Review: The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie’s The Devils is a devilishly sharp, blood-soaked descent into the grim depths of war and politics, delivered with the author’s trademark wit, cynicism, and razor-wire dialogue. Set in a dark and shifting world where alliances rot as quickly as corpses and heroism is just another excuse for cruelty, The Devils offers readers a grimdark epic that is as emotionally resonant as it is brutally unforgiving.

The novel follows a condemned general offered one final shot at redemption: lead a band of misfit criminals and deserters into a war that no one sane would volunteer for. Each member of this unholy regiment carries their own baggage—murderers, zealots, traitors—and yet Abercrombie manages to make every one of them feel unsettlingly human. With every banter-laced march and gory skirmish, the narrative questions the nature of loyalty, justice, and redemption in a world built on lies and ashes.

Plot & Themes

The Devils is a tale of war, politics, betrayal, and the damned. At its core lies a question: can the worst of us do good when it matters? The plot veers between black humor and heartbreaking earnestness, blending epic fantasy with the intimate horror of individual consequence. Abercrombie paints his characters in ash and blood—no one is spared, and no choice is clean.

Writing & Atmosphere

• Sardonic, muscular prose laced with gallows humor
• Grim, immersive worldbuilding with deep political undercurrents
• Complex antiheroes written with humanity and grit
• Visceral, strategic battle scenes that feel both chaotic and precise

Abercrombie’s voice remains unparalleled in the genre. He weaponizes humor with as much lethality as steel, often in the same sentence. The world is rendered in fine strokes of mud, fire, and mistrust, creating a setting that feels both fantastical and painfully real.

Final Verdict

The Devils is a stunning return to form for Joe Abercrombie. It is violent, yes—but more than that, it is intelligent, ruthless, and emotionally complex. The book questions the validity of redemption, the fluidity of power, and whether morality is even possible in the teeth of war. Abercrombie delivers not just another grimdark tale, but a meditation on what it means to be human when every choice leads to blood. Readers hungry for complex characters and no-holds-barred storytelling will find this a brutal, brilliant gem.

Further Reading

If you enjoyed The Devils, consider these next reads:

• The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie — Start of the First Law trilogy, equally bloody and brilliant.
• The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman — Grimdark meets folkloric weirdness with humor and heart.
• Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher — Twisted fantasy where insanity manifests as power.
• Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence — A brutal tale of vengeance, nihilism, and broken youth.
• The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson — Epic, challenging, and deeply philosophical.

---

About Jamie Bucuy

Jamie Bucuy is a psychological horror and thriller writer with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. With a passion for exploring the darker facets of human nature, Jamie brings a keen analytical eye to the genre. His reviews combine literary insight with a deep understanding of the craft, providing readers with thoughtful perspectives on modern and classic horror fiction.