Devils by Joe Abercrombie

 

Alex is a street thief.  She doesn't know anything about a family if she ever had one.  All she can remember is having to steal to eat, to do whatever it takes to survive.  She is about to be beaten by someone she owes money to when she is saved by a nobleman.  He tells her that he is her uncle and that she is the long lost empress of an empire far away.  Alex cannot believe him but she needs some help so she goes along.

The uncle isn't the only person who believes that Alex is the princess/empress.  She is brought to the home of the ten year old pope and soon she is sent on a trip to her new kingdom with a surrounding of nefarious individuals to protect her.  There is Brother Diaz, a young monk who is put in charge of the journey.  Jacob is a soldier who cannot die and who has taken part in every crusade and military operation for centuries.  Vigga is a female werewolf.  When she lets the wolf out, she will kill any and everybody around.  Baron Rikard is a vampire, incredibly old.  He prefers to remain remote from the battles the group encounters.  Sunny is an elf, the beings that everyone fears and loathes.  She has the ability to be invisible and uses it much of the time.  Baptiste is another woman, one who has been with the group for years and is a pirate and many other things in her past life.  Baltazar is a necromancer who is indigent to be forced into the group.  

The group sets out on their journey.  Not only will they face the rigors of the road but Alex has four cousins each of whom believe they have a better claim to the throne than she does and who want nothing more than to get rid of her once and for all.  As the group moves and faces dangers, they start to form alliances and friendships.  Can they get Alex to her throne?

Joe Abercrombie is known for his fantasy writing although he hasn't published anything in a couple of years.  I loved this book from beginning to end.  Each of the characters is fascinating in themselves and the entire group works like a well-oiled machine to face the dangers encountered.  There is danger and love and betrayals, everything that a reader could want.  The adventures and creatures the group encounters along the way are imaginative and the reader will find themselves holding their breath as each challenge is met. I really hope this book is the first in a series as I'd love to read more about these characters.   This book is recommended for fantasy readers