The Bauchler's Reviews > The Devils

Many people have raved about the book here, so I will not repeat too much those who have praised before.

It's satisfyingly different from the First Law, but is written with their complexity, depth and competency.

It's more comedic than his previous works, but it's by no means a comedy.

There were quite a few 'oh, I didn't see that coming' moments, but because I expect such clever and devious plot twists from Joe, I managed to anticipate SOME of them - but, enough slipped past me to easily still keep me guessing, and then double guessing.

I had an initial quibble which is purely personal so it doesn't affect my rating the book as a 5*.

There was a hell of a lot 'quipping' going on. Everyone had a pithy, wry observation to make, usually after a particularly difficult encounter or moral decision was made.

This wisecracking felt a bit shoehorned-in and I began to feel I was watching a Marvel film.

As the tempo picked up this became less of an issue, thankfully.

Complex characters are one JA's strengths and he gives us this in abundance.

The ending was exciting and satisfying and clearly leaves things open for further adventures of this latest band of anti-heroes.

C'mon Joe - I can't wait.





Regretful addendum

It's been a couple of days since finishing this and I've had time to give it some post-euphoric thought.

Although I still consider it a very good novel. I have to admit it's probably not an excellent 5* one.

My chief issue with the book is something I overlooked (though it did niggle me during reading it) and that's it's lack of.....

(pauses for ironic, dramatic effect)...

...tension.

I never once worried that the characters would overcome/survive any of the set-piece battles/encounters.

Despite the desperate situations the central characters found themselves in I knew the main characters would survive and come out on top.

In other Abercrombie novels this could never be assumed. He killed them off (and then often brought them back again) and each encounter was a real nailbiter.

I also knew who would pull the proverbial fat out of the fire when all seemed lost.

We're being attacked by overwhelming enemy forces near a large supply of corpses, hmmm if only we had a necromancer.

We are facing a hostile mob? What we could do with is a charismatic figure who could beguile and charm them.

A lycanthrope villain? Surely the only thing that could defeat that would be ANOTHER werewolf.

More like a AD&D adventure I think.

I feel I should re-evaluate my rating to a 4*