My Thoughts on the novel, The Malevolent Seven…

I had fun reading this book. From world-building to snarky jokes, from character arcs to anticipatory chapters, from plot twists to moral quandaries. I had a blast.

The Malevolent Seven centers on Cade Ombra, a mage who is a self-proclaimed villain. Who hangs out with other villains. And do villainous things. He narrates the story, delighting in his wickedness, yet still making morally right decisions.

You see, Cade wasn’t always a bad guy.

The book starts with a job that results in a massacre, with Cade and his best frenemy, Corrigan Blight, escaping disaster. Cade catches wind of a job for a crew of seven that he first refuses, then continues to refuse, until he is bamboozled into it. They recruit mages on the way to the job’s venue, filling out their ranks.

Bringing seven evil, egotistical mages together is a formula for destruction. And, as handled by author Sebastian de Castell’s prose, also a formula for hilarity. Each character is laughably portrayed, with believable development and arcs of their own.

I recommend this book to lovers of high fantasy and action-packed novels.