The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, Book #1 of The Devils Series
Introduction
In The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, the adolescent girl Pope assigns the task of installing Alex the long-lost heir to the Empire of Troy to the Throne in this alternate history fantasy. Alex was an orphaned thief in the Holy City of the Pope until Alex’s Uncle Michael discovers her. The Pope sends a group of her vilest criminals nicknamed the Devils to help Alex gain the Throne and unite the Western and Eastern Churches to face the threat of the elves together. Will The Devils overcome their despicable nature to help Alex in her quest, or will they fail?
Summary
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is an alternate history fantasy. Two important events change the history of Europe. In the novel Troy defeats the Greeks and Carthage defeats the Romans which makes Troy and the Holy City the two most powerful cities in the Mediterranean. Magic exists in this story. Magicians and magical beasts are real. The elves have taken the Far East and have tried to take Troy many times but have failed so far. The Savior was a woman, the daughter of God. The Church of the savior is split with the Pope leading the Western Church and the Patriarch leading the Eastern Church. Crusades were waged against the elves and the Churches fear another elf attack. The Pope wants her group of Devils to deliver Alex to Troy so Alex can take the Throne and unite the two Churches to defeat the elves.
The Devils are presented in groups of two.
Vigga, the werewolf from Norway, and Brother Diaz, the reluctant monk. One is faithless and one is faithful, but they are attracted to each other like magnets.
Balthazar Sham Ivam Draxi, the necromancer, and Baptiste, the jack of all trades pirate. Both are fighting a mutual attraction and hatred for each other.
Jakob of Thorn, the ancient crusader cursed to never die, and Baron Rikard, the undead vampire cursed to requiring the blood of others. Both are searching for the end.
Sunny, the elf, and Alex the thief, the heir to the throne of Troy. Both outsiders and attracted to each other.
Recommendation
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is a fun bloody humorous quest. Every Devil has an inner turmoil to conquer, and they are greater together than apart. Every Devil has their own point of view sections, so the reader sees their unique circumstances. The end of this novel sets up the next adventure of the Devils. I’m looking forward to reading the next two volumes of this proposed trilogy.
Links
This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, Book #1 of The Devils Series.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212276037-the-devils
This is the link to my Book Review of Sharp Ends by Joe Abercrombie, an anthology. Will the protagonists in these thirteen fantasy action stories prevail or fail in their efforts?
This is the link to my Book Review of the Wisdom of Crowds by Joe Abercrombie, Age of Madness Series Book #3. They defeated the rebellion, but all is not well in the Union. Will the wisdom of crowds start a revolution and bring down the Union once and for all?