The Devils

by Joe Abercrombie

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

An invasion of flesh-eating elves threatens Europe, and a special force of monsters is recruited to save the day in this first installment of a tongue-in-cheek epic fantasy.

A brand-new epic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Joe Abercrombie, featuring a notorious band of anti-heroes on a delightfully bloody and raucous journey

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. 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250880055
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/13/2025
Pages:	560
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.80(d)

About the Author

Joe Abercrombie was born in Lancaster, England, studied psychology at Manchester University, and worked as an editor of documentaries and live music before his first book, The Blade Itself, was published in 2006. Two further installments of the First Law trilogy, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings, followed, along with three standalone books set in the same world: Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. He has also written the Shattered Sea trilogy for young adults, the Age of Madness trilogy for old adults, and Sharp Ends, a collection of short stories. He lives in Bath, England, with his wife and three children. The Devils is his thirteenth novel.

Editorial Reviews

03/10/2025

Bestseller Abercrombie (The Wisdom of Crowds) mixes a large helping of humor into his typical grimdark fare in this screwball epic set in a medieval-esque world where elves occupy the Holy Land and the female pope in Rome looks to settle a schism with her eastern counterpart, the patriarch of Troy. Her chosen tool is a street thief, Alex, who might just be the long-lost heir to the Serpent Throne of Troy. She sends Alex to claim this imperial crown with the help of her “devils,” warriors of the secret 13th Chapel of the Holy Expediency. The road to Troy is perilous, and Alex’s long-lost cousins, each eager to take the throne themselves, repeatedly attempt to halt her progress. Meanwhile, the devils—an immortal knight, a shy elf, a Viking werewolf, a polished vampire, and a disgruntled necromancer—are not terribly fond of either Alex or each other. Abercrombie leavens the violence with light banter (“Whoever would’ve thought, a few months ago, when he was diligently reviewing the monastery’s accounts, that slathered with gore would be a phrase he routinely employed?”) and touches of sweet sapphic romance. Fans will come for the wicked swordplay and stay for the growing bonds between the eclectic cast. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"The Devils is just an incredibly fun, incredibly action-packed and, by the end, incredibly affecting book. It slammed the living shit out of me."—Tamsyn Muir, New York Times bestselling author of Gideon the Ninth

“Devilish fun, an unholy delight. Wielding his trademarked grit and stiletto-sharp prose, Abercrombie is at his bloody best weaving a tale of monstrous heroes who discover the humanity in themselves.”—Pierce Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Rising

“The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, the first in a new series, is ferociously imagined, and rumbles along with the unstoppable force of a city-burying avalanche. It's also frequently shout-out-loud-with-laughter funny. When it comes to big, shamelessly entertaining fantasy, Abercrombie is in a class of his own.”—Joe Hill, author of Heart-Shaped Box

“Mixing the central conceit of Suicide Squad with Hammer horror vibes, as viewed via the lens of alternate history, The Devils is a gore splattered roller coaster ride from start to finish. Probably the most fun you can have reading a fantasy novel.”—Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of Blood Song

"Joe Abercrombie is, to me, the undisputed master of creating deep, distinct characters that leap off the page, and never more so than in The Devils. This book is hilarious, profound, tragic, and so thrillingly paced one scarcely has time to breathe between one calamitous adventure and the next. I loved every page, and can’t wait to see where the story goes from here. Straight to hell, I hopefully suspect!"—Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

"Bloody, eloquent, and so f***ing charming!"—Hildur Knútsdóttir, author of The Night Guest

“Deliciously wicked, surprisingly moving. The Dirty Dozen, but fantasy, and with literal monsters. An irresistible vampire, an undying knight, a not-to-be-f***ed with librarian, and the lustiest, most killy, most entertaining werewolf in fantasy or horror conspire to elevate a turdish thief to the throne of empire in this razor-sharp, genre-bending romp. Abercrombie’s best to date. Beware!”—Christopher Buehlman, USA Today bestselling author of The Blacktongue Thief

“The Devils is Joe Abercrombie at his best: exciting, witty, vicious. History buffs (like me!) will love the fantasy-historical setting overflowing with brilliant little details.”—Django Wexler, author of How to Become a Dark Lord and Die Trying

“Oh my days, it is magnificent! Part hilarious, part terrifying, part heartbreaking.”—Peter McLean, author of the War for the Rose Throne series

From the Publisher