Traditionally published: Although I often gravitate towards indie books, I am also a slave to mood, and 2025 was a year I attempted to catch up on many books and authors that I felt I should already know whilst also giving my reading list a sprinkling of something completely new. Most of the year I […]
richard swan
LordTBR’s Top Reads of 2025 (in no particular order)
Below, you’ll find my favorite novels, novellas, and manga that I’ve read in 2025.Each title has a link to purchase or wishlist, as well as a short blurb (except manga) to tantalize your eyeballs. Novels Special Shoutout Novellas Manga
Eleni’s Top Reads of 2025
I couldn’t really pick a top five, nor a top ten this year. So you get the fun of a top 15! Like last year then, I’ll just be sharing all of their glorious covers and if I reviewed the book itself I’ll be linking the rambles in their titles so you can see if they are the books for you, at your leisure.
These are all books that kept me up till the very small hours of the night, some even made me see the first inklings of dawn and deprived me of even the little sleep I do get. But! I have no regrets whatsoever and neither would you, I believe, if you gave them a go!
Review: Grave Empire (The Great Silence #1) by Richard Swan
This is a brilliant beginning to a new horror fantasy trilogy that I really hope catches on, as I’d love to see more overt horror in the fantasy genre. Grave Empire rules, and you need to read it right now!
SFF Addicts Ep. 140: Creating a Shared Universe with Richard Swan (Mini-Masterclass)
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they delve into a mini-masterclass on Creating a Shared Universe with bestselling author Richard Swan. During the episode, Richard lays out the foundations for creating a fictional shared universe, including what a shared universe is, examples of shared universes (such as the MCU, Star Wars and Discworld), giving your world depth through details, languages, geography and more, the chronology of a shared universe, keeping track of world history, loose shared universes vs. linear shared universes, avoiding problematic plot holes, writing in different formats and more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 139: Richard Swan talks Grave Empire, Warfare, History & More
Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they chat with bestselling author Richard Swan about his new novel Grave Empire, his lifelong love of video games, Star Wars and science fiction, The Art of War series and his experiences in self-publishing, working in law, lessons learned from publishing, leaving beloved characters behind, his historical fascinations, the brutalities of warfare and colonialism, soldiers and diplomacy, the afterlife, the ocean, sharks, fear and much more.
Harry’s Top 10 Reads of 2024
Here are my Top 10 reads of 2024! What were your favourites?
Captivating First Lines Pt. 2
Hello again dear reader or listener, I hope you’re enjoying your Sunday! I once again have literary appetizers for you.
Since I recently received a (very amusing) spam bot comment on one of my old list posts, I thought I might as well make a part 2 given it’s been three years! As you can guess from the title, I felt like listing the very first (or first few) lines from books currently on my shelves, that I found especially captivating for one reason or other. Maybe they’re particularly ominous, or amusing, or intriguing, but in each case, they set the tone incredibly well.
TBRCon2024 Highlight: Psychology of Villains in Fiction (with M. J. Kuhn, Richard Swan, Gourav Mohanty & More)
Every Friday, we’re highlighting a panel from the TBRCon2024 all-virtual SF/F/H convention, looking back on the incredible variety of discussions that we had the honor of hosting.
This week, join moderator/author M. J. Kuhn and authors Richard Swan, Gourav Mohanty, Andy Peloquin, Louise Holland and Sam Paisley for a TBRCon2024 panel on “Psychology of Villains in Fiction.”
Author Chat: Richard Swan (Empire of the Wolf)
Richard Swan is a Sunday Times-bestselling fantasy and science fiction author. Prior to 2018 he published a number of space opera novels including the trilogy The Art of War. 2022 saw his traditionally published debut The Justice of Kings, epic fantasy with a legal twist and the first in the Empire of the Wolf trilogy. […]
TBRCon2023 Highlight: Plotting, Pantsing & Approaches to Writing (Panel)
Every week, we are highlighting a panel from TBRCon2023, looking back on the amazing variety of panels that we had the honor of hosting.
This week, join moderator/author Dan Fitzgerald and authors Chelsea Abdullah, Richard Swan, Christian “Miles” Cameron, J.S. Dewes and Brian Naslund for a TBRCon2023 author panel on “Plotting, Pantsing & Approaches to Writing.”
Review: The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan
A magnificent follow up to the Justice of Kings, the Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan expands on the worldbuilding and delivers an epic return to the world of Sir Konrad Vonvalt.












