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The Great Silence #1
Grave Empire
From critically acclaimed author Richard Swan,
Grave Empire
begins the epic tale of an empire on the verge of industrial revolution, where sorcery and arcane practices are outlawed—and where an ancient prophecy threatens the coming end of days.
Blood once turned the wheels of empire. Now it is money.
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...
Blood once turned the wheels of empire. Now it is money.
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...
14 pages, Audible Audio
First published February 4, 2025
636 people are currently reading
32796 people want to read
About the author
Richard Swan
18 books1,681 followersRichard Swan is a critically acclaimed British genre writer. He is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Empire of the Wolf and Great Silence trilogies, as well as fiction for Black Library and Grimdark Magazine. His work has been translated into ten languages.
Richard is a qualified lawyer, and before writing full time spent ten years litigating multimillion pound commercial disputes in London. He currently lives in Sydney with his wife and three young sons.
For updates follow him at stonetemplelibrary.com.
Richard is a qualified lawyer, and before writing full time spent ten years litigating multimillion pound commercial disputes in London. He currently lives in Sydney with his wife and three young sons.
For updates follow him at stonetemplelibrary.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 777 reviews
February 25, 2025
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 were to ask 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 suffocation 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 creates 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.
Full list of trigger warnings and other FAQs here.
♦️♦️♦️
Never read this author before, but the premise for this had me at hello.
So thrilled to buddy read this ARC with my beloved bsf, Ivana!
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 suffocation 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 creates 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.
Full list of trigger warnings and other FAQs here.
♦️♦️♦️
Never read this author before, but the premise for this had me at hello.
So thrilled to buddy read this ARC with my beloved bsf, Ivana!
November 15, 2024
Easily one of the best book I've read this year. It is absolutely brilliant fantasy.
The story in itself is a real page turner. The stakes are immediately high, the pacing is perfect and the mysteries are layered in the most interesting way. I really liked that magic is present but must be rediscovered after being banned.
I loved the different points of view. Every POV character is set on a different path, in a different part a world, and it is great for the pacing and the world building. Each one is confronted to its own mysteries and horrors. The quotes introducing each chapter weirdly resonated with me.
The characters are brilliantly written, very human and faulted. There are no heroes, and some of them are not even good people. But they are compelling and even the side characters feel fully developed.
Even though it is set in the same world as the previous trilogy, The Empire of The Wolf, and around two centuries later, you do not need to have read it to fully enjoy this book.
There are references, but it's not crucial to the appreciation or comprehension.
I can't wait for the next book!
The story in itself is a real page turner. The stakes are immediately high, the pacing is perfect and the mysteries are layered in the most interesting way. I really liked that magic is present but must be rediscovered after being banned.
I loved the different points of view. Every POV character is set on a different path, in a different part a world, and it is great for the pacing and the world building. Each one is confronted to its own mysteries and horrors. The quotes introducing each chapter weirdly resonated with me.
The characters are brilliantly written, very human and faulted. There are no heroes, and some of them are not even good people. But they are compelling and even the side characters feel fully developed.
Even though it is set in the same world as the previous trilogy, The Empire of The Wolf, and around two centuries later, you do not need to have read it to fully enjoy this book.
There are references, but it's not crucial to the appreciation or comprehension.
I can't wait for the next book!
March 10, 2025
My first 5-star read of 2025! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
This delivers on its title! It is grand, it is epic, it tense and it is dark.... Fantasy meets mystery meets horror. Sign me up!
So, a bit of context. I've read the first two instalments of Richard Swan's first series and throughly enjoyed them both. However, Grave Empire takes the gold medal as the best of the three! I really felt like there has been growth as a writer, with expert exploitation of the strengths of multi-PoV fantasy. It feels sharp and snappy and thrilling. I felt immersed in the dark world, from the politics of the capital to the dark landscape of the border. The characters were unique. The plot was engaging. There really is not much more you can ask from a first instalment of a new series.
Richard Swan is brilliant at quickly crafting characters and investing you in their stories. Whether I love them, hate them or follow somewhere in the middle, I always feel the weight of their story. Whilst there was no standout character for me, their actions really feel like they have consequences, and that raises the tension so much. This style works perfectly with the spider web of mysteries and dark secrets entangled in Grave Empire. You slowly collect the breadcrumbs as the suspense builds to an epic climax. I cannot wait to see the repercussions in book 2 and to also see these characters grow more.
Grave Empire is wonderful, unique fantasy. You want an epic world full of mermen, dark magic and grand wars? You also want a world with an intimate high-scale mission, characters caught out of their depth and tense mysteries? A writer not afraid to shock you and to go beyond the expected? You will find all of the aforementioned here.
5/5 STARS
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
This delivers on its title! It is grand, it is epic, it tense and it is dark.... Fantasy meets mystery meets horror. Sign me up!
So, a bit of context. I've read the first two instalments of Richard Swan's first series and throughly enjoyed them both. However, Grave Empire takes the gold medal as the best of the three! I really felt like there has been growth as a writer, with expert exploitation of the strengths of multi-PoV fantasy. It feels sharp and snappy and thrilling. I felt immersed in the dark world, from the politics of the capital to the dark landscape of the border. The characters were unique. The plot was engaging. There really is not much more you can ask from a first instalment of a new series.
Richard Swan is brilliant at quickly crafting characters and investing you in their stories. Whether I love them, hate them or follow somewhere in the middle, I always feel the weight of their story. Whilst there was no standout character for me, their actions really feel like they have consequences, and that raises the tension so much. This style works perfectly with the spider web of mysteries and dark secrets entangled in Grave Empire. You slowly collect the breadcrumbs as the suspense builds to an epic climax. I cannot wait to see the repercussions in book 2 and to also see these characters grow more.
Grave Empire is wonderful, unique fantasy. You want an epic world full of mermen, dark magic and grand wars? You also want a world with an intimate high-scale mission, characters caught out of their depth and tense mysteries? A writer not afraid to shock you and to go beyond the expected? You will find all of the aforementioned here.
5/5 STARS
February 6, 2025
Richard Swan is my addiction. Fantasy horror needs to become more mainstream.
4.5
4.5
February 2, 2025
i haven’t read the Empire of the Wolf trilogy yet, but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book set in the same world. Grave Empire lives up to its name by being brutal, bloody and unforgiving. there’s three main povs: Peter, von Oldenburg and Renata. we get to see different sides of this world through these characters as the south is being torn apart by a plague and the north is on the brink of total collapse. i loved the setting of this book— it’s like a mix of steam punk and arcane arts that’s shifting from magic to industrialization.
”There are two ways to blunt a blade; one is in it’s scabbard, the other is in the belly of your enemy.”
the characters all had strong and distinct personalities, von Oldenburg especially was an interesting piece of work.. one of those characters that you love to hate, there was a section where it felt like he was embodying Dr. Frankenstein, it was insane. there’s bits of the story that are bordering on horror in it’s imagery, with every kind of creature you can think of: mermen, sharks, vampires, zombies (kind of), etc. Peter’s pov was the one that had the most instances of creepy occurrences, especially in the beginning. Renata is a spitfire, she’s an ambassador of a race of mermen which people don’t think exists and has a set way of approaching things. there’s also a big focus on life after death as the story kicks off when two monks claim to have lost their connection to the afterlife, bringing forth the end of days. i thought this was so unique and a great start to this new series, already looking forward to book 2!
↠ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Orbit Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
”There are two ways to blunt a blade; one is in it’s scabbard, the other is in the belly of your enemy.”
the characters all had strong and distinct personalities, von Oldenburg especially was an interesting piece of work.. one of those characters that you love to hate, there was a section where it felt like he was embodying Dr. Frankenstein, it was insane. there’s bits of the story that are bordering on horror in it’s imagery, with every kind of creature you can think of: mermen, sharks, vampires, zombies (kind of), etc. Peter’s pov was the one that had the most instances of creepy occurrences, especially in the beginning. Renata is a spitfire, she’s an ambassador of a race of mermen which people don’t think exists and has a set way of approaching things. there’s also a big focus on life after death as the story kicks off when two monks claim to have lost their connection to the afterlife, bringing forth the end of days. i thought this was so unique and a great start to this new series, already looking forward to book 2!
↠ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Orbit Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
January 20, 2025
Whoa! So I thought The Empire of the Wolf trilogy was dark. Nope. A playpen full of puppies that one was. Grave Empire immediately ranks amongst the best fantasy books of the year. It’s a rare treat that scratches the itch left behind by a lot of supernatural horror these days, with the added bonus of a fantasy setting. It’s refreshing, brutal, and a masterclass in creating a brooding atmosphere that I love basking in. VERY Joe Abercrombie like and I’d say he’s got competition.
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February 27, 2025Video thoughts here: https://youtu.be/40EhDW7Vsm4
I love that Richard has decided to fully embrace his mix of fantasy and horror with this one. The world, monsters, and overall sense of dread in this book were terrific. Justice of Kings aside, this is my favorite story within the Sova universe and can't wait to see where he goes with it next.
I love that Richard has decided to fully embrace his mix of fantasy and horror with this one. The world, monsters, and overall sense of dread in this book were terrific. Justice of Kings aside, this is my favorite story within the Sova universe and can't wait to see where he goes with it next.
December 28, 2024
As the Expedition Leader of the quest for the best in flintlock, I'll go ahead and say that Grave Empire deserves a place up with THE THOUSAND NAMES and GUNS OF THE DAWN as pinnacles of the flintlock genre. It remains to be seen if the rest of the series can straddle that fine line and seal the deal in such a perfect way as to make it the seminal flintlock series. GUNS is a standalone and SHADOW CAMPAIGNS stumbles at the finish line and longtime viewers know that POWDER MAGE is not a favorite of mine. Can THE GREAT SILENCE take that top spot? Ask me in 2 years.
As a sequel series set 200 years after the events of TRIALS OF EMPIRE, Grave Empire gives us more of Sova and its environs. I enjoyed not having to relearn basically everything since much of the world is familiar, and yet Swan does a fantastic job of making it feel like a world later in time, not just the reskinned old one. One of the main POVs deals with diplomacy, military logistics, and politics while the other has some really stellar flintlock battles as well as...horror...both grounded and cosmic. Seriously, Swan loves the horror genre. Some of this stuff is legit frightening, as in I did not enjoy reading it in the evening times and, for the two of you besides me who have read it, some of it reminds me a lot of the MONARCHIES OF GOD series in some of the supernatural and terrifying happenings.
The mystery keeps you guessing and the characters are memorable and fun, and Swan has a great portrayal of autism which I thought was neat. There's also something called The Knackerman that unsettles me way more than it has any right to. I think this book straddle the line perfectly between the grounded and the supernatural and I hope it continues to walk that line as, for me, the supernatural benefits from being grounded, enhancing the terror and avoiding power creep.
Also, there are armored sharks and orcas. As if you needed more to recommend it.
Thanks to the author, Orbit, and Netgalley for the ARC and stay tuned for a full review on my channel.
As a sequel series set 200 years after the events of TRIALS OF EMPIRE, Grave Empire gives us more of Sova and its environs. I enjoyed not having to relearn basically everything since much of the world is familiar, and yet Swan does a fantastic job of making it feel like a world later in time, not just the reskinned old one. One of the main POVs deals with diplomacy, military logistics, and politics while the other has some really stellar flintlock battles as well as...horror...both grounded and cosmic. Seriously, Swan loves the horror genre. Some of this stuff is legit frightening, as in I did not enjoy reading it in the evening times and, for the two of you besides me who have read it, some of it reminds me a lot of the MONARCHIES OF GOD series in some of the supernatural and terrifying happenings.
The mystery keeps you guessing and the characters are memorable and fun, and Swan has a great portrayal of autism which I thought was neat. There's also something called The Knackerman that unsettles me way more than it has any right to. I think this book straddle the line perfectly between the grounded and the supernatural and I hope it continues to walk that line as, for me, the supernatural benefits from being grounded, enhancing the terror and avoiding power creep.
Also, there are armored sharks and orcas. As if you needed more to recommend it.
Thanks to the author, Orbit, and Netgalley for the ARC and stay tuned for a full review on my channel.
July 12, 2025
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!
Grave Empire is a dark tale of war, fear, and lost hope. Not unlike Swan’s first trilogy, this is a genre blender-a mix of mystery, epic fantasy, a quest, and very clearly horror. The land is old and full of dread. The men who fight do not know what waits for them. The sea hides things that should not be seen. The woods hold ghosts of the past.
The book opens with Peter riding in a coach to a fort at the edge of the world. This reminded me of the first chapter of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in which Jonathan rides a coach through Transylvania to reach castle Dracula. Like Jonathan’s ride, Peter’s ride is long and full of dread. Also, at least part of Peter’s story is told in letters, the epistolary inspiration from Dracula is unabashed. The land is strange, the air thick with fear. The men who drive the coach seem to know more than they say. The trip is not just a ride—it is a step into the unknown. He hopes for a life of ease, but finds only death and cold fear. The land is strange, the air thick with doom. He writes to his dad, but his words grow dark. The men at the fort are weak and lost. The woods near them hum with pain.
Renata works for the crown. She must deal with the sea folk, but no one cares for her task. The ships that sail near them do not come back. The truth is deep and hard to find. She seeks peace, but war may be inevitable. The worldbuilding is exquisite here, Swan conjuring races, symbiosis between species, environs, habitats, that filled me with wonder.
Praise aside, the book was slow, probably intentionally so, for the first half and picks up pace in the second. The snail’s pace at the start serves to slowly build the dread, set up the mystery, lay out the various pieces - nations, races, religions and religious sects, their politicking, before the intentional convergence towards a quest and then the climax. The politicking here was not as interpersonal as Swan’s previous trilogy. The book presented big-picture political happenings and religious rifts in this world as a close backdrop to our characters’ lives playing out in the storylines of three main POVs. The pace intensifies in the last third where all the mystery and secrets are unraveled in a satisfying climax and ending. The end and the epilogue provide adequate anticipation for the next installment.
The book was grim and full of woe. The land vast and cold. Swan has spun a world that is full of awe and marvel. This slow-burn horror-mystery-quest was rich and deep, with words that pull you in.
Grave Empire is a dark tale of war, fear, and lost hope. Not unlike Swan’s first trilogy, this is a genre blender-a mix of mystery, epic fantasy, a quest, and very clearly horror. The land is old and full of dread. The men who fight do not know what waits for them. The sea hides things that should not be seen. The woods hold ghosts of the past.
The book opens with Peter riding in a coach to a fort at the edge of the world. This reminded me of the first chapter of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in which Jonathan rides a coach through Transylvania to reach castle Dracula. Like Jonathan’s ride, Peter’s ride is long and full of dread. Also, at least part of Peter’s story is told in letters, the epistolary inspiration from Dracula is unabashed. The land is strange, the air thick with fear. The men who drive the coach seem to know more than they say. The trip is not just a ride—it is a step into the unknown. He hopes for a life of ease, but finds only death and cold fear. The land is strange, the air thick with doom. He writes to his dad, but his words grow dark. The men at the fort are weak and lost. The woods near them hum with pain.
Renata works for the crown. She must deal with the sea folk, but no one cares for her task. The ships that sail near them do not come back. The truth is deep and hard to find. She seeks peace, but war may be inevitable. The worldbuilding is exquisite here, Swan conjuring races, symbiosis between species, environs, habitats, that filled me with wonder.
Praise aside, the book was slow, probably intentionally so, for the first half and picks up pace in the second. The snail’s pace at the start serves to slowly build the dread, set up the mystery, lay out the various pieces - nations, races, religions and religious sects, their politicking, before the intentional convergence towards a quest and then the climax. The politicking here was not as interpersonal as Swan’s previous trilogy. The book presented big-picture political happenings and religious rifts in this world as a close backdrop to our characters’ lives playing out in the storylines of three main POVs. The pace intensifies in the last third where all the mystery and secrets are unraveled in a satisfying climax and ending. The end and the epilogue provide adequate anticipation for the next installment.
The book was grim and full of woe. The land vast and cold. Swan has spun a world that is full of awe and marvel. This slow-burn horror-mystery-quest was rich and deep, with words that pull you in.
February 2, 2025
I would like to thank NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
🧜🏾♂️🧜🏾♂️🧜🏾♂️🦈🦈🦈🐆🐆🐆🐺🐺🐺🐟🐋🐟🐋 🦪🦪🦪🪸🪸🪸
💎I can go on forever about how excellent a writer i think Richard Swan is, and happily after reading his latest with my super babe ✨Esta✨, who makes every Buddy Read a most marvelous and extraordinary adventure, that opinion has not changed in the slightest! Grave Empire was a wild ride from beginning to end, and it being a solid fantasy win that i knocked off in January was a fortuitous way to celebrate the anniversary of my first discovering the epic awesomeness that is Empire of the Wolf! So YAY!🥳
⭐Grave Empire was yet another example of Swan's brilliant and compelling writing style that i love to read! His eloquent, accessible narrative flowed seamlessly through his brilliant way of worldbuilding, animated by impressive characterization and a toothy bit of creepy plot that gave me the shivers. His epigraphs were life...especially Sir Konrad Vonvalt’s! I miss that man! And I LOVE TITLED CHAPTERS...even if my brain is a sieve and I kept on forgetting them. And OFC I LOVE that the colonel had a husband!!!! LGBTQ rep in the first three chapters is a winner for me!⭐
Sova came alive for me in this book, especially the fish market scene and kaffeehaus/oyster house/university environs etc. Swan's way of layering the scenes, revisiting areas, people, places and political opportunity made the worldbuilding very natural and organic.
I liked Renata, but I LOVED Peter!!! Both perspectives were really rich contrasts in experiences and environments, but i was terrified for Peter. Renata had such a deep reservoir of support, a generous mentor and years of a skillset, even if it was in theory only. But Peter's POV was breathtakingly lonesome and he made my heart ache. There was a moment right before an enemy charge when Peter was frozen in place by fear, but the outside perspective saw him as standing his ground! It was this sort of dual energy he embodied that I found fascinating! Public perception vs his interiority of vulnerable truth. He just gave off that sweet boy energy who's about to grow up really fast in the face of killer horrors...and my intuition was spot on. Very "Heart of Darkness" and i could not have been more invested.
The Great Cataclysm yielded fusion races of humans and beasts, and we got to explore more of them in this book; not just the Kasar wolfmen who were first introduced in the Empire of The Wolf series. The Stygion Mer-men were ΑΜΑΖΙNG to read about, and i loved how action-packed Renata's POV was because of their contentious relationship to Sovan violence and oppression. There was magic and mayhem and fighting, and i'm excited to see the kind of Ambassador she will become by the end of this series.
✨ Here are some other things i loved ✨:
💥"A man with two masters makes an enemy of the whole world." SOVAN PROVERB
All the epigraphs were gold but some gave me chills. There was also a news suppression piece that really hit for obvious, relevant reasons.
💣The way Guillot challenged Renata and Didi! Loved his pushback against Sova and the empire's violent conquest of so many people. The snark in him saying that it wasn't the priesthood who brought the guns and turned north and south against each other! Shots fired, little brother!!!
🩸Von Oldenburg and his sinister ambitions. Ghost screams. Blood rituals. And the magical races -human and fusion- capable of performing them.
⭐Grave Empire was entirely arresting and exhilarating to read. The pacing was great, the whole of it was bold and compelling and I cannot wait for the adventures still to come!⭐
🧜🏾♂️🧜🏾♂️🧜🏾♂️🦈🦈🦈🐆🐆🐆🐺🐺🐺🐟🐋🐟🐋 🦪🦪🦪🪸🪸🪸
💓💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠
🧜🏾♂️🧜🏾♂️🧜🏾♂️🦈🦈🦈🐆🐆🐆🐺🐺🐺🐟🐋🐟🐋 🦪🦪🦪🪸🪸🪸
💎I can go on forever about how excellent a writer i think Richard Swan is, and happily after reading his latest with my super babe ✨Esta✨, who makes every Buddy Read a most marvelous and extraordinary adventure, that opinion has not changed in the slightest! Grave Empire was a wild ride from beginning to end, and it being a solid fantasy win that i knocked off in January was a fortuitous way to celebrate the anniversary of my first discovering the epic awesomeness that is Empire of the Wolf! So YAY!🥳
⭐Grave Empire was yet another example of Swan's brilliant and compelling writing style that i love to read! His eloquent, accessible narrative flowed seamlessly through his brilliant way of worldbuilding, animated by impressive characterization and a toothy bit of creepy plot that gave me the shivers. His epigraphs were life...especially Sir Konrad Vonvalt’s! I miss that man! And I LOVE TITLED CHAPTERS...even if my brain is a sieve and I kept on forgetting them. And OFC I LOVE that the colonel had a husband!!!! LGBTQ rep in the first three chapters is a winner for me!⭐
Sova came alive for me in this book, especially the fish market scene and kaffeehaus/oyster house/university environs etc. Swan's way of layering the scenes, revisiting areas, people, places and political opportunity made the worldbuilding very natural and organic.
I liked Renata, but I LOVED Peter!!! Both perspectives were really rich contrasts in experiences and environments, but i was terrified for Peter. Renata had such a deep reservoir of support, a generous mentor and years of a skillset, even if it was in theory only. But Peter's POV was breathtakingly lonesome and he made my heart ache. There was a moment right before an enemy charge when Peter was frozen in place by fear, but the outside perspective saw him as standing his ground! It was this sort of dual energy he embodied that I found fascinating! Public perception vs his interiority of vulnerable truth. He just gave off that sweet boy energy who's about to grow up really fast in the face of killer horrors...and my intuition was spot on. Very "Heart of Darkness" and i could not have been more invested.
The Great Cataclysm yielded fusion races of humans and beasts, and we got to explore more of them in this book; not just the Kasar wolfmen who were first introduced in the Empire of The Wolf series. The Stygion Mer-men were ΑΜΑΖΙNG to read about, and i loved how action-packed Renata's POV was because of their contentious relationship to Sovan violence and oppression. There was magic and mayhem and fighting, and i'm excited to see the kind of Ambassador she will become by the end of this series.
✨ Here are some other things i loved ✨:
💥"A man with two masters makes an enemy of the whole world." SOVAN PROVERB
All the epigraphs were gold but some gave me chills. There was also a news suppression piece that really hit for obvious, relevant reasons.
💣The way Guillot challenged Renata and Didi! Loved his pushback against Sova and the empire's violent conquest of so many people. The snark in him saying that it wasn't the priesthood who brought the guns and turned north and south against each other! Shots fired, little brother!!!
🩸Von Oldenburg and his sinister ambitions. Ghost screams. Blood rituals. And the magical races -human and fusion- capable of performing them.
⭐Grave Empire was entirely arresting and exhilarating to read. The pacing was great, the whole of it was bold and compelling and I cannot wait for the adventures still to come!⭐
🧜🏾♂️🧜🏾♂️🧜🏾♂️🦈🦈🦈🐆🐆🐆🐺🐺🐺🐟🐋🐟🐋 🦪🦪🦪🪸🪸🪸
💓💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠
🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💠🔸💓
✨preread: when a blurb reads better than 99.9% of the books currently out in the world.
February 23, 2025
My brother and I reviewed Grave Empire over on our YouTube channel. Check out the video here: Grave Empire review
What an absolutely capital fusion of fantasy and horror. Grave Empire has an intimate lens taking in an epic scope - mer-men, armoured sharks, wolfmen, flintlocks and so much more. This is incredibly original and unique fantasy that pushes boundaries and makes you fear the darkness.
Swan saying that The Last of the Mohicans was the main inspiration behind this filled me with so much hype and luckily, Grave Empire delivered (unlike an Evri driver)!
Can't wait for more!
What an absolutely capital fusion of fantasy and horror. Grave Empire has an intimate lens taking in an epic scope - mer-men, armoured sharks, wolfmen, flintlocks and so much more. This is incredibly original and unique fantasy that pushes boundaries and makes you fear the darkness.
Swan saying that The Last of the Mohicans was the main inspiration behind this filled me with so much hype and luckily, Grave Empire delivered (unlike an Evri driver)!
Can't wait for more!
Read
August 5, 2025DNF
January 28, 2025
4.0 Stars
The Empire of the Wolf trilogy has become one of my all time favourite fantasy series so I was naturally quite excited to read another series set in the same universe.
This novel was solid but understandably failed to live up to the highs of the original series. The writing remained consistently excellent. My brain just loves the way that this author puts together words.
The characters were well developed but simply couldn't live up to my obsession with the original duo in the original trilogy.
The story started slow and, at first, I was unsure how I felt about this novel. Eventually this one picked up and I became invested. It had a strong final third with plenty of dark elements that appealed to my personal reading tastes.
If you share my love for the Justice of Kings and its sequel, this spinoff series is definitely worth your time. It's a fine place to start with this author but I'd strongly recommend going back to the original trilogy first and reading in publication order.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
The Empire of the Wolf trilogy has become one of my all time favourite fantasy series so I was naturally quite excited to read another series set in the same universe.
This novel was solid but understandably failed to live up to the highs of the original series. The writing remained consistently excellent. My brain just loves the way that this author puts together words.
The characters were well developed but simply couldn't live up to my obsession with the original duo in the original trilogy.
The story started slow and, at first, I was unsure how I felt about this novel. Eventually this one picked up and I became invested. It had a strong final third with plenty of dark elements that appealed to my personal reading tastes.
If you share my love for the Justice of Kings and its sequel, this spinoff series is definitely worth your time. It's a fine place to start with this author but I'd strongly recommend going back to the original trilogy first and reading in publication order.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 23, 2025
Amazing! A Flintlock Grimdark Multilayered, Epic (with a capital E), gunpowder horror-fantasy. I loved and devoured this. The elements of horror and fantasy were well-blended, and one did not subsume the other. A world filled with a sense of looming dread, everywhere we turn, something is off. Heretics are freaking out that the underworld spirits are dead, professing the Great Silence is near.
3 Main characters
Renata- Diplomat ambassador, smart person
Peter- Young army officer who witnesses devastation and torture
Count Lamprecht Von Oldenburg- experimenting with forbidden dark magic, and becoming a super-villain filled with evil. Giving Dr. Frankenstein vibes
We also have bonuses Catmen, Wolfmen, and Mermen who ride sharks who are also mixed up in some violent and evil stuff.
I was blown away at the epic scope and memorable cinematic scenes and interplay between the characters. Lamprecht's wife, omg! I'm so excited for book #2 so until that comes out I'm going to go to Swan's The Justice of Kings in Empire of the Wolf series which takes places 200 years before Empire of Silence, before muskets and gunpowder. The grim dread is palpable throughout this book, but I was never bored. The intricate world building and multilayered plot always held my interest.
3 Main characters
Renata- Diplomat ambassador, smart person
Peter- Young army officer who witnesses devastation and torture
Count Lamprecht Von Oldenburg- experimenting with forbidden dark magic, and becoming a super-villain filled with evil. Giving Dr. Frankenstein vibes
We also have bonuses Catmen, Wolfmen, and Mermen who ride sharks who are also mixed up in some violent and evil stuff.
I was blown away at the epic scope and memorable cinematic scenes and interplay between the characters. Lamprecht's wife, omg! I'm so excited for book #2 so until that comes out I'm going to go to Swan's The Justice of Kings in Empire of the Wolf series which takes places 200 years before Empire of Silence, before muskets and gunpowder. The grim dread is palpable throughout this book, but I was never bored. The intricate world building and multilayered plot always held my interest.
February 12, 2025
“Our plans, Majesty?”
“Your plans, Ambassador, to save the world.”
I'm a huge fan of the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, so of course I had to read Grave Empire, which is set in the same world, but a few centuries later.
I'm happy to report that this book is just as good as that series, and that I loved every single chaotic moment of it.
We went so much deeper into the world and its inhabitants, it's no wonder my favourite parts had to do with mer and cat people, they were just so fascinating.
It started off a bit slow, but in no time the pacing picked up and I had a hard time putting the book down.
Out of three PoVs we got, Peter's was my favourite, because the poor guy couldn't catch a break. It seemed like EVERYTHING was out to get him, and I loved following him from the get go. His PoV also had the most horror elements.
Then there's Renata, my second favourite, who got the chance to shine when she finally met the mer people. I loooooved exploring the underwater world so much, and the sharks??? STOP THAT'S SO CUTE!! Where can one learn Selachomancy? Asking for me.
Despite not being as skilled as Maruska (cue Maruška by Šaban Bajramović), she stepped up to the task and did an amazing job, if you ask me. I can't wait to see where her character will go in the next books.
And von Oldenburg...I didn't like him, for reasons that will become obvious when you read the book, but I did enjoy following his PoV all the same (good part of the reason is Yelena), just not as much as the other two.
Mr Swan's writing has been perfect from his very first book, and yet he still finds ways to improve. Grave Empire reflects this, being the smoothest story yet. I have a feeling that readers who are new to this world will have no trouble following anything, because it's crystal clear from the start.
With that said, you should read the first trilogy so you can enjoy the little Easter eggs we got, and because it's one of my favourites (seriously, read it).
I'm in awe at how "new" Richard Swan made the world seem, it's not just "oh it's been 200 years", you can actually SEE the changes, not just world wise, but character wise as well, the way they behave etc.
Speaking of, I'm glad to see even more Slavic names and places popping up, keep it up Mr Swan, you have my seal of approval.
I have to mention the uniqueness of the plot, it perfectly ties into what happened before, while still being something new and creative (afterlife going silent, what could be causing it? Dun dun dun).
The ending made me a bit mad, but in a good way, like what do you mean there are no more pages to flip and I have to wait till the next book is released?? It was an interesting place to end the story, that's for sure.
Reading this book was such an amazing experience, I can't wait to return to this world again and again.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
“Your plans, Ambassador, to save the world.”
I'm a huge fan of the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, so of course I had to read Grave Empire, which is set in the same world, but a few centuries later.
I'm happy to report that this book is just as good as that series, and that I loved every single chaotic moment of it.
We went so much deeper into the world and its inhabitants, it's no wonder my favourite parts had to do with mer and cat people, they were just so fascinating.
It started off a bit slow, but in no time the pacing picked up and I had a hard time putting the book down.
Out of three PoVs we got, Peter's was my favourite, because the poor guy couldn't catch a break. It seemed like EVERYTHING was out to get him, and I loved following him from the get go. His PoV also had the most horror elements.
Then there's Renata, my second favourite, who got the chance to shine when she finally met the mer people. I loooooved exploring the underwater world so much, and the sharks??? STOP THAT'S SO CUTE!! Where can one learn Selachomancy? Asking for me.
Despite not being as skilled as Maruska (cue Maruška by Šaban Bajramović), she stepped up to the task and did an amazing job, if you ask me. I can't wait to see where her character will go in the next books.
And von Oldenburg...I didn't like him, for reasons that will become obvious when you read the book, but I did enjoy following his PoV all the same (good part of the reason is Yelena), just not as much as the other two.
Mr Swan's writing has been perfect from his very first book, and yet he still finds ways to improve. Grave Empire reflects this, being the smoothest story yet. I have a feeling that readers who are new to this world will have no trouble following anything, because it's crystal clear from the start.
With that said, you should read the first trilogy so you can enjoy the little Easter eggs we got, and because it's one of my favourites (seriously, read it).
I'm in awe at how "new" Richard Swan made the world seem, it's not just "oh it's been 200 years", you can actually SEE the changes, not just world wise, but character wise as well, the way they behave etc.
Speaking of, I'm glad to see even more Slavic names and places popping up, keep it up Mr Swan, you have my seal of approval.
I have to mention the uniqueness of the plot, it perfectly ties into what happened before, while still being something new and creative (afterlife going silent, what could be causing it? Dun dun dun).
The ending made me a bit mad, but in a good way, like what do you mean there are no more pages to flip and I have to wait till the next book is released?? It was an interesting place to end the story, that's for sure.
Reading this book was such an amazing experience, I can't wait to return to this world again and again.
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
March 13, 2025
This was a pretty solid starting point for an epic high fantasy trilogy. I don’t think I would go so far as to call this a ‘grim dark’ fantasy, however it is an adult fantasy that features themes and scenes of war and as such there is some heavy and graphic scenes of violence in here.
I spent a significant portion of this being a little bit confused about the world building of this book, initially I just chalked it up to the learning curve you go through with any large scale epic fantasy…. Then I put it down to the fact that I was listening to it on audiobook and didn’t have the hard copy to read along with…. And it’s only now THAT I REALISE THAT THIS BOOK BUILDS UPON THE FUCKING WORLD BUILDING OF THE ‘EMPIRE OF THE WOLF’ SERIES BY THIS AUTHOR WHICH I HAVEN’T READ. So I guess a few lessons, one, is that I’m a dumb ass, and two is that you can technically go into this without having read the ‘Empire of the Wolf’ and still manage to pick up what is going on and enjoy the story.
The narrative design of this story requires a little bit of trust, for the majority of this story we are following alongside three separate and storylines that feel mostly unrelated and it isn’t until about 85% that you start to see how they come together and build the greater plot. I appreciate why it was done that way but it also just feels a little like I was unsure what the main plot of the story was as a result and was just kind of hanging out with the story while it unfolded.
I definitely found that while I thought the story was fascinating and the world building impressive, none of the characters were all that enjoyable, although in their own ways they were interesting. Even the more palatable characters often had moments of arrogance and superiority that are features of colonial power and were at times frustrating to read.
Throughout the read I probably found myself most engaged in the storyline of Captain Peter Kleist, the young and inexperienced army Captain from a privileged background, who is sent to the frontline of the war in the remote wilds and immediately finds himself in desperately over his head.
I also found myself often engaged in the storyline of the Stygion (merman) Ambassador Renata Rainer, who ends up being part of a diplomatic mission to speak to the Stygion people about an apocalyptical prophecy brought to the Sovan Empire by a pair of death worshipping monks, who claim to have lost contact with the spirit world.
The third POV I almost dreaded spending time with because Count Lamprecht Von Oldenburg, was truly just the foulest villain I have had to sit with for some time. So I guess, job well done.
I feel like there is some interesting commentary to unpack here about the arrogance, cruelty and damage perpetuated by colonialism, but I have neither the skill, nor the time to really do that discussion justice.
I did find myself feeling like it dragged a little at times and realistically this book ended up feeling a bit like a 550 page prologue, but I am still curious to pick up book 2 and see where this story proceeds.
I spent a significant portion of this being a little bit confused about the world building of this book, initially I just chalked it up to the learning curve you go through with any large scale epic fantasy…. Then I put it down to the fact that I was listening to it on audiobook and didn’t have the hard copy to read along with…. And it’s only now THAT I REALISE THAT THIS BOOK BUILDS UPON THE FUCKING WORLD BUILDING OF THE ‘EMPIRE OF THE WOLF’ SERIES BY THIS AUTHOR WHICH I HAVEN’T READ. So I guess a few lessons, one, is that I’m a dumb ass, and two is that you can technically go into this without having read the ‘Empire of the Wolf’ and still manage to pick up what is going on and enjoy the story.
The narrative design of this story requires a little bit of trust, for the majority of this story we are following alongside three separate and storylines that feel mostly unrelated and it isn’t until about 85% that you start to see how they come together and build the greater plot. I appreciate why it was done that way but it also just feels a little like I was unsure what the main plot of the story was as a result and was just kind of hanging out with the story while it unfolded.
I definitely found that while I thought the story was fascinating and the world building impressive, none of the characters were all that enjoyable, although in their own ways they were interesting. Even the more palatable characters often had moments of arrogance and superiority that are features of colonial power and were at times frustrating to read.
Throughout the read I probably found myself most engaged in the storyline of Captain Peter Kleist, the young and inexperienced army Captain from a privileged background, who is sent to the frontline of the war in the remote wilds and immediately finds himself in desperately over his head.
I also found myself often engaged in the storyline of the Stygion (merman) Ambassador Renata Rainer, who ends up being part of a diplomatic mission to speak to the Stygion people about an apocalyptical prophecy brought to the Sovan Empire by a pair of death worshipping monks, who claim to have lost contact with the spirit world.
The third POV I almost dreaded spending time with because Count Lamprecht Von Oldenburg, was truly just the foulest villain I have had to sit with for some time. So I guess, job well done.
I feel like there is some interesting commentary to unpack here about the arrogance, cruelty and damage perpetuated by colonialism, but I have neither the skill, nor the time to really do that discussion justice.
I did find myself feeling like it dragged a little at times and realistically this book ended up feeling a bit like a 550 page prologue, but I am still curious to pick up book 2 and see where this story proceeds.
February 8, 2025
I tried man, I tried. This book is all plot no character. I listened to this audiobook for 5 hours waiting to give a shit about something. This book falls into the grimdark realm of folks who really like politics and spooky shit but truly do not care about the personality or storyline their characters have.
February 13, 2025
3 stars.
The first half was pretty slow; it didn't really pick up until the 50% mark, at which point everything suddenly happened very fast. Could've used some pacing adjustments to make it a little more even.
The characters were...fine? I wasn't super invested in any of them, but there wasn't anything especially wrong with them either. Although the villainous POV character veered a little too close to mustache-twirling cartoon villain at times.
Lastly, I kept tripping over sentences like "They went from [place] to [place] on the [road] and then turned west toward [place] on their journey to reach [place]," where every one of the words in brackets was a fantasy name that was difficult to parse. And this wasn't an occasional occurrence; there were dozens of sentences like that, even entire paragraphs, and they made my head spin.
I understand being enthusiastic about your world-building—I really do—but stacking so many made-up place names like that, so often, was very distracting to me. And also, admittedly, a little pointless. I don't care how pretty your fantasy map is, I'm not constantly flipping back to it to trace the routes of your characters' journeys. I like to be immersed in the story.
Anyway, cool premise overall, and it certainly wasn't bad. Might pick up the sequel.
The first half was pretty slow; it didn't really pick up until the 50% mark, at which point everything suddenly happened very fast. Could've used some pacing adjustments to make it a little more even.
The characters were...fine? I wasn't super invested in any of them, but there wasn't anything especially wrong with them either. Although the villainous POV character veered a little too close to mustache-twirling cartoon villain at times.
Lastly, I kept tripping over sentences like "They went from [place] to [place] on the [road] and then turned west toward [place] on their journey to reach [place]," where every one of the words in brackets was a fantasy name that was difficult to parse. And this wasn't an occasional occurrence; there were dozens of sentences like that, even entire paragraphs, and they made my head spin.
I understand being enthusiastic about your world-building—I really do—but stacking so many made-up place names like that, so often, was very distracting to me. And also, admittedly, a little pointless. I don't care how pretty your fantasy map is, I'm not constantly flipping back to it to trace the routes of your characters' journeys. I like to be immersed in the story.
Anyway, cool premise overall, and it certainly wasn't bad. Might pick up the sequel.
January 31, 2025
‘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 captain 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, an ambassador to race of mermen - don't 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 wasn't 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 seem 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.
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 captain 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, an ambassador to race of mermen - don't 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 wasn't 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 seem 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.
December 8, 2024
How can Swan’s books get more epic, terrifying, and brilliant?!
Renatar is an ambassador to the Stygion Mer-men - a position that makes her the laughing stock of the Imperial Office. But there is a plague overtaking the lands and Reina is sent to seek the merman’s knowledge of the arcane arts following a prophecy heralding the end of the world.
Lieutenant Peter of the Sivan Army has been posted to Fort Ingomar, the so-called “fort at the end of the world”. There are strange screams and whispers of demons and monsters. He must fend against enemies and deal with a more supernatural element that no one truly believes in.
We have a third pov, but I’m going to leave that one up to surprise because this character makes me want to tear my hair out. Swan, I applaud you.
What excellent character work.
Peter especially is one of the most well-written soldiers I have read. He is terrified, yet proud. He continues fighting and overriding his primordial instinct to run and never stop just so that he will not be called cowardly. He would die to avoid being so labelled.
This herd feeling is painfully realistic and makes you feel so sympathetic. I don’t know if Swan has experience with the army, but his descriptions were stunningly shocking.
“Armed conflict is a wellspring of certain misery, but is not to be avoided at any cost. There is such thing as an intolerable peace. The diplomat finds himself at the nexus of these two states. Their mission is an unenviable one: to avert both the former and the latter.”
The world-building, like his previous trilogy, is incredible. We have different races, different religions, death cults, and arcane objects.
By having different perspectives in different positions and places in this world, we get tastes of the different attitudes and simmering rage of all.
War is the Empire’s purpose. It’s turning wheel. Swan uses fantasy to show a mirror to our own political climate. Our structures and laughable systems.
“There is something so contemptible about newsmen. Their salt is misery, their butter woe. Their job is to distil the wretchedness of millions into inches on a sheet, and capture its most despondent and salacious essence. A dozen such stories are so reduced, each an oyster of despair waiting to slip down the gullet of ready consumers. But if the newsman is worthy of contempt, the news-reader bears an equal burden of scorn. A person who makes it their business to read the news every day, wallowing in matters which he could not possibly hope to affect, is a foolish wretch. There is no end to human unhappiness, and so there is no end to his unhappiness.”
The epigraphs…. Is it weird to say they were one of my favourite parts of the book?
Physical arc gifted by Little Brown Book Group.
Bookstagram
Renatar is an ambassador to the Stygion Mer-men - a position that makes her the laughing stock of the Imperial Office. But there is a plague overtaking the lands and Reina is sent to seek the merman’s knowledge of the arcane arts following a prophecy heralding the end of the world.
Lieutenant Peter of the Sivan Army has been posted to Fort Ingomar, the so-called “fort at the end of the world”. There are strange screams and whispers of demons and monsters. He must fend against enemies and deal with a more supernatural element that no one truly believes in.
We have a third pov, but I’m going to leave that one up to surprise because this character makes me want to tear my hair out. Swan, I applaud you.
What excellent character work.
Peter especially is one of the most well-written soldiers I have read. He is terrified, yet proud. He continues fighting and overriding his primordial instinct to run and never stop just so that he will not be called cowardly. He would die to avoid being so labelled.
This herd feeling is painfully realistic and makes you feel so sympathetic. I don’t know if Swan has experience with the army, but his descriptions were stunningly shocking.
“Armed conflict is a wellspring of certain misery, but is not to be avoided at any cost. There is such thing as an intolerable peace. The diplomat finds himself at the nexus of these two states. Their mission is an unenviable one: to avert both the former and the latter.”
The world-building, like his previous trilogy, is incredible. We have different races, different religions, death cults, and arcane objects.
By having different perspectives in different positions and places in this world, we get tastes of the different attitudes and simmering rage of all.
War is the Empire’s purpose. It’s turning wheel. Swan uses fantasy to show a mirror to our own political climate. Our structures and laughable systems.
“There is something so contemptible about newsmen. Their salt is misery, their butter woe. Their job is to distil the wretchedness of millions into inches on a sheet, and capture its most despondent and salacious essence. A dozen such stories are so reduced, each an oyster of despair waiting to slip down the gullet of ready consumers. But if the newsman is worthy of contempt, the news-reader bears an equal burden of scorn. A person who makes it their business to read the news every day, wallowing in matters which he could not possibly hope to affect, is a foolish wretch. There is no end to human unhappiness, and so there is no end to his unhappiness.”
The epigraphs…. Is it weird to say they were one of my favourite parts of the book?
Physical arc gifted by Little Brown Book Group.
Bookstagram
October 4, 2025
Another kick ass, fast paced book by Richard Swan.
I was one of the readers who loved his last trilogy Empire of the Wolf. I really enjoyed the horror elements he used, especially in the last book. Grave Empire surpasses the other books in almost every way. Relateable and interesting characters, an expanded world that I was totally intrigued with and a great plot that had me hooked from page one. The pacing was almost perfect, moving at a quick pace without sacrificing world building or character development. There are mermaids riding White sharks and killer whales!
If you enjoyed Swan's previous books, you will most likely love this one even more. I already cannot wait to see where the story goes and I will for sure be purchasing book two on release day! a 5 star read in all respects:)
I was one of the readers who loved his last trilogy Empire of the Wolf. I really enjoyed the horror elements he used, especially in the last book. Grave Empire surpasses the other books in almost every way. Relateable and interesting characters, an expanded world that I was totally intrigued with and a great plot that had me hooked from page one. The pacing was almost perfect, moving at a quick pace without sacrificing world building or character development. There are mermaids riding White sharks and killer whales!
If you enjoyed Swan's previous books, you will most likely love this one even more. I already cannot wait to see where the story goes and I will for sure be purchasing book two on release day! a 5 star read in all respects:)
May 8, 2025
Sale Alert: On Sale Today on Amazon $2.99
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
I have seen Richard Swan's name a lot lately, being praised for a different trilogy and since I am a huge fan of fantasy in almost all of its forms I was excited to pick up Grave Empire which is grimdark or fantasy/horror almost. This is the first book in The Great Silence Trilogy , set in the same world as The Empire of the Wolf, two hundred years after the events of that trilogy. I didn't have any trouble following the story and do not think you need to read the first series to enjoy this one.
Our story is unfurled as we follow the lives an inner thoughts of three characters Renata, Peter and Von Oldenburg. Renata, an ambassador to the mermen, is considered a joke by her peers. Most of her training has been theory up to this point. That is about to change when she is tasked to go to them for their expertise in the arcane to see if they can assist in thwarting a prophecy called The Great Silence. Peter, an officer on caught in a war, is on the front and back lines. He doesn't seem to have any contact with the known enemy he thought he'd be fighting. Instead, there is a different enemy, one that screams in the night and follows them like ghosts in the dark. Von Oldenburg is the villain we can see in this tale. He has studied death magics and is on a course of discovery that is truly horrifying.
Renata's PoV focuses on her traveling through a war torn country with a delegation, trying to get to the mermen before her country loses access and lives. She was a character that was easy to like in her quest to do what she had trained for most of her career. The journey is fraught with danger and some harsh revelations about some of the people she has trusted. I especially enjoyed the lore and interactions with the mermen. The mermen are far from the enchanting creatures of Disney. They are a vicious, cold-blooded culture, as harsh as their aquatic domain, riding sharks with a chilling ferocity.
Peter's journey as a soldier in a jungle atmosphere was so engaging. Trying to figure out what is going on at night when the screams come. Is he crazy, why are others acting like nothing is going on? I loved how he is not a born hero, he has questions, fears and is just trying to do his best to lead his men and not get everyone killed as they go up against something unknown in the dark. He is human is a place full of new horrors and acts accordingly.
As I read Von Oldenburg's PoV I became more and more convinced of how evil he could be. He seemed morally ambiguous in the beginning but, his journey takes us to the depths of how far he will go for his own ego and how dangerous he could be in this world.
There are great characters in the story with complex feelings, motivations and depths. I enjoyed getting to know all of them as they exposed the origin of The Great Silence and what it means to the Empire. The horror aspects of the story fit in so well and floored me sometimes.
Like most first books in a new fantasy series, it starts off a little slow and build and builds until all of the tension of the final chapters is lived through. The conclusion leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment with a satisfying yet tantalizing end. I enjoyed the teasers at the end of the book as they opened up the mind to think about various possibilities before we get to the next book in the series.
This is great for epic and grimdark fantasy readers and maybe even those who enjoy horror but wanted to try out fantasy.
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
I have seen Richard Swan's name a lot lately, being praised for a different trilogy and since I am a huge fan of fantasy in almost all of its forms I was excited to pick up Grave Empire which is grimdark or fantasy/horror almost. This is the first book in The Great Silence Trilogy , set in the same world as The Empire of the Wolf, two hundred years after the events of that trilogy. I didn't have any trouble following the story and do not think you need to read the first series to enjoy this one.
Our story is unfurled as we follow the lives an inner thoughts of three characters Renata, Peter and Von Oldenburg. Renata, an ambassador to the mermen, is considered a joke by her peers. Most of her training has been theory up to this point. That is about to change when she is tasked to go to them for their expertise in the arcane to see if they can assist in thwarting a prophecy called The Great Silence. Peter, an officer on caught in a war, is on the front and back lines. He doesn't seem to have any contact with the known enemy he thought he'd be fighting. Instead, there is a different enemy, one that screams in the night and follows them like ghosts in the dark. Von Oldenburg is the villain we can see in this tale. He has studied death magics and is on a course of discovery that is truly horrifying.
Renata's PoV focuses on her traveling through a war torn country with a delegation, trying to get to the mermen before her country loses access and lives. She was a character that was easy to like in her quest to do what she had trained for most of her career. The journey is fraught with danger and some harsh revelations about some of the people she has trusted. I especially enjoyed the lore and interactions with the mermen. The mermen are far from the enchanting creatures of Disney. They are a vicious, cold-blooded culture, as harsh as their aquatic domain, riding sharks with a chilling ferocity.
Peter's journey as a soldier in a jungle atmosphere was so engaging. Trying to figure out what is going on at night when the screams come. Is he crazy, why are others acting like nothing is going on? I loved how he is not a born hero, he has questions, fears and is just trying to do his best to lead his men and not get everyone killed as they go up against something unknown in the dark. He is human is a place full of new horrors and acts accordingly.
Perversely, he was so frozen in place with fear that to an observer it looked as though he were standing his ground with great stoicism.
As I read Von Oldenburg's PoV I became more and more convinced of how evil he could be. He seemed morally ambiguous in the beginning but, his journey takes us to the depths of how far he will go for his own ego and how dangerous he could be in this world.
"You are a fool if you think word has not spread already. There are demons in hell who envy your reputation."
There are great characters in the story with complex feelings, motivations and depths. I enjoyed getting to know all of them as they exposed the origin of The Great Silence and what it means to the Empire. The horror aspects of the story fit in so well and floored me sometimes.
Like most first books in a new fantasy series, it starts off a little slow and build and builds until all of the tension of the final chapters is lived through. The conclusion leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment with a satisfying yet tantalizing end. I enjoyed the teasers at the end of the book as they opened up the mind to think about various possibilities before we get to the next book in the series.
This is great for epic and grimdark fantasy readers and maybe even those who enjoy horror but wanted to try out fantasy.
Read
March 4, 2025Grave Empire, the first book in the Great Silence trilogy, is set in an expansive and richly-detailed world. In fact, it's one of those rare fantasy books that makes full use of the obligatory map included at the beginning of the novel; you'll refer back to it constantly as you learn about this world's different nations, cultures, and geographic layouts. The world itself is heavily inspired by 18th century Europe, a world of empires at war.
Much like the era in which the empires of Spain, Britain, and The Netherlands colonised so much of the known world, this is a story about exploration and discovery, about skirmishes and battles, and about the twisted and dark politics of colonialism. We follow three protagonists: an ambassador to a race of mer-men, a soldier in the thick of warfare, and a lord who plans to use outlawed magic for his own dark ambitions.
These three stories are connected by the Great Silence: the prophesied phenomenon in which our connection to the afterlife fails when all the spirits fall silent. What has caused this, why, and what does it mean? Those questions will be answered, and those answers are harrowing.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-fantasy-...
Much like the era in which the empires of Spain, Britain, and The Netherlands colonised so much of the known world, this is a story about exploration and discovery, about skirmishes and battles, and about the twisted and dark politics of colonialism. We follow three protagonists: an ambassador to a race of mer-men, a soldier in the thick of warfare, and a lord who plans to use outlawed magic for his own dark ambitions.
These three stories are connected by the Great Silence: the prophesied phenomenon in which our connection to the afterlife fails when all the spirits fall silent. What has caused this, why, and what does it mean? Those questions will be answered, and those answers are harrowing.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-fantasy-...
December 7, 2024
Richard Swan's Grave Empire is one of my favourite reads of 2024.
Set around 200 years after The Empire of the Wolf trilogy, the story expands upon an already intriguing world. We follow a number of different character POVs, with their motivations not all equal!
Each of these arcs takes us to new parts of the Empire as well as to realms outside, with each journey linked to an arcane horror threatening the entire world.
I was hooked from the very start and engaged throughout. The pacing was consistently great, and I loved the third-person perspective taken. As you'd come to expect from this series, there is plenty of suspense and gruesome horror!
For those who haven't read the previous trilogy, do not despair, as this novel works so well on its own. The history of the Empire and events of the last series are referenced, though very subtley, and this book sets up the next trilogy incredibly well.
Finally, a huge thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the ARC of this book.
Set around 200 years after The Empire of the Wolf trilogy, the story expands upon an already intriguing world. We follow a number of different character POVs, with their motivations not all equal!
Each of these arcs takes us to new parts of the Empire as well as to realms outside, with each journey linked to an arcane horror threatening the entire world.
I was hooked from the very start and engaged throughout. The pacing was consistently great, and I loved the third-person perspective taken. As you'd come to expect from this series, there is plenty of suspense and gruesome horror!
For those who haven't read the previous trilogy, do not despair, as this novel works so well on its own. The history of the Empire and events of the last series are referenced, though very subtley, and this book sets up the next trilogy incredibly well.
Finally, a huge thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the ARC of this book.
May 1, 2025
4.5/5
Werewolves, catmen, mermen riding sharks and Dr Frankenstein in pursuit of a zombie army while the world ends... and they're Duolingo fans.
Richard Swan said "Oh, you like Empire of the Wolf? Bet. I made the bitch larger"
I only miss the creepy necromantic stuff, we had way more in the first trilogy and with this premise it makes sense that is not there, but it was my favourite part.
Also one of the characters is capitalist Claver and that's a POV I could do without.
(Only ten months left for the sequel to come out, be patient)
Werewolves, catmen, mermen riding sharks and Dr Frankenstein in pursuit of a zombie army while the world ends... and they're Duolingo fans.
Richard Swan said "Oh, you like Empire of the Wolf? Bet. I made the bitch larger"
I only miss the creepy necromantic stuff, we had way more in the first trilogy and with this premise it makes sense that is not there, but it was my favourite part.
Also one of the characters is capitalist Claver and that's a POV I could do without.
(Only ten months left for the sequel to come out, be patient)
February 17, 2025
Grave Empire is the first book in a new epic fantasy series set in the same world as the Empire of the Wolf Trilogy. I haven’t read those books yet, but I’ve seen such great reviews that I wanted to try this one.
This book is set two centuries later and features a mysterious plague and the afterlife. It discusses colonization, “civilized” versus “pagan” society.
It has complex world-building with clear political structures and religious ideologies. It has elements of horror and a few immoral characters.
The writing is excellent. However, it also uses many military and weaponry terms I had to look up.
I’d say it’s more plot-focused than character-focused. The character development felt a bit shallow, which kept me from fully enjoying the story. The conclusion was intriguing, so I will likely pick up the sequel.
3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Orbit for providing a copy to review.
This book is set two centuries later and features a mysterious plague and the afterlife. It discusses colonization, “civilized” versus “pagan” society.
It has complex world-building with clear political structures and religious ideologies. It has elements of horror and a few immoral characters.
The writing is excellent. However, it also uses many military and weaponry terms I had to look up.
I’d say it’s more plot-focused than character-focused. The character development felt a bit shallow, which kept me from fully enjoying the story. The conclusion was intriguing, so I will likely pick up the sequel.
3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Orbit for providing a copy to review.
February 8, 2025
A unique and terrifying follow up to the Empire of the Wolf trilogy. I have never found myself so breathless so often when reading. Stuffed with powerful dread and mysterious horror, once it gets going it doesn’t let you go.
I am so relieved, because I had a lot of expectations.
Coming off the prior trilogy just a month before, I needed this to be just as good. It worried me at first because this book’s multiple, third-person perspective lacked the potency and immediacy of the prior trilogy’s compelling first-person account. At first this book seemed just … normal. The main characters were fine but one in particular was milquetoast, and both merely reacted to events rather than setting them in motion. But around 90 pages in, with the addition of a third POV character, an amoral beast of a man who compulsively bit his hand to the point where it was bleeding and infected, and he almost died of it but then awoke to find himself being ridden by a tattooed pagan witch, and the like of infection went from his hand up his arm and down his body to his cock, and when he came it was like lava with rocks in it, and the witch vomited out the infection as black ectoplasm. At THAT point, I was all in.
So if anyone wants to know what it takes to grabs me in a book, that’s what.
Phenomenal, pulse-pounding, horrifying, and even after the intense Goya-like afterlife horror of the first trilogy it’s stuffed with new terrors and wild new locations.
I suppose I have to wait a year now for the sequel, but It’s nice to confirm a new favourite author any time.
I am so relieved, because I had a lot of expectations.
Coming off the prior trilogy just a month before, I needed this to be just as good. It worried me at first because this book’s multiple, third-person perspective lacked the potency and immediacy of the prior trilogy’s compelling first-person account. At first this book seemed just … normal. The main characters were fine but one in particular was milquetoast, and both merely reacted to events rather than setting them in motion. But around 90 pages in, with the addition of a third POV character, an amoral beast of a man who compulsively bit his hand to the point where it was bleeding and infected, and he almost died of it but then awoke to find himself being ridden by a tattooed pagan witch, and the like of infection went from his hand up his arm and down his body to his cock, and when he came it was like lava with rocks in it, and the witch vomited out the infection as black ectoplasm. At THAT point, I was all in.
So if anyone wants to know what it takes to grabs me in a book, that’s what.
Phenomenal, pulse-pounding, horrifying, and even after the intense Goya-like afterlife horror of the first trilogy it’s stuffed with new terrors and wild new locations.
I suppose I have to wait a year now for the sequel, but It’s nice to confirm a new favourite author any time.
October 26, 2025
A nice continuation from the first trilogy. this one sees the story taking place several centuries after the last with a new slate of characters, political landscape, and metaphysical horrors that threaten the mortal plan and the immortal souls of its denizens. I liked the three POV characters in this book (for very different reasons) and, while this book mostly felt like a set up for the subsequent books, it had enough going on to sustain my interest both in the book and the larger story. I am eager to see where Swan will take the story as this on is much more focused on the magical/metaphysical aspects of the setting than the first series was and has much higher stakes.
January 23, 2025
Dark, moody, and tantalizing, Grave Empire is yet another example of how Swan is one of the finest fantasy writers going right now. Fans of Empire of the Wolf will devour this. Those who are new to the Empire are in for an absolute treat.
March 4, 2025
Enjoyed the atmosphere of this one, especially in the first half of the book, but found that the characters fell completely flat and the plot-heavy storylines felt too familiar for me to get as invested in as I wanted to.
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