are:
Princess Adele, The Greyfriar, Senator Clarke, Colonel Anholt, Lord Kelvin, Mamoru, Flay and Prince Cesare.
The story goes that vampires rose up in The Great Killing of 1870 and began killing all t More...
Aug 30, 2011
Hali
rated it:
Wow. That's pretty much all I can say about this book. The book is billed as a romance/steampunk/vampire book and that pretty much is the barebones of what the backbone of the book is but it is so much more too. The book starts with Adele, the princess of the Equatorian Empire and betrothed of the American empire's Senator Clarke - the only man to push the vampires out of a city (even though it was only for a month) on a trip to visit the outlying states of the empire when the convoy is attac
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Aug 12, 2011
Maureen
rated it: 
Agh, so many mixed feelings!
On the one hand, the writing can best be described as sloppy. The characters were trite and cliched. The setting didn't seem to know whether it wanted to be contemporary or pseudo-Victorian/steampunky.
And yet, I kept reading, because there is something in the story that's quite fascinating. There's one big surprise, which I had called almost immediately, but I still kept reading.
Several characters mentioned that the vampire uprisin More...
On the one hand, the writing can best be described as sloppy. The characters were trite and cliched. The setting didn't seem to know whether it wanted to be contemporary or pseudo-Victorian/steampunky.
And yet, I kept reading, because there is something in the story that's quite fascinating. There's one big surprise, which I had called almost immediately, but I still kept reading.
Several characters mentioned that the vampire uprisin More...
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(2 people liked it)
Aug 05, 2011
Fangs for the Fantasy
rated it:
I was very drawn to this book the moment I learned that it was paranormal steampunk. I could not fathom for a moment how these two genres could successfully be married. I have long wanted to read steampunk and stumbling upon this book gave me the opportunity to deep my heels into a genre that has long been calling my name.
The world as we recognize it today is much changed in The GreyFriar. In an even called the Great Killing vampires who had walked the earth as long as humans have More...
The world as we recognize it today is much changed in The GreyFriar. In an even called the Great Killing vampires who had walked the earth as long as humans have More...
Jul 18, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
Steampunk and vampires! The paranormal and the paramechanical rolled up into one fun story! The vampires in this story are not the secretly sweet and sympathetic kind we often see in stories. These vamps are vicious and have a vision of the world unlike humans. The humans, on the other hand, share history with us but their "present" is more like a dystopian and steampunk world since the vampires showed their presence.
Adele is a strong minded princess sent on a voyage northw More...
Adele is a strong minded princess sent on a voyage northw More...
Jul 15, 2011
Sara
rated it:
Plot: 4.5 Stars
This was a very interesting novel. It felt both historical and futuristic at the same time, with a splash of steampunk. Although some of the weapons and contraptions and ships could've been described a little better, the overall feel of this new world was very great. The vampires in this novel were very unique, from the ability to float to the inability to take warmer climates. They were a breath of fresh air, because of their originality and how evil and harsh they were. Th More...
This was a very interesting novel. It felt both historical and futuristic at the same time, with a splash of steampunk. Although some of the weapons and contraptions and ships could've been described a little better, the overall feel of this new world was very great. The vampires in this novel were very unique, from the ability to float to the inability to take warmer climates. They were a breath of fresh air, because of their originality and how evil and harsh they were. Th More...
May 19, 2011
Dark Faerie Tales
rated it:
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 insatiabl More...
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 insatiabl More...
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(4 people liked it)
Feb 25, 2011
BBBTerri
rated it:
Loved this book!! Can't wait til the next two of this series appear on the shelves! I hope the sequels don't disappoint. This is one of the first adult vampire stories I've read since Anne Rice that weren't juvenile.
The story takes place in 2020, over one hundred years since a World War between humans and vampires occurred.
The vampires now occupy and rule the cooler, less sunny portions of the earth's hemisphere, while the humans have now occupied the warmer equatorial port More...
The story takes place in 2020, over one hundred years since a World War between humans and vampires occurred.
The vampires now occupy and rule the cooler, less sunny portions of the earth's hemisphere, while the humans have now occupied the warmer equatorial port More...
Feb 03, 2011
Lexie
rated it:
Prelim Review: In a word: love. Sincere, genuine, unadulterated love is what I feel for this book. Its entirely possible I love this book more than I love strawberries--and I adore strawberries.
I wasn't exactly certain what to expect when I began reading this book (a loaner from a friend). Chris McGrath did the cover art--that's always a good thing in my estimation. It has vampires. Steampunk. Its the future but isn't. Strong-willed Princess. Dashing hero. On the surface it More...
I wasn't exactly certain what to expect when I began reading this book (a loaner from a friend). Chris McGrath did the cover art--that's always a good thing in my estimation. It has vampires. Steampunk. Its the future but isn't. Strong-willed Princess. Dashing hero. On the surface it More...
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Jan 03, 2011
Ahimsa
rated it:
This is a book with a lot of buzz and good reviews, and the novel has some nice things going for it. The pace is frenetic; the action starts in the first chapter and rarely tapers off. The setting is creative and it's fun to think about the world the Griffiths have created. Basing humanity in the tropics was a stroke of world-building genius. But there are significant problems with the setting, plot, and characters.
Character: The characters are really one-dimensional. Adele is yet anot More...
Character: The characters are really one-dimensional. Adele is yet anot More...
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Sep 16, 2011
slayra
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Apr 27, 2011
Cristy
rated it:
Not at all what I expected, THE GREYFRIAR (Vampire Empire #1) is a very different kind of vampire series and refreshingly so. Forget what you think you know about this often alluring and mysterious breed, these vamps are not created through blood or bite, but born and a very old and deadly species all their own. THE GREYFRIAR is definitely not the typical teen-vamp romance, which seems to be popping up everywhere now a days. This series is strongly plot driven and you won’t find any stars in th
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Dec 22, 2010
Ashley
rated it:
(Summary from the back of the book)
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 grey 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 More...
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 grey 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 More...
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Nov 16, 2011
Zoe
rated it:
Amazing! I absolutely loved this book. The concept is just plain cool and a refreshing take on vampires and their culture. I loved the steampunk and the futuristic aspects of the story as well as this particular depiction of an alternative history. The mix of genres is perfectly woven together and so you get a little of everything. The story and adventure kept me hooked, the action and fighting was horrifying and thrilling, the humor was witty, the politics kept me strategizing, and the romance
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Jul 22, 2011
Cheryl
rated it:
4½ stars - Vampire Empire is the first steampunk book I’ve ever read, so I’m not sure if it’s typical of the genre, but I really enjoyed it.
The story revolves around Princess Adele of Alexandria, whose flying ship is attacked by vampires on her tour of the territories that border the vampire lands. Her guards and envoy are decimated but she is rescued by a hero who she previously thought was made up named Greyfriar. She is subsequently captured by the vampire prince Cesare’s war chie More...
The story revolves around Princess Adele of Alexandria, whose flying ship is attacked by vampires on her tour of the territories that border the vampire lands. Her guards and envoy are decimated but she is rescued by a hero who she previously thought was made up named Greyfriar. She is subsequently captured by the vampire prince Cesare’s war chie More...
Dec 29, 2011
Nicki
rated it:
Wow, what a great book. I started this last night and when I got up this morning I had to read on to the end before I could bring myself to do anything else.
This is a riveting paranormal-romance-meets-steampunk-action tale. The storyline grabbed me from the start and held my interest throughout, moving at a fast pace that made me keen to turn each page. The characters were also great: Adele is a strong and feisty heroine and Greyfriar is everything you could want from a hero - handsome More...
This is a riveting paranormal-romance-meets-steampunk-action tale. The storyline grabbed me from the start and held my interest throughout, moving at a fast pace that made me keen to turn each page. The characters were also great: Adele is a strong and feisty heroine and Greyfriar is everything you could want from a hero - handsome More...
Dec 18, 2010
Julie
rated it:
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.
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Aug 21, 2011
✿Michelle✿
rated it:
I wasn't looking specifically for Greyfriar, book 1 in the Vampire Empire series when I bought it. I was just snatching up books randomly at a Borders closing sale. I'm so glad that this wasn't one of the books I put back on the shelf! This book has it all- action, horror, magic, technology, politics, a bit of romance, and even a few cats! The characters were so well written that I loved the good guys, and could even empathize with a few of the bad guys. The heroine Adele in particular is ve
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