I honestly didn’t know how committed I was going to be reading this book, it’s not the typical book I would gravitate for. But, I am so glad I did so. This book was stunning: visually, character wise, and throughout the flow of the story.

Set during the Sovan Empire's version of the Industrial Revolution, two monks bring warnings of the apocalyptic 'Great Silence' to the Empress. A diplomatic team including Renata Rainer, is dispatched to discuss these findings with the reclusive mer-men in order to find a solution. In the meantime, young Lieutenant Peter Keist starts a posting in the far flung 'New East' of the Empire and has to contend with the eldritch horrors that await in those forests.

This new trilogy presents its tale in a slightly different way to the 'Justice of Kings' trilogy and that was a welcome change. Instead of a single first person POV, we are given several third person POVs for characters in three different regions of the Empire. It was quite enjoyable to theorize how the character's experiences were interconnected and what that meant for the overarching story.

I'm happy to say that this book sets up everything that a sequel series should be. Swan doesn't retread anything from the original series and greatly expands upon both the world and magic system. Swan remains a master of crafting realistic characters and ramping up tension. I thought that Peter, Renata and even von Oldenburg felt like living breathing human beings more so than in any other book I've recently read. Their actions and emotions made sense for who they were and what was happening to them. And as the plot advanced, I remained on the edge of my seat as everything started hitting the fan. I don't know how Swan does it but he starts slow then perfectly builds the tension until you cannot look away.

I regret that this rating system doesn't allow for 1/2 star ratings as I consider this a 4.5 star book. My only quibble keeping this from being a 5 star is that I believe Peter's introduction into Renata's storyline was not as well crafted and probably should've waited until the 2nd book. Otherwise, this is a promising start to what I believe will be another excellent fantasy trilogy.

Ratings going live on Goodreads, Storygraph, Fable and Tiktok on 2/6. My apologies for the delay

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit for this eARC!

Y’all I gotta be real. This is about as spooky a book as I can handle. Throughout the story there is just the lingering sense of foreboding and horror, and it was so good. I get scared reading horror film synopses, so I was definitely pushing my comfort zone a bit, but it was so worth it. This was a lush and expansive world, full of spooky intrigue. This was dark and scary, but also extremely expressive and well-articulated. While the book didn’t hold back on the darker themes, at no point did it feel gratuitous. The three POVs were incredibly compelling, and I can’t wait for more!

Since finishing the Empire of the Wolf trilogy last year, I’ve been eagerly awaiting Swan’s next work to see if it could possibly match what ended up being my favorite new trilogy in recent years. Grave Empire, the first installment in The Great Silence trilogy, is set approximately two centuries (from what I gathered) after the events of the Empire of the Wolf and the Sovan empire is an entirely new beast. This is the dual-headed beast of capitalism and colonialism in a more modern age and the now dwindled empire also has a brand new set of supernatural problems to face.
Grave Empire is a multi-POV story following Renata Rainier, an ambassador to the Stygion mer-men, Peter Kleist, a young lieutenant traveling to his new posting at a border fort, and Lamprecht von Oldenburg, a nobleman with an unhealthy interest in the arcane. Each character, though separated by many hundreds of miles, comes to know of a terrible occurrence in the otherworld known only as the Great Silence. The two monks traveling with Renata know only that they can no longer hear anything from the entities they deal with on the other side. Peter and a group of soldiers are sent on a mission to find out the source of the haunting screams at night and the grisly deaths of soldiers. Von Oldenburg is investigating the source of a plague in the Draedist lands to the north and in doing so discovers something entirely horrifying.
This book is a fine set up for what I expect will be an excellent series. It balances the build up of this brand new world with the mystery of the supernatural horrors occurring behind the scenes and those are two things I very much love. The on-page supernatural bits were excellent, though they didn’t fill me with quite as much dread as those in the first series. Or, I should say it was a different kind of dread that I think will become more present as the series progresses. I also love the characters - Renata and Peter are both likable in their own way and are doing their best in difficult situations and von Oldenburg goes from unlikable rich guy to an absolute bastard of a villain by the end of the book.
Grave Empire was an excellent opener to Richard Swan’s new flintlock fantasy trilogy and will be perfect for fans of Abercrombie’s Age of Madness trilogy, Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage series, and Tchaikovsky’s Guns of the Dawn. While this has somewhat less of a focus on the militaristic angle, it’s still very present and the grinding wheels of empire will definitely crush all beneath them in the name of progress. This can be read without having read the Empire of the Wolf trilogy first as it doesn’t spoil anything and you’ll only be missing out on the minor joy of recognizing a few names that get referenced. I can’t wait for the next installment and I have my fingers crossed that things will get dark and creepy!

<b>4.0 Stars</b>
The Empire of the Wolf trilogy has become one of my all time favourite fantasy series so I was naturally quite excited to read another series set in the same universe.

This novel was solid but understandably failed to live up to the highs of the original series. The writing remained consistently excellent. My brain just loves the way that this author puts together words.

The characters were well developed but simply couldn't live up to my obsession with the original duo in the original trilogy.

The story started slow and, at first, I was unsure how I felt about this novel. Eventually this one picked up and I became invested. It had a strong final third with plenty of dark elements that appealed to my personal reading tastes.

If you share my love for the Justice of Kings and its sequel, this spinoff series is definitely worth your time. It's a fine place to start with this author but I'd strongly recommend going back to the original trilogy first and reading in publication order.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Epic, frightening, and weirdly a bit romantic, Grave Empire by Richard Swan is officially one of my favorite fantasies of all time. It’s immersive and atmospheric with detailed descriptive world building. The world-building is incredible (I cannot emphasize this enough). Swan does a great job in creating a work that immediately transports one to a world of war and magic—a world both of beauty and of darkness. His writing is flawless because the place felt so rich and dark. We have different species, peoples, cultures, cults, magic practitioners, and magical objects. Swan does a great job in wanting you to actually visit the fictional place.

In addition to the world building, one of my favorite things about this book was the horror element. Swan does a great job in crafting a fantasy that also invokes goosebumps. Several scenes in the novel had me taking a moment before continuing.

Another thing this book does surprisingly well is its usage of multiple POVs. Sometimes with multiple POVs, novels can feel a bit disjointed and convoluted. However, here, Swan does an excellent job with presenting these multiple narratives and keeping you engaged. All of the characters in each of these narratives were compelling to read about—keeping one invested in their arcs. The characters, as a whole, were multidimensional and with their own desires and ambitions. They were not flat nor boring. Instead, they were rather intriguing.

In sum, I highly recommend Grave Empire. It has a captivating plot with magic and war. It’s a bit gruesome and frightening. The multiple POVs are executed well. Although I found the first third of the book to be a bit dense and excessive in detail, I stuck with it and absolutely loved it. I can’t wait for the next book!

Rating: 4.75/5

Wow wow wow. I can't believe how much I enjoyed this. I was a little worried because I've only read the first book of his previous trilogy but it was easy to keep up with this one. I definitely think I will re-read this book after I finish the previous trilogy. I really enjoyed the world and cannot wait for the next book to see if it expands any.

I truly love Richard Swan. Not only is a very nice guy, he’s a hell of a writer. Grave Empire is an amazing start to this new series, and I can’t wait for more!
This book is less “dark” then the Empire of f the Wolf trilogy, but equally as good. Keep them coming Mr Swan

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the advanced reader copy.

This was…so damn good! It was great fantasy. It was great horror. And Richard Swan blended the fantasy and horror elements so well. The political intrigue in this one was also top tier. I honestly am excited (and also a little sad that I have to wait) for the next installment in this trilogy. This one kept me on my toes, and I was constantly trying to piece the puzzle together. This is one of those reads where you have a hard time putting it down - you have to keep turning the page to figure out what happens next. BUTTTT, and this is key, you also want to take your time and savor it because you don't want the story to end. This was my first Richard Swan, and I am honestly so excited to read his other trilogy set in the same world. Hopefully, in doing so, I will be able to (im)patiently wait for the next installment. Richard Swan, you sir, are a literary genius.

Richard Swan does it again! The Empire of the Wolf is one of my favorite trilogies, and I was elated to be thrown back into the Sovan Empire - this time in its flintlock era. The Empire has tried to learn its lessons from previous generations, and the pendulum has swung from one extreme to the other and is now coming back as a wrecking ball.

Swan had superb characters, and this time we even get a perspective from a truly terrible person. I’m not sure that I hate him as much as the villain from the OG trilogy, but I more than expect to with future books. As always, there are main characters that I am really excited to read more of (two that I’m picturing as Rick and Evelyn from the Mummy and I refuse to change my mind about it).

I would recommend reading the Empire of the Wolf trilogy prior to Grave Empire. I think you could definitely jump in and figure some of it out, but the first trilogy provides a TON of context that I don’t think can be easily inferred. And even though they don’t affect the plot, there are little Easter eggs that I was delighted to find.

There is as much horror, magic, and plot as we know to expect from Swan, but this is by no means a copy and paste of his previous work. If you enjoyed Empire of the Wolf, you should definitely pick up Grave Empire.

Thank you NetGalley, Orbit Books and Richard Swan for the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

This is book one of The Great Silence series and is a continuation of the world introduced in Swan’s Empire of the Wolf trilogy. This series starts quite a bit in the future, and reading of the previous trilogy is not necessarily required. The book is a fantasy horror novel set in a time of war with an end of the world prophecy and plague. The book follows 3 POVs and switches between them fairly consistently. The reader mostly spends time with Renata, the ambassador to the Stygion, or mer-men race. These individuals still practice magic, which is now banned in the country Renata lives in (Sova). Then there is Peter, a soldier within the Sovan army that is tasked with figuring out the arcane issues occurring in the northern regions of the war effort. Then we have Von Oldenburg, who is a member of the Sovan Senate and Lord and is enthralled with the study of magic.

Unfortunately, this book just didn’t do it for me. But as you will see with other reviews, it did for a lot of people. And I can see why it works for so many. However, I found the first 40-50% of the book to be quite boring and I didn’t have much investment in the characters. I didn’t care when there was death, none of the horror elements really got to me and I just struggled getting through chapters. Once we get past 50%, it does pick up quite a bit. However, there was nothing about the characters that I could truly grasp on to. They just existed. I tend to be a very character driven reader and they felt flat. There were some moments, but those moments didn’t continue throughout the book. It could also be a re-read when in a different headspace is needed. I’ll likely read the synopsis for book 2 and decide from there if I want to proceed.

If you’re a fan of grimdark fantasy, immersive world-building, and characters that will haunt you long after the book ends, Grave Empire will likely leave you wide-eyed and breathless. Richard Swan delivers a brutal, breathtaking new entry in the Empire of the Wolf universe, set centuries after its predecessor, and it’s nothing short of a dark, atmospheric masterpiece.

This novel is definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s dark. I mean really dark. The tone is oppressive and tense, drawing comparisons to Joe Abercrombie's work in its unflinching portrayal of human frailty, all while intertwining elements of supernatural horror. There’s a constant, looming sense of dread that permeates the entire story, amplified by the eerie landscapes and chilling events that unfold across the world. Think flintlock fantasy mixed with cosmic horror—imagine battles where gunpowder and magic meet, but also where reality itself seems to crack at the seams.

The plot follows multiple POVs—Renata, a human ambassador to the mermen; Peter Kleist, a reluctant military nobleman; and Von Oldenburg, who serves as the villainous figurehead whose grotesque ambitions bring a new level of horror to the story. The world itself feels like it’s on the brink of collapse, with the plague spreading through the south and an industrial revolution tipping the balance of magic and technology. Swan does an excellent job of fleshing out his world, with cultures, religions, languages, and histories that add depth and texture, though at times it can feel a bit overwhelming without a map to ground the reader in all the details.

Renata's journey is fascinating, as she tries to navigate the impossible politics between races and investigate the mysterious Great Silence that threatens to unravel the fabric of life itself. Peter's perspective, though more grounded, gives readers a window into the horrors of war and the personal emotional toll of reluctant heroism. Meanwhile, Von Oldenburg is a character you love to hate—his chapters are twisted, and as he delves into darker and more grotesque practices, you’re left wondering how far he’ll go to achieve his goals. Some of the imagery here is borderline nightmare-inducing—if you have a weak stomach, proceed with caution.

The writing is exceptional. Swan masterfully balances complex political intrigue, atmospheric horror, and hard-hitting action sequences. That said, the pacing starts a bit slow as the world-building unfolds, and some may find the amount of names, places, and magical terms overwhelming. Still, the slow buildup is worth it, as things pick up steam, and the stakes become ever more personal and dire.

There’s a lot of focus on the darker side of human nature, which is something that resonates through the characters and the world they inhabit. None of the main characters are perfect. They’re all morally grey, and some of them may even repulse you with their actions. But this complexity only makes them more compelling. Swan isn’t interested in clear-cut heroes and villains—everyone has flaws, desires, and motivations that drive them, and it makes for an unpredictable and gripping read.

And let’s not forget the sharks. Yes, armored sharks. This detail alone should sell you on this book. From mermen with armored sharks to underwater cities, Swan has created a world so rich in details that it’s impossible not to get swept up in its strangeness. Every time you think you’ve seen it all, the story takes another unexpected turn, from haunted forests to suffocation execution posts for mermaids. The supernatural horrors blend seamlessly with the industrial revolution setting, making for a world that feels both lived in and lived through.

All in all, Grave Empire is a dark, immersive, and thoroughly captivating read. With its masterful world-building, morally complex characters, and relentless atmosphere of dread, it promises to be one of the standout dark fantasy books of 2025. If you’re a fan of grimdark, supernatural horror, and flintlock fantasy, you’ll want to get your hands on this one—and quickly. Just don’t expect any sunshine or happy endings.

Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)

Ahoy there me mateys!  This is a new series set several centuries after the events in the Empire of the Wolf trilogy.  While this series can be read separately, I think it is a much richer experience reading the trilogy first.  There is a trickle down effect where having history of the previous Empire helps explain the politics and opinions of the current regime.

This book has three points-of-view.  The first is Renata, the junior ambassador to the the Stygion Merfolk.  She and her boss are often ridiculed because most people don't believe the Merfolk even exist.  The second is a lieutenant named Peter who has been sent to the fringes of the Empire.  An unknown phenomenon is killing the soldiers and driving men mad.  Poor Peter is sent out to investigate.  The last viewpoint is Von Oldenburg, a man who is out for himself.

The contention in this book is due to the prophecy of the Great Silence which could lead to doom for the whole world.  All three characters become involved in different ways.  I found Renata's time with the Merfolk to be wonderfully weird and exciting.  Their culture is fascinating.  Peter's timeline is a close second because he does not have the best luck and he is fighting his own fears.  Von Oldenburg is, well, dislikeable if interesting.

Book one is very much a set up with very few answers but the hints about where book two is headed make me wish I had a copy now.  Arrrr!

I struggled with this book. I will first and foremost admit that I have not read The Empire of The Wolf. In my defense, NOTHING ABOUT the preview made me think I needed to comprehend the insanity that is Grave Empire. If I had read the book the geopolitical landscape and mixed-human species interactions would have eased the burden of the first half. Regardless, this book is utter madness.

We’re jumping between three POVs- a soldier, an ambassador, and a lord- chasing the mystery of unknown darkness haunting the content. They are far apart geographically and in ideology. This made it difficult for me to feel that their experiences were intertwined. I also was so deeply embroiled in the lore and world-building (which felt heavy-handed) that I couldn’t focus on the plot or characters.

Then we have the horror. Once again, I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS A HORROR BOOK. And for the first half, I was glad I didn’t know about it because I enjoyed those elements the most as we travel with an incompetent and naive lieutenant on the frontier- the New East. I was genuinely creeped out and had goosebumps reading about the haunting of the New East.

However, the last half was ridiculous. I cannot emphasize enough how difficult it was to believe this was a cohesive world- not some fever dream. The fever dream vibe works, but not in an “I’m a serious, high-fantasy-horror, read me and be impressed” book.

I honestly cannot believe I finished this book. The only way I did it was by only reading the dialogue- and guess what?! I followed the story completely fine and finished 80% of the book in 2 days. I don’t care what genre you write, that is a bad sign.

Richard Swan’s other books now have a precarious place on my TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a free ARC in exchange for my honest to god opinion. If I had spent money on this book I’d be enraged beyond measure.

Huge thanks to Orbit Books and NetGalley for giving me access to an early eARC of this book.

Wowza!

I will admit, it took me a good 30% of the book to suck me in. But when it did, I was transported into another level of existence.

When I say I was sucked in, I mean I read 300+ pages in one sitting. Both Peter and Renata's POVs had me biting my lip with anxiety. Shark-riding, ocean-dwelling, mutated fish humans??? Are you f*cking kidding me? This is exactly the change up I was hoping for in the fantasy genre. Oh, and cat-men? Dude, the scene of them performing the ritual in front of the prisoners was insane!

I was praying for something other than the classical adventure fantasy and boy did it deliver. The horror elements mixed with fantasy in this book is perfection. I seriously can't wait for the next installment. I wish I had it in my hands already.

Bravo, Mr.Swan

Grave Empire is the start of a new fantasy series that takes place in the same world as Empire of the Wolf (which I have not read 😂). Despite this fact, I was still able to understand the story and probably just missed out on a few Easter eggs.

I enjoyed the second half of this book more than the first. It takes this book a while to let the reader know how the three different characters, whose points of view this story is told from, will relate to each other. But this book also has action scenes that were truly enjoyable, world building that is extensive, and a system of magic that has a lot of depth to it but is still understandable.

If you have read Empire of the Wolf, I would definitely recommend starting this series. If you haven’t read Empire of the Wolf, I would recommend starting there if you are looking to start reading about a new epic fantasy world.

THE DARK HORROR FANTASY OF YOUR DREAMS..... or nightmares??!

Oh man I could gush about this book all day. I am so happy to return to Swan's Empire of the Wolf world in a new age that is decidedly more grimdark flintlock fantasy in tone. It is an utterly compelling story of dark magic, nefarious plots, and a nation divided by war.

This is going to be a fave of 2025 for sure. Richard Swan has knocked it out of the park completely solidifying him as one of my favourite fantasy authors. I look forward to more of this gritty, horrific world!

Richard Swan has officially entered my auto-buy author list. After devouring the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, I went into Grave Empire expecting great writing and a compelling story—but Swan still managed to surprise me. This book is an incredible blend of dark fantasy and horror, with an even richer, more immersive version of Sova than before.

“There was nothing sweeter than life itself. Everything else was a problem that could be solved, or endured. Death did nothing except remove all options.”

Set 200 years after the conclusion of Empire of the Wolf, Grave Empire stands entirely on its own. You do not need to read the original trilogy to dive into this one—but for longtime fans, the connections and callbacks woven throughout are an absolute treat.
Before getting into the story itself, I have to highlight Swan’s writing style. His worldbuilding is precise and immersive, effortlessly creating a setting that feels both expansive and lived-in. The prose is sharp yet fluid, and the dialogue is some of the best in the genre. Each point-of-view character feels distinct and fully realized, drawing me deeper into the unfolding mystery. And as always, Swan’s use of epigraphs and chapter titles is a standout feature.

The novel follows three main characters:
Renata, an ambassador to the merpeople, navigating the delicate politics of interspecies diplomacy.
Peter Klesit, a lieutenant stationed in a desolate, ominous outpost.
Von Oldenburg, a wealthy politician orchestrating some of the most chilling evil in the book.

All three must face an encroaching, world-ending horror that threatens everything they know. The character work is phenomenal—Swan’s ability to balance deeply personal struggles with high-stakes, cosmic terror is what sets him apart. I won’t go into too much detail on the plot, but I will say this: Swan’s creativity is absolutely top-tier. And yes—sharks > horses, forever.

One of Grave Empire’s biggest strengths is its atmosphere. The haunting, dread-filled tone lingers throughout, making this one of the most unique fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. The horror elements are seamlessly woven into the world, creating something both unsettling and exhilarating. If this is just the beginning, I cannot wait to see how Swan expands on these themes in the rest of the trilogy.
It may only be February, but I already know this will be one of my favorite dark fantasy books of the year.
Huge thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for the physical and e-ARC!

I got an ARC! What a ride this was!

Set 200 years after the original Swan trilogy, this new series opener takes place in a Sova that has effectively outlawed magic. Readers follow 3 distinct characters: Renata, an ambassador to the mermen race (which was an interesting and entirely unexpected addition to this world); Peter, a young and untested captain; and von Oldenburg, who gave me serious heebie-jeebies. If you've read and loved the OG trilogy, you'll know that Swan can drag his characters into some seriously disturbing and horrifying situations. This book took his characters to new depths of horror and creepiness (my God, poor Peter.) There were parts of this book that made me disturbed and pretty freaked out. I really love horror, so Swan's novels have been a real treat to read.
The characters in this book, while still always interesting to read about, weren't quite the favorites for me that Konrad and Helena were. I think the first-person narrative in the original trilogy from Helena made those novels feel much more focused and personal, while I did struggle at times in this book to connect with the characters, especially Renata, who was probably my least favorite POV. I think Richard Swan may have officially supplanted Joe Abercrombie as my favorite grimdark fantasy author, and after that absolutely despair-inducing cliffhanger, I can't wait for the next book in this new series!

Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for my ARC; all opinions are my own.