The Justice of Kings

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What to expect

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

Critics Review

A stunning piece of modern fantasy writing
RJ Barker
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
Riveting . . . Swan crafts a strong, dynamic character in Vonvalt, and the whodunit twists will keep readers turning the pages
Publishers Weekly
Totally addictive. A truly riveting tale about law, war, morality and justice
Novel Notions
A fantastic debut
Peter McLean
Addictive . . . A broadsword-brandishing, magically powerful debut that knows what makes fantasy fun
SciFiNow
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
Sebastien de Castell
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
Dave Wragg
An intriguingly dark deconstruction of a beloved mystery trope
Kirkus (starred review)
A brilliant book, with intrigue, excellent character arcs, a brutal magic system and a story I just could not put down
Grimdark Magazine
A fascinating look at justice, vengeance and the law - great characters, compelling and wonderfully written. A brilliant debut and fantastic start to the series
James Islington
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
Nicholas Eames
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
FanFiAddict
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
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
Christopher Buehlman
An absolute banger of a book . . . This is definitely going on my list of best books of the year
Powder & Page
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
A marvellously detailed world with an engrossing adventure from a unique perspective
K.S. Villoso, author of The Wolf of Oren-Yaro
A riveting, explosive book with a hugely compelling study of justice and revenge and law. Highly recommended!
Jeremy Szal
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
H. M. Long

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