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Chronicles of Cain #7
Cabal of Chaos
LET CHAOS REIGNThe Oblivion Guard is trying to kill Cain.That should be impossible. After all, Cain has a bargain with the summer and winter queens that keeps him safe from them directly or indirectly harming him. If they breach the bargain, then they'll lose considerable power.Cain discovers that many of these would-be assassins come from Alpha and Beta dimensions, and they seem to have found a loophole that allows them to kill him without harming the queens. Anyone associated with Cain is fair game, and Aura and Layla are forced to hide out at Sanctuary with Cain.But not even his secret hideout is safe anymore. The guardians are working closely with Eclipse, the assassination and bounty-hunting agency once run by Torvin Rayne. A cybermancer in their employ has found a way to triangulate the location of Sanctuary. The clock is ticking down, leaving Cain no choice but to go on the offensive.But he soon discovers that rogue guardians are the least of his worries. There's a new player in town, a being known as the Winged God. And they seem to be pulling the strings. Their goal is to kill Cain and take Hannah for their own.There's only one way to stop the threat, and that's to go straight to the source of the problem and kill everyone. But going up against an army of trained killers isn't a walk in the park even for Cain. He'll have to use every trick in the book to pull this off and make up a few along the way.But soon they'll learn that no one, not even a god, is going to get between Cain and his mangoritas.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2022
109 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
John Corwin
81 books559 followersJohn Corwin is the bestselling author of the Overworld Chronicles.
He enjoys long walks on the beach and is a firm believer in puppies and kittens.
After years of getting into trouble thanks to his overactive imagination, John abandoned his male modeling career to write books.
He resides in Atlanta.
He enjoys long walks on the beach and is a firm believer in puppies and kittens.
After years of getting into trouble thanks to his overactive imagination, John abandoned his male modeling career to write books.
He resides in Atlanta.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 19, 2022
No donkey kicks?
I think that this is the first book that Cain doesn't donkey kick someone. WHAT?!!!
Otherwise it was a fun book.
I think that this is the first book that Cain doesn't donkey kick someone. WHAT?!!!
Otherwise it was a fun book.
October 28, 2022
Yowzah!
Full of twists and turns, now we are headed into unexpected places and unexpected wars. Can't wait to see what kind of trouble Cain gets out of next!
Full of twists and turns, now we are headed into unexpected places and unexpected wars. Can't wait to see what kind of trouble Cain gets out of next!
August 24, 2022
Tell me this isn’t the last book in the series. I don’t want to be left hanging.
Cain figures out who is behind the attempts to assassinate him and kidnap Hannah. It is a long and arduous journey involving several break-ins and much deception. He acquires some new magical gadgets along the way and meets a potential ally and a mysterious female who may be able clarify his heritage.
In an earlier review I wrote Cain had been given to his Ekhsis parents by Old Joe. Cain indicates in this book that he had been raised by his adopted mother and father until their deaths. How did Old Joe know about/get to the Oblivion plane? Why didn’t Cain’s parents also have doppelgängers on Alpha and Beta? Who raised the Cains in those planes?
Oblivion cloak acquisitions: page 14 - I yanked the cloak from her corpse and put it on.
page 22 - I quickly tugged his oblivion cloak off ... One could never have too many cloaks enchanted with fae glamor.
page 68- While they were sleeping, we took their cloaks. (plural)
page 176 - If we can’t get oblivian cloaks, we can at least fight our way to the penthouse.
(They already have cloaks)
page 185 - "I have one cloak but I haven’t had time to recharge it yet.”
(Really? Just one? By this point it seems they should have at least four)
page 408 - ... but the bag he’d given me contained four oblivion cloaks.
(Cain sounds like this is the first time he’d had his hands on one since leaving the guard)
Okay, enough quibbling. I still hope there will be more adventures. The new and improved Layla is at least tolerable. I wish Fred could be the monster he wants to be. Hannah seems to go back and forth from being a brat to a well seasoned strategist. Kids, gotta love ‘em.
Cain figures out who is behind the attempts to assassinate him and kidnap Hannah. It is a long and arduous journey involving several break-ins and much deception. He acquires some new magical gadgets along the way and meets a potential ally and a mysterious female who may be able clarify his heritage.
In an earlier review I wrote Cain had been given to his Ekhsis parents by Old Joe. Cain indicates in this book that he had been raised by his adopted mother and father until their deaths. How did Old Joe know about/get to the Oblivion plane? Why didn’t Cain’s parents also have doppelgängers on Alpha and Beta? Who raised the Cains in those planes?
Oblivion cloak acquisitions: page 14 - I yanked the cloak from her corpse and put it on.
page 22 - I quickly tugged his oblivion cloak off ... One could never have too many cloaks enchanted with fae glamor.
page 68- While they were sleeping, we took their cloaks. (plural)
page 176 - If we can’t get oblivian cloaks, we can at least fight our way to the penthouse.
(They already have cloaks)
page 185 - "I have one cloak but I haven’t had time to recharge it yet.”
(Really? Just one? By this point it seems they should have at least four)
page 408 - ... but the bag he’d given me contained four oblivion cloaks.
(Cain sounds like this is the first time he’d had his hands on one since leaving the guard)
Okay, enough quibbling. I still hope there will be more adventures. The new and improved Layla is at least tolerable. I wish Fred could be the monster he wants to be. Hannah seems to go back and forth from being a brat to a well seasoned strategist. Kids, gotta love ‘em.
August 13, 2022
Somehow the Oblivion Guard have found a way around the bargain Cain made with the Fae Queens and have been hunting and trying to kill him. If that’s not enough to deal with, a powerful player called the Winged God wants Hannah for itself. Both the Guard and the Winged God are willing to take out Cain and anyone close to him – no one is safe, not even in Cain’s Sanctuary. Gee, when can a guy just sit back and enjoy a mangorita or two?
It's hard to express how much I enjoyed this one. It's wonderful! Good descriptions without being too wordy, lots of action yet the main characters come across as realistically still needing rest and food occasionally unlike some stories where it seems like the MC's unbelievably just keep going and going and going . . .
There was enough tension that when I hit the end of a chapter where I'd promised myself that I was going to stop reading for a while and get some things done that I needed to do - I couldn't resist going on and would end up reading more and more. I basically just gave up on adulting and finished the book. I just had to see what was going to happen next! Very imaginative and engaging story line. I highly recommend it. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this series from the start, check out ‘To Kill a Unicorn’ and get in on the characters and threads of this series from the first book. Bonus that the series is on Kindle Unlimited.
It's hard to express how much I enjoyed this one. It's wonderful! Good descriptions without being too wordy, lots of action yet the main characters come across as realistically still needing rest and food occasionally unlike some stories where it seems like the MC's unbelievably just keep going and going and going . . .
There was enough tension that when I hit the end of a chapter where I'd promised myself that I was going to stop reading for a while and get some things done that I needed to do - I couldn't resist going on and would end up reading more and more. I basically just gave up on adulting and finished the book. I just had to see what was going to happen next! Very imaginative and engaging story line. I highly recommend it. If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this series from the start, check out ‘To Kill a Unicorn’ and get in on the characters and threads of this series from the first book. Bonus that the series is on Kindle Unlimited.
October 12, 2022
This was by far one of my favorite books in the Chronicles of Cain series. All Cain wants to do is take a break and drink some mangoritas. That just isn’t in the cards for Cain and his crew. As always, there is plenty of adventure. What I loved about this book is that there is also a lot of character building and more clues into Cain’s heritage. Can’t wait for the next in the series.
August 6, 2022
always a fun time fighting monsters when you’re insane
I blasted through this book way too fast! Fun ride, not enough mangoritas, twists and turns. And it looks like Fate left the door wide open for the next in the series! Splendid
I blasted through this book way too fast! Fun ride, not enough mangoritas, twists and turns. And it looks like Fate left the door wide open for the next in the series! Splendid
August 1, 2022
John, you've done it again; left me wanting more. This is a great series. I love the way John Corwin thinks.
January 29, 2026
Rank C+
Personal Tags: Urban Fantasy, FR, PR, GP, Fae, Spy
This was kind of a hard rate for me at 3 stars. I actually really liked the spy-thriller angle this one leaned into, especially the corporate espionage feel and all the maneuvering behind the scenes. The dealings with the Fae were another highlight and added a nice layer of tension and unpredictability that fit the series well. That said, the book as a whole felt like the personification of “this could have been an email.” A lot of what happens feels more like setup and information transfer than a full, satisfying story on its own. There are good moments and interesting ideas, but not enough forward momentum to justify the length. Overall, it’s not a bad entry, just a thinner one, and it feels more like a bridge to what’s coming next than a standout installment.
Personal Tags: Urban Fantasy, FR, PR, GP, Fae, Spy
This was kind of a hard rate for me at 3 stars. I actually really liked the spy-thriller angle this one leaned into, especially the corporate espionage feel and all the maneuvering behind the scenes. The dealings with the Fae were another highlight and added a nice layer of tension and unpredictability that fit the series well. That said, the book as a whole felt like the personification of “this could have been an email.” A lot of what happens feels more like setup and information transfer than a full, satisfying story on its own. There are good moments and interesting ideas, but not enough forward momentum to justify the length. Overall, it’s not a bad entry, just a thinner one, and it feels more like a bridge to what’s coming next than a standout installment.
January 14, 2023
I am absolutely obsessed with this entertaining and inclusive (🏳️🌈) eight book series. Even better that I was able to read them all on Kindle unlimited. I was a little skeptical at first when I realized they were trying to combine fairies, Cthulhu mythos, werewolves, vampires, witches, etc. BUT I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!
I devoured this whole series in a couple of weeks so have been able to enjoy the story arc and character development. My only complaint is that the books are a little on shorter side (I want more Cain!).
No spoilers but if you like an ex-assassin who’s secretly a softy, kids with powers, or good eldritch monsters you won’t be disappointed.
I devoured this whole series in a couple of weeks so have been able to enjoy the story arc and character development. My only complaint is that the books are a little on shorter side (I want more Cain!).
No spoilers but if you like an ex-assassin who’s secretly a softy, kids with powers, or good eldritch monsters you won’t be disappointed.
August 11, 2022
always a great read
Chronicles of Cain books are always a great read and this one does not disappoint. Cain finds himself being hunted by the Oblivian Guard and he can’t understand how the queens have broken their bargain. Nothing is ever easy. He learns of lost of twist and plots after investigating. And make and uneasy alliance.
Chronicles of Cain books are always a great read and this one does not disappoint. Cain finds himself being hunted by the Oblivian Guard and he can’t understand how the queens have broken their bargain. Nothing is ever easy. He learns of lost of twist and plots after investigating. And make and uneasy alliance.
May 22, 2024
Another superb read. I continue to enjoy the Cain Chronicles. In very interested to see where the events of this book lead. A new deal with new freedom and service at the same time. Traitors and double dealing led this book to take the series on a turn I didn't expect.
June 15, 2024
It just keeps getting better!
I have enjoyed following cain and pals through many adventures. This is my 3rd reread, and I still find hints and things I missed the first 2 times. I highly recommend this series!
I have enjoyed following cain and pals through many adventures. This is my 3rd reread, and I still find hints and things I missed the first 2 times. I highly recommend this series!
January 10, 2025
Cabal of Chaos
This one was pretty good, even if it dragged in places. Cain and friends learned and accomplished a lot in this adventure. Corwin excels at building a world even this late in the series.
This one was pretty good, even if it dragged in places. Cain and friends learned and accomplished a lot in this adventure. Corwin excels at building a world even this late in the series.
October 5, 2025
Excellent story
Very good story by a very good writer. The action and intrigue are superb and some of the quips from the characters are laugh out loud funny. Can't wait to read the next installment.
Very good story by a very good writer. The action and intrigue are superb and some of the quips from the characters are laugh out loud funny. Can't wait to read the next installment.
February 24, 2023
This book was a bit slower paced than the rest, but still full of twists and turns and unpleasant situations. I am also glad this book slowed down a tiny bit, because I need to catch my breath.
Read
March 6, 2023Funny. Crazy chaos. Relationships are becoming endearing. I love the drama. So engrossing I think I read this one the fastest. Good job!
April 7, 2023
3.5
I'm not sure why but I had a hard time engaging with this story. I was quick to jump right into the next one, though, and really enjoyed it, so maybe it was just me.
I'm not sure why but I had a hard time engaging with this story. I was quick to jump right into the next one, though, and really enjoyed it, so maybe it was just me.
February 28, 2025
Mediocre
As Immortan Joe once wisely pronounced, "Mediocre."
2.5 stars, but I am kind-hearted and generous to a fault. Trust me.
As Immortan Joe once wisely pronounced, "Mediocre."
2.5 stars, but I am kind-hearted and generous to a fault. Trust me.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews