Swan does it again! This was an exceptionally engaging sequel to a very complex fantasy series that I absolutely adore. I was a bit sceptical going into this one just due to the high hopes I had for it, but I honestly loved it. I would say at the start it was quite confusing and it did have a lot more fantasy elements than the first novel. However, the characters are so authentic and had clearly developed over the events that happened. The relationships they build are so realistic and feel well connected to the way in which they react to the tragedies around them. I also felt like the stakes were a lot higher in this novel and I was instantly compelled and couldn’t put the book down. I definitely can’t wait for the next one.

TW: murder, violence, sexism, war, death of loved ones, illness

This is an intresting series. It's somehow different from the norm in fantasy. In my opinion, this second instalment takes a little bit of time to start picking up it's pace, but once it does, you only stop on the last page.
Very curious to know where this history is going.

The Tyranny of Faith
Empire of the Wolf #2
Scif-Fi & Fantasy
Richard Swan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a great sequel to the first book, Justice of Kings!

I love Richard Swan's style of writing, he has a way of describing things and includes plenty of details without having any info dumps. The writing also suits the world this is set in, nothing seems out of place or odd. This book is told through Helena's POV and sometimes includes the forshadowing of certain events.

The elements of magic and politics blend well and made the plot very interesting. I couldn't put this book down and managed to read it in about 7 hours.

I loved the characters when I first read The Justice of Kings and this time around they were even better! They're so well developed, likeable and relatable. They made me laugh, at times they made me tear up and at times they surprised the hell out of me.

The magic system still impresses me because it's so unique and I haven't read anything like it before.

I can't wait to explore this world even more and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.

*Thank you to @netgalley and the author for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*

Some writers just make you feel comfortable. From the get go, you know you are in a safe pair of hands and an epic story awaits.

Richard Swan is one such author.

By the time I had finished the first chapter, I knew this book was going to be incredible – and it was.

Everything was more. More world, more tension, more war, and more lore. The magical system was established in book one and also showcased in many ways, however in The Tyranny of Faith, it is expanded. We see not only how Vonvalt uses his power, but also how others, using it to their own ends, utilise the magic to devastating effect.

The relationship between Helena and Vonvalt was also explored. Sexual tension simmered in this book – always hinting at something more, which I just really loved. It’s not romantasy by any stretch of the imagination, more Jane Eyre than ACOTAR, if you know what I mean.

I don’t want to give a spoilery review, only rest assured if you’ve not yet started this series you should. Just as The Justice of Kings set up a larger world for The Tyranny of Faith, this book has set up a larger story again for the final instalment.

I’m very much looking forward to finding out what happens next.

The Tyranny of Faith is the second installment in Richard Swan’s Empire of the Wolf series. Picking up after the events of The Justice of Kings, we follow Helena and Sir Konrad as they return to Sova after the battle of Galen’s Vale. Sir Konrad and his team know the work is only just beginning – there is the threat of rebellion and traitors within the Magistratum. When the Emperor’s grandson is mysteriously kidnapped, the Emperor tasks Vonvalt with finding him and bringing him home alive, but as Vonvalt, Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radomir dig deeper, they uncover a much bigger plot than they could possibly have imagined.

After meaning to read The Justice of Kings for months I finally picked it up and was absolutely hooked. After finishing the book I immediately order The Tyranny of Faith because I was desperate to know where the story was going to go next. This fantasy series is well executed and I really enjoyed the plot of this second installment. There were a number of threads that Swan wove together seamlessly to create such a compelling narrative. We get to see more of the world in this installment and I was fascinated by the descriptions of Sova that practically leaped off the page.

In The Justice of Kings, I was keen to learn more about the magic and Vonvalt’s powers and we definitely get more of that in The Tyranny of Faith. This was probably the aspect of the book that intrigued me the most and I’m so glad we got to see more of it. The story features some really compelling characters that are so well-developed. Each character is dealing with their own issues and it was fascinating seeing how the dynamics between the four main characters changed as the story progressed and the tension heightened.

The Tyranny of Faith is an impressive second book in the series. It’s got wonderful characters and plenty of tense, action-filled moments to keep the reader turning pages. Swan has a really compelling writing style and that definitely shines through in this book. If you’re looking for a fantasy series with magic, mystery and tons of intrigue, this is definitely a series worth checking out. The Tyranny of Faith will definitely be on my best books of 2023 list and I cannot wait to see where the story goes next.

Please note The Tyranny of Faith is the second book in The Empire of the Wolf trilogy. If you haven’t read The Justice of Kings then what follows will likely contain minor spoilers. Consider yourselves duly warned!

A Justice’s work is never done.

The Battle of Galen’s Vale is over, but the war for the Empire’s future has just begun. Concerned by rumors that the Magistratum’s authority is waning, Sir Konrad Vonvalt returns to Sova to find the capital city gripped by intrigue and whispers of rebellion. In the Senate, patricians speak openly against the Emperor, while fanatics preach holy vengeance on the streets.

Yet facing down these threats to the throne will have to wait, for the Emperor’s grandson has been kidnapped – and Vonvalt is charged with rescuing the missing prince. His quest will lead him – and his allies Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radomir – to the southern frontier, where they will once again face the puritanical fury of Bartholomew Claver and his templar knights – and a dark power far more terrifying than they could have imagined.

The Justice of Kings was a first-rate fantasy thriller and one of my favourite novels from 2022. Its sequel has been released this week and the good news is Richard Swan has delivered once again.

The Tyranny of Faith picks up shortly after the events of book one. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is summoned to the nation’s capital, Sova, while the embers of revolution still smoulder. He has spent years on the road, attempting to avoid the political machinations of the ruling classes, but the Emperor’s whim cannot be ignored.

As before, the novel is narrated by Helena Sedanka. Sir Konrad Vonvalt’s often conflicted law clerk sits at the emotional core of the narrative. Lofty ideas like justice, fairness and equality mean everything to Helena. It is fascinating to watch how the harsh realities of life are often at odds with exactly that. Helena is young enough to still have principles and she has placed her employer on a bit of a pedestal. The only danger with doing that is more often than not people never live up to your high expectations of them.

The Tyranny of Faith digs deeper into Vonvalt the man. In The Justice of Kings, Vonvalt came across as something akin to the living embodiment of the law. I viewed him as a fantasy-infused Judge Dredd. There was a standoffish quality that purposefully kept him removed from everyone else. In this new novel, we get to see a peak behind the curtain. We learn how Vonvalt the man differs from Vonvalt the justice. The foibles and failings we see help to humanise the man, adding additional layers of depth to his character. There is also the odd revelation or two that make you realise how he has become the person that he is. I love to see this kind of growth in a character as a series develops.

Every good protagonist, no matter how flawed, needs a suitable adversary. Vonvalt’s nemesis, Bartholomew Claver is one of those self-absorbed narcissistic types who is utterly convinced he is in fact the hero of his own story. There is a supremely confident air that surrounds him. Doubts are meant for the little people not for the likes of Carver. Within about five minutes of his appearance I want to smack him upside the head. I’d hazard a guess that is the sort of reaction you’re always going to want when it comes to a villain. There is going to be a reckoning. We’re heading towards it at a rate of knots. The ultimate, inevitable showdown between Vonvalt and Carver is going to be a case of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. That’s bound to be loads of fun.

I think one of the things I like most about this series so far is how the actions of a small cast of characters have such far-reaching consequences. There are decisions that Vonvalt has to make that will shape nations for decades. What started out in The Justice of Kings as something like a fantastical police procedural has morphed into an insightful political thriller that just happens to have some fantasy elements.

There are some cracking action scenes in the novel as well. Helena and Sir Radomir find themselves in the midst of a battle at one point and Swan’s writing expertly captures the frenetic chaos of the encounter. I’m a big fan of balls-to-the-wall, all-out action fantasy but I’m glad when a story comes along that manages to be all that and has brains to boot. Based on how much I’ve enjoyed these first two novels I can confidently confirm that the author has earned himself a lifelong fan. I reckon that is just about the best compliment I could ever give.

The Tyranny of Faith ends on a suitably downbeat note. Things do not end well for Vonvalt and his motley band of loyal retainers. What this does do is set things up perfectly for what promises to be a quite spectacularly finale. The Tyranny of Faith has delivered everything I would want from a sequel. The world-building has been expanded upon, the tension in the plot has been turned up a multitude of notches and everything is still left to play for. I shall be waiting impatiently from now until book three arrives on my doorstep! I must know what happens next.

The Tyranny of Faith is published by Orbit and is available now. Highly recommended. Please promise me though that, if you haven’t already, you’ll read book one first.

As ever I’ll round off my bookish musings with a musical recommendation to accompany this novel. In this case, I’ve chosen the soundtrack to The Pale Blue Eye by Howard Shore. It’s just occurred to me that if they ever adapt The Empire of the Wolf for the screen, based on his performance in The Pale Blue Eye alone, Christian Bale would be an excellent choice for Sir Konrad Vonvalt. I would watch the hell out of that.

It's no surprise that I have been anxiously awaiting the continuation to my favourite book of 2022, and The Tyranny of Faith did not disappoint.

From the beginning with The Justice of Kings, there is a heavy cloud of foreboding and inevitability as our heroes journey through the empire. In the new sequel, the sense is amplified as matters come to a close with Claver and the Emperor himself.

I would describe this novel as a disruption: Sir Konrad has a goal in mind: he needs to stop his enemy from destroying the world as it is, but there are many obstacles stopping him on his path: politics, kidnappings and betrayals.

It is an action packed and thrilling adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn't find this a particularly satisfying conclusion considering the events that occurred but I wish I could read the final book right now. I am anxious over how everything will end and I will eagerly await the future release.

If you're a fantasy lover, definitely get your hands on this trilogy. It won't disappoint!

I read Richard Swan’s amazing The Justice of Kings last year, so when I saw that the sequel was available to review, I jumped at the chance. I honestly wasn’t sure if anything could be better than The Just of Kings, but The Tyranny of Faith proved me wrong.

The novel picks up close after the end of The Justice of Kings, with the main characters travelling back to the capital of Sova. Though the narration is from the point of view of clerk Helena Sedanka, the focus is on her employer, Justice Konrad Vonvalt, and his other retainers: Sir Dubine Bressinger and Sir Radomir. All have come from the troubles at Galen’s Vale with scars both internal and external, and all are concerned by reports from throughout the Empire of uprisings and dark magic. When they arrive in Sova, the Emperor thrusts Vonvalt into a position of power he does not want, despite also suffering from a mystery wasting illness, and is charged with rooting out any Justices who are aligned with the antagonist Bartholomew Claver, and thus working to cause the downfall of the Empire.

In the middle of this, the Emperor’s grandson is kidnapped, and whilst Vonvalt sees a connection between the growing public unrest, the rise of Bartholomew Claver’s Templars, and the kidnapping of the Prince, the Emperor does not. The politics here are astounding, as Vonvalt and crew try to balance both investigations, and in doing so end up facing some betrayals, eldritch magics, ethereal horrors, and so take some desperate measures. We meet characters new and old, and some seemingly insignificant moments in The Justice of Kings suddenly rise up with a vengeance.

To say that The Tyranny of Faith piles on the pressure is an understatement. The atmospheric uneasiness from the first novel evolves into a dark foreboding that infiltrates the whole of this book. There’s a lot of political manoeuvring and the interplay between religion, politics, and the law is well handled. The world building kicks up a notch too, with so much more of this world, its history, and its people being revealed to the reader. The plot is tight and whilst I did predict two of the twists I didn’t catch everything, which was a delight. Everything is deliciously tense, and there’s some real horror elements which were perfect and reminded me of the early 2000s’ video game Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. We are exposed to more magic as well — some beneficent, some baneful — as well as the tussle with how these fit into the legal and religious views of the world (something that seems to be an ongoing discussion between Justices and the religions themselves).

The characters are, again, deeply flawed and wonderfully human. I could really feel for Vonvalt as he is forced to continuously choose between what is right and just according to the law versus what would be the best cause of action for the situation around him. Bressinger and Radomir are further fleshed out, and Helena steps up as a force to be reckoned with, discovering new depths of her courage, purpose, abilities, and resilience. The relationships between all these characters are deep and authentic — there’s a moment where two characters have each other’s backs and then, in the next, they’re trying to kill each other in the street. Brilliantly nuanced. There’s one relationship in particular that was hinted at in The Justice of Kings and which is given some room to grow here, and not everyone will like it but that’s all I’m going to say. The whole book is an emotional rollercoaster for our main group (and in this respect it reminded me of Robin Hobb), and there is a moment in particular where my heart was (metaphorically) ripped from my chest.

The writing is beautifully sparse but archaic in places; perfect for the story being told. And it is a story being told — from a much older Helena in the future, looking back — and this frame narrative works wonderfully to contain the events of the story. The title — The Tyranny of Faith — is perfect for the key dilemma facing Vonvalt. I am in love with the prose, the world building, the characters, the magic, and I can’t wait for the final book in this trilogy, The Ruin of Empires, which is expected in February 2024. I already have it on pre-order.

I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Orbit, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm Speechless.


Don't come down, I really have no idea how to write anything about this book. I was just reading my review of The Justice of Kings, Empire of the Wolf's first book, already find it one of my best books of all time, I expressed my love to Konrad, all the characters, their relationship and their loyalty to each other, The Justice of Kings was indeed my whole heart.

Now I'm here, sitting in front of my laptop, looking out of windows to the crowded city and have nothing to say about this excellent sequel, The Tyranny of Faith that unexpectedly, cruelly and unfairly was much better than the prior!

For the one who didn't read this series, first, consider yourself lost (especially when dark fantasy is your type!), second, do not hesitate to read this book and third, know that:
This is the story of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, the story of the rise and fall of the Sovan Empire, Empire of the Wolf!

And now for the ones who read the first book,
After the events in The Justice of Kings, Justice Konrad Vonvalt in company with Helena Sedanka, his clerk (and the narrator of the story), Dubine Bressinger, Vonvalt’s taskman, and Sir Radomir, the former Sheriff of Galen’s Vale, arrived to the Capital city of the Sovan Empire, Sova, city of emperor and justices.

And there will be bloodshot, betrayal, twists and turns and many things you never will guess and make you insomnia, heartbroken and mad! I really, I mean truly, walked in this city, watched and felt everything.

From now on I can not fall in love with any books, I may be like, enjoy or even love a book but no, I am sure of it, this never going to happen, there will not be another Empire of the Wolf!

My huge thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit via NetGalley for giving me the chance to read The Tyranny of Faith (Empire of the Wolf #2), I have given my honest review with a broken heart. Richard Swan, you turned my world upside down!

AMAZING FANTASY SEQUEL. The characters are explored deeper, and all of them are amazing and unique! The expanded narration around the magic system also helps the reader dive deeper into the setting and become even more introgued with the characters.

Happy to report the Empire of the Wolf trilogy continues to be excellent!

The book again follows Justice Vonvalt, his apprentice Helena and his retainers Dubine Bressinger and now Sir Radomir as the y move to the capital of Sova. Still dealing with the threat of Claver and the Templars, they are roped into a kidnapping case when the Emperor's grandson goes missing. At the same time, Vonvalt is plagued by a mysterious illness that might take his life. Saying much more than this would get into spoilers but suffice to say, Swan really ups the stakes and weaves a complex web of political intrigue, detective story and eldritch horror.

Where the first book was more The Witcher meets Sherlock Holmes, the book adds deft political intrigue into the story as we learn more about the Empire. We see the parts of the Swan's world that are inspired by the Holy Roman Empire which worked really well in a mix with German and Baltic influences. Morality and legality are again the major themes of the book, as well as the fallibility of the state and its failure to adapt to sudden failures or fringe threats. There was action, and betrayal, and drama! I couldn't put the book down.

With that being said, my favourite part of the book were its characters. HELENA FUCKING SEDANKA - what a marvelous character. While she mainly stayed in my mind as the narrator and Vonvalt's apprentice from the first book, she grew immensely in this book and solidified herself as one of my favourite protagonists of all time. Her resilience is inspiring and she somewhat acts as the moral compass in the group.

We see Vonvalt and Helena's relationship progress in this book, even as his character changes and he is plagued by a mysterious illness. I'm sure not every reader will like where their relationship is going, but I did see it coming since the first book and Helena's attachment to Vonvalt made a lot of sense to me. In this book, she is still wary of him however as his demeanour and the way he deals justice shifts from what Helena thought him to be.

The book also explored Bressinger and Radomir's characters more as we dove into their backstory in the Reichskrieg. Sir Radomir with his no-nonsense attitude and straightforwardness was a great addition to the group and a great foil to Vonvalt's tendency to withhold information. The group dynamic between Bressinger, Helena and Sir Radomir was also amazing and addded some well-needed levity and humour to the otherwise very grim story.

In this book, Swan also expanded upon the magic system which I found very intriguing and added some Gothic eldritch horror to the story which worked surprisingly well. The frame narrative of Helena narrating the story as an old woman again works well, imbuing the story with dramatic irony and reflections. The threat of Claver also became way more real and terrifying compared to the first book. Having a stronger antagonist was a great addition and helped in raising the stakes more.

Overall, a perfect sequel to my favorite book of 2022 and I can't wait for the conclusion. 5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Tyranny of Faith is a solid sequel to The Justice of Kings that does a good job or expanding the immersion of the world through more extensive world building across the Empire of the Wolf and a greater focus on the necromantic magic system. The book is again written in first person, which I can tolerate for the most part, however the frequent reminders from the narrator of this story having already happened can be frustrating, especially when it de-escalates the tension in what would otherwise be a tense scene.

Overall, I found this book slightly more enjoyable than book 1 and will most likely finish the trilogy upon the release of book 3 next year.

This is an excellent sequel to the Justice of Kings! More of Vonvalt, Bressinger, and Helena.

This is more engaging to me than the first book since it is more political and with an aspect of witchcraft and cult made this sequel fantastic!

Swan manages to engage the reader and be immersed in the characters. Knowingly, Helena is the one who is telling the story making it more story surround. I love the dynamics. The more I get into the story, the more it is exciting and exhilarating!

The Tyranny of Faith is a terrific 2nd book in the Empire of the Wolf trilogy and improves upon The Justice of Kings in almost every way.

It expands the world significantly, especially painting a very immersive picture of the realm’s Rome inspired capital, Sova, and its inner workings. It does a fine job of building upon what TJoK established giving us more of the same intrigue and mystery, while venturing into new territories with more action, battles, political machinations, new government institutions and their crafty representatives with their own agendas. Tyranny amps up the betrayals, twists and turns - the magic & horror elements in particular.

Most importantly, Swan develops the main cast of characters and their relationships in an organic manner, endearing them to the reader and making them sympathetic despite placing them in situations which drive them to morally ambiguous decisions and actions.

As other readers have pointed out, the last 30% of this novel is a heart-pounding and emotional rollercoaster so you’d better reserve a few hours to finish the story.

The one major downside which may drag the book down for some readers - and initially slowed down my progress as well - is the slow start and general pacing of the first half of the novel which heavily foregrounds the worldbuilding. Detailed descriptions of the environment & architecture may naturally not keep everyone glued to the page, however, it’s livened up by an abduction and the subsequent mystery investigation. After that, the story really takes off.

Swan’s writing style is immensely engaging, eloquent and somewhat archaic, which fits elderly Helena’s retrospective storytelling about a fallen empire. This series truly stands out in the modern fantasy landscape as one of the most unique and well-crafted trilogies, providing a refreshing new take on a medieval type of fantasy which tackles questions of morality, law, power, religion, and fanaticism, among others.
I can’t praise the Tyranny of Faith enough and am looking forward to this trilogy’s conclusion next year.

Thank you Netgalley and Orbit for providing me with an early e-ARC for reviewing purposes.

I loved the Tyranny of Faith even more than the first book in the Empire of the Wolf series. Especially the character relationships are so good! There was a tension the whole way through. The second book dives deeper into the magical elements which was horrific and fascinating.The horror elements surprised me in a really good way, Richard Swan is capable of so many different things, it's excellent! Also the battle scene was so epic, I loved it, I was reminded of The Battle of the Bastards, I could really feel being in this mess surrounded by violent chaos, just so good! But I must say I missed a courtroom scene, I just loved that scene so much in the first book, but it probably wouldn't have fit the pacing.
I also wanted to say: Heinrich is the best, he's such a good boy and he must be protected at all costs!

This is an excellent fantasy series: epic and gripping, well plotted, a fantasy full of paranormal elements and a thriller at the same time.
And I love it. Loved the Justice of Kings and loved The Tyranny of Faith even if it's a bit slow at times.
I learned that I have to wait 2024 for the next book and I look forward to read it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

In which we return to the land of The Empire of the Wolf. After the events in Galen’s Vale (as given in the first book of this Epic Fantasy series, The Justice of Kings, reviewed HERE) Justice Konrad Vonvalt, his clerk and protegee Helena Sedanka, his bodyguard taskman Dubine Bressinger and retainer Sir Radomir, the former Sheriff of Galen’s Vale, return from the provinces to the city of Sova.

It has been years since Vonvalt has exercised his powers as the Emperor’s Justice in the Capital city of the Sovan Empire, and things have changed – events that Vonvalt discovered in distant Galen’s Vale are also having their impact here. There are rumours that the Magistratum’s influence is waning and, more worrying for Konrad, rumours that his friend and mentor Nathaniel Kadlec is involved. Templars are rising under the influence of Bartholomew Claver, the villain Konrad and his group met in Galen’s Vale. As Vonvalt is investigating these claims, another event of concern occurs. Kamil, the Emperor’s Grandson, is kidnapped. Vonvalt is given the task of retrieving him by the Emperor and to do this Konrad and his allies must travel south to where Claver and his Templar knights seem to be establishing a stronghold. Vonvalt feels that the two situations may be connected.

From the outset Vonvalt (and to a lesser extent Helena) have a feeling of foreboding, that things are not well and especially do not sit well for Konrad. He is consumed with an illness that seems to be untreatable and yet becomes progressively worse. The reasons for this are shockingly explained later in the book.

My first reaction to the novel was that there was lots of information to assimilate in the first few chapters here as Vonvalt and his crew reach Sova. This is a means of telling us about things we knew of but knew little about previously. We discover more about how the Justice system, of which Vonvalt is one of the most important. Swan’s background of reading law and being a solicitor is clearly of use here.

Although it was hinted at in the first book, here we begin to see Vonvalt in a different light, as a lawgiver and political opponent with connections to the Emperor.  In fact, one of the interesting developments in this novel is that in many ways Vonvalt is seen differently by those around him. Even idealistic Helena’s perspective is tempered by what he sees and finds out about Vonvalt here.

In terms of characterisation, the book clearly belongs to Helena. As the narrator she guides us through the story, more knowing than in the first book, still stubbornly idealistic but also occasionally naïve, which is pleasingly engaging. However, being a first-person narrative means that the author has to deal with some tricky manoeuvring in order for Helena to be in the right place for that story and also be able to tell us what happened.

More positively, there’s a nice amount of foreshadowing throughout the book too that I liked, used to create suspense. Towards the end the book takes some interesting turns. Interestingly, much of the major plot elements take place without some of the key characters being present. At times, this also leads to a slightly uneven pace. Some journeys are sped through in a matter of sentences that took pages to cover earlier, but this is so that the plot can focus on the key events in the story it is telling.

To be fair though, as this is the second book of a series you tend to expect a little more. In The Tyranny of Faith the canvas is broader, the story more complex. I felt I knew more about Vonvalt’s world from this novel than I did before, although the book is firmly focussed on characterisation. By comparison the events of The Justice of Kings seem relatively provincial, although as this book shows they will have greater consequences.

In summary, then, as the middle book of a trilogy The Tyranny of Faith does exactly what I hoped it would do – introduce new elements and new situations that broaden my perspective on the world and deepen my understanding of the characters that I am reading about. I was actually pleased to find out that at the end I was not where I expected to be. There were also a few intriguing elements left to be resolved in the third book.

You may be best reading The Justice of Kings first – although you can read this without – but as good as Justice was,  The Tyranny of Faith ups its game enormously. Complex political machinations, detailed settings, epic and gory battles, dark magic and flawed characters that you grow to love and care about, these elements allow us to focus on a bigger, bolder and more complex story here. I found it was all you would hope a sophomore novel to do. Recommended.


One last point - the cover by artist Martina Facova restores my own faith in book covers at the moment. It is a work of class that epitomises the novel between its covers.

The first book in this series is one of my all time favourites and I'm glad to say that in Book 2 - there is just as much action and adventure!

The Tyranny of Faith is the second book in the Empire of the Wolf series. The storytelling is different than other series. We learn everything about Sir Vonvalt from the perspective of his clerk Helena.  The world building in this series is amazing. It is very detailed and easy to picture in my mind. We also get to see different parts of the kingdom too. The pace is slower side same as the first book but everything is so interesting it kept you reading. I also liked how the action scene was written. They were very realistic and brutal. It is a solid series and keeps getting better with each book. I can't wait to read the final book to see how everything is going to end. If you like grimdark you should give this series a chance.

The first novel in Swan's newest series 'Empire of the Wolves' was one of my biggest surprise hits of 2022. "The Justice of Kings" had a slow start and then grabbed me by the throat, taking me on an unforgettable ride with one of my new favorite characters of the fantasy genre, Konrad Vonvalt. Vonvalt returns in the second book, "The Tyranny of Faith", which starts basically where the previous book stops, forming an almost seamless continuation.

This time, the stakes are even higher after the reveals of the previous book, and I was completely obsesses from the very first page on. The writing is superb, the plot masterfully crafted, and although a lot of things are happening, Swan still allows us to spend quiet times with the characters, growing even more fond of them. Which, obviously, he'll use to hurt us, but who doesn't love a bit of pain in their political fantasy? The beautiful prose also delivered some really memorable lines about morality, about the nature of justice and injustice, about the interpretation of laws. This is still a big focus of the series and it's what I find most fascinating about it. Add to that tumultous events, twists and turns and loathable antagonists, all of it painted in differenc shades of grey, and the resulting image will intrigue you from every possible perspective. The book made me go through all the emotions, and I couldn't stop reading. I devoured it.

There's also more focus on the romantic nature of the relationship between Vonvalt and Helena, his protégé and the pov character, recounting the events in her late memoir. I'm pretty sure this development will be hit or miss amongst the readers, and I'm not sure I'm entirely on board with the age gap and power dynamic between them - yes, the characters themselves acknowledge this, but it still feels a little unnecessary considering Swan could have easily made Helena just a little older. I still enjoyed it, and there were parts of it that made me shed a tear or two - and also one that made me very frustrated because Vonvalt suddenly turned idiot teenager to make one of the objectively dumbest decisions ever, and I did feel this was a little ooc - but I can see some readers not liking this direction.

It's also still a very Manly Man kind of fantasy series. The women in power, that absolutely exist, don't really have much to do most of the time. The most important characters are men, with Helena being the one big exception. I loved that she gained a lot more agency and truly epic moments of badassery this time around, and I adore her. But I would love for the next book to use its existing great female characters more, flesh them out.

So, in conclusion: This is one of my favourite new fantasy trilogies and I cannot wait for the finale, and if you're into character driven political yet epic fantasy, this one's for you. 4,5 stars, gladly rounding up.