Ah, the year draws to a close, the leaves fall, and one’s thoughts start to turn to all that has, and has not, been achieved over the past 12 months…
The actual text of The Devils has been finished for some time, and indeed Advance Reader Copies both physical and electronic are working their way out into the world, but the physical book is starting to take final shape, which includes revealing some of the internal illustrations, which have taken the highly appropriate form of Byzantine-influenced icons of the central characters painted by Joel Daniel Phillips. Here’s the highly halloween appropriate Swedish werewolf Vigga Ullasdottr:
Grrrrr. The standard hardcovers, both UK from Gollancz and US from Tor, should have eight of these, four in colour on the endpapers, four in black and white internally, plus a map. Here’s etiquette expert, dumpling enthusiast, and occasional drinker of blood, Baron Rikard:
Don’t worry, he rarely dines on those to whom he has been formally introduced. Like eating a pet, once you know their names it feels so gauche. As well as being a very accomplished fine artist, Joel runs Lit Escalates, who do artwork and merch for authors including Pierce Brown and VE Schwab, and we’ll be collaborating on a few offerings over the coming months, certainly for The Devils, potentially for other things too. More on that as it happens. Here’s the supposed heir to the Throne of Troy, worst princess ever, Alexia Pyrogennetos:
All this in the standard hardcover, but there are actually going to be at least two signed special editions with their own entirely unique covers, endpapers and presentations. Fascinating to see such different approaches taken to the same material. The book’s not actually out till May 6th, but there are already a couple of exceedingly early reviews out there. In case you’re still not eager to read it, here’s one from Grimdark Magazine:
“Overall The Devils is fast, furious, and an absolutely rollicking good time. The cast is wonderful, the plot fast-paced and action-packed, and it’s easily Joe’s funniest work to date.”
E-book and Audio will release the same day, and in truly joyful news for me, not to mention the many folks who consume my books in audio form, the incomparable Steven Pacey has been announced as the reader.
In between a few other projects, progress on the second book continues. You could call it a series, but it’s much more loosely connected than something like The First Law, which is really one book in three parts. These are more like standalone (mis)adventures with setting and some cast in common. There’s some overarching plot but the idea is they’re much easier to write (or to read) individually. So on this second book I’m nearing completion of an extremely shoddy draft of the second part of three. The idea is to have that finished and tightened up so it can be sent off to my editors by the end of the year, then hopefully to have the third and last part roughed out by May, when the first book comes out, so I can relatively quickly rewrite, sharpen up and revise thereafter. It’s been a long wait for this book so I’d rather the sequels didn’t land TOO far apart.
At the moment it looks like I’ll be touring in the UK the week of release, early May, then heading to the US for some events straight afterward, but I will certainly be giving details of where and when I’ll be as far as possible in advance. I believe that’s all I got for now. More in due course…
23 comments so far
Looking forward to read a new book from my favourite author!
Greetings and love from Russia, i hope we get the translation soon after worldwide premiere.
ILYSM
Thanks for the update Joe, it’s been a long wait for this book but I’m certain it’ll be worth it.
Glad to hear you’ll be touring too and looking forward to hearing the line up.
Quick question, is there a main character for the book or will it be a bunch of them all as important as the others?
Great news. Love all your books and I can’t wait for this. Not to take away from this new series but by the dead can you please confirm that you’ll do more First Law books in the future.
Aaaaand… the inevitable question about the BSC movie: is there anything you can say to give us hope?
Any progress on the Best Served Cold adaptation? Here’s hoping!
I’ve been looking forward to this since The Wisdom of Crowds and to have the amazing Steven Pacey back at it, well needless to say this will make 2025 for me. Thank you for the update Joe. X
Joe,
Thanks for the update! Definitely looking forward to this new book.
I would also love to read another First Law novel, but you have to be realistic about these things.
All the best from Virginia, USA!
Thank you for the update, pre-ordered the hardback, and just recently pre-ordered the audiobook, so happy that Steven Pacey is back. I can’t wait for May 6th.
First book I ever preordered. Thanks for sharing those, Joe
These sound fantastic, do you know when they’ll be available for pre-order yet?
Ooooooh Alexia fire born! Never thought I’d see greek words spill into Joe’s works, nice little touch. Illustrations look amazing!WHY FOR THE LOVE OF KANEDIAS DO I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL MAY?
I will definitely pre-order it. However, I can’t stand review snippets starting with “Overall…” They give the impression of a lukewarm endorsement.
Joe – Wonderful to read this update. I am closing in on the end of The Age of Madness (Halfway through The Trouble With Peace) and can’t wait to see what sort of zany characters you have thought up for The Devils. Love your work, sir, and look forward to hopefully getting a chance to meet you in the U.S. Thanks!
All looks and sounds fantastic: and Steven ‘Kiloglossos’ Pacey on the mic – great news!
Thank goodness, it sounds as though we’ll be in for a treat, it’s been a while my friend! Can’t wait for May! I know you’re immersed in your latest creations, but will there ever be a return to The First Law worlds? I hope so. See you on tour.
I can’t wait for this release in May, I’m sure it’s going to be a fantastic and funny adventure.
Really happy about the upcoming release.
I hope you will present it in person also in Italy.
Although I LOVE Steven Pacey, it does make me nervous him narrating another of your book series. Hopefully he has even more versatility to create new voices for this series that sound distinct enough from all of the amazing first law characters he has so elegantly portrayed.
I’m absolutely gutted!!!!…. the week of the Devils release and you touring England and I’m in Sharm El Shiekh!!!…. met Joe at a book signing for half a King at the old Waterstones in bham… such a nice humble man… Joe if you read this please please tell me how I can get a signed copy of your new book??…
Great art! And I’m so excited to hear that Steven Pacey is back to narrate. I can’t wait to meet all your characters in the new series. Woot!
[…] Personen und Wesen sind, enthüllt Abercrombie derzeit auf Social Media, hat aber auch bereits auf seiner Website etwas mehr verraten. Demnach wird es keine große Mission, weil weitere Bücher keine kompletten […]
I found out about this project after finishing Sharp Ends (June-ish) and thinking how great any additional Age of Madness content will be.
I also picked up the September issue of GdM (for the Scott Lynch short story) and I was treated to a review of The Devils. This is where I was introduced to some of the characters your including in this book.
As of a couple of weeks ago I finished Half A War (Half a King was the first of your books I read about 7 years ago).
You create incredible characters. I eagerly await this book. In the mean time, I’ll get a little more re-reading done.
Kindly,
Dom.
Can’t wait, I have already pre-ordered the audiobook. To find out now that Mr. Pacey would be the reader is a great surprise!