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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I’ve been meaning to read this book for a while. I was so excited for it that I got four different copies across various formats. I just love the cover, especially for the ARC. This wasn’t quite what I had expected it to be but that’s not a negative.
This is VERY political. If you’re looking for a sweeping adventure that takes you all over the place with tons of action, I wouldn’t really recommend this. It does have regular action among the travel and in the city, but it’s not what stands out here (though it is fun and makes for good regular breaks). Where this book really shines is the political intrigue and development. It’s intricate and detailed and while that sounds like it could get boring or confusing quickly, that’s not actually how I felt about it. It always added enough interesting details to have me hanging on the edge of what’s about to happen next.
The part I did struggle with a bit were the characters. I REALLY disliked some of them and just groaned every time they came on page. At first, that included one of the narrators (I really liked the other one). Thankfully, his development did eventually make me like him. It was pretty satisfying by the end.
I have a little bit of mixed feelings about the ending but can’t actually put my finger on the reason for it because theoretically it’s the kind of ending I should really like. The action was fun and I liked the faster pace of it. I’m not sure what it is. Maybe because I had a feeling it would turn out the way it did so the plot twist wasn’t as unexpected and satisfying as I would’ve liked?
I do know though that I’ll be reading the next book as well whenever it comes out and I think I’ll reread this one eventually too. I have a feeling I’ll appreciate the political intricacy even more the second time around.
This is VERY political. If you’re looking for a sweeping adventure that takes you all over the place with tons of action, I wouldn’t really recommend this. It does have regular action among the travel and in the city, but it’s not what stands out here (though it is fun and makes for good regular breaks). Where this book really shines is the political intrigue and development. It’s intricate and detailed and while that sounds like it could get boring or confusing quickly, that’s not actually how I felt about it. It always added enough interesting details to have me hanging on the edge of what’s about to happen next.
The part I did struggle with a bit were the characters. I REALLY disliked some of them and just groaned every time they came on page. At first, that included one of the narrators (I really liked the other one). Thankfully, his development did eventually make me like him. It was pretty satisfying by the end.
I have a little bit of mixed feelings about the ending but can’t actually put my finger on the reason for it because theoretically it’s the kind of ending I should really like. The action was fun and I liked the faster pace of it. I’m not sure what it is. Maybe because I had a feeling it would turn out the way it did so the plot twist wasn’t as unexpected and satisfying as I would’ve liked?
I do know though that I’ll be reading the next book as well whenever it comes out and I think I’ll reread this one eventually too. I have a feeling I’ll appreciate the political intricacy even more the second time around.
DNF'd out of apathy, nothing about the world or characters felt deeper than a puddle. maybe it would have been more enjoyable as an audiobook?
probably also a bad call to start this immediately after Richard Swan's fantastic Empire of the Wolf trilogy.
probably also a bad call to start this immediately after Richard Swan's fantastic Empire of the Wolf trilogy.
Our buddy read group's selection for the month of September was Seven Deaths of a Kingdom by G.R. Matthews. This book and author were new to me and I hadn't heard much about either coming into this read. With that being said, I did end up enjoying this one when all was said and done.
The pacing worked fairly well for me. I opted for the audiobook version which was narrated by Wayne Forester who was also new to me. This was a reread for one member of our group and he thought Wayne did a good job and that we would probably enjoy his presentation and I personally did. As most often happens with narrators who I experience for the first time, it did take me a bit to settle into his storytelling but not as long as some other narrators in the past. Wayne did a really good job in giving different characters different voices and injecting a good amount of emotion when needed.
The story pacing itself seemed to follow what I'd consider a more traditional epic fantasy path. This means it took a bit in the first half laying the foundation of the world and characters. As the read progressed I really got into the story though and the second half really connected with me.
The world building was also nicely done as it had a good mix of aspects that I enjoy seeing in stories. These include a world rich in history, culture, view points and plenty of betrayal and intrigue. Even though this might need a category itself, I'll include it in my world building. I love a good story that catches me off guard (yet still makes sense) on it's revealing moments for characters and the reader.
I've also come to really enjoy stories that include a conflict or struggle between religion and magic and Seven Deaths of an Empire has a heaping helping of this. I'll touch on this a bit more in a moment as I dive into the character development portion of this review.
The character development was very strong in this story. One of the initial takeaways for me was how obnoxious young royalty can be in stories. I thought we were going to have a bit of a reprieve from one in this book then there is always someone else ready to fill that void for us again. Aside from that, there are some great character arcs to be found in this one. Once again I'll mention the relationship between magic users and the religious order. It makes for some very interesting struggles and plot twists. I also loved many of the character history reveals. This is the type of book I could see myself rereading and picking seeing things completely different early on knowing what to watch for the second time through.
I struggled with some of the younger characters early on as I often do but this goes back to the epic fantasy feel of Seven Deaths of an Empire. There are some good coming of age moments in this book and I'm glad I stuck with it to see what comes of these younger characters.
Our group had the luxury of having a couple of new friends join us for this one, including the author. This can often times be a blessing and a curse depending on expectations from the readers and the author. I've had some wonderful and unpleasant interactions in these scenarios. I thought this one went well in my opinion. There was a bit of dialog during the read but not much. I really appreciated the additional information and plans that were shared with us. I will simply say that I hope this book is just the beginning and we see more in this world and series in the near future!
I'll wrap this one up with a note regarding recommendation. If you like a gritty fantasy with plenty of depth to the world and characters this might be right for you. I certainly think the slower escalation that has that epic fantasy vibe works with this one. However, I know not all readers have the patience for the story to have the foundation laid like this and prefer to dive right into the action. Just keep that in mind when looking to add this one to your TBR.
I've already got my hands on some more work from G.R. Matthews and hoping to get into them over the next couple of months still. I'll be keeping my eye out to see what else he is up to.
The pacing worked fairly well for me. I opted for the audiobook version which was narrated by Wayne Forester who was also new to me. This was a reread for one member of our group and he thought Wayne did a good job and that we would probably enjoy his presentation and I personally did. As most often happens with narrators who I experience for the first time, it did take me a bit to settle into his storytelling but not as long as some other narrators in the past. Wayne did a really good job in giving different characters different voices and injecting a good amount of emotion when needed.
The story pacing itself seemed to follow what I'd consider a more traditional epic fantasy path. This means it took a bit in the first half laying the foundation of the world and characters. As the read progressed I really got into the story though and the second half really connected with me.
The world building was also nicely done as it had a good mix of aspects that I enjoy seeing in stories. These include a world rich in history, culture, view points and plenty of betrayal and intrigue. Even though this might need a category itself, I'll include it in my world building. I love a good story that catches me off guard (yet still makes sense) on it's revealing moments for characters and the reader.
I've also come to really enjoy stories that include a conflict or struggle between religion and magic and Seven Deaths of an Empire has a heaping helping of this. I'll touch on this a bit more in a moment as I dive into the character development portion of this review.
The character development was very strong in this story. One of the initial takeaways for me was how obnoxious young royalty can be in stories. I thought we were going to have a bit of a reprieve from one in this book then there is always someone else ready to fill that void for us again. Aside from that, there are some great character arcs to be found in this one. Once again I'll mention the relationship between magic users and the religious order. It makes for some very interesting struggles and plot twists. I also loved many of the character history reveals. This is the type of book I could see myself rereading and picking seeing things completely different early on knowing what to watch for the second time through.
I struggled with some of the younger characters early on as I often do but this goes back to the epic fantasy feel of Seven Deaths of an Empire. There are some good coming of age moments in this book and I'm glad I stuck with it to see what comes of these younger characters.
Our group had the luxury of having a couple of new friends join us for this one, including the author. This can often times be a blessing and a curse depending on expectations from the readers and the author. I've had some wonderful and unpleasant interactions in these scenarios. I thought this one went well in my opinion. There was a bit of dialog during the read but not much. I really appreciated the additional information and plans that were shared with us. I will simply say that I hope this book is just the beginning and we see more in this world and series in the near future!
I'll wrap this one up with a note regarding recommendation. If you like a gritty fantasy with plenty of depth to the world and characters this might be right for you. I certainly think the slower escalation that has that epic fantasy vibe works with this one. However, I know not all readers have the patience for the story to have the foundation laid like this and prefer to dive right into the action. Just keep that in mind when looking to add this one to your TBR.
I've already got my hands on some more work from G.R. Matthews and hoping to get into them over the next couple of months still. I'll be keeping my eye out to see what else he is up to.
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!
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!
Just received an ARC.
Seven Deaths of an Empire was amongst the honored few in Grimdark Magazine Best Dark SFF Books of 2021. Imagine my excitement to read this. Then imagine my disappointment when Seven Deaths of an Empire didn't live up to this hype.
The overall story was good and I really liked the magic system. The first major setback was the character building. There were 2 character categories:
The Adult
The Sniveling Brat
Also, I could feel the sense of a writing formula with each chapter. There seemed to be one point to each chapter and the rest was a bunch of words to fill in the chapter. Would have been nice to see more of a flow in the story as a whole.
G.R. Matthews does have a good story to tell. His writing style just isn't for me. I truly am bummed about that.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.
Seven Deaths of an Empire was amongst the honored few in Grimdark Magazine Best Dark SFF Books of 2021. Imagine my excitement to read this. Then imagine my disappointment when Seven Deaths of an Empire didn't live up to this hype.
The overall story was good and I really liked the magic system. The first major setback was the character building. There were 2 character categories:
The Adult
The Sniveling Brat
Also, I could feel the sense of a writing formula with each chapter. There seemed to be one point to each chapter and the rest was a bunch of words to fill in the chapter. Would have been nice to see more of a flow in the story as a whole.
G.R. Matthews does have a good story to tell. His writing style just isn't for me. I truly am bummed about that.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
9.5 / 10 ✪
“There is no right and wrong, no black and white. Life is not such a simple thing.”
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2022/03/27/seven-deaths-of-an-empire-by-g-r-matthews-review/
Think Gladiator, but with magic.
General Bordan was born into nothing, but after a life dedicated to the Empire, he has achieved what little thought possible. He governs the army, the might of the Empire. Other than the Emperor and his kin, he may well be the most powerful man in the Empire. But he is also its most loyal servant.
When the Emperor is killed fighting the tribes in the north, Bordan must do all he can to protect the heir to the throne until the Emperor’s body is returned to the city. Then, with the amulet of office in hand—and the powerful magics within under their control—the heir can ascend the throne and assume control of the Empire. But until then nothing is guaranteed. Rebellion is brewing in the countryside. Assassins lurk in every shadow. And worse, politicians surround the royal family, hiding forked-tongues behind their honeyed words and silky smiles.
Apprentice Magician Kyron and his master are assigned to the late Emperor’s honor guard, tasked with seeing the body home to the capital. Mistrusted and feared by many of their own folk, the magicians are both revered and hated in equal measure. But magic is necessary for this task, for keeping the body from decay requires it. And so their presence is tolerated, if little else. But with many leagues between them and the capital, Kyron and the guard face the greatest danger of all. For whomever controls the Emperor’s amulet controls the succession—and the Empire is not lacking in those hungry for power, be they foe, or friend.
—
“If you stopped struggling to get free, the guards would not beat you,” Astenius pointed out.
“Life is struggle,” the warrior said.
“We only stop when we are dead,” Emlyn finished and the warrior’s gaze snapped around to her.
“Who are you to know the sayings of the forest?”
“I am of the forest,” she answered.
“Yet you stand with them,” he accused.
“Not through choice.”
“Then you struggle.”
“I am not dead yet,” she answered.
…
“Why attack us?” Astenius asked once more.
“You are here to be attacked,” the man answered.
“How many of your warriors were with you?”
“Not enough,” the warrior answered.
“How many more are there?”
“More than enough.”
…
“Are you sure you wish to do this?” Astenius said to the trapped warrior.
“I struggle,” the man replied, gritting his teeth.
“I applaud your bravery,” Astenius said, sweeping his hand to point at the brazier, “but your stupidity astounds me.”
“Life is disappointment,” the man said.
—
Seriously, Seven Deaths of an Empire reminded me so much of Gladiator that I often found my self picturing events from the book overlaid with scenes from the movie. The battle against the tribes in the forest. The legion’s return to the capital. While there’s no fight in the arena, the novel does include a Colosseum, even though we never get a good look inside. Fact is, Seven Deaths of an Empire was ripe for the picturing beneath scenes of Gladiator in no small part because—as you will see once you read it—the world was inspired heavily by the Roman Empire.
Only with magic.
The magic system is quite a basic one, but as enthralled as I found myself with the story, its lack of creativity never really bothered me. This adheres to the law that the only ones who can wield magic are those born with it. This in part seems to be why magic users are hated, feared. Jealousy breeds resentment, they say. And the church and magic never really gets along—in this world or any other.
The two POVs were quite good at getting the story across, each in their own way. Kyron is a bit young, a bit whiny—but this is his coming-of-age tale, and he’ll grow on you once you get used to him. His character might even develop over the course of the story. Bordan, on the other hand, is an old hand. He’s guided the heirs to the Empire for years, as he once was like kin to their father. He is patient and humble, and though his faith is not what it once was, he has faith in the Empire above all else. This is his true strength, but also his greatest weakness. Unlike Kyron, this story does not serve as Bordan’s beginning. It is his swan song. But will he live to see the Empire crumble, or die keeping it intact?
There are a lot of questions that come up over the course of the story, as the past is hinted at and slowly revealed; as loyalties are tested and friendships forged; as the Empire is caught in the wind, and teeters on its foundations. There are many vines in this, and not all will end up bearing fruit. Still, it was quite a thing to see them all come together at the end—and, while not all is cleared up, the overwhelming majority of my questions were answered. All the big and burning ones are, at least. In writing this review a week or two later I was able to come up with a couple that weren’t returned (though I really had to think about it), but none kept me up at night after finishing the story.
TL;DR
Seven Deaths of an Empire may be 550 pages, but to me it went by in a blink. Although it did take a little while to get going. But where it took me 3-4 days to read the first hundred pages, it took me one day to read the rest. Two very strong leads (though they’re both men; it didn’t bother me, but then I typically connect better with male characters, being a guy and all) made the story no effort at all to get into. It’s so reminiscent of Gladiator that I found myself overlaying scenes from the film with the world I’d constructed in my mind. The forests of Germany. The roads of the Empire. The obelisks and Colosseum and wonders of the capital. It really is quite like the Roman Empire but with magic. A thoroughly engrossing read, almost the whole way through. I took a couple points off for the build-up, but clearly nothing that ruined the story for me. Thoroughly recommended! Just don’t expect a happy, sunny story—as this is a dark fantasy, very occasionally bordering on grim.
“There is no right and wrong, no black and white. Life is not such a simple thing.”
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2022/03/27/seven-deaths-of-an-empire-by-g-r-matthews-review/
Think Gladiator, but with magic.
General Bordan was born into nothing, but after a life dedicated to the Empire, he has achieved what little thought possible. He governs the army, the might of the Empire. Other than the Emperor and his kin, he may well be the most powerful man in the Empire. But he is also its most loyal servant.
When the Emperor is killed fighting the tribes in the north, Bordan must do all he can to protect the heir to the throne until the Emperor’s body is returned to the city. Then, with the amulet of office in hand—and the powerful magics within under their control—the heir can ascend the throne and assume control of the Empire. But until then nothing is guaranteed. Rebellion is brewing in the countryside. Assassins lurk in every shadow. And worse, politicians surround the royal family, hiding forked-tongues behind their honeyed words and silky smiles.
Apprentice Magician Kyron and his master are assigned to the late Emperor’s honor guard, tasked with seeing the body home to the capital. Mistrusted and feared by many of their own folk, the magicians are both revered and hated in equal measure. But magic is necessary for this task, for keeping the body from decay requires it. And so their presence is tolerated, if little else. But with many leagues between them and the capital, Kyron and the guard face the greatest danger of all. For whomever controls the Emperor’s amulet controls the succession—and the Empire is not lacking in those hungry for power, be they foe, or friend.
—
“If you stopped struggling to get free, the guards would not beat you,” Astenius pointed out.
“Life is struggle,” the warrior said.
“We only stop when we are dead,” Emlyn finished and the warrior’s gaze snapped around to her.
“Who are you to know the sayings of the forest?”
“I am of the forest,” she answered.
“Yet you stand with them,” he accused.
“Not through choice.”
“Then you struggle.”
“I am not dead yet,” she answered.
…
“Why attack us?” Astenius asked once more.
“You are here to be attacked,” the man answered.
“How many of your warriors were with you?”
“Not enough,” the warrior answered.
“How many more are there?”
“More than enough.”
…
“Are you sure you wish to do this?” Astenius said to the trapped warrior.
“I struggle,” the man replied, gritting his teeth.
“I applaud your bravery,” Astenius said, sweeping his hand to point at the brazier, “but your stupidity astounds me.”
“Life is disappointment,” the man said.
—
Seriously, Seven Deaths of an Empire reminded me so much of Gladiator that I often found my self picturing events from the book overlaid with scenes from the movie. The battle against the tribes in the forest. The legion’s return to the capital. While there’s no fight in the arena, the novel does include a Colosseum, even though we never get a good look inside. Fact is, Seven Deaths of an Empire was ripe for the picturing beneath scenes of Gladiator in no small part because—as you will see once you read it—the world was inspired heavily by the Roman Empire.
Only with magic.
The magic system is quite a basic one, but as enthralled as I found myself with the story, its lack of creativity never really bothered me. This adheres to the law that the only ones who can wield magic are those born with it. This in part seems to be why magic users are hated, feared. Jealousy breeds resentment, they say. And the church and magic never really gets along—in this world or any other.
The two POVs were quite good at getting the story across, each in their own way. Kyron is a bit young, a bit whiny—but this is his coming-of-age tale, and he’ll grow on you once you get used to him. His character might even develop over the course of the story. Bordan, on the other hand, is an old hand. He’s guided the heirs to the Empire for years, as he once was like kin to their father. He is patient and humble, and though his faith is not what it once was, he has faith in the Empire above all else. This is his true strength, but also his greatest weakness. Unlike Kyron, this story does not serve as Bordan’s beginning. It is his swan song. But will he live to see the Empire crumble, or die keeping it intact?
There are a lot of questions that come up over the course of the story, as the past is hinted at and slowly revealed; as loyalties are tested and friendships forged; as the Empire is caught in the wind, and teeters on its foundations. There are many vines in this, and not all will end up bearing fruit. Still, it was quite a thing to see them all come together at the end—and, while not all is cleared up, the overwhelming majority of my questions were answered. All the big and burning ones are, at least. In writing this review a week or two later I was able to come up with a couple that weren’t returned (though I really had to think about it), but none kept me up at night after finishing the story.
TL;DR
Seven Deaths of an Empire may be 550 pages, but to me it went by in a blink. Although it did take a little while to get going. But where it took me 3-4 days to read the first hundred pages, it took me one day to read the rest. Two very strong leads (though they’re both men; it didn’t bother me, but then I typically connect better with male characters, being a guy and all) made the story no effort at all to get into. It’s so reminiscent of Gladiator that I found myself overlaying scenes from the film with the world I’d constructed in my mind. The forests of Germany. The roads of the Empire. The obelisks and Colosseum and wonders of the capital. It really is quite like the Roman Empire but with magic. A thoroughly engrossing read, almost the whole way through. I took a couple points off for the build-up, but clearly nothing that ruined the story for me. Thoroughly recommended! Just don’t expect a happy, sunny story—as this is a dark fantasy, very occasionally bordering on grim.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really wanted to love this book but it fell a little short for me. I gave it three stars because I still enjoyed the overall plot, however, I didn’t grow that strong of a connection to any of the characters.
I felt that Kyron’s growth felt a little unrealistic. He struggled so much to do an ounce of magic and then suddenly becomes able to do so much.
Many of the characters were insufferable and were only used for a short amount of time before quickly being killed off.
Three stars because I like the overall plotline and how it came together as a standalone.
I felt that Kyron’s growth felt a little unrealistic. He struggled so much to do an ounce of magic and then suddenly becomes able to do so much.
Many of the characters were insufferable and were only used for a short amount of time before quickly being killed off.
Three stars because I like the overall plotline and how it came together as a standalone.
adventurous
reflective
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars
"“Live,” Emlyn answered, stuffing a warm cloak into a backpack. “Do that and you make all the choices, mistakes and successes you want. Stand there, do nothing, die, and all those choices are gone forever.”
Two things in this book stand out to me. One being the characters, the second being the magic system.
Throughout the book you follow two POVs -
Kyron, a Magician apprentice, code name Edgelord of confusion, and Bordan; General in the Emperors army, otherwise known as a cinnamon roll with a sword. Honourable mentions - Emlyn for being the real MVP and keeping everyones shit together.
I am a sucker for a good murder mystery so when you sprinkle in political intrigue, magic and a march through an amazing forest I am very very happy
Its definitely a character driven book, and I did struggle at the beginning of the book to relate to the world. TBH I still can't really picture it much, but I have SUCH a strong impression of all the characters which is what really kept my interest and made the pages fly by after the first 25-30%
There were parts where I found some of the prose, though beautiful, was excessively long, like I had to take a minute to figure out what the hell a sentence meant. There was also a sense of just being told the worldbuidling, rather than shown. After the halfway mark the characters came through for me and I didn't notice things like the excessive sentences or the infodump of worldbuilding.
Overall an enjoyable read, the ending had me at the edge of my seat !
Sidenote: I am slightly disappointed to find out this is a complete story - and I have SO many questions that need to be answered that I thought would be in the sequel. Who killed the Emperor ? Where did Kyron go in the glade?? (IYKYK)
(Massive Thanks to Rebellion Publishing and GR Matthews for the opportunity to read and review this book )
"“Live,” Emlyn answered, stuffing a warm cloak into a backpack. “Do that and you make all the choices, mistakes and successes you want. Stand there, do nothing, die, and all those choices are gone forever.”
Two things in this book stand out to me. One being the characters, the second being the magic system.
Throughout the book you follow two POVs -
Kyron, a Magician apprentice, code name Edgelord of confusion, and Bordan; General in the Emperors army, otherwise known as a cinnamon roll with a sword. Honourable mentions - Emlyn for being the real MVP and keeping everyones shit together.
I am a sucker for a good murder mystery so when you sprinkle in political intrigue, magic and a march through an amazing forest I am very very happy
Its definitely a character driven book, and I did struggle at the beginning of the book to relate to the world. TBH I still can't really picture it much, but I have SUCH a strong impression of all the characters which is what really kept my interest and made the pages fly by after the first 25-30%
There were parts where I found some of the prose, though beautiful, was excessively long, like I had to take a minute to figure out what the hell a sentence meant. There was also a sense of just being told the worldbuidling, rather than shown. After the halfway mark the characters came through for me and I didn't notice things like the excessive sentences or the infodump of worldbuilding.
Overall an enjoyable read, the ending had me at the edge of my seat !
Sidenote: I am slightly disappointed to find out this is a complete story - and I have SO many questions that need to be answered that I thought would be in the sequel. Who killed the Emperor ? Where did Kyron go in the glade?? (IYKYK)
(Massive Thanks to Rebellion Publishing and GR Matthews for the opportunity to read and review this book )