40 fantasy and science fiction books you should read in 2022

The Bladed Faith by David Dalglish (Vagrant Gods #1) — April 5

David Dalglish may not be one of the biggest names in fantasy, but he should be. There are few authors out there that churn out books as prolifically as Dalglish, who has published 27 novels over the past 12 years. I’d say he’s best known for his Half-Orc books…but at this point, it seems most everyone has their favorite Dalglish series, whether that be Shadowdance, The Seraphim or The Keepers.

Dalglish’s newest series, Vagrant Gods, kicks off this year with the release of The Bladed Faith. This one follows a prince who was deposed and must become an assassin in order to reclaim his kingdom. Both the synopsis and cover art remind me a bit of Dishonored, so if vengeful reclamation is your bag, The Bladed Faith may be just the ticket:

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 mask 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.

Pre-order it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million