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Cradle #1-3
Cradle: Foundation
***This volume contains the first three novels in the Cradle series: Unsouled, Soulsmith, and Blackflame, all of which are available separately.***
Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world.
Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan.
When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he's ever known...and forge his own Path.
Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world.
Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan.
When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he's ever known...and forge his own Path.
1032 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2017
1555 people are currently reading
1135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
January 1, 2018
Magical world building
It's like reading a slow moving train, but the train takes you across the entire planet. We start off with a powerless boy, who over the course of the series slowly reaches the basic level of others.
What I find unique here, is that the MC doesn't become super power boy overnight. Each book is another level up for him (kinda like gaming, I guess), but it happens gradually, and we get to experience it with him. There's a lot of detail on each of his levels. The magic system is well developed, and each book is a unique plot with new magical aspects.
The characters are nicely drawn. There are several backstories and subplots running around in the background.
All in all, it's a great book of poor boy fighting his way to the top with all he's got, and still fighting after that, because he's got an Ultimate Goal to reach.
Great book. I definitely recommend it.
It's like reading a slow moving train, but the train takes you across the entire planet. We start off with a powerless boy, who over the course of the series slowly reaches the basic level of others.
What I find unique here, is that the MC doesn't become super power boy overnight. Each book is another level up for him (kinda like gaming, I guess), but it happens gradually, and we get to experience it with him. There's a lot of detail on each of his levels. The magic system is well developed, and each book is a unique plot with new magical aspects.
The characters are nicely drawn. There are several backstories and subplots running around in the background.
All in all, it's a great book of poor boy fighting his way to the top with all he's got, and still fighting after that, because he's got an Ultimate Goal to reach.
Great book. I definitely recommend it.
January 14, 2022
Unsouled: 3.75/5.
Soulsmith: 4.25/5.
Blackflame: 4.75/5.
Overall: 4.25/5.
Soulsmith: 4.25/5.
Blackflame: 4.75/5.
Overall: 4.25/5.
August 28, 2024
The general consensus goes like this:
📕Book 1 is alright
📗Book 2 not so much
📘Book 3 is great
But I propose a different rating
📕Book 1 is great
📗Book 2 is beware ye who enter for this is a slow trudge through a metaphorical hell that will redefine boring, nay, create new meaning to the word. You want to hate life, this is your book. Proceed at your own risk.
📘Book 3 is great too ngl
By the way this is a collection of books 1-3 in case I haven’t mentioned that
Would I recommend this to a friend? I’m not THAT cruel. But I’m carrying on with the series it’s become my trash series now
📕Book 1 is alright
📗Book 2 not so much
📘Book 3 is great
But I propose a different rating
📕Book 1 is great
📗Book 2 is beware ye who enter for this is a slow trudge through a metaphorical hell that will redefine boring, nay, create new meaning to the word. You want to hate life, this is your book. Proceed at your own risk.
📘Book 3 is great too ngl
By the way this is a collection of books 1-3 in case I haven’t mentioned that
Would I recommend this to a friend? I’m not THAT cruel. But I’m carrying on with the series it’s become my trash series now
Want to read
September 2, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/2/2019)! 🎁
January 31, 2023
In my opinion the first two book were just okay but book 3 is were things pick up and I got excited
September 8, 2023
4.25
This started out very sedate and contained in book1 but with each book the world, politics and magic keep expanding. I'm completely in love with Eithan's character, but really just love the whole cast and can't wait to see where this goes!
This started out very sedate and contained in book1 but with each book the world, politics and magic keep expanding. I'm completely in love with Eithan's character, but really just love the whole cast and can't wait to see where this goes!
August 25, 2024
3.75-ish ⭐ (basically almost 4 stars if not for the writing)
Not sure what I expected this to be, but Solo Leveling 2.0 wasn't my first guess??
The writing is very simplistic and undescriptive (is that a word? not sure), which apparently matters to me a lot (and I'm a-okay with Sanderson's writing so this must be a lot worse...)
The plot was interesting, and I love stories where time progresses and things change, and this was exactly it! The main characters are somehow all 15 years old but they grow up with the story and this is new and exciting. Fingers crossed this feels more mature in the later books ✨
Not sure what I expected this to be, but Solo Leveling 2.0 wasn't my first guess??
The writing is very simplistic and undescriptive (is that a word? not sure), which apparently matters to me a lot (and I'm a-okay with Sanderson's writing so this must be a lot worse...)
The plot was interesting, and I love stories where time progresses and things change, and this was exactly it! The main characters are somehow all 15 years old but they grow up with the story and this is new and exciting. Fingers crossed this feels more mature in the later books ✨
June 28, 2018
In recent years translated chinese webnovels have become quite popular in certain parts of the web and this book clearly draws inspiration from those, especially the xianxia genre. For those new to the topic xianxia is perhaps best described as the asian model of sword and sorcery, strongly based on wuxia and fantastical elements of eastern religion, myth and legends. It is full of action, immortality and impossible deeds that can be refreshingly different to a western reader who only knows Tolkien. However I wouldn't exactly call those webnovels quality products from a literary viewpoint and the large majority of them are clearly targeted at a teenage audience and honestly badly written with one-dimensional, hopelessly overpowered characters, everpresent plotholes and ever-repeating plots.
What this series manages to accomplish is to keep most of the positive and interesting elements of xianxia, like its unique magical system, chinese inspired culture and some character archetypes while avoiding many of the weaknesses of the genre, like pages upon pages of descriptions of jadelike beauties that all love the protagonist the moment they see him.
It is a great book if you are interested in a different kind of fantasy or if you have enough of the low quality webnovels you can find online. If only based on my personal enjoyment and somebody who has read a few xianxia novels I would give this book four stars but I think that a newcomer to the genre might be a bit overwhelmed by all the new terms and ideas common to this genre that aren't as well explained as they could be.
What this series manages to accomplish is to keep most of the positive and interesting elements of xianxia, like its unique magical system, chinese inspired culture and some character archetypes while avoiding many of the weaknesses of the genre, like pages upon pages of descriptions of jadelike beauties that all love the protagonist the moment they see him.
It is a great book if you are interested in a different kind of fantasy or if you have enough of the low quality webnovels you can find online. If only based on my personal enjoyment and somebody who has read a few xianxia novels I would give this book four stars but I think that a newcomer to the genre might be a bit overwhelmed by all the new terms and ideas common to this genre that aren't as well explained as they could be.
November 21, 2018
Great read!
I enjoyed the story and the characters. Never sure what will happen next. Switching back and forth from various characters is a little frustrating for me but that could just be personal preference. The interruption to the story is short. I will enjoy ready the 4th book.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. Never sure what will happen next. Switching back and forth from various characters is a little frustrating for me but that could just be personal preference. The interruption to the story is short. I will enjoy ready the 4th book.
Read
September 19, 2019I started reading expecting to put this down after the first chapter. Then the next chapter. Then the one after that. It's going to get boring soon, right? But no, Wight is pretty good at this whole telescoping scale thing. It seems pretty similar to what the cool kids are calling "progression fantasy" these days (others say, more accurately, it's a take on "xianxia"). In this one, characters progress when they are pushed, and pushed hard. It gets a little ridiculous at times, where the MC draws on his final last really honestly super-last reserves of strength repeatedly for several pages in a row, or when characters walk into unwinnable fights and get beaten up because That's The Way To Train. But other times it's an infectious look at self-improvement, with surprisingly subtle undertones that having a true goal for yourself trumps the dominance and conceit of others. Sometimes the MC's ganbaremasu is so intense that it makes me want to jump up and start training!
These themes fit the plot pretty well. The overall goal; the far, far away heights that the MC has to reach is introduced early, doesn't change, and he is fixed on it with laser sight. So it's doubly impressive that the journey never gets stale and varies with each book; Wight has been sure to sprinkle lots of meanders into the story and suggestions of other interesting people and places to come. Plus, one thing that I really like is that, because the characters constantly have the wolves at their back, there's a lot of improvisation and compromise they're forced into, which takes them to other interesting places and again forces their plans to constantly change.
As a final remark, the "lot of short books with episodic plots" works really well with this series. It's like reading a good anime!
These themes fit the plot pretty well. The overall goal; the far, far away heights that the MC has to reach is introduced early, doesn't change, and he is fixed on it with laser sight. So it's doubly impressive that the journey never gets stale and varies with each book; Wight has been sure to sprinkle lots of meanders into the story and suggestions of other interesting people and places to come. Plus, one thing that I really like is that, because the characters constantly have the wolves at their back, there's a lot of improvisation and compromise they're forced into, which takes them to other interesting places and again forces their plans to constantly change.
As a final remark, the "lot of short books with episodic plots" works really well with this series. It's like reading a good anime!
August 9, 2020
This is an omnibus of the first three books in the Cradle series, “Unsouled”, “Soulsmith”, and “Blackflame”. This is a self-publication, but done through the author’s own publishing company, so quite polished despite a few editorial issues here and there.
“Unsouled” is a wuxia-inspired fantasy wrapped in a galactic peacekeepers sci-fi universe. Cradle is the name of the planet on which the protagonist’s home, Sacred Valley, is located. The first half of the story concentrates on the protagonist’s quest to overcome his lack of natural cultivation ability (which makes him an Unsouled). This part is rather good. Rather than being mired in self-pity at the unfairness of his situation as many other YA protagonists would be, he employs patience, wit, and determination to overcome his status through using and bending the all rules at his disposal. Although things go to plan, nothing is easy for the protagonist who narrowly avoids death or crippling injury, the normal consequences of his insolence, from one moment to the next. This is a world where only strength brings honour, but also where the end justifies the means. It’s a harsh, unsympathetic place. The author develops and deploys the magic system with skill, intelligence, logic, and internal consistency, in an engaging and rewarding progression. This system imbues every aspect of life in Sacred Valley, and provides depth and flavour to the setting. The magic system in effect *is* the story, with the downside that there is little in the way of character development (and what there is actually makes the protagonist less sympathetic rather than more), little development of the relationships between the protagonist and other characters as well as between other characters, and little in the way of description as the author leans heavily on the reader’s familiarity with the genre to fill in any gaps. The second half of the book begins with an alien abduction - and delivers an actual story line. There is purpose in the protagonist’s progression now: to attempt to avert an atrocity decades in the future. The protagonist must become one of the most powerful practitioners on the planet to accomplish this feat and become one of the galactic peacekeepers, who need recruits to deal with cosmic crime. This second part is more action based, with the protagonist using every trick he has to ally himself with a powerful protector who can take him out of the valley and into a path of his own. It’s different from the first half, but rather good as well. Overall, this was a good read, and the series is definitely one to follow. 4/5 for this opening episode.
“Unsouled” is a wuxia-inspired fantasy wrapped in a galactic peacekeepers sci-fi universe. Cradle is the name of the planet on which the protagonist’s home, Sacred Valley, is located. The first half of the story concentrates on the protagonist’s quest to overcome his lack of natural cultivation ability (which makes him an Unsouled). This part is rather good. Rather than being mired in self-pity at the unfairness of his situation as many other YA protagonists would be, he employs patience, wit, and determination to overcome his status through using and bending the all rules at his disposal. Although things go to plan, nothing is easy for the protagonist who narrowly avoids death or crippling injury, the normal consequences of his insolence, from one moment to the next. This is a world where only strength brings honour, but also where the end justifies the means. It’s a harsh, unsympathetic place. The author develops and deploys the magic system with skill, intelligence, logic, and internal consistency, in an engaging and rewarding progression. This system imbues every aspect of life in Sacred Valley, and provides depth and flavour to the setting. The magic system in effect *is* the story, with the downside that there is little in the way of character development (and what there is actually makes the protagonist less sympathetic rather than more), little development of the relationships between the protagonist and other characters as well as between other characters, and little in the way of description as the author leans heavily on the reader’s familiarity with the genre to fill in any gaps. The second half of the book begins with an alien abduction - and delivers an actual story line. There is purpose in the protagonist’s progression now: to attempt to avert an atrocity decades in the future. The protagonist must become one of the most powerful practitioners on the planet to accomplish this feat and become one of the galactic peacekeepers, who need recruits to deal with cosmic crime. This second part is more action based, with the protagonist using every trick he has to ally himself with a powerful protector who can take him out of the valley and into a path of his own. It’s different from the first half, but rather good as well. Overall, this was a good read, and the series is definitely one to follow. 4/5 for this opening episode.
June 8, 2018
Honestly I couldn't put it down, I was staying up late. My only issue with it was he would write something and then put another sentence on its own for more impact quite frequently.
Like this.
Then he would continue to write a longer paragraph which was very interesting but that device got a bit tiring. Thankfully it wasn't used too often.
Regarding the story, it's very interesting, I like the imagination - I have a feeling it's sort of inspired by manga or anime - the main character has hurdles that he keeps accumulating power levels - it's very literal in the books. I enjoyed the bits of levity he added, it's a welcome change from grimdark fantasy which seems to be a popular thing nowadays.
Regardless, I guess I like that sort of thing because I'm hooked now.
Like this.
Then he would continue to write a longer paragraph which was very interesting but that device got a bit tiring. Thankfully it wasn't used too often.
Regarding the story, it's very interesting, I like the imagination - I have a feeling it's sort of inspired by manga or anime - the main character has hurdles that he keeps accumulating power levels - it's very literal in the books. I enjoyed the bits of levity he added, it's a welcome change from grimdark fantasy which seems to be a popular thing nowadays.
Regardless, I guess I like that sort of thing because I'm hooked now.
July 31, 2019
Can’t get enough of these books!
I’ve read every available book in this series thus far— multiple times. I’ve made every avid reader I know read it, and have thereby created many more fans of Will Wight. It gets better with every read. The characters are well-defined without becoming caricatures, the pacing is perfect, the relationships are great, and the action is well-written and engrossing. I’ve never read anything quite like it, though I’ve been searching high and low for something similar since I first read this series (nothing comes close). They’re relatively fast, fun reads that never get old.
Will Wight’s other series are enjoyable reads, but don’t hold a candle to Cradle, as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve read every available book in this series thus far— multiple times. I’ve made every avid reader I know read it, and have thereby created many more fans of Will Wight. It gets better with every read. The characters are well-defined without becoming caricatures, the pacing is perfect, the relationships are great, and the action is well-written and engrossing. I’ve never read anything quite like it, though I’ve been searching high and low for something similar since I first read this series (nothing comes close). They’re relatively fast, fun reads that never get old.
Will Wight’s other series are enjoyable reads, but don’t hold a candle to Cradle, as far as I’m concerned.
January 5, 2025
I tried to read this bc one of my good friends really loves the series but I could not even finish the first book bc the heavy-handed, inexplicable co-opting of Asian aesthetics and concepts made me deeply uncomfortable as an Asian person. I have found no evidence that this is the author's culture of origin. It all felt just as faithless as the Jedi of star wars. Our cultures do not exist just for white people to cherry pick the details they like to exotify their fantasies. Also, the main character felt very much like a Gary Stu to whom all bad things keep happening for no reason and that we should like them bc they're so good at suffering those slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Altogether, this series is not for me. Sorry, Kat.
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January 25, 2025
Book 1 was a dragggg- I get you got to set up world building but almost felt like the story didn't flow, so glad I got the 3 in 1 edition otherwise I probably would have dropped the book... (2 star)
Book 2 however was definitely a turning point, gave me the interest I needed to stay invested and Eithan's introduction was such a breath of fresh air- could feel the improvement in the writing. (3.5 star)
Book 3 was pure blackflame (get it)- definitely nice to see that Lindon had finally become a character, very grateful for yerin's character to help mitigate the weakness of lindon's in the first bit. (3.7 star)
I skip 95% of all chapters involving Suriel because the whole iteration stuff is a boreee
Book 2 however was definitely a turning point, gave me the interest I needed to stay invested and Eithan's introduction was such a breath of fresh air- could feel the improvement in the writing. (3.5 star)
Book 3 was pure blackflame (get it)- definitely nice to see that Lindon had finally become a character, very grateful for yerin's character to help mitigate the weakness of lindon's in the first bit. (3.7 star)
I skip 95% of all chapters involving Suriel because the whole iteration stuff is a boreee
January 11, 2021
This was like reading an Anime script. Anime in which the characters are living in a role playing video game in which all the people have supernatural powers and there's lots of monsters to defeat. They're all on a quest for more power and better weapons so they can level up. They're also very Machiavellian about it, always looking for a fight. Death is just around the corner.
After awhile the constant battles got boring and by the third book of this omnibus, even with a secret future plan for the hero; I lost interest. It must catch someone's interest, there are many more in this series. Dialogue is rather snappy.
After awhile the constant battles got boring and by the third book of this omnibus, even with a secret future plan for the hero; I lost interest. It must catch someone's interest, there are many more in this series. Dialogue is rather snappy.
July 13, 2022
So this is the first Wuxia novel I’ve ever read. I guess wuxia themed fantasy may be more accurate, but I have to say this series is honestly one of the most entertaining things I’ve ever read, just the anime-ness had me hooked. Powering up by cultivating one’s spirit, an epic call to adventure opening, martial arts action, and bombastic characters, I was engaged from page one. And even thought this volume contains the first three books, I didn’t feel fatigued reading which I believe is a testament to good writing. Overall I’m really glad this series was recommended because I’ve already started on the second collection and look forward to more from Will Wight!
July 7, 2018
Great series! Great 3 book arcs to start...
This book / omnibus contains the first 3 books of the Cradle series, which is a story that follows Linden’s path toward greatness.
What is amazing about this story is that the main character has great humility and kindness... despite the terrible upbringing and pain that was inflicted upon him for his childhood.
It is a story of martial artists and their use of madra- which is sort of like concepts of chi - and has wonderful fights with great stakes involved.
Please go on to the rest of the series - it is very much worth it...
This book / omnibus contains the first 3 books of the Cradle series, which is a story that follows Linden’s path toward greatness.
What is amazing about this story is that the main character has great humility and kindness... despite the terrible upbringing and pain that was inflicted upon him for his childhood.
It is a story of martial artists and their use of madra- which is sort of like concepts of chi - and has wonderful fights with great stakes involved.
Please go on to the rest of the series - it is very much worth it...
November 6, 2021
Rereading for 11th Time lol
Will Wight is one of my favorite writers. I have reread this series everytime a new book comes available. I read the new book, then the whole series again through the new book. Cradle Series is in fact one of the "stranded on an island/in desert/end of the world and I am left behind" must haves on my list. Only Jordan, Martin, Butcher and maybe Sanderson have that honor. Highly recommended to all, but schedule a weekend because they will be hard to put down when started 😍
Will Wight is one of my favorite writers. I have reread this series everytime a new book comes available. I read the new book, then the whole series again through the new book. Cradle Series is in fact one of the "stranded on an island/in desert/end of the world and I am left behind" must haves on my list. Only Jordan, Martin, Butcher and maybe Sanderson have that honor. Highly recommended to all, but schedule a weekend because they will be hard to put down when started 😍
February 13, 2022
Intricate Plotline
This was recommended to me by my daughter and I wasn’t sure it was something I’d like. However, very quickly I was pulled in by the main character. Even though there was much that confused me in his world, I was invested in this boy and watching him progress through life was completely intriguing. As other strong characters were introduced and meshed with his life, the story became more and more multifaceted and thus more and more compelling. Now I must finish the series and I envision treachery, revelations , hope and successes ahead.
This was recommended to me by my daughter and I wasn’t sure it was something I’d like. However, very quickly I was pulled in by the main character. Even though there was much that confused me in his world, I was invested in this boy and watching him progress through life was completely intriguing. As other strong characters were introduced and meshed with his life, the story became more and more multifaceted and thus more and more compelling. Now I must finish the series and I envision treachery, revelations , hope and successes ahead.
August 22, 2023
This book is 5 stars for lovers of Power Fantasy Anime
This book series is five stars for those who enjoy easy reads with quick power scaling, fun characters, and interwoven maguffins. I really enjoy it. It's not going to be for everyone, this is a book that will absolutely hinge on taste. If you like anime like Naruto or MHA for the powerless main character becoming strong, or like Hunter x Hunter or Yu Yu Hakusho for the fun adventures and dangerous characters, or Fullmetal Alchemist for the creative and all-encompassing magic system, you might enjoy this book a lot.
This book series is five stars for those who enjoy easy reads with quick power scaling, fun characters, and interwoven maguffins. I really enjoy it. It's not going to be for everyone, this is a book that will absolutely hinge on taste. If you like anime like Naruto or MHA for the powerless main character becoming strong, or like Hunter x Hunter or Yu Yu Hakusho for the fun adventures and dangerous characters, or Fullmetal Alchemist for the creative and all-encompassing magic system, you might enjoy this book a lot.
September 18, 2019
OK, I *really* don't give 5-star reviews for books...
If they aren't Clavell's Shogun, or Hemingway's A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, or Steinbeck's Travels With Charlie, or Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron (sp?). I just don't.
But this series is absolutely fiction writing at it's best. Heart, humanity, hatred, vengeance, magic, pettiness and greatness of spirit... I'm completely hooked.
If they aren't Clavell's Shogun, or Hemingway's A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, or Steinbeck's Travels With Charlie, or Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron (sp?). I just don't.
But this series is absolutely fiction writing at it's best. Heart, humanity, hatred, vengeance, magic, pettiness and greatness of spirit... I'm completely hooked.
July 6, 2021
Fantastic Serie
I just re-read the first 3 books of this serie. It is such a great serie, and the writing and pace are superb. It is progression fantasy, which means there are strong expectations about the main character, but the pace is perfect. The main characters are all relatable and the storyline is never dull. The author is also really good at describing what is only necessary for the story, and doesn't longer in never ending descriptions.
I just re-read the first 3 books of this serie. It is such a great serie, and the writing and pace are superb. It is progression fantasy, which means there are strong expectations about the main character, but the pace is perfect. The main characters are all relatable and the storyline is never dull. The author is also really good at describing what is only necessary for the story, and doesn't longer in never ending descriptions.
August 29, 2021
The reviews are true this book is amazing
I read a lot of the reviews and they seemed to give this book High Praise and a lot of people in my Discord recommended this also. The beginning was a little slow but it really helps set the stage for the later parts. You really need that weakness at the beginning to drive home why he is so driven to become stronger. Overall 10 out of 10 would recommend.
I read a lot of the reviews and they seemed to give this book High Praise and a lot of people in my Discord recommended this also. The beginning was a little slow but it really helps set the stage for the later parts. You really need that weakness at the beginning to drive home why he is so driven to become stronger. Overall 10 out of 10 would recommend.
November 22, 2021
I kept reading good books but not quite being satisfied. Jumping between Sci-Fi, Flintlock Fantasy, normal Fantasy. Then I found the books I had unknowingly been searching for.
These books are awesome. The characters are great and continue to grow through all 10 books I've read so far. The magic, character, teamwork, and physical fights are well balanced without one force ruling over everything else.
Read the books - you'll love them.
These books are awesome. The characters are great and continue to grow through all 10 books I've read so far. The magic, character, teamwork, and physical fights are well balanced without one force ruling over everything else.
Read the books - you'll love them.
January 16, 2022
Better
I was recommended travelers gate and enjoyed it but saw many flaws in the story and the writing, but this series has everything that the travelers gate lacked. Though at times predictable, it was predictable in a way that you had no.idea how it was going to get to where it was going.. Which is the sign of a true artist. I want to see the picture I know will unfold but be dumbfounded by the audacity of the way it was presented and completed.
I was recommended travelers gate and enjoyed it but saw many flaws in the story and the writing, but this series has everything that the travelers gate lacked. Though at times predictable, it was predictable in a way that you had no.idea how it was going to get to where it was going.. Which is the sign of a true artist. I want to see the picture I know will unfold but be dumbfounded by the audacity of the way it was presented and completed.
September 14, 2022
Wuxia done right
Its still a dog-eat-dog world, but it's not a universe of unending callousness and predation like many wuxia novels are. Sure there is still some of that, but any character you actually get to know is more nuanced than that. Even the big "rival" at the end, for all that he is a mass-murderer, he had reasons. Not near good enough for all that he did, but still.
It's a solid action-adventure novel that I really enjoy!
Its still a dog-eat-dog world, but it's not a universe of unending callousness and predation like many wuxia novels are. Sure there is still some of that, but any character you actually get to know is more nuanced than that. Even the big "rival" at the end, for all that he is a mass-murderer, he had reasons. Not near good enough for all that he did, but still.
It's a solid action-adventure novel that I really enjoy!
December 17, 2022
***This volume contains the first three novels in the Cradle series: Unsouled, Soulsmith, and Blackflame, all of which are available separately.***
Its reviews are correct, it is a manga/anime in text form.
The story is interesting enough, although the stakes are not that high yet, at least for these first 3 books.
There are lot of hints of lot more exciting things that are left for the next parts of the story.
Overall slightly above average so far, will continue the next part (that contains the 4, 5, and 6 books in the series).
Its reviews are correct, it is a manga/anime in text form.
The story is interesting enough, although the stakes are not that high yet, at least for these first 3 books.
There are lot of hints of lot more exciting things that are left for the next parts of the story.
Overall slightly above average so far, will continue the next part (that contains the 4, 5, and 6 books in the series).
April 19, 2024
Excellent Progression Story, Always Moving Forward
Great story of progression and self improvement and how if you want to go far, go with friends. Classic underdog story but full of real people rather than heroes vs villains. Somehow manages a huge cast of characters while never getting samey or mixing people up. Lots of perspectives and fantastic world building. Manages multiple storylines magnificently. The whole series is fantastic. New favorite author.
Great story of progression and self improvement and how if you want to go far, go with friends. Classic underdog story but full of real people rather than heroes vs villains. Somehow manages a huge cast of characters while never getting samey or mixing people up. Lots of perspectives and fantastic world building. Manages multiple storylines magnificently. The whole series is fantastic. New favorite author.
May 2, 2019
First book is 2 stars; slow start and pretty boring. I had to fight to get through it.
Second book is 3 stars; it gets a bit more interesting and the tempo picks up a little.
Third book is 4 stars; now we're talking story, it just took a while to get here...
All in all 3 stars for me atm, but I will try the fourth book.
Second book is 3 stars; it gets a bit more interesting and the tempo picks up a little.
Third book is 4 stars; now we're talking story, it just took a while to get here...
All in all 3 stars for me atm, but I will try the fourth book.
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