David Dalglish
Adult Fantasy
A usurped prince prepares to take up the mantle of a deadly assassin and reclaim his kingdom, his people, and his slain gods in this epic fantasy from a USA Today bestselling author.
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.
-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.
Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.
My Opinion
(4.5 / 5) You know those stories that as you’re reading, you realize you have something amazing in your hands? This! For one thing, that synopsis. Amazing! A young prince is forced to watch his parents killed and his entire kingdom taken under tyrannical rule as he is kept prisoner for this tyrant. He escapes years later and is taken into the rebellion. They train him, oh how they train him, and make him to be the Vagrant. A skilled warrior out for blood, out for the man who took his world away.
Need I say more? I won’t say much because I loved watching this story unfold. Cyrus is the perfect main character surrounded by multiple tough-as-nails women who train him. I loved his training! I loved him failing but trying again and again. I loved watching him grow into someone who thinks for himself. This really came into play at the end. There was betrayal and heartache and a continuation for more. I will be continuing this series! I loved Cyrus too much to not get his full story. Book 2 (The Sapphire Altar) was just released in January and I will be getting my grabby hands on that as soon as possible!
I can’t write a review without admiring that beautiful cover. It just screamed at me that I needed it so I acquiesced. I am so glad I did! Book 2 cover is just as stunning!
General content summary: One point I want to make with this book is that there were a lot of details with violence. I wouldn’t quite call it gore, it didn’t go that far, but it does mention how people are killed which at times was quite intense. It did not however go into enough detail with sounds and smells and sights that categorizes it more as gore for me. F words= 12, war/battle (blood, bones, deaths, weapons, fire, multiple), Gods and spirituality (multiple), parents killed and beheaded in front of child (young teen, some details), captivity, a religion is forced away and another forced onto people, m/m marriage, blood used for magic, physical violence (blood, sword, ax, weapons, injuries, death, details, multiple), creature killing person (details, multiple), killing (details, blood, stabbing, ax, sword, arrows), f/f relationship (kisses, undressed but no intimacy details), prejudice, woman found dead, f/f marriage is unsanctioned, people hanged or beheaded (corpses, multiple, child), something similar to possession (consensual, shapeshifting).
Thank you to Orbit Books for the gifted copy!
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Uh-oh, I think I have to add this to my TBR. It sounds fantastic!
Yes! I love to hear it. Let me know what you think!