The Devils

I would have never imagined that I would ever not finish a Joe Abercrombie book, but The Devils is that book.

His writing in the First Law series was what Marvel movies at some point tried to be, but never could: Funny where it doesn't hurt the plot or the characters, witty, sometimes a bit absurd, but, on the whole, always sincere, with very strong focus on the characters. The Devils is a Marvel movie, ripped straight out of a screenplay and forced into the shape of a novel. It's still a character-driven book, but with no substance or anything to say.

None of the characters take anything seriously. No matter what happens, the first reaction is always a witty oh-so-funny one-line remark to remind you how incredibly funny everyone is, and to assure you that you are never in danger of dealing with any sincerity or thoughtful themes. The setting pretends to be an alternate history pseudo-medieval europe with magic and demons and elves and werewolves, but has exactly zero similarities to actual medieval europe and is so absurd that it would have been much more believable if it was set in an original fantasy world. Everyone, no matter where they are from, speaks the same language. The plot is based around the schism of the church, yet religion is never taken seriously or portrayed as anything but a scam. Speaking of plot, it just exists to give the characters something to do and keep a carrot dangling in front of them.

I am already dreading the film adaptation for which the rights were sold right after the book's release.