There were some pacing issues and a few predictable moments, but overall, the strengths outweighed the weaknesses.

Raucous, magic filled battles with death, Gore, maiming, and Gods and Demons being shown their place, and of course the Malevolent Seven back for more with an extra One - who would have thought - always only a breath away from disaster and death. I love the humour and overall plot. Maybe Sebastien de Castell lost me in some of the thicker parts of the narrative. But I’m willing to forgive because he finds themselves perfect way to keep you involved, and the ending is superb. Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

This is the second instalment in this highly entertaining series. Cade is exactly the sort of protagonist I adore; morally grey, sarcastic, the absolute epitome of the anti-hero. I adore the boldness of the characters in this series, from Corrigan and his lewd jokes to a rat mage and a few new, rather unique characters. You're certainly not going to find a character like Temper in any other book.
This is more darker and grimmer series from Castell, but I absolutely love it. It's a huge amount of fun and had me laughing out loud at many points.
I'm really looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

Picking up where the first book left off, this is a worthy sequel, brimming with crazy energy, de Castell’s brand of humour and adventure and unforgettable characters. Utterly brilliant.

I did not realize this was a sequel so I was very confused and ended up not finishing. What I did read, I felt like the vibe was a little too "angsty teen" for my personal taste.

The Malevolent Eight picks up where the first left off and immediately throws you back into the mess. If you loved the vibe of book one, buckle up—this one is even more unhinged. The humor is sharp, the stakes are somehow even higher, and the cast? Still gloriously dysfunctional.

Cade is the kind of narrator you love even when he’s being a bit of a disaster (which is often). He’s snarky, brooding, clever, and just the right amount of jaded. The book leans into the chaos HARD, but it never feels messy.

Every one of the “Eight” brings something wild to the table, from existential crises to lightning-powered vengeance. There are actual gods gunning for war and somehow it’s these emotionally unstable, barely-functional magic users who are trying to stop it. With… mixed results. And explosions.

There’s action, betrayal, friendship, banter, and yeah—I got unexpectedly emotional toward the end. So yes. Read it and dive into this absolute rollercoaster of found-family chaos, deadly spells, and the kind of gallows humor that makes you laugh when you probably shouldn’t.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves their fantasy dark, their dialogue sharp, and their characters delightfully unhinged.

Sebastien de Castell delivers another genre-defying triumph in The Malevolent Eight, a blisteringly sharp follow-up to The Malevolent Seven that ups the stakes, the chaos, and somehow, the charm. Set in a world teetering between celestial collapse and infernal takeover, the novel takes a classic fantasy apocalypse and filters it through the wickedly sarcastic voice of Cade Ombra—mercenary wonderist, reluctant leader, and certified agent of mayhem.

De Castell is a master at crafting ensemble casts, and here he lets his rogues run riot. Each member of the so-called Malevolent Eight is distinct, volatile, and compelling, creating a chaotic symphony of personalities that shouldn’t work together—but somehow do. There’s a gritty elegance in how this book handles moral ambiguity: no one is noble, but everyone is trying in their own gloriously twisted way.

The worldbuilding is lush, full of madcap details, while the magic system remains complex without ever dragging the pace. Dialogue crackles with razor-edged wit, battles are brutal and cinematic, and the pacing never falters. Yet within all the madness, de Castell still finds time for surprisingly moving moments—shards of vulnerability among the fireballs and insults.

This series continues to be a rare beast: high-concept fantasy that refuses to take itself too seriously, yet still manages to deliver both narrative substance and emotional heft. The Malevolent Eight is a darkly delightful ride through the end of the world, led by characters you absolutely shouldn’t trust—but somehow can’t stop rooting for.

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
I’ve read every book that de Castell has published so far, and I hope to continue to do so as each one is fun, unusual and off the beaten track. This one is no different, expanding further the events that were introduced in The Malevolent Seven. I can’t help but admire de Castell’s imagination, as he builds worlds that are so different and complex, yet utterly believable. One of the things I like most about his books is that he’s often working against the grain; people who should have power but don’t, and how they get around that to achieve what they need to achieve. It’s clever and it’s fully present in this book, too. That and a bloodthirsty kangaroo. Yes, you read that correctly. No, I will not explain further. Go read the book and find out for yourself.

THIS!!!! Is exactly what I want from a SDC novel.

I would actually say this straddles into grimdark a little, the fighting is brutal, there is gore, its bloody bleak, and frankly, the world has become a shit show.

Against this backdrop, we have a sarcastic, witty, frustrating, and deeply conflicted main character. Getting the story through his eyes, memories, and monologues all means the story moved at a rapid pace.

The "Eight" all hold their own in the story and add value and drama. I suppose having a best friend who's like Thor but who's been stuck by a bee and is fucking furious with the world, would give you an entertaining character.

I just loved the flow of this book and as with every SDC book I've read, his prose is top notch.

Really good book!

Having read the malevolent seven I was very pleased to have been granted an ARC by Netgalley (thank you)
You don’t always get same quality in a sequel, here it is exceeded! Really enjoyed this and would recommend without reservation

The Malevolent Eight by Sebastien de Castell
Release Date: May 22nd
Rating 5 stars 9.58 CAWPILE

Where do I start on this book, it was perfect in every way. To say that I went through it with this book. I read it in a total of 4 hours because I couldn’t put it down.

This book, tugged at my heart strings I cried towards the end with a few moments cannot wait to yap about this with people because ahhhh , it made me laugh.
It made me get angry.

So of course I gave it 5 stars. Sebastien de Castell is an author I always know I am going to enjoy because his voice as a writer is always so strong, however this one was definitely a book which hit me with a impact that I was not expecting I fell in love with Cade and his… well I won’t spoil but let’s just say I full on gasped and I loved it please can we have more pretty pretty pretty please Sebastien.

When I say you all need to read this but remember read the first one first because you need the fully understand the magic and I cannot wait to yap about this with all the people who I know love Sebastien de castell as much as I do and maybe drag a few more in.

I loved the Malevolent Seven so much, I was so excited to see the sequel on netgalley!
I love this group of imperfect characters. Every page feels full of intrigue and excitement. This story also feels very original and unlike any other books I've personally read.
Fantastic book!