The Justice of Kings
**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.
The Empire of the Wolf trilogy:
The Justice of Kings
The Tyranny of Faith
The Trials of Empire
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 brilliant book, with intrigue, excellent character arcs, a brutal magic system and a story I just could not put down’ Grimdark Magazine
‘An absorbing fantasy murder mystery . . . I have been thoroughly hooked by this series and cannot wait for the next helping of political upheaval’ Fantasy Book Critic
‘Fantasy, mystery, drama, intrigue, action – The Justice of Kings has it all’ Bibliosanctum
‘One of those utterly compelling and believable books that begs to be read in one sitting. This is going to be one of the standouts of the year’ British Fantasy Society
‘Swan’s debut is a thrilling epic fantasy with a murder mystery and supernatural twist that will delight fans of Sherlock Holmes. It certainly delighted me’ Fantasy Hive
‘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
‘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.
The Empire of the Wolf trilogy:
The Justice of Kings
The Tyranny of Faith
The Trials of Empire
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 brilliant book, with intrigue, excellent character arcs, a brutal magic system and a story I just could not put down’ Grimdark Magazine
‘An absorbing fantasy murder mystery . . . I have been thoroughly hooked by this series and cannot wait for the next helping of political upheaval’ Fantasy Book Critic
‘Fantasy, mystery, drama, intrigue, action – The Justice of Kings has it all’ Bibliosanctum
‘One of those utterly compelling and believable books that begs to be read in one sitting. This is going to be one of the standouts of the year’ British Fantasy Society
‘Swan’s debut is a thrilling epic fantasy with a murder mystery and supernatural twist that will delight fans of Sherlock Holmes. It certainly delighted me’ Fantasy Hive
‘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
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Reviews
A fantastic debut
The Justice of Kings is equal parts heroic fantasy and Sherlock Holmes mystery. Sir Konrad Vonvalt's fierce intellect and arcane powers will make you long to follow in his footsteps, but it's his young clerk, Helena who brings heart and dazzle to the story. Together they're a formidable team, and Richard Swan's sophisticated take on the fantasy genre will leave readers hungry for more
The Justice of Kings instantly claimed a place as one of my favourite reads of the year. With vivid characters, impeccable storytelling, and an eloquent voice, it combines so many elements I love - mystery, brooding war, necromancy and a cast of characters who felt so real, I was loathe to turn the final page. It was absolutely riveting, and I can't wait to continue the series
One of those utterly compelling and believable books that begs to be read in one sitting. This is going to be one of the standouts of the year
The Justice of Kings is a sensational fantasy debut. It is The Witcher meets Judge Dredd with a little bit of Ned Stark thrown in for good measure . . . it is a fantastic read
The Justice of Kings is a smart, highly engaging read with an immersive world and 3D characters - think The Name of the Rose meets Imperium in an alternate German-flavoured 12th century empire with magic. Just trust me, you want this
A fascinating look at justice, vengeance and the law - great characters, compelling and wonderfully written. A brilliant debut and fantastic start to the series
A brilliant book, with intrigue, excellent character arcs, a brutal magic system and a story I just could not put down
Fantasy, mystery, drama, intrigue, action - The Justice of Kings has it all
An intriguingly dark deconstruction of a beloved mystery trope
A stunning piece of modern fantasy writing
Swan's debut is a thrilling epic-fantasy with a murder mystery and supernatural twist that will delight fans of Sherlock Holmes. It certainly delighted me
An absolute banger of a book . . . This is definitely going on my list of best books of the year
The Justice of Kings is utterly compelling, thoroughly engrossing, and written with such skillful assurance I could barely put it down. The characters feel so real I swear I suffered every horror and hangover alongside them, and their world-though we see just the smallest portion of it here-feels vastly complex, poised on the brink of a disaster I can't wait to watch unfold
An absorbing fantasy murder mystery . . . I have been thoroughly hooked by this series and cannot wait for the next helping of political upheaval
A riveting, explosive book with a hugely compelling study of justice and revenge and law. Highly recommended!
Totally addictive. A truly riveting tale about law, war, morality and justice
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
Riveting . . . Swan crafts a strong, dynamic character in Vonvalt, and the whodunit twists will keep readers turning the pages
Addictive . . . A broadsword-brandishing, magically powerful debut that knows what makes fantasy fun
A marvellously detailed world with an engrossing adventure from a unique perspective
An invigorating mix of the visceral and cerebral, set in a complex, grimy world, it asks questions about the nature of law and justice which have never been more timely
