The Devils by Joe Abercrombie Summary

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is an alternate history fantasy novel set in a medieval Europe where Troy defeated Greece and Carthage conquered Rome. The story follows a group of criminals—including a werewolf, necromancer, vampire, and monk—dubbed "the Devils" as they escort Alex, an orphaned thief revealed to be the lost heir to Troy's throne, across dangerous lands to claim her empire and unite the Eastern and Western Churches against an elven threat.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is ideal for readers who enjoy dark fantasy with humor, political intrigue, and morally gray characters. Fans of Abercrombie's First Law series will appreciate his evolved writing style with better pacing and more comedy, while newcomers seeking a standalone-like experience can start here since the trilogy functions as interconnected standalones. It's perfect for those who love ensemble casts, monsters, and bloody adventures with heart.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is worth reading for fans seeking fun, bloody, humorous fantasy with emotional depth. Reviewers praise it as Abercrombie's most entertaining work, leaning heavily into comedy and over-the-top monster encounters while maintaining his signature dark themes and character complexity. Each Devil character has distinct inner turmoil and growth arcs that make the episodic quest engaging. However, readers preferring completed series should note this is book one of an unfinished trilogy.

Joe Abercrombie is a British fantasy author known for his grimdark First Law series, published over two decades ago. His writing style features morally ambiguous characters, dark humor, political intrigue, and brutal violence. The Devils showcases his evolution as a writer with improved pacing, clearer plotting from the start, and more comedic elements compared to his earlier work like The Blade Itself. He excels at character-driven narratives where traditional hero archetypes are subverted.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie features paired characters with opposing natures:

• Vigga the faithless werewolf and Brother Diaz the faithful monk
• Balthazar the necromancer and Baptiste the pirate who share mutual attraction and hatred
• Jakob of Thorn the immortal crusader and Baron Rikard the vampire both seeking death
• Sunny the elf with Alex the thief-turned-empress, both outsiders

Each character receives their own point-of-view chapters, revealing unique circumstances and internal struggles that make them stronger together than apart.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie reimagines medieval Europe where two pivotal events changed history: Troy's victory over Greece and Carthage's defeat of Rome, making Troy and the Holy City the Mediterranean's dominant powers. Magic, magicians, and magical beasts exist in this world. The Savior was female—God's daughter—and the Church split into Western (led by the Pope) and Eastern (led by the Patriarch) factions. Elves have conquered the Far East and repeatedly threaten Troy, prompting crusades and fears of another invasion.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie explores religious and political corruption, showing how institutions like the Church engage in moral compromise and unholy alliances despite claiming purity. Identity and self-discovery drive character arcs, particularly Alex's journey from commoner to reluctant empress and the tension between monstrous and human natures in characters like Vigga. The novel examines how survival often demands sacrificing ideals, blurring lines between good and evil while questioning faith, duty, and the devastating cost of power.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie demonstrates his growth as a writer over two decades since The Blade Itself, featuring clearer plot structure from the beginning, improved pacing, and more pronounced humor and comedy. While maintaining Abercrombie's trademark dark themes, morally gray characters, and brutal violence, The Devils leans harder into fun, over-the-top monster encounters and comedic elements than the First Law books. The trilogy structure also differs, functioning more as interconnected standalones rather than one continuous epic.

The Chapel of the Holy Expediency in The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is a motley group assembled by the Church consisting of criminals and outcasts. This bizarre team includes Balthazar the disgraced necromancer forced into servitude, a vampire, an elf, an ineffectual priest, and the young, childish Pope Benedicta the First. Despite their villainous natures, they're assigned significant political and religious missions, creating absurd yet dangerous situations that test their survival skills and force unlikely cooperation.

Alex in The Devils by Joe Abercrombie transforms from an orphaned thief in the Holy City to the recognized Princess Alexia Pyrogennetos, the rightful heir to Troy's throne. Duke Michael's revelation of her royal bloodline shatters her identity and thrusts her into political warfare against malevolent cousins and magical enemies. Throughout her journey, Alex struggles between others' expectations and her desire for freedom, forming a bond with the elf Sunny while learning that survival may require sacrificing her ideals and embracing her imperial destiny.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is book one of a planned trilogy called The Devils Series. However, Abercrombie has stated that the trilogy will function more as three interconnected standalones rather than one continuous story. Each book takes place in the same alternate medieval Europe world but offers resolution within each volume. Readers uncomfortable starting unfinished series can approach The Devils knowing it provides a satisfying experience while setting up future adventures.

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie subverts typical fantasy by featuring criminals, monsters, and outcasts as protagonists instead of noble heroes. The alternate history setting replaces familiar medieval Europe with a world where Troy and Carthage dominate, magic coexists with political intrigue, and a female Pope leads the Western Church. Abercrombie balances dark, brutal violence with humor and comedy, creating an episodic romp that's intentionally shallow and fun rather than epic and serious. The paired character dynamics and their internal struggles add emotional depth beyond typical quest narratives.