Richard Swan's THE JUSTICE OF KINGS is a debut epic fantasy novel that gets bogged down by worldbuilding and character choices.
I wanted to like this one. Swan is a much better writer, in terms of his prose, than a lot of fantasy that gets published, and I liked the idea of Justice with secret, magical powers (which were pretty cool and reminded me a little of the Bene Gesserit from Dune).
Unfortunately, the worldbuilding is a weird, cobbled-together European medieval setting that feels a little too European and not 'fantasy' enough. The beginning drags because of the point of view choice--instead of the Justice, we watch everything happen from the point of view of his scribe, who is just along for the ride. And Justice himself quickly becomes a caricature--so much shouting.
It will probably find its audience among fantasy enthusiasts.

I struggled very much with one. The writing felt very generic and I found myself getting bored and putting the book down several times. I was fascinated by the magic system, though there wasn't much of it.
We have this elaborate murder mystery plot, but the story moved so slow. I ended up not really caring.
I really wish that I liked religious political plots more...
Because this one was done well in an easy to understanding way.
As for the characters....I loved the unexpectedness of having the apprentice be the narrator of this story. (I think based on the cover that wasn't want people expected). I liked seeing her conficting feelings on the life she was living. (I could have done without the romantic subplot though) all in all this was a pretty average read. I would definitely continue on in the series to see what happens.

I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t one of my typical reads but it was good overall. I didn’t really connect well with the main narrator Helena. She definitely wasn’t a character overly enjoyed. I really wish it would have just been told from Konrad’s POV. I found him much more interesting and really enjoyed his character. I think reading the synopsis threw me off a bit I was not expecting it to be told from Helena’s POV. It was a good story and I did enjoy the mystery aspects but half of the story was Helena wondering what Konrad was thinking. I would have much preferred just Konrad thinking it or even alternating between their POVs. The pacing was okay and the magic system was very interesting and unique. I’m interesting in learning more about The Voice. The last 25% of the book flew by and was by far my favorite with all of the action. It ended nicely but still set the stage for the next books. Overall I would recommend this book to other readers who don’t mind some murder mystery mixed with fantasy. I do want to find out what happens next.

Thank you Orbit and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review .

The Justice of Kings is a sweeping epic fantasy in a familiar-yet-unique world. The premise alone is very intriguing. It's not often we follow a Justice in a fantasy book. And being a fantasy book, this is no ordinary murder mystery novel, and Sir Konrad Vonvalt is by no means your average justice. He is widely hated, though extremely effective at his job. The mystery in this book kept me guessing the whole time, and even when I thought I'd figured it out, I was mistaken.

This book is very unique in the modern fantasy sphere. Its narrative neither follows the typical hero's journey nor does it follow the ASOIAF grimdark military fantasy trend.

In the end, this book was a fantastic debut, and I can't wait for the next entry in this series.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2022. The magic system was pretty interesting. However, the pacing was too slow for me, and I couldn't connect with or like the characters.

Thank you to Orbit Books for the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan, the first book in the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, is a thought-provoking and breathtaking debut. It balances a well-wrought world with politics, ethics, and questions of justice and order. I really enjoyed all the elements — the murder mystery, the magic tied to the justice system, the framing of the story, the characters, the political and religious intrigue — and I loved the questions and quandaries the characters had to face.
First of all, I was surprised when I realized that our main character, Sir Konrad Vonvalt, is not in fact the narrator. Instead, the book takes on the form of a memoir narrated by his clerk, Helena, weaving a story of an empire in the early throes of collapse. I do love stories told in hindsight, and it was fun to pick up on hints of future events. While it took me aback at first, I ended up loving the framing device: having Helena as the narrator both ensures that there is an important female character, given the other two main ones in the beginning are Sir Vonvalt and Dubine Bressinger, but it also provides an outsider perspective on the main character as he is forced to grapple with the erosion of the justice system he so strongly believes in.
I also really enjoyed the way the author made use of time. As I mentioned in my review of The City of Dusk, I find that fantasy struggles with the concept of time and history, and often fails spectacularly. Here, the Empire of the Wolf is only about 50 years old — which at first I thought was too little for an empire that has drastically subjugated and changed its people (at least on the surface) and that is meant to be ending as the trilogy progresses — but Swan is able to create the perfect balance. This is a rapidly-expanding empire, old enough for Vonvalt, Bressinger, and Helena to have grown up under its shadow, old enough too have propagated its religion and justice system, old enough to be firmly established, but also young enough that there is still dissent and instability that can easily be exploited.
Another facet of the book I found very clever, and which added a lot of interest and depth to the story, were the little quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Most of them were from the Sovan Criminal Code, while the others were attributed to certain people, and each quote not only enriched the worldbuilding but also provided a taste of the chapter’s contents. The first chapter, “The Witch of Rill,” begins with “Beware the idiot, the zealot, and the tyrant; each clothes himself in the armour of ignorance.” Not only does it encompass the themes of that chapter, but it is also a broader treatise on the novel’s themes.
One of the only gripes I had was Helena’s backstory, which didn’t feel very realistic for me at first. We learn that she came from an impoverished background, and that her time with Vonvalt has made her soft and changed her perspective. Yet at the beginning of the book, at least, I simply didn’t believe that — it felt like telling rather than showing. Her inner narration wasn’t matching up with the backstory she was telling us.
However, apart from that, I enjoyed The Justice of Kings tremendously. The ending was perfect, both providing some closure for the events of the novel, but also setting up future conflicts and providing a somewhat chilling premonition. I cannot wait to see what further adventures await us in the next book.

This was just such a good read. It was so much more than what I originally thought it was going to be and to be able to watch everything unravel was just so satisfying. Can't wait to see where the sequel is going to take the story, I'll be sure to tune in for the next one.

What a uniquely dark and mysterious epic fantasy... I am not going to lie, this story took me by storm. I was swept up by the world building, political structure, character development, prose, unique magic system, and murder mystery (this sounds like a mouthful - how Swan expertly blended and wove these elements is beyond me).

I don't believe I have ever read an epic fantasy where the magic itself was not the prominent focus of the entire tale. Instead, the magic/necromancy/emperor's voice is merely a tool. The main focus of this epic fantasy tale was actually a mystery of sorts. You get drawn in by the death of a beloved woman who's murder is unsolved and quite perplexing. As the justice (who almost serves as a detective in this situation), peels back the layers of the mystery, you realize that the world's political and magical structure is about to fall apart at the seams.

And, as for my favorite aspect of this entire story... It is told from the point of view of the Justice's clerk, Helena. Seeing her character develop throughout the story as she wrestles with what kind of life she wants, and if this life of darkness and death is for her, was fascinating and not what I expected from a male author. I am never one to say that men cannot write female characters, but Swan's female characters were exceptional.

This book was an easy four stars for me and I already cannot wait for the sequel!

That was intriguing! The plot felt like a mix of conventional fantasy tropes, with a mix of procedurals/crime fiction and a dash of horror. I liked the portrayal of the "judge" work, their powers, and the ancient lore that was well-mixed in. What didn't work for me was the choice of the Judge's secretary to be the narrator, something reminiscent of older crime stories, but the problem is that the secretary has no voice of her own, no wants or needs, and the first person quickly turns to third when you forget she's even there.

This book offered an interesting idea about fantasy. I enjoyed the low magic even though I usually prefer high magic systems. The viewpoint was also a great setup for the mystery aspect of the book. I enjoyed this story overall and look forward to the sequels. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this title!

This book was fabulous! The choice to tell the story from the perspective of the clerk, rather than the Justice Vonvalt was great. Helena is a very likeable and relatable character. Vonvalt main character of the novel, is so mysterious. 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Richard Swan for an e-arc of The Justice of Kings in exchange for an honest review.

In The Justice of Kings, we follow a small group of characters. We have Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice, tasked with traveling the kingdom and upholding the laws of the kingdom; Bressinger, his right hand man; and Helena Sedanka, his clerk. As Vonvalt begins to investigate the death of a noblewoman, he soon becomes embroiled in a plot that could threaten to take down the entire empire.

This was an excellent fantasy debut. It begins as more of a murder/mystery than a typical fantasy, but evolves into a story full of political intrigue and rebellion. I loved the unconventional narrator. I went into this expecting Vonvalt to be the narrator, but it was so much more insightful and refreshing to see things from Helena’s perspective. The tone is very different from what I expected as well. Since this is told from an older Helena’s view as she looks back on the events that transpired, we get a nostalgic, often remorseful, tale with hints of foreshadowing that these seemingly innocent events were major catalysts for what is to come. This is something that mirrors our history so well and allows you to draw parallels into our own world.

The magic system is done very well. It is so subtle, but so rich and unique. It is not fully fleshed out in this book, but I have a feeling we will be getting more of an explanation as the books continue. I am so excited for the next installment and to see where this story goes.

The prose is superb.

A somber low fantasy romp, immensely enjoyable. There's quite a mystery/crime courtroom aspect to it that may or may not to be every readers' liking.

I certainly found it interesting, because despite being 500 pages, I flew through this.

4.25 - What a strong debut! There was a lot to love here.

First, I loved the narrative structure. While the blurb says the book will be about Sir Konrad Vonvalt and it is, it is told as a memoir by Sir Konrad's young clerk, Helena, which I thought was a really interesting twist. The old woman narrating the adventures of her younger years felt very reminiscent of Marie Brennan's Memoirs of Lady Trent series, which I loved. And given the themes and where the trilogy might go, I think it will bring an interesting layer to the story as a whole.

Speaking of themes, I loved the questions this book was digging into. The ideas of Law vs Justice and Church vs State and the concept of empire building (and maintaining) are all present here and I think making both Justice Vonvalt and Helena people from places that have been conquered by the empire though from different generations and at a major turning point for the empire is really interesting.

On a smaller plot level, I also love a good murder mystery and the way Swan wove the elements of the mystery into the larger story was so well done.

One thing that I did not love was the romance. I understand why it was included and given that Helena is 19 and had a rough upbringing and is questioning her place in the world, it sort of makes sense, but it did not feel very well developed. It sort of felt like Matas was only really included to spark Helena and Vonvalt's argument and then die. The romance also emphasized Vonvalt and Dubine treatment of Helena as if she was much younger than 19. Whether that treatment was because the world is very patriarchal or because of their particular relationship is unclear because there aren't really any other female characters, which will hopefully change as the series progresses.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book and am anxiously waiting news of the sequel!

I actually found it really difficult to decide whether I enjoyed this book or not. There were some things that worked for me, and some that didn’t.

The Pros: What I Liked

Surprisingly, the narrator of the story is not the Justice but his assistant. I wasn’t expecting this at all, but it really worked. Having the narrator be different from the “main character” allowed readers to have a less biased opinion of Vonvault and we got to read about other, more interesting things happening on the side.

The worldbuilding is very well done, with plenty of detail to allow readers to properly imagine everything that is happening.

The murder mystery kept me intrigued from the beginning.

The characters are very distinct and the author has been good about acknowledging their flaws, which makes them more realistic.

The fighting and battle scenes were very gory but very detailed!

The Cons: What I Didn’t Like

I was actually not a fan of the writing style. It’s a weird quirk of mine but I don’t like when authors recall a tale and mention things in hindsight. This was the case for most of the story.

The story moves quite slowly, so the plot drags on.


The reason I’m conflicted is that this is a genuinely well-developed story. It just didn’t work that well for me. For some reason, I just wasn’t invested in the adventure, or the characters. This is probably just a case of not being the right fit, so after really weighing up the pros and cons, I’m giving this 3/5 stars.

It has been a little while since I have finished this book, and I am still having issues getting all of my feeling written down. This is just one of those books that I just love, and I really can’t put my finger on what it was about it that really got me. Oh, before we get into everything, I just want to point out that this is a debut and if I had not read that in a couple of places I would not have believed it.

Let's start with the fact that this book just checked so many boxes for me, it is essentially a Character-Driven, Fantasy, Murder Mystery. For me, that is like you taking all the things that I really like and putting them into one book.

This is the story of Justice Sir Konrad Vonvalt; however, it is told from the perspective of his 19-year-old clerk Helena. Helena is writing this story as an older woman, using the journals and ledgers that they were keeping at the time. This was not what I expected from reading the synopsis, so I was really worried in the beginning about how this was going to go. I have to say that I really like this way of storytelling. Helena is sometimes reflective as she is telling the story, making comments like “this didn’t work out as well as we hoped”. For me, this added a whole other layer to the story, and I really liked it.

Traveling with Helena and Konrad is Dubine Bressinger. We do not get a lot about him, he is kind of a mystery, however, I really liked him. I am not sure what it is about his character, but I became attached nonetheless. I really hope we see more about him in future installments.

The relationship between Konrad and Helena was done so well and is a good example of how a mentor/apprentice relationship should be written. Konrad was more of a father figure and not a creepy older guy that “saved” her, so she owes him. Helena even reflects on this in the story, which I appreciated.

If anything that I have said appeals to you, then I encourage you to pick this book up!

I received a copy of this from NetGally in return for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new start to an epic fantasy series by Richard Swan. It was from a point of view I haven't read about very many times if at all, the Emperor's Justice. Basically Konrad is the man who serves punishment for breaking the law and hunts down criminals.

I really liked the world-building and introduction of necromancy in this book. It gave plenty of details without feeling info-dumpy because Swan managed to weave in explanations throughout. The descriptions were quite vivid as well and I really felt the eeriness of the magic system. While it wasn't super fast paced, the book managed to move along fairly quickly without feeling like the plot was dragging. I also really liked the characters and story as well.

Overall, it was a fantastic start to a new series that I will definitely be continuing as they get published .

I'm a bit torn on this book. On one hand I really liked the murder mystery set in a fantasy setting--that is hands down my favorite plot type. On the other hand, I think that anything legal is just not my cup of tea. I recently DNF'd League of Liars by Astrid Scholte because the legal aspects of the book were just mind numbing to me. I can appreciate that there is talk about whether one should uphold the law to the fullest, or if there are situations in which it is okay to neglect one's duties as the institution charged with upholding law and order ("spoiler" alert: if anyone is ever thinking in absolutes, I don't think they are morally developed enough to be in charge of a system deciding people's fates). It was an interesting discussion, but just not something I'm personally looking for in a fantasy book. I do want to say, too, that I think the decision to follow Helena as a POV rather than Vonvalt was really interesting and I wasn't sure if it would pan out but it definitely did. I think I was just looking, overall, for something a bit different but I can absolutely see why people love this and why it is so popular. I definitely recommend you give it a shot!

Richard Swan wrote a wonderful grim dark political fantasy that made it very difficult to put the book down. Honestly if it wasn't for my recent hectic work schedule, I certainly would have stayed up finishing this book in a day or two!

Do I recommend it? Yes! I look forward to the future installments of the Empire of the Wolf series and can't wait to find out what repercussions arise due to the actions of this book!

Admittedly, if you find yourself reading a book about politics and law a chore (though I do think it was presented in a very digestible way), I would recommend skipping this book. There is some sprinkled action (and much more towards the end) but you might give up before then.

This fantastic debut follows Sir Konrad Vonvalt, a Justice in The Empire of the Wolf. As a Justice he has some particularly interesting abilities that help him to discover the truth in matters. In this first novel in a new trilogy Vonvalt and his team need to investigate the murder of an aristocrat and uncover more than just a murderer.

This was a very original feeling epic fantasy. It is set in a vast well realized world that was reminiscent of medieval Europe. What sets this fantasy apart from the rest is that it is a murder mystery set in this fantasy world. This book provided a great introduction of Vonvalt the Justice and his protege Helena and their other allies. All the characters were very likeable which made them easy to root for. There was not a ton of magic in this world, but the magical elements introduced, though used sparingly, were all very intriguing. We are also introduced the complex inner workings of The Empire of the Wolf including the religions, the justice system, and the class system. Overall, this was a great introduction to a world that has so many possibilities for future stories.

Great characters, a mystery that keeps you guessing, just enough magic to make things interesting, and an action packed climax will be a winning combination for a lot of readers. I highly recommend The Justice of Kings to fans of fantasy and a good mystery.