The Devils by Joe Abercrombie: What You Need to Know (2025)

You don’t need to have read a single Joe Abercrombie book to enjoy The Devils, published May 6, 2025 — a grimdark fantasy that launches a new trilogy set in an alternate medieval Europe. It’s a standalone entry point that rewards both newcomers and longtime fans with Abercrombie’s signature mix of gore, humor, and moral ambiguity.

Author: Joe Abercrombie ·
Publication Date: May 6, 2025 ·
Genre: Grimdark fantasy ·
Page Count: 480 (hardcover) ·
Series Order: Book 1 of a planned trilogy ·
Publisher: Gollancz

Six key specs define the first edition: from its title to its ISBN, the table below sums up the essentials.

What is The Devils by Joe Abercrombie about?

Plot summary for The Devils

• The story follows Brother Diaz, a monk appointed to lead the Chapel of Holy Expediency, the Church’s covert branch (SuperSummary (literary analysis guide)).
• His mission: escort Alex, a street thief believed to be the long-lost Princess Alexia Pyrogennetos, across a plague-ridden Europe to reclaim her throne (SoBrief (book summary service)).
• The journey is complicated by a religious schism between east and west, with elves threatening from the east (SFFWorld (speculative fiction site)).
• The team consists of outcasts: a werewolf, a vampire, an immortal knight, an elf, a necromancer, and others — a “Suicide Squad” or “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” setup (Prose & Context (review substack)).

Main characters and setting

• Brother Diaz: naïve monk thrust into command of the Chapel of Holy Expediency.
• Alex: street thief who may be Princess Alexia, heir to the Serpent Throne of Troy (Prose & Context).
• Ensemble: werewolf, vampire, immortal knight, elf, necromancer, and other misfits (Prose & Context).
• Setting: an alternate medieval Europe ravaged by plague, famine, and war, with the Holy City as a starting point and Troy as the destination (Jeroen Thoughts (review blog)).

The pattern: a mismatched crew forced together for a politically explosive trek — part heist, part pilgrimage, part survival horror. The implication: Abercrombie is building a world where every faction is compromised, and the “heroes” are the least trustworthy people in it.

Is The Devils by Joe Abercrombie a standalone or a series?

Confirmation of trilogy status

• Abercrombie has confirmed two follow-up books, making The Devils the first installment of a planned trilogy (SoBrief (book summary service)).
• Multiple sources refer to the novel as “Book 1 of The Devils series” (SFFWorld (speculative fiction site); SoBrief (book summary service)).

Where to find official announcements

• The author’s official website and publisher Gollancz are expected to announce Book 2’s release window once set.
• Reader communities track updates via interviews and social media, but no fixed date has been shared (SFFWorld (speculative fiction site)).

The implication: the trilogy status guides reader expectations for investment and patience.

Do I need to read other Joe Abercrombie books before The Devils?

Standalone nature vs. shared universe

• The Devils is set in a completely new world with new characters, so no prior Abercrombie reading is required (The Diary of a Reader (reader blog)).
• Reading The First Law or Age of Madness is optional — it gives context on Abercrombie’s narrative style and humor but does not affect understanding of this plot (Prose & Context (review substack)).

Recommended reading order

• Start with The Devils (it’s designed as an entry point).
• If you enjoy the tone, try The First Law trilogy or the standalone novels after.
• Content note: The book contains violence and dark themes typical of grimdark fantasy but is not classified as “spicy” — no explicit sexual content is highlighted in reviews (SuperSummary (literary analysis guide)).
• Difficulty: Abercrombie’s prose is straightforward and immersive, comparable to his other novels, making it accessible for new fantasy readers (The Diary of a Reader (reader blog)).

The trade-off: skipping earlier works means you lose familiarity with Abercrombie’s signature pacing and character archetypes, but the plot itself stands alone. For newcomers, that’s an advantage — no homework required.

Timeline signal

1. May 6, 2025 — Publication of The Devils (Novel Notions (book review site)).
2. 2025 (post-release) — Abercrombie announces two follow-up books (Prose & Context (review substack)).
3. TBA — Expected release of Book 2 (SoBrief (book summary service)).

The implication: publication is confirmed, but the series timeline remains open.

Clarity: Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• The Devils was published on May 6, 2025.
• It is the first book of a trilogy.
• No prior Abercrombie reading is required.

What’s unclear

• Exact release dates for Book 2 and Book 3 (SoBrief).
• Whether the series will include novellas or additional side stories (SFFWorld).
• Some details of the ending (whether Alex’s rise is built on lies and the world remains cyclical) are debated among early readers (SoBrief).

The pattern: clear facts are limited; many details remain speculative.

What experts and reviewers are saying

“The Devils mixes gore with irreverent comedy.”

SuperSummary (literary analysis guide)

“The story is set against a religious schism between east and west, with the journey intended to help heal that divide — but the world is threatened by elves coming from the east.”

SFFWorld (speculative fiction site)

“The Chapel of Holy Expediency is the Church’s clandestine branch, and its members include a werewolf, a vampire, an immortal knight, an elf, and a necromancer — a ‘League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’ setup.”

Jeroen Thoughts (review blog)

For Joe Abercrombie fans, the takeaway is clear: The Devils is a fresh start that rewards both newcomers and veterans. The real test lies in whether the second book delivers on the setup — or if the trilogy stumbles under the weight of its own ambition. For now, the first installment offers a bloody, funny, ensemble-driven journey that feels like classic Abercrombie, even in a brand-new world.

Frequently asked questions