The Empire is a series by Anthony Riches, made up of 15 books published between 2009 and 2026. It begins with Wounds of Honour (2009), and is best read in publication order. The most recent entry is Empire XV: Field of Blood (2026), spanning 17 years of storytelling.
Empire series: frequently asked questions
What order should I read the Empire series?
Start with Wounds of Honour (2009), the first book in the Empire series by Anthony Riches. Follow the books in publication order for the best reading experience.
How many books are in the Empire series?
There are 15 books in the Empire series by Anthony Riches, published between 2009 and 2026.
What is the first book in the Empire series?
The first book in the Empire series is Wounds of Honour, published in 2009 by Anthony Riches.
What is the latest book in the Empire series?
The most recent book in the Empire series is Empire XV: Field of Blood (2026) by Anthony Riches.
About the Empire series
Anthony Riches's Empire series is muscular, blood-and-mud Roman military fiction. Marcus Valerius Aquila, a young Roman officer framed for treason, flees to the edge of the empire and reinvents himself among the auxiliary cohorts on Hadrian's Wall, fighting to survive both the barbarians and the assassins hunting him.
Riches delivers gritty, authentic depictions of the Roman army — its tactics, brutality and brotherhood — with relentless action and a strong sense of the frontier's danger. It's a favourite for readers who like their historical fiction visceral.
The series follows Marcus's ongoing story, so it's best read in order from "Wounds of Honour."