40 fantasy and science fiction books you should read in 2022
By Daniel Roman
The Justice of Kings by Richard Swann — February 22
The Justice of Kings is the debut novel by Richard Swann, and it sounds like it will combine epic fantasy aesthetics and tones with some good old-fashioned mystery solving. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is a Justice — one part detective, one part judge, one part executioner. As a new mystery forces him to confront corruption in the empire he serves, he’ll be forced to wear all three of those hats:
The Empire of the Wolf simmers with unrest. Rebels, heretics, and powerful patricians all challenge the power of the Imperial throne.
Only the Order of Justices stands in the way of chaos. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is the most feared Justice of all, upholding the law by way of his sharp mind, arcane powers, and skill as a swordsman. At his side stands Helena Sedanka, his talented protégé, orphaned by the wars that forged the Empire.
When the pair investigates the murder of a provincial aristocrat, they unearth a conspiracy that stretches to the very top of Imperial society. As the stakes rise and become ever more personal, Vonvalt and Helena must make a choice: Will they abandon the laws they’ve sworn to uphold, in order to protect the Empire?
What mysteries await Konrad and his companion Helena? With this book coming out in a mere few weeks, we don’t have to wait long to find out.
Pre-order it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million