Grave Empire by Richard Swan Review (Gifted/AD)

Hello Readers,

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eBook copy of Grave Empire by Richard Swan in exchange for an honest review. The copy I received didn’t include a cover, so I’m using an image found through Google (Fair use for review purposes). Since today is its official publication day, this review will be spoiler-free.

Happy Publication Day 

Title: Grave Empire
Author: Richard Swan
Genre: Fantasy Fiction, High fantasy, Adventure fiction
Pages: 529
Cover Image:


Synopsis:
Blood once turned the wheels of empire. Now it is money.

A new age of exploration and innovation has dawned, and the Empire of the Wolf stands to take its place as the foremost power in the known world. Glory and riches await.

But dark days are coming. A mysterious plague has broken out in the pagan kingdoms to the north, while in the south, the Empire’s proxy war in the lands of the wolfmen is weeks away from total collapse. 

Worse still is the message brought to the Empress by two heretic monks, who claim to have lost contact with the spirits of the afterlife. The monks believe this is the start of an ancient prophecy heralding the end of days—the Great Silence. 

It falls to Renata Rainer, a low-ranking ambassador to an enigmatic and vicious race of mermen, to seek answers from those who still practice the arcane arts. But with the road south beset by war and the Empire on the brink of supernatural catastrophe, soon there may not be a world left to save... 

Miniature Review
I will be honest I didn’t read The Empire of the Wolf trilogy, and this story takes place 200 years later. However, thanks to Richard’s amazing world-building, I never felt lost. While I may have missed a few Easter eggs, the story stands strong on its own and pulls you into an immersive adventure.

What truly makes this book shine is Richard's ability to create a world that feels both real and lived in. His magical, multicultural, multi-racial, queer-normal universe is a refreshing change. Every location is richly detailed, and the plot twists flow naturally within this complex world. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the story would take a dark, unexpected turn, forcing me to rethink what I knew about the characters and their world.

The narrative unfolds through multiple points of view, with each character on a unique journey, facing their own mysteries and challenges. The shift from the third-person and multi-POV approach was a bold decision, and I’m so glad it worked. This keeps the pace moving and adds depth, giving the story emotional pull that had me hooked from start to finish.

Richard's characters are fantastic they’re real, flawed, and incredibly easy to get attached to. There are no clear-cut heroes, and even some of the "bad" characters are fully developed, making them compelling and complex.

The book blends fantasy with horror, offering vivid descriptions of violence and psychological tension. The mystery and the characters’ intense experiences kept me turning pages nonstop. The different perspectives expand the story, providing a comprehensive view of this rich world.

Overall, Richard has created a dark, captivating tale and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

L x

 

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