really hate to do this since it’s an arc but I could not get into it at all. I read about 200 pages and it just didn’t grab me at all :(. It’s an epic fantasy and I’m sure some epic fantasy fans will love it.

Initial entries in a series can often be thought of in two separate ways; they are either a self-contained narrative with the promise of a greater story to tell or it's the launch point that will hopefully feel consequential when looked at retrospectively. Richard Swan's Grave Empire pulls off the feat of inviting readers into a strange, unsettled world where the essence of death hangs in question without feeling like a prologue to a far more interesting story.

Burgeoning diplomat Renata Rainer acts as the reader's guide through the Sovan empire, though she shares her page count with a scheming noble and a soldier who is in over their head. I never read Swan's prior series set hundreds of years before Grave Empire, but that did not make the novel any less enticing as a vast magic-tinged conspiracy is revealed. Rainer, in particular, is a phenomenal character who balances being remarkably competent in her field while never feeling like she is there as a source of exposition. The stakes are high, but Renata's personal investment makes them still feel human, you never lose sight of how she was drawn into her mission or what she's lost along the way.

There are moments when you need to trust Swan and simply go with the unexpected twists and turns, though this might be because of my unfamiliarity with the Sovan Empire, the journey is enjoyable along the way. Swan's style is gripping without being overly flowery or drawing attention to itself and he is a master of cutting between each character's POV at a moment where you anticipate the resolution without feeling like a lurching series of cliffhangers.

To write too much on the plot would give too much away, but the various threads are woven together in a way that feels earned rather than a deus ex machina to set the stage for a sequel. Not only has Grave Empire caught my interest in each subsequent entry in the series, but it's also motivated me to revisit Swan's earlier work.

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

Grave Empire has long chapters broken into smaller sections. It takes a while to fully understand where the story is going while it sets up multiple mysteries possibly connected to the arcane. We soon realize that the book is set in the same world as the prior trilogy by Swan, Empire of the Wolf, but many years after the events of the prior trilogy.

Fans who got into the original trilogy for the law will not find that here. This leans fully into the elements of horror. Soon we discover an existential threat to all of humanity and one group of characters search for a solution.

Some of the big reveals in the later section of the book blew me away and upped the stakes even higher than I could have imagined. Though some parts are resolved, there are many threads remaining for the next book.

Richard Swan continues to explore horror in unique ways that blends the arcane with other magic. The characters encounter mermen and other unique races, expanding the world we thought we knew of Sova. Grave Empire is a promising start to a new trilogy and one you could enjoy without the prior trilogy. Though I doubt many would resist going back after finishing.
5/5

Taking place 200 years after the events of the The Empire of the Wolf trilogy this new tale from Richard Swan explores a prophecy in the middle of an industrial revolution. The different character points of view are interesting and well-developed. The world-building is absolutely wonderful. This works well as a stand-alone I didn't even notice that another series had taken place before this until reading other reviews. Overall I think Swan did a wonderful job.

Thank You NetGalley, Orbit, and Richard Swan!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for granting me an eARC.

After loving Richard's previous series, The Empire of the Wolf, I was ecstatic to hear he was returning to the world with another trilogy set centuries later.

Grave Empire, while set in the same world, does a wonderful job at telling a story accessible to readers who haven't read The Empire of the Wolf but provides a fantastic expansion to the world and lore for those who have. What I loved about Richard's writing in his previous trilogy was the unique blend of mystery and Eldritch horror added to a fantastical world and I'm immensely pleased to report he nails that aspect yet again.

This time around rather than a single POV, we get 3 main POVs each spread across the empire which leads to a much wider scope from the outset. I enjoyed each POV throughout but none of the characters quite reached the height of the original cast. I'm still very excited to see where each of their journeys takes them next.

Overall this book was a wonderful expansion to the world of Empire of the Wolf and beyond excited to see where the rest of the series goes.

DNF - unfortunately
This one caught me in a reading slump and was a bit too confusing to follow. It felt as though I was coming into the second book in a series where it didn't feel the need to introduce characters or any background.
I will most likely try again when it is published, but for now alas it could not hold my attention.
Thanks for the ARC

Great to be back in Swan's richly imagined world with new developments, inventions, and villains, old and new.

Sticking with Grave Empire by Richard Swan definitely paid off in the end, like most epic fantasy works. It's a slow start with all the world building, as often happens with these series in the first half of the first book. I almost DNFed due to not loving Peter's flat character, but Renata and her mermen plot kept me hooked and ultimately, I was glad I stuck with it. The pace really picks up halfway through. I think it will get even better in the coming books, with so much history, world, and character already established.

This is set about 200 years after the events in the Empire of the Wolf series. It's not necessary to have read it to dive into Grave Empire, but I do think it lends some great insights if you have. Regardless, I think this will be well-loved by high fantasy readers!

Easily one of the best books I have ready all year.

The changes to the world of the Sivan empire were fantastic. The tale of imperial hubris was fantastic and the world building amazing.

I highly recommend this book.

4 out of 5 stars.

This is a great start to a new series. I really enjoyed heading back into Sova with a substantial time jump. The world feels different but still very familiar at the same time. I really enjoyed Renata’s story, especially towards the end of the book. I love the inclusion of the new creatures. I wasn’t as big of a fan of Peter’s story, but with it being book one, he might evolve as the story progresses. I will encourage everyone that has read and enjoyed Empire of the Wolf to pick this up as soon as it’s out. A lot to like about this book. Look forward to part 2.

There was a lot I liked about this book. The world-building is great as is the magic system. The plot is excellent and the characters well-developed. I also liked the pacing. I loved the introduction to each chapter; they were so well-written, I would frequently re-read them. There were a couple of things, however, that I was not fond of. I feel that too many places were described right off the bat and it was hard to keep track. I also thought that there was at times too much violence that did not move the story along, including scenes that I would describe as horror. Overall, I found the book well worth reading and I look forward to reading more books in the series. Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the advance reader copy.

I was excited about this book because I loved Swan's Empire of the Wolf series. I read 50% of this book because I really wanted to love it, but I just didn't enjoy it. The characters were all flat and unlikeable, and it felt like the plot wasn't progressing except in minor increments. The most offputting thing was the smut scene. Consent was dubious at best and seemed bored in its own description. It was wildly incorrect about women's anatomy and unnecessary, to be frank.

Grave Empire is the first book in a new trilogy set hundreds of years after the events of The Empire of The Wolf series. The Sovan Empire from the previous books has moved on in time and once again politics and religion has gotten in the way of peace and expansion.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review. While I am giving this book 4⭐️ at this time I will not be continuing with this until the final book is released.
One of the major changes in the series is that we the readers are now switched from a one character POV series in the Empire of the Wolf to a three person POV setting and while this is quite common it is just not something I have been enjoying for a while. Part of the enjoyment for me in reading the first trilogy was that it was already completed by the time I read it and while I did enjoy this book and like this authors style of writing I feel like I will get more enjoyment out of this trilogy once it is complete.
I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy dark fantasy/grimdark or were a fan of the first trilogy but do agree with other reviewers that there are chunks of the book that are slow to slog through and some pacing issues can be seen.

Absolutely bloody amazing!

If you’ve picked up the authors first series written in this world (Empire of the Wolf) you know to expect an exquisitely written adventure series. This delivers in spades.

I have read the Empire of the Wolf, and while that is not necessary to your enjoyment of this book I really do wish I remembered more about the intricacies of those books so I can enjoy this one even better. It reminds me of the early days of watching the tv show Lost. When all the theories were wild and the mythology led to more and more outrageously delicious storylines. I want to dive into this world and become an expert. 🙂

Sova has changed a great deal in 200 years since we left them in the first series. Magic has been suppressed by the government. Religion has not only grown but been politicized and used to oppress and manipulate other nations. Money and industry has become the true god of Sova. The people are as a result out of touch with what is going on around them and the existential danger they are actually facing. But is the true danger coming from supernatural forces or is it actually from the truly evil machinations of those in power.

This book gives you chills and stops your breath. It is absolutely heart stopping. If you are looking for high stakes this is where you will find them. I can’t recommend it enough. Read this book, then go back and read the first series. You won’t be sorry.

New author for me. It was a bit hard to get into the book as the language can be challenging to work through at times. It's written to make it more Victorian seeming. We have a world run by multiple human and human hybrid peoples. One group is in full blown conquer the world mode against another and of course they both have competing versions of the same religion so that is used as a weapon as well. Magic is banned on one country, embraced in the colonized countries and blatantly used in others. Our cast of characters involves a young officer being sent into the hinterlands of a land being colonized to find out that there is more out there than just the enemy. A young woman who is an ambassador to mer-folk is conscripted into an emergency expedition that may decide the fate of the entire world. One more figure is a member of the aristocracy who delves into dark magics to try to protect his country. One I got past the first third, this book flowed more easily for me and I couldn't put it down. The questions you ask as you read are never fully answered and you drag yourself excitedly through the adventure to find out what happens next. It gets exciting, horrifying and engaging in turns. This strange worlds is full of amazing creatures, bizarre plagues, zombies, threats from the afterlife and communities made of magically changed humans. I'm looking forward to the next in the series. I appreciate the chance to read an advanced copy of this book.

This is definitely better than his previous book. Swan does politics well, and when he diverges from it, things go downhill. Glad to see he didn't do that here.

Wow this was a cool book, I really need to go back and read the original trilogy set in this world. The writing, worldbuilding, pacing, and character development is just superb.

Once again, Swan has laid the foundations for a truly fascinating, global arcano-political conflict in the world of Sova. As a big fan of Swan's first trilogy, I was thrilled to see the hallmarks of that series (political intrigue, exemplary worldbuilding, and necromancy) introduced in new and invigorating ways. I was also impressed by how little I would have needed to know (or in this case, remember) about the previous series. Other than a few easter eggs, I don't think I needed to know anything. Everything was spelled out nicely in active exposition along the way.

Renata and Peter make for great, and especially in the latter case, fascinating character explorations. The worldbuilding was tremendous, though never overwhelming. The prose is superb. Overall, this will appeal to fans of political fantasy and especially to those interested in existential threats, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC.

Grave Empire delivers beyond expectations. The transition from the singular point of view in the Empire of the Wolf trilogy to the multiple POV characters is executed with remarkable finesse. Each perspective is distinct yet intricately woven into the narrative, creating a multifaceted story that feels both expansive and deeply personal. The world-building done in the first 3 books is starting to pay off in this book with the introduction of new magicks and finally meeting new species.

What truly sets this book apart is how it builds on the strengths of the author’s earlier works while surpassing them in complexity and emotional depth. The pacing is sharp, the stakes are higher, and the world feels more vivid than ever. Grave Empire is Richard Swan's best work yet and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Interesting world building and very suspenseful. Great opening act but then drags some in the middle. Greatest strength of the book is it was very difficult what was going to happen next which kept it interesting.