Book Title: Grave Empire
Series: The Great Silence (#1)
Author: Richard Swan
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214229274-grave-empire
Release Date: 2/2/25
Star Rating:
From critically acclaimed author Richard Swan, Grave Empire begins the epic tale of an empire on the verge of industrial revolution, where sorcery and arcane practices are outlawed – and where an ancient prophecy threatens the coming end of days.
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… – GOODREADS
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.
