This book took me forever to get into. I took me a minute to get comfortable with the style in which is was written. On top of that, this book is dense and I didn't want to fly through it and miss some key detail. Once I was accustomed to Kristoff's writing, I started to enjoy it. While this book is rather serious there was plenty of humor in it that had me cracking a smile often.

EOTV is not what I expected and I love it for that. I knew this was going to be a high fantasy setting, but I had no idea how sad it would be. I also love that so many people are divided over this book. In truth, you will either love it or hate it.

As someone who is religious, I didn't mind it. In fact, I genuinely enjoyed seeing men fight for their God, but it would break my heart to see when that faith faltered. And often we saw it in physical form when their silver tattoos would light up, but when in the face of danger those tattoos flickered as they second-guessed their faith. It was heartbreaking but gave form to something we cannot physically see in the real world, but happens on a daily basis to Belivers. (Of course I didn't care for when God was blasphemsized but given the MC of the book and perhaps where Kritoff stands, I understand why he did it...but I didn't love it. I don't have to agree with it to have enjoyed the book itself.)

Gabriel is a complex character but one of pride. His story is heartbreakong. This is a story about someone losing their faith and turning into the monster they hunted their whole life. It is not a story for the faint of heart. Neither is this a story for smutty vampire lovers. Like I said in the beginning, this book is dense.

I started the second book immediately as I knew it would take me some time to get through it as the first one did.

Read with caution, though I recommend it 10/10.