Book Review: The Devils
- Author: Joe Abercrombie
- Series: The Devils#1
- Publisher: The Broken Binding
- Published: May 6, 2025
- Pages: 565
- Language English
A Brand-New World Beyond The First Law
With The Devils, Joe Abercrombie launches a fresh trilogy set in an alternate medieval Europe—familiar kingdoms, rewritten history, and one jaw-dropping twist: elves are the enemy, the target of at least one crusade. This isn’t the Circle of the World; it’s darker, weirder, and wickedly fun.
Cast of Unforgettable Antiheroes
Abercrombie unleashes his most colorful crew yet:
- Alex – a master thief and the long-lost Princess of Troy, now claimant to an imperial throne.
- Sir Galen – a knight who has renounced every earthly delight for a vow of righteousness.
- Yrsa – a Viking werewolf who battles the beast inside.
- Magnus – a swaggering necromancer with zero respect for authority.
- Caladris – an ancient vampire, unmoved by mortals or their squabbles.
- Selene – an elf assassin able to vanish into thin air.
- Branwyn – a battle-hardened mercenary who has literally seen it all.
- Brother Diaz – a reluctant monk forced to lead the mission.
Their goal: escort Alex from the Holy City (Rome) to Troy for her coronation. The reality: ambushes, monster raids, betrayals—and not a single plan survives contact with the road.
Action-Packed, Relentlessly Entertaining
There is no slow page here—swashbuckling fights, foul-mouthed banter, and razor-sharp humor keep the pace berserk. Abercrombie’s trademark dialogue lands every punchline, crude or clever, and the chemistry among his “devils” makes you root for each misfit in turn.
Depth Beneath the Chaos
Critics who cry “shallow characters” or “no politics” miss the point: this book trades palace intrigue for mythic mayhem. Themes of redemption, faith, and loyalty simmer under the blood and sarcasm, and the sheer variety of magic and monsters is a first for Abercrombie’s catalog.
Verdict for The Devils
Abercrombie set out to write something “different and purely fun.” Mission accomplished. The Devils delivers 100 percent entertainment, ideal for veterans and newcomers alike—and while the ending satisfies, you’ll finish hungry for Book Two.
Rating: 5/5 – Dark fantasy joyride, highly recommended.
Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds.
Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters, and the mission he is tasked with will require bloody measures from them all in order to achieve its righteous ends.Elves lurk at our borders and hunger for our flesh, while greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions and comfort. With a hellish journey before him, it’s a good thing Brother Diaz has the devils on his side.
