I’m thrilled to reveal the cover for G. R. Matthews’ upcoming A Good Day to Die, releasing 27 November and already up for pre-order. This is one of my favourite authors to read and shout about, and I’m so excited to show off the next journey into the world of the Six Kingdoms.
We start in the fens, a place that kills anyone who doesn’t know exactly where to tread. From there the story widens, moving through cities and across a country sliding toward unrest as the Church reaches for more power. The atmosphere seeps in like fog, thick with blood and swamp water, and the first pages remind us how fragile life is in this world.
This is a very dark book about revenge and about making sure people get what they deserve, or what Rawlins decides they do. There is a lot of blood and murder, so be warned. Rawlins is a thief, a killer, and a man left for dead by the friends he once trusted. When we meet him, he is barely alive, drowning in the marsh. He drags himself out with only one goal in mind: to find those who betrayed him and return the favour.
“Where was the civilisation in this place? No angry words, no threats, no curses, just violence delivered as a matter of course. I didn’t miss the fens or its people, my people.”
That tone never lets up. Rawlins is a cold-blooded man who sometimes surprises himself by showing mercy. I liked how he sits somewhere between hero and villain, not asking for sympathy but still earning a strange kind of understanding.
“There were three people left standing and a quick glance around confirmed it was the right three. At least from my perspective. The Guild might view it differently.”
As he hunts, the story slowly unravels the truth behind the betrayal. We piece it together step by step until the final reveal hits with new weight. The personal quest plays out against a wider world of power struggles, drug trades, and quiet rebellion. The rich do as they please while the Church tightens its grip, and you can feel the whole country creaking under the strain.
Alongside Rawlins stands Wilone, a herbalist with her own secrets. She can sometimes feel a little too capable, appearing just in time to patch him up after each brutal fight, yet her presence adds a welcome balance. Having a strong, competent woman at the heart of such a grim story is refreshing, and she brings a touch of tough humanity that Rawlins can’t find in himself.
The pacing starts slow, and I didn’t mind. The steady build allows you to feel every shadowed alley and watch the lines of loyalty shift. By the second half the tension is sharp and unstoppable, and the mix of violence, wit, and exhaustion feels real. Matthews is great at slipping humor into the darkest corners, like when Rawlins notes that the stink of damp sheep outside the city gates is rather pleasant compared to the rotting fish and seaweed. That mix of grit and wryness gives the story its unique voice.
When violence does erupt, it’s fast and ugly, and the writing makes you feel every consequence.
“She took to it like a duck to water, a seagull to shitting, and a wolf to howling. Dragging back the head of every fallen Guild member by the hair she cut their throats. None fought her, though some whimpered just before the cut was made. After, they were silent.”
The book also ends on a clever touch. Instead of a glossary, Matthews includes some in-world nonfiction pieces, Magic of the Six Kingdoms (Abridged), presented as a Church text explaining and dismissing the pagan magic of the world. It feels authentic, biased, and completely fitting, adding depth and realism without pulling you out of the story.
Even if you haven’t read Seven Deaths of an Empire, or the upcoming Silencing of the North and Book of Song and Shadow, you can dive straight in here. The Six Kingdoms is a shared world, not a series that needs order. Each story stands on its own while expanding the edges of this brutal, fascinating setting.
Matthews’ writing has grown so much sharper since Stone Road. The prose flows easily yet never feels thin, and his blend of darkness, humor, and human weakness makes this a bloody but thoughtful read.
Verdict:
A brutal, layered tale of vengeance, faith, and survival. Rawlins’ journey from merciless killer to something almost human is gripping, and the world of the Six Kingdoms feels more alive and dangerous than ever. A Good Day to Die is soaked in blood, sharpened by wit, and refuses to look away from what revenge truly costs.
About the author
After studying for a Diploma in Creative Writing, G. R. Matthews taught the subject at A Level and holds a BSc (Hons) in Geography. He currently works in education with a focus on Child Protection and Safeguarding, and writes in the evenings between convincing his children to go to bed and resisting the urge to binge Eureka. He’s trained (and been hit a lot) in Judo, Kung fu, Wing Chun and Kickboxing, claims no great skill in any (see: being hit), and is a long-time D&D enthusiast who favours the rogue. A self-taught guitarist, he sometimes even sings — and most of the audience has recovered. At night he dreams that Spielberg, Lucas, or Keanu Reeves reads his books and calls about a film deal. He lives with his long-suffering wife, two children, and two hamsters who show him the respect he deserves.
