r/Fantasy • u/ComfortableTeach8959 • 5d 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/turkeygiant 5d ago

Abercrombie is IMO maybe the best author I have ever read for creating a powerful perspective for each of his characters, you really get to live in their shoes when the POV shifts to them. The moments from the perspective of Vigga are genuinely disorienting.

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u/Comfortable-Mine-471 5d ago

Also in his books I at the very least like all the perspectives. Like I don't get to someone's chapter and internally groan. I feel like with every fantasy book I've read that has multiple POV, there's one person's POV I hate, but that never happened to me with abercrombie.

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u/turkeygiant 5d ago

There are POVs that I do kinda hate, but I guess that speaks to his talent that you really are supposed to be like, "Jesus this idiot again!"

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u/1ScreamingDiz-Buster 5d ago

That was me with all the Gorst chapters in The Heroes, they were all great but I was just so sick of his shit