G R MATTHEWS
The Emperor is dead. Long live the Empire.
Amid the roiling chaos of rebellion and ambition, only loyalty, sacrifice, and cunning can determine the fate of a realm. In his sweeping debut from Solaris, G. R. Matthews delivers a breathtaking saga of blood, magic, and political intrigue—a gritty, Roman-inspired fantasy that grips you from the first page to its thunderous conclusion.
General Bordan, battle-scarred and devoted, carries the mantle of duty as he struggles to maintain order in a collapsing empire. His task: safeguard the heir to the throne—and the soul of the Emperor, preserved by a sacred amulet—while enemies lurk in every shadow.
Kyron, a young apprentice magician, finds himself caught in the center of this perilous journey. Trusted by few, feared by many, he must use his fledgling powers to escort the Emperor's body home—through treacherous forests and courts teeming with assassins, thieves, and schemers. For in this brutal realm, whoever controls the Emperor’s body, controls the Empire (Rebellion Publishing, Black Gate).
With cunning power plays, visceral battle scenes, and magic that snaps and burns, Seven Deaths of an Empire is “addictive,” “page-turning,” and “full of magic and political intrigue” (Rebellion Publishing, Simon & Schuster UK). Readers are swept into a story where every death—and every betrayal—reshapes the destiny of the Empire (World of Books, Reddit).
Why readers can’t put it down:
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A ruthless battle for succession unfolds with cinematic intensity—perfect for fans of Game of Thrones, Anna Smith-Spark, or Mark Lawrence (Rebellion Publishing, Simon & Schuster UK, Black Gate).
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The writing crackles with vivid imagery—the clash of gladius and pila, the smell of fear, and magic that shimmers with lethal potential (Rebellion Publishing, Simon & Schuster UK).
It’s a true grimdark fantasy—a high-stakes journey through brutal politics, mystical peril, and unexpected twists that leave you breathless (Black Gate, Reddit).
In the shadowed towns of Esadale, betrayal cuts deeper than any blade.
Rawlins — thief, murderer, outcast— has been left to die by the friends he once trusted and he is going to make them regret it.
But revenge is never that simple. Hounded through city slums and noble halls alike, Rawlins uncovers secrets of his Fenland heritage, a rising drug trade that threatens to enslave his people, and a guild of thieves whose power rivals kings. With every step, he is drawn deeper into a grim struggle of sorcery, corruption, and bloodshed.
Aided by Wilone, a herbalist with secrets of her own, and the hidden network of his despised kin, Rawlins must decide whether vengeance alone will satisfy him—or whether he will become something far darker. As civil war brews, nobles clash with the Church, and the streets burn with rebellion, Rawlins faces the ultimate question:
Will he rise as a weapon of justice… or be consumed by the very revenge he craves?
Perfect for readers of Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, and The Witcher series, this dark fantasy revenge tale blends brutal action, and twisted magic.
