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Empireland
Epic fantasy in this Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy humour style story in a Game Of Thrones like setting.
Cedric of Golloth must flee his home and his people. The Brahgs are coming for him. Ced would be dead by the morning if he didn’t go right now.
Now Ced would take his work across the empires, hunted, but he has a plan. And a quill…
An amusing, exciting fantasy of warring Empires and powerful Kings.
[The reader should note that no Greater Crested Spottlethwots were harmed during the telling of Ced’s remarkable story, unfortunately many brave warriors were but that’s the thing with war!]
Cedric of Golloth must flee his home and his people. The Brahgs are coming for him. Ced would be dead by the morning if he didn’t go right now.
Now Ced would take his work across the empires, hunted, but he has a plan. And a quill…
An amusing, exciting fantasy of warring Empires and powerful Kings.
[The reader should note that no Greater Crested Spottlethwots were harmed during the telling of Ced’s remarkable story, unfortunately many brave warriors were but that’s the thing with war!]
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2017
10 people want to read
About the author
Clive Culverhouse
8 books1 followerMy brand new book Where Two Rivers Meet, A Dark Romance Fantasy is OUT NOW on Kindle and paperback.
Please grab a copy and leave stars/reviews, thanks.
https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FWZR4Z5Q
Poet published in Popshot Magazine, The Dirigible Balloon. Plough Prize poetry long list. Fantasy author from the UK.
Please grab a copy and leave stars/reviews, thanks.
https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FWZR4Z5Q
Poet published in Popshot Magazine, The Dirigible Balloon. Plough Prize poetry long list. Fantasy author from the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 3, 2025
Book Review: Empireland by Clive Culverhouse
Empireland by Clive Culverhouse is a bold and refreshingly inventive fantasy novel that dares to merge humor, adventure, and satire in a single sweeping tale. It is a story that both celebrates and critiques the conventions of epic fantasy, blending the grand scale of Game of Thrones with the absurd wit of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The result is an imaginative, layered, and endlessly entertaining book that challenges expectations while offering a genuine sense of wonder.
The novel centers on Cedric of Golloth, an unassuming historian and scribe whose only ambition is to write a book chronicling the vast empires of his world. Unfortunately, in Empireland, the act of writing a book proves to be far more perilous than one might expect. Cedric soon finds himself hunted by the Brahgs, a ruthless force determined to silence him. With nothing but his wits and his quill, Cedric is forced to flee across strange kingdoms and treacherous lands, carrying his manuscript and his dreams of truth. What unfolds is both a thrilling adventure and a witty reflection on the dangers of knowledge, the absurdities of power, and the chaotic beauty of history itself.
Clive Culverhouse demonstrates a remarkable command of tone, skillfully balancing comedy with seriousness. His writing is sharp, confident, and self-aware, filled with clever wordplay and insightful observations about human nature. The humor is dry and often absurd, yet it never feels forced. Instead, it enhances the richness of the world and the depth of the characters. The “book within a book” concept adds a fascinating layer to the story, allowing readers to experience the narrative both as a fantasy epic and as a reflection on storytelling itself.
Cedric is a refreshingly unconventional protagonist. Unlike the typical sword-wielding heroes of fantasy, he is a thinker, a writer, and a reluctant adventurer who relies on intellect rather than brute strength. His journey is as much about self-preservation as it is about understanding the world he seeks to record. Along the way, he encounters kings and warriors, scholars and fools, each brought to life with Culverhouse’s sharp characterization and humorous detail. The dialogue sparkles with wit, the descriptions are vivid, and the pacing—though at times leisurely—serves the story’s reflective and comedic nature perfectly.
What sets *Empireland* apart is its ability to be both parody and tribute. It pokes fun at the clichés of high fantasy while clearly respecting the genre’s power to inspire imagination. The novel’s humor never undercuts its sincerity. Beneath the laughter lies an exploration of truth, fear, and the written word as both a weapon and a legacy. Culverhouse uses his humor to reveal deeper truths about ambition, arrogance, and the eternal struggle between ignorance and enlightenment.
Empireland is not merely a humorous fantasy but a thoughtful commentary on creativity and courage. It celebrates the act of storytelling and the individuals who risk everything to preserve knowledge and question authority. Clive Culverhouse has created a work that stands out for its intelligence, originality, and charm. For readers who crave epic worlds but also appreciate the absurdity of them, this novel delivers a perfect balance of substance and satire.
In the end, Empireland reminds us that even in worlds filled with empires, kings, and battles, it is often the writers—the quiet observers armed with ink and thought—who shape the legacy that endures. This book is both a grand adventure and a love letter to the power of words, told with humor, heart, and an unshakable sense of imagination.
Empireland by Clive Culverhouse is a bold and refreshingly inventive fantasy novel that dares to merge humor, adventure, and satire in a single sweeping tale. It is a story that both celebrates and critiques the conventions of epic fantasy, blending the grand scale of Game of Thrones with the absurd wit of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The result is an imaginative, layered, and endlessly entertaining book that challenges expectations while offering a genuine sense of wonder.
The novel centers on Cedric of Golloth, an unassuming historian and scribe whose only ambition is to write a book chronicling the vast empires of his world. Unfortunately, in Empireland, the act of writing a book proves to be far more perilous than one might expect. Cedric soon finds himself hunted by the Brahgs, a ruthless force determined to silence him. With nothing but his wits and his quill, Cedric is forced to flee across strange kingdoms and treacherous lands, carrying his manuscript and his dreams of truth. What unfolds is both a thrilling adventure and a witty reflection on the dangers of knowledge, the absurdities of power, and the chaotic beauty of history itself.
Clive Culverhouse demonstrates a remarkable command of tone, skillfully balancing comedy with seriousness. His writing is sharp, confident, and self-aware, filled with clever wordplay and insightful observations about human nature. The humor is dry and often absurd, yet it never feels forced. Instead, it enhances the richness of the world and the depth of the characters. The “book within a book” concept adds a fascinating layer to the story, allowing readers to experience the narrative both as a fantasy epic and as a reflection on storytelling itself.
Cedric is a refreshingly unconventional protagonist. Unlike the typical sword-wielding heroes of fantasy, he is a thinker, a writer, and a reluctant adventurer who relies on intellect rather than brute strength. His journey is as much about self-preservation as it is about understanding the world he seeks to record. Along the way, he encounters kings and warriors, scholars and fools, each brought to life with Culverhouse’s sharp characterization and humorous detail. The dialogue sparkles with wit, the descriptions are vivid, and the pacing—though at times leisurely—serves the story’s reflective and comedic nature perfectly.
What sets *Empireland* apart is its ability to be both parody and tribute. It pokes fun at the clichés of high fantasy while clearly respecting the genre’s power to inspire imagination. The novel’s humor never undercuts its sincerity. Beneath the laughter lies an exploration of truth, fear, and the written word as both a weapon and a legacy. Culverhouse uses his humor to reveal deeper truths about ambition, arrogance, and the eternal struggle between ignorance and enlightenment.
Empireland is not merely a humorous fantasy but a thoughtful commentary on creativity and courage. It celebrates the act of storytelling and the individuals who risk everything to preserve knowledge and question authority. Clive Culverhouse has created a work that stands out for its intelligence, originality, and charm. For readers who crave epic worlds but also appreciate the absurdity of them, this novel delivers a perfect balance of substance and satire.
In the end, Empireland reminds us that even in worlds filled with empires, kings, and battles, it is often the writers—the quiet observers armed with ink and thought—who shape the legacy that endures. This book is both a grand adventure and a love letter to the power of words, told with humor, heart, and an unshakable sense of imagination.
June 14, 2025
The story centers around Ced who is a self-proclaimed historian. He has taken it upon himself to write the history of all the empires in Empire Land. While the concept is interesting the execution fell a bit short. Some of the humor used did not fit the time era, too modern and not well timed.
The ending wasn’t too bad. Ced makes a link between the Willdred and Golloth Empires that if played right would knock King Brahglehad, the Brahg King. Out of claiming the Golloth Empire and rebuilding his failed empire. Thrown in his finding his father in the dreaded prison of Trammkoor, and you wind up with a decent reunification.
If you’re into a rather odd tale dealing with knights and empires and are a fan of King of Thrones, you might enjoy this tale.
Three Stars
The ending wasn’t too bad. Ced makes a link between the Willdred and Golloth Empires that if played right would knock King Brahglehad, the Brahg King. Out of claiming the Golloth Empire and rebuilding his failed empire. Thrown in his finding his father in the dreaded prison of Trammkoor, and you wind up with a decent reunification.
If you’re into a rather odd tale dealing with knights and empires and are a fan of King of Thrones, you might enjoy this tale.
Three Stars
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews