The War Shelf

Books Like Grave Empire

6 books to read after Grave Empire by Richard Swan, sorted by what you loved about it.

6 books Updated
Cover of Grave Empire

You loved

Grave Empire

Richard Swan

An imperial war intersects with a diplomat’s investigation of an apocalyptic prophecy and supernatural attacks on soldiers.

Entry to a later sequence in the Empire of the Wolf setting.

Get your personal matchSee it on the shelf

If you loved: earlier history of this world

Cover of The Justice of KingsThe Justice of Kings

The Justice of Kings

Richard Swan Start with Empire of the Wolf, book one.

Editorial match

What it is
Justice Konrad Vonvalt and scribe Helena. The Sovan Empire.
Why it fits
Imperial authority and supernatural investigation connect the books.
The difference
Same world, earlier period; a legal investigation replaces the later military focus.

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If you loved: more gunpowder campaigns

Cover of The Thousand NamesThe Thousand Names

The Thousand Names

Django Wexler Start with Book one of The Shadow Campaigns; the broader series has five novels.

My pick Editorial match

What it is
Soldiers of Vordan face a campaign in a setting inspired by Napoleonic Europe and North Africa, with supernatural stakes.
Why it fits
Military institutions confront hidden supernatural stakes.
The difference
Campaign focus rather than the same blend of diplomacy and horror.

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If you loved: war with occult danger

The Dark Lands

Markus Heitz Start with English novel set during the Thirty Years’ War.

My pick Editorial match

What it is
In 1629, Aenlin Kane and Tahmina undertake a secret mission amid war and supernatural threats.
Why it fits
Warfare creates the setting for supernatural threats.
The difference
Historical Europe and a mission-sized adventure replace a secondary-world empire.

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If you loved: soldiers serving dangerous powers

Cover of The Black CompanyThe Black Company

The Black Company

Glen Cook Start with Start with The Black Company; the early sequence continues with Shadows Linger and The White Rose.

Editorial match

What it is
Croaker, male physician and annalist of a mercenary company. Secondary-world conflict involving a mercenary company and powerful sorcerous rulers.
Why it fits
Military service intersects with malign supernatural forces.
The difference
A terse company chronicle replaces the broader institutional investigation.

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If you loved: another investigation into power and gods

Cover of City of StairsCity of Stairs

City of Stairs

Robert Jackson Bennett Start with First Divine Cities novel.

Editorial match

What it is
Shara Thivani, a spy working under diplomatic cover. Bulikov, a city living under the power that defeated its gods.
Why it fits
Political institutions and supernatural mysteries overlap.
The difference
More investigation and occupation politics; less conventional campaigning.

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If you loved: smaller dangerous missions

Cover of Valnir’s BaneValnir’s Bane

Valnir’s Bane

Nathan Long Start with First Blackhearts novel; also collected in the Blackhearts omnibus, within Warhammer Fantasy.

My pick Editorial match

What it is
Condemned renegades are offered survival through secret, exceptionally dangerous missions.
Why it fits
People inside violent institutions face lethal assignments.
The difference
Warhammer penal-unit adventure; weaker fit for cosmic horror or diplomacy.

On the shelfSee who recommends it

FAQ

What should I read after Grave Empire?

It depends on what you loved about it. For earlier history of this world: The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan. For more gunpowder campaigns: The Thousand Names by Django Wexler. For war with occult danger: The Dark Lands by Markus Heitz.

How many books like Grave Empire are on this page?

6 books, grouped by what readers loved about Grave Empire. Each one says why it fits, what is different and who backs the recommendation.

How this list is made: every match comes from Sandro's research catalog, which records who recommends what (book creators, readers, book sites) and an editorial comparison of what each book offers. Matches marked "Editorial match" are his own comparison. Recommendations cannot be bought.