The Malevolent Seven

, #1

Paperback, 384 pages

English language

Published 2024 by Jo Fletcher Books.

ISBN:
978-1-5294-2279-5
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(2 reviews)

Think you know wizards? Think again.

Picture a wizard. Go ahead, close your eyes. There he is, see? Old, skinny guy with a long, straggly beard. No doubt he's wearing iridescent silk robes that couldn't protect his frail body from a light breeze. The hat's a must too, right? Big, floppy thing, covered in esoteric symbols that would instantly show every other mage where this one gets his magic?

Now, open your eyes and let me show you what a real war mage looks like . . . but be warned: you're probably not going to like it. We're violent, angry, dangerously broken people who sell our skills to the highest bidder, moral or ethical considerations be damned.

At least, until such irritating concepts as 'friendship' and 'the end of the world' get in the way.

My name is Cade Ombra, and I currently make my living as a mercenary …

3 editions

reviewed The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell (Malevolent, #1)

A fun, dark fantasy story

Picked this book up after randomly seeing it on Bookwyrm, and decided to give it a go.

It's a fun high fantasy story with plenty of sarcastic wit and humour from our narrator, and has plenty of world building and lore to explain the fantasy world and all of its constituents. The plot was interesting, if a little vague at times, and the band of characters ("The Malevolent Seven") are varied and funny in their own way.

My only real issue was the second half of the story felt a little rushed, but not really enough to dock off any points.

Absolutely stoked to read the sequel when it comes out in paperback.