Chapter summaries The Devils Joe Abercrombie

Chapter 41: What You Can't Change – Summary and Analysis

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

Summary

Injured Sunny is helped into an abandoned barn by Alex. Sunny insists Alex should leave her behind to reach Troy, but Alex refuses. After a moment of quiet intimacy, Alex kisses Sunny—a slow, deliberate kiss that leaves both stunned. Alex then leaves to steal a horse, promising to return. Sunny, unable to move, waits and later wakes to find Alex has indeed returned with a horse. Before they can escape, three hired killers sent by Duke Sabbas corner them. Alex tries to distract the killers with lies about hidden jewels. Suddenly, Vigga, the werewolf, appears from behind and silently kills one. Brother Diaz also arrives. Vigga kills the second killer with a dagger to the skull and breaks the third's arms. Despite Diaz's order to spare the third man for interrogation, Vigga kills him too with a brutal punch. Sunny, overwhelmed, lies back in the straw, thinking, "Why worry about what you can't change?"

Key Events

  • Sunny and Alex take refuge in a dilapidated barn; Sunny is badly injured.
  • Alex kisses Sunny in a quiet moment of tenderness.
  • Alex steals a horse and returns to find Sunny.
  • Three hired killers (two men, one woman) corner them in the barn.
  • Vigga and Brother Diaz arrive, killing two of the killers.
  • Vigga disobeys Diaz and kills the third killer as well.
  • Sunny collapses from exhaustion and pain; the group regroups.

Character Development

  • Sunny reveals her vulnerability: she is used to being a "sideshow curiosity" and rarely touched gently. Alex’s kiss and loyalty challenge her expectation of being abandoned. She trusts Alex despite her own survival instincts.
  • Alex shows growth in loyalty and initiative. She rejects Sunny’s self-sacrificing demand to be left behind, steals a horse, and lies boldly to protect Sunny. The kiss marks a shift from comrade to something deeper.
  • Vigga demonstrates fierce protectiveness over Sunny, killing without hesitation. Her disregard for Diaz’s orders shows her wild nature and prioritisation of vengeance over mercy.
  • Brother Diaz attempts to impose restraint but is overruled by Vigga. He is alive and reunited, adding a moral counterpoint to Vigga’s brutality.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Trust and Sacrifice: Sunny trusts Alex to try to help, and Alex reciprocates by risking her life to steal a horse and refusing to abandon Sunny. The kiss symbolises a bond stronger than mere survival.
  • Violence as Necessity: The chapter contrasts Alex’s gentle kiss with Vigga’s brutal killings. Violence is presented as inevitable and sometimes the only answer to threats.
  • Hope and Rescue: Just when the situation seems hopeless, Vigga and Diaz appear. The horse thief becomes a hero; the werewolf becomes the rescuer. The chapter suggests that help can come from unexpected sources.
  • What You Can’t Change: Sunny’s final thought echoes the chapter title. She accepts her helplessness and chooses to conserve energy rather than fight fate.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point for Sunny and Alex’s relationship. The kiss transforms their dynamic from reluctant allies to intimate partners, adding emotional stakes. The reunion with Vigga and Diaz restores the core group and sets up the next confrontation with Duke Sabbas. Sunny’s acceptance of her injury and trust in others marks a rare moment of vulnerability for a character who usually endures alone.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. What does the kiss between Alex and Sunny reveal about their relationship?
    The kiss shows a shift from pragmatic cooperation to genuine affection. Alex initiates it with patience and no expectation of reciprocation, indicating she cares for Sunny beyond survival needs. Sunny’s stunned reaction suggests she is unused to tenderness, deepening her emotional arc.

  2. Why does Vigga kill the third hired killer despite Brother Diaz’s command to spare him?
    Vigga acts out of fury and a desire for violent revenge. She sees the killer as a threat who hurt Sunny, and she rejects Diaz’s moral authority. Her impulsive brutality underscores the theme that in this world, mercy is often a luxury.

  3. How does the chapter title “What You Can’t Change” reflect Sunny’s state of mind at the end?
    After the fight, Sunny lies back in the straw and thinks the title phrase. She has exhausted her strength and can no longer control events. By accepting what she cannot change, she finds a small measure of peace, contrasting her earlier frantic efforts to protect Alex.

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