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The Bladed Faith ★★★★
The Sapphire Altar ★★★★
The Slain Divine ★★★★

“The wise can rebuild a better world from the ashes, but for there to be ashes, we must first burn down the old and the rotten. I say we get to burning.��

I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the entire series without giving away any spoilers. This is the second series I’ve read by Dalglish, and it certainly won’t be my last. He himself describes it as the “definitive Dalglish novel.�� The story follows Prince Cyrus, whose life is upended at twelve when his gods and parents are killed. He then joins a revolutionary group and transforms into an exceptionally skilled assassin.

As you can see from my ratings, I gave each book in the series 4 stars, which indicates that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing is consistently solid, though each installment has its strengths and weaknesses—some excel in character development, while others shine in pacing or plot.

Dalglish has a knack for creating well-rounded and unique characters. There are several memorable figures with distinct abilities and backgrounds that make them hard not to appreciate. I particularly enjoyed the training arc in the first book, which allowed us to witness Cyrus's gradual growth rather than him suddenly gaining powers. This realistic approach is often overlooked in other narratives. In the second and third books, new characters are introduced, and they’re just as well-crafted.

While the plot may not be the most original, Dalglish manages to put his own spin on familiar fantasy tropes, making the story feel fresh rather than recycled. The pacing is generally fast, and with high stakes and large-scale battles, it becomes an addictive read.

The world-building is impressive as well. Having read only one of Dalglish's works prior, I was already aware of his creativity in this area, and this series does not disappoint. It’s filled with intriguing and imaginative concepts.

In summary, this series is another triumph for Dalglish. The writing is strong, the characters are well-developed, and the world-building is exceptional. Each book excels in different aspects, but they all deliver a great experience. I’m eagerly anticipating Dalglish's next series—maybe I’ll even explore his earlier works!