The Tyranny of Faith (Empire of the Wolf Book 2)

The Tyranny of Faith is the second installment in Richard Swan’s Empire of the Wolf series. Picking up after the events of The Justice of Kings, we follow Helena and Sir Konrad as they return to Sova after the battle of Galen’s Vale. Sir Konrad and his team know the work is only just beginning – there is the threat of rebellion and traitors within the Magistratum. When the Emperor’s grandson is mysteriously kidnapped, the Emperor tasks Vonvalt with finding him and bringing him home alive, but as Vonvalt, Helena, Bressinger and Sir Radomir dig deeper, they uncover a much bigger plot than they could possibly have imagined.After meaning to read The Justice of Kings for months I finally picked it up and was absolutely hooked. After finishing the book I immediately order The Tyranny of Faith because I was desperate to know where the story was going to go next. This fantasy series is well executed and I really enjoyed the plot of this second installment. There were a number of threads that Swan wove together seamlessly to create such a compelling narrative. We get to see more of the world in this installment and I was fascinated by the descriptions of Sova that practically leaped off the page.In The Justice of Kings, I was keen to learn more about the magic and Vonvalt’s powers and we definitely get more of that in The Tyranny of Faith. This was probably the aspect of the book that intrigued me the most and I’m so glad we got to see more of it. The story features some really compelling characters that are so well-developed. Each character is dealing with their own issues and it was fascinating seeing how the dynamics between the four main characters changed as the story progressed and the tension heightened.The Tyranny of Faith is an impressive second book in the series. It’s got wonderful characters and plenty of tense, action-filled moments to keep the reader turning pages. Swan has a really compelling writing style and that definitely shines through in this book. If you’re looking for a fantasy series with magic, mystery and tons of intrigue, this is definitely a series worth checking out. The Tyranny of Faith will definitely be on my best books of 2023 list and I cannot wait to see where the story goes next.

This book was a very follow on from the first book. The characters continued to develop and where still fun to read about. The story in this book was really enjoyable to read full of twists, betrayal, heartwrenching moments and of course brutal bloody violence. I am looking forward to reading the next book and finding out the conclusion of this trilogy.

Richard Swan has managed to write a sequel that's even better than the original.The world building continues to be excellent, creating a very believable place. All the characters are well written, and I still enjoy reading from the point of view of Helena. She's really growing as a character and starting to come out of Vonvalt's shadow. However Vonvalt is still the centre of the story, and I'm enjoying his arc also.So many seemingly unconnected events all lead back to a satisfying end. There was some good twists and sad moments as well. I didn't realise that this series was going to be moving towards a more unknowable eldritch theme, but I'm so glad it has as it is handled perfectly.If you're looking for a fantasy that is more about the laws and upholding them, then this is for you. Now I just have to patiently wait for the next one.

- Characters of depth,- Intriguing world building and magic system- Really well written fantasyWhy not read it?

Loved this book and can't wait for the next! Our was better than the first, which I found to be a little slow. The pacing in this was much quicker, and I couldn't put it down.

A good read

"Tyranny of Faith” is the second book of the Empire of the Wolf Trilogy by Richard Swan. Tyranny of Faith continues shortly after “Justice of Kings.” Our protagonists Vonvalt, Helena, Bressinger and Radomir prepare to enter Sova the capital city of the Empire of the Wolf. They are there to investigate a political plot that threatens the empire; however, things do not go as expected from the start and they must try to unravel the mysteries before it is too late.The characters make this book and series. Told from the first-person POV of Helena, we continue to follow Justice Vonvalt and his comrades as they attempt to navigate the steady brewing political turmoil. There are many compelling character moments filled with emotional depth which adds plenty of dynamic moments. The description of the magic in the world is one of the highlights of the story. The world-building is nicely detailed and we get to see more of the wider world.The plotting is exceptional especially if you like the more political fantasy. Swan clearly enjoyed expanding the magic and detail of the world in this book. You are drawn into the story and invested in the world more than you usually would. The story plays with crime-solving and mystery themes. It kept me second-guessing motives and threw me off with a few surprises too! The atmosphere is immersive and the pacing makes this read a gripping page-turner.Like the first book, ”Tyranny of Faith” is destined to become my favorite book of the year. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Little Brown Books for an e-ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A serious downturn after the first book. The story feels very padded out and descends into a series of side quests to get (or get to) the next mcguffin, the characters become more cliched, predictable, & infantile as things progress. The one interesting twist is immediately undone and the rest is just increasingly tedious. Sad. I won't bother with the next one.

I loved this book. This one to me, was so much better than Justice of Kings. I enjoyed the story so much more in this one, and I felt more connected to the story and characters than I did in Justice of Kings. Helena can still be annoying at times, she is still constantly unsure about her character and who she is, but she is growing up. She is starting to have more of a voice and her character matters to the story development. She is no longer just a side character to Vonvalt but she is becoming more of a main character.Justice of Kings ended with Bressinger, Vonvalt, Helena and Sir Radomir leaving for Sova, the Empire’s capital. I love the addition of Sir Radomir to the group. Vonvalt is hoping to rally the Emperor to fight against Claver, but the Emperor is distracted by the kidnapping of his grandson and he forces Vonvalt to stop his efforts against Claver and instead solve the mystery of the kidnapping. During this time, Claver continues to grow in strength.What I enjoyed most about this book, is that it explores more of the afterlife/spiritual type realm. There are more otherworldly forces involved in the story. There are gods involved and demons and demon possession. The threats are becoming more intense in this story which makes it more interesting and captivating to read.There is a lot of discussion as well about what is right or just, especially when there is a time of war or threat of war. The various characters all have different definitions of what is just, and Helena is really starting to get her own voice, rather than just follow Vonvalt. I do enjoy the legal sayings before each chapter, as many of these are actual legal rules or guides.I definitely recommend this book and I am so happy I enjoying this series more than I did after the first book. I cannot wait to see how this series ends and I hope book three continues in the same route as Tyranny of Faith.

Great read. Recommend for sure great character development and mystery. Looking forward to book number three. Should be out very soon.

I really enjoy these books. I eagerly await the next installment and will buy it day 1.

The series is exciting. But I was expecting the story to be wrapped up in this Book Two.Amazon has cleverly concealed the fact there is a 3rd instalment.I would much have preferred to wait until the author had finished writing the series.Like all things Amazon, their methods are brutal and deceitful.

Richard Swan’s “The Tyranny of Faith” is that rare sequel that outshines its predecessor, “The Justice of Kings” – which happened to be one of the best books I read last year. In the novel, Sir Konrad Vonvalt returns to a capital city fraught with rebellion. Betrayed by his Order and facing a cleric threatening to usurp the Empire with religious despotism, Vonvalt confronts not just political enemies but a supernatural illness. His law clerk, Helena, becomes the unlikely hero, seeking a stolen cure to Vonvalt’s affliction until a royal abduction that threatens the line of succession interferes with that plan. This installment weaves a rich tapestry of intrigue and magic against the backdrop of an unraveling empire. Overall, “The Tyranny of Faith” is a brilliant blend of political intrigue, personal drama, and supernatural adventure, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!