The Tyranny of Faith

'An absolutely unputdownable read' Grimdark Magazine

The Tyranny of Faith is the epic sequel to the Sunday Times bestselling debut The Justice of Kings, where Sir Konrad Vonvalt - the most powerful and feared of the Emperor's Justices - must face down a growing threat to the Empire.

A Justice's work is never done.

The Battle of Galen's Vale is over, but the war for the Empire's future has just begun. Concerned by rumours that the Magistratum's authority is waning, Sir Konrad Vonvalt returns to Sova to find the capital city gripped by intrigue and whispers of rebellion. In the Senate, patricians speak openly against the Emperor, while fanatics preach holy vengeance on the streets.

Yet facing down these threats to the throne will have to wait, for the Emperor's grandson has been kidnapped - and Vonvalt is charged with rescuing the missing prince. His quest will lead Vonvalt - and his allies Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radomir - to the Empire's southern frontier, where they will once again face the puritanical fury of Bartholomew Claver and his templar knights . . . and a dark power far more terrifying than they could have imagined.

Praise for the Empire of the Wolf series

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

'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

The Empire of the Wolf series

The Justice of Kings

The Tyranny of Faith

Empire of the Wolf #3 (coming '24)

“A stunning piece of modern fantasy writing - RJ BarkerTotally addictive. A truly riveting tale about law, war, morality and justiceRiveting . . . Swan crafts a strong, dynamic character in Vonvalt, and the whodunit twists will keep readers turning the pagesSwan 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”

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
A great sequel filled with wonderful characterizations, thought-provoking passages, and explosive ending sequences Novel Notions
A read that is both gut-wrenching & awe-inspiring. It is a sequel that simply blows its predecessor out of the water. What a remarkable read FanFi Addict
If you haven't yet started the Empire of the Wolf series you are really depriving yourself of what I believe will be one of the great works of fantasy fiction when all is said and done. If you love the truly epic stories of Robin Hobb, Joe Abercrombie, and Tad Williams, then you should jump on this series immediately. It's supremely dark in all the right places, occasionally rips your heart from your chest, dazzles you with next level magic, and just flat out compels you to keep on reading by virtue of its unputdownable story Out of This World SFF
With Swan's impeccable worldbuilding, wit and claw-off-the-page characters, Tyranny of Faith seamlessly blends fantasy, mystery and horror into an addictive read, rife with unparalleled tension. A thoroughly satisfying sequel H. M. Long
A superb sequel that raises the stakes in every conceivable way Fantasy Review
Doom is inevitable; it will be interesting (and no doubt, heart-wrenching) to see what form it will take Kirkus (starred review)
A gripping tragedy of empire infused with gothic horror Fantasy Book Critic
A masterful sequel to The Justice of Kings. Filled with political intrigue, religion, law, philosophy and necromancy this is a richly layered medieval fantasy that's both familiar and refreshing Fantasy Hive

Richard Swan is a critically acclaimed British genre writer. His debut fantasy novel, The Justice of Kings, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller and has been translated into seven languages. His other work includes the Art of War and Great Silence trilogies, as well as short fiction for Black Library and Grimdark Magazine.

Richard is a qualified lawyer, and before writing full-time spent ten years litigating multi-million-pound commercial disputes in London. He currently lives in Sydney with his wife and three young sons.

The Tyranny of Faith is the epic sequel to the Sunday Times bestselling debut The Justice of Kings , where Sir Konrad Vonvalt - the most powerful and feared of the Emperor's Justices - must face down a growing threat to the Empire. A Justice's work is never done.The Battle of Galen's Vale is over, but the war for the Empire's future has just begun. Concerned by rumours that the Magistratum's authority is waning, Sir Konrad Vonvalt returns to Sova to find the capital city gripped by intrigue and whispers of rebellion. In the Senate, patricians speak openly against the Emperor, while fanatics preach holy vengeance on the streets. Yet facing down these threats to the throne will have to wait, for the Emperor's grandson has been kidnapped - and Vonvalt is charged with rescuing the missing prince. His quest will lead Vonvalt - and his allies Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radomir - to the Empire's southern frontier, where they will once again face the puritanical fury of Bartholomew Claver and his templar knights . . . and a dark power far more terrifying than they could have imagined. Praise for the Empire of the Wolf series 'Utterly compelling, thoroughly engrossing and written with such skilful assurance I could barely put it down' Nicholas Eames ' 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 IslingtonThe Empire of the Wolf series The Justice of Kings The Tyranny of Faith Empire of the Wolf #3 (coming '24)

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.