Yes, Joe Abercrombie is releasing a sequel to The Devils. Book two is titled The Heretics, and it is scheduled for May 4, 2027, in the U.K. and May 11, 2027, in the U.S. The follow-up has already moved through copyediting, and Abercrombie has also begun writing the third book.
That is welcome news for anyone who finished the first novel wanting more of its dangerous missions and entertaining characters. Readers searching for “The Devils book 2” can now put an actual title and publication month on their reading lists.
I gave the first novel five stars in my review of The Devils. Its cast was a major reason I enjoyed it so much, and I came away wanting to spend more time with these characters. Here is what has been confirmed about the sequel, without major spoilers for book one.
What Is The Devils Book 2 Called?
The second book is called The Heretics.
The title appears on the official U.S. publisher listing, which identifies it as the second volume in The Devils series. This gives readers a specific book to look for when checking editions or placing a preorder.
There is a distinction between searching for a possible sequel and following an announced novel. The Heretics has reached the latter stage: it has a title, publisher listing, story description and scheduled release.
The Heretics Release Dates
The currently announced publication dates are:
| Market | Scheduled release date |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | May 4, 2027 |
| United States | May 11, 2027 |
Abercrombie announced the two dates in his June 2026 progress report. The U.S. publisher also lists May 11, 2027.
For American readers, that means May 11 is the date to keep in mind. The earlier British publication explains why you may encounter two different dates while looking up the novel.
As with any forthcoming book, check the listing for your territory and chosen format before ordering.
Has Joe Abercrombie Finished Writing the Sequel?
Abercrombie has completed the main writing and editing work described in his public updates.
In April 2026, he reported that he had been revising the sequel, refining character voices and working through editorial changes. At that stage, the manuscript was approximately 192,000 words, although that was a progress figure rather than a final published word count.
By June, the revised manuscript had gone to copyediting. His August update said copyediting was complete, with proofreading and final adjustments remaining.
Those milestones give readers a useful picture of the book’s progress. The story has already passed through substantial revision, and the remaining work he described concerned preparing the text for publication.
What Is The Heretics About?
The sequel introduces a new crisis in the city of Zeitz.
According to Tor’s official description of The Heretics, disgraced Inquisitor Mother Beckert has an opportunity to redeem herself by rooting out heresy. Hugo von Klotz, meanwhile, sees a church-backed witch hunt as a potential way to eliminate rivals standing between him and control of the city.
The Chapel of the Holy Expediency becomes involved, bringing supernatural recruits whose abilities may create problems of their own. The announced lineup includes a werewolf, a necromancer and a beggar troubled by visions.
The setup suggests a story where political ambition and religious authority make an already dangerous situation worse. That is my reading of the premise; the full novel will reveal how these competing interests play out.
For readers who enjoyed the first book’s uneasy alliances, this sounds like a promising setting for another mission.
Why I Am Looking Forward to The Devils Sequel
What made the first novel work for me was the cast. The action was entertaining, but the characters gave me a reason to keep following the journey.
In my original review, I mentioned that individual members of the group felt interesting enough to carry stories of their own. A sequel offers room to explore more of that potential while introducing different pressures and personalities.
My biggest hope for The Heretics is that the new setting gives those character dynamics room to develop. A city full of rival claims and accusations could be an effective place to test loyalties.
I also hope the story keeps finding different ways to challenge its cast. Although I enjoyed the first book’s battles, I noted that the repeated arrival of enemies could become familiar. Political maneuvering and an investigation offer opportunities to vary the conflict.
Those are expectations rather than a review of the forthcoming novel, but they explain why this sequel is on my reading list.
Should You Read The Devils Before The Heretics?
My recommendation is to start with The Devils.
The Heretics is being published as volume two, so publication order is the clearest route for readers discovering the series. Beginning with book one also lets you decide whether its humor, violence and character dynamics suit your tastes.
You can then approach the sequel with an understanding of the series’ foundation. There is still time to read the first novel before the announced May 2027 publication dates.
Is a Third Devils Book Coming?
Abercrombie has confirmed that he is working on a third book.
In his August 2026 progress report, he said he was approximately 30,000–40,000 words into an early draft. He described experimenting with character voices and allowing the plot to develop as he worked.
That is an early writing milestone, so it should not be used to predict a publication date. The same update described the third book as untitled.
For now, The Heretics is the next announced installment readers can plan around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be a sequel to The Devils?
Yes. Joe Abercrombie’s sequel is titled The Heretics and is scheduled for May 2027.
When does The Devils book 2 come out?
The announced dates are May 4, 2027, in the U.K. and May 11, 2027, in the U.S.
Has Joe Abercrombie started book three?
Yes. His August 2026 update reported an early draft in progress, with no title announced in that update.
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Want to begin the series? Find The Devils on Amazon.
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