Joe Abercrombie cracks open a new sandbox with The Devils, an irreverent, blood-slick epic that trades the familiar First Law world for an alternate medieval Europe where popes are queens, Troy won its war, Carthage outmuscled Rome, and elves are not ethereal archers but man-eaters at the gates. It is part road novel, part siege chronicle, part horror romp, and very much a found-family caper wrapped in plate mail.
What it is about
Brother Diaz, a monk with more conscience than clout, is summoned to the Holy City expecting a pat on the head and a tidy assignment. Instead, Her Holiness points him at the apocalypse and hands him a leash attached to a motley crew of monsters and misfits. The job is simple on paper. Put the quick-witted thief Alex on a rival throne, unify a schismatic church, and rally mankind before the elves roll in for a buffet. The tools are anything but simple. Think a cursed knight, a flamboyant necromancer, a weary vampire, a nigh-invisible elf, a chaotic werewolf, a pirate with opinions, and more blades than sense. The mission requires unholy deeds for holy ends, and Abercrombie leans hard into the moral friction.
Vibe check
Longtime fans will recognize the author’s calling cards: razor banter, bludgeoning set pieces, and a talent for making loyalty feel both costly and exhilarating. What surprised me is the tone. The Devils is grimy and violent, but it is also unabashedly fun. The humor is broader, the camaraderie warmer, and the pace closer to an action movie that refuses to catch its breath. Imagine the crack-team energy of Best Served Cold tilted toward found-family chaos, then spike it with winks to classic horror.
What works
1) A crew you want to follow.
Abercrombie remains elite at differentiating voices and building chemistry through dialogue. The back-and-forth between Alex, Brother Diaz, and the more monstrous members lands with rhythm and bite. Even when the world is burning, the group dynamic keeps the pages flying. The theme of redemption hums beneath the carnage. Plenty of these so-called devils are trying, in their crooked ways, to be better than their reputations.
2) Combat with cadence.
Few authors stage violence with this much clarity and propulsion. The book is structured in big movements, each closing on a crescendo of steel, spellcraft, and terrible decisions. The final stretch is an extended, cinematic fever pitch that showcases Abercrombie’s control of momentum and spatial detail.
3) High-concept playground.
Alternate-history flourishes give the setting personality. Holy City politics, rival thrones, and an East vs West religious standoff frame the quest with juicy stakes. The elf threat is genuinely menacing, a predator presence that sharpens every objective.
Where readers may bounce
1) Humor that will either charm you or wear you down.
The book reaches for laughs often. Many lines land. Some recur. If you prefer your grimdark entirely grim, the cheeky tone can feel like a mismatch. Readers sensitive to quip frequency may find the gag density a little heavy, particularly in the middle third.
2) Action overload and repetition.
Abercrombie choreographs battles brilliantly, but there are a lot of them. A few sequences echo one another in shape and payoff. If your sweet spot is political intrigue or internal monologue, the book’s fight-forward metabolism might test your patience.
3) Worldbuilding logic vs. rule-of-cool.
This is an alternate Europe that gestures at big divergences, then prioritizes character dynamics over rigorous historical dominoes. If you crave airtight what-if scaffolding, some choices may read hand-wavy. The novel clearly privileges swagger, speed, and set pieces.
Themes under the armor
Beneath the jokes and jugulars, The Devils is preoccupied with conscience. How far can you bend your principles in service of a cause before you become what you fight. Brotherhood born of necessity ripens into something genuine, and several characters wrestle with the idea that peace requires a different kind of courage than war. It is not a bleak book, despite the gore. There is tenderness in the margins and a guarded faith in second chances.
Audiobook note
If you go audio, the banter and pacing translate well. The story’s stop-start rhythm of banter, burst, aftermath feels tailor-made for listening sprints.
Who will love it
- Readers who want First Law energy with a looser, cheekier tilt
- Fans of found-family heist crews in epic-fantasy clothes
- Action-first readers who relish inventive, extended battle sequences
- Horror enjoyers who appreciate monsters as teammates and threats
Who might skip
- Purists who want their grimdark humor rare rather than medium
- Readers seeking meticulous alternate-history logic over vibes
- Character-depth hunters who prefer quieter, slower interiority
Verdict
The Devils is a swaggering, steel-slinging kickoff that proves Abercrombie can step outside his signature world and still deliver velocity, voice, and villainy worth cheering for. It is not the coldest, darkest entry in his catalog, and the comedy may run hot for some, but as a spectacle with heart it absolutely rips.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Ready to ride with Brother Diaz and his unruly flock
👉 Buy The Devils on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4q361MI
