The Sapphire Altar


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
 Copyright © 2023 by David Dalglish
 Excerpt from Vagrant Gods: Book Three copyright © 2023 by David Dalglish
 Excerpt from The Blighted Stars copyright © 2023 by Megan E. O’Keefe
 Cover design by Lauren Panepinto
 Cover illustration by Chase Stone
 Cover copyright © 2023 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.
 Map by Sámhlaoch Swords
 Author photograph by Michele Coleman
 Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
 The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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 First Edition: January 2023
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 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
 Names: Dalglish, David, author.
 Title: The sapphire altar / David Dalglish.
 Description: First Edition. | New York : Orbit, 2023. | Series: Vagrant gods ; book 2
 Identifiers: LCCN 2022026621 | ISBN 9780759557123 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780759557116 (ebook)
 Subjects: LCGFT: Novels.
 Classification: LCC PS3604.A376 S37 2023 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022026621
 ISBNs: 9780759557123 (trade paperback), 9780759557116 (ebook)
 E3-20221119-JV-NF-ORI
 
 
 
 Contents
 
 Cover
 Title Page
 Copyright
 Dedication
 Map
 A Reminder, for Those Who Need One
 Prologue: Keles
 Chapter 1: Vagrant
 Chapter 2: Sinshei
 Chapter 3: Mari
 Chapter 4: Vagrant
 Chapter 5: Vagrant
 Chapter 6: Stasia
 Chapter 7: Keles
 Chapter 8: Arn
 Chapter 9: Stasia
 Chapter 10: Vagrant
 Chapter 11: Keles
 Chapter 12: Vagrant
 Chapter 13: Vagrant
 Chapter 14: Vagrant
 Chapter 15: Eshiel
 Chapter 16: Stasia
 Chapter 17: Stasia
 Chapter 18: Mari
 Chapter 19: Vagrant
 Chapter 20: Keles
 Chapter 21: Mari
 Chapter 22: Vagrant
 Chapter 23: Stasia
 Chapter 24: Rayan
 Chapter 25: Sinshei
 Chapter 26: Eshiel
 Chapter 27: Arn
 Chapter 28: Sinshei
 Chapter 29: Vagrant
 Chapter 30: Rayan
 Chapter 31: Mari
 Chapter 32: Vagrant
 Chapter 33: Arn
 Chapter 34: Vagrant
 Chapter 35: Sinshei
 Chapter 36: Rayan
 Chapter 37: Stasia
 Chapter 38: Arn
 Chapter 39: Vagrant
 Chapter 40: Arn
 Chapter 41: Keles
 Chapter 42: Arn
 Chapter 43: Vagrant
 Chapter 44: Vagrant
 Chapter 45: Arn
 Chapter 46: Mari
 Chapter 47: Rayan
 Chapter 48: Keles
 Chapter 49: Vagrant
 Chapter 50: Eshiel
 Chapter 51: Vagrant
 Chapter 52: Mari
 Chapter 53: Soma
 A Note From the Author
 Discover More
 Extras
 
 Meet the Author
 A Preview of "Vagrant Gods: Book Three"
 A Preview of "The Blighted Stars"
 
 Also by David Dalglish
 Praise for David Dalglish
 
 
 
 
 Begin Reading
 Table of Contents
 
 
 
 
 Praise for David Dalglish
 Praise for The Bladed Faith
 
 “Filled with intense action and complex characters who are easy to fall into, The Bladed Faith is what might happen if Final Fantasy crossed with The Way of Shadows! I loved it!”
 —Rob J. Hayes, author of Never Die
 
 
 “David Dalglish’s beautiful, grandiose and expansive The Bladed Faith begins at the roots of a rebellion.… This is a rebellion with soul, and one that promises to reach even greater heights as the series continues. Given Dalglish’s track record, don’t be surprised if he somehow manages to top the triumphant standard he sets with The Bladed Faith.”
 —BookPage (starred review)
 
 
 “This dark adventure will hook genre fans with its detailed world building, strong characters, and gory, action-packed scenes. Readers who enjoy Mark Lawrence and Erika Johansen will appreciate Thanet’s masked, sword-carrying hero and rebel team of misfits, eagerly anticipating a continuation to Dalglish’s new series.”
 —Booklist
 
 
 “The Bladed Faith is an action-packed start to David Dalglish’s new Vagrant Gods series. Full of sorcery, bloodshed, and a surprisingly charming found family, the story’s twisty final chapters set up an ending that promises much more excitement to come.”
 —Paste
 
 
 “The Bladed Faith is gripping, violent and action-packed. It is also about colonialism, PTSD, fighting the good fight & what it truly means to put your life on the line for what’s right. This is David Dalglish at his finest and the Vagrant Gods trilogy promises to be his best story that he’s published so far.”
 —Fantasy Book Critic
 
 
 “Dalglish’s plotting and pacing are top-notch.… This book is Arkane Studio’s Dishonored meets D&D’s divine magic.”
 —Grimdark Magazine
 
 Praise for The Keepers
 
 “Dalglish manages to combine familiar elements in exciting ways… that’s sure to keep readers turning pages.”
 —Publishers Weekly on Soulkeeper
 
 
 “A dark and lush epic fantasy brimming with magical creatures and terrifying evil.… Dalglish’s world building is subtle and fluid, and he weaves the history, magical workings, and governance of his world within the conversations and camaraderie of his characters. Readers of George R. R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss will find much to enjoy here.”
 —Booklist on Soulkeeper
 
 
 “Soulkeeper is a fast-paced, page-turning ride with a great, likeable main character in Devin Eveson. It’s the definition of entertaining.”
 —John Gwynne, author of Malice
 
 
 “With strong world building, imaginative monsters, and a capable system of magic, this series will