Chapter summaries The Devils Joe Abercrombie

The Devils Chapter 48: Pride 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

Alex returns to the Abbey of Saint Demetrius at dawn, feeling unusually optimistic. Her mood evaporates when she sees Duke Sabbas, mounted and flanked by twin sorceresses and a pack of manhunters. Sabbas introduces himself with a litany of titles and presents a papal bull confirming Alex as a claimant to the Throne of Troy. He mocks her appearance and claims his own bloodline is superior. Alex retorts that his titles were inherited, not earned.

Sunny, still recovering from a horse kick, stealthily sabotages the hunters’ gear—removing a crossbow bolt, loosening a saddle girth, and cutting a belt. Vigga swaggers out and challenges the Dane werewolf to a fight. The two clash violently, their brawl escalating into an ugly coupling that disgusts the onlookers. As they disappear into the undergrowth, Sabbas orders the hunters to kill Alex and Brother Diaz.

A crossbow misfires due to Sunny’s tampering. Then the ground erupts: corpses claw their way up from graves, attacking the manhunters. The twin sorceresses counter with earth magic, crushing many dead, but Balthazar Sham Ivam Draxi emerges from the trees, declaring himself one of the three best necromancers in Europe. He raises more dead. At the same moment, Jakob of Thorn charges in on horseback, sword drawn.

Key Events

  • Alex arrives at the abbey, initially relieved, then confronted by Duke Sabbas.
  • Sabbas reveals the papal bull and belittles Alex’s claim.
  • Alex insults Sabbas, calling him a gilded turf given titles by his mother.
  • Sunny infiltrates the enemy group, sabotages weapons and gear.
  • Vigga and the Dane werewolf fight, then mate mid-battle and vanish.
  • Sabbas orders the hunters to kill Alex and Brother Diaz.
  • Sunny’s sabotage causes a crossbow to fail.
  • Balthazar appears and raises a wave of undead from the graveyard.
  • The twin sorceresses use earth magic to destroy many corpses.
  • Jakob of Thorn charges in on horseback.

Character Development

  • Alex: Her brief optimism crumbles when faced with Sabbas’s condescension. She shows defiance by mocking his inherited titles, but remains vulnerable and dependent on her allies.
  • Sunny: Demonstrates resourcefulness and stealth despite injury. Her sabotage is precise and effective, highlighting her value in a fight even without direct combat.
  • Vigga: Embraces the brawl with savage joy, treating it as a test of strength. Her willingness to fight the Dane werewolf—and the unexpected sexual turn—underscores her wild, unpredictable nature.
  • Brother Diaz: Praying fervently, he feels unworthy but pleads for deliverance on Alex’s behalf. His relief at Balthazar’s necromancy shows his moral flexibility in desperate times.
  • Duke Sabbas: Prideful and dismissive, he treats everyone as beneath him. His irritation when the fight turns into a sexual encounter reveals his disdain for anything that defies his control.
  • Balthazar: Once disgraced, he now revels in his power, announcing his necromantic skill. His appearance shifts the odds and reunites the protagonists.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Pride: The chapter title is embodied by Sabbas, whose arrogance blinds him to the threat of Sunny’s sabotage and the arriving allies. Alex’s pride also flares when she insults him, refusing to be cowed.
  • Identity and Claim: The papal bull, the throne, and the constant references to bloodlines and inheritance highlight the central conflict over who has the right to rule.
  • Necromancy and Resurrection: Balthazar’s raising of the dead subverts the sacred ground of the graveyard, symbolizing the desperation of the protagonists and the unnatural lengths they will go to survive.
  • Violence and Eros: The fight between Vigga and the Dane blurs aggression with desire, suggesting that raw instinct can override rational enmity. It also disgusts the more civilized onlookers, contrasting primal with courtly behavior.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 48 is a turning point. The confrontation with Sabbas brings the rival claimant into direct conflict, raising the stakes for the Throne of Troy. Sunny’s cunning and Vigga’s ferocity are showcased, while Balthazar’s necromancy and Jakob’s timely arrival reunite the fractured party. The chapter also deepens the world’s supernatural element through the detailed werewolf fight and mass resurrection. The blend of violence, dark humor, and character clashes sets the stage for the book’s climactic sequences.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. How does Sabbas’s pride contribute to his potential downfall in this chapter?
    His arrogance leads him to underestimate Sunny’s sabotage and dismiss the threat of Vigga’s allies. He assumes his force is overwhelming and that Alex has no backup, making him vulnerable to the unexpected interventions of Balthazar and Jakob.

  2. What does Sunny’s stealth sabotage reveal about her role in the group?
    Sunny proves that brains and cunning can compensate for physical weakness. Despite injuries, she disables weapons and gear, showing she is a critical support player whose actions can turn a losing battle.

  3. Why is Balthazar’s necromancy presented as a “miracle” by Brother Diaz?
    Brother Diaz has rejected the Black Art, but in this moment of mortal danger, any magic that saves Alex feels like divine intervention. It highlights his moral compromise and the theme that survival sometimes requires embracing what one despises.

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