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)

I was really excited to get back to Sova and Richard Swan is an auto-buy author for me. That being said, Grave Empire felt vastly different than Empire of the Wolf. Instead of first person Helena, we had third person multiple POV. I have nothing against third person POV, and usually prefer it, but when there's a character POV that I'm just not feeling, it tends to make me put down the book more often. And that's what happened with Peter's POV and Grave Empire. This book shouldn't have taken me 3 months to read because when it moves, it moves fast with a lot of dynamic plotting and engaging scenes. And then I get to Peter and I'm just not that interested.

Once again Swan borrows heavily from European history and other literary works for Grave Empire. This is flintlock fantasy, which normally I don't mind. But it's flintlock fantasy with sea creatures and I'm probably the only woman on the planet who just doesn't care about mermaids. This is my not like other girls moment. But for all the build up of Renata's expedition, it felt like the actual meeting was anti-climatic. The pacing felt off and I was just not that into those scenes. I also felt like the romantic elements between Renata and Joseph didn't build organically. As a romance reader, I have higher expectations for my romantic arcs in my fantasy and this one felt shoehorned in. Helena's romantic leanings with Vonvalt in the first trilogy were done much better, so I know Swan can write a romantic arc. This just wasn't it.

Von Oldenburg's chapters were suitably creepy and I really liked how Swan delved into the science combined with mysticism. The capitalistic tendencies were right on point and I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. While the underlying explanation for all the events didn't grab me and I was pretty meh on that part, the actual zombies were cool, creepy, and more interesting than their reason for existing.

Overall, I liked the book, but didn't love it like I expected to. I'm looking forward to book 2 and Swan still continues to be an auto-buy author for me.

Grave Empire was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, so I went into this with high expectations. I think for most folks, it will definitely deliver.

To start, I wasn’t expecting there to be such a heavy emphasis on the horror elements, but that turned out to be a strength. There’s a ton of great world-building and fantastical elements (yes, there’s mer-men riding SHARKS), along with Richard Swan’s excellent prose. But despite all the things on paper that I really like, I also found myself not really connecting with two of the POV characters and just overall wanting more as the story progressed.

Grave Empire is an interesting book to review for me and I fully accept that my initial reaction might be skewed by my expectations. While I think it’s really good, I think it could have been great. This is probably a case of me needing to read it again to fully appreciate it, so I plan on doing that. For now, it’s a good setup to a series I’ll definitely continue.

7.88/10
4/5 stars

I’m coming into this without have read the first series, however after this book I most certainly will. I am going to say the blind of fantasy/ horror was something I didn’t know I would enjoy so much. The character work and the writing were great. Now to patiently wait for the next book.

A compelling dark fantasy novel that blends political intrigue, horror, and epic storytelling. Its setting on the brink of change, combined with multifaceted characters and deep themes, makes it a rewarding read for those who enjoy complex narratives. With positive reception and accessibility for new readers, it stands as a promising start to a new trilogy, inviting exploration of a world where progress and prophecy collide.

Absolutely brilliant. I am bummed that it's set so far ater the first trilogy, but damn was I glad to be back I this world. Swan is a mastermind and this salt water soaked tale of battles on the seas and necrotic bargains with cosmic horrors in the night is one you really don't want to miss if you enjoyed the first trilogy,

DNF‘ed at 31%. I really tried, but this did not work for me. There was nothing about the characters that made me care for them, the writing style was just big words and confusing and it felt like nothing happened. Another review mentioned it read like a textbook and I think that is the best way to describe it. I had a hard time figuring out what was going on and kept having to read the page again because nothing stuck. I might not have the vocabulary for it, but it was difficult to make sense and follow the story.

Such a different book I’ve read in awhile and I love it so much. I love the multi povs and how brilliantly the book is written. It’s a huge page page turner I definitely love it and will continue the series

I wanted to love this and even gave it three separate tries, but in the end this epic horror/fantasy just isn't for me... currently.

Like, I want to love it so much that I may give it another try...

Grave Empire by Richard Swan brings an exciting new flintlock fantasy filled with mad science, muskets, and vicious mer-men. This series takes place a few hundred years after the events of Empire of the Wolf. However, I feel like it’s still accessible to newcomers and could be read as a standalone series.

I’ve got to say, hands down, my favorite storyline had to be Peter’s. He’s a disgraced officer who is assigned to a remote military outpost where he hears strange weeping at night and a mysterious entity is picking off the men one by one. His sections felt wonderfully atmospheric and gothic and almost reminded me of The Island of Doctor Moreau.

The worldbuilding itself is well-fleshed out and fascinating. The Sovan Empire is on the cusp of industrial revolution. Magick has largely been prohibited (save for the Corps of Engineers who are allowed to practice thaumaturgy). The author even goes through the pains of creating in-world languages, so when culturally specific words from our real world like “Argonauts” cropped up or when the writing breaks out into random French phrases like with "pièce de résistance" and "raison d'etre," it stuck out like a sore thumb to me. That is my main gripe with this book and I wish certain words and phrases had been swapped out for ones that tied more into the book’s own worldbuilding.

Other than that nitpick though, this was an intriguing start to The Great Silence series and it's a solid pick for epic fantasy fans.

What an epic start to a new trilogy! Loved this book from start to finish, I enjoyed having 3 POV's and that each one felt distinct and well rounded. I also loved being able to read this after finishing the Empire of the Wolf trilogy. While its not necessary to read that series first it does lay the groundwork for this world as this book takes place about 200 years after that trilogy. It was nice to see how the world advanced in that time period but also in some ways how it fell behind. I enjoyed all the arcane elements, the creatures, the magic and the new parts of the world that were explored and the new characters that were introduced. The plot was fast moving, the vibes were creepy and an overall air of dread was perfectly crated throughout this story. I cannot wait to continue with this series especially with the ending!

I received an eARC courtesy of Orbit and Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

⭐️: 4.75
I was immensely pleased with Grave Empire. The first book of any epic high fantasy series tends to drown you in world-building, but I was able to keep up and was consistently curious to know more.

A unique choice this novel takes is setting an epic high fantasy novel in a world with strong parallels to the British Empire of the 1800s. It introduces the tensions of imperialism, colonialism, classism, and emerging industrialization and sets up these themes for further exploration in future books.

Is this a romantasy? No. Is there romance? Yes(ish). The beginning foundations for relationships in future novels has been made.

Is this YA? Eh, no? Most of the characters are firmly adults and there are some gruesome scenes described in explicit detail; leading me to state the intended audience as adult.

After reading a few chapters of the book, I didn’t get the ick that is was written by a cis/het male. There is a good blend of male and female characters in comparable positions of authority. One of the main characters is a female.

I cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you Orbit Books for the ARC!

This book was so good! It had everything I liked in the Licanius trilogy by James Islington and reminded me of that in parts. I loved the unique magic system, the complex politics, and the diversity in characters/races. It's definitely going to become one of my favorite high fantasy series once I have more time to sit and digest it. I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

"There are two ways to blunt a blade; one is in its scabbard, the other is in the belly of your enemy."

This book is set 200 years after the events of the last Justice book but you don't need to read that series first to enjoy/understand this one. This was a solid dark fantasy story with a lot of horror elements which I LOVED.

All the characters we followed, Peter Kleist, Renata Rainer, and Count von Oldenburg were each so different and interesting. The way Richard Swan writes his characters is probably my favorite part of his writing style. I am definitely interested in where this world and story are going to go in future books.

This book was a banger!! Fantasy Horror done right and I can't wait to continue on with this series and pretty much anything Richard Swan does in the future.

This book takes place in the same world as Empire of the Wolf but in the distant future. You do not need to read EoTW prior to Grave Empire due to Swan's ability to masterfully keep the stories separate and he doesn't beat you over the head with references to the previous trilogy, reading the previous series will only enhance some of the elements in the story.

The story follows 3 different POVs and by the end of the story I was fully invested in all 3... 1 of the POVs had a slower start as you got all of the political exposition with them but if that's your thing then you will enjoy them.... I didn't even mention Mer-men and bonded Sharks yet... it's a crazy good story that has everything you are looking for in a fantasy story with a supernatural layer to it. I cannot recommend this story more if all of that sounds good to you.


Thank you Netgalley and Orbit to providing an ARC that I didn't get to until post release, whoops.

4 ⭐️

If you are one wondering if you can read this before trading the Empire of the Wolf I am here to say, you absolutely can. There are some Easter egg style references to events from that original trilogy but they would not spoil anything and are more the kind of Easter egg that is “if you know you know.”

That being said, I think the vibe is quite similar. If you’re looking for epic fantasy with horror and mystery elements then this is the author and world for you. There are some really terrifying creatures and moments that we experience so be warned. I do kind of wish the sharks and merpeople were a little bit more prevalent but that’s because I have a weird and unhealthy obsession with underwater things especially sharks. This book was quite the ride and left me wanting more. Can’t wait to see where the series goes from here.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy to review.

Loved this book so much. Cannot explain how great it was to be back in sova. Richard is one of my favorite writers since empire of the wolf and grave empire lives up to expectations

Grave Empire - @richardswanauthor

🪓🪓🪓🪓 ½

*Spoiler-free as Possible*

“DO NOT ENTER. ALL DEAD INSIDE”

There is something about Swans writing and storytelling that scratches an itch that you had no idea you had. But now that you know it’s there, you need it scratched more. Grave Empire is that dark, gritty, fantasy-horror that you need in your life.

It’s rare that a book with multiple POVs hooks you into caring about each character. The nature of the story being told gives Grave Empire a leg up in that regard. Each POV swap feeds us a glimpse of the state of Sova and what lays beyond the mortal plane. And if you’re coming from The Empire of The Wolf series, you know it’s something malevolent in a non-binary way. Each otherworldly entity embodying the Machiavellian way. And when you peer into the depths of the nothingness, reality-eaters stare back.

Swan fills his characters with unforgettable dread. He’s just Jigsaw wearing author clothes. 😂 but I’m all in with it. And honestly hope it gets darker. There’s really not much out there that weaves fantasy and horror/cosmic horror elements.

I know I’ve been slacking on bookstagram, and my reviews are a little rusty. But at the end of the day the writing is great, the story is captivating, the characters are in for a world of pain, and Swan has us at the edge of our seats. Grave Empire is just a solid read that you can’t go wrong with. Unless you’re dying for book two already 😂.

“In the same way that we would not tolerate a man walking up to our house and smashing it down with an axe, so must we find intolerable the actions of a man who would destroy the scaffold about which we construct our society.”

I love Richard Swan’s writing—it truly immerses you in the moment with his characters. By delving deep into their thoughts and motivations, he slows the pace just enough to ensure you fully understand them. When picking up this book, it’s important to recognize that this isn’t a fast-paced fantasy; this is true high fantasy, the kind that requires a map to be laid out and world-building to be fully fleshed out.

This is a daunting book to review, so let’s start with the three main points of view—I’ll try to come back with more thoughts later.

1) Peter / The Soldier – Sent to an unremarkable military outpost, Peter has accepted that his career has peaked due to the financial barriers to advancement. But after being assigned a mission with a handpicked group of soldiers, everything changes. As they encounter new species and traverse an unforgiving wilderness, the gritty reality of war begins to unravel before them.

2) Renata / The Ambassador – In the wake of the Cataclysm, regions and people have been reshaped, leading to the emergence of ambassadors from various species—water people, wolfmen, and more—tasked with maintaining political balance. Renata Rainer has never truly been needed, but when a dire threat arises, she and the chief ambassador embark on a quest to gather information that could save the world. I loved her character—she struggles with family conflicts, inner self-doubt, and the skepticism of those around her, making her one of the most compelling perspectives in the book.

3) Von Oldenburg – A relentless seeker of knowledge at any cost, Von Oldenburg constantly wrestles with questions of morality, though their decisions always lean toward progress, regardless of the ethical consequences.

I’m eager to see how this series continues to unfold—this will be a trilogy, and I’m excited to follow Swan’s career as it evolves.

Thank you, Orbit, for the advanced reader’s copy of this book!

This is a real page turner! With high stakes, great pacing, and a superb layering of mystery, this is definitely one of the most interesting reads of the year for me. The different POV were great as each character is on their own path in different areas of the world. It makes the pacing great and the world-building even better. Really enjoyed this one and looking forward to the next!