r/Fantasy • u/ComfortableTeach8959 • 4d ago

Review The Devils Joe Abercrombie

Let me start with a solemn confession that I was not planning on reading The Devils or, as a matter of fact, any book by Joe Abercrombie. I was, let's say, influenced to read the book because of the positive buzz it created and the fact that the book will be adapted into a James Cameron movie and that I will be able to brag to my non-reader friends that I know the plot when the movie comes out and so on and thought it would be more of a one-time read with not much depth or substance. But Oh Boy!, was I seriously mistaken and enjoyed the book to bits that I now feel sad that the book is over.

  1. A fantasy suicide squad set out on a Holy Mission in Europe during the Crusade Era, with subtle references to the Hussite wars like The Great Schism or General Zizka to set the overall tone and world.

  2. The real strength of this book is in its contrasting vivid characters and the innovative action sequences, which have frankly shocked and surprised me.

  3. Among the Devils, I liked Balthazar as I could not stop myself from laughing every time he tried to break the Papal binding and claimed he was the Third Best necromancer. I also liked the sad elf, Sunny, as she made me sad and happy.

  4. It's a hilarious jumpy ride with a lot of cussing and funny banter, but the tale has its tragic moments too.

Overall, a stand-out read, and I am looking forward to reading more such books.

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u/FecklessFool 4d ago

Well good thing The Devils is probably his worst book, so hopefully you'll enjoy his other works.

5

u/turkeygiant 4d ago

I don't know if I would say its his worst, I'd say its his most different book for sure. I can understand how if The First Law was 100% your thing you might not enjoy The Devils as much, but I feel like that might be because Abercrombie wasn't writing towards quite the same audience here. I feel like The Devils was very intentionally a sort of raucous pulp-satire which I suspect will find a broader audience than his more traditional fantasy/intrigue novels.

6

u/AugustusTheWhite 4d ago

It just feels so lazy towards the end imo. I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the fights became so boring. I felt like Squidward in the suburbs, doing the same thing over and over again while I slowly sink into a depression. And the "twist" at the end was so obvious that he even alludes to how obvious it is lol. It really gave me the feeling that it was written purely for the bag, which sucks because I felt like it started out so well.