"The worst monsters make the best allies." With this tagline hidden beneath the dust jacket, Joe Abercrombie announces his triumphant return to fantasy with The Devils – his first novel since completing the Age of Madness trilogy in 2021, and his first book set outside the First Law universe since The Shattered Sea in 2015. The result is an instant New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller that has already won the Dragon Award for Best Fantasy Book 2025.
If the First Law trilogy was Abercrombie's gritty deconstruction of epic fantasy, and the Age of Madness was his industrialised evolution of that world, then The Devils is something altogether different: a gleefully entertaining monster squad romp that proves the godfather of grimdark can do "fun" without sacrificing an ounce of his trademark wit and brutality.
The Story
Content Note: Spoiler Free Overview
The Devils is set in an alternate medieval Europe where the Church wages war against flesh-eating elves, religious schisms threaten to tear civilisation apart, and supernatural beings walk among us – though rarely freely. When young Brother Diaz is summoned to the Holy City expecting a commendation, he instead finds himself appointed to lead the Chapel of Holy Expediency, a secret taskforce of condemned supernatural beings bound to serve the Church.
His new "flock" consists of monsters: Baron Rikard, an ancient and impeccably mannered vampire; Vigga, a ferocious Norse werewolf with impulse control issues; Sunny, a mild-mannered elf who can turn invisible; Balthazar Sham Ivam Draxi, a narcissistic necromancer ("Magician, if you please"); Jakob of Thorn, a crusader knight cursed to never die; and Baptiste, a jack-of-all-trades former pirate. Together, they're known as the Devils.
Their mission: escort Alex, a street thief recently discovered to be the lost Princess Alexia Pyrogennetos, across Europe to claim the throne of Troy. Standing in their way are the four sons of the usurping Empress Eudoxia, a sorceress who will stop at nothing to prevent Alex from reaching her destination – including sending monstrous hybrid soldiers to hunt them down.
What follows is a blood-soaked adventure across Venice, through cursed houses and naval battles, past zombie hordes and bounty hunters, all building to an explosive finale in the Pharos of Troy itself.
Meet the Devils
Abercrombie's greatest strength has always been his characters, and The Devils delivers an ensemble cast that rivals anything in his previous work:
Brother Diaz: A reluctant monk who only joined the Church because he got the wrong girl pregnant. Now hopelessly out of his depth as shepherd to a flock of monsters.
Alex: The "Worst Princess Ever" – a streetwise thief thrust into royalty, trying to survive long enough to figure out if she even wants the throne.
Jakob of Thorn: An immortal knight from the Crusades, cursed to never die. Stoic, dedicated, and carrying centuries of regret.
Baron Rikard: An ancient vampire with impeccable manners. Civilised, charming, and constantly feeding on everyone around him.
Vigga: A Swedish werewolf – lusty, violent, and gloriously unhinged. Easily the "most killy, most entertaining werewolf in fantasy or horror."
Sunny: A diminutive elf who can turn invisible by holding her breath. Hopeful despite living in a world that fears and hates her kind.
Balthazar Sham Ivam Draxi: A narcissistic necromancer with an ego the size of Europe. Constantly scheming, constantly complaining, and absolutely scene-stealing.
Baptiste: A former pirate and jack-of-all-trades with a wild story for every situation.
Why You'll Love The Devils
Monster squad brilliance: Think Suicide Squad or The Dirty Dozen with literal monsters – each character draws from classic horror archetypes whilst remaining distinctly Abercrombie
Darkly hilarious: This is Abercrombie at his funniest. Gallows humour, cutting dialogue, and moments that will make you laugh out loud
Brutal action: The fight sequences are tight, brutal, and beautifully choreographed – prose that "flourishes like poetry"
Found family vibes: Watching these monstrous misfits bond despite themselves is surprisingly touching
Fresh setting: An alternate medieval Europe with Troy, Venice, and religious intrigue – familiar yet wonderfully strange
LGBTQ+ representation: A genuinely sweet romance develops between Alex and Sunny
Emotional gut-punches: Because this is still Abercrombie – monsters don't always get happy endings
Steven Pacey's audiobook: The beloved narrator returns and won an AudioFile Earphones Award for his performance
A Different Flavour of Abercrombie
Long-time fans should know that The Devils represents a deliberate tonal shift. Where the First Law books were dense political dramas with philosophical underpinnings, The Devils is what Abercrombie himself might call "big, shamelessly entertaining fantasy." It's more Deadpool than Avengers, more popcorn than slow-burn.
The plot is straightforward – escort the princess, survive the journey – and some readers have noted that the middle section can feel episodic. But what The Devils sacrifices in complexity, it gains in momentum. This is a 560-page book that moves like a 300-page thriller, propelled by relentless action and razor-sharp banter.
Pierce Brown called it "devilish fun, an unholy delight," whilst Joe Hill praised it as "ferociously imagined" and "frequently shout-out-loud-with-laughter funny." Tamsyn Muir (Gideon the Ninth) simply said: "It slammed the living shit out of me."
Critical Reception
The Devils has earned widespread acclaim alongside its commercial success. The book won the Dragon Award for Best Fantasy Book 2025, hit bestseller lists on both sides of the Atlantic, and the audiobook (read by Steven Pacey) won an AudioFile Earphones Award.
Perhaps most excitingly for fans, James Cameron has purchased the film rights and announced plans to begin work after completing Avatar 3. Given Cameron's track record and the book's cinematic action sequences, a Devil adaptation could be something special.
That said, some longtime Abercrombie readers have found the lighter tone less satisfying than his previous work. If you're specifically looking for the dense, morally complex political drama of the Age of Madness, you may want to adjust your expectations. The Devils is grimdark at its most accessible – still dark, still violent, still cynical, but with significantly more laughs.
Series Information
The Devils is the first book in a planned series (also titled The Devils). The ending provides satisfying closure to the immediate mission whilst leaving clear room for sequels – the Devils are returned to the Church's custody, ready to be deployed when next needed. Abercrombie has indicated he's working on a sequel, so fans shouldn't have to wait too long to see what unholy missions await.
Who Should Read The Devils?
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy:
Grimdark fantasy with dark humour
Monster and creature-based fantasy
Found family dynamics
Fast-paced action adventure
Ensemble casts of morally questionable antiheroes
Alternate history settings
Films like Suicide Squad, The Dirty Dozen, or Creature Commandos
Interestingly, several reviewers have noted that The Devils might actually be the ideal entry point for readers new to Abercrombie. It's more accessible than the First Law, less reliant on existing world knowledge, and showcases his strengths – character work, action, humour – in a more concentrated package.
Tropes and Content
Found family
Ragtag group of misfits
Hidden princess / lost heir
Monsters as protagonists
Quest / escort mission
LGBTQ+ romance
Religious intrigue
Graphic violence and gore (not for the squeamish)
Final Verdict: Is The Devils Worth Reading?
Absolutely. The Devils is Joe Abercrombie cutting loose and having fun, and that infectious energy leaps off every page. The characters are memorable, the action is spectacular, and the dark humour lands consistently. It may not have the intricate political depth of the First Law, but it wasn't trying to – and what it does, it does brilliantly.
For longtime fans, it's a chance to see Abercrombie try something new whilst retaining everything that makes him special. For new readers, it's potentially the best on-ramp to his work. And for anyone who's ever wanted to read about a vampire, a werewolf, a necromancer, and an elf forced to work together whilst trading insults and stabbing everything in their path – well, this is the book you didn't know you needed.
Holy work sometimes requires unholy deeds. And unholy deeds have never been this entertaining.
