Of Song and Shadow
In a world of secrets, power comes at a price, and survival demands more than courage
by G R Matthews
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Pub Date 28 May 2026 | Archive Date 7 May 2026
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Description
In a world of secrets, power comes at a price, and survival demands more than courage.
Kenric stumbles out of the forest broken, alone, and bleeding. Saved by the village herbalist, he must rebuild his life from nothing. Haunted by loss and forced to prove his worth in a place that does not trust him.
In the nearby town of Two Rivers, Gwene, a gifted bard with a dangerous past, arrives under orders from the King to uncover the truth behind the rising power of the Thieves’ Guild. But as her music reveals more than sound, and powerful enemies close in, she finds herself caught in a web of corruption that reaches far beyond the streets.
Meanwhile, Judd, a ruthless outlaw leader, is given a simple command by the head of the Thieves’ Guild: burn a village to the ground. Gathering a crew together, he seeks to fulfil his orders and, perhaps, find a way to climb higher in the hierarchy of power.
What follows is a chain of violence that will drag them all together through bloodshed, betrayal, and a battle that will decide the fate of more than just one town.
As forbidden alchemy, hidden magic, and dark ambitions collide, no one will emerge unchanged.
Because in the end, survival is only the beginning.
The new book from the author of Seven Deaths of an Empire (Solaris, 2021).
Advance Praise
Praise for G R Matthews' books:
"A magnificent, thoughtful, highly readable account, full of political intrigue and dripping with potent, dark atmosphere. This is a must read for fantasy fans who enjoy political machinations." -- Bookworm Blues
"Damn good fun, intriguing as hell, different and exciting, I devoured this book." -- Dyrk Ashton, author of Paternus
"Older teens and adults will enjoy the novel’s political intrigue and struggle to survive, which are reminiscent of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones or a slightly less fantastical version of Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series." -- Library Journal
"It's exciting at every turn with a wonderfully spun plot that keeps you guessing the entire time." -- FanFi Addict
“Refreshingly original” -- SFX Magazine
“Full of tension, intrigue, and action” -- Fantasy Book Nerd
“It has all the elements you expect from fantasy: magic, battles, power-struggles and impossible odds keeping you gripped.” -- A Rambling Reviewer
“It’s been a long time since a book made me swear out loud in horror... This is a story about politics, faith, betrayal and the loss of innocence, and I for one will be eagerly looking forward to a sequel.” -- Set the Tape
“Corin Hayes' adventure in Silent City is an altogether more visceral first-person adventure set in a far future where humanity has fled beneath the waves to live in undersea cities. The story is packed with action from the first page which has our hero preparing for a beating to the last where our hero is... (spoilers, as Riversong would say).” -- Fantasy Hive
"A book which gathers speed and past the half-way mark begins to thunder towards an exciting conclusion." -- Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns
"Truly stellar world-building, which combines all the griminess of cyberpunk with the majesty and terror of the sea." -- Paper Plane Reviews
“Matthews has written an addictive page-turner full of magic and political intrigue.” -- Adrian Selby, author of Brother Red
"(A) book that isn't short on action or imagination and the setting is an interesting change of pace, so check it out!" -- Mark Lawrence, author of Prince of Thorns, Prince of Fools
"Matthews delivers on the bigger picture stakes" -- British Fantasy Society
"It had plenty of twists and turns, and I was on the edge of my submarine pilot seat once or twice. The ending left lots of room for more adventure but wrapped up this particular part of the tale. It was very well done. I like Corin’s sense of humour too, so that was a plus." -- Super Star Drifter
“Both bloody, and bloody well written.” -- Fantasy-Faction
“Corin, as a character, has been put through the wringer quite a bit and you feel for him or I certainly did. He’s awesome!” -- Rapture in Books "This is fantasy at its finest." -- Grimdark Magazine ― Grimdark Magazine
"A cracking read that will burn the candle in the night." -- Aurealis
"Entertaining and exciting: Silent City is the start of a series I'll certainly be following with interest." -- Laura M Hughes, author of Danse Macabre
“The plot’s surprising twists and turns will wow fantasy fans.” -- Publishers Weekly
"Matthews delivers visceral descriptions of battle, the cut and thrust of gladius and pila, the shouldering of shields, the smell of blood and fear – and weaving through this, the delicate nets of magical constructs that can still snap, inflame or explode." -- The Fantasy Hive
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9687633622390 |
| PRICE | £4.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 483 |