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The Maleficent Seven
When you are all out of heroes, all that’s left are the villains.
Black Herran was a dread demonologist, and the most ruthless general in all Essoran. She assembled the six most fearsome warriors to captain her a necromancer, a vampire lord, a demigod, an orcish warleader, a pirate queen, and a twisted alchemist. Together they brought the whole continent to its knees� Until the day she abandoned her army, on the eve of total victory.
40 years later, she must bring her former captains back together for one final stand, in the small town of Tarnbrooke � the last bastion against a fanatical new enemy tearing through the land, intent on finishing the job Black Herran started years before.
Seven bloodthirsty monsters. One town. Their last hope.
Black Herran was a dread demonologist, and the most ruthless general in all Essoran. She assembled the six most fearsome warriors to captain her a necromancer, a vampire lord, a demigod, an orcish warleader, a pirate queen, and a twisted alchemist. Together they brought the whole continent to its knees� Until the day she abandoned her army, on the eve of total victory.
40 years later, she must bring her former captains back together for one final stand, in the small town of Tarnbrooke � the last bastion against a fanatical new enemy tearing through the land, intent on finishing the job Black Herran started years before.
Seven bloodthirsty monsters. One town. Their last hope.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2021
311 people are currently reading
6555 people want to read
About the author
Cameron Johnston
20books578followersCameron Johnston is a Scottish writer of fantasy and lives in the city of Glasgow. He is a student of Historical European Martial Arts, loves archaeology, history, folklore and mythology, exploring ancient sites and spooky places, and camping out under the stars with a roaring fire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews
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August 17, 2021If grimdark was fun. A fabulously enjoyable romp where the Evil Monster Horde are the protagonists and we root for them even as they scheme, betray, and mass murder.
Terrific concept: we side with the monstrous horde of evil against the holy knights because religious fanatics are even worse than monsters. Nicely executed--horrendously violent but in a sufficiently cartoonish way to make it fun, just enough likeability from most of the seven to keep the reader emotionally engaged and rooting for the good (bad) guys, while never forgetting they are monsters, some excellent comeuppances, and even a redemption. Plus a couple of more normal characters to remind us what they're all fighting for, or against.
And what a relief to read a book that world-builds on page so deftly, rather than opening with a lexicon of characters to memorise, set of maps, or several pages of grammatical notes on forms of address. There is a point when starting a fantasy novel makes you feel like you're about to sit a Geography GCSE and I lack the patience.
Immense gory shameless fun.
Terrific concept: we side with the monstrous horde of evil against the holy knights because religious fanatics are even worse than monsters. Nicely executed--horrendously violent but in a sufficiently cartoonish way to make it fun, just enough likeability from most of the seven to keep the reader emotionally engaged and rooting for the good (bad) guys, while never forgetting they are monsters, some excellent comeuppances, and even a redemption. Plus a couple of more normal characters to remind us what they're all fighting for, or against.
And what a relief to read a book that world-builds on page so deftly, rather than opening with a lexicon of characters to memorise, set of maps, or several pages of grammatical notes on forms of address. There is a point when starting a fantasy novel makes you feel like you're about to sit a Geography GCSE and I lack the patience.
Immense gory shameless fun.
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February 9, 2021Not really sure if I'm allowed to rate or properly review yet...
The Maleficent Seven is like Kings of the Wyld smooshed together with Suicide Squad into a glorious, gory, sweary melee.
The Maleficent Seven is like Kings of the Wyld smooshed together with Suicide Squad into a glorious, gory, sweary melee.
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May 24, 2022A fun read that does not take itself too seriously, but also does have some serious themes that adds depth to our powerful characters who Cameron Johnston does a great job crafting through using and subverting fantasy tropes.
It has that traditional fantasy idea of gradually forming a group who will face the 'big bad', but Cameron Johnston makes this different through having long-lasting enmities between this group, alongside morally grey and most definitely flawed characters. You do not know who is actually on the right side, but I really enjoyed following these characters and learning more about them.
A really enjoyable read that acts as a great palette-cleanser, as it is a fast paced standalone that delivers a satisfying experience whilst exploring traditional and grim dark fantasy themes.
Full Review to Come
It has that traditional fantasy idea of gradually forming a group who will face the 'big bad', but Cameron Johnston makes this different through having long-lasting enmities between this group, alongside morally grey and most definitely flawed characters. You do not know who is actually on the right side, but I really enjoyed following these characters and learning more about them.
A really enjoyable read that acts as a great palette-cleanser, as it is a fast paced standalone that delivers a satisfying experience whilst exploring traditional and grim dark fantasy themes.
Full Review to Come
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November 24, 2024DNF 50%
La lettura de "I malefici sette" era partita col botto. Premessa interessante, contesto suggestivo, personaggi potenzialmente incredibili. Cosa non ha funzionato? Perché il mio entusiasmo è calato pagina dopo pagina? Le prime 200 pagine sono una ripetizione continua della stessa quest (trova il supercattivo da convincere e arruolare) che di volta in volta si fa più difficoltosa e impegnativa. Questo elemento, in stile RPG, è caratterizzato da una ripetitività di situazioni e dinamiche narrative. Il tutto è molto statico e meccanico, non c'è un vero e proprio approfondimento di lore e protagonisti. Questi si detestano a vicenda e, nonostante le ritrosie iniziali, finiscono comunque ad allearsi insieme per varie ragioni personali. Le successive 100 pagine, lette prima di interrompermi definitivamente, non mi hanno spinto a proseguire. I personaggi si relazionano tra loro in modo "artificioso" (quasi in stile videogioco) e senza alcun tipo di tridimensionalità, come se seguissero una strada predefinita. Tutto ciò è condito da tanta azione, vari combattimenti, forti dosi di violenza e umore nero (il tutto molto gratuito). Non credo sia un brutto libro, penso che possa piacere a diverse persone. È un degno romanzo di puro intrattenimento e adrenalina, molto scorrevole. Io avevo altre aspettative e quello che ho trovato non è bastato a farmelo apprezzare. Ciò non toglie alcun merito al lavoro e alla cura editoriale di Letterelettriche, sempre di livello.
La lettura de "I malefici sette" era partita col botto. Premessa interessante, contesto suggestivo, personaggi potenzialmente incredibili. Cosa non ha funzionato? Perché il mio entusiasmo è calato pagina dopo pagina? Le prime 200 pagine sono una ripetizione continua della stessa quest (trova il supercattivo da convincere e arruolare) che di volta in volta si fa più difficoltosa e impegnativa. Questo elemento, in stile RPG, è caratterizzato da una ripetitività di situazioni e dinamiche narrative. Il tutto è molto statico e meccanico, non c'è un vero e proprio approfondimento di lore e protagonisti. Questi si detestano a vicenda e, nonostante le ritrosie iniziali, finiscono comunque ad allearsi insieme per varie ragioni personali. Le successive 100 pagine, lette prima di interrompermi definitivamente, non mi hanno spinto a proseguire. I personaggi si relazionano tra loro in modo "artificioso" (quasi in stile videogioco) e senza alcun tipo di tridimensionalità, come se seguissero una strada predefinita. Tutto ciò è condito da tanta azione, vari combattimenti, forti dosi di violenza e umore nero (il tutto molto gratuito). Non credo sia un brutto libro, penso che possa piacere a diverse persone. È un degno romanzo di puro intrattenimento e adrenalina, molto scorrevole. Io avevo altre aspettative e quello che ho trovato non è bastato a farmelo apprezzare. Ciò non toglie alcun merito al lavoro e alla cura editoriale di Letterelettriche, sempre di livello.
April 21, 2024
💀 DNF at 39%.
It's been nearly a week since I
The characters could have been amazing but I just couldn't bring myself to give a single fish about any of them. (And no, it has nothing to do with the fact they are slightly um, mature villains. I have a weakness for deliciously evil, ancient MCs as a matter of fact—when they are well-written obviously—and have quite a few of them locked up in my High Security Harem, just so you know.)
Another issue with the book is that is packed with completely gratuitous and repetitive as shrimp brutality and bloodshed and gore (oh my!). I really don’t mind when things get gruesome and do love a good dismemberment session or two (bonus points for severed heads and spilled intestines) but a never-ending succession of pointless, violent scenes does not a plot make. Violence for the sake of violence adds absolutely nothing to a book and gets old pretty fast. (Even more so when the plot is as basic as it is here 💤💤💤.)
The more I think about it the more
Well it looks like I finally figured out why I DNFed this one, ergo I shall rest
[Pre-review nonsense]
When a book isn't that bad but you DNF it anyway because...
� Review to come and stuff.
August 23, 2021
One of the best things I've ever read. Just what I needed. Sheer, unbridled fun. I'd happily read a standalone book on each of the seven main characters. Would love to read more from this world.
October 2, 2021
An interesting, clever and very dark fantasy, possibly in the running for the most Grimdark I’ve read. Surprisingly enjoyable and entertaining.
The title and book summary suggest it borrows its plot from the Magnificent Seven, the 1960’s film with seven gunfighters brought together to defend a farming village from bandits (itself based on the better B&W Japanese film, The Seven Samurai). And we do find seven of the most sinister, toughest, demonic characters this world has to offer brought together for a vaguely similar task, comprising a demonologist, a necromancer, a vampire, an ageing war god, an Orc chieftain, etc., etc.
Their opponents? Humans, such as Holy Knights, servants of the Bright One, a powerful Goddess, and their leader, the magically powerful Falcon Prince. Goodies? Nope! Their fanaticism to overcome the forces of darkness leads them and their sinister Inquisitors to execute all but a few of any peoples they conquer.
Plenty of magic of the most horrifying kind is thrown around, and ordinary humans are often little more than cannon fodder for the magical leaders they follow. But the author does strike a decent balance on this such that some human characters are able to play an influential role in the story.
This book must be in the running for the most Grimdark that I’ve read, truly deserving that genre label, with evil fighting evil! It’s attraction as a story for me is that the characterisations are far better than one usually finds for villains. Everyone of the seven ‘Malificents� has a good motivation for their involvement, and their back stories are mostly given too. I’ve often felt that many epic fantasies with forces of evil would have been even better if the motivations for these dark characters had been outlined; for example, why are Sauron and his generals, and his Orc forces, in Lord of the Rings just so motivated to exterminate the rest of the world? Have they any family or friends?!!
Well, here you get that. And it might just be my dark side but I even felt a little sympathy for at least 2-3 of the Malificents! Just a dash of dark humour in places. Quite a good ending too, especially the two epilogue chapters following on from the main confrontational events.
I certainly plan to look at more of this author’s works, as he’s new to me. Recommended for the Grimdark fantasy reader, or even for anyone who wants to check out the genre and isn’t too squeamish�
The title and book summary suggest it borrows its plot from the Magnificent Seven, the 1960’s film with seven gunfighters brought together to defend a farming village from bandits (itself based on the better B&W Japanese film, The Seven Samurai). And we do find seven of the most sinister, toughest, demonic characters this world has to offer brought together for a vaguely similar task, comprising a demonologist, a necromancer, a vampire, an ageing war god, an Orc chieftain, etc., etc.
Their opponents? Humans, such as Holy Knights, servants of the Bright One, a powerful Goddess, and their leader, the magically powerful Falcon Prince. Goodies? Nope! Their fanaticism to overcome the forces of darkness leads them and their sinister Inquisitors to execute all but a few of any peoples they conquer.
Plenty of magic of the most horrifying kind is thrown around, and ordinary humans are often little more than cannon fodder for the magical leaders they follow. But the author does strike a decent balance on this such that some human characters are able to play an influential role in the story.
This book must be in the running for the most Grimdark that I’ve read, truly deserving that genre label, with evil fighting evil! It’s attraction as a story for me is that the characterisations are far better than one usually finds for villains. Everyone of the seven ‘Malificents� has a good motivation for their involvement, and their back stories are mostly given too. I’ve often felt that many epic fantasies with forces of evil would have been even better if the motivations for these dark characters had been outlined; for example, why are Sauron and his generals, and his Orc forces, in Lord of the Rings just so motivated to exterminate the rest of the world? Have they any family or friends?!!
Well, here you get that. And it might just be my dark side but I even felt a little sympathy for at least 2-3 of the Malificents! Just a dash of dark humour in places. Quite a good ending too, especially the two epilogue chapters following on from the main confrontational events.
I certainly plan to look at more of this author’s works, as he’s new to me. Recommended for the Grimdark fantasy reader, or even for anyone who wants to check out the genre and isn’t too squeamish�
July 29, 2021
The author's own review for this book cited it as "like Kings of the Wyld smooshed together with Suicide Squad into a glorious, gory, sweary melee", and he was not wrong!
I so enjoyed this story, which managed to be as fun and witty as it was gruesome and bloody. The initial portion of the book set up the discontent against the Lucent Empire and the formation of a group of mismatched rebels hopeful to remove them from power.
There were so many different creatures and races included in this. I thought it might become messy to read of so many inclusions, inside the kingdom of Essoran, but it really worked for me and made it a fun and diverse read where I never knew what would next appear. Vampires, necromancers, and orcs were just some of the characters that appeared, and they journeyed into underground ant nests, across the high-seas, and in disreputable taverns in search of their next ally or enemy.
Every character was a flawed one. They had more unlikable personality traits than likable ones and yet somehow all managed to quickly gain their place in my heart, as soon as they were introduced. Most had few morals and so bloodshed and death often followed in their wake. This became a very dark read and I was eager to journey with these characters and to see how depraved the author would have their actions become. He did not disappoint.
I have a soft spot for the underdog, those who have been defeated and rise again from the ashes, and ragtag, mismatched crews. All three featured here and bonded me with their side of the war as immediately as it did with their individual characters. Everything about this - from the humour, to the continual new settings explored, to the war looming ever closer, and the individuals who littered the pages - appealed to me and I have not one negative to say about this book. I can't wait to read from this author again!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Cameron Johnston, and the publisher, Angry Robot, for this opportunity.
I so enjoyed this story, which managed to be as fun and witty as it was gruesome and bloody. The initial portion of the book set up the discontent against the Lucent Empire and the formation of a group of mismatched rebels hopeful to remove them from power.
There were so many different creatures and races included in this. I thought it might become messy to read of so many inclusions, inside the kingdom of Essoran, but it really worked for me and made it a fun and diverse read where I never knew what would next appear. Vampires, necromancers, and orcs were just some of the characters that appeared, and they journeyed into underground ant nests, across the high-seas, and in disreputable taverns in search of their next ally or enemy.
Every character was a flawed one. They had more unlikable personality traits than likable ones and yet somehow all managed to quickly gain their place in my heart, as soon as they were introduced. Most had few morals and so bloodshed and death often followed in their wake. This became a very dark read and I was eager to journey with these characters and to see how depraved the author would have their actions become. He did not disappoint.
I have a soft spot for the underdog, those who have been defeated and rise again from the ashes, and ragtag, mismatched crews. All three featured here and bonded me with their side of the war as immediately as it did with their individual characters. Everything about this - from the humour, to the continual new settings explored, to the war looming ever closer, and the individuals who littered the pages - appealed to me and I have not one negative to say about this book. I can't wait to read from this author again!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Cameron Johnston, and the publisher, Angry Robot, for this opportunity.
June 26, 2021
The Maleficent Seven promises madness, and that’s what it delivers. Lots of it. If you like watching bad guys doing bad things in the service of good, here’s your next fix.
Black Herran, a powerful demonologist and fearsome general, sold her soul for power. Instead of sealing the deal, she abandoned her armies at the cusp of victory and disappeared. Forty years later, she needs to reassemble her generals to stop a new threat, the Lucent Empire and its holy knights, from invading her hometown.
The problem? Her old comrades hate each other and Black Herran most of all. The first part of the book follows the reassembly of the team and is wildly entertaining. The team includes Maeven (a devious necromancer), Lorrimer Felle (a well-mannered vampire with a penchant for mayhem and violence), Tiarnach (god of war turned drunkard), the pirate Queen Verena Awildan, Amogg (unstoppable orc), and Jerak Hyden (mad alchemist who terrifies everyone). They agree to join forces against a common foe, but it’s clear they’ll play their own games, too.
The second part of the book gets even more over-the-top, as the team assembles in Tarnbrook and deals with armies of the Lucent Empire. There're no heroes in The Maleficent Seven; only monsters doing monstrous things to stop other monsters. If you don’t like inappropriate humour mixed with gore, you probably won’t appreciate the story. If, however, madness appeals to you, Johnston will entertain you in a loud and violent way.
The story develops at a breakneck pace and rarely pauses. Cameron Johnston excels at two things; characters and action scenes. While I wouldn’t call any of the characters real (they’re too over-the-top in every way), I found them memorable and distinct. The action scenes provide everything action-hungry readers can imagine (magic, demons, sword and ax fights, explosions, mayhem) and more! Because the story is told from an omniscient point of view, we learn a bit about everyone but without getting to know anyone intimately. A brave choice but it (mostly) works.
Readers tired of slow-moving, over-written, exposition-fraught epics will find lots to enjoy here. It’s not life-changing, but it’s wildly entertaining and addictive to read.
Black Herran, a powerful demonologist and fearsome general, sold her soul for power. Instead of sealing the deal, she abandoned her armies at the cusp of victory and disappeared. Forty years later, she needs to reassemble her generals to stop a new threat, the Lucent Empire and its holy knights, from invading her hometown.
The problem? Her old comrades hate each other and Black Herran most of all. The first part of the book follows the reassembly of the team and is wildly entertaining. The team includes Maeven (a devious necromancer), Lorrimer Felle (a well-mannered vampire with a penchant for mayhem and violence), Tiarnach (god of war turned drunkard), the pirate Queen Verena Awildan, Amogg (unstoppable orc), and Jerak Hyden (mad alchemist who terrifies everyone). They agree to join forces against a common foe, but it’s clear they’ll play their own games, too.
The second part of the book gets even more over-the-top, as the team assembles in Tarnbrook and deals with armies of the Lucent Empire. There're no heroes in The Maleficent Seven; only monsters doing monstrous things to stop other monsters. If you don’t like inappropriate humour mixed with gore, you probably won’t appreciate the story. If, however, madness appeals to you, Johnston will entertain you in a loud and violent way.
The story develops at a breakneck pace and rarely pauses. Cameron Johnston excels at two things; characters and action scenes. While I wouldn’t call any of the characters real (they’re too over-the-top in every way), I found them memorable and distinct. The action scenes provide everything action-hungry readers can imagine (magic, demons, sword and ax fights, explosions, mayhem) and more! Because the story is told from an omniscient point of view, we learn a bit about everyone but without getting to know anyone intimately. A brave choice but it (mostly) works.
Readers tired of slow-moving, over-written, exposition-fraught epics will find lots to enjoy here. It’s not life-changing, but it’s wildly entertaining and addictive to read.
August 9, 2021
"As she marched through the forest with the might of her clan at her back she felt the stirrings of bloodlust again, the likes of which she had not felt in years. She hoped the strange humans would prove a worthy challenge."
The Maleficent Seven by Cameron Johnston is what happens when the world is all out of heroes, leaving only villains.
Big thanks to the radical folks over at Angry Robot Books for sending me a copy!
Black Herran is a demonologist who, on the brink of victory which would have given her incredible power, abandoned her army some forty years ago.
Now, the battle calls to her once again.
IT'S TIME TO GET THE GANG BACK TOGETHER!!
Along with Black Herran, the group includes a necromancer, pirate queen, vampire, alchemist, a war god & an orc leader. This motley crew doesn't trust one another, sometimes they even plot against each other, but they must come together in order to take down a brutal new enemy.
Blood, banter & battles! SO MANY BATTLES!
The Maleficent Seven is one wickedly entertaining ride! It's stabby, sweary & has a dark sense of humor. Needless to say, I am a fan!
CW: As expected, there is... a lot. Extreme violence, gore, animal torture, mutilations, religion & PTSD. The Maleficent Seven is an adult grimdark fantasy novel about villains. There are no *good* people in this story.
The Maleficent Seven by Cameron Johnston is what happens when the world is all out of heroes, leaving only villains.
Big thanks to the radical folks over at Angry Robot Books for sending me a copy!
Black Herran is a demonologist who, on the brink of victory which would have given her incredible power, abandoned her army some forty years ago.
Now, the battle calls to her once again.
IT'S TIME TO GET THE GANG BACK TOGETHER!!
Along with Black Herran, the group includes a necromancer, pirate queen, vampire, alchemist, a war god & an orc leader. This motley crew doesn't trust one another, sometimes they even plot against each other, but they must come together in order to take down a brutal new enemy.
Blood, banter & battles! SO MANY BATTLES!
The Maleficent Seven is one wickedly entertaining ride! It's stabby, sweary & has a dark sense of humor. Needless to say, I am a fan!
CW: As expected, there is... a lot. Extreme violence, gore, animal torture, mutilations, religion & PTSD. The Maleficent Seven is an adult grimdark fantasy novel about villains. There are no *good* people in this story.
August 17, 2022
The ruthless demonologist known only as Black Herran once assembled an army of deadly super-powered warriors to wage war against swarms of enemies from all around the world. Among her crew were a necromancer, a vampire lord, a demigod, an orcish warleader, a pirate queen and a twisted alchemist. After achieving her goals and disappearing under mysterious circumstances for forty years, she reveals herself to the world once more upon the emergence of a deadly new enemy called the Lucent Empire. Now she travels the world in search of her former companions to snuff out the ones that threaten to erase everything she once fought for before it's too late.
The Maleficent Seven is a grimdark reimagining of the famed Seven Samurai story by Akira Kurosawa. It draws upon elements of Suicide Squad and Kings of the Wyld, with touches of gruesome seinen manga like Hellsing, Berserk and Blade of the Immortal. Unlike most grimdark fantasy stories, this one is surprisingly fun, campy and morbidly hilarious. It's almost completely devoid of the grim nihilism, despair and trauma-inducing horror that usually accompanies the genre. It's pure, unadulterated carnage with a cast of evil psychopaths fighting against an army of even more evil psychopaths. It's essentially one giant bloody battle between unsavory individuals with godlike powers. It's like a great bloody popcorn action flick.
My favorite character was definitely the sadistic and insane Vampire Lord Lorimer Felle. He reminded me a lot of Alucard from Hellsing. The way he looks, the way he talks, the way he fights and morphs into horrifying abominations that destroy and devour his foes without the slightest hint of mercy. He's awesome.
The overall story isn't that deep and I wish we got to know the main characters on a more personal and emotional level, but all in all The Maleficent Seven serves its purpose as bloody, over-the-top eye candy with a cast of badass oddballs unleashing all kinds of chaos.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, thrillers, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions:
The Maleficent Seven is a grimdark reimagining of the famed Seven Samurai story by Akira Kurosawa. It draws upon elements of Suicide Squad and Kings of the Wyld, with touches of gruesome seinen manga like Hellsing, Berserk and Blade of the Immortal. Unlike most grimdark fantasy stories, this one is surprisingly fun, campy and morbidly hilarious. It's almost completely devoid of the grim nihilism, despair and trauma-inducing horror that usually accompanies the genre. It's pure, unadulterated carnage with a cast of evil psychopaths fighting against an army of even more evil psychopaths. It's essentially one giant bloody battle between unsavory individuals with godlike powers. It's like a great bloody popcorn action flick.
My favorite character was definitely the sadistic and insane Vampire Lord Lorimer Felle. He reminded me a lot of Alucard from Hellsing. The way he looks, the way he talks, the way he fights and morphs into horrifying abominations that destroy and devour his foes without the slightest hint of mercy. He's awesome.
The overall story isn't that deep and I wish we got to know the main characters on a more personal and emotional level, but all in all The Maleficent Seven serves its purpose as bloody, over-the-top eye candy with a cast of badass oddballs unleashing all kinds of chaos.
***
If you're looking for dark ambient music that's perfect for reading horror, thrillers, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions:
April 29, 2022
This is the book of the current month (April 2022) in the Readers Unbound group, and I was attracted by the idea of a takeoff on Seven Samurai with evil-doers as the heroes battling an even greater evil. The title suggests it's a dark alternate to that earnest spinoff, The Magnificent Seven, and that would seem to bode well for levels of humor &/or parody.
My rating (two stars for "it was okay") tells you I'm one of the minority of reviewers who found it disappointing, though not entirely so. To put the worst first, I lost count of the times someone else died screaming in agony, often for a trivial offense or no reason at all. Torture and other cruel treatment are rampant throughout the book, and what doubles the trigger effect for me is the way the protagonists relished their victims' pain. Most of what I'm talking about came in quick scenes and even in throwaway lines, and they kept getting in the way of being able to enjoy the main story.
Disappointing also: there wasn't really much humor once you got past the basic idea. Well, Amogg and her orcs were kind of funny, and so was Tiarnach the former war god; their scenes were mostly fun to read. Those were two of the titular Maleficent Seven, and moving away from humor into straight adventure, I did enjoy the scenes with Verena the pirate queen and her magic-deadening slynx. Nor did I expect a parody to provide great depth of character in these anti-heroes or their enemies, so I can't say I was disappointed there.
But I found myself not caring whether any of the other four won or lost. That's the leader, Black Herran the demonologist who controls shadow demons and made a deal with their boss down below in Hellrath; Maeven the necromancer who kills with willpower and operates the resulting corpses as zombies; Lorrimer the vampire and master of torture (in too much detail); or Jarek the mad alchemist who gleefully sacrifices human test subjects by the dozen to test this or that supposition.
From those descriptions you'd think each one of the four could host a whole fantasy series--the basic ideas for the characters are superb. And each one will have a role to play in the struggle against the Greater Evil (religious fanatics with a poorly defined sort of magical power, who convert a few and kill the rest wherever they go as they build their empire). Until we get to their assigned roles, however, their many scenes along the way are just gory and repetitive. For the first two thirds this book was remarkably easy to put down and do something else--like read & review a different book!
Besides Amogg and Tiarnach, there was only one character I really liked, the plucky regular human Penny. Wading though all the nasty deeds of the protagonists, I finally found someone I could root for. In other books, she'd be the main character, but here her role is necessarily secondary. Too bad. She is a monument to human courage against impossible odds.
The steady, tedious diet of violence finally picks up into a climactic battle full of death and destruction, monsters, tragedy, and horror; some of the story comes to a conclusion, and other parts remain open for a sequel.
My rating (two stars for "it was okay") tells you I'm one of the minority of reviewers who found it disappointing, though not entirely so. To put the worst first, I lost count of the times someone else died screaming in agony, often for a trivial offense or no reason at all. Torture and other cruel treatment are rampant throughout the book, and what doubles the trigger effect for me is the way the protagonists relished their victims' pain. Most of what I'm talking about came in quick scenes and even in throwaway lines, and they kept getting in the way of being able to enjoy the main story.
Disappointing also: there wasn't really much humor once you got past the basic idea. Well, Amogg and her orcs were kind of funny, and so was Tiarnach the former war god; their scenes were mostly fun to read. Those were two of the titular Maleficent Seven, and moving away from humor into straight adventure, I did enjoy the scenes with Verena the pirate queen and her magic-deadening slynx. Nor did I expect a parody to provide great depth of character in these anti-heroes or their enemies, so I can't say I was disappointed there.
But I found myself not caring whether any of the other four won or lost. That's the leader, Black Herran the demonologist who controls shadow demons and made a deal with their boss down below in Hellrath; Maeven the necromancer who kills with willpower and operates the resulting corpses as zombies; Lorrimer the vampire and master of torture (in too much detail); or Jarek the mad alchemist who gleefully sacrifices human test subjects by the dozen to test this or that supposition.
From those descriptions you'd think each one of the four could host a whole fantasy series--the basic ideas for the characters are superb. And each one will have a role to play in the struggle against the Greater Evil (religious fanatics with a poorly defined sort of magical power, who convert a few and kill the rest wherever they go as they build their empire). Until we get to their assigned roles, however, their many scenes along the way are just gory and repetitive. For the first two thirds this book was remarkably easy to put down and do something else--like read & review a different book!
Besides Amogg and Tiarnach, there was only one character I really liked, the plucky regular human Penny. Wading though all the nasty deeds of the protagonists, I finally found someone I could root for. In other books, she'd be the main character, but here her role is necessarily secondary. Too bad. She is a monument to human courage against impossible odds.
The steady, tedious diet of violence finally picks up into a climactic battle full of death and destruction, monsters, tragedy, and horror; some of the story comes to a conclusion, and other parts remain open for a sequel.
April 15, 2024
Absolutely fun!
I loved every bit of this. Lorimer, Tiarnach and Amogg were the best characters for me.
I loved every bit of this. Lorimer, Tiarnach and Amogg were the best characters for me.
February 15, 2022
The Maleficent Seven is very much in Grimdark territory - gory and very sweary. No morally grey characters here ; they're all evil. The only saving grace of our "heroes" is that the religious fanatics they're fighting are much worse !
Clearly based on The Magnificent Seven, or if you want to be a showoff: Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, and mixed with The Suicide Squad, this book was lots of fun and entertaining .
The writing style is no frills and without much depth ; it's all about the action and the over the top characterisations. Both of these were a real strength of the book.
However, at times I did find it easy to put the book down. But still, there was much to enjoy and I'll definitely be reading more from Cameron Johnston.
Recommended for fans of Joe Abercrombie.
3.5 stars 🌟
Clearly based on The Magnificent Seven, or if you want to be a showoff: Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, and mixed with The Suicide Squad, this book was lots of fun and entertaining .
The writing style is no frills and without much depth ; it's all about the action and the over the top characterisations. Both of these were a real strength of the book.
However, at times I did find it easy to put the book down. But still, there was much to enjoy and I'll definitely be reading more from Cameron Johnston.
Recommended for fans of Joe Abercrombie.
3.5 stars 🌟
January 24, 2022
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via Angry Robot books.
The Maleficent Seven is such an action packed and fun but gorey read and I absolutely loved it! This book had me feeling every emotion - love, hate, joy, fear, anger, happiness. This is the first of Caneron Johnstons books I've read but I'm now on the hunt for the previous books to devour like I did this one!
The characters are absolutely amazing. Such a unique ensemble of villains who are the Heros of the day in this book (think suicide squad vibes). The Bright One is a powerful god trying to take over the world with their holy and crazed fanatics. But an old, dangerous and powerful war general - Black Herran has stepped back up to the plate and won't let them take over her home and safe haven from those she loves most (her daughter and grandchildren), not without a fight, and what a fight it is!! But Black Herran has to get her old crew back on side as she abandoned them some 40 years ago and they're not the type to forgive and forget.
The main characters are: Black Herran (Demonologist), Maeven (Necromancer), Tiarnach (War God), Jerak Hyden (crazy Alchemist), Amogg (Orc), Verena (pirate queen) and Lorimer (shape shifting Vampire).
The battle itself was incredibly written and isn't for the faint-hearted. I honestly loved this book so much. Amogg and Tiarnach had me in stitches all the way through. This book is absolute genius and is an amazing new installment into the fantasy world of books! I urge everyone to read this amazingly plotted, crafted and fun, gorey read!!
The Maleficent Seven is such an action packed and fun but gorey read and I absolutely loved it! This book had me feeling every emotion - love, hate, joy, fear, anger, happiness. This is the first of Caneron Johnstons books I've read but I'm now on the hunt for the previous books to devour like I did this one!
The characters are absolutely amazing. Such a unique ensemble of villains who are the Heros of the day in this book (think suicide squad vibes). The Bright One is a powerful god trying to take over the world with their holy and crazed fanatics. But an old, dangerous and powerful war general - Black Herran has stepped back up to the plate and won't let them take over her home and safe haven from those she loves most (her daughter and grandchildren), not without a fight, and what a fight it is!! But Black Herran has to get her old crew back on side as she abandoned them some 40 years ago and they're not the type to forgive and forget.
The main characters are: Black Herran (Demonologist), Maeven (Necromancer), Tiarnach (War God), Jerak Hyden (crazy Alchemist), Amogg (Orc), Verena (pirate queen) and Lorimer (shape shifting Vampire).
The battle itself was incredibly written and isn't for the faint-hearted. I honestly loved this book so much. Amogg and Tiarnach had me in stitches all the way through. This book is absolute genius and is an amazing new installment into the fantasy world of books! I urge everyone to read this amazingly plotted, crafted and fun, gorey read!!
Want to read
April 30, 2024something i love: when villains are the main characters
(last time i read this was during a move, so i wasn’t able to finish it.. looking forward to getting back into it now!)
(last time i read this was during a move, so i wasn’t able to finish it.. looking forward to getting back into it now!)
March 5, 2021
Overall: +9/10
Just glorious fun. A roller coaster ride filled with gods, demons, vampires and all types of monsters! If you'd read Cam's Age of Tyranny duology and thought that was great, he really upped the bar and this will will shatter even your wild expectations.
Writing/Plot/Pace: +9/10
"Seven bloodthirsty monsters. One town. Their last hope" The blurb captures the book perfectly.
What happens if worlds saviors are just a bunch of villain's who are as despicable as (if not more) the enemy they are rescuing you from? What would we do in a situation we continue to hope for the protagonists (or perhaps non-antagonists might be better considering they are villains themselves) to emerge victorious all the while despising them? it certainly is a very interesting conundrum and that makes the book's premise very intriguing.
What makes this different from the other takes of the classic Seven Samurai is the makeup and interpersonal relationship (or lack of one) between the main characters. it is not a tale of hope of redemption or glorified heroism. The MCs are evil, they hate working together, they plot against each other, they lack sympathy and/or empathy, they are selfish to a fault and ruthless to burh the world to get what they want. Definitely not a likeable group, I'd invite for a drink. The dynamics between them is something I especially enjoyed all through my read.
Necromancers, Vampires, Demons, Mad Scientist (Alchemist), Sea Monsters, Gods, Dukes of Hell, Holy Knights...it just has everything. Both in scope and variation the character diversity is just astounding and despite the abundance of races, they all play a significant (small or not) role impacting the plot rather than just background color.
Staying true to the title, the books moves deftly between about multiple PoVs (You have 7 protagonists, 1 antagonist plus couple of others secondary characters) without being confusing even in the slightest. The way the plot weaves between the characters themselves, their intentions, their interactions and the plot is done smoothly that the oft encountered info dumps are totally absent.
The book just drops you at the beginning of a battle and the pace never drops till the climax. Pacing is perfect as we get adrenalin action sequences to blood chilling battle scenes, gritty drama all blended into one great story. The book has abundance of violent scenes, however they are done well without moving into the cheap gore category. The casual callousness shown towards pain, suffering and cruelty permeates every page which should be expected considering that both the antagonist and the non-antagonists are both big time villains. But despite the content, the book always has the feel of gritty adventure rather than a pure grimdark book, which I absolutely loved.
What I wanted more was more of macro worldbuilding. The books focuses on events near the village of Tarnbrooke. We only sneak peeks into macro world and this focused approach's which works well with the plot but a bit more on acro worldbuilding might have added more oomph to the actually world shattering events happening here.
And as a cheery on top, it has a nice twist at the end that I desperately hope will lead to the next book in this world.
Characters: +9/10
Portraying a villain as a heroic role without actually making them a hero is a delicate balance to achieve and Cam has done s stellar role here. Every instance where we focus on the character, I hated their actions, but when they are fighting the antagonist, I wanted them to win. Deliciously balanced characters!
What sets this book apart is that every single character makes an impression. From the protagonists to the side character of Red Penny, they all have weight and importance to the story left an impression on me. They all have individual personalities and in hindsight I'm amazed at how much I swung from hating their character, to wanting them to win and then willing them to die once victory is achieved. I don't think my words capture those mood swings well...but it's something you have to experience on your own.
If you threatened to feed me to the demons, unless I nitpick something....then I'd have to say I expected a bit more oomph from Black Herran. Climax apart, I felt the rest of characters had more spotlight than her and I would have loved to see more of her (Hint to Cam: Just write the next damn book quickly please!)
January 16, 2022
The Maleficent Seven is an entertaining and grimdark take on the classic film � The Magnificent Seven.
When I heard about this book, my initial reactions were a bit contemptuous, since it felt like a 12-year-old's version of a classic. But, after being hit on the head by numerous posts on social media, I decided to try it out � after all, how bad could it be?
The good news is that while it starts a bit slow (and quite gory), the rest of the book is fast-paced and draws the reader in. Cameron Johnston’s writing is excellent � his well-fleshed out characters, sometimes witty dialogues and well-thought-out scenes that keep the story moving forward � and it goes a long way in building the immersion.
Though The team composition reads like a D&D who's who, (come on � a demonologist, a necromancer, a Brian Lumley like Vampire, a War God, a Pirate Queen, an Orc (Warcraft, not LOTR) and an alchemist � is a bit gratuitous), the characters have unique personalities that make us have a love-hate relationship with them. The fact that I still remember the characters (even after three books and a week), showcases their vividness. The internal conflicts and machinations between them add to the spiciness of the story. That said, I did find the demonization of one of the characters a bit over the top and forced.
The book is not perfect, though. There is that forced demonization of that character that I spoke about � it seems weird picking that one person out from a team of monsters. But, oh well, even the monsters need a monster that they can hate. The other problem is the lack of an explanation as to how an important character became so powerful. The story feels a bit incomplete and a trifle unsatisfying at the end, due to this missing piece of information.
Overall, I loved The Maleficent Seven. Would I read it again? Probably not. But it is worth the price and a single reading, definitely, for sure.
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When I heard about this book, my initial reactions were a bit contemptuous, since it felt like a 12-year-old's version of a classic. But, after being hit on the head by numerous posts on social media, I decided to try it out � after all, how bad could it be?
The good news is that while it starts a bit slow (and quite gory), the rest of the book is fast-paced and draws the reader in. Cameron Johnston’s writing is excellent � his well-fleshed out characters, sometimes witty dialogues and well-thought-out scenes that keep the story moving forward � and it goes a long way in building the immersion.
Though The team composition reads like a D&D who's who, (come on � a demonologist, a necromancer, a Brian Lumley like Vampire, a War God, a Pirate Queen, an Orc (Warcraft, not LOTR) and an alchemist � is a bit gratuitous), the characters have unique personalities that make us have a love-hate relationship with them. The fact that I still remember the characters (even after three books and a week), showcases their vividness. The internal conflicts and machinations between them add to the spiciness of the story. That said, I did find the demonization of one of the characters a bit over the top and forced.
The book is not perfect, though. There is that forced demonization of that character that I spoke about � it seems weird picking that one person out from a team of monsters. But, oh well, even the monsters need a monster that they can hate. The other problem is the lack of an explanation as to how an important character became so powerful. The story feels a bit incomplete and a trifle unsatisfying at the end, due to this missing piece of information.
Overall, I loved The Maleficent Seven. Would I read it again? Probably not. But it is worth the price and a single reading, definitely, for sure.
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August 10, 2021
Wow! This book is CRAZY! It's unpredictable, gruesome, and bloody.
It's being pitch as "Kings of the Wyld smooshed together with Suicide Squad into a glorious, gory, sweary melee". I can't comment on the Kings of the Wyld aspect yet since I haven't read it 🙈 BUT def agree on Suicide Squad! The blunt, bloodier and funnier version. It's not for the faint heart. There are some scenes that even made me say ewww coz boy, that's just disgusting 🤭
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 is filled with imaginative and diverse cast of characters. There's a demonologist, a necromancer, a pirate queen, a vampire, a God of War past his prime, a vicious orc, and a mad alchemist. All of them have distinct voices and multi-faceted. The characterization is well done. They are villains who did despicable things yet I still root for them.
Overall, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 is an unputdownable and entertaining read. I highly recommend The Maleficent Seven if you like fast paced,action-packed, rich in culture, and wicked characters!
Thank you so much Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the DRC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
It's being pitch as "Kings of the Wyld smooshed together with Suicide Squad into a glorious, gory, sweary melee". I can't comment on the Kings of the Wyld aspect yet since I haven't read it 🙈 BUT def agree on Suicide Squad! The blunt, bloodier and funnier version. It's not for the faint heart. There are some scenes that even made me say ewww coz boy, that's just disgusting 🤭
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 is filled with imaginative and diverse cast of characters. There's a demonologist, a necromancer, a pirate queen, a vampire, a God of War past his prime, a vicious orc, and a mad alchemist. All of them have distinct voices and multi-faceted. The characterization is well done. They are villains who did despicable things yet I still root for them.
Overall, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 is an unputdownable and entertaining read. I highly recommend The Maleficent Seven if you like fast paced,action-packed, rich in culture, and wicked characters!
Thank you so much Angry Robot Books and Netgalley for the DRC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
January 11, 2025
Il mio 2025 di letture si apre con una delusione.
Da questo "I Malefici Sette" non mi aspettavo una lettura impegnata, e già ne avevo letto recensioni non particolarmente entusiaste, ma continuavo a sperare che il romanzo nascondesse qualcosa di interessante.
Non è stato così.
Purtroppo questo libro soffre di due grossi problemi, che più di una volta hanno rischiato di farmi abbandonare la lettura: la ripetitività delle situazioni (o si uccide o si cerca qualcuno da uccidere) e la bidimensionalità dei protagonisti, che non hanno davvero nulla di interessante se non l'essere cattivi. Se posso spezzare una mezza lancia a favore di Verena la regina dei pirati e Tiarnach il dio della guerra, che almeno un minimo ci provano ad avere delle sfumature caratteriali un po' più complesse, lo stesso non vale per gli altri cinque. Il vampiro è un vampiro. La necromante è una necromante. Ma proprio nel modo più diretto e fumettistico possibile, senza altro da scoprire. Una cosa che non sopporto nelle storie è quando i personaggi vengono caratterizzati unicamente tramite i loro "superpoteri", ed è proprio il caso dei protagonisti di questo romanzo.
I Malefici Sette è praticamente Suicide Squad in salsa dark fantasy. Ma non quello divertente di James Gunn, ma il primo, quello che mi aveva fatto addormentare al cinema.
Consigliato solo se volete leggere 600 pagine di botte senza troppi pensieri per la testa.
Da questo "I Malefici Sette" non mi aspettavo una lettura impegnata, e già ne avevo letto recensioni non particolarmente entusiaste, ma continuavo a sperare che il romanzo nascondesse qualcosa di interessante.
Non è stato così.
Purtroppo questo libro soffre di due grossi problemi, che più di una volta hanno rischiato di farmi abbandonare la lettura: la ripetitività delle situazioni (o si uccide o si cerca qualcuno da uccidere) e la bidimensionalità dei protagonisti, che non hanno davvero nulla di interessante se non l'essere cattivi. Se posso spezzare una mezza lancia a favore di Verena la regina dei pirati e Tiarnach il dio della guerra, che almeno un minimo ci provano ad avere delle sfumature caratteriali un po' più complesse, lo stesso non vale per gli altri cinque. Il vampiro è un vampiro. La necromante è una necromante. Ma proprio nel modo più diretto e fumettistico possibile, senza altro da scoprire. Una cosa che non sopporto nelle storie è quando i personaggi vengono caratterizzati unicamente tramite i loro "superpoteri", ed è proprio il caso dei protagonisti di questo romanzo.
I Malefici Sette è praticamente Suicide Squad in salsa dark fantasy. Ma non quello divertente di James Gunn, ma il primo, quello che mi aveva fatto addormentare al cinema.
Consigliato solo se volete leggere 600 pagine di botte senza troppi pensieri per la testa.
November 28, 2024
Pur provando un profondo rispetto sia per il lavoro di Lettere elettriche, che per il lavoro di traduzione di Andrea Massacesi, la storia di per sé non mi ha entusiasmato. Scorrevole, si. Cinematica, violenta, con tanto black humour, ma... Ho trovato i personaggi abbastanza piatti e stereotipati per i miei gusti. Inoltre sembrava privo di quella profondità che ultimamente cerco nelle mie letture. Quindi se volete qualcosa di scorrevole, sporco e dissacrante, questo libro fa per voi. Per me è da paragonarsi ad una caramella polo:"Violenza con un buco in mezzo".
June 20, 2021
This is, unsurprisingly, a retelling of *The Magnificent Seven,* which is itself a retelling of *The Seven Samurai*. There's a good reason the story has been told so many times: "group of heavily outnumbered but highly skilled warriors defends village from invading force" will always be a great premise for a story.
The twist here is that the titular seven are all dyed-in-the-wool villains. They consist of a demon raiser, a necromancer, a vampire, a pirate queen, a war god, an alchemist, and an orc chieftain. They're all bad people (though some are worse than the others - the other six all uncomfortable to be working alongside the alchemist), and they're all their for their own selfish reasons, but they all intend to do their best to save the inoffensive village with the bad luck to sit in the path of a fanatical theocratic empire.
The story that unfolds is pure popcorn fun. Not only do you get the fun of seeing what clever tricks/horrifying crimes they do to stop the invaders, at the same time all seven are plotting against the other and looking for the right moment to both defeat the invaders and come out on top of their allies.
This isn't a book that'll change your life, but it's very much a book worth the read if what you are looking for is entertainment. And even though none of the seven are good guys, you still have reasons to root for most of them.
Props to the author for a good gender balance. The demon raiser, necromancer, pirate queen, and orc chieftain are all women. The orc in particular, upon arriving at the village, asks first thing why the stupid humans are only training half of the people as fighters and immediately sets to training the women. The captain of the militia women (Penny, later dubbed "Red Penny") is one of the few side characters and by far my favorite.
Warning for graphic violence (these are very bad people) and violence against animals (again, bad people). No rape, though, which was a relief.
The twist here is that the titular seven are all dyed-in-the-wool villains. They consist of a demon raiser, a necromancer, a vampire, a pirate queen, a war god, an alchemist, and an orc chieftain. They're all bad people (though some are worse than the others - the other six all uncomfortable to be working alongside the alchemist), and they're all their for their own selfish reasons, but they all intend to do their best to save the inoffensive village with the bad luck to sit in the path of a fanatical theocratic empire.
The story that unfolds is pure popcorn fun. Not only do you get the fun of seeing what clever tricks/horrifying crimes they do to stop the invaders, at the same time all seven are plotting against the other and looking for the right moment to both defeat the invaders and come out on top of their allies.
This isn't a book that'll change your life, but it's very much a book worth the read if what you are looking for is entertainment. And even though none of the seven are good guys, you still have reasons to root for most of them.
Props to the author for a good gender balance. The demon raiser, necromancer, pirate queen, and orc chieftain are all women. The orc in particular, upon arriving at the village, asks first thing why the stupid humans are only training half of the people as fighters and immediately sets to training the women. The captain of the militia women (Penny, later dubbed "Red Penny") is one of the few side characters and by far my favorite.
Warning for graphic violence (these are very bad people) and violence against animals (again, bad people). No rape, though, which was a relief.
August 10, 2021
This was so bloody and so gruesome…and yet I could not stop reading! Is thing going to be a series? Because it really should be, I want more!
An epic adventure filled with pirates, sorcerers, demons, and monsters, a real diverse and imaginative cast. Our protagonists are NOT the heroes, far from it, they are morally corrupt and totally evil in some cases, broken and tormented, but united against one powerful foe.
The story’s is so original! It’s like suicide squad but 10 times more darker, funnier, and grisly. I am really surprised by how much I loved this book! Most of its content is a big turn off for me but somehow Cameron Johnston has just made a gripping read that uses certain elements in just the right way! I made so many sound effects while reading this: from laughing, to gasping, to sniffling, to gagging.
I was entirely hooked and engrossed. It has violence, language, gross bodily descriptions, highly immoral characters, and hilarious banter, makes up for one crazy action-filled ride!
An epic adventure filled with pirates, sorcerers, demons, and monsters, a real diverse and imaginative cast. Our protagonists are NOT the heroes, far from it, they are morally corrupt and totally evil in some cases, broken and tormented, but united against one powerful foe.
The story’s is so original! It’s like suicide squad but 10 times more darker, funnier, and grisly. I am really surprised by how much I loved this book! Most of its content is a big turn off for me but somehow Cameron Johnston has just made a gripping read that uses certain elements in just the right way! I made so many sound effects while reading this: from laughing, to gasping, to sniffling, to gagging.
I was entirely hooked and engrossed. It has violence, language, gross bodily descriptions, highly immoral characters, and hilarious banter, makes up for one crazy action-filled ride!
June 21, 2021
This book was pure entertainment and I think it is a good position for anyone who likes not ever grey morality in characters but simply them being bad. The story was fine, I enjoyed it, and though, nothing special, the novel was something good for lazy evenings. What I miss what the protagonist, who, despite him or her being a bad person, I would actually like and really root for. They were all interesting creatures, but not one of them really caught my heart.
There are some gore scenes so the book is not for a soft-hearted, but if you don't mind blood and death, and you like fantasy with villains as main characters, you should read this book, I liked it.
There are some gore scenes so the book is not for a soft-hearted, but if you don't mind blood and death, and you like fantasy with villains as main characters, you should read this book, I liked it.
April 15, 2025
2.75 ⭐️
COSA MI È PIACIUTO
- La narrazione è sostenuta da un ritmo rapido e incalzante: nonostante la mole del romanzo (600 pagine) non ci sono momenti morti, e la vicenda corre senza soste;
- Il worldbuilding, estremamente classico, permette di sentirsi subito a proprio agio, per un’avventura che rimanda a figure e ambientazioni riconoscibili ma permeate da un’oscurità (tanto nei caratteri dei personaggi quanto nelle vicende) pressoché costante;
- Scontri sanguinosi, tradimenti, creature demoniache e inumane, non morti, una discreta dose di violenza e protagonisti prettamente negativi: se tutti questi aspetti vi affascinano, o comunque non via spaventano, potreste aver trovato un romanzo adatto al vostro palato.
COSA NON MI È PIACIUTO
- Lo stile di scrittura non ha picchi qualitativi che possano innalzarlo oltre il concetto di “funzionale e diretto�. Un peccato non aver rintracciato, almeno qua e là, qualche soluzione più ingegnosa o stimolante;
- La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è, purtroppo, ridotta al minimo: ciò che spicca maggiormente sono le qualità di cui ciascuno è dotato sin dall’inizio, che non cambiano, non evolvono, e solo in un paio di casi presentano qualche (leggera) variazione a seguito degli eventi;
- I (numerosi) dialoghi, un po� come lo stile, non riescono a trasmettere, nemmeno quando la situazione lo richiederebbe, un senso di epicità o di pathos che vada, anche qui, oltre un livello di scrittura basilare;
- Finale abbastanza prevedibile, con i destini dei protagonisti facilmente indovinabili una volta superata la prima metà della storia.
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"La parola data dagli umani è insignificante. Mentono e imbrogliano per ottenere ciò che vogliono, e ciò che vogliono è tutto ciò che hai."
Amogg Hadakk
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I Malefici Sette è un romanzo divertente ma fin troppo semplice, che sacrifica la qualità narrativa (da intendersi come stile di scrittura, complessità dell’intreccio e costruzione dei personaggi) a favore di una storia che fa del “caos controllato� e della lettura disimpegnata i suoi punti di forza.
Un libro che può essere un piacevole passatempo nel momento giusto, in grado, anche grazie al classicissimo worldbuilding, di far sentire subito a casa tutti i lettori interessati a una trama dark, ma con la consapevolezza che, nello stesso genere, vi sono autori dotati di caratura di altro livello.
COSA MI È PIACIUTO
- La narrazione è sostenuta da un ritmo rapido e incalzante: nonostante la mole del romanzo (600 pagine) non ci sono momenti morti, e la vicenda corre senza soste;
- Il worldbuilding, estremamente classico, permette di sentirsi subito a proprio agio, per un’avventura che rimanda a figure e ambientazioni riconoscibili ma permeate da un’oscurità (tanto nei caratteri dei personaggi quanto nelle vicende) pressoché costante;
- Scontri sanguinosi, tradimenti, creature demoniache e inumane, non morti, una discreta dose di violenza e protagonisti prettamente negativi: se tutti questi aspetti vi affascinano, o comunque non via spaventano, potreste aver trovato un romanzo adatto al vostro palato.
COSA NON MI È PIACIUTO
- Lo stile di scrittura non ha picchi qualitativi che possano innalzarlo oltre il concetto di “funzionale e diretto�. Un peccato non aver rintracciato, almeno qua e là, qualche soluzione più ingegnosa o stimolante;
- La caratterizzazione dei personaggi è, purtroppo, ridotta al minimo: ciò che spicca maggiormente sono le qualità di cui ciascuno è dotato sin dall’inizio, che non cambiano, non evolvono, e solo in un paio di casi presentano qualche (leggera) variazione a seguito degli eventi;
- I (numerosi) dialoghi, un po� come lo stile, non riescono a trasmettere, nemmeno quando la situazione lo richiederebbe, un senso di epicità o di pathos che vada, anche qui, oltre un livello di scrittura basilare;
- Finale abbastanza prevedibile, con i destini dei protagonisti facilmente indovinabili una volta superata la prima metà della storia.
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"La parola data dagli umani è insignificante. Mentono e imbrogliano per ottenere ciò che vogliono, e ciò che vogliono è tutto ciò che hai."
Amogg Hadakk
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I Malefici Sette è un romanzo divertente ma fin troppo semplice, che sacrifica la qualità narrativa (da intendersi come stile di scrittura, complessità dell’intreccio e costruzione dei personaggi) a favore di una storia che fa del “caos controllato� e della lettura disimpegnata i suoi punti di forza.
Un libro che può essere un piacevole passatempo nel momento giusto, in grado, anche grazie al classicissimo worldbuilding, di far sentire subito a casa tutti i lettori interessati a una trama dark, ma con la consapevolezza che, nello stesso genere, vi sono autori dotati di caratura di altro livello.
May 20, 2023
I had heard many times people call this book fantasy Suicide Squad. I have to say, it's an apt description. I kinda love the ability to root for the bad guy in both mediums. I loved all of the characters in this book as all were well fleshed out and their motivations clear. Also, I am a sucker for a momma bear characters and this was the darkest momma bear I've ever seen. There's no way any normal human would go to these lengths but it's clear from the jump that none of these characters are normal.
Absolutely loved it!
Absolutely loved it!
July 24, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Angry Robot for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
Oh boy where to begin.
Where.
to.
begin.
The Maleficent Seven was wild, compelling, gross, and a journey like no other. I laughed, shed a tear or two and even cried out "wow that's gross". Johnston created a high action, fast moving tale that just kept me begging for more. This is the read I needed after two not so great reads in a row.
The Maleficent Seven follows the point of views from the villains who are going after the "good guys" (who are totally insane fyi). We get to see the team come together in the classic "lets go and find everyone and convince them to join in our cause" journey only of course those ways of convincing each other are more on the heinous side of things rather then the do well kind. I absolutely loved this, (I usually do I wont lie) Each character was introduced with just enough background that it made you feel like you had been following them for much longer. Each one had a distinctive voice and I feel being able to successfully pull that off in a short amount of time can be difficult for some authors, but Johnston made it look easy. We get to follow 7 people and a few side characters and each one stood out.
Tiranach was without a doubt my favorite character. I felt so much pain and heartbreak for him, he was the one who kept getting the tears to flow from my eyes. I wasn't full on bawling but I am a sap and this mans story just broke my heart and seeing how he handled it made me hurt even more for him. He had for me the most intriguing background and I was constantly rooting for him and loved every moment he was focused on, I just could not get enough of him.
Lorimer was my second favorite. I don't like vampires, I never have, they bore me with their whole " oh no we can't go into the sunlight" bit, I have always been a werewolf kind of girl. But Johnston said "girl you will fall so hard for this vampire" and I freaking did. Lorimer (from my experience) is not like any other vampire out there. I'm not going to give it away but I really feel like Johnston brought something new to the world of vampires and I would love to see more like this particular one. His abilities, manners, speech and interactions were captivating and hilarious, Just like with Tiranach I wanted more and more of him.
I did not walk away from this book hating anyone, I mean even Penny left her mark and she is a side character. Everyone was captivating in their own way and it made me want to keep meeting more people. All the conversations felt real and not forced (and never gave me second hand embarrassment thank heavens) Johnston really has a way with characters.
The pacing of this story was fast and I mean break neck speed fast. You will find yourself flying trough pages and each page makes the story more compelling. I had a desire and craving to just know what would happen next. I needed to know what happened to Maeven's sister, I needed to know who would win, who would die (and yes lots die). I stayed up till 1:30 am to finish this because I just couldn't put it down. Johnston grabs you and just refuses to let go, and frankly I should have seen that tactic coming as he did the same thing in his debut "The Traitor God". Johnston knows just how much story to dangle in front of you to keep you hooked and obsessively wanting more.
The action is fast, bloody and honestly at times gross, I can handle this so it wasn't an issue for me, but as a warning I will say there are parts with animal torture/death. There are mutilations, and gore everywhere, I mean one of the characters we follow is a necromancer and she does some nasty stuff and it's in some pretty gnarly detail. If you can't handle that kind of stuff than this might not be for you. But if you can than you are in for a treat because the action just comes and feels like it never ends and the final part is just nonstop action.
The story plot its self was captivating, I mean I have only said that a 100 times now. I loved the idea of following a bunch of villains taking on the quest to do one solid act of actual goodness for the world because these "good guys" were not as good as they really thought they where. The only problem I had was that we don't get to see to much from the opposing sides point of view. I would have liked to see a little bit more of that. I feel it would have gave The Falcon Prince that push in really needed in selling how deranged and mad he was. I just kept hoping that at some point I would see the world from his perspective we got one moment of it and after that it was all through the eyes of everyone else we follow.
The story has a solid ending but honestly if Johnston wanted to continue with this world ( I don't know if this is suppose to be the start of new series or a standalone) but I feel he has enough material to work with with how it ended. And frankly speaking, I would buy it in a heartbeat.
So if you are in the mood for villains who hate each other working together and some nasty fights but a lot of laughing (and maybe crying if you’re a sap like me) Then go fourth and read this magnificent tale, you won’t be disappointed.
Oh boy where to begin.
Where.
to.
begin.
The Maleficent Seven was wild, compelling, gross, and a journey like no other. I laughed, shed a tear or two and even cried out "wow that's gross". Johnston created a high action, fast moving tale that just kept me begging for more. This is the read I needed after two not so great reads in a row.
The Maleficent Seven follows the point of views from the villains who are going after the "good guys" (who are totally insane fyi). We get to see the team come together in the classic "lets go and find everyone and convince them to join in our cause" journey only of course those ways of convincing each other are more on the heinous side of things rather then the do well kind. I absolutely loved this, (I usually do I wont lie) Each character was introduced with just enough background that it made you feel like you had been following them for much longer. Each one had a distinctive voice and I feel being able to successfully pull that off in a short amount of time can be difficult for some authors, but Johnston made it look easy. We get to follow 7 people and a few side characters and each one stood out.
Tiranach was without a doubt my favorite character. I felt so much pain and heartbreak for him, he was the one who kept getting the tears to flow from my eyes. I wasn't full on bawling but I am a sap and this mans story just broke my heart and seeing how he handled it made me hurt even more for him. He had for me the most intriguing background and I was constantly rooting for him and loved every moment he was focused on, I just could not get enough of him.
Lorimer was my second favorite. I don't like vampires, I never have, they bore me with their whole " oh no we can't go into the sunlight" bit, I have always been a werewolf kind of girl. But Johnston said "girl you will fall so hard for this vampire" and I freaking did. Lorimer (from my experience) is not like any other vampire out there. I'm not going to give it away but I really feel like Johnston brought something new to the world of vampires and I would love to see more like this particular one. His abilities, manners, speech and interactions were captivating and hilarious, Just like with Tiranach I wanted more and more of him.
I did not walk away from this book hating anyone, I mean even Penny left her mark and she is a side character. Everyone was captivating in their own way and it made me want to keep meeting more people. All the conversations felt real and not forced (and never gave me second hand embarrassment thank heavens) Johnston really has a way with characters.
The pacing of this story was fast and I mean break neck speed fast. You will find yourself flying trough pages and each page makes the story more compelling. I had a desire and craving to just know what would happen next. I needed to know what happened to Maeven's sister, I needed to know who would win, who would die (and yes lots die). I stayed up till 1:30 am to finish this because I just couldn't put it down. Johnston grabs you and just refuses to let go, and frankly I should have seen that tactic coming as he did the same thing in his debut "The Traitor God". Johnston knows just how much story to dangle in front of you to keep you hooked and obsessively wanting more.
The action is fast, bloody and honestly at times gross, I can handle this so it wasn't an issue for me, but as a warning I will say there are parts with animal torture/death. There are mutilations, and gore everywhere, I mean one of the characters we follow is a necromancer and she does some nasty stuff and it's in some pretty gnarly detail. If you can't handle that kind of stuff than this might not be for you. But if you can than you are in for a treat because the action just comes and feels like it never ends and the final part is just nonstop action.
The story plot its self was captivating, I mean I have only said that a 100 times now. I loved the idea of following a bunch of villains taking on the quest to do one solid act of actual goodness for the world because these "good guys" were not as good as they really thought they where. The only problem I had was that we don't get to see to much from the opposing sides point of view. I would have liked to see a little bit more of that. I feel it would have gave The Falcon Prince that push in really needed in selling how deranged and mad he was. I just kept hoping that at some point I would see the world from his perspective we got one moment of it and after that it was all through the eyes of everyone else we follow.
The story has a solid ending but honestly if Johnston wanted to continue with this world ( I don't know if this is suppose to be the start of new series or a standalone) but I feel he has enough material to work with with how it ended. And frankly speaking, I would buy it in a heartbeat.
So if you are in the mood for villains who hate each other working together and some nasty fights but a lot of laughing (and maybe crying if you’re a sap like me) Then go fourth and read this magnificent tale, you won’t be disappointed.
August 17, 2021
Tits on a fish!!... That was fun. If Kings of the Wyld had an evil twin it would be The Maleficent Seven. Is is tropey? Sure, but unashamedly and gloriously so. It takes your stereotypical fantasy rogues & dark lords and gives them centre stage. My stand out favourite has to be Tiarnach the washed out demi-god. The magic system is a little loose with necromancy, demonology, alchemy and divine powers but who cares when it's this fun to read. A solid standalone but I wouldn't mind future stories with perhaps Red Penny the orc-friend as a potential protagonist
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2021
Oh, I loved this one!
It's bawdy and raucous and violent and funny and everything.
All the characters lived and breathed and the world building was so well done! The book is just pure fun from the first chapter to the last.
I loved every page of this and just wanted more, more, more!
*ARC provided via Net Galley
It's bawdy and raucous and violent and funny and everything.
All the characters lived and breathed and the world building was so well done! The book is just pure fun from the first chapter to the last.
I loved every page of this and just wanted more, more, more!
*ARC provided via Net Galley
September 6, 2022
4.5
If there's to be a book 2 I'm so here for it..
You have no idea who to cheer for at all... There's bad but then there is bad.
All these old friends comes back together 40 years year to save their lands their world from an evil god that is determined to kill those that doesn't praise their god determined to kill those that don't follow their ways.
But those of other evils are willing to step out of shadows to save their people from this lesser God that says their god is better.
But these other evils has a past a past they can't seem to get over. But they determined to get over it because they made a deal but in the meantime they are trying to not kill each other...
Very interesting to read. Enjoyed the magic. Somethings that reminded me of Brandon Sanderson books. But intriguing how it all came together.
If there's to be a book 2 I'm so here for it..
You have no idea who to cheer for at all... There's bad but then there is bad.
All these old friends comes back together 40 years year to save their lands their world from an evil god that is determined to kill those that doesn't praise their god determined to kill those that don't follow their ways.
But those of other evils are willing to step out of shadows to save their people from this lesser God that says their god is better.
But these other evils has a past a past they can't seem to get over. But they determined to get over it because they made a deal but in the meantime they are trying to not kill each other...
Very interesting to read. Enjoyed the magic. Somethings that reminded me of Brandon Sanderson books. But intriguing how it all came together.
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