Magic, an extraordinary and mystical power, has captured the imaginations of people throughout history. From ancient myths and legends to contemporary literature and film, magic is often depicted as a force that can be used for either good or evil. In this regard, the concepts of righteous and malevolent magic emerge. **Righteous magic** refers to the use of magical powers for the greater good and the benefit of others. It is often associated with noble and virtuous characters who employ their magical abilities to heal the sick, protect the weak, and restore harmony in the world. Righteous magic is characterized by its positive intent, ethical use, and adherence to moral principles.
I’ll stop here, dear reader/listener, but all this to say, if you love dark epic fantasy with a band of misfits, morally grey (maybe make it a very dark grey) characters, unhinged behavior, and grim happenings that somehow still do not make for a bleak read, you need this book in your immediate tbr. The magic system is also pretty dang cool!
Now open your eyes and let me show you what a real war mage looks like but be warned you re probably not going to like it, because we re violent, angry, dangerously broken people who sell our skills to the highest bidder and be damned to any moral or ethical considerations. It very much added to the speed of the plot but also to the colloquialism of the narrative style as, similarly to his Greatcoats series, the protagonist is veritably talking with the reader.
Righteous magic is characterized by its positive intent, ethical use, and adherence to moral principles. It is seen as a force of light and compassion. On the other hand, **malevolent magic** involves the use of magical powers for selfish and malicious purposes.
Blog Tour: THE MALEVOLENT SEVEN by Sebastien de Castell (Mobius)
Today’s the first day of Sebastien de Castell‘s blog tour celebrating the release of his latest novel, The Malevolent Seven. The author has put together a rather cool explanatory video for one of the kinds of magic in this new fantasy world, which you can check out over on I’ve also tried to embed that video, below, (it doesn’t seem to show up in Safari, but it does in Chrome… Regardless, it serves as a handy link). Before you click through to Sebastien’s video, here’s the novel’s synopsis…
‘Seven powerful mages want to make the world a better place. We’re going to kill them first.’
Picture a wizard. Go ahead, close your eyes. There he is, see? Skinny old guy with a long straggly beard. No doubt he’s wearing iridescent silk robes that couldn’t protect his frail body from a light breeze. The hat’s a must, too, right? Big, floppy thing, covered in esoteric symbols that would instantly show every other mage where this one gets his magic? Wouldn’t want a simple steel helmet or something that might, you know, protect the part of him most needed for conjuring magical forces from being bashed in with a mace (or pretty much any household object).
Now open your eyes and let me show you what a real war mage looks like… but be warned: you’re probably not going to like it, because we’re violent, angry, dangerously broken people who sell our skills to the highest bidder and be damned to any moral or ethical considerations.
At least, until such irritating concepts as friendship and the end of the world get in the way.
My name is Cade Ombra, and though I currently make my living as a mercenary wonderist, I used to have a far more noble-sounding job title – until I discovered the people I worked for weren’t quite as noble as I’d believed. Now I’m on the run and my only friend, a homicidal thunder mage, has invited me to join him on a suicide mission against the seven deadliest mages on the continent.
Time to recruit some very bad people to help us on this job…
Our DM ruled that the ghost would keep its mind-affecting immunity since magic jar states that you keep your own mental abilities. This made sense to us, since conceptually it's the mind of the ghost in there. it shouldn't be any more susceptible than normal to things that affect the mind - ie mind-affecting effects like hold person and fascinate. Is this commonly interpreted differently?
It is typically associated with sinister characters who seek personal gain, control, or revenge. Malevolent magic is characterized by its negative intent, unethical use, and disregard for moral codes. It is often portrayed as a force of darkness and chaos. Both righteous and malevolent magic have been prominent themes in various forms of literature and mythology. Stories often explore the moral dilemmas and consequences that arise from the wielding of these magical powers. The clash between good and evil, often represented through righteous and malevolent magic, creates tension and conflict within narratives. The topic of righteous versus malevolent magic raises philosophical questions about the nature of good and evil, free will, and the responsibility that comes with possessing extraordinary abilities. It prompts us to reflect on the choices we make and the impact they have on ourselves and others. In conclusion, righteous and malevolent magic represent two opposing uses of mystical powers. While righteous magic is associated with goodness, compassion, and harmony, malevolent magic embodies selfishness, darkness, and chaos. The exploration of these concepts in literature and mythology invites us to contemplate the nature of morality and the power we hold within ourselves to shape the world..
Reviews for "The Healing Powers of Righteous Magic vs the Destruction of Malevolent Magic"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Righteous vs malevolent magic". The plot was predictable and lacked depth. I found myself losing interest in the characters and their motivations. The magic system in the story was poorly explained, leaving me confused and disconnected from the story. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to fans of fantasy novels.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Righteous vs malevolent magic" was a complete waste of time for me. The writing was amateurish and full of cliches. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. The dialogue was forced and unrealistic, and the world-building was weak. I struggled to finish this book and felt no connection to the story or the characters. Save yourself the disappointment and look for another fantasy novel to read.
3. David - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Righteous vs malevolent magic", but it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the story lacked excitement and suspense. The author spent too much time on unnecessary details and description, which made the book feel bloated and dragged-out. The conflict between the righteous and malevolent magic was underdeveloped and failed to create any sense of tension or urgency. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling fantasy read.