Sebastien de Castell has done it again with "The Malevolent Seven". As one of my all-time favorite authors, his writing never fails to captivate me, and this book is no exception. From the very first page, I was drawn into a world that feels entirely unique, yet instantly familiar in the way only Sebastien can achieve.

The story follows a narrator who grapples with whether he’s on the side of good or evil, as he and another war mage set out to recruit five others for a mission that could shape the fate of their world. The narrative is richly layered with angels, demons, and a variety of fascinating magical beings, all set against the backdrop of an impending final battle between celestial forces.

What I love most about this book is how it challenges you to question the worth of a world where humans often prove more malevolent than demons. Sebastien's twists and turns are unmatched, and his writing is so immersive that I found myself completely absorbed in every moment of the journey.

Thank you to Sebastien de Castell, Hachette Book Group | Arcadia, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this story and I’m sad that I didn’t. I struggled to get into this story despite the plot being so interesting. The writing is really wonderful, though!

This is a reasonably well written book. It has some fun lines, a few well conceived set pieces, and some snappy dialogue. That said, try as I might I found neither the characters, nor their situations, nor the overall narrative engaging enough to arouse or hold my curiosity and attention. As a consequence, it doesn't seem fair to write much more of a review, apart from encouraging inquisitive readers to give the book a try.

I generally Ike the author’s writing style - grimdark with humor - and I have enjoyed some of his books. I was expecting a fun, action-filled quest with magic. Unfortunately, there was little action and I found some of the book crude (for example, <spoiler> the penis-revealing ending </spoiler>). I was also put off by the child prostitution. There was endless, complicated world building. I usually abandon books pretty quickly when I am not enjoying myself. In this case I stuck with it too long based on my previous positive experiences with the author. Finally, at the 75% point I started skimming to the end just to get it over with. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

This was an interesting and fun story. Loved all the characters. I didn't know where this story was going to.go.

I loved how the narrator spoke, but was not following the story very well to understand.
I was so hype for this book. I thought it would be an automatic 5 stars, but sadly it let me down.

The writing is not bad at all just this story was not for me. I also don’t think the child sex slave thing was a good move.

Sebastien de Castell is one of my favorite authors and I discovered him here on NetGalley years ago. If you like swashbucklers then Sebastien is for you. Start with the Greatcoat series. Then try the Spellslinger books.

This book is the beginning of yet a new series and it's good, but it didn't grab me as firmly as the Greatcoat books do. It's good, though a bit long. I like Cade Ombra and most of his companions and think that this too will be a sturdy series. The writing is the high quality we expect from the author. Read the others first though.

“‘Are you both complete fools, or do you just act like it to mask your lack of any coherent plan to get us out of here alive?’ ‘A little of both,’ I mumbled.“

Thank you to Jo Fletcher Books for the advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Malevolent Seven is a march through mayhem. A unique mix of murderous mages, polymorphic angels, cunning demons, found family, and much more.

The quote above is a pretty good indicator of the type of prose and tone that you are going to get from this book. This story has its dark moments. In fact, there are some scenes that are very dark. However, by utilizing all kinds of humor and snark, witty banter, and genuine emotional moments between characters De Castell is able to strike a solid balance that manages to make the reader feel hope and even joy in the midst of bleak circumstances.

“‘Oh, look,’ he said snidely, ‘here we all are, standing on one side of a stupid line in the dirt. I feel so magnificent now. It’s like all the pain and suffering we’re sure to endure before our inevitable deaths won’t be so bad now because we’re all standing on one side of this pathetic little line that you couldn’t even draw straight.’”

Much like De Castell said in a recent interview with TrackofWords, the characters really sneak up on you. I especially enjoyed the love-hate brotherly friendship between Cade Ombra and Corrigan Blight. Cade, the main character and the one who narrates this tale, was instantly likable for me. However, it took a little while before I started to really like the rest of the band. Some only because they weren’t introduced until later in the book. However, by the end I was in love with this chaotic mess of a found family. I need them to have more adventures. This is my plea to the author to please make this into a series. These characters deserve it.

I did have one thing as I read that I did not prefer and that was the heavy exposition at times, especially concerning the magic system. However, the fact that the exposition was interesting along with the conversational style of the narration where Cade was speaking directly to the reader really helped this to not be as much of an issue. It was like having a conversation with a friend who is passionate about something that you aren’t necessarily as passionate about. You may not need to know all the details, but they’re your friend so you enjoy the conversation anyway.

“How do you explain to a demon that you’ve come to realise nothing you ever did mattered –that all your petty efforts at freedom have served only to make you a more valuable slave?“

I was engaged in the plot from beginning to end. The overall arc of the job that Cade and his group end up agreeing to has an intriguing mystery that kept me guessing. And the other little micro-plots (is that a word?) along the way were just as interesting if not more so (looking at you Cade’s back story). De Castell also does a fantastic job of writing the action sequences that always made them feel high stakes and at times, hilarious.

The Malevolent Seven is going to be one of my favorite books of the year no question. I can’t wait to see where our “heroes” go from here!

P.S. I really loved the short chapters. I don’t think there was a chapter over 10 pages. It gave momentum to the story and almost made it feel fast paced at times even when it wasn’t. It made it so easy to feel engaged throughout the entire thing.

If you’re familiar with the work of Sebastien de Castell, you’d probably know his stories can be pretty dark but also hilariously funny. For this reason, his Greatcoats series still remains one of my all-time favorites, and I was excited when I learned that his latest fantasy novel The Malevolent Seven will likewise feature comedy, grit, and anti-heroes.

As the book begins, readers are introduced to protagonist Cade Ombra who seems quite adamant that we understand he is not your average wizard. He lives in a world where magic users—called “wonderists”—draw their powers from different planes of existence, and these sources would determine what kind of wizard you are. Cade, for instance, has a special connection with the demonic realm and can summon its denizens to help fuel his magic, which understandably also makes others feel very uncomfortable around him. For his part though, Cade has never claimed to be a good person and thinks it’s probably wise not to trust him. He’s a wily rogue who runs with other cutthroat mercenaries like his friend Corrigan, a Thunder Mage whose powers enable him to manipulate lightning.

After the last gig with their employer goes south, Cade somehow finds himself roped into a dangerous mission with Corrigan to travel to the most inhospitable place on the planet to confront seven deadly mages. Sure, it’s a suicide mission, but what has he got to lose? On the other hand, there’s plenty to gain, including lots of riches and perhaps even a way to reverse his bad fortunes. As the two of them embark on their journey, they also pick up companions along the way, forming a rough group of wonderist misfits who are each on the mission to advance their own goals.

The Malevolent Seven was a lot of fun, just as I expected it would be. A classic quest narrative forms the story’s backbone, introducing challenges and trials along the way. At the center of it all is also our questing party, whose interpersonal dynamics provide the conflicts and the entertainment. Each member of the group is a distinct individual, many of them outfitted with larger-than-life personalities. Most of them are criminals, who claim allegiance to nothing but their moneypurses.

Just as amusing as it was to watch the characters’ social interactions, it was also fascinating to see how their different magical abilities played off each other. The world-building was well thought out and robust, establishing a unique magic system. Beyond the fantasy elements, however, a mystical and almost metaphysical component also comes into play later on which I felt was a little strange and unexpected. So, for those who might be turned off by the weird and the abstract, there will indeed be some mind-bending fuckery going on.

But as for what really made this book special and why I think you should read it, I have to especially highlight and praise the overall tone and style of writing. If you are a fan of Sebastien de Castell, you are probably nodding along to this because you know exactly what I’m talking about. Cade is a gem of a narrator, and as insistent as he is in trying to convince you he’s a bad, bad person (providing plenty of evidence to support this too, I might add), you simply can’t help but love and root for him. But while he may be sarcastic and double-dealing on occasion, claiming to lack any morals, there is a part of him deep down that genuinely wants to right thing (like where a certain Blood Mage is concerned), and his plain-spoken and tactless honesty that sometimes comes through is admittedly quite refreshing.

Even though Sebastien de Castell’s stories sometimes toe the grimdark line, they are often still lighthearted and humorous enough to appeal to readers who would typically avoid the hopelessly bleak genre. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading his work yet, well, you know I will never stop plugging his Greatcoats series! But if you enjoy fantasy with clever plots, witty dialogue, and characters with a keen sense of humor, you should also keep The Malevolent Seven on your radar.

4.5⭐

If you enjoyed the Greatcoats series, you'll enjoy this book just as much.

I love when Sebastien de Castell forces a group of misfits to work together. The humorous, witty banter between the characters is always my favorite part. I was intrigued the entire time and found the book to be paced out well. It was the perfect length. I typically have a hard time engaging with fight scenes but once again, de Castell found a way to make them interesting. Aside from wanting to learn more about the world, I really don't have many complaints. I'm looking forward to the sequel!

I started the book on ebook but finished it on audio and I would highly recommend the audiobook. Joe Jameson is an excellent narrator and does an amazing job with bringing these characters to live even more.

Thank you to Hachette Book Group and Jo Fletcher Books for an early review copy!

Really great book full of familiar tropes done well. It's the typical "group of heroes are assembled for a job" and then the quest itself, which was a lot of fun. It felt a bit rushed at the end but overall it was quite enjoyable with some fantastic characters.

I really enjoyed this book. From the first page, I was pulled in and I enjoyed the ride. It was fast paced with memorable characters. Even though the main character, Cade, was a mercenary willing to kill for the right price, he was likable and I really enjoyed reading it.

As usual with de Castell's work, the book was funny with plenty of witty banter and humor to keep you entertained. I was hooked on the book from the very start and for me, it was a real page turner. Highly recommended for fans of de Castell.

This review has been long overdue. I wanted to sit on this read after I completed it, and I've found that I enjoyed this book a bit more each time my thoughts linger back. De Castell has a great track record of writing witty, fun, and eccentric characters, and that is no different here.

The Malevolent Seven recycles a lot of tropes that have been prevalent in fantasy and story telling for decades, but it doesn't feel old or worn out. The rag-tag group of ill fitting heroes (even though they aren't very heroic) is never dull and always kept me intrigued with either the character dynamics or great humor.

Cade, Corrigan, and the rest of the Seven never ceased to entertain me. Each character had a well put together character arc and narrative, even for the size of the cast and it being a relatively short book. I thought at the start of the book that it would be surface level enjoyment and while it certainly provides that for the reader, it has a considerable depth to some of its characters and its themes.

If you liked the Greatcoats by Sebastien De Castell, or any other comedic fantasy romps, it's worth giving The Malevolent Seven a chance. I will definitely pick up the Spellslinger series as I anticipate a sequel to The Malevolent Seven (fingers crossed).

Cheers to Sebastien De Castell for another successful story.

And thank you to Netgalley for sending me the E-ARC for this book.

Rating: B-

Realy enjoyed this book and I think it will have a good audience at my library. Definitely will be ordering.

This was such a wild ride from beginning to end and in true Castell fashion he really knows how to add just the right amount of humor in just the right way. Castell has a wonderfully unique voice that comes through in his characters personalities and choices. It can be difficult to give the DnD group trope new life but the way he presents it here works so well! I would definitely say this is more character driven vs, plot with a touch of worldbuilding thrown in, and I don't know if this is a standalone or part of a series (I've heard nothing either way) and the ending made me feel it could go either way. Regardless I am confident this will not be my last Castell.

Good book. Reminded me of Cam Johnston's Maleficent Seven.

A bunch of morally grey mages hired for a job that was more than they expected. The majority of the book was on the getting the act together with last 25% or so being the actual job. It was a really good read.

Brilliant prose and very interesting read.

8/10

This book is an amazing start to a series I can't wait to follow.

Told from 1st person POV, Sébastien de Castell again takes us into a society that's grown dark & brutal, with a main character who is more than capable of swimming in those dangerous waters. There's a streak of honor running through him, though, enough so that his need to protect innocents or act with honor will create problems.

The voice of the narrator is cynical and humorous. The group that develops along the way are interesting and truly likable characters. De Castell does not hesitate to show us the darkness within each character, which makes them much more relatable to the reader.

The magic system is interesting, and plays a big part in the character & overall story arc.

Dialogue is crisp and humorous, and it is the main way de Castell shows us who the characters are, and what they become to each other.

As much as I loved de Castell's other series (Greatcoats and Spellslinger), I'm not surprised The Malevolent Seven hooked me already.

Ahoy there me mateys! I have read and enjoyed books by this author before and was so excited for this read. However despite starting it in early May, I had trouble finishing. I though that maybe it was just me mood that was problematic. But once I begin dreading picking books up, I know that I have to give up on books and abandon ship. Sad but true.

I loved the idea of mercenary wizards in grimdark world who have to go on a quest. The blurb had me intrigued. The world’s set-up was fine. I wasn’t as fine with children whores. I wasn’t hugely a fan of “angels” and “demons” but that is on me and not the writer because I don’t normally like books in that vein. I didn’t love the main character. However, the worst problem was that by 45%, we had only collected 3 of the 7 wizards for the quest. A big reveal happened that was rather boring. Flat female character. Too many info dumps, not enough action. Then there was the section on the brothel ship and, well, I just lost steam. Because the characters were about to go on a side quest. Apparently this is the first book of a series and not a standalone like I thought. I am not sure this author’s work is for me overall. Arrr!

The Malevolent Seven is a great twist on your classic Hero's Quest.

The story starts with Cade, a mercenary mage with a questionable moral compass. Cade and his companions go on an epic adventure, but their goal isn't to save the world - it's to do a job, cut down a rebellion, and get paid. Right or wrong, good or bad don't matter in the face of money... or do they?

Without giving away too much about the story itself, I will say that I found the book to be a surprisingly light read given the synopsis. Cade's narrative was a bit annoying at first, very "edgy teenager", but that became easy to ignore as the story picked up.

I did find myself a bit disappointed by the pacing - the story started off strong, going through a bunch of interesting adventures with the characters... but when we reached the destination of the actual quest, the conflict felt rushed and a bit flat.

All in all, it was an enjoyable story that held my attention, and I would consider it worth a reread sometime - but I won't be running out to recommend it to all my friends.

The Malevolent Seven was a fun, exciting read that is on my list to reread in the future. It was a nice change of pace from epic books I have been reading recently that still built an interesting world and covered many different sorts of magic. The characters in this were well done and the dark humor here was perfect for the story. This is definitely one I would recommend grabbing!

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review