Book Review: The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

The Malevolent Seven by Sebastien de Castell

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Fantasy

Series: Stand Alone/Book 1

Publisher: Mobius Books (May 16, 2023)

Length: 384 pages

Author Information: Website | Twitter

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.