quolwy's review
2.0
Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for providing me a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
At first I was struggling to understand why this one didn't work for me. The story was exactly as pitched, suicide squad esc, with a band of villains coming together to destroy an even worse villain. However, I stumbled across another review that put it into words perfectly. This concept just works better as a film.
Introducing each of the characters in the middle of doing what they do best, I continuously felt as though this would have been better as a movie. The visual aspects would have made it easier to fall in love with each character, while unfortunately as a reader it fell a bit flat. Because this story is SO fast paced, I never had time to connect with any of the characters, and for me that made the entire story feel quite one dimensional.
While we did see some humorous interactions between characters, and moments that made them more empathetic characters, for me a lot of those moments came too late and I had already been struggling through the story for so long at that point, it left out some of the emotional impact it could have otherwise had if we had slowed down and done some world building or work with the characters backstories.
I felt I wish I'd gotten a novella for each character before reading this story, so that I could appreciate this book more for what it is.
Now don't get me wrong, there is definitely an audience for this book. People who want to skip the boring stuff, and just learn characters names and hop into the action will have a great time reading this. Unfortunately for me however, it left me wanting.
P.S. I refuse to believe men talk about their "cocks" as often as they do in this book, it felt very out of place for me and took me out of the action LOL
At first I was struggling to understand why this one didn't work for me. The story was exactly as pitched, suicide squad esc, with a band of villains coming together to destroy an even worse villain. However, I stumbled across another review that put it into words perfectly. This concept just works better as a film.
Introducing each of the characters in the middle of doing what they do best, I continuously felt as though this would have been better as a movie. The visual aspects would have made it easier to fall in love with each character, while unfortunately as a reader it fell a bit flat. Because this story is SO fast paced, I never had time to connect with any of the characters, and for me that made the entire story feel quite one dimensional.
While we did see some humorous interactions between characters, and moments that made them more empathetic characters, for me a lot of those moments came too late and I had already been struggling through the story for so long at that point, it left out some of the emotional impact it could have otherwise had if we had slowed down and done some world building or work with the characters backstories.
I felt I wish I'd gotten a novella for each character before reading this story, so that I could appreciate this book more for what it is.
Now don't get me wrong, there is definitely an audience for this book. People who want to skip the boring stuff, and just learn characters names and hop into the action will have a great time reading this. Unfortunately for me however, it left me wanting.
P.S. I refuse to believe men talk about their "cocks" as often as they do in this book, it felt very out of place for me and took me out of the action LOL
grushanna's review against another edition
1.0
Книга не понравилась от слова совсем. Читала по диагонали, дочитывала на упрямстве.
lizzy_22's review against another edition
4.0
Old school fantasy with lots of gore. The story was perfectly mapped out and nearly tied up at the end. Enjoyed it.
nerdyforbooks_'s review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Action, adventure, 7 people who absolutely hate each other - what else could go wrong?
This book suffers from pacing issues at times - when the action is going it’s GOING, but when it’s not there is some drag. Overall, it’s one of those quick reads that doesn’t require much hard thought to push through. The characters aren’t meant to be loveable or even likeable. Yet you can’t help but enjoy how terrible they all are. The ending is solid with a great plot twist.
This book suffers from pacing issues at times - when the action is going it’s GOING, but when it’s not there is some drag. Overall, it’s one of those quick reads that doesn’t require much hard thought to push through. The characters aren’t meant to be loveable or even likeable. Yet you can’t help but enjoy how terrible they all are. The ending is solid with a great plot twist.
tashshaw's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
maridkbro's review
2.0
When I first picked up this book I was thrilled, it hit every check I wanted it to. It was a big squad of villains that all hated each other and had to work together to save a town, what more could I want? Unfortunately it fell apart on the follow through for me. It took me 3 weeks to read this and for me that's a lot. It just didn't have any of the stakes or intensity that I wanted it to, and frankly, despite all of the through introduction, I just felt disconnected from the characters. The plot was fine, but it wasn't a "I-couldn't-put-it-down" kinda book. I generally had to force myself to finish it, the ending was fine, and by now I'm just glad it's over.
thefartking87's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
justgeekingby's review
5.0
Originally posted on Just Geeking by.
Content Warning
There is a huge amount of violence in this book as you would expect from a book about a group of villains. There are also experiments on animals, creatures and humans courtesy of the alchemist character that are quite horrific. That being said this isn’t a horror novel, it is a fantasy novel and there is a war between two factions. The battle scenes are as bloody as you would expect from that situation.
The Maleficent Seven is without a doubt one of the most fun fantasy novels I have read in a while. On the one hand, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and on the other, it deals with some very serious issues. Without giving too much away, the enemy that is descending on Tarnbrooke is a zealous religious cult. Popping up after Black Herran disappeared, this new Empire has taken over the kingdoms bit by bit slowly erasing the old ways and with it the old gods. As with most fantasy worlds, the old ways and the old gods are the ones that people with magic, and those who have other gifts, lean towards. This new enemy tries to paint themselves as the good guys, however, they’re oppressors who make it violently clear that it is their way or off a high cliff with you.
That is where our merry band of villains come in. Wronged, vengeful, angry and some of them wanting to know where the hell their former General has been and what the bloody hell she thought she was playing at 40 years ago, they’ve banded together again to stop this Empire with each of them having their personal reasons to do so. Most of them don’t like each other very much, at the most some of them tolerate each other – but they all need each other to get the job done. They also all agree that this new Empire needs to be stopped at Tarnbrooke. They don’t give a monkies about why it has to be this town, they just understand the need for a strategic point to draw the line for battle.
I fell in love with all of the characters, save for one of them who truly is a horrific monster, and Johnston has done a fantastic job of subverting the ideologies of good and evil. These aren’t anti-heroes; there is nothing grey about them. In a panel hosted by Glasgow in 2024, alongside Stephen Aryan, Johnston spoke about writing one of the characters and his struggle to even remind himself that the character was a complete bastard. He found himself beginning to like the man, then would need to remind himself that no, this man had done truly awful things and wasn’t looking for redemption. Looking back at the book I can see that tactic in action because I remember feeling the exact same way then that character, and many of the others, would do something that reminded me, nope these are the bad guys.
It was really refreshing to read a novel where the bad guys were unrepentant and unapologetically themselves. They didn’t cower from the townspeople they were trying to help, they didn’t try to fit in. They had a job to do and they knew that what made them monsters was what made them the only ones able to do the job. Too often authors feel the need to make their characters turn good, to have a heart of gold hidden beneath their monstrous exteriors. They’re just “misunderstood”. If that’s what you’re looking for then The Maleficent Seven is not the book for you.
The end is absolute perfection and had me howling with laughter. The only thing I dislike about The Maleficent Seven? It is sadly a standalone novel. In the same panel, I asked Johnston if he ever intended to go back to the universe of The Maleficent Seven and he confirmed that it was a standalone novel. I agree that it works perfectly as one, I’m just sad not to see these wonderful characters again. The host suggested that maybe he could return for a short story one day so I’m guessing I’m not the only one who felt that way ;)
The Maleficent Seven is unlike anything you will read this year. Even if you think you’ve read a book about villains, I can assure you that you’ve not read one like this. The cast of characters is so diverse, so full of charisma and the world-building is incredible. While there are religious elements in the form of the Empire they are facing this is not a religious fantasy novel, in my opinion. It’s an adventure, a reunion of seven monsters and like any reunion, it goes off with a bang.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog!
Content Warning
There is a huge amount of violence in this book as you would expect from a book about a group of villains. There are also experiments on animals, creatures and humans courtesy of the alchemist character that are quite horrific. That being said this isn’t a horror novel, it is a fantasy novel and there is a war between two factions. The battle scenes are as bloody as you would expect from that situation.
The Maleficent Seven is without a doubt one of the most fun fantasy novels I have read in a while. On the one hand, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and on the other, it deals with some very serious issues. Without giving too much away, the enemy that is descending on Tarnbrooke is a zealous religious cult. Popping up after Black Herran disappeared, this new Empire has taken over the kingdoms bit by bit slowly erasing the old ways and with it the old gods. As with most fantasy worlds, the old ways and the old gods are the ones that people with magic, and those who have other gifts, lean towards. This new enemy tries to paint themselves as the good guys, however, they’re oppressors who make it violently clear that it is their way or off a high cliff with you.
That is where our merry band of villains come in. Wronged, vengeful, angry and some of them wanting to know where the hell their former General has been and what the bloody hell she thought she was playing at 40 years ago, they’ve banded together again to stop this Empire with each of them having their personal reasons to do so. Most of them don’t like each other very much, at the most some of them tolerate each other – but they all need each other to get the job done. They also all agree that this new Empire needs to be stopped at Tarnbrooke. They don’t give a monkies about why it has to be this town, they just understand the need for a strategic point to draw the line for battle.
I fell in love with all of the characters, save for one of them who truly is a horrific monster, and Johnston has done a fantastic job of subverting the ideologies of good and evil. These aren’t anti-heroes; there is nothing grey about them. In a panel hosted by Glasgow in 2024, alongside Stephen Aryan, Johnston spoke about writing one of the characters and his struggle to even remind himself that the character was a complete bastard. He found himself beginning to like the man, then would need to remind himself that no, this man had done truly awful things and wasn’t looking for redemption. Looking back at the book I can see that tactic in action because I remember feeling the exact same way then that character, and many of the others, would do something that reminded me, nope these are the bad guys.
It was really refreshing to read a novel where the bad guys were unrepentant and unapologetically themselves. They didn’t cower from the townspeople they were trying to help, they didn’t try to fit in. They had a job to do and they knew that what made them monsters was what made them the only ones able to do the job. Too often authors feel the need to make their characters turn good, to have a heart of gold hidden beneath their monstrous exteriors. They’re just “misunderstood”. If that’s what you’re looking for then The Maleficent Seven is not the book for you.
The end is absolute perfection and had me howling with laughter. The only thing I dislike about The Maleficent Seven? It is sadly a standalone novel. In the same panel, I asked Johnston if he ever intended to go back to the universe of The Maleficent Seven and he confirmed that it was a standalone novel. I agree that it works perfectly as one, I’m just sad not to see these wonderful characters again. The host suggested that maybe he could return for a short story one day so I’m guessing I’m not the only one who felt that way ;)
The Maleficent Seven is unlike anything you will read this year. Even if you think you’ve read a book about villains, I can assure you that you’ve not read one like this. The cast of characters is so diverse, so full of charisma and the world-building is incredible. While there are religious elements in the form of the Empire they are facing this is not a religious fantasy novel, in my opinion. It’s an adventure, a reunion of seven monsters and like any reunion, it goes off with a bang.
For more of my reviews please visit my blog!
melkarth's review
4.0
Grimdark de humor negro con personajes irredimibles por concepto y que el autor prácticamente no intenta cambiar, en un mundo con ideas interesantes del que a mi al menos me gustaría explorar un poco más.
Ojalá salgan pronto más historias basadas en este universo.
Ojalá salgan pronto más historias basadas en este universo.