Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Did you find the grimdark setting compelling or overwhelming at times? How did the tone affect your overall reading experience?

2. How does the novel’s interview structure, a clear homage to Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, shape your experience of the story? Did the constant power plays between Gabriel, Celene, and their captor Jean-François add to the tension for you?

3. As the second book in a trilogy, Empire of the Damned has a lot of ground to cover. Did it feel like a satisfying story in its own right, or more like a bridge to the final book? How did you react to the cliffhanger endings in the epilogues?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Dior struggles to reconcile her identity as a “gutter-rat” with the massive, world-saving destiny she’s expected to fulfill. Have you ever felt thrown into a role or situation that felt bigger than you? How did you navigate that pressure to live up to others’ expectations?

2. Phoebe confronts Gabriel about his grief, encouraging him to find a “sliver of joy” even after destructive loss. What small things have helped you find joy during difficult seasons in your life?

3. Reyne begins her story as the subservient “Worm” but reclaims her identity as a powerful leader. Can you think of a time when you, or someone you know, had to shed a label that others had imposed to step into your own power?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does the novel critique organized religion through the Silver Order and the Esani cult, both of which use faith to justify horrific violence? In what ways do these fictional institutions mirror real-world examples of dogma being used for control or to rationalize cruelty?

2. What do you think the brutal, political vampires of this novel say about our current cultural moment? The guide contrasts them with the romantic antiheroes popular in the 2000s, so why might audiences today be more drawn to these cynical, monstrous figures?

3. The vampire courts function like corrupt empires, managing humanity as a resource and engaging in endless political betrayals. What commentary might the book be making about real-world systems of power, colonialism, or political decay?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. We hear the story from both Gabriel and Celene, two deeply unreliable narrators. How did this dual perspective influence your trust in the story being told? Which narrator did you find more compelling or believable, and what made you feel that way?

2. How does the complex nature of blood—as a source of healing, enslavement, and power—reveal the novel’s core conflicts?

3. How do characters like the loyal and dogmatic Lachlan, or Gabriel’s ruthless sister Celene, function as foils to him? What do their journeys and choices reveal about Gabriel’s own evolution away from the man he once was?

4. For Aaron de Coste, the holy Aegis tattoos transform from a symbol of faith into an instrument of torture. What does this brutal transformation suggest about the nature of belief and how it can become a prison when one’s identity is forcibly changed?

5. The guide points out that this book shares traits with other “middle books” like The Empire Strikes Back. In what ways does Empire of the Damned expand the world and raise the stakes for the trilogy’s conclusion? Did you find its darker tone and cliffhanger ending effective?

6. What is the impact of the final revelation that the Redeemer created the first vampires out of a desire for vengeance? How does this twist completely subvert the story’s good-versus-evil framework and its ideas about divinity?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are adapting Empire of the Damned for the screen. Which single scene do you believe would be the most powerful or challenging to film, and what makes it stand out to you?

2. If you could have dinner with one character from the book, who would you choose and why? What three questions would you ask them about their motivations or their experiences?

3. Let’s say you’re designing the book cover for the final installment of the trilogy. Based on how this story ends, what key symbols or images from Empire of the Damned would you feature to capture the mood and hint at the final conflict?