Rating: 4.5 stars
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Orbit Publishing for this ARC.

The Trials of Empire by Richard Swan is a captivating and immersive journey into the complexities of power, good vs evil, politics, and the challenges that come with leadership. This book showcases Swan's ability to write such nuanced complex characters. Every character plays a vital role in enriching the unfolding narrative. Their motivations and conflicts are explored in a way that adds layers to the plot, so the story feels like a sweeping epic but still very personal. The storyline develops rapidly, maintaining tension and escalating the stakes. With Political intrigue, strategic maneuvering, and unexpected twists, there isn’t a single dull moment. Swan perfectly balances action with introspection, providing moments of quiet reflection amid the chaos. This was the satisfying conclusion to the Empire of the Wolf trilogy I was hoping for. We finally get the epic battle against Claver that involves both the mortal and immortal worlds with a wide array of characters. While the book is undoubtedly a thrilling read, there are moments when I found myself rereading certain paragraphs to fully grasp the intricacies of the political landscape and character relationships. Where the first book, The Justice of Kings, is described by many to be a Sherlock Homes-esque mystery/fantasy, it very quickly becomes so much more than that. I enjoyed the wider conspiracy found during that first investigation but I do wish this book had more of those detective undertones that the first book had. I also found the descriptions of the Wolfmen very repetitive. For example, saying they were "well over 7 feet tall" was mentioned several times when their height had already been established. Other than that this book, and the whole trilogy, is a masterfully crafted epic fantasy that will captivate you from the very first page.

You know the viral meme from the Titanic film? Of an elderly Rose, saying “It’s been 84 years?” That’s how I felt waiting on The Trials of Empire by Richard Swan. I cannot say this loudly enough, so it’s going in all caps: READ THE PLOT SUMMARY FOR THE TYRRANY OF FAITH BEFORE PICKING UP THE TRIALS OF EMPIRE. The summary is available on Richard Swan’s website (<a href="https://www.stonetemplelibrary.com/post/the-tyranny-of-faith-plot-summary">here</a>). In my excitement to finally have the third book in my hands, I didn’t do this. And I should’ve. It had been nine months since I read The Tyranny of Faith and probably over 100 books. I was so lost. Going back and reading the plot summary now, as I’m writing the review, shows how much I’d forgotten about The Tyranny of Faith and how much I would’ve benefited from a second read…or well, yes, the plot summary.

Anyway, forgive the lack of professionalism and poise in this review, as I was far too excited about The Trials of Empire to portray my thoughts more formally. But The Trials of Empire is magnificent. Readers are transported back into Swan’s world as though they never left, reunited with Helena, Vonvalt, Sir Radomir, and von Osterlen from page one. The villains are more wicked, the stakes are higher, and Helena is forced to develop her own convictions about just what Vonvalt is doing. It’s a question, I believe, combatants face today. Do you continue following the laws, or do you stoop down to your enemy’s level? Is the victory worth besmirching your honor?
The other two trilogy novels feature some magic, some spells, but The Trials of Empire dives even farther into the “medieval horror” category. My nose wrinkled, and I shook my head in disgust at some of Swan’s depictions. But when faced with a great evil, should that really be surprising? I skimmed a few other reviews of The Trials of Empire while writing my own, and let me agree with others—“The Empire of the Wolf” trilogy is by far one of the best fantasy series I have ever read. It is so developed. So compelling. And even with so much magic, it feels so real. Swan makes the reader think. It’s not just about the plot but presenting concepts that make readers contemplate their own viewpoints.

Good heavens, The Trials of Empire by Richard Swan offers everything I could’ve hoped for to conclude this trilogy. I loved it coming from Helena’s view, who was much a supporting character to the overall drama rather than a main one. I underlined more sentences and quotes in this trilogy to contemplate at a later date because everything about Richard Swan’s series is so good. I have no other words for it.

Give me more, Richard Swan. As soon as possible. I’ll be waiting.

(One note: The language is foul, so don’t read any of these books if you’re easily offended by the f-bomb.)

A thrilling conclusion to the Empire of the Wolf that takes some broad steps into fantasy horror. I’m very excited to see when Swan takes his creative choices to in his next series.

I don't even know where to start with this review other than to say...wow.

This book just might be the Platonic ideal of a trilogy-ending epic. It has taken me a while to even get to writing this review because this book absorbed me so deeply, spun be around, and then spit me back out. My jaw was open the entire time I read it, and I've needed quite the recovery period.

My short review is that you should dive into The Trials of Empire as soon as you possibly can. If you've read the previous two books in the series, don't worry about this one not living up to any of your lofty expectations. This book beautifully brings the entire trilogy to a close. Every aspect of this book - from the plots, to the character arcs, to the themes - beautifully conclude, culminating in what will hopefully go down as one of the great epic fantasy trilogies of the decade. I know I read this book in January, but it will already be tough to push off my "Best of 2024" list.

Back when I first read The Justice of Kings, I was entertained but not blown away. I enjoyed the "Law and Order: Fantasy Edition" vibes, but it was nothing mind-blowing. However, The Trials of Empire has completely changed my perspective on the entire trilogy. I see what Swan was doing now, as he was slowly ramping up the intensity and adding layer upon layer of ethical quanderies for our characters to work through. The Justice of Kings presented a (relatively) black and white worldview. There were good guys and bad guys. Justice and injustice. These were pretty clearly defined for the reader, and Konrad Vonvolt (through the narration of Helena) came across as a Good Guy (TM).

Vonvolt has gradually become one of my favorite characters in all of fantasy. He has a personal code of ethics, but we see as those ethics slowly change (decay?) as he is presented with new situations. He tries to shove the horrifying, demon-infested nature of his latest threat into his old worldview without hesitation. The problem is that new circumstances often require us to challenge and change our ethics, for what is "the good" in times of peace may quickly be revealed to be inadequate or wrong when pushed the limit. There is nothing like a supernatural threat to demonstrate that much of what we think of as "moral" behavior is idealized or even flat out wrong.

Each new entry in this trilogy has challenged our view of Vonvolt and the entire world Swan has been creating here. This ratchets up to the extreme in this final voume to the point where I wasn't always sure if Vonvolt was a hero or a villain, or if heroes or villains even exist. This book challenges the readers to question some fundamental assumptions we have about the world; what is good? what is just? what does it mean to be human? The answers Helena and Vonvolt would give to these answers become increasingly fraught and distant from one another, providing a rich tapestry on which Swan builds in quite messy yet fascinating character development and interactions.

This is all even better because we continue to see Vonvolt through the eyes of Helena. We never get inside Vonvolt's head, and this continues to be a highlight of the series. Vonvolt is almost a mythic character in this world, someone with immense power and authority. Swan keeps us readers at arms length from this fascinating man, which only adds to both the allure (both as an amazing character, but also the personal/romantic allure that Helena feels) and the frustrations of a person that we want to like, but increasingly wonder if we should. This is character work, storytelling, and use of POV at its absolutely best.

As I'm writing this I'm realizing I might be painting this book as a talky piece of philosophical fiction. While these philosophical quandries are built into the book, don't fret. This book is packed with action battle sequences. Have you ever read a trilogy that seems to be building up to some final showdown and then you were left...dissapointed? That doesn't happen here. The final showdowns are big, bold, and epic.

Not only are these final battles worthy of a series ender, but they are viscerally chilling. This book contains more horrifying imagery, demons, and blood than most books advertised as being horror. Swan knows his way around a description, giving us just enough spine-tingline images to convey the through horrors of what his characters are going up against. There is one particular part with a cloaca that made me put down the book for a second....and once you get there you'll know what I'm talking about.

These battle sequences are thrilling and chaotic, but they never lose the core of what this series is about. The characters always shine through as they are tasked with making the tough choices. Who knew that a small little fantasy book about a Judge could become this epic and this interesting?

I know that this review is shorter than the reviews I normally write. It is hard to convey how much I absolutely loved this book, and how much it made Richard Swan an auto-buy author for me. This book is exhilirating, terrifying, emotionally gut-wrenching, and epic in more ways than I could have ever asked for in this series. If you've read the first two books, don't wait to pick this one up. If you haven't yet started the Empire of the Wolf series, this is your signal to jump in knowing that the series only gets better and better, and Swan absolutely nails the landing.

Oh, and don't worry - there is a major trial scene in this book that gets us back to those dark "Law and Order" vibes from the original.

Concluding Thoughts: In one of the best series enders I have ever read, Richard Swan ups the ante in terms of both the action and the themes as Helena, Vonvolt, and company approach their final threat. What started as as fantasy law and order has transformed over three books into a demon-infested fantasy thriller that questions the very foundation of justice. Viscerally haunting and ethically ambiguous, Swan will challenge both the limits of your imagination and your ethics as Helena and Vonvolt are thrust into harder and harder situations. Vonvolt is now one of my favorite all time characters. You can either continue or start this trilogy knowing the payoff is immense.

The last third of this novel (aside from the epilogue) is a battle. A glorious, violent, intricate battle where Helena’s perspective is integral to showing the exhaustion and fear present in such a situation. This is not a rah-rah-victorious-death battle but a “why is this even happening” fight against a terrible foe.

There’s also some great scenes in the afterlife/other realms and some awesome monsters and demons. I don't want to say too much about that part, but just like in Tyranny, these aspects really dipped into Horror and were fascinating.

The character development is exceptional. Vonvalt’s arc is not a rushed or hyperbolic fall from grace but a realistic bending of principles. We are asked to question Sir Conrad’s methods, and it’s hard not to agree or disagree with his logic - just like Helena does. In this way, we are like Helena, as we’ve grown to care about Vonvalt and also worry he’s becoming corrupt or going too far. This isn’t a story where everyone is either evil or good, but a novel where our main characters sometimes make difficult choice or nuanced decisions and must deal with them. Helena is not perfect either, but she’s also very young. I loved how her youth is something she considers amidst the action. I can’t imagine going through what she does and then … what do you do with your life after? What purpose would you feel you have when you’ve done all this and you’re not even 21? The book raises these interesting questions and many others.

The writing is also quick-paced and easily accessible but with the added bonus of more courtroom drama and mature dialogue that is also speckled with humour. The book also not-so-subtly calls out our own world, specifically the hypocrisy and moral decrepitude of our governing systems and politicians. The book attacks dictatorships and theocrats and people who claim to be speaking “for the people” but are clearly using them to further their own agendas, as well as those who can see these things happening but do nothing to stop it. Yet, the balance is superb - it never gets preachy in that regard or feels like it’s trying too hard to say something. In this way, it says a lot.

I also enjoyed how the book brought in the concept that the world they live in is a small part of the world. It’s clearly a European worldbuilding, but it acknowledges how there is a rest of the planet, that what is happening here isn’t the centre of the world. I also liked how it’s not rooted in a sexist medieval setting, as women are treated as equals and just as capable as men in every regard. There aren’t any queer characters, at least that I recall, but I guess you can’t have it all.

Overall, a fantastic end to a wonderful trilogy. I’m so glad my expectations were met, and I'm not averse to saying that Swan is becoming a favourite author of mine.

The third novel in an epic fantasy trilogy, which follows the tale of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice – a detective, judge and executioner all in one.

This series continues to be great. I love the characters and I love that it's a fantasy based mystery series.

I just finished and I am filling slightly overwhelmed and a little disappointed at the same time. Overwhelmed at the sheer scope of this series and disappointed that this was the end of the series. The story was at times confusing and rather intricate in areas while sometimes I felt a little confused with the story in places. The plot of the story and the world itself reminded me to much of own world at times. The things that Helena went through would be enough to give you nightmares for the rest of your life. The thing about reading books from a character's perspective like this is that you know that they will survive and are just left wondering who won't make it the end of the book. I am left wondering what her life was like after all this was over. What did happen to Vonvalt is something for another book maybe but really wanted to know how his life went after the end. The moral and ethical battles that the characters went through was something that was explored throughout the series. For some this will be some of the most interesting things about the series. Did I agree with everything or did like the book completely, not quite but it has proved one of the best reading experiences and I think that is something many will agree on. I usually do a reread of the previous books in the series but not this time. I think I remembered more from Justice of Kings than I did from Tyranny of Faith. Some things did come back to me as I was reading The Trials of Empire but will look forward to reading these again in the future. There are people who probably have been waiting for the last book to come out so they can read all three books close together. I know they will enjoy the series. So, thanks to the author for writing such good books and the publishers and netgalley giving me the opportunity to read them.

Fantasy Horror is where it's at!! I am so fortunate to have found this book and this series. I don't know if this is my favorite of the trilogy but I know the horror elements in this story were something I was looking for in a fantasy novel. If the supernatural elements of book 1 or 2 were your thing then you will have a blast with this one. Reading this book was giving me major Diablo(video game) vibes.

Once again, the character arcs this series contains will be ones I think about often. I love the dynamics between Helena and Vonvolt even more in this one and I was okay with where things were going in book 2, it is addressed in this one.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an e-ARC!

A solid conclusion to a wonderful trilogy. I think this was probably my favorite entry of the three and wrapped up everything very nicely!

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books publishing for providing an eARC for me to review.

4.25/5 stars

Summary:

The Empire of the Wolf is one of the most unique fantasy series’ I’ve ever read because it blends many different genres into each book. It is a series that has procedural law, medieval fantasy horror, political intrigue, mystery, and a tiny sprinkle possibility of romance. With each book either building on or bringing something new.

The first two books in this trilogy were amazing to me and always outperformed my expectations. So when I received an eARC from NetGalley, I was ecstatic. And this book did not disappoint. Although, I did go to the authors website to try to remember all that had happened before reading this last book.

This book was very different than the first two in that it heavily focused on the horror aspects of the story instead of mystery elements. I enjoyed this change, but to me it wasn’t as interesting as the other books. However, this book still had me at the edge with the authors descriptions making it feel like monsters were in the room with you. Gory prose of battlefields made you feel the brutality of the war going on. And the debates and conversations were just as gripping as the action scenes.

The characters and their development were just as great as previous books, as each character had valid events that kept you questioning their morality. This book also put more detail into the expansion of the world by providing a look into the Kasar in the south, which I really liked. Unlike the antagonist kingdom of the Kova Confederation, that barely received any sort of page time and seemed kind of afterthought. But I have hope that potential future books in this world will give more insight.

In conclusion, this was a great ending to the trilogy and I will pickup anything in the future that this author writes.

Plot: 4/5 stars
- Different tone than first two books as more of a medieval horror instead of thriller
- More straight-forward plot with a couple twists and turns
- Satisfying ending to a great series

Setting/Worldbuilding: 4.5/5 stars
- Horrifying and Gruesome descriptions (Goriest book I’ve ever read)
- Expansive world that I could see more books spawning from this universe in the future.
- Loved the exploration of the world’s different cultures, and still want more.

Characters/Development: 4/5 stars
- Morally grey characters that make you question who is doing worse for the Empire
- Helena and Vonvalt were great, complex main characters
- Villains were actually frightening
- Some side characters could have used a little more background or built up.

The Trials of Empire is a truly satisfying ending to the trilogy. Our main characters, Helena and Vonvalt, continue to have a strained relationship while fighting for an empire that is in its death throes. The otherworld plays a bigger role as it continues to affect the mortal realm, and many of its demons and are able to cross over and wreak havoc.

Horror and gore are bigger elements in this book than in the previous two, but it makes sense considering who is fighting in these final battles for the empire. The rule of law, the meaning of justice, and religious imperialism continue to be central concepts to the story. The legal aspects were one of the reasons I came to first love this trilogy, and I’m happy to report that we get a few more diatribes from Helena, Vonvalt, and co.

For those who have read The Justice of Kings and The Tyranny of Faith and are looking forward to this release, there are summaries of the first two books on the authors website if you need a story refresher.

Also, can we take a moment to talk about these covers? Artwork is by @marinafakova and I’m blown away by how stunning each piece is. The cover and title are the reason I picked up The Justice of Kings in the first place, so huzzah! to great marketing.

I received an ARC as an ebook from NETGALLEY, however, I will also be purchasing it to complete the trilogy as I own the first 2.

This was my favourite book out of the trilogy and I'm normally a sucker for book 2 in trilogies. The writing felt very natural and was well paced; the plot felt like it moved almost effortlessly.

I am generally apprehensive when a story involves characters moving in and out of the afterlife. I feel like it's easy to get carried away to a point where the story gets lost and muddled. However, this did not happen and Mr. Swan managed to include demons and the afterlife in a clear and concise manner. The story itself is fairly predictable however the perspective from which I saw it unfold was interesting and unique. I guess more lawyers should be writing fantasy books!

I would give this book a 4.5 but I'm rounding it up to a 5. The things I did not enjoy in regards to this book are more based on personal preference. I tend to like a decent romantic subplot OR no romance. The in between stuff and secret pining is not for me. Especially after everything Helena and Vonvault went through I would have really liked some sort of a happily ever after. Although, the last line of the book seems vague enough that in my grandest delusions I will believe that they eventually found each other again. With that said, the meagerly romantic subplot between the 2 was not exactly necessary since it didn't really go anywhere. I think for most readers this will be easy enough to overlook. Which is why based on writing quality, uniqueness of perspective and likeability of characters I'd say it's still a 5.

While books 1 and 2 are solidly 4/4.5 stars, I was a little let down by this one. Having said that, I think the second half is great. Finales are tough to pull off successfully, and I was not disappointed in the finale of the finale here. 😉

What I liked:
1. The thematic exploration of the series and this volume’s conclusion with that was great. Fantasy books often involve empires and rulers with absolute power without enough critique of the idea of empire and absolute power itself. Swan delves into that critique and tries to believably take these characters and empire through some deconstruction. We need more fantasy that does this.
2. The horror and action of the second half especially was great fun. Swan writes imaginative, awful creatures and visions very successfully!
3. I really liked Helena as a character. Her mix of strength and weakness, effectiveness and messiness. She’s a balanced character and a compelling narrator, gaining a lot of agency as the story progresses.
4. I appreciate where Vonvalt and Helena’s relationship ended up though I have critiques for the journey (more on that below).

Now for spoiler-y and negative thoughts…

1. I was very frustrated by some of the way Swan handled Helena and Vonvalt’s potential romance through books 2 and 3. The biggest offender for me was the way he artificially drew out the will they/won’t they have it all. I was losing my mind over the way they kept getting interrupted when they started to talk about it. Then there’d be stretches of days where they would clearly have had the down time to have this out but they just don’t because it isn’t “time” in a story sense. This approach also meant that Vonvalt and Helena interacted a lot less which was a loss for the character part of the story. I would have much preferred a version where Vonvalt and Helena begin a romantic relationship in book 2 which Helena steps away from in book 3. It would have facilitated much more interesting conversations and conflict.
2. Speaking of interesting conversations - I loved the character focused dialogue that I got and I wanted more. Swan can do it well, so I wish he dedicated more space to it throughout the whole series. There were times Helena said “and we had a great long conversation” but I’m not let in on it. I want to be in on it!
3. On a related note, I think partly because of the lack of character focused dialogue in this volume, many additional characters felt quite flat. Von Osterlen makes the most progress to fleshed out for me. But many others are introduced that blur together, especially the military folks. It’s a blur of honorable ish, straight talking soldiers, captains, etc.
4. As noted at the start of my review, I think the pacing of the first half of the book is wonky. It somehow moves way too fast and is a slog at the same time. We zip north and recruit the priestess and then zip south and recruit the wolfmen - all of which I thought was going to be the whole book’s focus, not just the first half. The second half felt like it matched the pace of the earlier books better, which worked better for me.
5. I’m sorry but the wolfmen are a little goofy for me. 😬

I appreciated enough of the second half of the book and the project of this whole trilogy to still give this one 4 stars. I like a lot about Swan’s style and just want to see more of his character building chops on display. I will absolutely pick up whatever he comes out with next!

Vonvalt, a Justice no longer, Helena, Sir Radomir, von Osterlen have been cast out of Sovan and yet are the four people in the entire Empire than can save the Empire of the Wolf from Claver's treachery. Desperate to find help they head back to Seaguard after hearing rumors that the 16th Legion still lives. What they find there instead is Lady Karol Frost, very alive and the apparent Queen of the Draedists, after informing Vonvalt that Claver is heading to Sovan to overthrow the Emperor Volvalt sees no choice but to form a truce with the Draedists since his own people refused to listen to him. Determined to save the people of the Empire by any means necessary he then sets off to enlist the help of even more former enemies of the Empire in Kasar; where once more Vonvault is confronted by just how far Claver's reach has stretched and how very little time they have to stop him. As fresh horrors greet him and Helena at every turn and more of their friends die Vonvault must decide how much of his very soul he's will to sacrifice for an Empire that has already sacrificed him.

I'm almost 100% sure that I had decided by the end of book two I enjoyed Helena, book three destroyed that. There is no point in this book that she is not naive to the point of obnoxious. She constantly hounds everyone around her to do the "right" thing while it's fairly obvious the right thing even six months ago in the story's timeline and the right thing right now are two very different things. And her version of the right thing would have gotten everyone slaughtered. I think at some point I probably would have just locked her in a room until the parts where she was actually needed. How Vonvault tolerates her till the very end is mystery to me.

That being said this truly was excellent. While there were somethings that were a little cliché for the genre I didn't mind them, I actually found I enjoyed them. Kind of like in the Battle of Helm's Deep when Gandalf shows up to save the day, cliché? Yes. Still awesome? Also, yes. Especially since using the group Swan uses in this to save the day ends up creating a bridge between the Sovans and a group they had not necessarily hated but definitely didn't get a long with. And honestly given how many groups the Sovans conquered to create Empire some bridge building between the peoples of this world was definitely a nice way to end this incredibly complicated political fantasy.

And yeah I can't not address the political and religious aspects of this because this book simply wouldn't exist without these things. This is such a brilliantly straightforward look at how power corrupts those in power and how easy it is for just one person to twist a religious text for their own purposes and just how dangerous that is when it's done by someone who hates. Swan doesn't just elude to this like other fantasy authors do, it is the whole purpose of the book. There's no beating around the bush here at all; Claver is a twisted human who picks and chooses the portions of his religion that he finds to be correct and throws away the rest as a way to justify his own actions. He uses fear and hate and the greed of men to coerce them to his cause with little care of the actual sacrifices they are making. His Templars are just pawns in his game and what he doesn't realize is he's just a pawn in someone else's game. But what really drives Vonvault's point home is one of the last chapters entitled The Murder of an Idea. Vonvault may have done many things he wasn't proud of in this book but that one chapter certainly redeemed him to me at least. The fact that he took seriously that not even the tiniest sliver of Claver's ideas are left to take root was the best ending I could think of.

Overall, this has been an absolutely amazing series and I am eternally grateful I picked this book up. Living in the U.S. right now and really the past few years has felt like people like Claver are just coming out of the woodwork, however, this book was a brilliantly timed, wonderful reminder that for every one Claver there are two willing to stand against him.

Thanks to Orbit Books and Net Galley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

The Justice of Kings introduced us to the unique characters of Helena and Justice Vonvolt. The first book almost felt like historical fiction except for a few magical elements. Through book 2, the stakes were raised as it is slowly revealed the demonic forces at play. The Trials of Empire brings everything to a fantastic conclusion, while ramping up the horror and demonic elements.

We spend half the book gathering forces for the confrontation with Obenpatria Claver. It remained engaging even in that first half. The second half built to a fantastic climax and satisfying ending. There are many fantastic battles. Richard Swan wonderfully ties in the ending with earlier scenes to remind us of the principals at the core of the book.

It is a fantastic exploration of morality, law, justice, and empire. There were numerous legal and philosophical sections that I found especially engaging. I had the benefit of reading the full trilogy in the same year and the final book elevated it beyond my wildest dreams. Though one of my last reads of 2023, it was easily the best. Many books explore the ideas of Empire but few do so as well as this. I give it a strong 6 out of 5 stars.

What a ride this whole series has been. I feel overwhelmingly sad having finished such a tumultuous journey with these characters.

The Trials of Empire picks up right where The Tyranny of Faith leaves off, and it's a whirlwind all the way to the end. By the end of The Tyranny of Faith, we've already come a far cry from where our journey with Helena and Vonvalt began in The Justice of Kings. In The Trials of Empire, events go leaps and bounds above where I thought we would ever end up. The stakes are so high, and when it feels like things simply can't get any worse, they do.

What I enjoyed most from this third installment in The Empire of the Wolf is how much closer we as the reader become to Helena. This installment is not just another instance of Helena recounting the exploits of Vonvalt - here, Helena finally becomes crucial to the events of the story, and the world as a whole. Helena's mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional battles in this book bring forth some of my favorite discussions in the series. Not only discussions between characters, mind you, but between the author and the reader as well.

I don’t think this series could have ended any other way than it did. Richard Swan did an excellent job crafting The Empire of the Wolf from beginning to end, and making me care about these characters as deeply as I do. I’m going to miss them (especially Heinrich and Helena) like they were my real friends.

"The Trials of Empire" by Richard Swan serves as a triumphant conclusion to the epic fantasy trilogy centered around Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice with roles encompassing detective, judge, and executioner.

In this third installment, Swan masterfully weaves a tale of high stakes and impending judgment for the Empire of the Wolf. The once-mighty empire is in decline, and Sir Konrad Vonvalt, alongside Helena, seeks alliances beyond its borders with wolfmen and pagan clans. However, old grievances and complex dynamics among factions threaten the very unity needed to save the empire.

The narrative introduces a formidable antagonist, Bartholomew Claver, armed with infernal powers, setting the stage for a climactic confrontation. The quest for allies on both sides of the mortal plane adds layers of complexity, demanding sacrifices in the pursuit of justice. As battlelines are drawn, the story promises an intense and intricate final reckoning.

"The Trials of Empire" offers readers a blend of political intrigue, supernatural elements, and moral dilemmas. Swan delivers a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, filled with epic battles and the culmination of characters' destinies. Fans of intricate world-building and compelling characters will find this installment a fitting end to Sir Konrad Vonvalt's saga.

A brilliant end to an incredible series. Swan once again quickly pulled me in with his incisive, hard-hitting, eloquent prose, and the ever-escalating stakes kept me glued throughout. The fate of the nation hangs in the balance as our heroes(?) juggle the weight of good people doing bad to prevent worst-case outcomes.

I've always felt that this was going to be a difficult story to finish well, especially with how book two ended. So much was left on the table, and there were a substantial amount of dangling plot threads. I was pleased to see that nearly all were addressed, with Swan throwing curveballs and subverting expectations.

The arc of VonVal throughout the trilogy ranges from lawful to 'whatever it takes for the greater good' and it's a beautiful, sad, and thought-provoking series of decisions that made me question what I'd do in these situations.

The first two books had a smattering of magic and supernatural events, but the conclusion went full-on crazy-town and it was a sight to behold. It was great fun to see just how far the morality of our protagonists could be stretched, and even more interesting, how the repercussions of said decisions were going to affect the world at large.

This is a rare series where each book is more entertaining than the last. Richard Swan has cemented himself as an author of whom I'll read whatever he writes, day one of publication. A truly excellent series, one I'll be recommending for years.

***Thank you to the publisher - Orbit Books - and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

To what lengths would Vonvalt go to preserve the system of justice that Empire has brought? Do the ends justify the means? What price is too high?

All fascinating questions which this series attempted to explore. Unfortunately, the execution failed for me. What began as a mystery ultimately exposed a larger conspiracy; however, the conspiracy grew beyond what three books could reasonably handle.

In addition to the mundane things that make up Helena’s life (following through on revelations from a previous mystery, solving a new kidnapping, navigating a romantic relationship, attempting to save the life of a colleague, debating philosophy and religion), we also have the exploration of numerous planes of existence leading to uncertainty about the afterlife, gods, demons, avatars, prophets, and multiple forms of magic. But that’s not all. We’re also told of this world’s far distant past wherein a Cataclysm created wolfmen in the South who coincidentally become desperately sought after allies and the inclusion of their culture beliefs. There are also apparently mermaids.

Each of these elements when put together overwhelmed what the author did well previously. The background explanations Helena attempts are numerous yet insufficient. Overall, I felt dissatisfied with the resolution of the series.

I want to thank the publisher Orbit and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the final novel of the very satisfying Empire of the Wolf trilogy by Richard Swan. Since this is the third novel of the trilogy, spoilers will be avoided when explaining the plot. The novel begins after the events of the last novel with Sir Konrad Vonvalt, a necromancer and man-of-law, and his main associate Helena on the run working on a gameplan to defeat the evil religious zealot, Bartholomew Claver, and to save the Sovan Empire. It is a conflict that takes place within the mortal and the spiritual plane, and the boundary between these planes is blurring.

As with the other novels in the trilogy, the author is applauded for creating a new take on the modern epic fantasy in style and substance. The novel has a medieval setting that many familiar with epic fantasy will recognize, but this isn’t your run-of-the mill heroic adventure where you have a bigger than life character- in this case Sir Konrad Vonvalt- trying to save the world. The argument could be made that this is a horror novel disguised as an epic fantasy. The visits to the spiritual plane, afterlife, are imaginative, gruesome, bloody, frightening and at times cringe-worthy like what you would expect to find in a good horror novel.

From my past reviews of this trilogy, the author’s decision to tell the story through the first person and have Helena as the narrator brings depth and substance to the novel. Helena who was twenty at the time of this adventure, now decades older, is retelling this adventure with eyes that may not be wiser but have the ability to re-examine her and Sir Konrad Vonvalt’s actions with a fresh perspective that is now several years removed from the events that are told in these pages. Also, this helps the reader to do the same. It encourages the reader to examine and make their own judgements when it comes to what is a just act when those actions are done to save an empire from an evil tyrant. Ultimately besides being a great grim-dark adventure, it is an examination of what is justice. Horrifying things are done for what is considered the greater good, but do those actions and events make it acceptable to do uncivilized things under the banner of what is needed to thwart evil.

Now, there were limitations to having a first-person narrative that disrupted the enjoyment of the novel. The action sequences on the mortal and spiritual plane of existence were enjoyable. This first-person perspective did give the reader the sensation of what it was like as if the reader was fighting side by side with Helena during the combat scenes, but the first person took away a little bit from the suspense and surprise aspect during the many scenes with Helena in turmoil. Because as a reader, we know she was going to make it out of every situation with her life- no spoiler here- or else she wouldn’t be able to tell us the rest of the story. Also, the other limitation was that minor characters that you may become invested in come and go, and then when they reappear, there was no context for how they got from point A to point B without a retelling when the opportunity presents itself to Helena of what they had been up to after they had left the company of Helena, our narrator.

Still, with these qualms, I hope others will give the novel and trilogy a chance. Richard Swan has created a unique spin on the epic fantasy. He has created a complex character in Helena, and from reading the epilogue, there is a hint of possibly more adventures in this world with Helena that I would be excited to read. The action scenes are creative, surprising, and bloody, like one would expect from good epic fantasy. But more than that, it is an excellent examination by Helena and ultimately the reader of what is considered just and can an action still be considered just, no matter how horrific that action was, if that action was done to defeat a more unjust entity to hopefully bring peace and stability to an empire?