Book Review - THE BLADED FAITH by David Dalglish

(Title: The Bladed Faith / Author: David Dalglish / Publisher: Orbit / Publication Date: April 5, 2022 / Total Pages: 512)

Book Blurb

Cyrus was only twelve years old when his gods were slain, his country invaded, and his parents - the king and queen - beheaded in front of him. Held prisoner in the invader's court for years, Cyrus is suddenly given a chance to escape and claim his revenge when a mysterious group of revolutionaries comes looking for a figurehead. They need a hero to strike fear into the hearts of the imperial and to inspire and unite the people. They need someone to take up the skull musk and swords and to become the legendary "Vagrant"  - an unparalleled hero and assassin of otherworldly skill.

But all is not as it seems. Creating the illusion of a hero is the work of many, and Cyrus will soon discover the true price of his vengeance.

Review

I have to admit to being a bit of a latecomer with regard to David Dalglish's books. But better late than never as they say because he is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors in the genre. His last series, The Keepers, really made me stand up and take notice because of its brilliant world-building and magic. Even though each book was fairly lengthy I flew through each one in record time, the story was that enthralling. So when I saw that David had a brand new book coming out, I simply could not get my hands on it fast enough.

THE BLADED FAITH is very much a fantasy story about revenge and the time and dedication it takes to obtain it. When the small island nation of Thanet is viciously invaded and eventually colonized by the extreme theocratic Everlorn Empire, things seem more than hopeless. Especially when the people of Thanet's gods and rulers are executed in front of their very eyes. Prince Cyrus eventually escapes and it is there where the story truly takes shape as he begins the process of becoming a force of inspiration to try and rally his homeland. But it won't be easy as the Everlorn Empire has not acquired its territory by peacefully integrating those that it conquers. The choice they offer is not an appealing one - convert to the twisted religion which guides its rulers and submit completely, or die.

This book kind of reminded me of another series that I really adore, The Last War by Mike Shackle. There is a very similar theme to it with regard to one country being decisively taken over by another and then the aftermath that results from that both in the daily life of the conquered and also the conquerors. That being said, this is no carbon copy and Dalglish definitely lays out his own unique and intriguing story to revel in. The religious fanaticism aspect was one that I found really compelling and also disturbing at times when you see just how blinded by faith people can become. 

The characters in THE BLADED FAITH are what made me want to pick this book up at all hours of the day and night. I mean, I was angry when I had to stop reading it. Besides Cyrus, we also are introduced to some others who have their own motivations when it comes to resisting. Possibly even some within the empire itself. These characters were especially intriguing to me as it gave another perspective of the story which showed that maybe not everyone is on board with what the empire espouses. 

Speaking of characters, they don't get much more despicable and evil than the Imperator Magus and those who serve under his command. I HATED this dude with the fire of a thousand suns. If you like your villains to be complete a-holes, then Magus fits the bill perfectly and you will wish terrible things to happen to him every time you read a scene with him in it. To be able to create someone this unlikable is a real testament to David Dalglish's writing chops in my opinion. 

When I finally turned the last page of THE BLADED FAITH I was left with a sense that I had just read a truly magnificent beginning of what promises to be a phenomenal fantasy series. Dalglish has made me a believer and I now feel compelled to read every single book that he has ever written. Maybe I'll do that as I wait for the next juicy installment in this one. If you are looking for an exciting and interesting new fantasy series to start, I suggest preordering this immediately. You won't find many better opening books and you are going to want to have this one downloaded or shipped the day that it is released, trust me. Unforgettable characters, astonishing world-building, wondrous magic, and top-notch writing should make this a welcome addition to any fantasy lover's TBR shelf.

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