Grave Empire (The Great Silence Book 1)

Grave Empire begins an epic fantasy set in the Empire of the Wolf, an empire transitioning toward industrial revolution. Sorcery and arcane practices are forbidden, yet an ancient prophecy of apocalyptic consequence looms. The empire has shifted from blood-based power to wealth-based systems, entering a new age of exploration and innovation. However, multiple crises threaten stability: a mysterious plague has emerged in the pagan kingdoms to the north, the Empire's proxy war in the southern wolfmen lands faces imminent collapse, and two heretic monks deliver alarming news. They claim to have lost contact with the spirits of the afterlife, interpreting this as the beginning of an ancient prophecy known as the Great Silence—heralding the end of days. Renata Rainer, a low-ranking ambassador to an enigmatic and vicious race of mermen, is tasked with seeking answers from those who still practice forbidden arcane arts. With war consuming the southern road and supernatural catastrophe threatening the Empire, the world itself may soon be beyond saving.