Ghostwater Finally Available!

6/1/2018

EDIT 2: Finally, two and a half days later, the book is up in the UK, India, France, and Brazil! Just now! I have no idea why it took Amazon so long, nor why those domains all went up at the same time, but the book is available at last!

EDIT: I know it still isn't available in the UK, India, Brazil, or France. I have no idea why. Amazon often uploads to different regions at different times, but never before so staggered or so late. I've been calling and submitting support tickets, but I'll let you know when the book finally goes live in those regions.

It's been available in other regions for a while now, but finally it is available in the US! Get it now!

(Still not up in the UK as far as I can tell.)

Shout out to the fans on Discord, who stayed up all night with me waiting. I was getting loopy there by the end; never thought it would take this long.

-Will

272 Comments

Madeline

6/1/2018 07:10:56 am

It is still not listed on your author page.

Alpha Reader

6/1/2018 07:19:22 am

it can take a while for amazon to get the rest of the page polished up, but here is the link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFWZP9C/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1527862231&sr=8-16&keywords=ghostwater

Will link

6/1/2018 07:22:52 am

Yeah, it won't be listed on my author page for a day or two.

Ryder

6/1/2018 12:16:22 pm

I've finished Ghostwater and I'm so upset. Will please I need more

Chris

6/1/2018 02:10:00 pm

Upset? After reading Blackflame and especially Skysworn, I would say Ghostwater had easily one of the most satisfying endingsin the series so far, maybe only second to Soulsmith. I can't wait till the next book, but definitely not upset!

Will link

6/2/2018 08:41:30 am

It is understandable to be upset that there isn't more Cradle. That should always upset you.

Coldsteel

6/1/2018 07:15:17 am

Here's the link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFWZP9C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1527862404&sr=1-1&keywords=will+wight+ghostwater

6/1/2018 07:15:42 am

I feel like I have been DDoS the UK servers for the last day

Chris

6/1/2018 07:22:09 am

it is in Amazon. When you search for the title, for some reason it doesn’t show up as the first book. You have to go to the second or third page and it will be there.

Corey link

6/1/2018 07:30:55 am

For those wanting links for all the various amazon stores, here's what I could find and compile:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Iteration110Cradle/comments/8nqcuz/ghostwater_available_now/

Path of the everlasting light

6/1/2018 07:47:27 am

I am in the uk so am still holding out but can’t wait! Does anyone know how much time has past in the book since skysworn?

The Last Reader

6/1/2018 07:48:12 am

Yeah I somehow ended up falling asleep on discord lol

Daniel

6/1/2018 07:58:36 am

When will the paperback copy become available? I like to have a physical copy too.

Will link

6/2/2018 08:42:38 am

I'm still working on the interior file for the paperback, but it should be available in the next couple of weeks!

Walter

6/1/2018 08:01:18 am

😑 why is it $5? It should be at least $7.99, if not $12-14. Bruh, coffee costs $5- people can afford supporting you if they can afford the internet to download it.

TBoy

6/1/2018 09:21:06 am

It can't be over $9.99 because then Amazon will give Will 45% less royalties.

Chris

6/1/2018 02:13:27 pm

To be fair, it is a very short book, I just read it in 5 hours.

Bean

6/1/2018 10:11:40 pm

I don’t comment and I don’t worry about books. But I do think that Will is a great emerging author and deserves success and the right monetary compensation. So I will say, “Will, charge the correct amount that works for you. We will pay it with a smile.”

Will link

6/2/2018 08:45:04 am

Thanks, everybody!

But I'm with Chris: the book is pretty short.

Not that people don't pay more money for short books all the time, but my goal isn't to charge as much as I can for each book. I'd rather charge what I think is a fair price, and I don't have a reason to charge more than $5 per book.

Also, I don't want to. If it were up to my personal preference, all the books would still be $2.99, because that's the minimum price I can charge while making 65% profit.

However, I recognize that I'm trying to run a business, so I reluctantly charge $5. Don't give my business manager any ideas!

Bob

6/6/2018 06:08:15 am

Hmm interesting and good to know what cut amazon takes!! Is there any way to make over 65%? Sell a million copies?

6/13/2018 04:40:33 pm

How much do you make from those that use Amazon unlimited?

Nitin Shekhar

6/1/2018 08:11:00 am

Atleast Andrew Rowe's review is up everywhere. I so regret moving to India last year. Damn Amazon..

Deepthroat

6/2/2018 03:12:18 am

Any idea when it will be up here?

Kyle Sims

6/1/2018 08:38:01 am

When will the hardcopy be available?

Will link

6/2/2018 08:45:36 am

I'm still working on the interior file, but it should be in the next few weeks!

Walter

6/1/2018 08:59:10 am

Was having trouble finding it on the kindle store via kindle, but I was able to go to sci-fi/fantasy and search ‘ghostwater’ and it was on the second page 🙌🏼 TIME TO DIG IN

Stewart

6/1/2018 10:38:09 am

So this is conflicting for me. Yay great effort to get it out Will - well done and all that. BUT.... I live in the UK and it’s not out here. Amazon.co.uk has no conception of it. And that’s what wrong! Is this about Brexit? It’s fucking Brexit again isn’t it?

Please make it be out in the UK, if not immediately then as soon as humanly possible.

Will link

6/1/2018 02:28:04 pm

I blame Brexit.

I submitted a ticket with Amazon and even called, but they won't do anything before 72 hours have passed. By which time the book will be up. I'm sorry, British people!

Stewart

6/2/2018 11:22:35 am

Jesus H Christ. I’ve been in Brighton for the weekend and I’m not going to lie, I’ve been drinking. But I’m furious with Boris “tousled haired prick” Johnson. I’m on the train home now and it’s still not available. I didn’t kill a man with my bare hands for this. I’ve been conned.

Stewart (slight return)

6/2/2018 11:30:39 am

Also “yes” I can see you said “72 hours” in your previous post. That’s not what I voted for. Some Yank wordmonger holding me to ransom with his linear notion of time. In our post-Brexit paradise we won’t be constrained by linear notions of time. Ball to you Will Wight. I’ve read the book before you published it because that’s the power of Brexit. I loved it and the thing you did really cleverly with the narrative structure and/or the plot. Well done big man. With you’re words. You can’t ransom us.

P.S please publish it in the UK. It’s fucking awful here now. We need to be cheered up. You monster!

Stewart

6/5/2018 06:03:53 pm

So. Mr Wight. If that is your name? Nice effort. I finally got the book, despite the best efforts of tousle haired philanderer Boris Johnson and man of the common people Jacob Rees Mogg. It was great. Thanks for putting the words together in such pleasing combinations. I liked Dross. The dialogue was better in this book than any other. Thanks very much for the effort.

By way of recompense can you make the next book available in the UK first please? If not can you at least send me a copy personally scrawled in crayon on the back of a napkin?

Anil

6/1/2018 10:51:03 am

Still nothing in the UK grrr... Are we unsouled?

Julius Oluka

6/1/2018 10:56:14 am

Feel your pain @Stewart, I was eagerly waiting for it to come out since about 02:00 this morning. I just feel exhausted and numb. I am like, “when ever kit comes out, it comes out. Lost that initial enthusiasm.

Micah

6/1/2018 11:07:25 am

Lucky I took a trip to the US, otherwise I'd have to wait. Thanks for writing Will!

Kratos

6/1/2018 11:22:22 am

Consider all like buttons smashed, subscription boxes hit, bells rung, and patreons donated to (insert emojis as neccessary, I don't know how to get them on pc). Fantastic work!

Will link

6/1/2018 02:28:52 pm

I expected you to call me BOY.

Bean

6/1/2018 10:13:04 pm

As you should have, boy.

Anil

6/1/2018 12:05:19 pm

Ok it’s 8pm and nothing in the uk, sorry Will will try tomorrow!

Bill Wong

6/1/2018 01:08:55 pm

Like and subscribe, but you don't ask for comments as well?! That's the secret to winning, obviously.

Thanks for another great book!

Walter

6/1/2018 01:54:33 pm

SO. GOOD. ah! A full-length adventure! No corners cut! YESSSSSS. -high five- I can finally start EE without regret!

Walter

6/1/2018 02:01:22 pm

I don’t even want to read it again yet! Maybe later tonight, or tomorrow. I’ve never done this with any series before, but I usually read through your releases twice in a row because they’re so good, but this was EXCELLENT! I couldn’t handle another go through immediately because I’m still cycling it! I hope you flesh out and really stretch everyone remaining’s limbs next, but BRAVO! I almost like this as much as soulsmith, but 100% a 2nd place, and it might climb to my top choice after reading it again like 6 more times, like I’ve read soulsmith. Gah! You’re too good! You’ve cranked out 5 books in a series in under a year while working on your other series too! 🙌🏼 Woooooh

Will link

6/1/2018 02:23:38 pm

Good, Walter, goooood! Let the power flow through you!

For real, thanks for reading it, man!

Celba1

6/1/2018 02:03:50 pm

Will its 10pm in the UK WHERE IS MY GHOSTWATER????

Will link

6/1/2018 02:27:24 pm

I know, I'm sorry. I cannot save you. I submitted a ticket with Amazon and even called, but they won't do anything before 72 hours have passed. By which time the book will be up.

I NEED MORE

6/1/2018 04:45:00 pm

Ok when is the next book coming out?? Like I don't know how long I can wait... can you just crank out the next 10 books in this series so I can cycle them in a few days??? Best series I have read in years! I can't say enough about your work.. it is just spectacular!!

Anil

6/1/2018 02:37:03 pm

Is there an email address we can vent at Amazon at?

SPOILER WARNING!

6/1/2018 02:37:13 pm

*Begin Spoiler*Quick question Will, did Lindon keep the axe? I don't see any mention of it after the fight?*End spoiler*

Great book, better than the previous ones, which seemed impossible before i read this book. Eagerly awaiting more.

John

6/2/2018 06:52:45 am

There is really no excuse for Lindon not picking up everything that he can now that he has a void key to store things in. The axe had better be in there.

Will link

6/2/2018 09:19:17 am

I intended for Lindon to keep the axe, but I wrote several versions of that scene, and it looks like I left that out. Oversight on my part, sorry.

Awkwizard

6/2/2018 11:27:16 pm

I thought the exclusion of any indication was purposeful. After he complained about not having a weapon and having the knowledge of Lindon's hoarding tendencies, we all knew that axe had found a spot in his void space. I was already guffawing in my head, at the thought of him rushing to grab it as soon as he went into Lord-mode, to see what it could do.

Stephen

6/4/2018 12:03:08 pm

Considering that he's mentioned several times that he's wanted a weapon, I think it would be ok to assume he would take it. All it would take is" good thing I kept that axe " at some point in the next book. Although it is an underlord weapon. It'd be a little bit before he could use it and he might not feel the need for it since he has something that northstrider would consider a treasure.

Fred

6/6/2018 02:27:21 am

I agree we can just assume he took it based on his character you didn`t even have to mention it though Lindon might be in trouble if the Akura finds out he has it or a jealous underlord. I kinda assumed Lindon would be like Meng Hao from ISSH who would have shamelessly have removed the tiles and roof from a place like that if he could.

Zeussaxis

6/17/2018 06:56:38 pm

Finally got a chance to sit down and read it through today, after getting 2-3 pages at a time for 2 weeks.

Re: Axe, I had assumed that the text around the axe being fairly useless to Harmony before underLord would have caused Linden to leave it behind as extra weight with little value right now. I’m certain Mr. Wight is looking forward to treasure in the underlord phase where he can enjoy explaining the properties London gets when using it at the time he picks it up, vs. dead weight for a while with a surprise later. The Void Closet is already being stuffed with things that had value prior to being collected....

Evan

6/1/2018 02:57:34 pm

Is Noble Realm an option vs. Lord Realm? Lord Realm just refuses to sit well with my brain.

Coldsteel

6/1/2018 03:34:34 pm

Congratulations, Will. Fantastic book! You really knocked it out of the ballpark this time. I think this is your best book ever. I absolutely loved every word of it. I almost want to re-read it immediately.

My only regret is that I've already finished it and have to wait for the next book. A world with Will Wight authoring books like this is a far better world, that's for sure. Thanks for doing what you do so well.

Will link

6/2/2018 09:19:59 am

Thanks! I'm excited and relieved that the response to this book has been so positive.

I thought it would be, because honestly I thought this one came out pretty well, but you never know until it goes live.

6/4/2018 05:55:46 am

Will, your books are simply awesome!! Cradle is getting better with each book!!!
Love it, love it, love it!!!

Can’t wait for the next book!! More plz...soon plz

Timmy

6/2/2018 08:37:08 pm

I completely agree...can't wait for Underlord

Michael

6/1/2018 04:01:40 pm

its....so.....GOOOOOOD!!!

seriously, thank you Will. i needed this

Nowtakenusername

6/1/2018 04:24:17 pm

It’s great Will. As always I read voraciously, and was pretty damn satisfied. I love it, and am only frustrated that I must wait again for the next installment.

Oh, a side note, I only noticed it later, but at location 3837, the paragraph “Lindon turned away before he had to face any questions.” Has Skysworn misspelled as Sksyworn. Just thought you should know

Will link

6/2/2018 09:21:17 am

Thank you! It's fixed now!

Alpha reader

6/7/2018 04:54:46 am

Huh, you know I had that one highlighted, but thought I did so because I didn't like the wording.

Joe

6/8/2018 02:10:07 pm

You’re the best Will.

Another potential error I noticed: not sure if it was some sort of intentional time split foreshadowing, but *SPOILER* during Dross’ battle analysis of Harmony, it one time refers to Malice instead. Location 3657?

Now that I've read it twice...

6/1/2018 05:03:31 pm

That was, in my opinion, the best book in the series yet! Now where do I find the next book? That aura source was far too small to feed my reading advancement.

Lashan

6/1/2018 10:28:30 pm

I won't go as far as calling it the best as Soulsmith and Blackflame had bunches of good moments, but Ghostwater has the most progression and action. I miss Eithan and his banter!

Deadnettle

6/1/2018 05:06:22 pm

You definitely knocked it out of the park this time! I would have to say that Ghostwater is my second favorite Cradle book to date following extremely closely on the heels of Soulsmith. I cannot wait for more books by you.

Will link

6/1/2018 05:19:21 pm

Thanks! It's probably my favorite so far, but I'm biased.

Deadnettle

6/1/2018 08:22:52 pm

I reserve the right to change my mind on the matter at a later date, but soulsmith just has a certain je ne sais quoi that I loved. By the way, I left a brief review on Amazon.ca for Ghostwater.

whidden

6/1/2018 05:33:51 pm

Thanks Will, Ghostwater was worth the wait.

Your wordsmithing was cycling through all your channels for this book. I'm sure one of your cores is a bit dry right now. So don't spend any time reading these comments, go someplace to cycle and meditate new striker techniques you can use in your next book.

6/4/2018 05:58:47 am

No, no, no! Absolutely not! The hunger madra will not be satisfied....you must start on the next book immediately!

Ronald McDonald

6/1/2018 06:15:44 pm

Thanks Will! Please have OKAK done for me by the time I finish reading Ghostwater! Thanks.

ShadyUpvoteDealer

6/1/2018 06:39:49 pm

Will! They aren't counting my review for Ghostwater as a verified review!

This is the first ebook I have ever actually paid for, so I'm lowkey super upset. Who can I angrily email about this?

Kaileonis

6/1/2018 06:40:54 pm

Bravo! I kinda cheated a lil and made an Australian Amazon acct. Haha I'll get the US version next. Thank you for an awesome new chapter.

Very exciting and off the wall awesomeness!! Best gift I have for my birthday!

Hopefully next book is sometime in september or october?

Paxtor

6/1/2018 07:06:07 pm

Look at me, I'm the captain now. :D
Thanks for those alternative scenes at the end. Loved the whole book, as always.

Just finished the book

6/1/2018 08:28:12 pm

I loved it so much that some one could have kicked me in the giblets and I wouldn't noticed whilst in was reading that book.

Lashan

6/1/2018 09:51:09 pm

Dang good book, after MY i had to buy it! Support Will!!!!!

Yosef

6/1/2018 10:19:57 pm

Will, I don't like to complain but as someone who is living in the UK, the only place in the world it seems that can't read Ghostwater. I must ask when you uploaded it, did you accidently click that you don't have the rights to it in the UK? I'm sorry I know this is far-fetched but at the time of writing this it has been 28 hours since the first email you sent saying you uploaded Ghostwater of which it has been 17 hours since it has available everywhere but here. I know it takes longer in different places but it has never taken this long before.

Will link

6/2/2018 09:23:26 am

Yeah, I don't know what's going on either, but everything is right on my end. Amazon UK has the book and they're not releasing it. It's not out in India, France, or Brazil either.

It hasn't taken this long in at least 3-4 years. I don't know what to do about it this time, but we're already looking into ways to prevent this on our next release.

Yosef

6/2/2018 11:37:13 am

I found a work around at least for those of us in the UK if you go to manage content on amazon.co.uk for the kindle and pick preferences you can change the region you're able to but book for the kindle on to the USA. If you then go onto amazon.com you can buy the book. just remember to change the region back as the changing the region doesn't stop you from reading books but if you have a kindle fire it could stop from seeing some films or listening to some music, also you have to buy the book in dollars.

Bean

6/1/2018 10:21:01 pm

I haven’t read Ghostwater yet because I need some solid time, uninterrupted to do it. Otherwise someone may be murdered for interrupting me. Just wanted to throw you an ego boost. Best authored I have read in a long time. Look forward to you being recognized as one of the greats in the field. You deserve it.

PS I have read a few Sanderson novels and you have him by a mile.

Will link

6/2/2018 09:24:15 am

Thanks, Bean! Flattery will get you tons of Will Points.

Sam

6/1/2018 10:36:55 pm

My Kindle is out of commission, so I won't be able to read Ghostwater until my new one comes in. I'm going to have to avoid your blog like the plague until it arrives though, so as to keep away from spoilers.

Sam, signing off.

Jonathan

6/2/2018 01:42:02 am

For everyone, log in to your computer and use read.amazon.com. Your kindle may be dead but no need to miss out.

Thomas

7/19/2018 06:47:52 pm

Download the kindle app for your phone. Then as long as you have a phone you can read. Hell I can't remember the last time I picked up an actually physical copy of a book.

Diego

6/1/2018 11:01:01 pm

I swear your books are Heroin injested through the eyes. I always keep coming back for me, while reading I feel satisfied and when it's over I always want more.

NoPatience

6/1/2018 11:01:46 pm

It's been awhile now since the last Cradle book was released. When is book 6 coming out? Tomorrow? Next week?

RedFlame

6/1/2018 11:19:34 pm

Yes. I have finished 5 and now my core requires 6 & 7.
No no no... I'm not a power addict like everyone else...
I don't want! I just need it! Cherry flavoring please.

Thanks again Will.

Slickone

6/1/2018 11:37:27 pm

Best book launch i'v ever done, damn! Will u have a sexy reading voice, WTB Will discord every book plz !!!11111

Will link

6/2/2018 09:24:57 am

Waiting up all night with you all was way better than waiting up all night alone, so thanks for sticking with me!

6/1/2018 11:41:31 pm

Another amazing entry... maybe the best in the series so far. Thanks for giving me such a great read!

Jonathan

6/2/2018 01:46:55 am

I liked this one sooo much better than Skysworn! Fighting for 1st place next to Soulsmith, followed by Blackflame. Still waiting to see what his Blackflame forging technique will be, but utterly satisfied right now.

Fanaticfan

6/2/2018 02:04:19 am

I must propose a motion to enshrine Will Wight as our God for bringing Little Blue to our lives.

Will link

6/2/2018 09:17:57 am

There was a typo in the first draft of this book that said Little Blue was six FEET tall instead of six inches, so I had all my beta readers thinking she had somehow grown to the height of a human woman and she was still sitting on Lindon's shoulder and lying flat on his head and everything.

It was awkward.

6/2/2018 03:43:56 am

Ok...just finished reading Ghostwater!! Awesome!!
Now I am ready for the next book in the Cradle series :o)

bill warrilow

6/2/2018 04:57:32 am

just contacted amazon.co.uk - no sign of ghostwater on the site as of 1pm saturday 2/6/18. very frustrating!

Mason

6/2/2018 06:18:42 am

It’s killing me

Nowtakenusername

6/2/2018 05:36:11 am

Nowtakenuser

6/2/2018 05:37:06 am

Whoops, accidental repost

Will link

6/2/2018 08:40:41 am

We don't take kindly to accidental reposts around these parts.

Malaco

6/2/2018 07:07:24 am

Still not available at Amazon Brazil, Jesus Christ.

On another note, I got tired of waiting and purchased it on a newly made Amazon US account.

Good shit Will, probably my favorite book of the series after Unsouled, you really knocked it out of the park.

Left a 5 star review. When it finally comes out in AmazonBR i'll reread it and leave another review with the other account.

Thanks for the hard work Will. Cheers.

Will link

6/2/2018 08:40:13 am

I really appreciate that, man. Sorry for the weird release; it's never been so staggered between the different regions before, nor has it taken so long in three or four years. I don't know what the deal is. We'll have to try something different next launch.

And I'm glad you enjoyed it! The positive response to this one has floored me.

Malaco

6/2/2018 10:34:32 am

Ghostwater just felt like the culmination of everything that lindon has strived for since Blackflame, and i don't know how to word properly, but the execution/pace/flow of the story just felt natural.

You have always been a great worldbuilder Will, that much was transparent years ago when I read House of Chains. I just feel like your writing skills have catched up with your worldbuilding and the result is blatent in Ghostwater.

Can't wait to see what's next, you just keep getting better and better. Cheers from Brazil.

Will link

6/2/2018 11:35:52 am

Thanks, Malaco! I'm trying to push myself as a writer with each new book; maybe soon I will advance to Underlord.

Marty

6/2/2018 07:35:00 am

Perhaps my favorite book in the series...

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Skysworn but it makes a lot more sense after reading Ghostwater.

Will link

6/2/2018 08:39:16 am

Thanks, Marty!

My hope is that Skysworn will feel more natural for the people who read BF, SS, and GW back-to-back.

Chris

6/2/2018 04:41:15 pm

Well, since you mentioned this... I'm gonna swoop in with this idea and pray you don't take offense.

Perhaps eventually a rewrite might occur of Cradle Foundation and Cradle Gold?(don't know what your going to call SS and GW). You could polish these 5 books in 2 really good compendiums that flow like 2 really amazing longer stories.

This next part is where I hope you don't take offense, but since you've admitted yourself that it would be more natural this way, perhaps even think of cutting Blackflame in two. You could make it Cradle Foundation's end.You could do it at the Blackflame Jade Core then continuing the next compilation with the other half of him getting lowgold.

Just my two cents, but I think that would really nicely clean up some of the awkwardness of the story-line breaks that occurred.

Other than that though man couldn't love your series more, all of them, I look forward to every book!

Will link

6/2/2018 09:09:40 pm

I'm certainly not offended, Chris, but I doubt I'll ever do that.

I'm regularly tempted to go back and clean up old books, but that's not something I can make common practice. I could always go back and make an old book better. Always. There will never be a time where I couldn't improve one of my old works, because I'm always learning and growing.

So at a certain point, I have to let the stories go. I could work on each compilation and change them so that they flow better and work better as three-part stories, but where does that end? Do I change the individual books to match those changes? If not, then the people who buy the books individually and the people who buy the collections are getting different stories. If so, then I've told a story in three-book arcs rather than in one-book arcs, which is a very different approach to storytelling.

It just becomes complicated. And I think it has to be rare to go back and make significant rewrites to a story, because it's too easy to justify. I'd rather improve by writing new stories and getting better as a writer over time than by constantly fixing stories I've already written.

Sam

6/3/2018 03:21:34 pm

Plus you don't get paid to make old books new. You get paid to make new books. As nice as it is to try and make the best books you can make, you need to make a living. Investing your time in stuff that won't pay isn't a wise business decision.

abhishek

6/2/2018 08:45:26 am

When will it be available in India?

Nitin

6/2/2018 09:31:55 am

No way to know. We are soon heading into 48 hr territory.

Anon

6/2/2018 09:09:06 am

Great book! I can imagine many things you can do with all you have set up so far in the story. That said, I hope I don't have to imagine too long. So... when is the next Cradle book coming out? I know its only been a day but I feel like Lindon right after an advancement. I'm already excited for the next one.

Walter

6/2/2018 10:00:51 am

I don’t suppose you’re willing to reconsider 13 single book installments for 13 3-story arc installments 😅 I’m already getting separation anxiety since you’re so prolific

JohnZ

6/2/2018 10:07:28 am

Just a heads-up, when searching Amazon, both "will wight" and "ghostwater", it doesn't show up until page 2. If you restrict to Kindle store only, it's about halfway down the first page.

I think this is nuts considering you're currently at the following:
#33 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths & Legends > Asian
#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Sword & Sorcery
#1 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Epic

Thought you should know. Starting my read today!

Will link

6/2/2018 11:10:04 am

It just takes a while for the landing page to be connected properly. It will show up higher in the search in the next couple of days.

And we spiked at #17 overall! Pretty crazy!

Nitpicky&SorryAboutIt

6/2/2018 12:32:21 pm

At Location 3659, it reads "Lindon ducks, and the swipe of the axe
passes over his head. He is unharmed, and Malice is off balance."
While I think that kind of boss battle would be incredibly awesome, it is most likely that "Malice" in that paragraph is supposed to be "the Akura" or "Harmony".

Diego

6/2/2018 12:55:55 pm

Yeah your right

DWW

6/3/2018 04:58:41 am

Just think if Amazon had actually managed a world wide release you might have managed higher.
Here's hoping you get a bit of a bump when we can finally buy it in the UK.

Nitin Shekhar

6/2/2018 10:44:37 am

So amazon India uploaded the title yesterday but didn't allow you to download. There is a change finally. They have removed the link.

Abhishek

6/2/2018 09:16:27 pm

This has become frustrating now

Need more

6/2/2018 01:53:11 pm

You know when you finish binge watching a TV series... That how I feel after finishing your book... It's never enough, I'll never be satisfied, need more now

Will

6/2/2018 01:54:52 pm

And like a TV show, there’s more on the way...next season!

Robber

6/2/2018 04:52:59 pm

So... Fall?

Kass

6/2/2018 06:11:55 pm

I think I am the only one here who liked the first four books more than this one. I liked this one too, but I had problems with Lindon's arc. I know you needed some way of achieving parity between Lindon and Yerin but I just felt that Lindon was way too lucky in this book (like Harry Potter lucky!). While many parts of the book were brilliant, I really would have liked to see Yerin doing something more .....substantial. Still, now that they are all together I am hopeful that thins will be back to normal. And Akura Mercy is a fantastic addition to the group!

whidden

6/2/2018 07:47:11 pm

Kass, I can see your point, but luck has nothing to do with Lindon's progression/power up/etc here. Eithan is on the hot seat to provide a credible defense against the Dreadgods and he needs to get his pieces up to speed, ASAP! And well all new how he views rules and customs. I agree it would have been nice to have Yerin's arc be 'actively' more substantial. However, I think that that would have disrupted the over all story flow too much. Yerin did need some time to adjust to her new/updated guest.

Robber

6/2/2018 09:48:58 pm

While I do agree that Lindon was very lucky, Its honestly not to the point it is in most Wuxia/Xianxia novels. Every "Lucky Break" Lindon encounters in the book has a reasonable explanation behind it. Yerin could have had a bit more screen-time, but honestly I didn't feel that it was all that much of a problem.

Yawn

6/2/2018 09:50:28 pm

I get what you're saying, but at the same time, Lindon is the one I really came here to see. Sure, Eithan, Yerin, and Mercy are all point-of-view protagonists, but Lindon is the Main Character with a capital MC. We don't want him to be playing second fiddle in terms of awesomeness to the rest of the cast for the duration of the story.

Francis link

6/2/2018 07:48:22 pm

Heya Will.

Great book! Went through it in a breeze, now I'll have to calm myself down enough to read it again, slower.

Anyways, you wrote Malice instead of Harmony in Lindon's last battle scene, thought id bring it to you attention.

More Eithan please!

David

6/2/2018 08:18:31 pm

I really loved Ghostwater, I even liked it a little bit more than unsouled. The pacing seemed allot better than the previous two novels and felt more complete. I am really looking forward to where this is going next. Cheers!

Timmy

6/2/2018 08:39:33 pm

Can't wait for Underlord...Also, someone should make a cradle videogame

Deadnettle

6/2/2018 11:06:07 pm

Hey Will, I'm glad to hear about the excellent reception of Ghostwater and I was just wondering how it's been doing on Amazon across the board so far. Have there been any noteworthy achievements so far from this release?

Jake

6/2/2018 11:11:20 pm

Any estimate on a release date for Underlord?

James

6/3/2018 08:20:55 am

And the UK has finally rejoined civilization....

Ben

6/3/2018 09:58:25 am

Finally it’s OUT, LIFE HAS MEANING AGAIN!!!!

Conrad

6/3/2018 10:15:19 am

Will you really made my day, just finished reading Gostwater can't wait for Underlord.

6/3/2018 11:48:17 am

Finished Ghostwater same day it came out because I was spending time at work reading it haha.

Anyone have any recommendations on book series that are similar to this?

wellewonka

6/3/2018 11:58:19 am

While not being completely similar, the Legend of Randidly Ghosthound has a lot of the same aspects, but with more LitRPG-elements. It's on royalroad if you want to check it out.

Wellewonka

6/3/2018 11:56:44 am

Gaaaaah, I'm not ready to wait another 8-9 months for Underlord, if the wait is as long as between SS and GW. That's not soon. That's an eternity. Love your books Willy, but you're too slow. A book a week is a more appropriate pace.

Bready

6/3/2018 12:58:06 pm

Wooo. Read the book in one sitting over a few hours and it is as good as ever! Seriously fun and one of my favorite series right now.

Writing my complaints about the book here and leaving my 5 star review on amazon.

***SPOILERS***
- Since everyone is pretty much on their own we dont GET to see much if any interaction between the main characters. Not that big if a deal since they all have great individual stories.

The scale of the book has been toned down a bit in my opinion. Mostly since it takes place in one location. Again it was still incredibly interesting but I miss the scope of the world that has been created. You some glimpses of it here and there but it's mostly set up for future books.

Thanks for the book Will! Love the new characters. Especially the Akura family. Hopefully we get more northstrider too!

TrooP

6/3/2018 02:02:45 pm

Love the new book!

if i can give any complaints its this:
its a bit short... to fast-paced compared to the others... i get that u needed both of them to reach the same lvl at some point but it feels a bit like a cheat...

that being said... i read it all in one sitting and am anxiosly awaiting the next one!!!

Path of Next Book

6/3/2018 02:16:09 pm

So when is the next book, Underlord?

Really looking forward to Lindon becoming an Underlord or Overlord or whatever.

Another guy

6/3/2018 02:51:39 pm

Suu suu sudio

Matt Steel

6/3/2018 04:46:00 pm

OMG, just finished. I am floored. I was literally squealing to myself for the last 10%. Amazing job Will. I have to admit that the first time I read skysworn I thought it didn't feel complete (although after re-reading it in preparation for ghostwater I didn't feel that way), but ghostwater completely makes up for it. The cradle series is my absolute favorite and it's amazing that you can release them at the pace you've been. I really hope that this brings you a monarch-level book/tv/movie deal.

Josh

6/4/2018 02:57:14 am

I really loved Ghostwater. I'm going to say it's probably my favorite with Soulsmith being a close second. The addition of Dross was fantastic and everyone's POV was really enjoyable. I especially liked the Yerin / Lindon moment near the end. I know you don't like romance, but the slow development between those two is really nice. So many authors go from introduction to "OMG I'd die for you, you're my one true love" within 3 hours of characters meeting, and it is ridiculous. I was thrilled to see Lindon finally get to do some Soulsmithing. Looking forward to more of that.

The book was short and because of how well paced it is (no dragging bits) it felt short in the sense that I finished it and realized that I had read it quickly and that I was desperate for more. This isn't necessarily bad since you publish frequently and unnecessary length to bloat the page count would be a disaster.

My one criticism is that I think there needed to be more emphasis placed on how much further Lindon is willing to push himself compared to others and how that is the main contributor to his gains. Otherwise there's a risk that his growth takes on, at least the perception of, the more terrible luck based advancement that is endemic to wuxia novels.

Can't wait for Underlord.

6/4/2018 06:02:53 am

I don’t think Lindon and Yerin are necessarily heading towards romance. They could be just best friends.

Lindon was destined to marry Jai Long’s sister and their destiny is really strong to have met each other again and again....

Pat

6/6/2018 06:08:21 pm

I agree, I have a feeling that Jai Long and his sister will be back.
I have a hunch she will have some fancy powers of her own some day.

Mason

6/4/2018 05:18:47 am

***spoilers***

Just finished GW, well worth the wait, my favourite book you’ve written so far. Awesome to see Lindon start to show how powerful his path is & to see him develop his pure madra techniques! Plus was a interesting way to get a drudge which I assume is going to be another property of dross & lower the gap between him & yerin. Any idea on the target for a underlord release date?

Sean M.

6/4/2018 07:39:37 am

***mega spoilers***

Yes it was well worth the wait and this was my favorite as well.

One minor point on what you said. I don't think that Dross is a drudge. I believe he is a "presence" similar (and in the future probably equal to) the same "presence" that Suriel and the other Judge's use. A drudge just seems to be a mechanical construct that assists a soulsmith. Dross is explicitly labeled a "Monarch level artifact" when Lindon gives him the ghostwater. He is also called the result of what Northstrider has been working on for hundreds of years and the "second mind" that the Monarch was trying to achieve that was on par with what the judges used. Also he does that same thing Suriel's presence does with the bold text and "Requesting Report". I think that actually Dross is probably the single most OP thing Lindon has gained in the entire series because even though Blackflame is virtually non-existent as a path anymore, even the Monarch's don't have a "presence" and it is something only the Abadon court has as far as we know. I think Dross isn't quite on the same level as their "presences" yet and maybe doesn't have full access to the Way, but he definitely seems to be capable of accessing some part of it as evidence by the report he generates for the Harmony solution.

Scott Nichols

6/4/2018 10:32:27 am

Spoilers*
I've been thinking about this since I finished GW the first time, I think you're right that Dross is accessing the Way for his information. I initially thought it might have just been accessing the Oracle tree but that is now floating around as a fragment in the void or just gone entirely and I think we would have had a scene with Dross having a breakdown if that was the case. Also that last scene with Northstrider made it clear that he was attempting to create a presence equal to the Abidan's and dross does say that he was the completion of the Grand Work. So basically Lindon now has access to the single greatest information collective in every universe. Cool. Seriously op but cool.

Jonathan

6/4/2018 10:58:10 am

All creature and creations in these worlds are part of the Way, but I don't think Dross has any more access to the way than anyone else. If he does it can only be accessed under specific circumstances. This is illustrated by the fact that Dross made a mistake in the instructions given to Lindon when fighting Akura Harmony. It's also shown by the fact he didn't realize what the Sun was upon going outside.

It's more likely Dross absorbed the sum value of knowledge while he was connected to the tree. That same knowledge is only useful to him with time and experience. I agree that he is constructed in a method similar to those presences used by the Abidan, but not directly connected to the way, else he would be susceptible to influence of the Abidan.

Yoyommm

6/5/2018 09:36:19 am

I agree that dross isnt fully connected to the way because of ozriel's wish for them to grow outside of the way and if he is connected to the way it will go against that in the long run

Dustin

6/4/2018 06:03:45 am

****Spoilers****

I would like to point out that that Lindon was directed by a Judge (essentially a god) in unsouled to take this course of action to have the highest chance of being strong enough (monarch or higher) in 30 years to prevent a dreadgod from destroying his homeland. I would assume a large amount of luck would be involved to take him this high. Then take into account that Eithan's fate has been tampered with to be able to create a group of people powerful enough to ascend cradle in a non-typical manner, and finally, yet another Judge has created conditions that will force the group to ascend/ leave cradle quickly.

I would like to point that this growth is considered lucky from Lindon's point of view. He was stuck in a world actively avoiding death for weeks while working very hard to gain this power. While Ziel clearly stated that he could and did achieve the same effect with 2 small pills.

The group is literally fated to rapidly grow in power. Will has already justified the rapid and even "lucky" growth. He reminds us of this every time the magic blue marble shows up in the story.

I Need an Idiot’s Guide to the Willverse

6/11/2018 09:41:20 am

Spot on

ERAN

6/4/2018 01:51:26 pm

***Spoilers***

I think the only thing that was a little meh was how Northstrider dismissed Dross as a failed experiment.. and didn't investigate why he was removed from the tree
Lindon's advancement may have come off as a bit too lucky but I think it was well done.
One thing that bothered me was the time differences, I liked the focus being mostly on Lindon but it seemed like less time had passed in the real world than in Ghostwater because of it.
Anyways I can't wait for Underlord and the Monarch competition..
Also correct me if I'm wrong but for Underlord won't Lindon be able to advance both cores at once once he reforged his entire body with soulfire?

Jonathan

6/4/2018 02:07:38 pm

Since the Body and Spirit have to be reforged in Soulfire, I have to wonder if it will be NECESSARY to advance both at the same time, otherwise I would think one of the cores would be crippled, stuck at it's current level since it wasn't ready for the reforging.

ERAN

6/4/2018 02:23:14 pm

Yep those were my thoughts exactly..
Also my guess we'll finally see Ethan advance :)

Diego

6/4/2018 02:35:10 pm

My thoughts on Ethan' s advancement is that he was waiting for Lindon and Yerin to become Underlords so as to have subordinates that could back him up. (Else the Naru clan might ...off him for being a threat, with both Lindon &Yerin he has backup and they would hesitate to attack an Overlord and 2 Underlord.)

Jonathan

6/4/2018 02:39:02 pm

I also have to think that when Lindon Advances to Underlord, that the reforging of his body will give him back his real arm OR somehow make his replacement actually more a part of him somehow.

ERAN

6/4/2018 02:47:39 pm

Actually I think Dross will help Lindon forge a new arm that's gonna whoop asses

Asterion

6/5/2018 08:04:35 am

**SPOILERS**
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think it makes perfect sense that he would dismiss Dross. Northstrider had tried for years as a Monarch to create a Presence. He acknowledged that Dross was an anomaly, but given what we see of his personality, it's a given he couldn't imagine a Lowgold just advancing into Truegold achieving what he couldn't. Look how easily he dismissed Harmony when it would have been pretty simple for him to just drop him outside. His "respect" for Harmony was only enough to look him in the eye.

ERAN

6/5/2018 03:24:28 pm

Eithan said in the end of Skysworn that Northstrider is presumed to be dead. I think he wants everyone to keep thinking so and that's why he didn't save Harmony.
Northstrider had to have known why the grand plan failed, just like Dross knows before he becomes a presence. I'd expect him to be more than curious when a mind that was merged with an eye of the deep receives all the knowledge in the tree.

Asterion

6/5/2018 09:30:13 pm

I think you're coming to the wrong conclusions from his actions. I don't think Northstrider cares what the rest of the world thinks. Whether or not the world realizes he is alive is irrelevant. I think it's more likely that the only reason they think je is dead is that nobody has seen him in decades. He is presumed dead, no one has ever stated that he has been confirmed to be dead.

He has completely seperated himself from the everyone to pursue acension into the Abidan. He didn't save Harmony because that wouldn't advance his goal any further. There is no way for him to know that the reason he hasn't been able to create a Presence is because he hasn't left a memory construct in the Dream Well for half a century to eventually come alive. Then from there to have the construct ingest the properties of the wells and the ghost water while inside your core.

Northstrider doesn't know that Dross has become a Presence, he just knows that a lowgold had managed to create a living construct, which was then taken from the Tree. He even thinks that when "fate allows" he'll look to see if there's anything he can learn from it. He doesn't have the whole picture, which is why he isn't more than just curious.

ERAN

6/6/2018 10:19:32 am

Northstrider didn't notice that a cage had been opened and that an eye of the deep was removed from the tree.
Or that the basin had been used and the hidden soulfire binding was activated

If he did, for sure he would have followed up on it immediately.

Asterion

6/6/2018 06:55:07 pm

Northstrider does notice that something had been taken from the Tree. He notices it while he's transfering all the knowledge the Tree has gathered and halts the transfer to read the it's history and find out what. That's how he knows that Lindon was able to create a living construct. The Tree has Dross' information from up until Lindon got him out.From his response it doesn't look like the Tree recorded what happened afterward with Dross, which is why he isn't more curious.

I don't think he'd care if he knew about the soulfire being used, since he presumably left some to enable the creation of the ghostwater. He'd probably note that someone was able to get more from the Tree than was intended and move on, like when he noticed that Harmony drank ghostwater twice. The knowledge that it was used isn't by itself enough for Northstrider to realize exactly what Dross has become.

Robert

6/4/2018 04:41:01 pm

I finished Ghostwater last night. Another great episode and you always leave us wanting more. I liked the extras/alternative scenes at the end.

I did notice 2 mistakes near the end. You refer to the Dream Well/water as the Mind well and you call Harmony Malice during Dross's battle analysis. Probably someone's already mentioned this and you've already corrected it.

Robert

6/4/2018 04:45:18 pm

Ah, yes 2 people have definitely mentioned the Malice/Harmony issue in earlier comments.

I forgot to add I also thought Dross was great. He's a cross between Halo's Guilty Spark and Portal's GLaDOS. The semi crazy, very knowledgeable guide of unclear origins/motivations is a trope for a reason and you pull it off masterfully.

Bill

6/5/2018 08:18:34 am

I agree on Dross being great, my favorite and the most important outcome in the book IMHO.

That said, I didn’t get a mysterious origin/motive vibe from him. More serendipity that he was tossed into the water 50 years prior during looting.

As to motive.... “Is that the sun.....”

Dan who loved the post credits scenes

6/4/2018 09:33:49 pm

Will, I really liked the post credits scenes (don’t know what else to call them in a book). I’ve never gone past the last page before and just happened to keep swiping.

Great job on those, very funny. Marvel would be proud.

Bill

6/5/2018 08:19:48 am

Deadpool

;)

stephen e

6/4/2018 09:44:51 pm

SPOILER WITH NAMES REDACTED.

Quick question, Will. That one guy didn't get that other guy out even though that one guy left a message about him owing all participants that made that far a debt. Was he just saying that to sound grateful, or is he protecting his interest that he seems more important? I'm just looking for character insight is all. If you answered this question above, sorry, I missed it in my quick scan.

Stephen e

6/5/2018 12:33:43 am

Sorry for the typos

Asterion

6/5/2018 07:53:24 am

You're misrembering it. The Guy Who Didn't Get That Other Guy Out left a message saying that anyone who got a taste owed him a debt for the rest of their lives. He was making sure they knew that their newfound strength is all thanks to him. Basically, "Be grateful, for I have allowed you to feast on my scraps".

stephen e

6/5/2018 08:03:33 am

Oooooooh. My bad. Thanks. I was that because they brought the crystal back for him that yadda yards yards. Thanks

Diego

6/13/2018 11:20:13 am

Northstrider. Monarch on the path of the Hungry Deep. (blood path based on dragons) Creator of Ghostwater. Presumed dead by the world at large.

Bill

6/5/2018 07:00:12 am

Will-

Bravo, well done! I had been a bit critical of the previous 2 books, I don’t enjoy protagonist as passengers, without agency. Without giving away too much, I loved this installment, Dross is a game changer- and opens up a whole new level of growth (knowledge collection)

Lindon’s tier status has always been inconsequential to me at any current point, I’ve loved the long slow foundation building. What I like is his new potential to become a player rather than a piece and how Eithan will need to adapt to the new reality to maintain their relationships. I hope Lindon continues with his Eithan but now with a new dynamic in that relationship, Mutual respect?

Pat

6/28/2018 09:27:14 pm

I agree, that Lindon should give Eithan pause. He is now Truegold, Orthos is much improved, Blue is bigger and he has added Dross to his growing collection of assets.

But Eithan was showing far more power than anyone suspects he has. I don't think they are equals quite yet. But the day is coming.

Yoyommm

6/5/2018 09:12:14 am

Does northstrider have the same abilities as ozriel? Noerthstrider manged to stop ghostwater from collapsing if only for a short time. Isnt that supposed to be ozriel's piwer? Also do monarch also have the ability to ascend or are they stuck in an itteration after turning down the offer when they where sages as akura harmony said that sages and heralds dissapear somewhere. And that northstrider doesnt ascend even thogh he does know about the judges because he even tried to mimic their presence. So wouldnt it be easier fo him to ascend also?

NEXTBOOKNEEDEDNOW

6/8/2018 08:15:38 pm

***SPOILERS***

Northstrider turned down the Abidan. He mentions that in an internal monologue during one of the Willverse death matches. I think all monarchs and herald/sage level peeps that have a compatible personally to the Abidan get invited. Northstrider is looking to get stronger and sees the only way to do so as making his own presence after having already seen their's.

I'd be curious to know how much power level difference there is between a monarch and an Abidan judge. Judges have their presences, mantels, armor, and weapons that would take them beyond seemingly everything else in existence. Not sure if a monarch would only need those to match a judge or if there is another level of advancement only available after leaving your home iteration.

Maahn

6/13/2018 08:32:59 am

My understanding is that as Northstrider made Ghostwater he can control it however he likes. He could probably fully restore it and re-anchor it to Cradle but to him it is a failed experiment and not worth it, so he leaves it to decay.

As for ascending from Cradle, I don't think it is based on any offer from the Abidan (actually joining them would probably be different!), it's just a required level of power and ability to touch the Way directly. From everything Will has written in-book and here it seems like the minimum level would be Archlord/Sage, but not necessarily all who reach that level can do it. For Northstrider it seems he can use the Way to travel and is somewhat aware of how things are once you leave your own Iteration, he's just not done it yet. One of the worldbuilding posts Will did, said that he gains power in the hope to challenge the Monarch of Dragons so maybe that keeps him on Cradle? I guess for the rest of the people who do have the ability there's not much keeping them on Cradle when there is the rest of the multiverse to advance to.

Gameguy

6/15/2018 10:54:27 am

If I remember correctly, some of this speculation was answered in one of Will's mailing list stories - the Northstrider vs Alin (very one-sided) battle. In it, Northstrider mentions that the Abidan have tried recruiting him before on several occasions, but he refused. He also is at least aware about other iterations and the differences in their magic systems, even if he doesn't know the details on how they work.

6/15/2018 11:17:05 am

Gameguy.. is there like a full listing of all the short story's that will has produced for the Cradle series?

Gameguy

6/15/2018 02:52:51 pm

I'm not sure. For this specific one, I believe it was a Halloween special with several extremely uneven or strange battles in the Abidan arena, so it wasn't Cradle-specific.

ERAN

6/18/2018 09:28:10 am

I think Ascending means joining the Abidan. As a lowly recruit at first, of course. These Ascended are the worker drones in the various divisions (hounds etc) and they progress in rank to become Judges

Monarchs are probably sacred artists that have full access to The Way, but choose not to join the Abidan.
Instead they stay in their iteration and protect it, and are restricted from moving between iterations.

Lee Markuth was probably bored of his job and wanted to return to his power and control in Cradle

P Tigras

6/5/2018 10:01:39 am

Will, I don't suppose you could clarify the difference between a Herald and a Sage? The book talks about 6 great heralds former a t

BTW, I strongly suspect Eithan is already an overload, and is simply veiling his power. Every underlord he's fully unleashed on has been extremely surprised by the amount of raw power he's had to throw around, and Eithan has always been careful to ensure there are no witnesses when he does so. If the difference between overlord and underlord is similar to the difference between high gold and low gold, ie. raw power, than Eithan may well be an overload already.

P Tigras

6/5/2018 10:15:14 am

oops, I accidentally hit submit before I was done.

Basically the book talks about 6 heralds forming a truce to explore and plunder ghostwater, and apparently redmoon hall is a member of the resulting compact, but nowhere is it mentioned that they have a herald, just a sage, an overlord, and a half dozen now deceased underlords. So I was wondering if somehow the sage of red faith counted as a herald for the founding of the compact, or if it was a separate yet to be mentioned herald who showed up to represent redmoon.

Scott Nichols

6/8/2018 03:11:59 pm

We just haven't seen Redmoon Hall's herald yet. Back in skysworn when the bleeding pheonix is initially waking up there's a line about how everyone from lowgold to herald immediately fell to their knees or something like that, so they clearly have a herald that is distinct from the sage of red faith, we just haven't interacted with them yet.

P Tigras

6/13/2018 10:04:01 pm

You're absolutely right Scott. I had forgotten about that line in Skysworn.

Dan

6/5/2018 12:49:31 pm

I agree on the confusion about the level of a Sage. Is a Sage a full level between Archlord and Herald? There was one line that made it seem like a Sage was like an Archlord+?

I have the same suspicion about Eithan. I was especially curious during the first fight with Longhook when Eithan mentioned he might have to resort to a Contingencey, which i presume is revealing himself as an Overlord.

The Other Dan

6/5/2018 04:08:33 pm

I've wondered the same thing. I sorta recall a line in one of the books along the lines of 'where sages go if they don't become monarchs.' I thought this to mean that it went overlord→archlord→herald→sage→choice of monarch or ascension. But, I'm not sure if herald and sage are different or even an actual level.

Jake

6/6/2018 01:09:30 am

I don't remember exactly where it is stated but sage is an archlord but at the peak of the stage with full knowledge of his/her path.

Evan

6/7/2018 01:06:43 pm

I'm not sure, but I believe Eithan's power as an underlord is more related to the Heaven and Earth Purification Wheel.

In B5C8 it says:
"'Purification Wheel?' Dross asked. 'That sounds intriguing. Is that your cycling technique?' Lindon didn't answer him. Eithan had emphasized that others might kill him in the hopes of pulling his cycling technique from his Remnant..."

I asked once in a previous pussy about the limitations of the Purification Wheel and Will said there were none.

Assuming that's the case, you could use the Purification Wheel endlessly to deepen your core(s) and increase your raw capacity.

I think that capacity is what let's him bridge the gap between underlord and the next levels.

For example (from the last battle with longhook):
"But Longhook could hardly bring himself to believe it. Eithan would need to flood such a technique with madra. It was one of the biggest wastes of power he could imagine"

The formatting doesn't carry over but the word ”flood” is italicized in the book.

Of all Eithan's and Lindon's secrets I don't think we have been giving the Heaven and Earth Purification Wheel nearly enough attention.

Evan

6/7/2018 01:08:23 pm

In a previous post*** this time autocorrect went the wrong direction

Dan

6/5/2018 01:04:06 pm

Sage of the Endless Sword - Did he let himself be killed?

This didn't bother me when I read Unsouled the first time because we didn't really know much about the higher levels...but a Sage being poisoned and killed by Jades seems REALLY implausible now that we've seen someone else at Sage level.

I was re-reading book 1 and got to that point and just said "no." Poisoned and then stabbed while sleeping with more poison? No, wouldn't work. They wouldn't have any poisons that would hurt him / wouldn't notice, they wouldn't be able to sneak up on him, their swords wouldn't pierce him. Nothing in Sacred Valley
could touch him. Just no.

It makes me wonder, was this just something that made sense when writing the first book but then became implausible after the levels became more defined in other books?

OR

Did he intentionally let himself be killed so Yerin could inherit his Remenant? Maybe he was already dying? Maybe he even decided to Ascend and had to "die" to do so?

Other theories anyone?

Coldsteel

6/5/2018 01:15:46 pm

There was more going on with the mystery of the Sword Sage's death than we currently are privy to. Will did NOT make a mistake. Quoting him directly from the 'Word of Will' on this:

"There is a reason. A lot of times I have to go back and add explanations later for mistakes I made, but this one actually wasn't a mistake! WOOHOO!

You're right that under normal circumstances the Sword Sage could not have been killed by Jades using any means, including poison (you know, unless they got their hands on some really good stuff, but that's far beyond the scope of Sacred Valley). There were extenuating circumstances, I promise!"

Dan

6/5/2018 02:06:51 pm

Thanks. That's good, I'm glad it wasn't an unintentional oversight.

Looking forward to the explanation and I'll continue to speculate on what that was.I'm leaning towards he allowed it to happen to benefit Yerin.

Dustin

6/6/2018 05:16:06 am

Dan I have been thinking this from very early on. I think that the Sage of the endless sword let himself die or even killed himself so Yerin could inherit the only sage level remenant for her path. I base this on the fact that the jades had no chance of killing him, Yerin has quoted the Sage stating that "there is only room for one on the path of advancement" (I am butchering that quote but the intent is the same). Additionally, Yerin has stated that the sage's favorite training technique was to back her in the corner without assistance, and force her to fight her way through on her own.
To me this seems to be what happened, even to the point that the remnant "waited" for her arrival. If the jades at the school had managed to kill the sage without his consent his remenant could have completely destroyed that school and everyone in it.

As a side note, I learned recently that there is a subreddit that discussing all things Crade.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Iteration110Cradle/

Mel

6/5/2018 04:09:23 pm

While I am not one to usually comment outside of leaving a review on amazon (five stars, by the way), but I just had to post a comment on your blog about this book. This was my favorite, and I believe, best book yet in the Cradle series!

***SPOILERS***

It was great to see Lindon's growth! I only hope he keeps getting more powerful and has more moments where he defeats even stronger foes without the need for outside help (with the exception of Dross, although Dross might not be considered "outside" help as he does reside within Lindon).

***END OF SPOILERS***

Keep up the great work, Will!

Hufdud

6/5/2018 05:33:48 pm

Absolutely loved the book!!!!! Dross was an amazing addition to the team and really filled a niche with Lindon that I hadn’t even noticed was empty beforehand! My only ‘complaint’ is the lack of growth and development we’re seeing in regards to little Blue! We keep getting teasers that more is coming with her but for the last two books she’s largely stagnated when it seems like she should be growing to have a larger role. Great book though. :)

Sage of Questions

6/5/2018 05:51:53 pm

(Beware slight spoilers)
Hey in ghostwater Lindon mentions he doesn't have his parasite ring anymore at the spirit well does anyone know when he lost it was it in ghostwater I can kind of skip over things sometimes and might have missed it.

Dan

6/6/2018 09:09:05 am

I missed any specific reference to it but I assumed it was when Dragon girl blew up his pack. Then it was either destroyed or left behind as he ran.

Michael

6/6/2018 03:02:47 pm

Was it on his hand when he lost it? Have we seen it since then?

Josh

6/5/2018 06:02:21 pm

so whens 6?

BlackMage168

6/6/2018 02:00:50 am

It's been days and days since I finished Ghostwater. Where is Book 6 Underlord? :)

Andrew

6/6/2018 09:36:24 am

Have to ask but will Lindon ever return to his family?

Kevin

6/6/2018 06:59:04 pm

I'm really hoping for a set of short stories in the style of fate projections about Lindon coming home at various stages.

I Need an Idiot’s Guide to the Willverse

6/11/2018 10:31:19 am

...that’s not a half bad idea. That would be hilarious:) Let’s add that to the growing list of short story ideas.

Do we have a list? We should probably have a list.

Coldsteel

6/6/2018 10:26:02 am

I've seen speculation over on Will's Reddit about the Cradle ranks and what I keep seeing there for the Lord category is Underlord, Overlord and Archlord. That doesn't make sense.

Underlord means 'beneath a Lord' and Overlord means 'above a Lord'. So, it makes absolutely no sense at all to even have Underlord and Overlord without 'Lord' as a rank sandwiched in between them. Otherwise you'd just have Lord, Overlord and Archlord. There'd be no reason for the 'Underlord' designation.

I refuse to believe that Will doesn't understand this basic use of language and therefore Lord must indeed be a separate rank. To support this idea, the Beast King addresses Ziel as "Ziel, Lord of the Dawnbringer Sect". If the above is correct, that would place Ziel's original rank at Lord, one category above Underlord.

I think my reasoning is sound but maybe Will can confirm or refute my deduction if he cares to.

TBoy

6/6/2018 11:52:34 am

"Lord" is a title used for everyone in the Lord ranks. From Underlord to Archlord, they're called Lord's. Just like how Sacred Artists from Lowgold to Truegold are called "golds".

There is no gold rank, but Lowgolds are at the lower end of the gold spectrum, Highgolds are at the higher end of the gold spectrum, and Truegolds are at the top.

The same pattern is true for the Lord realm. Underlords are at the bottom of the Lord realm, Overlords are at the middle, and Archlords are at the top.

The reason why Highgolds and Overlords are what they are rather than just being considered normal sacred artists of their rank is because all ranks are skewed to the low side.

Few Lowgolds make it to Truegold, and few Underlords make it to Archlord, so in terms of probability, if somebody tells you they're a gold, it's most likely that they're a lowgold. If somebody tells you they're a lord, it's most likely they're a underlord.

Highgolds and Overlords are above this average, which is why they have the prefixes high- and over-.

Coldsteel

6/6/2018 01:00:50 pm

Such a scheme makes sense for the Gold ranks only because low and high are unreferenced measures. The reason it doesn't work for the Lord ranks is that 'under' and 'over' are comparative to another rank and that rank is specified as Lord. It is specifically saying a rank is under a particular rank and over a particular rank. That's not so with 'low and 'high'. Undergold and Overgold wouldn't have made sense either without something in between as reference.

And again, Ziel is referred to as 'Lord' in what sounds like a formal title.

Jonathan

6/6/2018 01:20:58 pm

If you are speaking strictly by definition of the words used Underlord versus Overlord, then it can sound strange. However if you look at rulerships an underlord was not necessarily a lower level under the rank Lord. in fact almost everybody over rank of Peasant was referred to as lord and the title Underlord could refer to someone in a ruling position under just about any other rank, King, Duke, Count, etc. It could also refer to someone at the Highest level of rank over a group such as criminals or thieves, Lord of the Underworld, IE Underlord.

In this story these are ranking system titles. There is no actual rulership over the lower titles other than knowing the upper levels can usually kick your butt.

Now, sure you can say, "hey go fix this to make more grammatic sense", but in reality, by that I mean in the REAL world, IRL, most title systems don't make a lot of sense anyway. This actually makes this MORE realistic rather than less.

In fact I would love to see some historic references to how the title systems have evolved since the original conception. How maybe 1000 years ago it was copper, iron, steel, stone, marble, granite, etc. before the current naming system was put into place.

Coldsteel

6/11/2018 10:21:03 am

After some reflection and a little re-reading, I've concluded that you are correct. Will is using 'Lord' as the overall category name in the same way he uses 'Gold' for that category. It seem odd only because of the historical aspect but makes sense for Cradle if viewed outside that context.

It's also interesting that a female Lord is apparently referred to as a 'Lady' based on Mercy's comment in Ghostwater.

Kevin

6/6/2018 07:05:37 pm

Underlords are underwhelming, overlords are overwhelming. What are Lords?

Coldsteel

6/7/2018 10:09:21 am

Whelming!

Whelm Verb - engulf, submerge, or bury (someone or something).

"In their whelming presence Babbitt felt small and insignificant."
Babbitt - Sinclair Lewis

;-)

Scott Nichols

6/6/2018 11:26:56 am

Ok I'm going to start this with
*Spoilers*
Even though I'm not exactly sure it is. More like predictions. So when we get the last little scene with Yan Shoumei of Redmoon hall she sais something about a person named Anagi. All she saw was a blackflame with his bonded blackflame beast so the only logical leap I've been able to make is that Anagi has to be one of the last of the blackflame family, probably a Lord or better since it sounds like they've had contention with Redmoon Hall. So are we finally going to see what happened to the remains of the blackflame family? Maybe what the standard goldsign is, wings or a tail, a shell lol?
If I'm reaching too far with this one let me know but it's all I can think of now

Mahfuz

6/6/2018 09:39:45 pm

Pretty sure that the Blackflame goldsign was

*spoiler* (i guess?)

a dragon’s tail.

ERAN

6/16/2018 07:34:19 am

*Spoliler*
Could Anagi be the name of the Beast King? He did reveal he had something to do with the Skysworn arriving when they did, when he said he sent Yerin and Mercy on an errand

Jack Jack

6/6/2018 04:01:24 pm

This has nothing to do with the book, but I’m just curious to know if you (Will) could possible take Yerin and Lindon grocery shopping? Or something else that normal people do?

Yoyommm

6/7/2018 11:35:36 am

Does anybody know on which level of advancement elder whisper is? He should e fairly advanced to be able to see into the future. Way beyond sacred valley standarda at least . Also i agree that there is a high chance that the sword sage planned to give his remnent to yerin. Because there is just no way that a copper and jade could even affect the remnent under normal circumstances

Kevin

6/7/2018 12:17:01 pm

Will has confirmed he's by far the most powerful entity in the Sacred Valley, and that he'd lose to Orthos in a fight, so almost certainly gold, probably highgold. Presumably the dream-aura aspect of his path lets him glimpse fate at an earlier stage than most others.

A Happy Kitten

6/7/2018 05:48:44 pm

Orthos beating Elder Whisper in a fight isn’t really a surprise and doesn’t necessarily indicate that EW is a gold. The Path of the White Fox is a path of illusions, not really a combat path. Even a Lord on that path would probably struggle against a Blackflame dragon spawn in a straight fight. There’s only so far trickery can take you against something that defensive and that destructive, and blackflames are notorious for fighting above their weight class. Plus, EW is suppose to be really old. White foxes may simply have a long lifespan but if not he’d need to be a Lord to slow his aging. Honestly, he could be anywhere from lowgold to overlord and I wouldn’t be surprised.

Diego

6/10/2018 09:00:11 am

I'm half the mind that Elder whisper is Juwei The Ghost Walker fox. the gox whom has tricked Monarchs and escaped. where has Will said he would lose to Orthos? If that's true my theory is wrong.

Cliff

6/7/2018 01:08:53 pm

Will we be getting a look at how life in the wei clan changed with lindon gone? That's been making me so impatient. I want to see if the heavens glory school completely took them out or if lindons sister got to lowgold and fought back. That would make for an awesome chapter in Underlord. Maybe elder Hall (I think that's the Fox's name) gives an update to the heavens glory school about lindon, making them stop their assault?? This is by far my favorite series, can't wait for the next installment.

Dan

6/7/2018 05:00:34 pm

There were plenty of hints dropped that Jai Long and Jai Chen planned to hide in a remote forgotten valley that was cursed where everyone is weak.

Assuming they make it there, I wonder what their reaction will be when they discover nobody is above a Jade and hear about the Wei Clan?

Kevin

6/7/2018 08:38:36 pm

Yeah, they're for sure going there. I was hoping we'd get a scene about them finding the Wei clan in Ghostwater, but the book ends only maybe 6-8 weeks after the duel, so there's no way they'd have made it there in that time. Hopefully we get to see something in Underlord.

Tom

6/8/2018 04:34:09 pm

Pretty sure that Jai Chen was supposed to marry Lindon pre-Suriel. Seeing as how he wondered wether he had met her before. (I think it was his wife in the future vision)

Link

6/8/2018 04:25:00 pm

Will, I can't remember seeing it mentioned but did Yerin gain another sword arm goldsign on advancement to truegold?

TBoy

6/8/2018 05:10:37 pm

Will answered this question on Reddit.

No she did not.

Pete

6/9/2018 01:32:35 am

Great book, Will! It's real nice to see Lindon kicking ass in a way that feels like he's really progressed from previous books.

One small plea; if you're ever considering any short stories or side stories in Cradle, any chance we could see one set from Ziel's point of view? He's a really intriguing character!

Patricia

6/15/2018 11:06:10 pm

Poor Zeil Perhaps Blue will find a way to help him. He is in a very bad way.

Nikicol

6/9/2018 04:39:59 am

I just finished reading ghostwater and I absolutely positively loved it! Just now the inevitable question: when will Underlord be available?
I devoured this one in about 5 hours and I will read all the series again so I can squeeze out every detail better but this is an addiction! Haven't been so eager for a book in about 20 years! Thank you Will!

A Happy Kitten

6/9/2018 09:19:20 am

Here’s a fun detail I just noticed from rereading the books; when Suriel first arrives in Cradle in Unsouled and is deciding what to do, one of the problems she disregards is a “kilometers long azure dragon” which is headed to attack a city and in Ghostwater (minor spoiler) Northstrider killed a massive blue dragon that is most likely the same one

Gameguy

6/15/2018 11:09:46 am

I was wondering whether that reference was actually about one of the dreadgods. In Skysworn, Eithan mentions that it is unlikely that the Weeping Dragon would attack the Blackflame Empire since he confirmed that it had only recently attacked another city and was already asleep. I could be wrong, but I think the timing of the Dragon's attack coincides with Suriel's visit to Cradle.

Yoyommm

6/9/2018 09:44:10 am

I think tere is a chance thay suriel is the ancestor of the akura clan same way that ozriel is the ancester of aurelius. She has purple eyes which are a mark of the akura clan.

Nitin Shekhar

6/9/2018 09:49:03 am

Suriel is not from Cradle..

Yoyommm

6/9/2018 08:47:21 pm

But it is also mentioned that the re is a portal to the aurelius homeland. So there is a chance that they spread through worlds

Diego

6/10/2018 09:10:52 am

No bro, the Aurelius homeland is definitely in Cradle. Eithan comes from there and he's an Underlord, remember each iteration(universe) has a different magic system, that means Eithan being an Underlord Is from Cradle. Ozrael was the Patriarch of the Aurelius family before he ascended and became Ozrael.

Also you have to be a certain level to move through iterations. Amalgam (Simon's iteration) has territories attached to it much like Ghostwater was to Cradle. So Suriels eyes are likely completely unrelated to the Akura family. Plus Suriels powers revolve around healing mostly so if she would be related I would expect their bloodline to show that.

Scott Nichols

6/9/2018 11:20:59 am

In chapter 18 on my Kindle edition, location 3836 if that means anything, when Lindon is talking about going back to the skysworn ship skysworn is misspelled "sksyworn".

Levi

6/9/2018 12:21:09 pm

Ghostwater is amazing! There is something about your whole Cradle series that really hooks me. I read a lot.. Probably 10 or so books a month, and have for at least 20 years. The Cradle books are the first ones that I've ever wanted to read, finish, and then immediately read again. One of my all time favorite series', and that's a TALL order. Well done! I am anxiously awaiting the next books in the series!

Wannabe Underlord

6/9/2018 12:31:46 pm

WILL!

I hope you see this. Although it doesn’t detract from the story much, if you ever re-edit the cradle series, here is one tiny mistake...

Without saying too much and spoiling what happens, it is when a certain REPORT is being pulled during battle at the end. The name Malice is used instead of Harmony.

Hopefully that’s enough info to point you to it.

Diego

6/10/2018 08:56:02 am

Right you are Underlord on the path of Wannabe. Also I'm amazed the rains of News has ended.

Reread

6/9/2018 05:37:48 pm

I reread ghostwater. I was still mad at the end that there next book isn't done

DesprateFan

6/10/2018 06:07:38 pm

Will hasn't said anything in over 24 hours. Time to panic!

JK, I see him playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends. All is good. Will is still alive.

6/11/2018 07:10:02 am

Say one thing for Will, say he’s a damn good writer!

Now get me the next book before I go berserk...

Nice added scenes

6/11/2018 09:35:17 am

I just finished GHOSTWATER for the second time. I got several new interesting facts in the second read. The best however is the scenes after the end of the book. Did anyone else realize Lindon Orthos and Renfie ended up in Valinhall?? Nicely played will nicely played!!! Now please send me the next book!! Thanks!!

6/12/2018 05:45:27 am

Whaaaa...I didn’t pick up on the Valinhall! I was wondering who the guy in grey cloak was!! Dammit!! How did Will sneak that one on us?

Nice added scenes

6/12/2018 10:30:30 am

I know right!! I had to read it twice for it to sink in!!

I Need an Idiot’s Guide to the Willverse

6/11/2018 03:35:14 pm

Well, I finally read this book. I loved it. I mean...

SPOILERS

Lindon and Yerin Truegold...

...Eclipse, the Ancient Bow of the Soulseeker...(super cool that part of the name I proposed got in!)

...Lindon beating a Truegold as a Lowgold...

...Orthos...

...Ziel (bring him back, please)...

...DROSS!!! He was the best part of this book by far. You wrote him perfectly. He slides very naturally among the rest of the characters.

I have essentially nothing negative to say about Ghostwater. It flowed smoothly (the beginning did seem a little rushed, but it smoothed out), developed the main characters well, brought in some VERY intriguing side characters, explorered the world at a maneagable pace, deepened our understanding of the magic system, and offered a worthy amount of fast-paced combat.
I really like how you put most of the focus in this book on Lindon. After Skysworn, he felt a little less significant to the plot line. Ghostwater slammed him back into the center.
And speaking of Skysworn, Ghostwater really helped to integrate it into the story arc. Well done!
I could keep going, but I think I’ll stop here:) I think this is your best book yet! Keep ‘em coming!

P.S. I’m ready for OKAK now. Like, now. I need that story arc to come to consummation, especially given everything we’ve learned that is happening off of Asylum. I think OKAK has a chance to be a hit if you pull it off right!

scott pike

6/12/2018 02:53:34 pm

Just finished this in kindle unlimited. This was a fun one. Linden has his own reporter thing . But it felt like this book covered a tiny amount of time compared to the other books.

Chris

6/12/2018 05:41:31 pm

That was great! Can't wait till Book 6 comes out next week. I'm going to be really bored till then.

Weaver

6/13/2018 05:26:25 am

The problem with good books is that it only takes a day or so to read it (slowly) and months or a year for the author to write it.

I feel like I am in a perpetual state of waiting for the next one.

Yes it was good.

Sean

6/13/2018 07:49:05 am

Just finishing a re-read. A bit of speculation: I don't think we've seen the last of Akura Harmony. We now that sometimes people survive going into the void, becoming warped and corrupted (but possibly also more powerful) in the process. Lindon's long term goals would put him in direct conflict with such beings, and I think Akura will pop up again.

Also, for several books now I can't help but think of what Eithan said about Sky Tiger pairs consuming one another to advance, and what that might portend for the pair of misfits he picked up...

6/13/2018 08:58:49 am

Interesting insights. I doubt Lindon and Yerin will go the way of the sky tiger. If a healer such as Surial can make it to Abidan status I doubt she would have killed or consumed someone to do it. They consume remnants for that purpose to get to gold... in any case I believe you may be correct about Harmony. He is to well written as a direct opposition to Lindon to not show up at some point in the future...

Dan

6/13/2018 11:50:59 am

I saw a posting on Reddit where Will apparently said "no" harmony is definitely dead. But who knows, he could just be saying that to throw people off the scent.

However, I'm sure there will be plenty of tension with Akuras into the next book. First with Mercy when she finds out that Lindon left her ex-fiance to die. Also, the Sage of the Silver Heart probably won't be happy about that happening to her nephew either.

6/13/2018 12:07:52 pm

Hmm. Well that sucks. I could totally see him surviving in some way that makes him show up stronger and that being a catalyst to help Lindon break through to a higher lord level in the future by an insight he gains while fighting him and in doing so surpassing Eithan or something... but hey Will has done a fantastic job so far so if he wants to delete the little bugger why not??

Sean

6/13/2018 12:58:41 pm

Ah, see I don't do Reddit so I miss out on some of these fun discussions. Well, Lindon never lacks for enemies, so Harmony actually dying probably won't change much for his level of opposition!

As for the sky tigers thing, I hope it doesn't mean anything but it just seemed... significant, the way Eithan shared that little anecdote. Guess we'll see!

P Tigras

6/18/2018 12:09:40 pm

I got the feeling that not only was the betrothal arranged, but that neither Mercy nor Harmony cared one whit for each other. Furthermore he publicly insulted her when he broke off their engagement. So I doubt she's going to get particularly upset over his death.

As for the Akura family as a whole, I suspect that as long as Lindon keeps his mouth shut and tells no one, the family will be willing to pretend it never happened. To acknowledge that he defeated one of their most promising young members in a fair fight would be to lose face. In fact their 'retaliation' may simply be to dragoon him into being one of their representatives in the upcoming tournament which is likely to turn deadly. If he wins, then they win, and if he loses and dies, then Harmony's killer is dead as well.

Walter

6/15/2018 09:40:42 am

If sacred beasts are pretty much like sacred artists, and you can bond with a sacred beast, can you bond with a sacred artist in the same way? Why don’t strong parents do the same with their children and boost them with madra of their path they’ll presumably follow? If it doesn’t work like that, then what about the whole dragons looking like humans as they advance, and could someone bond with a monarch dragon? Could a young dragon bond with a monarch human to gain strength in reverse? Can we flesh this out a bit?

6/15/2018 10:48:33 am

That is an interesting Theory and I look forward to seeing comments by Will.

Scott Nichols

6/15/2018 10:49:52 am

Technically possible for a human to bond with seshethkunaaz or some other sacred beast monarch however yourey forgetting the part in blackflame when Eithan tells Lindon that a normal child's body would literally explode from the force of the Orthos's spirit and he's only truegold. If Lindon is any indication it would take no less than a sage on a pure path to bond with a monarch to gain their path. And nobody has time for that lol

A happy kitten

6/17/2018 02:49:47 pm

I think the big difference between a sacred beast and a sacred artist is that sacred beasts never produce pure madra and instead naturally have a particular aspect. Like how all snow foxes have dream/light aspect madra and how all black dragons have fire/destruction madra, so bonding with them is kinda similar to just taking in natural aura of that aspect rather than madra that’s been adapted and modified from a pure base. Just a theory. As for beasts and spirit looking more human that probably has something to do with gaining a stronger connection to the Way. I know Ethan said it was fairly common in Blackflame when he gave Little Blue that scale and soul fire

6/18/2018 01:42:03 pm

Has it been stated anywhere if a sacred beast can increase levels with their human counterpart? Or do they stay the same level they were at when attaining the bond?

A happy kitten

6/19/2018 07:39:08 pm

I don’t think it’s ever been explicitly stated one way or the other but I can’t imagine the sacred beast wouldn’t be able to grow and advance. Remember that the vast majority of bonds are formed when both parties are young and weak, so if the sacred beast couldn’t advance then they would become basically useless and helpless within a year or two

Walter

6/15/2018 10:43:14 am

Also, it seems like Lindon is falling behind in his training. He concerns himself with advancing, but he also seems to be opposite of Yerin, where the only thing he has going is the raw power of blacklame and heaven & earth purification wheel. He’s frequently sloppy with his techniques, and he only really has two and a half or three that he practically uses. He needs to practice and develop some better uses of his techniques other than point and shoot.

6/15/2018 10:49:41 am

A lot of that was taken into account in this last book. With all the weeks of practicing and training that was done while he was using water from the wells to keep him from having to sleep at all.

Diego

6/18/2018 08:11:59 am

To be honest it's because he's been busy. He HAS been practicing his techniques. That's pretty much what book 3 was about in the Blackflame trails. It's unfair to compare him to Yerin as she's been training with a sage half her life. So HER techniques will obviously be a grade higher than Lindons. It's much easier to focus on advancement than to practice techniques too, as the latter takes A LOT of time.

stephen e

6/18/2018 09:23:31 am

I'm pretty sure that he seems sloppy because he's always fighting people about two levels higher than him. That sheild guy in skysworn didn't last one move and the guy in the beginning of ghostwater lost to him fairly easily too even though he was taking out seemingly experienced highgolds with the egg and lindon was still lowgold. He was definitely neglecting his ruler technique.

Kris

6/15/2018 02:20:49 pm

That....

was....

AWESOME!!!!

An amazing story that sort of upheld one of the things about Lindon that I've always thought. That BECAUSE he started out behind everyone, he is older when learning each technique or advancing. Which I think helps him examine each thing in a different light. When you're a child and an adult tells you that you have to do something a certain way, you don't question. Lindon questions everything, therefore he finds new ways to approach things. Dollars to donuts if anyone else had been with him, they'd have stopped his extreme training/advancement as being unwise....even if they didn't have a reason other than 'nobody advances that fast'. Well, at least I can pretend that's the reason in my head. :)

I also liked the way Yerin had to actually work on a skill to advance rather than just power. But that she did it in a way consistent to her Path/training.

And I loved the 'No' from Northstrider. Keeping Harmony around as a foil would have felt contrived.

Great book...absolutly amazing. I'll post an Amazon review once I'm on an actual computer.

Path of Twinning

6/22/2018 10:48:42 am

Agreed! Harmony getting shut down was perfect, but that scene made me hold my breath. (internally shouting, NO! Will don't do it!)

6/18/2018 08:10:40 pm

Will - Cradle has been phenomenal- thank you for your work! I’m so curious as to where Lindon’s advancement will take him. It would be interesting to see whether his mastery triggers new perspectives in thought as well - a view of goals and reality that is much deeper than he - or even other characters - have expressed thus far. Most of the characters seem to seek power to dominate others - they’ve become just nastier, more powerful versions of their petty selves. What would an alternative path look like - enlightenment perhaps - for Lindon be? What would that transformation look like from inside his head? How would his friends notice the change? What would he leave behind as he advances in ways that others have not, perhaps because they took the easier (more selfish?) paths. Lindon seems to represent the better side of human potential - because he exista in a fantasy world, it would be so phenomenal to explore what happens not only in terms of power but psychology (and spirituality (?) for someone who reaches and surpasses the boundaries of his world.

7/17/2018 12:39:37 pm

Love your books they are amazing and can't wait for the 6th box

7/17/2018 12:41:00 pm

I mean books btw already looking forward to next book

Isaac Fortier

7/29/2018 07:27:28 pm

I literally just bought the book but since it didn't show up right away in my account, I freaked out and found it for free on epub...I'm not stealing Will's work, just being really impatient!

Jonah Wieber

9/1/2018 08:36:54 am

Hi, I have now read Ghostwater 3 times (the entire series twice). I have a couple questions. First and foremost: when does Underlord come out? Second: how do heralds, monarchs, and sages fall into the truegold, underlord, overlord, etc. pattern? Lastly: are all your series in the same universe? E.g. Will Lindon meet our sword and doll wielding friend (btw no criticism but that series was not nearly as well written or compelling as this one. Was it written earlier in your career?)? Thanks,
-Jonah
"Angels fly because they can take themselves lightly" ~ G. K. Chesterton

In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.