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A review by the_midwest_library
Grave Empire by Richard Swan
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I want to preface this by saying, I am a BIG fan of the Empire of the Wolf trilogy, so much so that I lovingly pestered Mr. Swan into sending me a physical arc of Grave Empire (I started the pestering at Tyranny of Faith so hard work really does pay off 😜). So thank you to Orbit and Richard (we are pals now first names only hahah) for sending me this. While the arc was sent to me, I'm a hater to my core, so if I'm telling you it's 5 stars, truly you have to believe me, as I don't give out 5 star ratings lightly.
What a way to open up this world, Nema's Hell truly it was brilliant. I immediately was drawn to our main cast of characters, especially Peter and Retana. Peter's story, a simple one on its face: a soldier of some prestige found himself stationed at a remote outpost where strange things are happening. The woods are screaming, quite literally, and sightings of monsters are on everyone's mind.
Retana is a political ambassador for a race of mer-people, representing the Sova Empire and her interests. While not quite a simple trip, it soon turns fraught with dark magic threatening the mortal world.
The story is dark, creepy, and addictive. I'm not a horror reader, but I am a Grimdark fantasy lover and so this world is right up my alley. Check trigger warnings if you don't love the ookie spooky.
I am a firm believer in publication order and so while not required, I do think your reading is only enhanced for the better if you read this series after Empire of the Wolf, as it takes place 200 years in the future and is directly set in the same world and as a direct result of things that occured in EotW.
I'm really excited to see where this one goes. This book is not without flaws, I do think some of the larger plot concepts towards the end of the book with varying beings and otherworldly events and "things" were a scooch clunky. There was a moment where I was taken out of the book in the midst of a larger plot reveal/explanation due to the phrasing choices but I was pulled back in not two paragraphs later and was desperate for more. So for me, all is forgiven and now I demand book 2 😜
I was highly highly impressed with how this world expanded in such tangible ways. In HOLY SHIT ways, in WHAT AM I READING ways. Richard Swan thank you for writing these books for me and only for me, because I just eat them up 👀👀👀.
What a way to open up this world, Nema's Hell truly it was brilliant. I immediately was drawn to our main cast of characters, especially Peter and Retana. Peter's story, a simple one on its face: a soldier of some prestige found himself stationed at a remote outpost where strange things are happening. The woods are screaming, quite literally, and sightings of monsters are on everyone's mind.
Retana is a political ambassador for a race of mer-people, representing the Sova Empire and her interests. While not quite a simple trip, it soon turns fraught with dark magic threatening the mortal world.
The story is dark, creepy, and addictive. I'm not a horror reader, but I am a Grimdark fantasy lover and so this world is right up my alley. Check trigger warnings if you don't love the ookie spooky.
I am a firm believer in publication order and so while not required, I do think your reading is only enhanced for the better if you read this series after Empire of the Wolf, as it takes place 200 years in the future and is directly set in the same world and as a direct result of things that occured in EotW.
I'm really excited to see where this one goes. This book is not without flaws, I do think some of the larger plot concepts towards the end of the book with varying beings and otherworldly events and "things" were a scooch clunky. There was a moment where I was taken out of the book in the midst of a larger plot reveal/explanation due to the phrasing choices but I was pulled back in not two paragraphs later and was desperate for more. So for me, all is forgiven and now I demand book 2 😜
I was highly highly impressed with how this world expanded in such tangible ways. In HOLY SHIT ways, in WHAT AM I READING ways. Richard Swan thank you for writing these books for me and only for me, because I just eat them up 👀👀👀.