The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan

The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan is going to go down as the best fantasy debut of 2022. The Empire of the Wolf has conquered a large portion of the continent and instituted a system of common law which applies to nobles and commoners alike. Administering the law are a group of Justices, who travel the land and act as detective, judge, and executioner. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is one of the most feared and respected justices of all. He is filled with conviction in the strength of the empire, the rightness of the law, and his own abilities, both as a swordsman and the magical Emperor’s Voice, with which he can compel people to speak the truth. Traveling with Sir Konrad are his assistants, Dubine Bressinger and Helena Sedanka. There is still unrest in the empire and rebels, heretics, and ambitious clergy all pose trouble.

When a Lord’s wife in a small city is murdered, Sir Konrad must investigate. What he hopes will be a quick investigation turns far more complicated and unearths a far-reaching conspiracy that will challenge all of Sir Konrads not inconsiderable abilities and beliefs. With constantly increasing stakes, can they protect the empire and still uphold the law? Or must they abandon their principles?

Wow does Richard Swan make some amazing choices with this story! It’s almost a nested narrative as he tells the story of Sir Konrad, but tells it through the eyes of his clerk and talented young protege, Helena. The story is being told from a future point in time so benefits from interpreting the events with the advantage of wisdom and perspective. Swan begins the story by showing Konrad going about his job, traveling a circuit around the empire, resolving disputes, and rendering judgment. You absorb the history of the Empire and how it deals with the challenges of consolidating its gains in the background of the present actions. He demonstrates the importance of the common law and Sir Konrad’s admirable adherence to fairness while also demonstrating compassion and understanding for the cultures of those absorbed into the Empire.

Helena is brilliant in her own right, but young and inexperienced, Her relationship with sir Konrad, her mentor and the one who rescued her from a meager existence is well-handled. She is torn by her loyalty and respect for Konrad but has doubts about whether his life is what she wants for herself. Other characters are not only well-drawn but grow and develop over the course of the novel, especially the town sheriff, Sir Radomir. The mystery is engrossing, the stakes ever-increasing, and the action is superb. Great world-building and fascinating characters make this one of the best books in recent memory and a fantastic start to a new series. I can’t wait for the next book!

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.