And so like the Void Icon yawning open in the sky... this is the end. I guess. Truth be told, it felt more like a new beginning. I would not be even aAnd so like the Void Icon yawning open in the sky... this is the end. I guess. Truth be told, it felt more like a new beginning. I would not be even a little surprised to learn that Will intends to return to this story—these characters—in the future. And don't get me wrong, I'd love to come back. But there's no doubt, I was ready for the end of this story. I could sort of feel around halfway through that it was going to be one of those non-ending endings though. For something twelve books long, that I invested a lot of time into, I sort of wanted something that felt a bit more... well, like an ending.
I can't complain too much though. Progression, continuation, these are major themes in Cradle. In a way the series reminds me more of a twelve season anime than it does a series of novels, and so there's really no point during the reading of it where you aren't hungry for more. It's always the next thing, the next thing. Improve, empower, advance. And it's a very fun formula, it really is, but I think I would actually enjoy a series like this more if I were reading it as it was released. Could I have waited and paced these installments out more? Sure. But when it's all in front of you sometimes you just want to finish.
Gripes and general dissatisfaction with the ending aside, this is the conclusion to a series of books that I really did enjoy. As my first true Progression Fantasy series, it felt fresh to me, and something a little different than anything I'd read before. At least in novel format. These books prioritize fun above all, and if that's what you're in the mood for you can't go wrong. But a story that prioritizes fast plots and high octane action is a double-edged sword for a reader like me. I can only read about fights and battles for so long before the stakes begin to feel artificially high. Will toes that line successfully I would say, for the most part. But again, by the end, I was feeling some fatigue. That may be more on me than it is on Will Wight, or these books. This series is epic. But 'epic' can be unsustainable.
Without a doubt, I treasured my journey with Lindon. A journey of seven years during which he saw changes unimaginable. I'll miss him. And Eithan. And Yerin. And Orthos and Little Blue. And Mercy and Ziel. I'll miss them. But this is not, I think, the last I'll see of them. — [3.5]
“There are a million Paths in this world, Lindon, but any sage will tell you they can all be reduced to one. Improve yourself.”...more
Reading through the end of this penultimate installment in the Cradle series, I found myself picking up steam as an ending draws near. And incidentallReading through the end of this penultimate installment in the Cradle series, I found myself picking up steam as an ending draws near. And incidentally, I remembered that these books are best served when read quickly; when one's pace of reading matches the pace of the books themselves. Fast. And I am Waybound...
“I have not yet begun to take from you,” Lindon said quietly....more
I didn't think I'd be saying this by the end, seeing as how I felt that some of the dungeon-crawling elements of tWell, this turned out to be a blast.
I didn't think I'd be saying this by the end, seeing as how I felt that some of the dungeon-crawling elements of this one inside the Dread Labyrinth dragged a bit, but... I think this might be the best Cradle book yet. The last quarter or so of the book is difficult to put down, and the ending is just explosive. For the first time in this series, Will Wight surprised me. I mean truly surprised me. And I was grinning for the fun of it. I'm thinking I hang onto this momentum... — [4.25]
The Void Icon was close, and Lindon could feel its yawning hunger. “This world doesn’t have enough for me. I’m going beyond it.”...more
You know, it's somewhat bold of Will Wight to write a tournament that essentially takes up two entire books of his twelve-book series. Bold, but perfeYou know, it's somewhat bold of Will Wight to write a tournament that essentially takes up two entire books of his twelve-book series. Bold, but perfectly fitting for the type of story he's writing. And even as someone who can sometimes get bogged down in ~action~ when it goes on too long, I had a blast reading Wintersteel (and Uncrowned) before it, so I respect the boldness. This is far and away the longest Cradle book yet, and as a result we get to spend a lot more time in development with characters beyond Lindon. And while I do think Will could have trimmed some of the fat, I think the story is ultimately better for it.
Wight has also done an excellent job of keeping the power scaling interesting, as we see sacred artists begin to truly brush up against the upper levels of advancement. When these books start, it really just feels like 'get stronger > advance' sometimes, which is broadly true of course, but we're reaching a point in the story where things are a lot more nuanced than that. Because at a certain point it's about things beyond strength; intangibles that are only really known and felt by getting to know and understand these characters on a deeper level. Plus, there's an additional layer to all of this because Lindon and Yerin are advancing in ways that are increasingly non-traditional, and thus even more interesting.
With all that being said though.. it's all progression, baby. And it's a wild ride. — [4.25]...more
The Sunlit Man is the final 'Secret Project' released during Sanderson's huge 2023. One of the things I liked about each of these releases is how openThe Sunlit Man is the final 'Secret Project' released during Sanderson's huge 2023. One of the things I liked about each of these releases is how open Brandon was about the inspirations and influences for these books. Two of them were gifts for his wife, one of them was a gift for himself, and the last one, this one, was a gift for us. The cosmere faithful, so to speak. The nerds who have been reading this stuff for a while now, and who sniff out cosmere connections wherever we can. The thing is, the days of making obscure connections, linking one book to another, wondering, waiting... Well, I guess saying that they're coming to an end is a bit dramatic. They aren't. Brandon always has another secret up his sleeve, and this book raised plenty of unanswered questions to ponder on. But I guess what I'm getting at is that we are in a new era of cosmere books now. We are pushing forward into the future of the cosmere, and the more we do so the more connected and overlapping these stories become. That kind of thing excites me, and so Nomad's story was a treat in many ways. But taken on its own, with no other knowledge of the cosmere whatsoever... I don't think it would be as enjoyable. It would be good. It is good. But without the supplementary knowledge I have, the links to other works that I noticed, the questions those links raised... I think we're getting to a point where some books, some, not all, are for the heads. And that's okay. I think it'll excite people to read his other works, honestly.
But to rank the Secret Projects (the ones set in the cosmere), I think it would be Tress on top (the best standalone story), followed by Sunlit, and then Yumi. All good books, and a very fun surprise. — [3.5]...more
More of the same, but still a fun time. I expected a bit more growth moving into the second book considering some of the things that were being set upMore of the same, but still a fun time. I expected a bit more growth moving into the second book considering some of the things that were being set up in the first one, but instead this felt a bit like a side story. That may just be the point; a mystery of the week sort of story structure. But I'm definitely looking forward to an expansion of the world moving forward....more
I have finally returned to Cradle, and there is no better gauge of how much I've been enjoying it than the fact that I am excited, to the occasional pI have finally returned to Cradle, and there is no better gauge of how much I've been enjoying it than the fact that I am excited, to the occasional point of giddiness, when I pick up my Kindle lately. I love reading all sorts of different books, and I've already read some good ones outside of my usual this year. But having fun reading is what's it's always been about for me, and I'm certainly having fun.
And man... am I glad that I don't have to wait for the next book after that ending.
'In that moment, she saw him as their enemies always had. He towered over her, built like a guard tower, his eyes burning circles of red on darkness. His clothes were shredded and burned. Drying blood streaked his skin. His right arm hung mangled and useless against his side. Her heart swelled with pride.'...more
The fun continues. I mean, what more is there to say? It's the very nature of this series—this progression fantasy—to build and build and build on itsThe fun continues. I mean, what more is there to say? It's the very nature of this series—this progression fantasy—to build and build and build on itself. At the halfway point now, I look backward and I smile, and I looked forward and I get excited. I've grown attached to our core group here, and watching them tackle greater and greater challenges, advancing all the while, has been a blast. You come to love them; Lindon, Yerin, Mercy, Eithan. Even characters like Orthos and Little Blue. As they grow more powerful, and as the stakes are raised ever higher, one can only imagine what's in store for these next six books in the Cradle universe... — [3.75]
If my memories of Northstrider have taught me anything, it’s that the sacred arts only get weirder....more
What a trip, to return to Alagaësia after all this time.
Say what you will about the derivative nature of The Inheritance Cycle, those books were formWhat a trip, to return to Alagaësia after all this time.
Say what you will about the derivative nature of The Inheritance Cycle, those books were formative for me, and were my introduction to many of the tropes which were otherwise derived. So I was pleased when I heard—after his reappearance onto the scene in the realm of sci-fi—that Christopher Paolini was making a return to the world of Eragon, this time following Murtagh. That in itself was intriguing, because I was curious how Paolini's writing may or may not have grown since Inheritance finished, and I thought exploring a darker and more complex character like Murtagh would be a good way to determine that. Happily, I think it was a success.
The story picks up shortly after the end of Galbatorix's reign, with Murtagh and Thorn wandering the countrysides of Alagaësia doing good where they can. They are free from the king's control, but not from the trauma, fears, and regrets they now carry as a result of it. When rumblings reach them of a new power in the land, known as the Dreamers and led by the witch Bachel, they decide to seek her out, and hope to discover their own path to healing in the process.
Murtagh is pretty clearly just a beginning for new stories in Paolini's world. And though his writing is still occasionally a little clunky, and I wouldn't have minded some further trimming of this one, I still found it a worthy return to a series I grew up loving. I'm glad Christopher is back. — [3.5]...more
This year's 'Secret Project' books have been a lot of fun for a variety of reasons, but my favorite has been getting to see Sanderson be so open with This year's 'Secret Project' books have been a lot of fun for a variety of reasons, but my favorite has been getting to see Sanderson be so open with his influences when it comes to having crafted these stories, and getting to see him develop those influences into an original tale with his own approach and style. Thus I can definitively say that fans of Your Name (as well as a couple other key pieces, including one of the Final Fantasy games) will find something to love here.
And so what I found was a charming, slow-budding romance between two characters from very (very) different walks of life. This is what hooked me, and what kept me going. I thought Brandon's character work shined here, and of course, as is his wont, he set the story in a fascinating new world in the cosmere. I was also pleased to find Hoid as our narrator once again, having inadvertently become stuck on this aforementioned new planet. The more Hoid the better, really, and who better to tell a story to us?
What I did not love was the late-game twist, which recontextualizes the story in a big way. I didn't see it coming, which is not an issue in and of itself, but in the case of this particular story, I felt that it was a bit too manufactured. It didn't feel that the narrative itself had arrived at this turning of the plot, it sort of just felt like something that had to be explained to us in order to get where we were going. It's no secret that Brandon often breaks the "show don't tell" rule, and frankly, his worlds are complex enough (and, to me, interesting enough) to forgive this most of the time. Here, for whatever reason, it was just too much tell. I mean, Hoid literally has to explain to the reader what is going on, and does so.
So, while some of the ending portions of this book were not my favorite, it did not wipe out the enjoyment I had reading the novel prior to that point by any means. I loved Yumi and Nikaro's tale. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fantastic illustrations by Aliya Chen. They are gorgeous and add to greatly to the experience of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. Each of the Secret Project books has a different illustrator, and I love that. — [3.25]
It’s said that everything you eat, even the air you breathe, becomes part of you. The axi that make up the matter you take in come to make up you instead. I, however, find that the moments we take into our souls as memories are far more important than what we eat. We need those moments as surely as the air, and they linger. Potent. Yes, a person is more than their experiences, stacked up like stones. But our best moments are the foundations we use to reach for the sky....more
Man, what a blast. After a relatively lengthy break to reread the Red Rising series, I am back in the world of Cradle, and having just as much fun as Man, what a blast. After a relatively lengthy break to reread the Red Rising series, I am back in the world of Cradle, and having just as much fun as when I left it.
Ghostwater is a return to form of sorts. Skysworn, while enjoyable, felt like a short lull in progression in some ways, whereas this fifth book is back on the level of Blackflame, which I think is still my top book in the series thus far. In Skysworn, we did not see Lindon advance, but in Ghostwater... well, it delivers. We see our core group of characters sent on a mission to Ghostwater, a pocket world created by Northstrider that is on the verge of collapse after the appearance of the Bleeding Phoenix. Ghostwater and its many habitats turn out to be an invaluable adventure for Lindon, Orthos, and a new character that I absolutely love, Dross.
The fun continues, I'm sure, in Underlord. These books have a tendency to pick up exactly where the last one left off, and I don't feel like stopping.
“The prize is an illusion. The mountain has no peak. You keep climbing and climbing until you fall off and break yourself at the bottom. Highgold is one step, Truegold is another step, but there's no end to it. You could walk forever, but every Path ends in a fall. Just make sure you have something else to keep you going. Sacred arts are not enough to live for.”...more
While Skysworn didn't quite hit the bar set by Blackflame it expanded the Cradle world in interesting ways, and was an extremely quick jaunt through aWhile Skysworn didn't quite hit the bar set by Blackflame it expanded the Cradle world in interesting ways, and was an extremely quick jaunt through awesome new characters, fantastic new places, and powers more massive by far than those we've seen before. Neither Lindon nor Yerin advance in this fourth installment, but both of them grow, and it is clear that their fates—and those of Eithan and newcomer Akura Mercy—have been twisted and changed beyond what any of them could have expected. While the book felt almost a little too quick at times, sacrificing depth for pace, it was still a fun ride, and sets a hook in the reader for what's to come. Wight is quite good at that. — [3.5]
You are one of my children. You have inherited my sight. To you, the world is open. You can step out of the Cradle. You can grow up. And join me....more
Far and away the strongest installment thus far, Blackflame has made a serious impact on my enjoyment of the Cradle series. As much as I've enjoyed itFar and away the strongest installment thus far, Blackflame has made a serious impact on my enjoyment of the Cradle series. As much as I've enjoyed it to this point, this feels like the true beginning of the story that Wight is trying to tell, and it has totally ignited my desire to continue. It's wild what all has befallen Lindon in just three short books. There is so much more to come, and I feel ready to devour it like the hungry black flame.
Needless to say, this third book continues the trend of improvement with every volume. Noticeable development from (remember, self-published) Will Wight is directly resulting in development of his world and characters. Lindon is growing, and while he remains the same aloof, coy, and gracious young man from Sacred Valley, he has become so much more, advancing along his path. His relationship with Yerin is developing into something more complex, and her own arc is more nuanced than ever. Eithan feels in many ways like the ingredient that I never knew was missing, propelling the story along while simultaneously acting as a source of much mystery, and it's difficult to even picture the story without him now. We even have antagonists growing to be more than villainous fighters, ones whose motivations are understandable and sympathetic.
So while the fun-factor is kept at an all-time high here—and is certainly still the priority, as it should be—we are seeing the quality of other pieces of the story shored up in noticeable and satisfying ways.
So having said all that... God, that was awesome. Progression fantasy, man. I didn't know how badly I wanted an eastern-inspired, anime-esque story with the sensibilities of western fantasy. Cloudships; ancient fire-breathing turtles; cities made from the bones of dragons; lost paths of destruction; soul-stealing spears; immensely powerful janitors; and lots and lots of training... This story of mythical martial arts magic is turning out to be exactly what I'd hoped for. — [4.25]
The dragon advances. The dragon destroys. The dragon conquers....more
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