The Devils by Joe Abercrombie – Comprehensive Book Guide

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Quick Facts

Short Summary

A corrupt monk, Brother Eduardo Diaz, is appointed vicar of the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency and ordered to lead a band of monsters – a necromancer, a werewolf, a vampire, an undying knight, and an invisible elf – on a mission to install a street thief as the rightful Empress of Troy. As the group journeys through war‑torn lands, political intrigue, and supernatural horrors, each member must confront their own past sins while the Church uses them as expendable tools. The story explores moral compromise, identity theft, and the question of whether devils can ever do God's work.

Full Summary

Brother Eduardo Diaz, a hypocritical and ambitious monk, is summoned to meet the Pope on Saint Aelfric's Day but instead is redirected to Cardinal Zizka. She reveals the existence of the Chapel of the Holy Expediency – a secret thirteenth chapel that employs morally questionable methods to fight the Church's enemies. Diaz is made its new vicar and meets his team: Jakob of Thorn, a scarred, undying Knight Templar; Baptiste, a flamboyant lay minister; and a dungeon of monsters including Balthazar the necromancer, Sunny the elf, and Baron Rikard the vampire. Pope Benedicta, a ten‑year‑old girl, binds them all with a magical red line on their wrists, compelling them to escort Princess Alexia Pyrogennetos to Troy and install her as Empress.

Meanwhile, Alex – a con artist and thief – is discovered by Duke Michael of Nicaea, who claims she is the lost heir to the Serpent Throne. After a chance meeting with the elf Sunny, Alex accepts her new identity, hoping to escape her debts. The group is ambushed by monstrous hybrids created by the late Empress Eudoxia, and Jakob is killed but miraculously survives due to his curse. Vigga, a Norse werewolf, emerges from captivity and joins them. The team suffers heavy losses, including the death of Baptiste, and must navigate betrayal, war, and their own inner demons.

The journey takes them through a pilgrim camp, the canals of Venice, a cursed illusionist's house, a sea battle against Duke Constans, and a plague‑infested barony. Balthazar repeatedly tries and fails to break the papal binding, even summoning a Duke of Hell named Shaxep, who also cannot undo it. The group eventually reaches the Pillar of Troy, where Alex is crowned Empress. But Duke Michael and Cardinal Zizka have their own plans, leading to a brutal final confrontation. Alex discovers she is not the real princess but a replacement; Michael betrays her, and Jakob sacrifices himself by dragging Michael off the Pharos to their deaths. In the aftermath, Alex rules Troy, the surviving devils are imprisoned in cages by Zizka, and Brother Diaz becomes her chaplain. The book ends with a new character, Mother Beckert, being summoned to the Thirteenth Chapel, suggesting the cycle of expediency continues.

Main Characters

• Brother Eduardo Diaz – A hypocritical monk turned vicar of the Chapel of the Holy Expediency; struggles with his vows and his attraction to Vigga.
• Alex (Princess Alexia Pyrogennetos) – A con artist who impersonates the lost heir to Troy; resourceful and pragmatic.
• Balthazar Sham Ivam Draxi – An arrogant necromancer bound by papal magic; seeks freedom through dark rituals.
• Jakob of Thorn – An undying Knight Templar bound by an oath of honesty; haunted by past crusades.
• Vigga Ullasdottr (Vigga‑Wolf) – A Norse werewolf torn between violent urges and loyalty.
• Sunny (Sunnithilien Darktooth) – An invisible elf who was once a circus exhibit; forms a deep bond with Alex.
• Baron Rikard – A vampire with no soul, exempt from the binding; uses glamour to manipulate.
• Cardinal Zizka – Head of the Earthly Curia; a pragmatist who controls the Chapel from behind the scenes.
• Duke Michael of Nicaea – Alex's supposed uncle; ultimately betrays her.
• Empress Eudoxia – The deceased tyrant whose experiments created hybrid monsters.

For detailed profiles, visit the characters page.

Key Themes

• Religious Hypocrisy and Moral Compromise – The Church uses immoral means for supposedly good ends, embodied by the Chapel of the Holy Expediency. Characters justify evil as "least worst choices."
• Identity and Deception – Alex pretends to be a princess; others hide their true natures. The story explores how performance shapes reality.
• Survival and Pragmatism – Every character makes "least worst choices" to stay alive, prioritizing practicality over ideals.
• Redemption and Guilt – Jakob, Vigga, and others seek atonement for past sins but find it elusive. Baptiste's death haunts Balthazar.
• Power and Corruption – Both Church and state authorities are corrupt, using magic, betrayal, and exploitation to maintain control.

For a deeper dive, see the themes page.

Important Symbols

• Papal Binding (Red Line on Wrist) – Represents loss of autonomy and the Church's coercive power. Even a Duke of Hell cannot break it.
• Split Coin Pendant – Proves Alex's identity as the lost heir; symbolizes fractured identity and fate.
• Saint Natalia's Flame – A blue flame used as an elf‑invasion signal and a marker of Imperial legitimacy.
• The Pillar of Troy – A towering structure housing the Hanging Gardens and throne; represents ambition and precarious power.

For more, visit the symbols page.

Ending Explained

In the final chapters, Alex marries Duke Arcadius, who is assassinated on their wedding night by handmaidens loyal to Duke Michael. Alex triggers Saint Natalia's Flame, summoning the Chapel devils back to her aid. Michael reveals he used Alex as a decoy and plans to kill her. Jakob, emerging from the Flame, drags Michael off the Pharos to their mutual deaths. Vigga, under runic control, kills Baptiste. Balthazar duels the soul‑transferred Empress Eudoxia but fails to save Baptiste. After the chaos, Cardinal Zizka cages the surviving devils – Balthazar, Baron Rikard, Sunny, and Vigga – and returns them to the Holy City. Alex becomes Empress, makes Brother Diaz her chaplain, and negotiates a political alliance with Zizka while refusing to free her former companions. The chapter "Saint Tabitha's Day" introduces a new character, Mother Beckert, suggesting the Chapel of the Holy Expediency will continue its work.

For a complete analysis, see the ending explained page.

Chapter‑by‑Chapter Table

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Chapel of the Holy Expediency?
It is a secret thirteenth chapel of the Church that uses morally questionable agents – monsters, sorcerers, criminals – to fight threats too dangerous for conventional means. Brother Diaz is appointed its vicar.

2. Who is Princess Alexia?
She is actually a street thief named Alex who impersonates the long‑lost heir to the Serpent Throne of Troy after Duke Michael discovers she carries a matching half‑coin pendant.

3. What is the papal binding?
A magical red line drawn on each member's wrist by Pope Benedicta that compels them to protect Alex and install her as Empress. It cannot be broken, even by a Duke of Hell.

4. How does the book end?
Alex becomes Empress, the surviving devils are imprisoned by Cardinal Zizka, Jakob dies with Duke Michael, and a new character (Mother Beckert) is introduced as a possible future vicar of the Chapel.

5. What are the themes of the novel?
Major themes include religious hypocrisy, identity and deception, survival over ideals, guilt and redemption, and the corrupting nature of power.

6. Is The Devils part of a series?
No series is established for this book. It stands alone, though it shares the author's style and grimdark fantasy world.

7. Who are the main characters?
Brother Diaz, Alex, Balthazar, Jakob of Thorn, Vigga, Sunny, Baron Rikard, Cardinal Zizka, and Duke Michael are the key players.

8. What is the significance of Saint Natalia's Flame?
It is a blue flame that serves as an elf‑invasion signal and is central to Imperial legitimacy. Alex triggers it to call for help.

For more questions, visit the questions and answers page.

Deeper Dives

• Chapter Summaries – Access every chapter's detailed breakdown.
• Character Profiles – In‑depth looks at each major figure.
• Themes Analysis – Explore the novel's central ideas.
• Symbols Guide – Understand the key objects and their meanings.
• Ending Explained – Full breakdown of the finale.
• Quiz – Test your knowledge of the book.
• Essay Prompts – Topics for deeper writing and discussion.