Wolves of Empire [EPIC DARK FANTASY] [Book One Complete]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

“Or we could leave him to the wolves,” she suggested. By the grim set of her mouth, he knew she wasn’t joking.

Endarion gestured to his war hound. “Wearethe wolves.”

As empires war and the immortal creators of humanity emerge from supposed extinction, one family is dragged into the centre of a planet-spanning conflict.

The Imperium and the Drasken Empire have been tenuous neighbours for generations, but the unprovoked assassination of one of the Imperium's leading politicians tips them both into a devastating conflict.

A jaded warrior.

Endarion, a tortured veteran general, finds himself dragged out of self-imposed exile and given command of the Imperium's armies to wage a war he doesn't believe in. If he doesn't conquer Drasken, his vindictive ruler will destroy his entire family.

A hated turncoat.

Estrid, once Endarion's lover but now his greatest enemy, is tasked with defending Drasken against him and, if necessary, destroying him in the field.

A noblewoman in disguise.

Back in the Imperium's capital, Endarion's niece Sephara, posing as a bodyguard, hunts down the true assassin in the hopes of halting the war before it devours both nations. When she uncovers an immortal plot thousands of years in the making, she realises her family is at the centre of a supposedly extinct race's attempts to reclaim their fallen empire.

A young mage in hiding.

Across the continent, bastard-born Tali, Endarion's youngest daughter, awakens to a magic long thought eradicated. But her powers make her a target to powerful immortal factions; perhaps the same immortals her family now unwittingly fights against.

Expect: complex characters who sometimes do cruel things, armoured dogs of war, fraught politics, incredibly dysfunctional families, shadow assassins, a sheltered protagonist discovering world-changing magical abilities, military campaigns with all the associated gore and grit, moving cities, immortal foes, and a system rooted in elemental magic.

Cover made by Diren Yardimli on BookCoverZone

I also now have a website dedicated to worldbuilding snippets and other miscellaneous bits and pieceshere.

Book 1 is complete, but only the first 9 chapters will stay on Royal Road as I decide what to do with the series, publishing-wise.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: pugrumble

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.9/ 5.0
Followers: 154
Views: 8,221

Chapters(12 total)

What readers say about Wolves of Empire [EPIC DARK FANTASY] [Book One Complete]

“Really enjoyed this piece, easy five stars from me. The opening murder on the Path of Triumph hooks right away and the undercover angle with Sephara playing Silvia is slick. Loved the cat and mouse vibe with Dexion, all charm and knives, while the statues j…”
smilodon88Royal Road5.0 / 5
“Overall, this book has the kind of detail that reminds me of Jeff Wheeler, George R. R. Martin, or Tolkien. The initial chapters immediately pull you in with a mystery, and the foment of war brewing due to it. As for style, the chapters are long, which is u…”
InkysparrowRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

smilodon88Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Really enjoyed this piece, easy five stars from me. The opening murder on the Path of Triumph hooks right away and the undercover angle with Sephara playing Silvia is slick. Loved the cat and mouse vibe with Dexion, all charm and knives, while the statues just loom like silent gossipers. Then you swing to Endarion grinding through age, pain, and pride, and it hits different. The spar with Daria shows both heart and history without getting mushy. Estrid’s side brings the Drasken view, some gnarly worldstriding, and that creeping dread around Aladar’s episodes. The vision sequence felt properly uncanny, like the world bent sideways for a breath.
Prose is vivid but not purple. Cities and arenas feel lived in, the Empyrian Tower description slapped. Action reads clean, steel has weight, magic has texture, and the aasiurmancy rules make sense enough that the firestorm payoff feels earned. Political stakes stack nicely too. The Warmaster reveal and that Paramount-General twist land with a quiet thud in the gut.
Small nits for balance. There’s a lot of names and titles in quick bursts, so a couple beats feel like rolling marbles in my mouth. A few exposition lumps could be shaved down, and one or two quippy lines near a corpse undercut the chill for me. Also the POV pivots are long, so momentum stutters once or twice.
But honestly, the craft carries. Characters breathe, schemes tangle, and the world feels huge without losing the human thread. I am in for the long game.
InkysparrowRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall, this book has the kind of detail that reminds me of Jeff Wheeler, George R. R. Martin, or Tolkien. The initial chapters immediately pull you in with a mystery, and the foment of war brewing due to it.
As for style, the chapters are long, which is usually a problem for me, but the information flowed so well that it wasn't a burden to keep reading. Instead, it was a feast.
The grammar was perfect. I didn't notice any grave errors, and the author uses complete sentences more often than not! That's so rare these days. It's become a trend to use incomplete sentences.
Storywise, the narration is intense, with heavy worldbuilding that is layered in with surgical precision. The author's use of description, dialogue, and setting created a compelling start that will keep readers going. It's clear that it's going to get ugly later, but what's unclear is who the real bad guys are, and that's a good thing! You can't figure out what might come next!
The characters are all living breathing souls on that page, seriously. There's no going on about their looks. No. It's the way the author makes them move and speak that makes them leap off the page. I am stunned by the way the author uses movement.
All in all, I'd recommend reading this book. It's amazing.
P_MagnoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
From the very first pages, Wolves of Empire gave me a taste of an immersive that you can easily know, the author poured his heart to it,
Combat was easily understandable, you can almost hear steel against steel, taste the smoke of arcane fire, and feel the weight of every whispered conspiracy. The prose balances epic scope and intimate moments seamlessly, giving the story both grandeur and emotional gravity.
This is dark, gritty fantasy at its finest: empires on the brink, immortal conspiracies hidden just out of sight, elemental magic that feels both ancient and alive. The world feels meticulously crafted, every city, every meetings, every character feels steeped in history, with undercurrents of secrets waiting to unravel...
Grammar/Spelling
Clean. No errors there. Strengths: -Complex and multi-layered plot. -Deeply realized characters -Rich and immersive world-building -Excellent chapter hooks Weaknesses: (None lol)
Wolves of Empire is a masterful dark fantasy epic: rich in lore, brimming with morally complex characters, and laden with high-stakes magic and political machinations. It rewards patience, sharp attention, and a taste for layered intrigue and character-driven tension. Whether you're drawn to battlefield drama, shadowy conspiracies, or morally conflicted heroes, this story delivers in spades.
Keep up the good work Author Pugrumble ^_^
TheStoryTeller@99Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is the kind of fantasy that rewards you for paying attention. No handholding, no cartoon villains, just layered intrigue, dangerous charm, and the constant awareness that any conversation could turn into a trap.
It all kicks off with a murder staged under a war statue on Empyria’s Path of Triumph — Novissa Boratorren, Warmaster of the Imperium, brought down in the shadow of her own family’s glory. Sephara arrives under a false name, working as her father’s “lowborn bodyguard,” and ends up verbally fencing with Captain-General Dexion Mendacium. He’s magnetic, he’s dangerous, and by the end of the scene you realise he’s kept her dancing just to stop her from learning anything useful.
From there, the scope explodes. Endarion, the Iron Wolf, limps back into the capital after years away, sparring with his daughter, trading sharp words with his brother Valerian, and sniffing out the obvious holes in the “Drasken envoy confession” story. In Drasken itself, Estrid — Endarion’s almost-wife turned defector — gets summoned via a breathtakingly disorienting portal sequence to meet her superior, Baltanos Aladar. He swings between lucid commander and violent, muttering madman, laying out the threat from both the Imperium and a mercenary warlord uniting the Karhes.
The centrepiece is Chapter 4’s Prodessium scene: the impossible Empyrian Tower looming overhead, the Caetoran casually replacing the Warmaster, declaring war, and then pulling the ultimate political knife — naming Endarion Paramount-General of all seven armies. It’s a “promotion” designed to watch him fail. And just when you think that’s the key twist, Valerian’s gift of Novissa’s dagger hides an inscription under its leather grip: “The immortals killed me.”
And then Chapter 5 flips the tone on its head. Estrid’s friendly sparring with Borso is full of banter and great magic-worldbuilding — the Shroud, the Gnostic Plane of Incendura, the raw, draining effort it takes to conjure a firestorm. But it ends with Aladar
TheTaintedOneRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Okay, so I just finished the fifth chapter, and my head is spinning already. This isn't a light read; you have to pay close attention, but it's definitely worth it. It starts with a murder mystery, quickly turns into a political thriller, and by the end, it’s already hinting at a massive, world breaking conspiracy.
Am I enjoying what I'm reading?
Yes, absolutely. This is dense, intricate fantasy that respects the reader's intelligence. I'm enjoying the slow unravelling of the central mystery,
Are the characters standing out?
Yes, the characters are distinct and memorable, which is crucial for a multiple POV story (Don't want to spoil but there is one character that would immediately have you hooked.)
Dialogues and character dynamics?
They are the major strength in the story so far, conversations feel authentic to each character and their relationships.
Does the chapter ending make me want to click next?
You would be hooked in each chapter to check out next, they are pretty much effective in each chapter, especially chapters 1,4, and 5. (There is not much for improvement, so I am giving honest feedback)
How is the pacing?
Perfect. Not fast paced, action every page type story but it's never slow too. It feels deliberate and masterful, building moment by layering information and intrigue.
Grammar/Spelling:
Clean. No errors there.
Strengths:
-Complex and multi-layered plot.
-Deeply realized characters
-Rich and immersive world-building
-Excellent chapter hooks
Weaknesses:
-Density of names, titles, and political factions (It could be overwhelming for casual readers)
blugailRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Have no doubt this is one of the best written books I’ve read this year. L.E. Garrison commands the English language like a general parading his troops: powerfully and well organized. A spectacle to behold.
It starts with the death, the assassination in broad daylight, of a noblewoman, and seems to be building to an epic tale of wars and political maneuvering. It’s richly Roman themed, a breath of fresh air given most of the Tolkien-esque fantasy these days.
The characters are intriguing, a rough-and-tumble collection of people with pasts: scars, agendas, regrets and aspirations. The main appears to be a young noblewoman who’s keeping her true identity a secret.
The dialog hits you on the head, from time to time, with powerful “zingers” that got a rise out of me more than one time.
I guess if I had one complaint, it would be that it’s not an easy read, but it’s not a hard read either. You do need to pay attention to what’s going on, but that’s just the style of the book: more wine-and-cheese than beer-and-pretzels, if you get what I mean(sophisticated).
Read it if you’re in the mood for something grand. But save it for when you’re not otherwise distracted.
masediRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
... but Wolves of Empire forced me to.
After reading the entirety of book 1, I can safely say: wow.
I can't even begin to describe how impressed I am with pretty much all aspects of this fiction. Every single plot arc (of which there are many :D) was crafted with incredible care and love, and every character is layered and believable. The storytelling is always on point, matching the pace and setting of each scene to perfection. You can really tell that the author has been refining this fiction for the last eight years, which makes it as professional a read as any book you could buy in a store. (Also, this book totally should be sold at a store :D)
The story is bold, opening up this gritty world to the fullest in preparation for many more books to come. At the same time, the pacing doesn't feel unfulfilling or slow. All story arcs progress at a very nice pace, with intermediate conclusions and shocking twists. This way, you feel perfectly satisfied at the end of book 1 but are also absolutely hooked for book 2 :D
The story is complex, and there are many different factions and characters, some of whose POVs we also get to experience firsthand. While that level of complexity might be daunting to some people, it is just SO rewarding when you allow yourself to get swallowed up by it. This fiction is really giving GoT ... like ... for real. The intrigues, the politics, the assassinations, the violence, the naughtiness - it's just such a beautiful bouquet of entertainment. So if you loved Game of Thrones, you should totally give this fiction a try. This way, you will probably get a sixth book to an awesome fantasy story faster ... :P
I mean, let's be real here: I came for a review swap. But then I immediately blew that plan to the wind when the first few chapters already hooked me so hard that I told the author, reviewing this book after only 5 chapters or so would do it an injustice.
So here I am, 39 chapters later, absolutely loving it :D
To the author: I hope you are a
Inkk001Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The opening chapters lay the groundwork for an epic fantasy saga of remarkable quality, one that distinguishes itself through its maturity and complexity. The work does not merely present a conflict; it masterfully weaves a web of political intrigue, personal trauma, and multi-layered military threats.
The text's clearest strength lies in its characters. They possess a psychological depth that is rare for introductory chapters. Far from being clichés, each protagonist is flawed, believable, and morally nuanced. Whether it's Endarion, the broken hero battling his demons; Estrid, the capable commander torn between her past and present; or Sephara, the heiress navigating treacherous waters in disguise, the reader is immediately invested in their internal struggles. The handling of multiple points of view is masterful, with each character possessing a unique voice that enriches our understanding of the world.
This character depth serves an ambitious overall story. The initial murder is not a simple plot point but the catalyst for a potential all-out war, which is itself complicated by internal power struggles within the Imperium and the emergence of an external threat. The author is smart enough to reveal their world organically through actions and dialogue, avoiding long descriptions and trusting the reader's intelligence.
On a technical level, the writing style is both elegant and effective. The prose is polished, the dialogue is impactful, and the pacing is perfectly controlled, alternating between scenes of introspection, tense confrontations, and explosive action. The quality of the grammar and syntax is impeccable, which speaks to a high level of professionalism.
In conclusion, the first chapters I've read present an exceptionally promising start. Realism dictates that the greatest challenge for the author will be to maintain such narrative complexity and character depth over the long haul, and to juggle the multiple plotlines to deliver a satisfying resolution. H
jaswanthkottakotaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This story grips the reader through its characters first and foremost, and that’s what makes it shine. From the very opening, the dynamic between Sephara and Dexion is captivating. Their conversation at the crime scene is not just idle talk—it’s a subtle duel of wits. Dexion’s smile is ever-present, charming and lighthearted on the surface, yet the reader can sense the hidden steel beneath. He is a man who measures every word, revealing just enough to keep others off-balance. Sephara, for her part, is no fool. Her observations and quiet intelligence make her more than just a witness to events; she’s a player in a larger game, even if she doesn’t yet see the full board.
Then the story pivots to Endarion, and the emotional tone deepens. The Iron Wolf is a tragic and powerful figure, a warrior broken not in body but in spirit, haunted by the cruelty he endured and the life he has been forced to live afterward. His exchange with Dexion is razor-sharp, full of tension and unspoken history. The contrast between Dexion’s controlled, almost condescending demeanor and Endarion’s raw, simmering anger gives the chapter a weight that lingers. By the time Endarion walks away, fearing an attack from behind and questioning if he’s become a “mad old dog,” the reader feels the full impact of his fall from glory.
What stands out most is the subtle suspense woven into every interaction. This is not a story of constant battles or loud spectacle; it’s a tale of pride, manipulation, and the games people play beneath the surface. Every glance, every word, every silence carries meaning. It’s intelligent, character-driven fantasy that respects the reader’s attention and rewards patience with rich, lingering emotional impact.
minichiropsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Chapter 1 was very strong: The setting was compelling, the narrator was fun, the antagonist was competent, and the whole tone and scene was just very sure. I wanted to see more of that. As of Chapter 3, we don't have Sephara back, and we tend to want her back--so that's good writing, to hook the reader, but a sign that it may end up being one of those multi-POV books where you tend to skip chapters to follow one through line, which isn't a weakness per se but is something worth the writer being aware of—Sephara was hooky and we wanted to follow her, so perhaps branch off into other points of view later in the story?
This could be a personal issue, however.
The writing is very strong, and reminded me, oddly, of the Diane Duane Star Trek novels in characterization at first, which is certainly a compliment I'd be happy to earn some day. Style 5/5.
Grammar was excellent. 5/5.
The story was gripping at first, and then harder to stick with in subsequent chapters, so perhaps could benefit from some rearrangement—but still, it would have shaken me off as a reader in chapter three, so I'm dinging it two stars for function. 3/5.
Characterization is uniformly strong, no complaints, and the first chapter was largely driven by the interiority of the character. However—again—Dexion wasn't as easy to follow as Sephara. Slight ding for that, 4.5 of 5.
What a lovely start to a series.
A gorgeous start with professional polish and a very engaging lead POV. I would happily read more by this author.