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 humanΠ²Πβvampire 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