The Justice of Kings (Empire of the Wolf, #1)

by Richard Swan

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'A stunning piece of modern fantasy writing' RJ Barker

'Utterly compelling, thoroughly engrossing and written with such skilful assurance I could barely put it down' Nicholas Eames

NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW

The Empire of the Wolf simmers with unrest. Rebels, heretics and powerful patricians all challenge the power of the imperial throne.

Only the Order of Justices stands in the way of chaos. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is the most feared Justice of all, upholding the law by way of his sharp mind, arcane powers and skill as a swordsman. At his side stands Helena Sedanka, his clerk and protégé, orphaned by the wars that forged the empire.

When the pair investigate the murder of a provincial aristocrat, they unearth a conspiracy that stretches to the very top of imperial society. As the stakes rise and become ever more personal, Vonvalt and Helena must make a choice: will they abandon the laws they've sworn to uphold in order to protect the empire?

Introducing an unforgettable protagonist destined to become a fantasy icon, The Justice of Kings is an unmissable debut where action, intrigue and magic collide.

Praise for The Justice of Kings

'A fantastic debut' Peter McLean

'The Justice of Kings is equal parts heroic fantasy and murder mystery . . . Richard Swan's sophisticated take on the fantasy genre will leave readers hungry for more' Sebastien de Castell

'Great characters, compelling and wonderfully written. A brilliant debut and fantastic start to the series' James Islington

'Totally addictive' Novel Notions

'A marvellously detailed world with an engrossing adventure from a unique perspective' K. S. Villoso

'Swan has built a dark and gritty world, filled it with beautifully written characters and lays out a master-crafted story to create an incredible book that you can't put down' FanFiAddict

'A brilliant book, with intrigue, excellent character arcs, a brutal magic system and a story I just could not put down' Grimdark Magazine

'Riveting . . . Swan crafts a strong, dynamic character in Vonvalt, and the twists will keep readers turning the pages' Publishers Weekly

• ISBN10: 0356516423
• ISBN13: 9780356516424
• Publish Date: 24 February 2022 (first published 22 February 2022)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 24 May 2022
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Orbit
• Edition: Goldsboro Exclusive
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 432
• Language: English
• URL: https://hachette.co.uk/titles/richard-swan/the-justice-of-kings/9780356516424/
• Special: Numbered Signed Sprayed Edges

Reviews

[ambiancereads]

*Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for this Arc*

3.5 ⭐️

What a wonderful debut. This is a very smart read. It’s very readable the prose is wonderful. And it’s an interesting premise, it’s like The Witcher meets lawyer. It’s told from the POV of a side character who tells us about Volnvult and his stories as judge, jury and executioner. It does a wonderful job of crafting stories and making you question law and morality. Though I think from its POV it loses some of the urgency. But otherwise it’s a great read! I recommend it if you’re looking for something different!