Book review - Justice of Kings by Richard Swan 5/5🌟

I got an E-Arc from @orbitbooks_uk through @netgalley in return for an honest review.

There are so many original fantasy releases this year and Justice of Kings is by far my favorite.

In Justice of Kings you follow the justice Vonvalt through the eyes of his scribe Helena. In the Sovan Empire a Justice works as investigator, judge, jury and executioner in the name of the Emperor. To do their job they employ magical powers to get the truth from the living and the dead.💀 During the book Vonvalt gets trapped in a political game between church and state, which will forever change the empire.

I love political plots in fantasy, but I've never read one with such an original point of view. Justice of Kings feels like an episode of Law and Order in a medieval world with a sprinkle of magic.🔮

The storytelling through the eyes of Helena rather than the main character Vonvalt also provides amazing insights. You see Vonvalt's actions judged through a bystander perspective that provides for a unique reading experience.

Swan's writing, though heavy and a bit procedural at some points, is perfectly suited for the type of story he wants to relay. The world of law and justice, just like in our world, is a very formal affair and this is perfectly executed by Swan.⚖

The character of Vonvalt is one of conflicts between believe, duty and character. Stiff at one time, passionate the next. Helena herself is a brilliant character in her own right. Doubting her place in the world and the future Vonvalt sees for her.

All in all Justice of Kings is a magnificent first book that already has me craving for more. I can't wait to how deep the plot goes!

Really liked this story. It does have a mystery that helps the story get along but, for me, the main point of it, is the relationship between Helena (the clerk) and her mentor, Justice Vonvalt, as things start going wrong in the empire… It’s a very fast paced book, no dull moments, with a very interesting political component.
There’s always something happening and it makes you wonder how bad things will get…
I’m waiting for book two!

https://lynns-books.com/2022/02/17/the-justice-of-kings-empire-of-the-wolf1-by-richard-swan/
4.5 of 5
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Very impressive start to series

I was very pleasantly surprised by The Justice of Kings. I was in two minds about requesting this one, mainly because I’m trying to be more reasonable (not always with success) about my book requests but also because I wasn’t sure about whether my mood was in the right place for this particular story. As it happens I’m glad I threw my slight reservations out the window because moody or not this story compelled me to keep turning the pages. I loved the choice of narrator, the world is developed with (more than likely) deceptive ease, the murder mystery is intriguing and more complex than first meets the eye and, well, put simply, it just won me over so easily and quickly.

By way of a quick synopsis – this is the story of Justice Konrad Vonvalt. Vonvalt is an Emperor’s Justice, which basically means he travels the country, investigating crimes and delivering swift justice. Effectively, Justices are complicated roles that curtail the need for judge, jury or executioner – their remit encompasses all three and on top of extensive knowledge of the law they are wielders of arcane knowledge that gives them uncommon powers. They are respected and feared in equal measure.

Firstly, this story is not narrated, quite surprisingly, by Vonvalt himself but by his clerk, Helena Sedanka. Helena, now an older woman, is recounting Vonvalt’s story. I really enjoyed this choice of narrator. Helena has a refreshingly honest way of narrating the story. She isn’t afraid to share her emotions or tell things the way they actually happened, no embellishments or over exaggerations. She isn’t always enamoured with the lifestyle or her travelling companions and the complexity of the relationships adds an extra level to the story. Obviously this style results in a certain amount of foreshadowing – for a start, we know that Helena is recounting this story as a much older woman – so that removes a certain level of threat when she finds herself in dangerous situations. She also sometimes makes remarks (not verbatim) such as ‘we later found out our mistake’ or ‘this didn’t work out as well as we hoped’, etc. Personally, I love this style of narrating and find these little tidbits add to my enjoyment somehow because they portend future doom and gloom.

Secondly, I love that this story really gives you food for thought because on top of the murder mystery/conspiracy plot line there is the underlying struggle for power. The Justices are powerful people and as is frequently the case, where there is power there are those that covet it which brings into focus the wrestle for power between justice and religion. On top of this, the underlying mantra of the Justices is that no person is above the law – this does beg the question of who keeps the Justices in check though doesn’t it – it also makes them solely responsible for deciding upon guilt and, as is displayed by Vonvalt himself, this can sometimes be with varying degrees of severity. Imagine the blood letting if you wake up with a sore head courtesy of a skinful the night before!

Thirdly, I really enjoyed the characters. Vonvalt is a character who believes adamantly in the law and the work of the Justices. He has unshaking faith in the system in place to maintain law and order and trusts implicitly in the power he is granted to keep things in check. There’s a certain naivety in his demeanour that belies the life he has led and that feeds into the story. Helena herself is troubled by doubts. She is starting to harbour doubts that the roaming lifestyle will ultimately work for her. She’s torn because although the life can provide wealth and a certain level of comfort it prevents the ability to put down roots or create meaningful relationships. The other character who travels with Vonvalt and Helena is a man called Bressinger. This character wasn’t quite as well developed as the other two and although we do learn a little of his backstory he felt more like a reasonable addition to the group, almost a chaperone, an extra pair of hands and some brute strength to throw into the mix whenever needed. I liked Bressinger but would like more involvement from him in future instalments.

I loved the fantasy aspects to this which mainly come in the form of the arcane abilities wielded by the Justice. The ‘Voice’ is one such element. Think of a person who can compel you, not so much by the persuasion or reasonableness of their argument but by the use of a power so strong that when they employ it, it breaks down any mental barriers. Justices also use necromancy and can talk with the dead – this is a very creepy power and quite dangerous. What really won me over with all these abilities (and there are more than I’ve mentioned here) is that they all come with a price. The user is mentally and physically exhausted, there is also the possibility of people being forewarned and more mentally prepared in terms of the ‘voice’. It places restrictions on their use and means that ensures there is no quick fix when things turn dire.

On top of this I really enjoyed the style of writing. The places are easily imagined and there’s enough detail to capture the time, place and people without unnecessary embellishments. It is immediately apparent that the empire is still relatively new, many people still worship the old Gods and the struggle for power between the ruler, the church and the peacekeepers is very apparent.

In terms of criticisms. I don’t really have any to be honest. As I mentioned above I was initially surprised that Vonvalt was not telling the story himself and I had a quick blip of resentment thinking that I might have enjoyed this more if there was perhaps a dual perspective. But, a dual perspective doesn’t work with this style and not only did I quickly form an attachment to Helena and her way with words but I felt it give us an outside perspective on Vonvalt himself. Also, I wouldn’t particularly say that this is a story that moves with indecent haste – and yet in spite of this it didn’t feel like a slow read for me – go figure.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what happens next. Certainly this resolves in such a way to promise much more intrigue in the next instalment (not a cliffhanger, to be clear).

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Apparently, it took me a bit more than 3 weeks to read The Justice of Kings and if that’s not a testament to how much my reading slowed down recently, I don’t know what is. And I can’t even blame the book (or its length), because when I did read it, it was a page-turner. But alas, a new job and my newfound addiction to Downton Abbey got in the way of finishing Richard Swan‘s debut novel in a timely manner.

I mainly picked The Justice of Kings up because I knew it was partly inspired by CJ Sansom‘s Shardlake series for which I have great affection. And yes, I’m easy to please. It also didn’t hurt that authors whose works I admire and who tend to have similar tastes to mine were talking about this debut novel with high regard. Maybe because of all this I already had high expectations unknowingly, or maybe it was just the timing, but I didn’t love this book as much as others seem to. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it, but I left slightly underwhelmed at the end.

What is the book about? Sir Konrad Vonvalt is a Justice – something like a judge, a prosecutor, and an executioner rolled into one person – who travels around the empire with his companions, Helena (his apprentice and scribe) and Dubine (his task man) to bring the law to everywhere equally. He also has powers only Justices have – the Voice of the Emperor which they can use to compel people to tell the truth and one that’s somewhat unique to every Justice, which in Vonvalt’s case is necromancy. He is fair but firm, and rarely loses his cool, but once someone crosses a line he deems uncrossable, he knows no bounds to bring that person to justice. As events progress, we start to see a change in him as the world he knows crumbles into nothingness around him.

Encountering a village that never really converted to the official religion – Nema’s Creed – and kept practicing Draedism, sets off events none of them seen coming. But as it turns out, this was just the spark that needed to set off the barrel full of gunpowder they’ve been sitting on for a long time. Although now that I think on it, gunpowder is not something they’ve known in this book… Anyway. Religion and politics go hand in hand and things escalate quickly. What a surprise.

The Justice of Kings is a first in a series, which also means it has a lot of setting up to do. It took me a while to wrap my head around the names and the different factions in the power struggle behind the scenes. In the beginning, I was not sure why it was necessary to introduce us to this fairly early on, which resulted in pushing the murder mystery plotline into the backseat. In hindsight, I understand the decision as this was necessary to build up for the later books. And I have to admit, this was done pretty well. But my underwhelmed feeling comes from the fact that I expected the murder mystery to be more of the heart of this book, rather than a convenient backdrop for the said buildup. Which, for me, also resulted in not really getting to know any of the characters, let alone building a connection with them. It also didn’t help that the main MC was not the narrator of the events, which wouldn’t have been a problem if it didn’t strengthen the feeling of distance. Also, I think I wanted the mystery to be more of a mystery than it really was.

Look, I know that so far I didn’t make The Justice of Kings sound promising, but hear me out. This book is good, even though I’m not 100% sure yet if it’s my kind of good. Whenever I got around to sit down and read I got sucked in. I wanted to know what happened next. I kept turning the pages like I’ve never read a book before. I might not warmed up to Vonvalt or Helena (the first-person narrator) but I still could appreciate the scope of the story, the easy-to-read (and understand!) prose of Swan, and the amount of detail he worked into the book. It’s pretty clear he has a great understanding of how justice systems work and has a passion for it to boot. An interesting aspect of the book is that Helena writes down this story as an old woman, but it actually features her younger self, so we get this double perspective on Vonvalt and everything that transpired. This gives us an insight into how Helena and Vonvalt’s pretty rocky relationship works and how this formed Helena herself in later life. Will she learn from Vonvalt’s mistakes? Time will tell.

The Justice of Kings is part mystery, part political drama, and part epic fantasy. Swan smartly navigates between the three parts, as events build up to bring us confrontations on a much higher level in the next book. I, for one, am curious where the road takes Vonvalt and company next.

Whilst I enjoyed the legal aspect and the exploration of justice, something didn't quite click for me with the writing style. I still enjoyed the book overall and would recommend it.

I did initially think that this may not be my kind of book to begin with and I nearly DNF but I continued, hoping it would get better. It did and I am so glad I persevered. I loved the POV and writing style - it is from the perspective of Helena Sedanka and her writing, as if she is reliving her memories through a diary or a log. She gives hints along the way of what's to come but still manages to include surprises and plot twists. Full of action, murder, deceit and morally grey decisions, this book gripped me and kept me intrigued. The world building is very detailed, especially the religious/mythological elements and the characters are very well developed.

Although it can be read as a stand alone, it is the first in a trilogy and I cannot wait to read the other 2 books.


*Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers @littlebrownbookgroup for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Synopsis

As an Emperor’s Justice, Sir Konrad Vonvalt always has the last word. His duty is to uphold the law of the empire using whatever tools he has at his disposal: whether it’s his blade, the arcane secrets passed down from Justice to Justice, or his wealth of knowledge of the laws of the empire. But usually his reputation as one of the most revered – and hated – Justices is enough to get almost any job done.

When Vonvalt investigates the murder of a noblewoman, he finds his authority being challenged like never before. As the simple case becomes more complex and convoluted, he begins to pull at the threads that unravel a conspiracy that could see an end to all Justices, and a beginning to lawless chaos across the empire.

Review

This book surprised me in many ways, but especially in that it was completely different from what I expected. The title and the cover picture make you imagine a completely different story, but after reading the book it fit completely. It is always difficult when you have certain expectations of a book and then you get a different story. But this story convinced me completely!

“’The wise man arms himself with knowledge before a sword.’”

This mysterious world gives you a shiver from the first page. This dark atmosphere, which is inherent to the main characters, but also to all the secondary characters, as well as the places, was able to cast a spell over me and never let me go. I felt like I was in the film Sleepy Hollow, where conspiratorial villagers always scare you and you fear another murder behind every door. But it wasn’t only the secondary characters that made this atmosphere what this book is, but also one of the main characters – Justice Konrad Vonvalt. For he possesses a dark power that terrifies the inhabitants of this world – the necromancy. This mood, starting from the characters, is then mixed with religious aspects that make this book even darker, as they form their own scary cults. Also, the fact that this book seems to be set in Northern Europe could offer another component of building a mysterious world through the dreary and rainy Europe.

"De jura nietra iznia. No one is above the law."

A story written from the Justice’s point of view is more than unusual and yet it did not need strong swordsmen or powerful mages here. The author manages to make these rather less action-packed contemporaries seem exciting and interesting. The question whether the law is right, whether someone breaks the law and whether everyone who breaks the law should be punished is always at the centre of attention. Thus, subliminally, morality and also the state with its legal situation are questioned again and again. So even the justice is questioned, because is he the one who is allowed to decide about right and wrong? It is well illustrated here that everyone has their own feeling for laws and morals and that in times like in this book, but also in our past, there were always disputes about what is “right”. And when these legal structures are brought down, how it can destroy a country.

"Well, religion does funny things to your brain."

The complex constellation of the three main characters could give the book another surprising twist. For this mysterious connection of the three, is characterized by secrets and the one past each, as well as the sometimes cranky role system among themselves. It seems to me that Vonvalt takes on the role of a father, a master, but also a friend for Helena. Unfortunately, unlike Vonvalt, I could not get through to Helena, as she is initially only the silent comrade-in-arms and only later gets a bit of her own story. I also couldn’t build an emotional connection to Helena due to the doubts about her profession or her short-tempered love story.

“You cannot kill another human being and fail to be affected by it, even if they are an enemy.”

This fantasy novel created something completely new and surprising for me. Innovative main characters who pursue an otherwise unusual vocation as “heroes” in books, a mysterious mood that mixes components from different genres and a plot that addresses law and justice and does not focus on big fight scenes. Justice is always in the eye of the beholder, and even the king can rarely dictate a path, which is why a gray world has emerged. The end gives hope for something very big in the subsequent volumes.

“I was a soldier in the Reichskrieg, Helena… I have seen what the world is like without the rules.”

I was really excited to be approved for this ARC as I had heard so much about it but for me, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
It’s the story of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, one of the Emperor’s justices whose role is to travel the empire and make sure that the laws are being upheld. It’s set in a quasi medieval realm and a lot of the book is concerned with solving a murder and so rather than being something very unique, it reminded me of several historical crime series such as the books written by Bernard Knight.
The story is told by Helena, the 19 year old clerk to the justice and she does come to life as the story progresses but the style of writing is quite dry and I didn’t really feel engaged with any of the characters.
The fantasy elements of the story do become more apparent as the novel goes on and we get more involved with the larger concerns of the empire and the religious fanatics who are gaining power. Sir Konrad is apparently going to play a pivotal role in what happens in the future but at the moment, he seems a bit of grey character.
To me, this had much more the feel of a historical crime novel than an epic fantasy. It was easy to read but felt too familiar to be really gripping. I will certainly look out for the next one in the series which I hope will have much more of the events in the empire rather than a local murder mystery.
Thank you to Net Galley and Little Brown Book Group for my ARC.

"The Justice of Kings" is a fantasy and a half - and it's only the first book in a planned trilogy! I really enjoyed Richard Swan's way with words, there's a brilliant plot, cracking characters, and a setting that has a solid atmosphere. Pre-order your copy as soon as possible, because this is one you'll want to get your hands on as soon as possible!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

I very much enjoyed The Justice of Kings. I read it during a period where I was reading a lot of books that I wasn’t enjoying, and it really stood out to me. There is a lot to enjoy with this book.

The story is told from the point of view of Helena, a young woman and the clerk of the Justice, Sir Konrad Vonvalt. I really liked this narrative choice. It made Vonvalt a more mysterious, and therefore awesome, figure since we only ever get to see him through the eyes of another person but I also really liked Helena as a character and a narrator. She is a sympathetic character, she can come across as bratty and naïve, much like your average teenager, at times but I liked her. There’s also something more to her that I am looking forward to the story exploring as it progresses.

I also really enjoyed the plot. It starts as a murder mystery that grows and merges in with the overarching plot which culminates with a battle with a religious nutter. It was very well plotted and executed by Swan. The story is paced well and I enjoyed watching all the intrigue unfold over the course of the story until it culminates in its grand finale. I really enjoyed the world building, as well. It’s dark and corrupt and you never know which characters the protagonists should trust. It’s all very interesting.

The Justice of Kings was a very enjoyable read. It build nicely and doesn’t overstay its welcome. I liked the way it was written, I enjoyed the characters and the story was definitely very intriguing. Swan leaves you wanting more by the end and I definitely want to read more.

The Justice of Kings as a novel by Richard Swan that was an thorough, enjoyable and classic read. We follow Sir Konrad Vonvalt whose duty is to uphold the Emperor's law using whichever tools available. His reputation as a revered and hated Justice gets the job done. When Vonvalt investigates a noblewoman's murder, he faces a tough and complex challenge that pulls at a thread of conspiracy that could spell disasted for all Justices and the Empire.

We follow three main characters in this journey. Helena - our narrator and Vonvalt's clerk, Vonvalt - the Emperor's Justice and Bressinger - Konrad's right hand man. An interesting approach to this story is having Helena be our narrator describing Vonvalt but was a compelling narrative choice. We see how Helena begins to become more informal and emotional as the story continues. Swan wrote these parts clearly and concisely whilst being appreciative to Helena's thoughts as this became more unpredictable and unexpected.

Sir Konrad still shone as a classic fantasy figure full of charisma and respect in a way that showcased his role as the Emperor's Justice. Portrayed as an honest and just man who is captivating in a stark contrast to Bressinger who can be described as relief. We do see the journey Vonvalt is on as Swan leans towards the dark undertones of loyalty in a world where law is truth.

The story itself was an unhurried and interesting take on a mature and traditional concept. I felt able to relax and read at my own pace whilst also finding it hard to not be drawn in to a world so expanding. I'm excited for more in this series and Richard Swan is definitely on my radar.

The first chapter was already very intriguing and made me want to read more. The story quickly picked up with the main plot, a murder.

Through out the book we follow the Justice and his two emplyees, though we see all though the eyes of the young girl who is the Justices Clerk.

Writing the whole book from her pov was a brilliant brilliant choice if you ask me. We have all seen example of women being written badly by men but boy, this was not the case here! Helene was so well written, she has complex emotions that she doesn’t understand herself and she is a young girl with sometimes irrational emotions and thoughts, but I felt like I could understand her so well. The other characters from her pov were fantastic as well, we keep seeing pieces of them that ultimately show us what kind of person they are.

The unraveling of the mystery and the inclusion of different settings made me turn the pages even faster.

There are so many things I want to say about this book that I loved but I can’t gather my thoughts that well.

But the point where the characters stand in the end made me want to have book 2 right now because I need more!!!

Conclusion: an incredible book that with its great combination of well written characters, plot, and the clash of religion and justice, will definitely be worth your time! And it is also not too long which makes it a nice quick read :D

Dans un monde qui m'a un peu rappelé l'univers de The Witcher, nous suivons à travers les yeux de Helena Sedanka Sir Konrad Vonvalt, un "Justice" de l'empereur. Son rôle, détective juge et bourreau (petite vibe judge Dredd). Pour accomplir son devoir, il peut compter sur deux pouvoir la voix de l'Empereur, qui lui permet d'imposer sa volonté à autrui et la nécromancie qui lui permet d'interroger les morts.

Ils vont se retrouver mêlée à une intrigue mêlant meurtre de noblesse, religion, rébellion contre l'empire, mais je ne vous en dirai pas plus sur l'intrigue.

Préparez vous à un univers sombre, dans lequel la violence n'est pas glorifié. Quand les personnages combattent en particulier dans le cas de Konrad, l'on ressent la puissance du personnage. Mais là où Thé Justice of King fascine c'est dans toute la partie enquête ainsi que légale. On sent la rigueur d'un auteur qui a étudié et pratiqué le droit.

En tout cas The Justice of Kings, un superbe premier qui nous emmène dans une histoire originale, en particulier grâce aux Justices. Mais je dois dire que j'adorerai avoir un jeu dans le genre de The Witcher 3, mais dans le rôle d'un Justice avec des enquêtes, chercher des indices, interroger les morts puis décider d'un jugement qui aura des conséquences sur l'évolution de mon personnage (foreshadowing)

"Beware the idiot, the zealot and the tyrant; each clothes himself in the armour of ignorance "

Reading this book felt so effortless, I literally breezed through this in less than 2 days. Lately, I have been really enjoying fantasy books with intense political and religious themes inspired from our own world and this one is a clear favourite.

The writing is just chefs kiss! The plot and the pacing is great. There's so much happening throughout the story - there's a murder mystery, a huge political upheaval, religious fanatiscm and a constant discussion about law and justice but it never feels overwhelming. In fact, the world felt so grounded in reality. There's a bit of magic but it isn't a huge part of the story, the little that we saw of it was very interesting.

The characters are awesome. I wouldn't call this book very character driven but all the characters have a very distinct and authentic voice. They never overshadow the plot but rather complement it. I loved them and I loved the relationship that existed between our main characters. Vonvalt, Helena and Bressinger our three main characters have impeccable chemistry. Especially, Helena and Vonvalt - their relationship is so complex but it also felt so organic. Helena being an orphan has never had a parent figure in her life and her conflicting feelings towards Vonvalt felt so genuine. Helena was such a great character, she is sneaky and brave but she is also a 19 year old who is afraid and unsure of a lot of things in life and we truly got to see all her imperfections, mistakes, desires and vulnerabilities throughout the story. Her inner struggle of which path to follow was done really well. I wasn't a huge a fan of the little romance subplot which we got for her- it was rather insta lovey and wholly unnecessary but aside from that she truly impressed me.

Vonvalt on other hand is a very complex and flawed character. He has been a soldier and he is now a justice for the Emperor. He has seen the horrors of war and therefore understands the importance of laws. For him the law is above all else and everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. It was truly interesting to see his stance on justice being challenged time and again throughout the story and how the events of this book changed him - for better or worse, we will have to wait and see.

Honestly, there's just so much good to talk about this book. The political and military aspect of the story is barely scratched in this book and yet it feels so present throughout the book. I truly can't wait for our characters to reach the capital and see how the little snippets of politics, treachery and war that we got in this book play a much larger role. There's also a huge religious arc to the story which is so interesting and again felt very authentic in terms of how there will always be people who will commit atrocities in the name of religion and also to further their own agendas and power.

I was so fortunate to get the the advance readers copy for this but this also means that the wait for the next book will be that much longer. Also, I truly hate hate Patria Claver and its the testament of how amazing Richard Swan's writing is that he made me hate a character who is only present for a few albeit key scenes throughout the book. Truly can't wait for the next book already.

"Justice is not vengeance, and vengeance is not justice. But the two often overlap. The state is as capable of vengeance as any individual, for what is the state if not the people that comprise it?"

Justice Sir Konrad Vonvalt is a judge/jury/executioner travelling the Sovan Empire dispensing the Emperor’s justice. Accompanied by his clerk Helena Sedanka and taskman/bodyguard Dubine Bressinger, he is tasked with investigating the murder of a noblewoman. Eventually Vonvalt discovers a conspiracy that could threaten the entire Empire.

I really like how the story is told in first-person POV through the eyes of Vonvalt’s clerk and apprentice Helena. Swan does an excellent job of writing from a 19 y/o female perspective but the romance subplot was rushed and a tad instalove-y. Helena is recounting the story decades later as an old woman. She talks about when and how problems for the trio began and what she wishes they had avoided. This absolutely kept me reading and ramped up the tension.

The setting is traditional mediaeval, much like that of The Witcher (minus the monsters). The majority of the plot occurs in a handful of small towns but I would have liked to have seen more of the world.

I’m a fan of low/soft magic systems. Justices in the Sovan Empire have 2 abilities; the Emperor’s Voice which commands a person to tell the truth and a form of necromancy which allows a Justice to speak with the dead. I loved both of these. There are limitations to each so Vonvalt is never overpowered.

I felt the murder mystery was a bit lacking. Some of the plot played out a bit like a courtroom drama which I found dry and dull. I was much more interested in the wider conspiracy, religion and the notion that no man is above the law.

Overall I think The Justice of Kings is a great start to a new fantasy trilogy with interesting magic and packed with political intrigue and corruption.

I am of a certain age to remember the old 1960’s and 70s Hammer Horror movies with some fondness. For some .
people reading that sentence, just reading that will bring back memories of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, duelling it out as Van Helsing and Dracula, amongst other roles..

The reason I’m mentioning it here is because this book partly reminds me of those films.

You see, quite often in the early part of the film there would be a scene in a bar or tavern, in a small German/Austrian/Transylvanian village in Renaissance times, well away from the bustle of the urban metropolises.

“No Man is Above the Law”

The reason for mentioning this is that at times The Justice of Kings feels like it is in a similar setting.

You see there’s a Justice, named Sir Konrad Vonvalt, whose job is like a Witchfinder General, travelling the country and administering justice in the name of the Emperor and the Sovan Empire. As with any Justice, Vonvalt’s word in the past has been law, with few who question his judgement.

No trusty wielder of justice works on his/her own, of course, and so alongside Sir Konrad we have Dubine Bressinger, Vonvalt’s taskman and a stalwart soldier, the iron arm of the law, if you like, there to ensure the word of Vonvalt is followed. Although Vonvalt is an expert swordsman himself, we quickly discover that there are times when two swords are better than one.

However the story is told from the perspective of Helena Sedanka, a young teenager that Vonvolt has picked up and who acts as his clerk, scribe and accountant (for in these times Vonvalt has to make sure that his expense are covered)  as well as his moral compass.

Their travels lead them to the village of Rill, where Lady Natalija Bauer has been killed, in what may have been murder. Sir Konrad and his group, as arbiters of justice, are brought in to resolve the matter.

One thing that Vonvalt has that Cushing and Lee did not have are some arcane magickal skills – namely The Emperor’s Voice, which compels the user to do as the user commands and, rather more creepier, the ability to resurrect and speak to the dead for a limited time. The magic in this book is used sparingly, but when it appears it is wonderfully disturbing.

This investigation leads to the middle part of the book, which is a trial, for times are changing and the word of a Justice has to be presented in court rather than metered out with a sword.* The narrative becomes a tense situation as Vonvalt has to cross-examine three men that we know from the beginning of the book are guilty in front of a jury. , Luckily, Vonvalt shows himself not only to be a dab hand with a sword but someone with linguistic skills as well, and his opening speech is a tour de force of engaging story.




“The Magistratum is very clear: the law is to be applied equally to all persons within the borders of the Empire – and any person who, outside the Empire, nevertheless submits, voluntarily to its jurisdiction.”




It is at this point that we get to the overarching theme of the novel, which is that things are changing in the Empire of the Wolf. We are experiencing a changing of the old order, now over fifty years old, into something new, and the transition, from small beginnings, is not simple nor easy. Vonvalt is one of the old-guard, who struggles to realise and then cope with the fact that things are changing.

The group also discover that there are plans to usurp the Emperor, and that their murder may only be a small part of a bigger puzzle.

This may be enough to engage your interest. However, what is key to this novel is that whilst all of this Sherlock Holmes-style intrigue is occurring, The Justice of Kings is most of all about character. Much of the book is about how these events alter our band of heroes and their associates. Most memorably and perhaps expectedly much of this falls upon Vonvalt. Whilst he is a complex character, determined to uphold the law and generally regarded as fair and honourable, the events in the book clearly affect him.

Helena herself is in many ways a teenager trying to be an adult, as the narrative, written when Helena is older, wryly observes. She is restless in her assistant role, aware of the privileges being with Vonvalt brings her but clearly chafing at being a clerk. She wants to spread her wings whilst simultaneously is plagued by self-doubt about her abilities.

The relationship between Vonvalt and Helena is an interesting one, in that she sees him as a hero, a father-figure who has taken her in, looked after her, educated her and who clearly loves her, although not in a physical way. She is good at what she does, and Vonvalt clearly sees her becoming a Justice one day and does his best to supplement her clerical skills with other abilities towards that end. Helena’s elevated position, whilst not luxurious, also shows us that the prominence of women in this world is limited, although Vonvalt’s colleague, Justice August, shows us that it is not entirely a man’s world.

Bressinger is also complex. An able swordsman who has fought with Vonvalt in the past, he is by turns garrulous and taciturn. It is clear that he is loyal to Vonvalt and protective of Helena but has a complicated past.

Although the focus of the novel is on these characters, the setting they travel through is appropriately grim and dirty. The world is quite decrepit and dilapidated.

The peoples there generally eke a poor and simple existence on the whole and Richard does well to show this. Decapitations, hangings, amputations and immolation are all part of the grim world of the Soran Empire.

It is also a world where the Justice’s powers are sorely stretched. This results in some messy fight scenes, and moments of violence that would not be out of place in the grand guignol horror setting of a Joe Abercrombie novel, or even a Hammer Horror film.

To sum up, The Justice of Kings is an impressive debut novel. Part detective novel, part action-narrative, it is a tale of loyalty and changing circumstances combined with a degree of intrigue. With some memorable personalities and events, the narrative slowly envelops the reader, leading to a dynamic ending with some intriguing elements to pursue in later books.




* Something which may be based on Richard’s other occupation as a  before becoming a writer.

I just love this book! It's like a mix of The Witcher and The Greatcoats. A traveling Judge in a East-European inspired fantasy world. The perspective is not from the Judge Konrad Vonvalt himself (also what a great name!), but from his secretary Helena who is telling the story as an old woman reflecting back on her youth. That was just an excellent choice. Also the theme of justice in all its facets is explored masterfully!
What I liked the most about this book is that there are no one-dimensional characters, everyone feels like a real human being. I liked that especially in the first encounter between Vonvalt and the local sheriff. I'm so excited for the next book in the Empire of the Wolf trilogy!

I loved this debut so much. It is a murder mystery and the start of an epic fantasy about the fall of empire and all the twisty politics and ambition that gets it there.

What starts as the "simple" murder of a noblewoman quickly reveals a vast web of change (for the worse) underfoot. Step by step, their investigation brings them into uncomfortable truths about what's been happening in the heart of the empire - and to an ending I did not expect to happen.

The fact there was both a murder investigation and a political plot going meant there were two tension factors pulling the book along, and gave me two reasons to keep reading. I wanted to know why she'd been killed, and by who. And I also wanted to know what that priest and his allied Baron were going to do.

It's rare to encounter a book where the narrator is not the main character, but that is the case here. Helena is an engaging character, with her own worries and tensions, but Vonvalt is the focus. He is the driving force behind the plot's progression.

However, I think it's the nature of his arc that means this book is so effective coming from the perspective of another. The emotional centre of the book is his belief in justice and law be challenged by the far-less-perfect world than he wants - or remembers. It's a corruption arc, and watching it through someone else's eyes rather than the characters gives it this sense of inevitability and hope at the same time. Helena looks up to him, which makes you feel her hope for it to be OK because he can't fall, can't not be the pillar of justice. And makes the ending all the more powerful.

There are so many hints about what will come next, about it being the beginning of the end of the empire, and I am excited for more to come, and to watch Vonvalt play a pivotal role in all that.

eARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Justice of Kings is the best book I’ve read so far this year because Richard Swan checks (almost) all the boxes of what I love in a narrative: a character-driven plot, a slow-burning intrigue, atmospheric settings, and charismatic characters that question themselves. The only box that isn’t checked yet is “an extensive worldbuilding”, but I feel like it will probably be developed in the second volume of the Empire of the Wolf series.

The characters are probably what I enjoyed the most in this first book. I am always looking for complex and interesting traits of character, and I was captivated by the – surprising – evolution of our protagonists. Vonvalt and Helena’s dynamics are particularly compelling because they each have doubts and ponder the consequences of their action. Regarding their actions, the execution of the plot was satisfying to follow since I could feel that every decision and action undertaken by the protagonists had an impact on the plot and made it move forward. What I appreciate even more is that with each of these steps, the stakes grew slowly as well as effectively, so that by the end, we could trace back what/how each decision/action has led to the current problems.

Justice of Kings also made me feel lots of intense emotions I was not prepared for. I was so captured by the political and judicial intrigue and stakes, that I didn’t realize how much I cared for the character on an emotional level until they started treading dangerous paths. I was afraid for the fate of the protagonist just as much as I was dreading the collapse of the values represented by the Justices: No man is above the law.

Finally, what stayed with me the most is the peculiar atmosphere that every place the characters visit has in common – it is dark and intriguing. This strange atmosphere may well be the aura emanating from the fears a Justice arises from the wary villagers who distrust the “dark” powers Justices wield. I am very curious to learn more about the practices of the order of Justices, and I am sure that book #2 will deliver on it. Needless to say that I cannot wait for book #2… and the first one isn’t even officially released yet… (US release February 2nd 2022).

For those who understand French, here’s my reading vlog about The Justice of Kings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thpXPzMIFAY

One of the best high fantasy books I've read so far! The world building was incredible and detailed to the point where reading it almost felt like a manual (not the boring ones, of course). The characters and their growth was far from amazing, and I particularly adored a *certain* side character (you know who you are). I'm so excited to see what the author may come up with in the future :D