3.5⭐️. I have really mixed feelings about this book. I struggled to get into the first 40% and I don’t know whether that’s, in part, because I haven’t read The Empire of the Wolf, which I believe is set in the same world. There are a lot of names and political scene setting provided at the start without a huge amount of explanation, which probably feels more familiar, more quickly if you’ve read his previous series. Having just finished and now gained a much greater understanding of the world, I almost feel like I need to start again to fully appreciate the first part of the book. That being said, I really enjoyed the latter half and am definitely intrigued to see where the series goes.

You follow 3 POVs: Peter (a soldier in the Sovan Army), Renata (ambassador to the Stygion mer-men) and Count Von Oldenburg, and part of the problem was that it took me a while to connect with any of the characters and get invested in their journey. Yet by the end, I was very bought into Von Oldenburg as the villain:

“He was subtle in his manipulations and delicate in his murders, but nonetheless has a reputation as an evil man.”

Sova is a conquering nation, where the practice of magicks is illegal. Unexpectedly, Renata and the ambassador are visited by two monks who say that they have lost contact with the afterlife, and that this aligns with an ancient prophecy known as the Great Silence, which portends the end of the world. While she journeys to Stygion to seek aid from the mer-men, Von Oldenburg is investigating a so-called plague that is affecting the country, which may have a magikal origin. Peter’s journey was the one that I probably found the most consistently interesting - he’s been sent on a post many miles from Sovan to Fort Ingomar, a place where “soldiers speak constantly of ghouls and sprites in the forests, and I am certain they fear supernatural misadventure more than the enemy’s muskets” - and finds himself on a mission into the forest to investigate the mysterious beings killing soldiers and infecting their minds. This part of the story, in particular, had a horror-type vibe, which I think was really well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.

⤷ 4.5✩
In this book, the mortal realm is on the brink in ceasing to exist due to the prophesied but unknown “Great Silence”. Alongside the characters you are finding out what the “Great Silence” entails and its impact on this world. The framing of the problem and events evokes a constant feeling of dread; something is terribly wrong and you do not know what. The story is scary, mysterious and unique in its telling. The pacing is excellent, with every chapter necessary to the bigger picture. Hiwever, the book does feel a bit like an prologue, especially since the big revelations and solutions are yet to be revealed.

This book should ideally be read after the Emipre of the Wolf trilogy, but this is absolutely not necessary. I have yet to read that series and still perfectly understood everything going on in this book. Therefore, I assume that, apart from missing some history and references, you can pick up this book at any time. I am already looking forward to the next book in this series!

4.9⭐

Happy book publication day to Grave Empire! Truly, it was mind-blowing, as expected from Richard Swan.

This time, there are deadly secrets, strange prophecies, rich, epic fantasy, and endless greed.

The extremely suspenseful start of the story is what makes the novel perfect. Everything started with strange noises. I never thought it could lead to such disaster and chaos. With every page turned, the growing sense of dread made the story even more immersive.

This epic fantasy is on a whole different level—I can’t even explain it without giving spoilers! But I can tell you about the characters.

Peter is a reluctant soldier. If I remember correctly, I think he was a lieutenant. He had to face so much horror while investigating the cause of the strange happenings.

Renata is an ambassador, while Von Oldenburg has his own mission, accompanied by a strange woman. All three of them are outstanding in their own way, but I like Peter and Renata’s story more.

The ending leaves us on a minor cliffhanger. We learned so much about Renata and Lyzander. And, uff, Peter and the lethal magical event disguised as a plague outbreak!

The stage has been set! I can't wait for the second book.

[ARC provided by NetGalley and Orbit. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Grave Empire.]

Rating: 4.5/5

For the last two weeks, I’ve been fully submerged in the dark and mysterious writing of Richard Swan, and it’s all been leading up to this point. Grave Empire published today and having recently finished the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, my expectations were pretty high. Now, having reached the last page roughly an hour ago (so please forgive my ramblings in this review), I can confirm that Grave Empire goes above and beyond.

First of all, if you’re keen to jump right into this book but haven’t read the original Empire of the Wolf trilogy, don’t worry – Swan provides a strong and comprehensive introduction to this world that ensures new readers won’t feel lost. That being said, there are many easter eggs scattered throughout the story, so those familiar with the world will have plenty of ‘aha!’ moments to enjoy.

Grave Empire is set during an industrial revolution roughly 200 years after the events of The Trials of Empire. Sorcery and anything pertaining to the arcane have been outlawed in Sova, but as whispers of an impending calamity spread and doomsday prophecies come to light, it falls to a low-ranking ambassador to seek answers from those who still practice the forbidden arts. Packed with supernatural horror, political intrigue, and existential dread, this is the perfect read for any lover of dark fantasy.

In Grave Empire, we follow three distinct points of view, each offering a unique lens through which the plot unfolds and the world expands. With new places to discover, new people to meet, and a lot of new horrors to uncover, the backdrop for a looming disaster couldn’t be more perilous. And it's this degree of high-stakes that makes this such a hard book to put down!

I’m not even a little surprised that this book turned out to be a banger, and Grave Empire has cemented Richard Swan as a favourite author for me. His fresh take on dark fantasy rejuvenates the genre, and my only issue is, now that I’ve read all that I can regarding this world, the wait for book two is truly going to suck.

‘“Blood once turned the wheels of the empire; now it is money.” Maruska quoted, ignoring the engineer. “We can threaten to shoot our enemies, but it is much cheaper to pay them.”’

‪First book of The Great Silence, epic flintlock fantasy Grave Empire brings us back to Sova 200 years after the events of Empire of the Wolf. Amid an Industrial Revolution the threat of an apocalyptic prophesy and a mysterious plague unravels, bringing new questions to a setting fans of Empire of the Wolf will be thrilled to return to. Exploring new territories and cultures throws us deeper into the world Swan has meticulously crafted, casting every lead in the mystery off course.‬

Grave Empire is dark and eerie, with a looming dread that builds into some great intense and gripping moments. The central mystery makes it hard to put the book down and as each perspective character learns something new, you can’t wait to see if and when the others will uncover it too. Some of the horror was so thrilling I was on the edge of my seat envisioning the scenes perfectly. The Erdrich magic lends itself to a kind of horror so effective in a flintlock fantasy like this, we see the world’s rapidly advancing technology tested in many ways.

‘“The problem with the Imperial Office is that it views every race of people on this world as a problem to be solved. A dog to be brought to heel. It thinks in terms of administrative ledgers, accounts, mathematical equations, supply trains and tons of powder. It sees the Kasparov and the pagans and the Casemiro and the mer-men not as pieces in a common lot, but either as tools or as enemies. Does the gardener negotiate with the rake? Does the armed entreat the ploughshare?”’

The true beauty of this book is its slow paced immersive world building and how it threads together the stage for the full story. Through three very different character perspectives the reader is taught about the world both in-depth and surface level. We are introduced to the Stygion, the mer-men race who protect the Eye of the Sea and we become better acquainted with the wolfmen Kyarai fighting the proxy war between their native Casimir and as conscripts for Sova itself. The action is gritty and the horror moments are dark and full of gore which brings a strange realism into this fantasy, making it all the more impressive when our characters are tested to the extreme.

Swan’s writing is sharp and informative with descriptive imagery full of detail. His ability to reflect each character so well within the writing—through Peter’s letters, Ambassador Renata’s dialogue and Von Oldenburg’s internal ruminations—is what keeps the reader so engaged, especially through the more dense explanations. We uncover hidden delights in the moments a character becomes a living person through Swan’s writing, though he doesn’t do this extravagantly, he does it so minutely that you get such a wave of joy in finding them. From righteousness to moral quandary to pure terror the reader is placed into the shoes of each character as they begin to unravel each new mystery and its weight.

‘[I did, however see the thaumaturgic wind generators being installed by teas of engineers though they were not yet working.] They are a modern marvel, though it seems there is no part of the Empire now untouched by the fires of industry, and much of the natural beauty of the world—to say nothing of the native peoples within it— being excised at an alarming rate.’

You don’t have to have read Empire of The Wolf to enjoy this book and the core mystery will not be spoiled in doing so, in fact I believe it would be great to experience reading them for the first time after Grave Empire. There is so much more I can praise about this book, but I will stop here in fear of spoiling it.

I can’t wait for the next instalment of The Great Silence you bet I’ll be reading it as soon as it comes out. Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for an e-arc.

5 of 5 glowing stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/02/04/review-grave-empire-the-great-silence-1-by-richard-swan/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: I Loved This So Much

I loved this book. Richard Swan is quickly turning into a favourite author. Grave Empire is perfection to read. It’s not particularly a short story at around 530 pages but it doesn’t feel long. There’s no excess here. Literally, never a dull moment. The world building is excellent, the world is truly satisfying. There are three different POVs and they’re all good and can hold their own. I don’t know what else I can say – read it.

So, what else wowed me about Grave Empire.

Firstly, the writing. I love the way Swan writes. It just works for me, I should think it would work for everyone to be perfectly honest. He is eloquent. I love reading his books and he manages to create such an atmosphere. It goes from all manner of intrigue to actually quite terrifying, screams in the night, eyes that watch from the thick of the woods – it’s scary stuff (although I’m clearly a bit of a wuss). I will mention that this is dark and doesn’t hold back the punches. But, neither is it gratuitous. This is a world at war (seemingly on all fronts). An empire on the verge of collapse and so there is plenty of action.

The world building is phenomenal. This is a fascinating, if scary, place. The Sovan empire has outlawed the use of magic – but that’s not to say that magic isn’t practiced in secret. Religion and politics all feed into the story and the characters we follow enable us to travel far and wide encountering the most wonderful aspects imaginable. There are wolfmen, mermen – cat people. It’s crazy, exciting and frightening.

The story is told from three povs and they’re all absolutely compelling. We follow Renata who is an ambassador (or deputy?) to the Stygion Mermen. This is a strange role – most Sovans don’t even believe in the existence of mermen and so Renata and her colleague have to put up with ridicule quite regularly. At least until a couple of monks come to visit the Empire with news of a prophecy that foretells the end of the world as they know it and sparks a mission. I loved Renata, she’s such a real character and has a great support network surrounding her. This particular storyline is absolutely fascinating and the encounters with the mer folk were excellent. I can’t get enough of this strange world. Then we have Peter – I confess this is my favourite storyline (although it’s very close run thing to be honest). Lt Peter has been posted to the end of the world (or so it seems). Fort Ingomar. This is a creepy place. The soldiers can barely sleep at night for the strange and piercing screams that surround the fort. People go out foraging and die in quite brutal ways. Peter quite regularly writes correspondence to his father where we become familiar with his fears and doubts, he fears he’s made a terrible mistake and desperately wishes he could return home but the thought of the shame this would inflict on the family keeps him in place. I was genuinely scared for Peter. This aspect of the story definitely veers into horror and makes for compelling reading. There is a third viewpoint which is also dark and gruesome. I don’t want to elaborate too much on this aspect but leave it for readers to discover for themselves.

I could write so much more. The storyline is great, it feels like serious fantasy, there are questions and there are answers and the ending leaves us realising just how much more is yet to come. I can’t wait for the second but I’m going to end this review here before I turn into a gushing maniac. I cannot fault this book. I loved it.

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

Review - Grave Empire by Richard Swan is the first book in the Great Silence series.
Thanks to Netgalley and littlebrownbookgroup_uk for an eARC of this book.

It is a new era of innovation and exploration, the Empire of the Wolf grows aiming to be the biggest power in the world however, they have competition and such competition means conflict which the young officer Peter Kleist learns. A mysterious plague has broken out on the Empire's borders, drawing attention from a man of old noble blood, and then, the Empress gets a warning from two monks of a world-ending prophecy known as the Great Silence. Renata Rainer is a low-ranking ambassador to a race of mermen who becomes embroiled in investigating this prophecy.

I have been looking forward to this book since I first heard about it and I had high hopes after thoroughly enjoying the author’s previous trilogy and those hopes were not just met but exceeded. The story kept me properly hooked as we follow various events happening in the Empire from its interior to its borders and beyond as the plot develops and we get an increasing sense of just what a precarious position the Empire is in.

The characters were well done in this book. We have the three POV characters Renata, Peter and the old noble Von Oldenburg and they are brought to life so well. Each has their motivations and lives, and we get to see those as they try to traverse the difficulties all around as they do what each think is best or to just try to survive. The supporting characters such as Captain Furlan, the two monks and Yelena were just as well done as were so many others.

The worldbuilding in this book was great and I enjoyed travelling across the different parts of the Empire and learning about the external forces leaning on it. I also really enjoyed how the author interwove the politics of the world at large into the story.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to any fantasy fans, especially if you enjoy some horror thrown in for good measure.

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.