Set in a world where an empire is ever expanding, it follows General Bordan and magician apprentice Kyron. The emperor has just died on the front and Kyron is sent with a group to protect the emperor’s body back to the capital. Bordan is back in the capital trying to keep everything together until the succession can happen. I wanted to like this, and it does have some high points, but I found Kyron to be annoying and a brat. The overall setting and the plot was interesting, if a little opaque until the very end. But I just couldn’t get past Kyron’s whining.

DNF @ 15%

I've tried 3 times to get into this book and unfortunately, it's just really not gripping me. I think this is a book that will shape up to be fairly complicated in terms of politics, but I'm not finding the characters or plot or political intrigue interesting enough to want to continue reading. There isn't really much that stands out in the first 15% of this book - it very much just reads like a generic, run-of-the-mill, eurocentric fantasy. If that's your cup of tea, you'd probably enjoy this more than I did!

After a month of picking up and setting down, I have finally decided to shelve this under DNF @ 50%.. I really, really wanted to finish this story. However, I think my main issue lies in it presenting itself as more of a historical novel with fantasy undertones rather than a full fledged fantasy novel. The writing and characters are phenomenal, so I am still struggling to understand why I can't power through for the sake of the story. The political intrigue is VERY heavy, and while I am normally a fan of this, it just isn't working for me. It's a shame that this book isn't for me, because I know several others that enjoyed it thoroughly.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rebellion for a gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

From its heart pumping depictions of battle, to its scenes of discourse between a myriad of compelling characters, Seven Deaths of an Empire is a fantastic example of historically inspired fantasy that seizes the reader’s attention and refuses to release it.
I enjoy fantasy that pulls its inspiration from existing cultures. In the case of Seven Deaths, there is a heavy influence from the Roman Empire, a period of history that is well known for great advances, but is also rife with legends of conflict, scheming, and backstabbing, all of which are very present in the book.
Fans of Game of Thrones will find much to enjoy in this book. It is embroiled with intrigue, subterfuge, and quiet dealings, populated by savage people both in the wilds and within the city walls.
After the Emperor dies on a military campaign far from the capital, it falls to apprentice magician Kyron to accompany the emperor’s body with a contingent of soldiers back to the capital, so that the next heir may be crowned. He is accompanied by his master, a girl from the tribes they have come to conquer, and a collection of soldiers and priests who all seem to have an opinion. In their travels, they come to realize that abundant danger lurks in the barbarian forests.
Meanwhile, General Bordan in the capital must deal with the political fallout of the emperor’s death. He finds himself in a deadly game of assassins and conspiracies in his efforts to ready an ill prepared heir to take the throne.
A major theme of the narrative is the debate about civilization and the danger of blind loyalty. Kyron is a young man, one who has had his worldview shaped by the supposed pinnacle of the civilized world, a vast empire spanning horizons. And yet, this civilized world is built on superstition and lies, told to keep the mob under the thumb of those in power. Additionally, the idea of service is brought up numerous times, that everyone has a duty to the empire, and they must do it, even if it leaves them conflicted.
Kyron’s already fragile worldview is further challenged on his journey by the presence of Emlyn, a girl of the tribes, who takes every opportunity to challenge Kyron’s devotion and beliefs, showing him the worldview of those that the empire seeks to conquer and absorb.
Meanwhile, Bordan’s journey shows the dangers of the mounting heaps of lies told in order to keep the tenuous peace and secure power. The imperial family, whom he is sworn to protect and serve, are woefully unprepared for the sudden transference of power, both mentally and sociologically. It is a constant struggle for him not to berate those in power in an effort to make them see. Yet, the absolute maxim to do one's duty prevents him from doing anything beyond offering a silent, subtle prod in the right direction.
Ultimately, the main idea of the book can be summarized in one phrase, one spoken at the crowning of the new emperor: “The Emperor is dead. Long live the Empire.” While man may be mortal, what he builds can endure forever. It just often requires a foundation of blood and bone.
In time, the madness of absolute power and the manic desire to keep it, coupled with the bloodthirsty potential of man regardless of their beliefs, is revealed, reflected in the seven titular deaths. This book surely grips tightly, never releasing the reader, compelling them to turn the page so that they may see where the hidden blade may strike next, and whose death will contribute to the growing pile of corpses.

It’s understandable to take a look at Seven Deaths of an Empire and write it off as “just another fantasy book,” but doing so would be a big mistake. This is an ambitious undertaking from G. R. Matthews, one that attempts to blend the two disparate genres of character-action book and large-scale world, and achieves an impressive level of success. Its not entirely complex character development doesn't hold up all the way to the end, but its story and politics absolutely do, and make for a surprise breakout hit of 2021.
Full review to come on my YouTube channel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a chance to read this book.

I enjoyed reading this, but it didn't wow me - none of the characters really resonated with me, though I will say the last portion of the book was great. I really liked how things connected together. The plot twist towards the end was a little predictable, I had already suspected who the true mastermind was but I still loved how it tied together.

If you're looking for an easy read, I suggest giving this book a shot. You may enjoy it more than I did!

<b>4.0 Stars
This was easily one of the best 2021 fantasy books that I have read so far this year. </b></b>

Seven Deaths of an Empire waa a solid fantasy novel, offering a great setup, complex characters and plenty of suspense. There was very little action in this novel, which I personally did not mind. Instead, the narrative was driven by political intrigue and mystery. Switching between two perspectives, both main characters were likeable with interesting stories. The magic system was on the softer side, yet described in such a compelling way.  I enjoyed the tension between the religious leaders and magical users.

The middle section felt a bit long and drawn out, but the ending payoff made it all worthwhile. This is currently marketed as a standalone but I strongly suspect another novel will follow after this one.

In terms of accessibility, this one was easy to follow due to the scope of the story and number of characters. The length could be daunting to some readers, but I personally flew through the chapters incredibly fast. The writing style was clean, without the flowery language that often bogs down fantasy works. The story itself was not overly complicated, but that did not detract from my enjoyment. 

I would recommend this one to any fantasy reader looking for a straightforward epic standalone of political maneuvering for the crown, with similar themes to A Song of Ice and Fire.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I found out about <i>Seven Deaths of an Empire</i> on Bookstagram and was immediately drawn to it. I rarely read standalone novels, but I'm often curious about them. While I find standalones often lacking in one thing or another, I'm pleased to say that it wasn't the case with this one. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit.

I really liked the storytelling method even if I got confused a bit, but that's mostly due to the audiobook since I started listening to it while I was at work and I hadn't seen the formatting. On audio, you can't really tell when the small flashbacks start and end, so for half of the book I thought there were two timelines but that's on me. There are short paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter starting from 10 years ago and working their way up to the present, which I found very intriguing. They start making sense with the progression of the story, which I loved seeing.

The story itself unfolds slowly, but I actually didn't mind that. I enjoyed seeing the whole process of it and it actually managed to surprise me a lot. I didn't really know what to expect from it at all, so I was anticipating every twist and turn. I particularly enjoyed Kyron's POV. He's a magician's apprentice tasked with the job of taking the emperor's body safely to his family. What's more, I think that Kyron's part of the story truly shows the world and its depth, along with the two main clashing cultures- that of the "civilized" empire and that of the "barbarians". I loved seeing the two cultures clash when Kyron was working with his guide, who would ask him questions he wasn't ready to answer for himself, instead of giving the answers taught him by the empire. I love it when a character's views get challenged and they realize there's more to what they've been shown. I also loved seeing Kyron's personal growth, as well as his magical one.

On the other side, we have Bordan, a skilled and loyal general who's served the empire for many years. His side of the story leans more on politics I believe and that's where the other half of the events take place at. I enjoyed his POV a lot too, I loved the contrast between the characters, their ages, and experience, as well as their natures.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the themes explored. To me, this is the type of novel I can't really talk about that much after reading it, but instead, I need some time to think about it and absorb it. There were a few turns of events that I really didn't expect at the end, which made my enjoyment even bigger.

Another thing I also loved was the world-building, the magic, and the tribes. I would love to learn more about them, it was all so very interesting to me. Especially how the empire works and its war with the tribes, the empire's history with magic and all that. Personally, these were some of the most interesting aspects of the novel for me, and I found them fascinating.

Seven Deaths of an Empire follows 2 storylines; General Bordan - an ageing general who has dedicated his whole life to duty and service to the empire and after the death of the emperor he must do everything he can to protect the heir amidst politicians vying for power and civil unrest. We also follow Kyron - a young magician on the frontlines of war who is travelling with the Emperors body back to the capital.

I liked this book, it didn't blow me away but felt like a very safe fantasy with an enjoyable storyline with plenty of twists and turns and an almost thriller like quality. However whilst I liked the characters okay, I wasn't particularly attached to any of them and therefore didn't love the story as much as I might have.

I did really like the themes of family in the book, the relationship between Bordan and Kyron which becomes apparent about a third into the book and I really enjoyed seeing this progress throughout the novel. I also really enjoyed towards the end Kyron's discovery of parts of his heritage and the secrets of the forest and magic.

The plotting and power plays in this book I thought was really well done, I did sort of see who the 'big bad' was however I still thought it was well executed. I especially liked all the conversions between Bordan and his two cronies - I thought their dynamic was hilarious and one part of the book I really liked was the conflict between the magicians, the church and the military. I also liked the princess Aelia, who becomes a bit unhinged throughout the book but she is a very tragic character as you can see how she has been manipulated and suffers a lot of grief.

I do feel like this book struggled a little bit with tone - at times it felt very light-hearted and humorous in tone but then other times it was trying to be grim dark and this just felt a little bit jarring to me.

In conclusion if you are looking for a fun fantasy read which feels very familiar then you will probably really enjoy this!!

'Seven Deaths of an Empire’ is a fast-paced gritty fantasy novel that draws clear inspiration from the Roman empire. With short chapters and constant action, it has huge appeal for fans of plot-driven fantasy – but for those looking for originality or character-driven fiction, it could prove a more difficult read.

The Emperor is dead. His son will be emperor after him, ensuring the ongoing strength and expansion of the empire – but first, the emperor’s body must be returned to the capital, allowing succession to formally take place. Whoever controls the body controls the empire. In the capital, General Bordan – a veteran of decades of service to the empire – works to quell the hints of rebellion and protect the heir to the throne. Meanwhile, Apprentice Magician Kyron finds himself part of the dead emperor’s honour guard, ensuring the preservation of the body and its safety on the long journey home. With war looming on the horizon, the fate of the very empire is at stake.

This is very much a plot-driven novel, with several overarching threads. Bordan senses a traitor in the emperor’s inner circle and works to sniff them out, trying to outmaneuver them before he’s outmaneuvered himself. This feels very reminiscent of the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series and similar political fantasy, with many players none of whom can be fully trusted. Kyron, on the other hand, has more obvious threats on all sides. The forest he’s traveling through is full of tribespeople who hate the empire – after all, it’s trying to conquer them and steal their lands – and beyond that, the empire itself is mistrustful of magicians and magic, and many of his own company would happily see him dead. On top of all this, he’s been stuck with the company’s guide, a tribeswoman who challenges his opinions of the empire’s superiority. As he fights for the emperor and the empire, Kyron must decide if he’s actually on the right side.

Bordan and Kyron are interesting characters, although neither is easy to initially connect with. Kyron starts off a stroppy, entitled teenager, unshakeably convinced in the empire’s might and righteousness. His worldview is completely black and white, and he reacts to his worldview being challenged with anger and derision. Bordan starts off every inch the hard, military man, attacking first and asking questions later. He comes off argumentative, intolerant, and harsh, convinced that atrocities are worth it for the good of the empire. As the story goes on, more nuance appears. Doubt creeps into Kyron’s mind and he starts to question teachings he always took for the complete truth. Bordan starts to show signs of weariness, heart creeping in where previously the answer to everything was the sword. Both characters are complex, but as the story goes on they become far easier to relate to.

Some of the secondary characters are more intriguing than either Bordan or Kyron. Magician Padarn, Kyron’s master, is clearly an intelligent and well-traveled man who has a far more rounded view of the world and a subtle sense of humour. Emyln, the guide from the local tribes, is the best character in the entire book and I wish she was given a perspective of her own. She’s loyal to her people but has agreed to help the empire, for reasons that later become clear, and challenges Kyron’s views in a remarkably patient manner. She’s clearly exceptionally intelligent and strong-willed, and I’m sure she’ll have a huge part to play in any sequels.

The initial pacing, unfortunately, is a slow drudge. I had to put this book down several times in the first third because nothing appeared to be happening, and the short chapters made it difficult to connect with either point-of-view character. Fortunately, once the world and situation are established and things start to happen, the action draws you in and it becomes much more enjoyable. Its a shame the book doesn’t jump in at the fast pace it proceeds at for the majority of the novel, but many longer epic fantasy novels start slowly due to their complexity so its an understandable decision.

The worldbuilding itself will be familiar to anyone who reads a lot of epic fantasy. The setup is highly Roman inspired, with an empire gradually conquering all the surrounding lands which it sees as filled with barbaric tribes. The empire sees itself as saving these tribespeople by bringing religion – the Flame, which is clearly Catholic Christian inspired. Magic is part of the empire, but the church sees it as a stain and is highly distrustful of magicians – a nod to the Catholic inquisition. Mathews writes it well, creating a solid and believable setup, and whilst both setting and plot lack some originality they’re very readable.

Overall, ‘Seven Deaths of an Empire’ is a solid book for fans of action-packed epic fantasy with well-written battle scenes. For those familiar with the genre, little about the plot or setting is unique, but it carries out tried and tested tropes well. The beginning is a bit of a slog, but it becomes worth it for the much stronger end. Recommended for fans of ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ or ‘The Rage of Dragons‘.

A very cool book! I really liked the magic system and the focus on religion, as well as the general atmosphere the author created. It was not exactly a dark fantasy, but you could feel the general gothic vibes it sent. I was delightfully surprised by the characters as well: a dual POV in my opinion was the right choice to fully show the world, and both the povs gave enough depth to the characters to become attached.

Man, talk about a cover pick. There’s a style of cover art that uses the distinct paint strokes to build up the art and get a textured feel that just makes me want to pick the book up immediately.

There’s Roman influences in the structure of the army and it’s the most I’ve enjoyed any Roman influenced fantasy. I just don’t get a long with it. The setting was built up fairly minimally and done through conversation mostly so you built up a wider picture in little chunks. I thought that was a good balance to strike considering how little the setting plays a part in the story.

The dialogue felt overly stiff and formal for how well characters knew each other. And then there were moments when I couldn’t believe things happened for any reason other than the plot requiring it, like torturers giving information away freely while trying to interrogate someone. C’mon man. The character felt like they were mostly just designed to fit the plot rather than having layers and feeling more real.

I had a fun time reading Seven Deaths of an Empire, it was a cool premise. I was hooked quite early on but unfortunately it didn’t end up a hit for me.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy for review.

Seven Deaths of an Empire is a grimdark fantasy story that chronicles the power struggle after the death of an emperor. Inspired by the real life Roman Empire this story is told in duel perspectives. General Bordan is trying to ensure that the succession of the empire goes smoothly to prevent civil unrest and political upheaval. While Apprentice Magician Kyron is assigned to return the emperor's body safely to the palace. These are not easy tasks with the forests full of rebels, and there are people hungry for power, plotting to take control.

This book has one of my favorite fantasy elements where a young inexperienced person is sent on a very important mission and learns a lot along the way in the main character Kyron. This is not your typical fantasy story though. It is most definitely grimdark. It is full of death, ulterior motives, war, and betrayal. The plot is really great. It has a great mix of heart, mystery, nail-biting anticipation, and dread.

The writing is good with great character development. The story would have benefited from more descriptions especially in the first half. There are some really well described action scenes. Other parts depended too heavily on dialogue to give the information of the world. More description of the setting and actions would have shown a clear picture of the world instead of only through dialogue.

The world is well fleshed out. There are interesting social divides between the people of the empire and of those living in the forest tribes, as well as between priests and magicians. These conflicts are fascinating to read about.

The characters are wonderful. Full of people to love and love to hate. I was left dreading that some of my favorites would be one of the seven deaths mentioned in the title.These are characters to become attached to as you follow them on such a long journey.

Overall, this is a great story with high stakes for really great characters that is definitely worth a read. I would recommend it to fans of grimdark fantasy with plenty of mystery, political intrigue, and dastardly plots.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

When it comes to Fantasy world-building there’s a number of templates that are perennially popular with authors and those who read the books. Most immediate to mind is the medieval-esque setting of castles, Kings and Queens that I shall just call “Tolkien”. It is probably the most used and the most variable – dragons are optional.

Some look to History for inspiration – many of you reading this may know of The Wars of the Roses influence on Game of Thrones, for example. There’s also the Asian Empire version, all pagodas and feudal order, which I’ll simply call “Kurosawa”. We can get a steam-punky Fantasy straight out of the grimy factories of the Industrial Revolution, or by contrast there’s the opulent baroque “Renaissance” version, full of science and invention. And going further back, we get a version which this book emulates – the “Roman” version, a combination of I Claudius and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964).

Nothing wrong with that, of course. Even classics such as Isaac Asimov’s Foundation have used such settings as a template. Using such recognisable features may save the writer and reader time spent in having to set these things up, creates a setting that works and allows us to get on with the story.

From the publisher: The Emperor is dead. Long live the Empire.

General Bordan has a lifetime of duty and sacrifice behind him in the service of the Empire. But with rebellion brewing in the countryside, and assassins, thieves and politicians vying for power in the city, it is all Bordan can do to protect the heir to the throne.

Apprentice Magician Kyron is assigned to the late Emperor’s honour guard escorting his body on the long road back to the capital. Mistrusted and feared by his own people, even a magician’s power may fail when enemies emerge from the forests, for whoever is in control of the Emperor’s body, controls the succession.

Seven lives and seven deaths to seal the fate of the Empire.


This one is heavy on the Romanesque trappings, all plumed helms, gladius and legions, so much so that excepting the magic element this one could read like a historical novel. The battle scenes are straight out of Gladiator or Spartacus (again, not a bad thing for me.) Whilst Seven Deaths of an Empire uses these references sparingly, just enough to maintain the pace, its mix of magic and military prowess creates an engagingly epic read.

The death of the Emperor in battle leads to a journey, ensuring the Emperor’s body and his amulet of authority is brought safely back to the city capital. This is partly so that the populace can give tribute and see that he is dead as well as to initiate the handover to the Emperor’s successors – which in this case are the Emperor’s children. The eldest, Alhard, is arrogant and immature, whilst the daughter Aelia is (at least at first) cool and willing to listen to others.

Magician Padarn and his apprentice Kyron are sent with General Bordan and his troops to meet the returning body, as there is a risk of the body being kidnapped by rebels before the tributes can begin. As part of the academic Gymnasium, they act with the Empire’s religious priests whose leader Livilia hates the Gymnasium and all they stand for. With captured barbarian Emlyn to act as a mediator between the skilled troops and the savages who live in the outlands, they go to meet the corpse and its retinue. There are battles both there and back, leading to many killed.

As the honour guard approaches the capital, things become increasingly intense. There seems to be uprising brewing in the lands outside the city, as the journey has made the group realise. The Emperor in waiting appears to be increasingly irrational and prone to provocative action.

The leaders of the Gymnasium, the Keepers of the Sacred Flame and the leader of the military (Vedrix, Godewyn and General Bordan) struggle to ensure that the body returns safely and keep a city that is concerned and restless over the change in command calm. There are attacks by barbarians outside the city who see the body as a means of causing disruption to world order.

At the same time, Kyron finds out about his mysterious past and that there is more than he realised about his heritage.

With a title like Seven Deaths of an Empire, it should be clear from the start that not all of the characters we get to know reach the end of the novel. Some of these are not missed whilst others are noticeable by their absence. Matthews does well to build up sympathy towards the characters we are clearly meant to like, although some of the villains are perhaps a little too deliberately bad.

Perhaps my favourite is General Bordan, the experienced yet weary leader, respected by his troops, whose dedication to duty and the Emperor’s family is rather impressive – even when some of his tasks are rather unpleasant. Alongside him, Godewyn, the religious leader, seems kind and generous if a little bumbling, whilst Vedrix, the Master of the Magicians, is the voice of calm, determined to keep the status quo whilst all around law and order seems to be crumbling.

When the actual power behind the throne is revealed towards the end of the novel, it was an interesting twist. The ending has some unexpected elements, which lead to the inevitable conclusion setting up for the next book. It was good enough to make me want to read the next one now.




In summary, for those who like a Romanesque setting with factions fighting amongst each other for control, with an added touch of magic and mysticism, this is a great read. It’s a big book but I enjoyed it.

I would like to thank Rebellion and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When I first saw this book, I just knew that I would enjoy this novel. And when I read the synopsis, I didn't hesitate to send a request. That's why I was very excited when I was approved to get a digital copy. Set in a Roman-inspired world, Seven Deaths of an Empire by G.R. Matthews is an engaging fantasy novel full of intrigue and political maneuvering.

Told by the alternating POV of the two main characters, the story started when the long-reigning Emperor suddenly died while he was on one of his campaign. General Bordan had to grip the fragile peace and order of the Empire in place before the opportunists took advantage of the chaos and usurped the throne. He just needed to ensure that the rightful heir would rule again. On the other hand, Apprentice Magician Kyron was assigned to accompany and make sure the late Emperor's body would reach the capital unharmed. With the brewing rebellion, assassins, and cunning political plans, would they be able to seal the fate of the Empire?

Plotwise, I really enjoyed the story. I loved the political schemes which was a great deal in this book. There were also fight scenes, mystery, magic, and jaw-dropping twists and turns! The writing style was easy to follow, and the story started strong. The opening scene immediately grabbed my attention, and I just wanted to know more about what was happening. The story was well-paced. Just when I felt things become quite slow, suddenly they became interesting again that I just couldn't put the book down.

The dynamic of the two main characters, even when they wasn't many interactions between them given the circumstances, was still fascinating. They were flesh out enough. The author did a great job conveying their thoughts, feelings and backgrounds to make them more complex. General Bordan was an honorable, levelheaded man who was very loyal to the Empire. On the other hand, Kyron was a naïve magician who later grew into someone more mature due to the things he experienced during his journey.

The world-building, in general, was average. The important elements in a Roman-inspired setting were already given. Some of the descriptions were too common. I would love to know more about the Empire's history, the elaborate details of the magic system, and more information about tribes. I am hoping there will be more of this in the next book if there is one.

Overall, Seven Deaths of an Empire by G.R. Matthews is fantasy read brimming with political schemes, well-written characters, and jaw-dropping plot twists. I highly recommend this novel!

4/5 stars!

*Copy provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

What a ride! When I started this book, I found the premise intriguing but was fully prepared for it to be an enjoyable read but also a very typical fantasy read, if you know what I mean. Was I wrong, though! It was aggressive but beautiful, the world-building greatly developed with the three main factions – army, church, and magicians – well explained, as well as a great political intrigue. There were a lot of plot twists after plot twists, some more predictable than others, and some that made me say WHAT out loud while reading – the best ones.
The characters were interesting, the dual POVs as well as the ending was gut-wrenching and extremely well done. I am hoping for a sequel and, if there is one, I have no idea how this will go forward and, honestly? I am in for the ride!

Unfortunately I found this book to be disappointing.

It is described as "A new grimdark fantasy for fans of Anna Smith-Spark, GRR Martin and Mark Lawrence." I have read from all of these authors and I personally can't see any similarities in either stories tld or the writing style and I also wouldn't say that it is grimdark. Dark potentially but not grimdark.

As this is a standalone, I personally think that it could have done with being longer as I felt like the world building, magic system and character development all suffered from trying to tell such a big story in around 500 pages.

The world isn't very well explained, I know that it is based off Roman invasions but for example, we know that the empire is invading the forest but we are never told why, just that they are.

I found the magic system to be a bit on the wishy washy side and this wasn't helped by Kyron being 'The Magician' as he was still an apprentice and didn't know how the magic system worked himself.

There also wasn't enough character development for me, Kyron stayed being whiny and complaining for the whole book, Borden was an old man making decisions that weren't particularly logical and all of the characters introduced were either introduced as inherently good or bad. For example, the prince is introduced acting like a spoilt brat and not thinking before opening his mouth so I instantly knew he would end up being killed and this type of introduction continued for the rest of the book.

The storyline was also unbelievable in places. For example, the emperor has gone off to war but hasn't taken the commander of the army with him? The person who holds the amulet is the next emperor so I'm only going to send 500 soldiers with his army through territory that we are trying to capture and then they are surprised that they get attacked?

I found the story to be too predictable for me and also too convenient in places.

“The world is changing, Kyron, your world especially. So now that you are on your own, start to see how it really is, not how you childishly wish it to be.”

The story is told through two points of view alternatively. In one, General Bordan is trying to do the best for the empire and the other, Magician apprentice Kyron, who is part of the honour guard escorting the late emperor's body back to the capital through the forest of tribal people whom the empire want to conquer and won't stop even after the death of the emperor.

"When the Empire marched, other nations quaked."

The story takes place in Roman setting. With the people of empire considering themselves better than the 'barbarians' living in the forest.
The point the story makes is that there are many types of culture which are unique in their own way and the strong one conquering the other is not always the best thing actually it's the worst thing cause it is forced on the other through war.
The political friction between the religious and magicians faction is interesting to see, but religious one is clearly favoured whereas the magicians are feared and hated by everyone and clearly always in disadvantage position.
The world building is not extensive. The character is well developed, but aren't able to make me care more for them. Magic system wasn't anything new for me.
The starting was slow but the story picks up pace halfway. It was easy to see the twist that was coming, but still author manages to surprise me and that was a delight truly.
All in all it was a good solid 3 star read for me with a realistic ending.

"Experience was the only true gift of age, its one compensation for the loss of strength, the slowness of limb, and shallow well of energy."

I believe fans of GoT will enjoy this book. The book switches back and forth between a couple POV's with each chapter, which aren't too long. The book isn't too long either but also isn't a quick read, good pacing and enjoyable story. Overall, a good book, I'm afraid I won't remember too much after a few other reads. I didn't spend a long time with this one. I really floated through it. I started it late and had a few other reads to finish without a lot of time. I feel like if I had spent more time with this I would have liked it more. I wish it great success.

“The desire for revenge can destroy a person or fuel them for a time, but revenge fulfilled is an empty thing.”

Magic, battles, scheming, backstabbing, this book has all of the classic fantasy tropes that I love. We follow two POV characters, Borden and Kyron. General Borden is an old man ready for retirement, but he needs to keep the empire going after the emperor is murdered. Apprentice magician Kyron is a young man who is part of the group tasked with bringing the emperor’s body back to the empire. I equally enjoyed both POVs especially when they eventually intertwined.

There were several twists and turns in this book including betrayals. Although I saw all of them coming, I still enjoyed the reading experience. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the sequel.