I will be honest I didn’t read The Empire of the Wolf trilogy, and this story takes place 200 years later. However, thanks to Richard’s amazing world-building, I never felt lost. While I may have missed a few Easter eggs, the story stands strong on its own and pulls you into an immersive adventure.
What truly makes this book shine is Richard's ability to create a world that feels both real and lived in. His magical, multicultural, multi-racial, queer-normal universe is a refreshing change. Every location is richly detailed, and the plot twists flow naturally within this complex world. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the story would take a dark, unexpected turn, forcing me to rethink what I knew about the characters and their world.
The narrative unfolds through multiple points of view, with each character on a unique journey, facing their own mysteries and challenges. The shift from the third-person and multi-POV approach was a bold decision, and I’m so glad it worked. This keeps the pace moving and adds depth, giving the story emotional pull that had me hooked from start to finish.
Richard's characters are fantastic they’re real, flawed, and incredibly easy to get attached to. There are no clear-cut heroes, and even some of the "bad" characters are fully developed, making them compelling and complex.
The book blends fantasy with horror, offering vivid descriptions of violence and psychological tension. The mystery and the characters’ intense experiences kept me turning pages nonstop. The different perspectives expand the story, providing a comprehensive view of this rich world.
Overall, Richard has created a dark, captivating tale and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

In this book, we follow three different characters in the Sovan Empire: Peter Kleist, a young army officer sent into unhospitable territory, Renata Rainer, Ambassador to a race of mermen, and Count von Oldenburg, a collector of esoteric artefacts. As a plague referred to as The Great Silence sweeps through the Empire, all three characters find themselves drawn into a battle for the fate of the world.

This is my first book from Richard Swan but I'm really excited to read some of his other books, particularly Empire of the Wolf which I understand takes place 200 years before this series. I loved the world-building and how these seemingly distinct stories slowly started to merge. I'm excited to see where the story goes from here. It felt slightly long in the middle, although it did pick up in the final third. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book!

A recommended read for fans of the Malazan series and dark epic fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

‘There are two ways to blunt a blade; one is in its scabbard, the other is in the belly of your enemy.’

About 200 years after the last Justice and when the Templar army fought using magicks to overthrow the Emperor of the Wolf; Now all magical practices are prohibited in Sova Empire (much smaller than before without many kingdoms that once were its possessions), with death as the punishment.

Despite this death threat, two monks arrive in the capital and share an old prophecy known as the ‘Great Silence.’ This prophecy suggests that one day the afterlife will fall silent, with spirits, angels, and other beings vanishing. It foretells the End of Days.

They weren't executed, and our journey began with three people traveling across the kingdom to confront this unnatural cause of events, alongside the wars raging all over.

“Understanding a people, their culture and customs, and what motivates them, requires us to look past the violence of contact.”

The story is told from three points of view, and each one has its attractiveness.

Peter Kleist, a captan dispatched to the far end of the kingdom, where an unknown enemy threatens the lives.

Count von Oldenburg, an ambitious man determined to achieve his goals.

Renata Rainer, a ambassador to race of mermen - dont ask! - She never expected to lay eyes on one of them in her entire life.

This story was good and the only weak point is that it wasnt "The Emperor of the Wolf." Although it is set in the same world, prior knowledge of the events from the last trilogy or the elements of the world is not necessary. However, if you've read "The Emperor of the Wolf," you may find this story less engaging, as the characters in the previous trilogy were much more impactful.

Overall, "Grave Empire" is a solid dark fantasy, and I really want to continue this series. I have high hopes for its development and improvement, especially knowing Richard Swan's writing style. However, I suggest not comparing it to "The Emperor of the Wolf," as that would be a mistake and could make this seems less.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read "Grave Empire," the first book in The Great Silence series by Richard Swan. This review is based on my honest opinion. The publication date is set for February 4, 2025.

I received this book as an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, so I would like to say thank you in advance. My opinions are my own for this book.

I requested this book initially because from the description of the book, it seemed like something I would truly enjoy. Unfortunately, I won't lie because I didn't. Grave Empire had all the makings of a book that I, statistically, would enjoy. It's a fantasy, there's complex worldbuilding, each character has their own plot that's equally intriguing and yet? I felt as though I was forcing myself to read this.

It follows three characters each stationed in different parts of the books world, each to show a different strife and enemy that brings together the overrall plot. I won't lie, I had my favourite POV and for much of the book felt as though it should have only been told through Renata's POV. Peter grew on me, but that was pretty much just as he and his fellow soldiers were captured and had the Kato play a game of Operation! on them. Oldenburg? I genuinely hated each and every chapter of his. I understand that they each brought an important aspect of the plot to their chapters, but I feel as though he could have simply been left in the background - had his portions told through Yelena's POV instead.

It was also exceedingly obvious that all three POV's were going to be tied together by the end of the book, with Renata, Yelena and Peter now all together in Sova.

I will say, I enjoyed the characters of Renata and Peter. I liked that they weren't instantly amazing at everything, that Peter could cry and didn't try and pretend to not feel emotions when exceedingly traumatic things were happening to and around him or that Renata wasn't instantly solving issues and the most amazing Ambassador after they'd made the point she wasn't because that would have felt unrealistic. Richard Swan did well to create the different types of lore in the universe and that was something that constantly intrigued me throughout.

I am disappointed with this book, as I said I fully thought I was going to enjoy this and yet I felt as though I was pulling teeth each time. I'd fallen asleep twice reading it and felt as though I was forcing myself to read it. I know I could have DNF'd the book, but I'd already put so much time into it and felt as though if I gave up then, I might miss the part where it got good. I do think that Richard Swan is an excellent writer, I just believe that this isn't the book for me.

Wow - what a great start to a new series. This book is set some 200 years after the previous trilogy and much has changed. Magic is no longer practiced as much and the empire is greatly changed. The book starts off slowly whilst we are introduced to all the new characters and slowly discover the reason for the great silence. We are also introduced to two new peoples - the cat men and the mer men and the ambassador to the mer men is indeed one of the main characters.

The book follows Renata and her colleagues who set off to entreat the mer men for help with the great silence along with two monks one of whom is not all he seems. We also have Peter who sets out on a mission and discovers something really different and unusual in the new east which potentially changes him for ever.

As ever the books deals in political issues along with the nuances of how others perceive people who are not normal.

Of course we have our protagonist who is really not very nice at all who tries to exploit the great silence and what causes it.

The authors writing is really wonderful and descriptive and indeed often had me regretting having to work due to wanting to find out what happened. So now we wait for book two which cannot come soon enough!

Ringrazio Netgalley, Orbit e Richard Swan per la copia in anteprima in cambio di una recensione onesta.

In un’epoca di esplorazione e di innovazione, gloria e ricchezze, un’oscura profezia sta per abbattersi sull’impero. Due monaci praticanti di magie proibite confessano di non riuscire più a contattare e comunicare con il reame degli spiriti e che questa potrebbe essere l’inizio di un’apocalisse. Il nord è falciato da una virulenta pestilenza da cui il Conte di Oldenburg cerca di trarre potere e profitto, il sud è sull’orlo di una guerra e ad est urla inumane e strambe apparizioni rendono i soldati inquieti e arrendevoli. E’ il caso di Peter che nella guerra ci si trova per una serie di sfortunati eventi, di scelte che non sono state sue e che di eroico ha solo il grado che porta sull’uniforme. Insicuro, inadeguato e riluttante, attaccato ai morti più che ai vivi, finirà per trovare sulla sua strada sconcerto e terrore. Tocca a Renata, ambasciatrice di una mitica, leggendaria, ferale specie marina, derisa e beffata da colleghi e superiori per i suoi “inutili” studi, cercare risposte da chi pratica magie arcane e tentare di salvare un mondo che si sta sgretolando velocemente.

Non ho letto altro di Richard Swann, ma se questo è il livello a cui ci abitua, io mi vendo volentieri (infatti ho già acquistato il primo libro di Empire of the Wolf). Tra le cose che più ho apprezzato c’è la costruzione di un mondo vasto, complesso, stratificato ed immersivo in cui diverse razze, culture, idiomi e orientamenti “coesistono” su un fragile equilibrio. E’ un libro crudo, torbido e sanguinoso, denso di avvenimenti che si dipanano lentamente da una foresta infestata a fortezze fatiscenti a mondi sottomarini crudeli. Molto interessante l’espediente di innestare l’elemento orrorifico all’interno del fantastico, esperimento riuscito ottimamente: ha l’effetto di spronare il ritmo della narrazione e di mantenere attiva tensione e attenzione. I personaggi sono ambigui, non necessariamente delle brave persone, che compiono scelte discutibili, ma che proprio per questo risultano più reali, sebbene io non sia riuscita ad empatizzare più di tanto con nessuno di loro. Il POV del Conte di Oldenburg ci nasconde uno dei personaggi potenzialmente più intriganti della storia, la sua amante-strega che si rivela fatta di tutt’altra pasta di come ci viene inizialmente dipinta. Un twist che ho apprezzato parecchio e di cui aspetto un’evoluzione soddisfacente.

L’unica critica che posso muovere riguarda proprio la trama. Ho capito la direzione che volevamo prendere e lo scopo da raggiungere, ma alla fine mi è sembrato solo un identificare il problema e poi accertarci che il problema effettivamente ci fosse e poi accettare che il problema ci fosse. Capisco anche che questo, in quanto primo libro di una trilogia, sia un preludio alla costruzione di un quadro più ampio e intricato, quindi sospendo il giudizio su questo punto.

4.5 ⭐

I don't care for guns in real life. If you put a musket and a flintlock pistol in front of me, I’d probably just ask which one’s better for opening a bottle of wine. But in fantasy, load me up. I know this because Richard Swan dragged me into his world of flintlock-cosmic-horror-with-a-sprinkle-of-steampunk fantasy and I’m feral for it. And if you asked me ‘Esta is that a real genre?’ My answer to you would be ‘Probably not, but maybe it should be.’

Furthermore, if you’d told me last year that one of my favourite fantasies in 2025 would feature muskets, mermen with armoured sharks and morally grey colonialists screwing up everything in sight, I would’ve raised an eyebrow. And yet, here we are because Grave Empire is a dissection of humanity’s capacity for moral decay and a masterstroke in fantasy-horror.

Accordingly, this book is dense and I found that the story took some time to unfurl. If you’re the kind of reader who thrives on sprawling worlds with multiple POVs, foreign expeditions, political intrigue and battle scenes where you can smell the gunpowder, this one might be for you. Every chapter drops you somewhere new, from haunted forests to decaying fortresses to mermaid execution posts (yes, really).

Swan constructs cultures, religions, languages and histories with precision. The kind that would probably get a nod of approval from Tolkien, though in this case, swap elves and hobbits for necromancer monks, wolf-people, and diplomats suffering workplace harassment from their fish-frog-splicing colleagues.

However, what really stands out is how Swan constructs a world that feels both lived in and lived through. His fantastical, multicultural, multi-racial, queer-normal world is a breath of fresh air. Each location feels textured, each plot twist makes sense within the world he’s built. I had no idea where this story was going and I loved that. Every time I thought I had a grip on the plot, it would veer into something so dark and unhinged I had to recalibrate everything I thought I knew about the characters and the world.

So yeah, if you’re looking for something light-hearted, whimsical, or cosy, just know this is not your book. This is a thick, dark stew of gruesome absurdity. Whales and sharks do not make it out unscathed. Limbs go flying. Blood flows like fine wine (except, you know, with more screaming). Colonialism and its grotesque consequences are front and centre. That’s just the tip of the iceberg too.

So if any of that makes you queasy, proceed with caution. But if you’re in the mood for a complex, morally ambiguous world with naive, gun-toting adventurers, magic-obsessed scientists and expansive underwater cities filled with sinister mermaids, welcome to Grave Empire.

Buddy reading this with my dearest friend, Ivana, made this read a gazillion times more delightful and enriching.

Thank you to NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for enthralling my brain in exchange for an honest review.

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and Little Brown books, in exchange for a review. Many thanks to the publisher and author for the opportunity.

Grave Empire begins a new story in a world that feels oh so familiar. The Great Silence trilogy takes place roughly 200 years after the events of The Empire of the Wolf trilogy, one of my all time favourite series. I have been lucky enough to receive an ARC for all 4 books, and it’s become somewhat of a tradition to start my year with the exceptional writing talents of Richard Swan. I couldn’t think of a better way to start a year.

The talent on show with Richard’s writing has greatly improved since the release of The Justice of Kings. His prose, vocabulary and the scope of his writing have all grown to pack more weight, evoke more emotion and elevate his books to a higher level. You’d be forgiven for being a sceptic when an author aims to pen a new series set in the same world but in a different time period, but it’s pulled off to such a high-quality in Grave Empire that by the end, you are nothing but certain that this follow-up trilogy will match its predecessor.

One thing I was delighted by was the shift to third person narrative. This is solely a personal preference to me, but I tend to find a story more engaging when we have other points of view when compared to a framing narrative or first person. Getting to experience the new Sova through Renata, Peter and von Oldenburg was a delight. You have a whole host of different motivations, opinions and goals help to shape this diverse and haunting world.

A major difference with the book, when compared to the earlier instalments, is the more prominent role of the difference species of the world. The Kasar are more prominent, we finally meet some mer-men and *maybe* there’s something else going on too. It was a welcome addition and it certainly built on my already piqued interest. Getting more background on these races and how they evolved and coexist with humans was truly fascinating.

The pace too has been ramped up and it felt like it was go go go from page 1. That wasn’t always the case in Empire of the Wolf, where the plot was more mysterious and understated. In Grave Empire these mysterious are not obvious in anyway, but it feels like they are revealed a bit sooner than usual, to try and progress the plot. That being said, the over-arching plot does appear to be on a much grander scale than in the previous trilogy, and I am eager to see how it plays out.

Overall, if you enjoyed The Empire of the Wolf, then you are sure to enjoy Grave Empire. You cannot avoid the entertainment of the book, that’s for sure. I certainly wouldn’t suggest picking this book up without first reading the previous series. I am already excited for book number two. Until next year (I hope).

So, you think Sovans learned something from their near-cataclysmic clash with arcane forces? :)

Set two hundred years after the events of Empire of the Wolf trilogy, new Sova is in turmoil fighting a losing war against the Great Enemy, the Principality of Casimir. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, new Sovan Empire 2.0 doesn't have the luxury, nor the time and resources to investigate and act on warnings of two monks who practice forbidden art of communing with spirits of Afterlife. This is why they are disposed into Renata Rainer's hands, the low-ranking ambassador of Stygion, a reclusive race of mermen. She has to liaison because they are the most magically attuned race and they will know something about the great danger monks are talking about and what to do about it. And she will have to go south, through territory in conflict to do that.
In the New East, Lieutenant Peter Kleist is deployed to Fort Ingobar, the most eastern Sovan fortress and the last stand that separates civilization from the wild and unexplored frontier. He is a novice, but determined to do his duty in fighting enemy forces of Casimir and Sanque. It's just that there is something strange happening around them with odd screams in the wilderness and it scares him to death.
Things on north are just as dire. There is an epidemic spreading fast through Draedist villages and for one man, it's an opportunity he waited for a long time.

If this brief synopsis of the events covered in this book makes you think that Sova is on the brink of doom, you are absolutely correct. On the edge, just ready to collapse any given day and they don't even know it. And doesn't that sound familiar? Indeed, that sage aphorism "The more things change, the more they stay the same applies to this empire Swan depicted in different periods of time. This Sova is more modern, multicultural and industrialized with scientific breakthroughs and diplomatic ties to neighboring countries. But, they still have same expansion tendencies, same enemies, same attitude toward other countries and races. In fact, it's in this book you get to see just how much Vonvalt's solution of making Sova into republic allied with nations that were once part of the Empire and are granted autonomy was actually a band-aid. It quelled the imminent arcane threat, but it created other issues and/or festered the longstanding, historical tensions. Empire is once again restored with a Haugenate descendant back on the throne and their Great enemy? The Principality of Casimir whose capital is named after the Kovosk bride and the last empress of Sova who Vonvalt made peace with and sent back home in return for black-powder. But, it's not just political history of the landscape that's unresolved. It's the very issue that prompted Vonvalt to wrack havoc on imperial foundation: the threat of arcane powers being misused. The arrangement he made with Draedists and Kasar gave them autonomy to continue their pagan practices which let the door open enough to tap into Afterlife and give access to otherworldly beings. In hands of the dissolved Judicary they were somewhat regulated, but in this modern Sova that prides itself on progress and diplomacy, it's basically left unchecked and honestly, I am not even surprised it turned into chaos. Sova seems to be perpetually in conflict and perpetually considers itself in the right; political and religious factions are tearing the nations apart, denizens are dying in droves, but Swan once again shows that their skirmishes over territory are insignificant and in the face of the world-ending threat.

Speaking of arcane horrors, after reading this book I came to a conclusion that in previous trilogy Swan actually restrained himself because in this book he dialed metaphysical Lovecraftian otherworldly vibe to eleven, and there are scenes described in this novel that can rival some of the most unsettling, viscerally terrifying scenes I've read. Peter's entire arc is a pure horror with dark, oppressive atmosphere and the sense of impending doom and it stuck with me the most exactly because it was so effective. Wolfmen of Kasar seem almost benevolent compared to mermen of Stygion and their combined capacity for evil pales in comparison to some of the humans introduced in the novel.

With world-building and politics masterfully developed, where Swan lost me a bit were main characters and it's what truly makes Empire of the Wolf superior work. Story of Grave Empire is fragmented between three characters by design as they are all in different part of the Empire to demonstrate the magnitude of risk our characters are facing and perhaps to make a point that calamity is rarely happening in vacuum. So, there is a point to that, but it's also the narrative style that doesn't give you enough space to become invested in characters on the level it happened with EotW trilogy. Peter's chapters were the most memorable to me, for the evocative horror I already mentioned, but also because they would open with letters addressed to his father which gives you, again, that insight into his emotional turmoil. On the other hand, Renata was bland for a character and it was rather her job as Stygion ambassador and her journey to The Eye of the Sea was what made her arc interesting. Helena, in comparison, was telling the story from first point of view so she came of as more personal, closer to the reader and her complicated emotions in clash with her common sense were the drive behind the plot. But- and this is the kicker- the deconstruction of Vonvalt's character as seen through eyes of someone who is emotionally connected to him as well as legal conundrums close to my heart were much more gripping to me than anything shown in this novel. There is no nuance, no grey characterization. There is villainous character with Putin-esque imperial inclinations, but his hubris is the extent of his character development.

All in all, this novel is on larger scale and with higher risk and as plot driven as The Trials of Empire was, but not quite reaching the greatness of preceding trilogy when it comes to characters. His writing just work for me, so I can't wait to see where he takes this further. I am just sure it will cost Sovans a lot. :)

Grave Silence by Richard Swan – A Haunting and Ambitious Start to a New Trilogy

Richard Swan’s Grave Silence marks the beginning of The Great Silence, a new trilogy set approximately 200 years after the events of The Empire of the Wolf. Swan crafts an eerie and immersive tale steeped in grimdark, mystery, dark foreboding, and unexplainable phenomena.

Magic is outlawed in Sova, but its practice thrives elsewhere—among the pagans of Draedaland, the wolf-men of Kasar Kyarai, and the enigmatic mer-people of Stygia. While Sova has flourished through trade, industry, and globalization, prosperity has also brought greed, industrial excess, and the fracturing of Nemanism. This division fuels a proxy war in Kasar Kyarai, a conflict Sova is on the brink of losing.

When two death-magic practitioners risk execution to warn that the afterlife has fallen silent, junior diplomat Renata is tasked with contacting the reclusive mer-people to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, a mysterious plague in the distant north erases minds, and ominous forces begin to stir.

The story unfolds through three distinct Sovan perspectives: Renata Rainer, a junior diplomat navigating treacherous political waters; Peter Kleist, a cowardly young soldier sent to tame an uncharted land, Lamprecht Van Oldenburg, an ambitious noble who secretly experiments with outlawed pagan magics—arguably the most compelling of the three.

While the character work is strong, none stand out as immediately gripping as Sir Konrad, Helena, or Bressinger from Swan’s previous trilogy. Renata and Peter are young, inexperienced, and caught in events beyond their control, while Van Oldenburg’s arc mirrors elements of Claver’s descent into forbidden knowledge. The supporting cast, though effective, lacks the same memorability.

Swan leans heavily into horror, weaving an atmosphere of escalating dread that builds as the novel progresses. The creeping unease and supernatural terror are masterfully executed, making Grave Silence a natural evolution of the grimdark elements present in The Empire of the Wolf. Sci-fi elements are also subtly introduced, reminiscent of Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera, though discussing them in detail would verge on spoilers.

The novel is undeniably engaging, with sharp prose, intelligent dialogue, and a fast-moving plot. However, unlike The Empire of the Wolf, which had a singular, relentless focus, Grave Silence juggles three separate storylines in different parts of the world before converging at the end. This structure sacrifices some cohesion and narrative tightness in favor of a broader, more expansive world.

Interestingly, despite the significant impact of Sir Konrad and Helena on shaping this world, their absence from the narrative is conspicuous. Whether this omission is intentional or a setup for future revelations remains to be seen.

With its richly realized world, unsettling horror elements, and intricate political and magical conflicts, Grave Silence is a gripping start to Swan’s new trilogy. While it lacks the razor-sharp precision of The Empire of the Wolf, it compensates with a grander, more atmospheric narrative brimming with potential.

From here, the darkness, terror, and grim stakes will only intensify—and I’m absolutely here for it. Highly recommended for fans of dark fantasy, political intrigue, and horror-infused worldbuilding.

ARC provided by NetGalley, Orbit Books, and the author in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!

I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
Grave Empire is set in the same world as The Empire of the Wolf but a couple of hundreds of years later. But this new Sova has no Justices, no Voice and magic is practiced in secrecy.
I loved this version of Sova with its complex borders and relationships with the Mer-people of Sygion and Renata is the deputy Ambassador to this strange nation but with generally with very little to do until now.
The Sovan empire is complicated with nations of Wolf men being converted to Nemaism and battles with their neighbouring countries as well as their own people in the furthest reaches,
Renata is one of the points of view characters and her arc was fascinating to read as she went from idealistic diplomat to a battle-worn fighter trying to save the afterlife. The story is also told from the points of view of Peter, reluctant solider dealing with inhuman enemies and Von Oldenburg, Sovan nobleman who would do anything for even more power and money. Von Oldenburg need for more money and power was oddly relevant in today’s world especially when he has no hesitation in using people
The book has spoiled me- once I finished reading this, the next few books just couldn’t live up to its worldbuilding, action, magic and the strange, romance between Von Oldenburg and Yelena. I enjoyed the politics as well. The weird mind-rot plague and the ghostly crying at the edge of the Empire was terrifying.
You don’t need to have had read The Wolf Empire to enjoy this book, there are very scant references to the first book ( but any fans of these book will love them!)

One of my favourite Fantasy series in recent years has been the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, which finished last year (and the final book, Trials of Empire was in both mine and Rob’s favourite books of the year list.)

With Grave Empire Richard begins a new trilogy. Set in the same world as the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, could lightning strike twice for this relatively new author?

From the publisher: “A new age of exploration and innovation has dawned, and the Empire of the Wolf stands to take its place as the foremost power in the known world. Glory and riches await.

But dark days are coming. A mysterious plague has broken out in the pagan kingdoms to the north, while in the south, the Empire's proxy war in the lands of the wolfmen is weeks away from total collapse.

Worse still is the message brought to the Empress by two heretic monks, who claim to have lost contact with the spirits of the afterlife. The monks believe this is the start of an ancient prophecy heralding the end of days-the Great Silence.

It falls to Renata Rainer, a low-ranking ambassador to an enigmatic and vicious race of mermen, to seek answers from those who still practice the arcane arts. But with the road south beset by war and the Empire on the brink of supernatural catastrophe, soon there may not be a world left to save . . .”

So: Grave Empire is the latest in a new trilogy set about 200 years after the events of the previous series. (You don’t have to have read the previous books to read this one.) Things have clearly moved on, although the revelation in the last series (spoiler for the previous series here) that the afterlife is a real thing with spirits and other nasties determined to encroach upon the physical world still stands. (end spoiler.)

We are shown a Napoleonic or Imperialist British Empire sort of tale, but one which appears to be in decline. Whilst some things have changed, other things remain the same. Richard has taken the trappings of Regency England and Europe – all bureaucratic diplomacy and coffee shops – sorry, kaffeehauses * – with subversive pamphleteers on the streets and merchant companies, often prevalent in whaling, now dominant – and reimagined them into this world.

Whilst some things are different, other seem to have remained the same. Sova is still fighting Casimir, as well as the wolfmen of Kyarai. Countries like Tolland and Draedaland, Manaeisland and Saekaland, once part of the Sovan Empire are now separate.  The Neman religion is a presence (has it ever left?), although restricted in its practices. There’s a new Empress in Sova, Zelenka Haugenate, whose presence seems to be both revered and divisive. She seems to be turning things around, although not everyone is pleased with the changes.

The story focuses on three main characters this time, all with their own plotline. Perhaps most important is Renata Rainier, who is a minor official for Ambassador Didacus Marushka, the Empire’s contact with the underwater kingdom of the Stygion. Although initially appearing to be doomed to a life of administrative boredom for a negotiator with no contact with the Stygion, Renata and Marushka are called to travel north to investigate strange rumours that may affect the Empire.

In an alternate plotline we also have Peter, a young officer in the Sovan army, currently fighting a war with Casimir. Peter is a reluctant combatant, limited in experience and one who joined the army because it seemed like a good idea at the time. He spends most of his time afraid, shadowed by mysterious and strange creatures that decapitate unwitting men. A warning? A punishment? Part of a ritual? Peter doesn’t really want to find out. This is real Heart of Darkness stuff, with the physical hardships being possibly less important as the psychological trauma of travelling into the unknown.

Thirdly, we have Count Lamprecht Von Oldenburg, a crotchety, irascible member of the once-elite, who is determined to reintroduce magic back into the world, despite it being outlawed in The Trials of Empire. His dabbling in the banned occult practices has consequences for Sova and the surrounding countries, not to mention our other characters.

These three plotlines intertwine as we progress through the narrative, becoming connected by the end of the book.

In terms of characterisation, I was at first struck by how similar some of the characters were to the earlier novels. It could be said that initially Renata is similar to Helena Sedanka, as is Oldenburg to Konrad VonValt, although as the story progresses it is clear that the characters are very different.

As the book progresses, I felt that this is a bigger, bolder and richer experience than the other books to date. This may be because unlike the earlier books where the story is mainly told from the viewpoint of one character (Helena), here this story is told in the form of third person-narrative. As a result, we are less restricted in our viewpoints; the perspectives are more varied and the world seems bigger, giving an epic-ness to the narrative from fairly early on. I thought that this was shown by the scenes in the underwater world, which are impressively imaginative.

Swan has managed to continue the sense of horror that the last trilogy emphasised. Nasty things of an almost cosmic, Lovecraftian nature vie for attention with all of the other elements introduced before. If The Trials of Empire was akin to a Hammer Horror movie (as I alluded to in my review of The Justice of Kings), then this is perhaps more Universal Monsters, with its talk of wolfmen, mermaids (the Creature from the Black Lagoon, perhaps?), vampires, zombies and all.

With that in mind, it must also be said that like the first books, Grave Empire is remarkably violent. The battle scenes are impressively gory but not for everyone. with limbs torn away, bodies exploding when hit by musket and cannon fire, and hand-to-hand sword fighting remarkably visceral. Like the earlier books, torture is graphically depicted, and with some explicit eviscerations this makes Grave Empire not a read for the faint-hearted.

The ending is rather sudden, not really being anything other than a pause in the proceedings before the next book in the trilogy – not necessarily a bad thing, but those expecting all to be resolved will be disappointed. Much of this book tells us that The Great Silence is coming…. But not yet.

In summary, Grave Empire marks a step-up in this remarkable world. Whilst maintaining the strengths of the original trilogy, Richard has broadened the scope and the narrative to create a new story that is imaginative and gripping, violent and horrific. Whilst not a stand-alone novel, Grave Empire sets things up for what should be an impressive continuation in the next book.

It’s good to be back.




*Richard uses an eclectic mixture of non-English languages throughout the book – there’s French, German and even Dutch in places to show different races and species.

With Grave Empire Richard Swan returns to the fantasy world of his Empire of the Wolf series 200 years on to start a new series called The Great Silence. Setting the new book so far removed in time from the original series means that Grave Empire can easily start as a jumping off point for readers unfamiliar with Swan’s world. For others, there are plenty of Easter eggs, references and developments to savour. Particularly as Swan has modernised his world to deliver a flintlock fantasy that draws much from the colonial 19th Century for inspiration.
Grave Empire centres its narrative around the Sovan Empire and main characters in particular, although how they connect only becomes clear very late in the piece. The first is Peter Kleist, a young man who has traded his military career to head to the farthest reaches of the Sovan Empire called in the prologue “The Fort at the End of the World”. Only there is plenty more of the weird world beyond that fort as Peter will discover. In the Sovan capital, Renata Rainier, ambassador to a mysterious undersea people (who she has never actually met in person), is pressed into service when two monks appear, warning of a global calamity approaching which they call the Great Silence. As the Sovan Empire has eschewed most magic, Renata is sent to determine whether the threat is real and if so how to combat it. And then there is Count Lamprecht von Oldenburg, a sociopath Sovan noble who has the best idea of the existential threat but is determined to weaponise it for his own gain.
Being the first book in a trilogy, there is a lot of set up in Grave Empire. But building on the bones of the earlier trilogy, gives Swan a rich milieu to draw on. The world which these characters inhabit feels real, with defined cultures, religions and a long history. This more modern setting also allows Swan to explore a world driven by colonial ambition, prejudice and growing trade. But underneath it all is the magical world established in Empire of the Wolf – the alternative world of the Afterlife and the power that can be drawn from it.
By the end of Grave Empire, the threat has been identified, the pieces are in place and clearly things are on the cusp of becoming much, much worse. It is a fascinating set up for what is promising to be another great, action packed modern fantasy series.

Grave Empire plunges readers into a gritty, dark flintlock fantasy filled with supernatural intrigue and political maneuvering. The world is richly imagined, blending industrial progress with the creeping dread of a mysterious prophecy known as the Great Silence. Renata Rainer, the low-ranking ambassador tasked with unraveling this mystery, is an interesting protagonist, though her character development feels a bit overshadowed by the dense plot and world-building. Swan’s writing shines in its vivid descriptions of the Empire’s landscapes and conflicts, but the story sometimes struggles under the weight of its complex mythology and slower pacing. The themes of arcane power and impending doom are compelling, yet they don’t quite reach their full potential in this first installment. While Grave Empire doesn’t completely dazzle, it sets the stage for a series that could grow into something truly special. Fans of grim, atmospheric fantasy will find plenty to enjoy here.

This book was an absolute delight. Although I’m new to the ‘Flintlock’ fantasy genre, I’m now completely hooked. Grave Empire has it all: forbidden magic, sea creatures and armoured sharks, gore and shock and horror, humour, great world-building and character development, and so much more.

Let’s be honest, the cover drew me in, and the release of seeing the various editions being released further piqued my interest. So much so that I have already bought the Broken Binding’s copy edition.

What I hadn’t realised was that this is set in the same world as the author’s previous trilogy. However, I have since found out that this can be read without having read the others. Lucky for me then.

*Some possible minor spoilers ahead*

Renata, an assistant to the ambassador to the mer-men, dreams of a diplomatic visit to the underwater cities. Her dreams finally come true but for reasons she would never have imagined. There is a disturbance in the afterlife and the world is in peril.

Peter, a lieutenant for the Sovan Empire, is sent on a mission to the New East. He is out of his depth and dreams of returning home. But the mysterious goings-on he is sent to investigate turn into living nightmares.

Oldenburg, a senator and noble in the Sovan Empire, investigates strange happenings in the northern regions. A mysterious pox is spreading throughout the empire, and Oldenburg is determined to uncover its source. But to what end?

The book weaves together the three distinct perspectives, each driving the narrative forward. Despite each character’s story being seemingly separate, they hint at a potential connection or a more sinister plot.

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit, and Little Brown Book Group for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The first in a new series set 200 years after the events of The Empire of the Wolf trilogy, the story follows ambassador Renata Renier as she embarks on a diplomatic mission to a mysterious race of mermen, desperate to find out about an event known as ‘the great silence.’ What Renata uncovers is an arcane horror that could destroy everything she holds dear, but with the Empire on the verge of war, will there be anybody left to save?

Richard Swan’s Empire of the Wolf trilogy is one of my favourite series of all time so Grave Empire was one of my two most anticipated releases for 2025. I was excited to see where Swan would take this story with it being set so much later than the events in The Justice of Kings. I ended up absolutely devouring this dark and gripping tale and while it was my first read of 2025, it will without a doubt be one of my top reads for the year. Swan has created a fascinating world and I loved seeing how things had changed 200 years later. The story was well paced and I definitely found myself thinking about this book when I wasn’t reading it. This is a completely new story so you can read it without reading the first series, but there are lots of little references towards the Empire of the Wolf. The story kept me guessing, there were plenty of twists and turns and lots of fast paced action scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Swan does an incredible job creating these fascinating characters and each POV had such a strong voice. I thought Renata was a fantastic protagonist but I similarly also really liked Peter. There are some incredibly dark and creepy moments in this story that are guaranteed to send a shiver up your spine. I loved that the characters were complex, often working to their own agendas and made mistakes. They felt so real I cannot wait to see where Swan takes them in book two.

If you’re looking for a unique and engaging fantasy story full of action, adventure, magic and some mermen with armoured sharks, this is absolutely a must read. I highly recommend this enthralling tale and I am counting down the days until the next installment.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The idea is unique and the setting is great. I should point out that I haven’t read the previous trilogy, as far as I’m aware this is set in the same world. I really wanted to be gripped from beginning to end but struggled with the pacing, the second I found I was getting into the swing of a POV it switched. I also found the beginning 30 m% or so was too heavy on the worldbuilding but I do wonder if this would have been more enjoyable had I read the other books. Overall I really liked the premise but struggled with the flow. I would read the others though so I look forward to reading them. I think it’ll get easier in the second.

TL;DR Review: Bigger, more epic, and far more horror-drenched. A brilliant start to a tonally different but no-less-engaging new trilogy in one of my new favorite fantasy worlds.

Full Review:
It’s an absolute delight to be back in the grim, horror-tinged world of the Sovan Empire!
Grave Empire picks up two hundred years after the end of Trials of Empire, in a world that looks much the same and yet surprisingly different.
The Empire has continued its relentless expansion and now finds itself stretched thin and beset by powerful enemies that are trying to reconquer lost lands and curb their greed for growth. A war is raging and the Empire is losing—but it’s another battle entirely that could be the downfall of mankind.
One of our POV characters, Renata Rainer, finds herself drawn into a diplomatic mission to the mer-men of Ozeanland (yes, you read that right, mer-men!) in an effort to discover why the afterlife has gone silent. Necromancy and thaumaturgy have been integral to Imperial power yet now all entreaties to the dead go unanswered. The prophecy of “The Great Silence” hangs like a dark cloud over her mission. There grows within her and her companions the fear that something is very, very wrong in the world of the dead.
Another of our characters, von Oldenburg, has made a career of turning magic to his own greedy ends, and when he stumbles across what seems to be a magical plague, he is immediately fascinated by the its potential. What could ever go wrong when meddling with supernatural forces beyond human control?
Finally, there is young Peter Kleist, a naïve young gallant who enlists by mistake, and not even a captaincy can keep him out of the worst of the action. On the contrary, the rookie officer is sent directly to a remote fort where the enemy never attacks, but supernatural screams ring out all night, every night. And his story…well, you’ll have to read it to believe it.
The Empire of the Wolf series did an amazing job of layering in the macabre, supernatural, and horrorific into a fantasy world. In Grave Empire, it’s taken to a whole new level.
Every moment of happiness and sunshine is bookended by a terrible sense of foreboding. You just know something is wrong, but you can never quite put your finger on what until well into the book. It’s a masterpiece of building suspense by dangling just enough information to keep you coming back, but for every question that’s answered, two more are presented.
The horror is more of an undertone at first, but the building dread keeps rising and rising, dragging you deeper into the mystery and the feeling of wrongness. It’s like a ghost that’s seen only out of the corner of your eye—just when you think you’re getting somewhere, it takes a new twist or turn you never could have seen coming. And for that, I absolutely adored Grave Empire.
I do miss a little the narrow focus of Empire of the Wolf. However, expanding the world with three POV characters and the broader focus does an amazing job of making the story feel bigger—which it absolutely is.
This isn’t just one man’s mission to solve crime and save the world; no, it’s an entire Empire struggling to keep from being destroyed—not just in this world, but in the next, too!
Grave Empire sets up a fascinating new problem, incredibly high stakes, antagonists you know from the start are going to be a real bugger to deal with, and a grander, world-spanning story. We’re also treated to expansion of magic, the addition of mer-men and their battle sharks (hell yeah!), and a fascinating look at a Napoleonic-era Europe going through serious growing pains.
It was a truly spectacular read and I’m already champing at the bit to find out what comes next.

At this point I'm pretty convinced that Richard Swan wakes up in the morning and thinks to himself "I'm gonna write a book that specifically caters to this random Svea person from Goodreads" because I loved his last trilogy and I'm already completely in love with this first book in his new series. It's just for me. Specifically.
Swann writes this very unique genre mixing of fantasy (in this case: flintlock fantasy) and horror that at times is almost too graphic for my weak little heart but adds so much to the atmosphere and the stakes of his stories that it leaves me breathless. <i>Grave Empire</i> takes place in the same universe of his previous trilogy, but centuries later. You don't have to read the <i>Empire of the Wolf</i> trilogy to understand this new series starter, but it adds a lot of context and some callbacks made me sob a little (also it's just great).

The world building is immaculate as ever, even though I still, as a German, sometimes feel a little taken aback because of the many German words included in the Saxan tongue, which is the primary language spoken and as such informs a lot of the place names for example. But it's definitely better incorporated than in the previous trilogy, where there were such gems as the <i>plains plains</i> (Ebenen plains). I admit I was a little confused when another nations turned out to be speaking plain French later in the book, which makes me wonder a little even beyond the clearly European inspiration for the world.
I loved that therworld building got expanded and now includes Swann's version of merpeople that I absolutely adore and catpeople that I'm definitely going to have nightmares about. There is just so much to love and so much more to explore.
Once again, the plot is complex and told from multiple perspectives, with twists and turns and emotional and thematic depth that glued me to my Kindle. The characters are incredibly intriguing once again, especially Renata. There's one character that I didn't like at all and yet I was fascinated by his chapters still, and not just because they contain one of the coolest female characters. All of these perspectives add so much to the story and build a perfect whole that, at times, took my breath away.
There is also a very complicated romance brewing in the background that I am rooting for like crazy already. Swann just excels at writing interesting character dynamics, not just the romantic ones which are generally far and inbetween anyway (which I'm grateful for honestly).

So, at the end of all that gushing and praising are five stars, even though I did find the beginning a little slow. The writing is excellent, the characters complex and intriguing with unique narrative voices, the world building keeps getting better, the story and its mysteries are exciting. I'm incredibly excited to see where this series is going and the antagonists are set up to be absolutely great once again, so here I am, being seated.

The first book of The Great Silence series starts strong!

Set 200 years after Swan's first trilogy it moves away from the first person writing style and instead approaches the story from 3 different points of view. The change makes things feel a little different but it’s clear from the tone and dark lore that we are in the same world.

I was drawn into Swans dark/horror style fantasy with his first novel, Justice of Kings, and was very happy to see the tone continued here but scaled up even further! What can I say, I love horror and impending doom when they're done right 🤷🏽‍♂️

It was really hard to pick a favourite character. All three story threads are great and I loved seeing things from each of their perspectives. If I had to choose though, the rich, power hungry alcoholic has a slight edge purely because he’s so absurdly evil (but in the best possible way) 😂

This doesn’t lack on the adventure side of things either. In fact between the three story threads Swan manages to give you a pretty comprehensive tour of the whole map but holds back enough that there's still more to be told and explored (even to the depths of the sea!).

Also, most importantly I can confirm there is a cat (kind of 😅)
Now it’s going to be a painful wait for the next instalment 😭