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A review by bookgirlie_unbound
Grave Empire by Richard Swan
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I struggled with this book. I will first and foremost admit that I have not read The Empire of The Wolf. In my defense, NOTHING ABOUT THE preview made me think I needed to for comprehending the insanity that is Grave Empire. If I had read the book the geopolitical landscape and mixed-human species interactions would have eased the burden of the first half. Regardless, this book is utter madness.
We’re jumping between three POVs who are all embroiled in a darkness haunting the content. They are far apart geographically and in ideology. This made it difficult for me to feel that their experiences were intertwined. I also was so deeply embroiled in the lore and world building (which felt heavy handed) that I couldn’t actually focus on the plot or characters.
Then we have the horror. Once again, I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS A HORROR BOOK. And for the first half, I was glad I didn’t know about it because I was enjoying those elements the most as we read along an incompetent and naive lieutenant on the frontier- the New East. I was genuinely creeped out and had goosebumps reading about the haunting of the New East.
However, the last half was ridiculous. I cannot emphasize enough how difficult it was to believe this was a cohesive world and not some fever dream. Fever dream ethos work, but not in a “I’m a serious, high-fantasy-horror, read me and be impressed” book.
I honestly cannot believe I finished this book. The only way I did it was by only reading the dialogue- and guess what?! I followed the story completely fine and finished 80% of the book in 2 days. I don’t care what genre you write, that is a bad sign.
Richard Swan’s other books now have a precarious place on my TBR.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a free ARC in exchange for my honest to god opinion. If I had spent money on this book I’d be enraged beyond measure.
We’re jumping between three POVs who are all embroiled in a darkness haunting the content. They are far apart geographically and in ideology. This made it difficult for me to feel that their experiences were intertwined. I also was so deeply embroiled in the lore and world building (which felt heavy handed) that I couldn’t actually focus on the plot or characters.
Then we have the horror. Once again, I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS A HORROR BOOK. And for the first half, I was glad I didn’t know about it because I was enjoying those elements the most as we read along an incompetent and naive lieutenant on the frontier- the New East. I was genuinely creeped out and had goosebumps reading about the haunting of the New East.
However, the last half was ridiculous. I cannot emphasize enough how difficult it was to believe this was a cohesive world and not some fever dream. Fever dream ethos work, but not in a “I’m a serious, high-fantasy-horror, read me and be impressed” book.
I honestly cannot believe I finished this book. The only way I did it was by only reading the dialogue- and guess what?! I followed the story completely fine and finished 80% of the book in 2 days. I don’t care what genre you write, that is a bad sign.
Richard Swan’s other books now have a precarious place on my TBR.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a free ARC in exchange for my honest to god opinion. If I had spent money on this book I’d be enraged beyond measure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and War
Moderate: Xenophobia and Colonisation