The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire, Book 1) [Paperback]

Clay Griffith (Author), Susan Griffith (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 1, 2010 | Series: Vampire Empire (Book 1)

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 their shattered societies of steam and iron amid the mosques of Alexandria, the torrid quietude of Panama, or the green temples of Malaya.

It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming.

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

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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Griffith and Griffith, perhaps best known for their media tie-in work, merge vampires with steampunk in this tale of derring-do and star-crossed romance. In 1870 the vampires rose up and conquered the northern lands of Earth. The northern elites fled south to new colonies, leaving their subjects to the mercy of the predators. By 2020, the world is still divided. Princess Adele of the Equatorian Empire becomes the catalyst of the final human–vampire war when she is lost in vampire territory with only a mysterious adventurer known as the Greyfriar to help her. Set in a future that is comfortably quaint, where brass-plated technology is uninhibited by plausibility and the northern exiles may feel oppressed but the indigenous equatorial peoples never do, this melodramatic tale is fast-paced and entirely unchallenging. (Nov.) (c)
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Review

"I love this book. It's epic and lovely, heartbreakingly romantic (in every sense of the word) and an incredibly satisfying read, both for the characters and the richness of the world." --Marjorie M. Liu, New York Times bestselling author of the Hunter Kiss and Dirk & Steele series.

"I have read 117 vampire novels in the last fifteen months. Some were great, some mediocre. But I LOVED this book. The Greyfriar is an extraordinary character. I put the book down wishing I could read the sequel immediately. The writing is lyrical and poignant. And like all of the truly best vampire novels, issues of morality and the use and abuse of power are paramount." --Margot Adler, author of Drawing Down the Moon and Heretic's Heart; creator of the "Hour of the Wolf" radio show on WBAI, New York City

"Great writing, intriguing antagonists and one scrappy heroine make this a worthy addition to the steampunk genre. Princess Adele makes a great role model for tween and teen girls not to mention some adults and the Greyfriar is everything a steampunk hero should be." --RT Book Review

"The Greyfriar is an alternate history, steampunk novel that just took me for an unforgettable ride... Princess Adele was a great lead. In the beginning...she was strong and kind, but she still had an air of royalty that of someone who is used to being served and pampered. When her journey starts underway however, she slowly morphs into this warrior type... something akin to Robin hood, Greyfriar is this masked man who fights for humans against the vampires. I loved Greyfriar as the hero in this book... I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say that his character quickly became my favorite. His chemistry with Adele is undeniable, but with a war looming there is no way that they can be together. The plot...had me on the edge of my seat. There was unrequited love, diabolical vampires, and journeys to unknown lands. Everything that almost guarantees that I'll be engrossed in it. Overall, I loved The Greyfriar... Anybody who's looking for a good story should definitely pick this one up, I'm sure glad that I did." --Literary Escapism, October 15, 2010

"The best book I've read this year...I'm hoping to convince you all to buy this book...a page turner...all-around satisfying, pick this one up. Romance fans will not be disappointed..." --VampChix blog, October 21, 2010

"I 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. ...The vampires in The Greyfriar are frighteningly fascinating. ...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. ... I'm amazed that a story as epic and lavish 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. My rating: 5/5, Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend." --All Things Urban Fantasy blog, October 26, 2010

"The vampires in this novel were very unique...a breath of fresh air, because of their originality and how evil and harsh they were... This novel starts out slow, but catches you by surprise about forty pages in. From there, it grabs you and doesn't let go... The action-packed ending was fantastic and left me wanting the next book now without being a cliffhanger. Overall: 4.5 stars (5 Stars = Near perfection. 4 Stars = Very good.)" --Sara's Urban Fantasy blog, November 2, 2010

"The Greyfriar is pulp adventure at its best. Think Zorro with vampires. Add to the mix the conflicting but equally Byzantine politics of multiple human and vampire nations, and a crew of mysterious mystics. Season with appealing protagonists, a full measure of steam-driven gears and rocket-powered pacing, and you've got the recipe for my favorite kind of mind candy... a story crafted to keep you compulsively turning pages until the wee hours. But like all satisfying adventures, The Greyfriar addresses bigger issues... This is a tale of imperialism, 'manifest destiny', global conflict and power plays seen from both vampire and human eyes." --Buzzy Multimedia: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books, November 3, 2010

"Okay, this was just... wow. It just isn't fair to write a review about something this awesome but hey, I'll give it a go... this is a tremendous book and highly enjoyable... Tremendous book, go and buy it without reservations...Fans of steampunk will surely enjoy this, as it ranks up there with Cherie Priest's Boneshaker. Maybe even surpassing the Hugo-nominated novel? Blasphemous? You decide." --Shiny Book Review, November 9, 2010

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 301 pages
• Publisher: Pyr; 1 edition (November 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616142472
• ISBN-13: 978-1616142476
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #648,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Vampires - As they were meant to be! November 15, 2010

By Melissa (i swim for oceans)

Format:Paperback

Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar is the story of an alternate world history for humans here on Earth. Vampires roam freely, mercilessly killing, maiming, torturing, and taking hold of every inch of land available. Those few humans that did survive are either enslaved or have fled to the relative safety of the South. Now, in a world dominated by various cunning and intense Vampire Empires, the world conquests are fought between vampires, rather than men, and Adele, heir to Equatoria, is about to meet the mysterious and complex Greyfriar.

Wow! Ok, when I received The Greyfriar for review, I wasn't expecting too much because, frankly, I've never heard anything about it before, and vampires usually bore the crap heck out of me. Finally! It was so nice to read about non-glittering vampires who stay true to their nature! Using rich prose, an incredibly steampunk atmosphere and a blooming and contagious romance, husband and wife author duo, Susan and Clay Griffith have created an incredible masterpiece of a story that is intense, exhilarating, and completely delicious.

There are too many high points in The Greyfriar for me to name them all, so I'll be general. The characterization was enthralling. Adele and the Greyfriar were so clearly defined, their actions and motives so well-pronounced, that it is impossible not to fall in love with their story as their relationship blooms. The amazing mythology that creeps its way into every aspect of the story heightens the sinister nature of the vampires and makes the story all that more gripping and enticing. Honestly, I'm surprised this book was as slim as it was because the story was well-rounded and truly captivating to read.

I give The Greyfriar a 5 out of 5, hands down. In fact, I'd probably give it more if I could. I recommend that everyone buy this book as soon as it releases (I believe on November 18th) because it is a definite must-read. I would recommend this book to fans of YA and adult fiction, particularly those who enjoy steampunk, vampires, fantasy, and mythology. Due to the violence, I do think an upper YA audience is probably best.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Blew me away! Shattered my expectations! December 22, 2010

By Ashley

Format:Paperback

(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 their shattered societies of steam and iron amid the mosques of Alexandria, the torrid quietude of Panama, or the green temples of Malaya.
It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming.
Princess Adele is heir to the Empire Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire. She is quick with her wit as well as with a sword or gun. She is eager for an adventure before she settles into a life of duty and political marriage to a man she does not know. But her quest turns black when she becomes the target of a merciless vampire clan. Her only protector is the Greyfriar, a mysterious hero who fights the vampires from deep within their territory. Their dangerous relationship plays out against an approaching war to the death between humankind and the vampire clans.

I received The Greyfriar for review awhile ago, and for some reason I kept putting off reading it. I finally decided to pick it up, and I'm so glad I did! This book exceeded any expectations I had of it.

When the novel started out, I was just sort of waiting for something to pull me in. I didn't feel the spark until The Greyfriar himself showed up, which was really early in the novel. From then on, I was hooked. I finished this novel in one day.
I just couldn't stop reading.

The plot was action-packed. I loved the scenes between Adele and Greyfriar, and Adele and Gareth. It was interesting to see the contrast between how she treated each man, and then eventually, the mergence of her actions for both. That part of the plot is a little complicated, and I can't explain it without giving something away, but if you read it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
My only issue plot-wise were... well, basically any of the scenes that didn't have Adele in them. I lost interest slightly when the perspective changed, even though I understood that the change served a purpose.

The romance in the story was... wow. I knew it was coming. I knew. But it's the kind of romance that just sneaks up on you, and then hits you like a ton of bricks at the end, even though you already saw the bricks hanging in a crumbling net over your head. It slowly built up and simmered, and that's what I loved. There were some tender moments that just made me smile.

All of the characters were so well-rounded and described. Each had a role to play, and each played it superbly. Despite the potential for cheesy-ness, the Griffith duo managed to pull everything off wonderfully, and most importantly, believably. My favorite character is a tie between Adele, the butt-kicking heroine, and Gareth, the eldest vampire prince with a kind heart.

I really do commend the Griffith duo for making up such an intricate world, with it's own history, while intertwining it with real history. And the vampires! A very new twist on an extremely overdone thing. The vampires in this novel, most certainly did not sparkle, but they DID kick some ass.

I guess my only major qualm with the book is the cover. It really does not appeal to me. I'll admit that it's a big reason why I didn't pick this book up sooner. It's so... gray. And I get that the artist did that to convey the destruction that was happening, but there are much better ways to portray that. Also, I don't like the model or drawing or whatever that is of Gareth. That's absolutely not how I picture him, and I actually covered up that part of the cover the entire time I was reading this so it wouldn't ruin my mental image of him.

Overall, I loved this novel. I really did, and I'm dying for a sequel. Let's hope it comes out soon!

Plot: 5/5
Characters: 6/5!
Writing: 5/5
Uniqueness\Creativity: 5/5
Cover: 1.5/5

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking adventure and wonderful romance-I loved it! January 15, 2011

By Maryland reader

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The authors have a true gift, sweeping the reader away into their world. This story is epic. There is everything here-love, loss, honor, the battle for all mankind, discovery and romance. The main characters, Adele and Garreth are richly drawn, and when I finished the book I found myself missing them. The secondary characters were well developed and their motivations were understandable. The descriptions of Flay were so vivid that I felt myself cringing whenever she was about. The battle scenes are appropriately gory, giving the reader a true appreciation for the strength and viciousness of the vampires, and the formidable obstacles the humans would have to defeat them. The contrasts were not so black and white, showing the ignorance and prejudice that the humans have with regard to their enemy. Amazingly, they were able to imbue each of the characters with so much dimension that it all became "real" when reading. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment!