With Thanks to Solaris and G R Matthews for an advanced readers copy of the book.

4*

Overall a very strong novel with lots of avenues to explore.

The story is told through Multi POV -
-General Bordan who leads a vast army and has given his life to the empire and is loyal to the throne.
-Kyron, a magician's apprentice who is returning the late Emperor’s body to the capital.

It effortlessly weaves roman history, battle strategy and religion with the unique elements of Matthews fantasy world. Where the novel does have a slower start it isn't "hard to read" the worldbuilding is gradual, removing the feeling of info dump often seen at the start of epic fantasy novels. By around 60% I was barely able to put it down, the pace twists and turns and really drags you towards that brilliant conclusion.

I finished Seven Deaths of an Empire by G.R. Matthews. I'm going to be upfront here for a moment and say that it took me about 30% to get interested in the story, and although I enjoyed the plot overall, I was hoping for a more complex and layered story-line.

I do think that the marketing was a bit misleading because it was described as "an all new grimdark fantasy" for fans of "GRRM and Mark Lawrence" but it left a lot to be desired and it was not epic in nature due to a limited cast of characters doing predictable things. Most of the characters felt the same in the story- especially in dialogue. I didn't feel that there was anything distinct enough to make the characters unique. The dialogue felt too formal in every character - I enjoy more nuances. The magic system was pretty interesting and I want to learn more about the motes and all of the different magical abilities one can have. Matthews introduces us to just enough magic to get us interested and leaves the rest to be pondered over until the sequel.

The ending felt a little rushed.when things began happening.and I didn't exactly like how a certain character was handled. I do understand that we were learning everything as this character did which would explain the surprise of it all, but I just feel that the execution of this could've been handled better. In addition, there was some magic being used that, due to a lack of foreshadowing, made me so confused and it ended up missing its mark.

Overall, I would recommend if you are looking for your next dark fantasy series! I am looking forward to continuing. Thank you so much for the advanced reader copy!

An enjoyable and entertaining read. It has an engaging plot, compelling characters, and good pacing.

Sometimes, you don’t need a book to blow you away. You just want an engaging story, characters to root for, and some magic to keep things interesting. That’s how Seven Deaths of an Empire was for me, and I enjoyed it. Some parts were predictable; others took me by surprise.

Seven Deaths of an Empire works because of the characters. There’s the fearless leader getting too old for the job, and the young magician learning to understand power and responsibility. The narration splits between the two, covering events happening across the Empire that are connected in more ways than they know.

Kyron is your typical under-dog. He starts off a little whiny, not understanding his power or their mission. But his character growth is fantastic – and not just because of how strong his magic gets.

I like Kyron. You root for him from the start and know he’s going on a journey. You learn about the world through his eyes, and there’s an innocence to him that remains, even as events unfold.

Bordan is the leader of the Empire’s army, but longs for retirement. You feel for him as his job gets harder. All he wants is to do his duty, but all he’s worked for is destroyed as a new (and unstable) heir takes power.

Secondary characters vary. Some are extreme in their behaviour, which makes them childish and annoying. But most are solid. Including Emlyn, a mysterious guide with many secrets but is a solid friend to Kyron.

This is a book about war and colonisation; a struggle for power within the Empire and the expansion of its borders. Traditions are important while divisions between religion and magic are shown to the extreme.
There’s violence and betrayal, but also hope and reconciliation. It has all the elements you would expect from a solid fantasy: magic, battles, power-struggles and impossible odds keeping you gripped.

It’s not a book to keep you on the edge of your seat. Some of the mysteries I figured out quite quickly. There was a turn of events near the end, however, I didn’t expect. It had been predictable until then; this added a refreshing change I hadn’t anticipated.

The world-building is solid, even if not phenomenal. The history of the Empire and its beliefs are explained through Kyron’s perspective. You see the division between magic and religion more than you get a true understanding of either faction. I didn’t entirely get to grips about the rules of the magic, but understood enough.

While you understood what the stakes were of the Empire’s invasion, I didn’t understand the full back-story. When it was explained, it was in an information-dump rather than weaving into the story.

Overall, a definite recommendation. It isn’t a heart-stopping read. But it is a well-crafted solid fantasy that ticked a lot of boxes for me. It brought in a number of important topics, dealt with issues both personal and large-scale, and focused on the characters. That’s all I really asked for.

Starts with a bang - the death of the Emperor (in the blurb) and what a great cover.

Lots of interesting prose that is very well written. But I found some things that were not believable. The general is not with the army (yes he is old so maybe he gets a pass), the continuance of the Emperor’s role depends on a magical amulet and they only send 500 honour guards to defend the body and the amulet all the way back through contested territory (whoever wears the amulet is the next Emperor). So there is hardly any point waging a war in the North if the people of the tribes of the north get their hands on the amulet. They will win anyway.

This book just didn’t grip me and pull me in. It felt like it had many lectures on how you should live a good life and maybe it would be a better choice for younger-than-me readers.

Thank you to NetGalley & Rebellion Solaris for an advance copy.

Seven Deaths of an Empire is such an appealing title for a book that I couldn't resist the temptation to pick it up and see what it entailed. The synopsis prepares you for the story, but it doesn’t have the vitality that the entirety of the story holds. It’s also pretty much the fall of the Roman Empire with some magic thrown in for added excitement which is quite awesome. 

As the synopsis so kindly outlines, General Bordan is the aging though well respected leader of the empire’s military. His Emperor has fallen and all he can hope to do is guide the heir and keep them alive until the Emperor’s body and the magical amulet he carried can be returned to the capital. Kyron is an apprentice mage accompanying the Emperor’s body back to the capital from the warfront. He’s learning how the world truly works outside of the safe walls of the capital and honing his magic skills during the somewhat perilous journey. These two characters are the points of view you’ll follow through the story and they have an interesting connection to one another.

The story was definitely a slow burner. It felt like it took a hundred years to get through the first 30%, but after that it really started to pick up and by the end I was wondering if and when there might be a sequel (there will be). General Bordan’s chapters start off with the chaos in the capital as the news of the Emperor’s death arrives and the his son becomes the Emperor-in-waiting. Spoiler alert - the prince is a massively privileged dipshit and I felt genuinely bad for the general. Kyron’s chapters grated on me a little at first, even though they were interesting. He comes off as a whiner for a while and while he doesn’t exactly grow out of that he sort of grows on you. There’s plenty of action, political intrigue, assassination, and several very emotional moments that left me rather speechless. 

While Seven Deaths of an Empire didn’t exactly blow me away, leaving me raving about it for days, I did really enjoy it and found the payoff worthwhile. G.R. Matthews is an author I’ll be keeping my eye on because I’ll be needing news of the next books set in this world, as they necessarily be direct sequels. This sated my thirst for Roman inspired fantasy, military fantasy, and all things remotely political.

Thanks to Netgalley and Rebellion Publishers for the arc.

For a debut, this is a very well written book. The prose is beautiful and descriptive.

The characters are also really engaging and I enjoyed following both Kyron and Bordan's POVs and also many of the secondary characters. Kyron goes through a bit of a growth arc as well, which helps to flesh him out from a whiny apprentice at the beginning of the book.

However how the two characters are linked became clear fairly quickly. Little shocked me in this book as the foreshadowing was maybe a bit too clear. Nonetheless, these twists added depth to the plot.

I have seen Seven Deaths of an Empire described as a grimdark, and I'm not sure I would agree with that. It doesn't have the bleakness and darker aspects I would expect to see in that genre. However as the title suggests, there is a lot of deaths which are a natural part of an Empire at war both internally and externally.

The Roman Empire influence is clear throughout the story, but doesn't overwhelm or detract from other elements of the story.

The magic system is only loosely explained and the limitations of it are not very clear. As we follow an apprentice magician there is some talk of the basics surrounding it, but not a huge amount of depth to it.

Overall, Seven Deaths of an Empire was an enjoyable read and I would be interested in reading more from G R Matthews in future to see how he builds upon the skills shown in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rebellion for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
All the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Seven Deaths of an Empire is a new Grimdark Fantasy book inspired by the history of the Roman Empire. In this story, the readers are introduced to a world full of turmoil as the ruler of the Empire is killed and the process of succession, filled with fighting, political manoeuvring and betrayals, begins.

Starting with the author’s writing style, I enjoyed it quite a lot. It was straight to the point and punctuated, from time to time, with interesting and beautiful metaphors that conveyed the feelings of the characters and the ambiance of the world. Because of that I consider this book to be very accessible to readers who are used to big adult fantasy books and also to those who are just starting their journey through this genre.

The use of the double POV, alternating between General Bordan’s and Kyron’s story, is something that I appreciated because they made it possible to see different locations of the world. The flashbacks at the start of every chapter are also a very nice and concise way to establish the nuances of those two characters’ relationship, without having to further prolong the story more than necessary.

As for the characters themselves, I like that the author introduced us to two very different personalities. On the one hand you have the General who always lives his life according to the values of duty and sacrifice for the good of the Empire and then you have an Apprentice Magician who is still very much a naive young boy, getting his first taste of life at the front lines of a conflict, when given the task to protect the late Emperor’s body. It was very interesting to see that those characters had very different opinions about the world they lived in, even though it was the same. I especially enjoyed Kyron’s growth throughout the book, even though I would have liked it more if his change of opinion originated from his own reasoning, instead on it being so dependent on Emlyn pointing things out for him.

The rest of the characters, for the most part, felt somewhat like props to me, like they were there just to further progress the story. I think the book would have benefited if those individuals were more fleshed out before (some of them!) reached their demise.

The magic system and the world building are both parts of this story that I think have the potential to be further developed in future books, because they weren’t very detailed in this first instalment.
Overall, this is in my opinion, a great fantasy book that’s worth reading, whether you’re a veteran or a beginner to the adult fantasy genre!

Star Rating: 3.5 ⭐

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

Seven Deaths of an Empire is a Grimdark Fantasy that draws most of its inspiration from the history of the Roman Empire. We're thrown straight into action of a conquest to conquer the Northern tribes and bring them into the ever expanding territory of the Empire. Everything is thrown into turmoil with the death of the emperor and the desperate need to get his body back to the capital. This leads to an epic journey with shocking betrayals, brutal politics and an intriguing magic system.

The characters in Seven Deaths of an Empire are definitely one of the strongest aspects of the book. We follow two main POV's that are polar opposite so we get to see story from two completely different perspectives. The first POV is General Bordan, a solider through and through whose spent his life protecting the Empire and its people. Bordan reminded me of Maximus in Gladiator, a wise General whose respected by all and as loyal as they come. The second POV is Apprentice Kyron, a magician whose joining the army on his first ever campaign. Kyron is tasked with protecting the emperors body whilst it makes its dangerous journey through the forests of the tribes and back to the capital. I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Not only were the two main characters believable and extremely interesting, they had their own unique personalities that left you cheering for them throughout the book. Then again, I also found the smaller characters to be fleshed out and very engaging. There was definitely characters that I loved and others I absolutely hated. This just goes to show the authors skill when it came to characters.

The world-building was on point. We spend most of are time flicking back and forth the forest of the northern tribes to the Palace in the capital which were very detailed and imaginative. Both the characters experienced hostile surroundings whether it's protecting the emperors body in the forest or having to deal with the poisonous politics from power hungry Dukes. We only really get to see the capital, parts of the forrest and the odd village or town yet Matthews made it feel like a massive adventure.

My favourite part of Seven Deaths of an Empire is no doubt the fighting and the magic system. The fighting was a classic illustration of the Roman war tactics and fighting styles. It doesn't matter how many times its been used in books, I still find it absolutely fascinating. Matthews doesn't hold back when it comes to how brutal and gruesome war can be, you have to appreciate the level of detail that was put into the fight scenes.

The magic system in this book is solid and something I really enjoyed reading about. As we follow Kyron, we slowly get to know more about the history, schools and how it's used which is shown through Kryons development as a magician. I absolutely loved the use of magic during the fights. I've always found Roman fighting techniques and strategies extremely interesting, so when this is combined
 with magic it lead to some explosive and entertaining battles and fighting scenes.

For me, Seven deaths of an empire ticked all the boxes, engaging characters, intriguing magic system, solid world-building and a fascinating plot that was completely gripping from start to finish. Seven Deaths of an Empire is one of the best books of 2021 and a must read book for fantasy readers!

Thank you Netgalley and Solaris for the opportunity to read 'Seven Deaths of an Empire' early in exchange for an honest review.

Lets start out by saying I am severely in the minority when it comes to this book. This was without a doubt not the book for me even though I was super excited and pumped for it.

First let us start with why this book is a prime example as to why I hate when people/publishers compare books to other books. The synopsis on Goodreads starts with this

"A new grimdark fantasy for fans of Anna Smith-Spark, GRR Martin and Mark Lawrence."

There was nothing in this book that gave me vibes for any of these authors (minus Sparks as I have not read her work yet) There was also nothing Grimdark about this, I have read my share of grimdark books and this was not it. This tag line created so many high expectations and I really hate when this happens. IF this wasn't there I probably would have gone in with lower expectations but nope, I fell for this hook line and sinker, like they wanted to happen. This is why I absolutely hate book comparison like this it creates a false hope, and why I tend to take them with a grain of salt, but no I was tricked this time. You got me!

Now as for the story goes, this was so dry, immediately out the gate I was met with a very numb and emotionless story, 20% in and there was just no feeling present at all and as it continued it got worse. None of the characters stood out, I was actually highly annoyed with Kyron, and my feelings towards him never changed. And as the story continued the dryness got worse and the lack of emotion became so heavy that it made me bored, tired, and sleepy. I'm really good at picturing images in my head when I read and this evoked nothing from my imagination. The overall story felt like it got lost within itself for the longest time.

You follow two point of views Bordan and Kyron, they switch back and fourth. IF I had to choose who's I liked better it would have to be Bordan's chapters, but that's being kind. Bordan's chapter were very repetitive and it felt like so many conversations just went in circles with the same information being talked about over and over again just in a different manner or with different characters. And this is constant through the whole book. While Kyron's chapters started out with a ton of whining, and for the longest time felt like the importance of transporting the dead emperor was forgotten as it felt like they where always camping. Kyron was always complaining about using his magic, the bickering between him and curate was so forced and felt like a thorn in your side. There is a particular part that really upset me with Kyron's lineage as well, you don't have to be apart of something to finally recognize that the way they are treated is unfair, that whole bit just really got under my skin. I know a lot of people liked the tribes I felt like they where there just to create tension of some sort or action in Kyron's portion of the story as they didn't stand out to me, and they just felt like they all of sudden appeared, and then were gone when no longer needed.

There was also this frustrating writing device used that grated on my nerves but every time something exciting was finally going to happen the chapter ended and then when it finally went back to that portion of the story the event was already over, thusly not allowing me to see or read anything about it. It happened more so in the start and the middle of the story and by the time the end came I was so burnt out on not being able to see any action that when the action finally started to show up it felt like it dragged on and it was so unstimulating, even the battles felt emotionless. Deaths meant nothing me, any moments that where suppose to evoke my feelings fell flat, and that says a lot for me as I am extremely sensitive and can cry at any moment.

The character building was something that bothered me immensely, I felt like I wasn't given any choice to decide how I should react to them. Some of the characters where presented in a manner that it felt like I was being forced to react to them in a certain manner. For example, the minute the prince was introduced everything his character did was so over the top of "I'm bad look at me" that it felt like I was being force fed the need to hate him, I wasn't given a choice to decide if I would hate him or like him, or even feel any kind of sympathy towards him and his plight. This goes for Kyron, it felt like it was being force fed to me that he was whiny and annoying, because he did it all the time. It just felt like if I was suppose to "like" them they where presented in a "likable" manner only, and if I was suppose to hate them they where presented in a "hateable" manner only. Only one character really feels like they fall out of this and that was Godewyn, because he was the only who felt like I got the chance to see two different sides to (which unfortunately took the whole book to reveal and then it was very short lived)

The end felt like it dragged on, after that big final battle I realized there was still another 10 chapters and I was beyond exasperated at that point. Coming out of a very non exciting battle and into more story that felt like it ran in circles and repeated the same information over and over again, the Princess good lord really liked to repeat her self over and over again, which she was another character where I was like "ahh I'm suppose to hate this girl" felt so unbearable. And the overall finale just left me numb, the reveal of who did orchestrate everything came way to late for me, the unhinged accusations from the princess, the unlocked strong magic, just all of it too late for me.

Now the magic, the last thing I have yet to talk about and its because I was so underwhelmed with it. From other reviews I thought I was going to get this really wicked magic system, but all I got was confusion and flying motes, and I guess invisible magic. I wasn't impressed with it nor was I even able to visualize it in my mind, and it felt like it was present enough, but there was also this whole "i used my magic to talk to people" can I see the characters do do that? No, oh okay. So the magic, yah didnt cut it for me.

Its left with the possibility of another book being added and if it does get more that will be great as there are plenty who did enjoy this and of course I want to see the author succeed, but for me I will most likely skip out on it. This was without a doubt a case of "we just weren't meant to be" I was so pumped for this, so I am sad I didn't enjoy it. I will keep my eye out for the author for something not in this world, there is potential in the writing, I just need more emotion.

First of all, amazing cover and great title! This definitely caught my eye immediately.
However the marketing team laid it on a bit thick throwing names like GRR Martin and Mark Lawrence. Promises like this make me have quite high expectations as a reader.
Altogether it was an enjoyable reading experience, mainly because the author is a talented writer and I would read more in the future, however now we're coming to the parts I had some issues with.

Firstly the world set up, weaponry, names and culture is pretty much our Roman Empire except for the magic system. Instead of a fantasy it reads more like a historical fiction book with some magical elements. I was hoping for something more unique and was disappointed. The two main characters Kyron the apprentice and General Bordan were interesting enough, but again not outstanding. The murder mystery aspect I kind of saw coming and the royal family felt like a crazy rip off Lannister clan, especially the prince could've been replaced with Geoffrey (here I understand the GRR Martin comparison).

I understand that the ending was sort of left open for potential further volumes in the series, but if it's turning out to be a standalone, it wouldn't be a satisfying ending for me personally (I don't like open endings).

Thank you Netgalley and Rebellion for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would recommend this to readers who are just starting out with fantasy or looking for a book that is more historical fantasy. It is still fast paced enough, but be aware that there are quite a few violent scenes in there.
I would try more from this author in the future.

I really enjoyed reading this book and it left me wanting more. The writing was really well done and the characters really engaged you and made you feel for what they were going through. It was nice to have a new take on fantasy especially since this is a genre I read a lot of. Thank you to Netgalley and Rebellion for the ARC but all opinions are my own.

"A long history of service to the Empire," Bordan said, rising his goblet in salute. "It bends and flexes but never breaks"

Perfect for fans of the Roman Empire and Game of Thrones, Seven Deaths of an Empire provides a very entertaining read filled with interesting settings, likeable characters, magic, treasonous plots againts the throne, family, religion and intolerance issues, bloody battles and epicness that has you standing on the edge trying to guess what's going to happen next until the very end!
With a smooth writing style and fast pace perfect for everyone entering the epic fantasy genre.
I personally found it very light and interesting to read and the topics it addresses, like religion differences, xenophobia or war aftermath, are treated in a way everyone can relate to.

I love it when a book manages to pull you right into the story from the very first page, and "Seven Deaths of an Empire" did just that. It is a fantastic story, it's written brilliantly, has great characters, is set in a solid and believable world, and just has that feeling of "rightness" that I look for in a fantasy. Definitely one for the re-read shelf.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

I was given a free copy of Seven Deaths of an Empire by GR Matthews (author), Solaris (publisher), and Net Galley to provide an honest review.

This review will be spoiler free.

I would characterize Seven Deaths of an Empire as epic fantasy.

The world-building appeared to be something akin to European, possibly western European, and takes place in a large city and the countryside and in a pre-industrial age. Mr. Matthews does a commendable job in creating the setting that is interesting including sights and sounds. I, however, as I continued to the read the story that it did not add nor detract from the story but serves the story.

The magic system is an important part of the story and provides a layer of complexity. One of the two main characters is a young mage in training, mostly in school, and seems to get his first taste of what it is like to be mage in the field including battles. In this story, there is antagonism between mages and healers. The healers are represented by church which has an important role in shaping public policy and has the ear of the emperor. Only a few people can practice and magic. The mages at the school (possibly, a university or college) find and test these people, and then train them in the school.

Political intrigue is important in this story and provides another layer of complexity. The second of the two main characters is general who tries to navigate a fraught situation which could explode in an uprising or a coup while trying to maintain a cool head and a stoic front while counseling the emperor and empress.

For the most part, I did not find them compelling or engaging. I think the arcs for the two main characters are not unique, but I found the story interesting enough to finish reading the novel. I found a few of the side characters such as the mage who is the head of the order, the healer who is the head of the church, the woman who is the guide for the young mage, and young mage’s mentor. I think I would have preferred if some of the side characters had their own points of view in addition to the two main characters.

I think Mr. Matthews’ writing is the strongest aspect of this story because I continued reading because I did not find too many dead spots or a mushy middle, but the plot continues to move forward.

I rate Seven Deaths of an Empire 3 stars.

I would like to thank GR Matthews, Solaris, and Netgalley for the free arc.

Seven Deaths of an Empire by G. R. Mathews is a self-contained fantasy novel set in the Six Kingdoms, although there may be other books coming (well I know there is coz I looked at his website!)
The story is set in a world that has several different settings. Firstly, there is the Empire, which strongly resembles a Roman styled governing system. And then there is another part of the world building that is based on the Germanic/Gaulish Tribal systems. In essence, it closely resembles Europe during the expansion of the Roman Empire.
It's quite interesting to see this kind of world building and one that I found to be quite refreshing. I liked how it closely resembled similar governing systems from a recognisable part of history. However, there is the addition of magic in the story and this adds an extra dimension to the story, subsequently increasing the tension.
And let me tell you there is a lot of tension in this book, whether it be military, political, religious, or social tensions.
The main essence of the book starts with the death of the Emperor, which obviously upsets the equilibrium of the Empire. What follows is a period of political turmoil and jockeying for position. Caught up in the middle of this and having to navigate his way through political turmoil, is the first of our main protagonists, General Borden. Grand Marshall of the Armies of the Empire.
On the death of the Emperor, General Borden is given the inexorable task of guarding and guiding the next heir to the Empire, Alhard. However, Alhard is an ignominious, spoilt young man whose idea of ruling an Empire is to systematically crush all that he sees as a threat, and making General Borden’s job quite difficult. Especially, when Alhard prefers to be guided by his sister, Aelia.
Running alongside General Borden’s story, is the tale of a young magician, Kyron. Kyron and his master, Padarn, are tasked to preserve the body of the Emperor so that he can be transported back to observe the proper death rights and also to pass on the Symbol of the Emperor and the Empire. To do this they must join an honour guard of soldiers whose job it is to protect the body and deliver it to the Capital. In addition, to Kyron & Padarn, Emlyn, a barbarian from the tribes who has been forced to guide the company.
Unfortunately, the stories of both protagonists do not go according to plan.
In General Borden’s story, by some misfortune, Alhard is deposed of his claim to the throne and the right to govern falls to his sister, Aelia.
Whilst Kyron’s story is filled with danger as they attacked by the tribes. Amid this, Kyron will have his beliefs and prejudices tested as he learns more about the Empire, the tribes and himself.
The story revolves around the points of view of the two main characters, and I have to say that I found that this was an unexpected pleasure in today’s climate of several points of view. It successfully maintained the focus of the narrative and thus benefitted the rising tension of the book, which I think if it had had more, would have detracted from the story.
For the most part, the book was enjoyable. At times, the pacing slowed, particularly in a small portion of the last third of the book. However, it soon rectified this, picked up its socks and then sprinted headlong to the finish.
For me, one of the strongest points of the story was Kyron’s journey. Throughout his tale, his character grew as he was forced to face his own prejudices about everything. I liked the growing relationship with the guide Emlyn, especially as later in the book he is forced to become closer to her, and I like how the characters interacted with each other. Subtly complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses as they become closer.
When it came to General Borden, I have to say. Gods, that man is a saint. I don’t think I would have managed to have remained as level-headed as he does throughout the book. There is no two ways about it, I would have allied myself to the nearest radical faction to depose the rulers of the Empire, as both of them are pretty loathsome characters. Alhard is a cowardly dullard that should never be allowed a hairs breath near a throne, and Aelia is a screaming harpy whose voice went through me every time she spoke,
For me, I felt that at its heart, the book was a murder mystery, ensconced in classic fantasy. Now don’t laugh, but when you read it you will see what I mean. However, if I went into finer details, I would give important aspects of plot away, which in turn would spoil it for you, and I don’t want to do that.
At times, G. R. Mathew’s writing reminded me of David Gemmell, in that he has the ability to write a good tale and tell it well. The world building is tight in that it only deals with necessary environments. Which I thought worked well, and the fact that G. R Mathew’s hasn’t put out an immediately expansive world, revealing only what is necessary, maintains the readers focus.
When it comes to the ending, I found it satisfyingly unexpected. I am sure that most people will say that they saw how events would play out. Well, I didn’t! There were some aspects of it that I thought might occur, mainly because the writing does transmit some of the events throughout the latter end of the book. However, most of it took me by surprise.
Seven Deaths of an Empire is a book that is full of tension, intrigue, and action and it will be interesting to see what direction GR Mathew will take next.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Rebellion for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
---
This was terrific! I was not sure if this had a Roman military setting until I started reading and that was the first of many pleasant suprises!

The pacing is immaculate and likely to keep you anticipating the start of each chapter. Although I initially felt the writing to be a bit lacking in terms of description and character interactions, it was quickly remedied by around the 5% mark. The rest of the book had a consistently vivid and smooth writing style.

I truly loved the characters and how developed they were. The action sequences was really well-written and explained military maneuvers and terms without infodumps. The magic system was awesome! I'm eager to see where Matthews takes it in the next book.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for an amazing start to a new series focusing on Roman politics and military.

Overall rating: 5/5 stars!

G. R. Matthews is not currently a well known author but I think he'll gain popularity with this book. I loved it. The plot drew me in from the start and I loved the forest settings and the rather unconventional heroes.

General Bordan is sixty and starting to feel his years. When his friend, the Emperor, dies whilst on campaign, Bordan must hold together the capital until the heir can be crowned. Far away to the north, Apprentice Magician Kyron and his Master are tasked with accompanying the Emperor's body as it's returned to the capital through enemy territory.

The plot seems simple at first but gains complexity and momentum as it goes. It's the first time I've read a book where the title played an active role in how I read the story. I knew to expect seven deaths, so when the plot slowed but we'd only had four, I knew that there was a lot more to look forward to. (Oddly, I'm not sure we ever did reach seven deaths but that proved unimportant by the end.)

The story is told from two different perspectives and the protagonists couldn't have been more different. Kyron is seventeen and a nervous, diminutive boy. He's well intentioned and does his best, but is slow to learn and doesn't always think for himself. He does, however, inspire friendship and loyalty in others – sometimes more than he, perhaps, deserves – and won't be pushed over or trodden on. I found him sweet (though I did want to give him a good kicking at times), and I enjoyed watching him grow and learn.

Bordan, meanwhile, is both a soldier and a politician. He'll make the hard choices when he has to, but isn't going to throw away the lives of his men for frivolous pursuits. He can lead, and does his best to guide the leadership of others, but, at the end of the day, he will do what his monarch demands of him, no matter the cost. He was far more patient and understanding with Prince Alhard and Princess Aelia than I would ever have been, and far more friendly and trusting of Godewyn and Vedrix than I would have expected. Both warmed him to me and increased my admiration of him tenfold.

Emlyn, the tribal guide, I knew I'd like from the start, if only because my brother is called Emlyn and I've never seen the name in a book before. I found her surprisingly diligent in her work and knew there had to be more to her story than first appeared. Padarn, Kyron's Master, I loved. He was wise and sweet and an inspiration to teachers everywhere.

The story itself was inspired by Roman history has an interesting underlying commentary on the value and consequences of imperialism. It's set in a secondary world which reminded me somewhat of Britain, perhaps because of the dimensions of the continent or perhaps because of the forest setting, its tribal residents, and the magic system based upon motes and nets and the power of life itself. I hope we get to see more of this in the next book.

There's no doubt at all that I will be reading the next book. The ending took a far darker turn that I was expecting, especially given how moderate the rest of the book was, and I'm desperate to know what happens next. I'd definitely recommend this if you're looking for a well written, epic fantasy novel. As epic fantasy goes, it's an easy read but gives good bang for its buck.

“The hardest truth is the realisation that sometimes there is nothing you can do,”

Seven Deaths of an Empire is a novel anticipated by many readers and it is one of Solaris’ biggest publications this year, I mean the title is catchy, the cover is awesome and it has a cool synopsis! I think the book will be successful indeed. My problem is that I have read my fair share of adult novels and found this to be repetitive!

The writing is good, I did not feel like I was reading such a big book and I finished it quickly. The format used is smart because it is a double POV narrative, jumping between General Bordan who has given his life to the empire and is loyal to the throne as someone can be. On the other side we have the magician apprentice Kyron who is returning the late Emperor’s body to the capital. In addition to that, every chapter starts by a small flashback from 10 years ago and with each chapter it advances till we reach the current time. There are good quotes here and there so the writing overall was good.

The main characters themselves are well balanced between the two narratives, I think I cared about them and that they were fleshed out equally good. I did find out the connection between them before it was revealed but I think it took me more than it should have because it was well foreshadowed! The rest of the characters are good but I don’t think they are very memorable to me. The Emperor line was a bit lunatic and his son is kind of similar to Joffrey from GoT and we all know how lovable he was! Also there is death all over the place which is not strange given the title!

“It isn’t where someone comes from, lad. It is what they do that judges their worth.”

The world-building is average, I mean we get to know the world and some of the history but I wanted more from the magic and something different and more exciting which I felt was lacking here.

I found myself invested mainly in the first part of the book and the last one, in the middle things got a little stagnant and I was starting to feel bored when things got interesting again and I was reading fast once more. The chapters are kind of short to medium, like 10 pages in average so it kind of keeps things going which I enjoyed. I think the problem is that I saw where things where going from early on, there is a mystery part to the story that is a huge part of the narrative and plot but for me and from my experience reading this kind of books, it was obvious because it is always “that person” and that kind of affected my experience because I hoped for more. Toward the end there was a plot twist that I didn’t see but it was not really a plot twist because it only lead to something I expected!

I also did not know if this was supposed to be a standalone or a series but a good friend from GR provided us with the author’s answer is that it is a complete story but there will be a sequel (probably two) depending on how much success this one has. And that brings me to the last point which was that if it is a complete story then I am not a huge fan of the ending although it does make sense one way or another!

“The moment we no longer seek new knowledge, we stop living and contributing to our communities,”

Summary: I think I am a bit harsh with this one just because I had high expectations that were never met. The writing and characters are good but my main problem was with the plot which I found predictable and similar to many books of the genre that I read before. I know this will be successful though and I hope it sells enough copies to get a sequel!

The Emperor is dead, and his body must be returned to the capital for the succession ceremony to be completed. The book has two points of view – the young mage accompanying the body of the late Emperor, and the general of the Empire’s army, back in the capital with the Imperial family.

With political intrigue on one side, and a journey through hostile lands on the other, there’s plenty to get your teeth into. Rather than a delicious feast however, it was more like a standard run of the mill dish.

Plot

The plot here is relatively straightforward – the Emperor is killed while on a military campaign, attempting to conquer the tribesmen of the northern forests. An honour guard is tasked with escorting his body back to the capital, in the presence of a mage and his apprentice, who will use their powers to preserve the body for the duration of the journey.

Although they are travelling through lands that have, ostensibly, been conquered, that does not mean they are friendly. And it’s not only the enemy that the honour guard have to watch out for…

Back in the capital, the general receives news of the Emperor’s death and must inform the Imperial family. From there, he finds himself preparing the heir for the succession ceremony – a prince who the general knows full well is not yet ready to rule.

Meanwhile, suspicions are raised that there’s a plot to intercept the Emperor’s body and claim power, so the general must hunt for traitors within the ruling council of the Empire.

The MacGuffin of the story is an amulet worn by the Emperor, which forms part of the succession ceremony. When being crowned, the new Emperor is presented with the amulet and from wearing it, gains access to the memories (and wisdom) of the previous Emperors.

By intercepting the Emperor’s body before it gets to the capital, rebel agents hope to use the amulet to crown themselves Emperor instead of the legitimate heir.

Characters

The two main characters share the book’s chapters almost evenly – each chapter title alternates between “The General” and “The Magician”, and starting out with a flashback from one of the characters (the same character throughout).

These flashbacks are not related to the chapter they precede, so almost seem a bit out of place – especially once you realise which character they relate to, and that the character may not even appear in the following chapter.

The General is Bordan, an aging soldier close to (but not ready for) retirement. His men adore him, and would follow him anywhere, and in any course of action.

It’s not clear why Bordan remains in the capital rather than going to war with his Emperor and the army Bordan himself commands. This does of course, give us the second point of view, and the storyline of political intrigue.

The character itself is nothing new, but Bordan is well enough written that his chapters are easy to get into and to become invested in his character.

At the edges of the Empire, the chapters titled “The Magician” give us Kyron, apprentice to the master magician Padarn. Kyron is a young mage still learning his craft, and while he’s with the army he continues with his training.

These chapters largely deal with Kyron trying to come to term with his slow progress, and give us a good insight into the magic system on display. They also show us a bit more of the world, its history and its people.

There are instances where Kyron’s character is a bit too annoying to my tastes, and on occasion he jumps inexplicably through barriers that previously held him back in his magic, just in the nick of time.

Worldbuilding

One issue I found with the book was the worldbuilding. While mostly standard fare, there was just too much for me that had been taken from our own world history. The Empire is clearly a take on our own Roman Empire, with weapons, armour, naming conventions and more being familiar to any with a decent enough grasp of our history.

The world itself contains a river called the Rubicon, close to the city of Cesena – and there’s a scene where it appears the crossing of this river is akin to the point of no return with Julius Caesar, which gave rise to the phrase “crossing the Rubicon”.

The magic on the other hand, was well presented. Kyron’s learning gives us plenty of opportunity to explore the capabilities and restrictions of the magic system. In battle for instance, we get to see the workings of “motes” of magic, and nets being cast to hunt out magic users in the enemy lines.

At one point, Kyron feels useless, not knowing the same spells as his master and feeling therefore that he is a liability. He experiments with spells he does know, and tries to extrapolate from there something that would be of use – he can create flame, so can he set an enemy combatant on fire? Can he use fire to create a barrier? Can he create a flaming sword? This section, for me, gives the best insight into the character, despite it only being a brief moment easily overlooked.

Overall

Overall, I felt this was a good book, but was lacking a bit too much to be a great one. The pacing was a little slow, especially to start off with, and sometimes I felt there wasn’t enough happening in one chapter to warrant its inclusion in the middle of action in the alternating storyline.

The characters were likeable without being outstanding, and the plot similarly so. The worldbuilding just didn’t work for me, with too many elements lifted from our world and not enough moulding done to fit them naturally into this fantasy world.

Fans of historical fantasy will probably be right at home with this world, and likely enjoy the book much more than I did. As it is though, for me there were just too many negatives for the positives to outweigh.