David Dalglish Books in Order

Where to Start Reading David Dalglish

David Dalglish is known for his fast-paced, high-stakes epic fantasy and incredibly kinetic combat scenes. If you are new to his work, you essentially have two main entry points depending on what style of fantasy you prefer:

• The Dezrel Universe (Classic Dark/Epic Fantasy): If you want to dive into Dalglish's massive, signature shared universe filled with assassins, paladins, half-orcs, and warring deities, start with A Dance of Cloaks (the first book of the Shadowdance series). It introduces the world's most iconic characters and showcases Dalglish's mastery of street-level guild warfare.
• The Vagrant Gods (Modern Epic Fantasy): If you want a more modern, polished, and self-contained trilogy with rich world-building and a finished story, start with The Bladed Faith. This series represents his recent traditional publishing work with Orbit Books and requires no prior knowledge of his other settings.

The Dezrel Universe: Reading Orders

The majority of Dalglish's early-to-mid career books are set in the fantasy world of Dezrel. This includes The Half-Orcs, Shadowdance, The Paladins, and The Breaking World. While these series can generally be read independently as self-contained stories, they share recurring characters, lore, and history.

The Author's Recommended Series Order

For the best narrative flow and to spot the subtle character cameos and connections, the author recommends reading the Dezrel series in this order:

1. Shadowdance Series: Begins with A Dance of Cloaks. This series follows the legendary assassin Haern (The Watcher) and the thieves' guilds of Karak.
2. The Paladins Series: Begins with Night of Wolves. This parallel series focuses on the priests and warriors fighting in the wilderness and holy conflicts.
3. The Breaking World Series: Begins with Dawn of Swords. This prequel trilogy explains the ancient history and mythos of the world.
4. The Half-Orcs Series: Begins with The Weight of Blood. This is where Dalglish's publishing journey started, focusing on the half-orc brothers Harruq and Qurrah.

The Chronological Timeline Order

If you prefer to watch the history of Dezrel unfold from the very creation of its pantheon to its latest wars, you should follow the chronological order. Be aware that writing styles evolved significantly over the decade Dalglish spent writing these books, so starting chronologically means reading his co-authored prequel before his early self-published works.

1. The Breaking World Trilogy (Distant Past)
2. Shadowdance Series (Era of the Watcher)
3. The Paladins Series (Parallel/slightly after early Shadowdance)
4. The Half-Orcs Series (Late Era)

Dezrel Universe: Series Breakdown

1. Shadowdance

This series is the crown jewel of Dezrel, focusing on the dark underworld, assassins, and vigilante justice. An important publishing detail for collectors: the book originally published as Blood of the Underworld (Book 1 of the short-lived Watcher's Blade series) was heavily revised, expanded, and officially integrated into the main Shadowdance sequence as Book 5, A Dance of Shadows.

• A Dance of Cloaks (2010)
• A Dance of Blades (2011)
• A Dance of Mirrors / A Dance of Death (2011)
• Cloak and Spider (2013) (Prequel Novella focusing on Thren Felhorn)
• A Dance of Shadows (2014) (Originally published as Blood of the Underworld)
• A Dance of Ghosts (2014)
• A Dance of Chaos (2015)

2. The Half-Orcs

This is Dalglish's debut saga. It is a gritty, bloody tale of brotherhood, dark magic, and redemption. Because it was Dalglish's earliest work, the prose is raw but the action is relentless.

• The Weight of Blood (2010)
• The Cost of Betrayal (2010)
• The Death of Promises (2010)
• The Shadows of Grace (2010)
• A Sliver of Redemption (2011)
• The Prison of Angels (2012)
• The King of the Vile (2015)
• The King of the Fallen (2020)

3. The Paladins

This series runs roughly parallel to the early events of the Shadowdance books but shifts the focus to holy warriors, divine magic, and ideological clashes in the wilderness.

• Night of Wolves (2011)
• Clash of Faiths (2011)
• The Old Ways (2011)
• The Broken Pieces (2012)

4. The Breaking World (Co-Authored)

Co-authored with Robert J. Duperre, this trilogy functions as a mythological prequel to the entire Dezrel setting, exploring the genesis of the gods and the cataclysmic wars that shaped the world.

• Dawn of Swords (2014)
• Wrath of Lions (2014)
• Blood of Gods (2014)

Other Fantasy Worlds and Series

If you want to step away from Dezrel, Dalglish has written several highly acclaimed standalone series set in entirely different universes.

The Vagrant Gods Trilogy

A brilliant, high-stakes epic fantasy following Cyrus, a discarded prince who must take up the mantle of a god's assassin to lead a rebellion against a conquering empire. It is highly praised for its found-family themes and complex magic system.

• The Bladed Faith (2022)
• The Sapphire Altar (2023)
• The Slain Divine (2024)

The Keepers

A dark, imaginative trilogy where humanity is protected by magical Keepers from the monstrous nightmares and ancient entities lurking just beyond the edge of the wild.

• Soulkeeper (2019)
• Ravencaller (2020)
• A Gift of Faeries and Firekin (2020) (Novella)
• Voidbreaker (2021)

Seraphim

Set in a world of floating islands, this trilogy features aerial combat, magical power armor, and sky-bound civil wars.

• Skyborn (2015)
• Fireborn (2016)
• Shadowborn (2017)

Level: Unknown (LitRPG Series)

For readers who enjoy sci-fi mixed with video game mechanics, Dalglish's LitRPG series follows Nick, a research cadet who connects to an ancient alien device that pulls him into a brutal game-like fantasy world while he sleeps.

• Level: Unknown (2025)
• Level: Ascension (2025)
• Level: Apocalypse (2026)

What to Know Before You Start

David Dalglish's writing is heavily inspired by R.A. Salvatore's Dark Elf books and the dark, morally grey landscapes of George R.R. Martin. Expect plenty of swordplay, complex guild politics, and high body counts. While his early books were self-published and carry a raw, indie energy, his transition to Orbit Books brings a polished, sweeping narrative scope that fans of modern epic fantasy will love.