The epic fantasy genre is a landscape of towering sagas, sprawling across multiple books, sometimes over decades. Readers dedicate themselves to long-running series, investing in labyrinthine plots, character arcs that span generations, and the deep, immersive world-building that defines the genre. But sometimes, a breath of fresh air is needed—something self-contained yet vast, something that delivers the weight of an epic in a single volume. Enter Joe Abercrombie’s The Devils, a standalone novel that still dares to hint at something larger.
And that? That is something to be excited about in a bookish landscape where pillars like George R.R. Martin don't finish their epics and leave us with series fatigue.
Why Standalone Novels Matter in Fantasy
Fantasy thrives on the long game. Authors like Tolkien, Jordan, and Sanderson have trained readers to expect commitment, to sign an unspoken contract that they will see a world through to its bitter (and often distant) end. But the magic of a standalone novel is different. It demands efficiency. It carves a world in bold strokes, delivering depth without demanding years of your life in return.
Abercrombie’s The Devils promises exactly that—a novel that stands on its own, complete and satisfying, while still offering the tantalizing possibility of future stories. This is the best of both worlds: the immersive depth of epic fantasy without the overwhelming weight of a ten-book obligation. For readers who love the genre but hesitate before diving into a massive series, this is a rare gift.
The Art of Building a World in a Single Book
Some argue that sprawling series are necessary for building rich, textured worlds. That may be true, but a skilled writer can make a world feel alive in a single book. Standalone novels sharpen an author’s craft, forcing them to show rather than tell, to weave history, culture, and mythology into the bones of the story itself rather than saving it for later volumes.
With The Devils, Abercrombie is poised to remind readers and indie-authors alike that world-building doesn't need endless sequels to be impactful. Instead of dragging readers through excessive lore dumps or side plots meant to set up future books, a standalone novel distills only what matters. Readers will get a complete picture—one that breathes, moves, and demands to be explored—without the frustration of unfinished threads stretching into an uncertain publishing future.
Why This Matters for My Own Novels
This is why I’m excited for my two stand-alone novellas this fall. Like The Devils, they embrace the challenge of standalone storytelling within an epic fantasy framework. They promise a world that feels vast but is delivered in a single, satisfying book—an experience that doesn’t demand a multi-year investment but still lingers long after the final page.
Fantasy is evolving, and standalone novels are proof that we don’t always need to sign up for a lifetime commitment to experience something grand. For my fellow writers, they are the pilot to test and discover your audience. If something is received well enough you can always expand. The magic of a single book can be just as powerful as an entire series. And for those willing to take that journey, the reward is waiting.
Learn more about my semi-standalone novel
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