My Journey Through Cradle

6/5/2020

Only the day before yesterday, I finally finished listening to all seven Cradle books in a row. It was a...unique...experience for me, and I'm going to share some of my thoughts on the experience to try and explain why.

This is a longer post than normal, so I'll include some section headings to break it up. And to make me look more professional.

THE AUDIO EXPERIENCE

First off, I have of course re-read the books before, and I've listened to Travis' narration as well. But I've never listened to an entire Cradle audiobook sequentially from start to finish, much less the entire series.

Listening to the stories as opposed to reading them made me slow down and focus on each book more. Because I wrote them, I usually have a tendency to skim parts that I remember well, and I don't get as immersed in the stories since I'm thinking more about how they're written and constructed.

Audio helped solve both of those problems.

You can't skim while listening, so I was forced to stay engaged even in scenes that I could quote from memory. And I was far more immersed than I normally am while reading my own work thanks to the performance of narrator Travis Baldree.

Hearing his delivery of my lines and my characters gave me a new perspective on both. I'm not sure how this happened, but sometimes he even tricked my brain into forgetting that I wrote these books, so I was able to enjoy them as though I was reading someone else's work.

There was one point at which I laughed aloud at one of Eithan's lines and then immediately thought "Wait a second, did I just laugh at my own joke?"

All in all, it felt like this was the first time I had experienced Cradle as a reader rather than as the writer.

I'm going to be completely real with you guys: it was a little disconcerting how different the books looked to me this time.

INDIVIDUAL BOOK BREAKDOWN

For Unsouled and Soulsmith, I had a hard time staying engaged. I've read those two books more than any of the others (as you'd expect, since they're the oldest in the series), and I go over their notes regularly. There wasn't much new for me to remember or learn from those two.

Then we hit Blackflame, and immediately the series kicked up two notches.

I do think Blackflame is a stronger book than the first two, which is reflected in a higher review average, but boy I didn't expect how much it would grab me. I regularly found myself forgetting to take notes because I was hooked by the story.

In my opinion, BF is where the books stop feeling like a semi-generic martial arts fantasy series and start feeling like Cradle.

From here on, I want to stress again that the following is my perspective as a reader having just finished re-reading the series, and not necessarily my opinion as the writer.

Those are different things. When I say that I really loved a book, that doesn't mean I don't know what its weaknesses are, and when I say a book has weaknesses, that doesn't mean that you're wrong for liking it. Every story has weaknesses.

With me? Good.

I didn't trip on Skysworn at all.

I thought it might trip me up, because I largely agree about what the weaknesses of that installment are, but when I went from books three to four to five, it felt like a seamless journey.

I'm not sure how I would have felt reading Skysworn as a standalone, but it isn't and I didn't.

However, it didn't have many of the big highlight moments from the other books. When I think over the moments that I enjoyed the most from this recent re-read, none of them are in Skysworn.

I loved Ghostwater.

For one thing, Travis' voice for Dross is exceptional. It's not like I haven't heard it before; in fact, we went back and forth with several voices for Dross until he landed on one that he was happy with, and I heard all of those versions.

But as I listened to the whole book, I remembered that Dross adds so much personality to the series, and Travis adds so much personality to Dross.

Another factor is a clever writing construction that I only vaguely recall setting up. Remember earlier when I said reading through these was a disconcerting experience? This is part of what I'm talking about.

There are so many layers of progression in Ghostwater, each inextricably connected to the others. Lindon and the others are making their way physically through the Ghostwater facility, which is one layer. As they do, they're learning more about Ghostwater and the project that Northstrider was trying to run there, which is a second layer.

Then there's Lindon, who advances on the sacred arts as he pushes through the wells and grows in maturity and responsibility as he has to fight people stronger than him while taking care of those who are weaker.

Orthos starts off beaten and old and sick and wounded, and he regains his youth and strength as they progress. Dross evolves to a new stage with every step, gaining new faculties both magically and mentally. Even Little Blue goes from weak and exhausted to stronger and happier.

On top of all that, the world is dissolving, which keeps a time limit on the whole thing. Every time Lindon beats an opponent and forces them to use their escape rope, the dissolution speeds up, leading to an increase in stakes.

I remember designing all of that, but I don't remember intentionally tying so many different things to their progress through Ghostwater. It was somewhat intimidating, because I'm not sure if I could do that again.

Then I made it to Underlord, which is almost certainly the strongest entry in the series so far.

The gang is all together working toward a singular goal, we get more development of the antagonist than we usually do, we learn a lot more about the world, and the elements from Ghostwater paid off.

I was in the middle of the scene in Underlord where Lindon meets with Yerin in her recovery tent and they're both trying to get out what they need to say before Eithan barges in and ruins everything, and I was interrupted by a phone call.

I was so annoyed, and I recognized immediately that I was irritated because I wanted to hear what Lindon said.

Underlord is the closest thing so far to the ideal Cradle book, IMHO.

I'll have to give you a rain check on my experience with Uncrowned. My thoughts were too closely tied to Wintersteel, which I'm currently working on, so that I can't really untangle my opinions on Book Seven with the Book Eight that currently only exists in my head.

But here's the final takeaway.

THE FINAL TAKEAWAY

It felt like I was finally able to get a glimpse of the forest after years of staring at individual trees.

When I look at my own work, I usually see only the flaws and the mechanics. I can intellectually know when an element works because I can point to the fan response and the exact reasons why it works, but I don't feel it.

I only feel my mistakes and weaknesses. I know that when I wrote a particular scene, I was scared or uncertain or tired, or I was pretty sure it was going to be crap, and that emotional state sticks with me.

Being able to take a step back from that baggage and see the series more objectively was a real eye-opener for me. It was honestly disturbing, the degree to which my feelings about myself colored my perception of my work.

For the last several years, I've felt like I've been building a little sandcastle. A bunch of people come up to me and say "Wow, that castle is amazing!" and I thank them, but I know it's just a crappy sandcastle.

Then, when I got a chance to look from their perspective, I saw an actual castle.

If I had to put words to my experience, it would be something like "Wait a second, I didn't build that. Where's my sandcastle?"

My opinion of myself warps my perspective on me and my work to a greater degree than I ever realized. It's something that I've really been wrestling with this week.

If what I thought I was building was so different to what I was actually building, how did I see it so wrong? And what else about myself am I wrong about?

Also, for the first time, I was able to get a taste of what it would be like to read the Cradle series if I weren't the author.

I think I'd enjoy it.

Which is pretty encouraging!

-Will

P.S. My personal rating of the Cradle series 1-6 (not counting Uncrowned for the same reasons I stated above):

6.) Unsouled
5.) Soulsmith
4.) Skysworn
3.) Blackflame
2.) Ghostwater
1.) Underlord

EDIT: Upon further reflection and discussion, I've switched BF and GW so that Ghostwater is now #2. I think I did enjoy it slightly more than Blackflame, but the top three are very close.

116 Comments

Gavyn

6/5/2020 08:18:30 am

Had damn dude. I just woke up and now I'm crying?
Love your work dude. Truly just huge appreciation for what you've created!

Will link

6/5/2020 08:21:27 am

Thanks for sticking with me, Gavyn!

The OPG

6/5/2020 08:23:46 am

You bring up a really good point regarding Uncrowned; for me it's hard to really place it in comparison with the rest of the movies. Kind of like trying to holistically evaluate Avengers: Infinity War before Endgame came out. I sort of dropped out of the fan community right after I read the book & haven't really came back, but still.

Skysworn is another one of those books that mostly sets up dominos instead of knocking them down (you could argue that Unsouled does this, too, and I'd argue that you're wrong), but Skysworn feels discrete in a way Uncrowned doesn't. Actually they're incredibly similar structurally; I forgot that Skysworn begins with the Jai Long duel (capping off the extended training montage that was the last book), which mirrors Lindon's integration with the Akura family (itself the direct result of the extended training montage of the last book). As much as I love the ending of Uncrowned, it does end like Infinity War the more I think about it. Kinda rambling here so Imma just stop before I fall asleep on my keyboard.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go outline a video essay on why you're wrong about Unsouled.

6/5/2020 08:42:46 am

I like a lot of the elements in Unsouled, and it does a good job of setting up Sacred Valley as a place that shaped Lindon and that you want to see him eventually come back home to.

It sets up a lot of pieces that I'm excited to play with in the series, I just didn't enjoy the book as a reader as much as I did the others.

Plus, I still can't shake my embarrassment at reading my writing from almost five years ago. Starting with Blackflame, I'm a lot less ashamed.

Brian

6/5/2020 09:49:48 am

Don't be so rough on yourself (unless doubting yourself it's the source of your power, in which case, please carry on). I think your intro to Cradle isn't anything of which you should be particularly ashamed. Re reading it does seem less exciting than when it was a brand new series (because you realize how long Lindon stays abysmally weak until Blackflame), but I clearly remember it was truly engrossing enough that it was easy to see the series' potential. I think even travelers gate was strong from the beginning. The only book I feel was a bit rough was the intro to Shera. I love the asylum series and it hit its stride soon enough, it's just that first chapter.

Zexand

6/5/2020 02:15:40 pm

I agree with Brian, there's no need to feel ashamed. A friend of mine only introduced me to the Cradle series right before the release of Ghostwater, so I still remember how I felt about all the books the first time. And I re-read all the books before the release of Underlord and Uncrowned, respectively. And will do so again this summer and/or right before Wintersteel is released.

Anyway, that fawning is to say that while I agree that Cradle really hits its unique vibe starting in Blackflame, there's nothing to be embarrassed about when it comes to Unsouled or Soulsmith. The early worldbuilding was truly top-notch... I mean, it's true for the entire series, but my point still stands. I was completely sucked into the world. There are so many setups from those books that still get me excited when I think of how they might play out.

It's true it has less of an impact on re-reads, but I still really enjoy those early set-ups. I like having them recontextualized by the later books, and it really contextualizes Lindon's growth, knowing how much a Jade once seemed insurmountable to him and were like demigods in his eyes. Honestly, they're just good books.

Of course, I've tried my hand at some writing myself (nowhere near as good as you, oh exalted one) so I understand all too well how hard it is to read your own work. So I sympathize. But I just wanted to say nice things about those books so you know how much I/we enjoy them.

Jay K

6/5/2020 04:42:05 pm

In series like these, the author is really the one on the journey. What I find most interesting in your writing, Will, is that you've written strong female leads. Shera & Yerin are my two favorite characters, and after seeing Attack on Titan, Mikasa reminded me of them - total bad-ass, overly protective of their people, stronger than any of the men - and it's a testament to just how good a writer you are. Being critical is natural. Good thing us readers are here to remind you that your work has meaning. Stay well, Will.

Count DeMonet

6/5/2020 11:43:01 pm

Unsouled is a good book in that it hooked me into this series. It is also the hardest one for me to re-read because of all the abuse and shame that was heaped onto Lindon. However, that does make me look forward to the eventual reunion, whether that reunion occurs in Sacred Valley or outside of it.

Jackson

6/9/2020 11:02:19 am

I would disagree; rereading Unsouled is a favorite past time of mine, both for the nostalgia and the quality. As a first book in a large and epic series, there are different expectations. It can’t be compared to the others in the same way; I think most here would agree that it’s a fantastic start to Cradle.
But on its own I also think it’s a great book. The way it introduces the world, characters, style, and larger plot is thought out, memorable, and not at all cliche. The progression of the plot is so seamless that by the time you get to the end, you look back over your shoulder and realize you’re on a mountain.
The most important part of a book for me is climax of the plot, followed closely by how well that climax is set up, then how it’s resolved (nothing unique to me, I know). But I think Unsouled does all three of those so well. I would say second only to Blackflame and Ghostwater.
I could go on (and have to my friends) about this in detail, but I’ll end by saying it’s a rare book that gets my heart pounding the way it does when Lindon and Yerin raid the lesser treasure hall. Maybe it’s my rpg background, but there’s nothing like a massive loot grab to get the heart thumping.

Austin

6/5/2020 08:24:35 am

I'm so glad you got a chance to step back and look at your work like that! It's so fufilling as an artist to get to do!

6/5/2020 08:48:20 am

It really was! I often re-read my work in order to prepare for writing a sequel, but this time was more of an eye-opener than ever before.

Jeremy

6/5/2020 08:41:12 am

This entire series is great and hearing your perspective as a “reader” of the series is very insightful.

I really liked the ranking you gave to the series so far because that tells me what I need to know about Wintersteel! Also, I completely agree with your ranking except I would put Ghostwater at number one. The introduction of Dross and what he adds to the series was a game changer for me.

Thanks for sharing and I’m loving the podcasts!!

6/5/2020 08:46:31 am

Honestly, Underlord and Ghostwater and Blackflame are all very close for me.

I'd put BF a hair under the other two because Lindon is still so weak, so he doesn't get to drive events as much as he does in the other two. A lot of the cool things are happening around him instead of him being centrally involved.

I ranked UL over GW simply because I think UL is more well-rounded, but it's hard to say which I actually enjoyed more. If I flipped UL and GW in my own personal list, I couldn't say it would be wrong. They're very close in my estimation.

Josh

6/5/2020 08:41:59 am

I agree, ive listened to each as they came out and then the whole way thru twice. I def agree with the rating and your commentary. I hope it helps you going forward in writing. These books are like a breath of fresh air sometimes. I cant wait for the next one to come out and the one after that. I really wanna see what happens to lindon. Keep up the good work and godspeed.

6/5/2020 08:47:20 am

Thanks, Josh! I suspect it's definitely going to change how I think about my writing moving forward.

Bonhomous

6/5/2020 08:48:03 am

There is so much there to parse out. You've given me a nugget to cycle for a while until I can absorb it. Thanks for being honest. I love your series, but the way your characters learn and grow is the most amazing thing to me. It's nice seeing that can carry over to the readers and the author as well.

6/5/2020 08:51:41 am

Yeah, there's a lot. If I tried to put all my thoughts about this re-read down on paper, it would be more like a novella.

It's really hard to describe this experience because so often I'm trying to put words to a vague emotional impression. When I talk about this, it often sounds like I'm saying "I read my own books and I liked them."

Which is true, but it's incomplete. Honestly, I was scared even more than I was encouraged. I always knew that I wasn't seeing the books objectively, but I thought that since I knew that I had a handle on it.

This time, I saw that wasn't true at all.

6/5/2020 08:52:51 am

...as in, "I didn't have a handle on it at all."

Emily

6/5/2020 08:48:29 am

Nice! Maybe I should try audio to get in on Travis...tho I’m generally not an audio person. Weirdly enough I almost exactly have your ordering of books except for ghostwater.

Blackflame was the first one I loved. Ghostwater which I know everyone loves felt like an interlude to me. Lindon powered up to easily and yerin + eithan were sidelined.
Underlord as you said was the pinnacle.

Uncrowned I put just before blackflame.

6/5/2020 08:55:29 am

I understand that about Ghostwater! I know that some readers felt like it was more like a side story, and I totally get why.

For me personally, I didn't feel that way at all.

Aaron

6/15/2020 08:05:57 pm

Travis is a fantastic way to jump into Audio, one of the best.

Jacob

6/5/2020 08:49:58 am

I started following you and reading your books when Cradle first came out with Unsoiled. Never did I, in a million years believe that this, and your other series as well, would get me through college during fires, lockdowns, shootings, and pandemics. I can not accurately thank you enough for your dedication to your craft, and for easing the burden on my shoulders with your writing. Stay safe, stay healthy, and just keep swimming.

6/5/2020 08:56:02 am

Thanks for sticking around, Jacob! Stay safe, and thanks for reading!

Bender

6/5/2020 09:07:30 am

The Dragon Advances.

April

6/5/2020 09:16:28 am

I appreciate the insight. For what it’s worth, I’d say of Killers and Kings should be in the number 1 slot. (Yes I know we are talking about Cradle; no, I don’t care.).

Of Cradle, Ghostwater slightly edges out Underlord for me, but by a super narrow margin. I love that Yerin and Lindon are forced into opposite roles, with Lindon having to fight his way through his obstacles, and Yerin being forced to think her way through hers. Dross’s first presence report was amazing; the foundation was well laid yet it was completely unexpected. There were so many little notes that hit just right all through book.

Is EE too fresh to be able to give the same sort of insights?

6/5/2020 03:20:14 pm

Another EE fan and another Shera fan! Agree I loved killers and Kings. Well worth the wait (particularly since the wait gave us cradle as a series)

A Heavan's Glory Elder

7/7/2020 08:58:18 am

I had a similar experience when Dross made his first presence report-i literally put the book down and just sat there for a minute processing.
Love the books Will!

EasilyAmusedEldrazi link

6/5/2020 09:23:21 am

For me, the series really started kicking into gear right at the end of Soulsmith. Up until then it was "This is decent, I'll keep reading to see what happens". Once Lindon advanced to Iron and we got to see him take that first big step on his journey, that's when it really started getting into "Wow, I can't wait to see what comes next" territory. Keep up the good work!

Ravi

6/5/2020 09:37:39 am

I'm glad that you could realize that you've made something good and enjoyable! You have been for 7 years! Thanks Will!

Travis

6/5/2020 09:44:08 am

I'm interested to see how Lindon handles his new state. He left the regular world a Truegold. Now, he is an Underlord and the difference to the regular people and to people that he worked with is going to be somewhat monumental. You see this most when Eithan is talking to the Emperor and everything relaxes when it is just the two of them. Now, with Lindon about to actually interface with normal people soon, I find it interesting how he handles the power his presence will have on them.

6/5/2020 09:46:24 am

Oh, I liked Unsouled because you get to see the problem with people and power. How and why it twists them. It was never as prevalent in your other books.

6/15/2020 08:10:00 pm

somehow I hadn't considered this, and now im im very interested in it as well. His character is so driven he always just jumps into comparing himself in how far behind he is from people immediately upon advancing. I think this time he is really going to get a reality check.

Ross

6/5/2020 09:45:42 am

I'd agree with the order of your ratings. I came across your books by accident i had just finished brandan sandersons wax and wayne series and looking for my next book a few of the cradle books came up in a mailing list i signed up for i wasn't sure when i started unsouled but i persevered by the end of soulsmith i was hooked. I read the rest of the series back to back and was.so dissapointed when i finished uncrowned and there wasn't another to move on to. I would put uncrowned at 7 in the list I dont know if its that dissapointment that makes me put it at the bottom of the list or if its something else. it feels like to me as a set up for something else as you said your thoughts on this book are so tied to next book that you cant comment it must be. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us.

6/5/2020 09:48:47 am

To clarify my first statement, Uncrowned has him surrounded by people that are skyscraper level above him, better trained, or his equal. Going back to the Skysworn, if he does, will even be a monumental shift in how people react to him I think.

David Hawks

6/5/2020 09:49:59 am

I think it's really interesting that you listened to the books as a reader and not as an author. What s neat experience. I need to go back and re-read all the books myself before wintersteel comes out. I want to plan it so my re-read finishes as wintersteel is available. I was fortunate to start cradle when six books were out and as I finished book six book 7 came out.

Ghostwater is my favorite book followed by uncrowned- that ended with an amazing fight scene that left me with goose bumps. Only thing I didn't like was the cliffhanger at the end.... Because I wanted more

Thanks Will for the great series.

Jeremiah

6/5/2020 09:51:21 am

I don't know how I could have conveyed earlier that this wasn't a crappy sandcastle or I would have. I'm glad you were able to enjoy these that you have written in a similar way to how we see it and enjoy them

Obbu

6/5/2020 10:04:25 am

This was a genuinely entertaining blog post - it's really cool to have an avenue to get outside of your own head. Self-critique can be exhausting, and having that method of setting that aside sounds liberating :)

I personally rate Ghostwater a hair's breadth higher than Underlord.

I think that the environment, foreshadowing and plot complexity just feels like a well-oiled machine.

It strikes a really varied balance between Lindon running for his life, and actually kicking ass.

The environment really creates a sense of rapport with a character like Lindon, who has previously had the urge to loot treasure troves.

The unique location also comes into play so many times during the book (the isolation from yerin/mercy, the sea monsters as a threat, then as a source of wealth, while tying it back to his iron body), the habitats and air pockets serve to create vivid imagery while also layering on the multiple layered meaning of ghostwater ('ghost'-like dross, ghostwater elixir, water-bound facility with ghosts of the past, ghostly projection of northstrider etc etc.)

The progression (while rapid) feels like it is earned through the biggest turning point in Lindon's character, and thus feels well deserved.

The playoff of the tensions between Lindon and co and the skysworn but moving into the new and returning factions within the facility.

The whole thing feels like a deftly interwoven nexus of story and character arc to me, all grounded within a cleverly constructed environment that just all clicks together.

Underlord still rocks, of course, but IMHO Ghostwater takes the lead.

Underlord's stakes are built on leveraging the important arc that Lindon goes through in Ghostwater, as it's the first time that he's approaching/vaguely on par with Yerin as a sacred artist, and what that means for their relationship/dynamic.

And I think that's the essence: Progression Fantasy, for me, is at it's best when it marries real character arc, real relationships and real stakes to the power climb. Ghostwater not only nails that, it lays the groundwork for the core character/relationship arc, as well as power progression in Underlord too.

Sharon

6/6/2020 08:19:38 am

I agree 👍 💯

Veritas

6/5/2020 10:14:46 am

I am very happy to hear that you have found a way to experience the story that we have all grown so fond of. As an avid reader I can say that it is by far the best I have ever read. It's been a fun journey and I greatly look forward to continuing the adventure.

Bradley link

6/5/2020 10:18:45 am

Will, I’m a huge fan of all your books, especially the Cradle series. It’s very very cool that you gave your readers this chance to see your thoughts on the Cradle series so far. I have enjoyed every step of Lindon's journey, but the only time I felt left out of his experiences was in Uncrowned. His trip into the Archlord Treasure vault should have had an entire chapter full of amazing weapons and trinkets for Lindon and the readers to get dragon fever over. I know you are keeping your feelings about Uncrowned close to the vest, but I believe skipping really cool choices and options available to Lindon in his training and journey is a huge mistake. As a reader I want to be there with Lindon every step of the journey. Thanks for all your great stories, and I’m really excited for Wintersteel.

6/5/2020 10:32:18 am

I really can't share my overall experience with Uncrowned without spoiling Wintersteel, but specifically about that treasure vault scene, I absolutely did feel like it was missing.

The treasure vault is mentioned in Underlord, then twice more in Uncrowned. When the scene skips to Lindon's fight with Naian, the transition is written competently, so it wasn't jarring, but it definitely felt like something was missing.

Also, it would have been a perfect place to explain WHY Lindon chose the weapons he did for the individual matches, which would have smoothed out another rough spot.

So yeah, while I'm too deep in Book 8 to be able to objectively rank Book 7, I do agree that the vault scene should have been there.

6/6/2020 12:32:39 am

I agree. Uncrowned was good, but it could have been better with more details in certain areas such as loot selection. One of my favorite scenes in Unsouled was when Lindon explored his options with the various treasures before picking the hallucination flags. There were other points missing in Uncrowned. For instance, what happened to all that loot he picked up at the end of Underlord? I was also expecting Lindon to further improve his body with the consumption of top-grade meat as he did in GW, although I think it was implied when he was observed training even when eating.

6/6/2020 12:43:32 am

Where Unsouled did shine though was in the details that were provided in his training which ended in his surprising all those Akuras with just how strong he really was. I liked the contrast between how he was bullied in Unsouled when at school which held him back to how his bullies in Uncrowned were treated by Lindon as training opportunities. The Yerin/Lindon fight was outstanding. I was fine with the cliffhanger ending as it was a good place to end the book, only being upset that I would have to wait for the next one.

Trent

6/5/2020 10:39:08 am

Dear Will
I'm pleased you liked hearing your stories from the perspective of a reader/listener. You have created a truly wonderful fantasy world (even universe) and it is a true credit to your imagination and writing skills (no matter what your personal demons tell you).
I do wish that the books could be more detailed (aka Robert Jordan, Tad Williams, etc.,) and the character development more in depth, but I do get that that you want it to be fast paced. However, don't doubt that you have truly created something special. Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading ALL of your Cradle story.
Stay safe and well and believe in yourself.

Dissentinel

6/5/2020 10:58:03 am

Thanks so much for sharing this, Will. We don't often get to hear about this kind of experience from writers, and it's really cool to get to see!

Jake

6/5/2020 11:41:35 am

Thanks for this Will, it's great to see your perspective on everything with this sort of hindsight. I just did a reread the other week and my revised rankings were
1. Underlord
2. Blackflame
3. Ghostwater
4. Uncrowned
5. Soulsmith
6. Skysworn
7. Unsouled

I also did notice that one issue people seem to have with Skysworn is one of the few books where the gang doesn't progress significantly power-wise. The three books that people seem to love the most (myself included) are Underlord, Ghostwater, and Blackflame, which have the biggest and most dramatic bits of progression for Lindon in them. Seems like now that they are in the Lord realm those big steps are going to harder to make in a single book so I'm interested to see how you handle it, but I have full faith!

Thanks so much for these books Will. They are some of my favorites ever.

Bart

6/5/2020 06:46:32 pm

I agree, though technically Soulsmith is tied with Ghostwater for the most progression (he goes up two levels from fountain to iron in that one) and it doesn't get nearly the same fanfare, so I think there is more to it.

GFurni

6/5/2020 01:06:40 pm

My husband, my 9 year old and I all powered through the audible series (amazing narration!), thank you for it! We can’t wait for the next! My 9 year said: “well he should be able to finish the next one soon because it’s not like he can go out to restaurants and stuff right now, he’s got nothing but writing to do.” Funny coming from the 4th grader who can’t stand writing (yet, I think!). Really appreciate this write up and the series (and Kings!).

Keep it up! Nothing else to do, right? Ha

Nikolai

6/5/2020 01:30:34 pm

I am surprised you rated Ghostwater so low as a reader. Alot of readers including me would put it on #1 easily. That book was just phenomenal (not that the others aren't pls don't hit me with a striker technique).

Thanks again for creating a great series ! We will keep inviting to the Cult of Cradle so that it ends up pressuring you more to write more for us xD

I am glad that even you enjoyed your own work.

Trevor

6/5/2020 01:43:07 pm

Well sir, welcome to the human condition. I have read and enjoyed literally everything you have written (that I can find on Amazon or from your mailing list) to some degree or another. I think you are creative and your work is just fun to read. I hope you continue. Many of us humans struggle with not feeling good enough. Only focusing on our flaws and refusing to really hear or internalize the positive things that people say (see above). I think that only when we realize we are not alone in our self criticism can we begin to accept that we are worthy of the praise from others. You have been an inspiration to me with your writing and I hope I can have some small positive impact by telling you that you are great even if sometimes you feel small.

chameleom

6/5/2020 02:06:52 pm

This was very cool to read! You're truly my favorite author and I love everything to do! Other than saying that I just wanted to slither out of my rock and say that I am very gay for Mercy and Yerin. That is all.

6/5/2020 02:25:32 pm

apparently that wasn't all! whoops. Just wanted to say I've come up with a bunch of Paths in my mind and also 'found' one for myself and I think that's some dope ass worldbuilding if you get people creating stuff and pretending to be in it

Brad

6/5/2020 02:13:56 pm

As an aspiring author, this really hammers home that imposter syndrome never really goes away. I think anyone would agree that you're an incredible author, and even at your level you still feel like you're shooting in the dark. It makes feel better about my own work, my hesitancy to keep going, and my ability to finish something I have doubts about.

This post really moved and inspired me. I can't focus on shit right now because I don't have my ADHD meds, but when I get them tomorrow I'm gonna sit down and write until my fingers bleed. And keep writing every day. Thank you Will, for inspiring me with your work, your honesty, and your craft. Keep it up man. Can't wait for Wintersteel and whatever else your incredible brain comes up with next.

Michael

6/5/2020 02:23:10 pm

Love seeing things from your perspective, it's great as a reader to see the things that I loved then hear about them from your perspective and hear how you enjoyed working on or listening to those parts. It adds relatability that you don't get with most authors or series.

My favorites are:

1. Ghostwater
2. Underlord
3. Blackflame
4. Uncrowned
5. Soulsmith
6. Unsouled
7. Skysworn

Daniel Scott

6/5/2020 02:52:21 pm

With all of the Will Wight books, I try to be a Reader and not a reader (or listener)...... can't go wrong with the Intent (yeah, I know these comments are more slanted toward EE, but I just reread the series so that I could read the ends to the trilogies). Bring on Winteresteel,but give me enough time to reread all of Cradle first!

6/5/2020 03:03:38 pm

I loved seeing your insights into experiencing your own works. (I replied to one of your comments trying to make you feel better about Unsouled and Soulsmith. :) ) I also loved seeing how you rank them. But like everyone else and their dog, time for me to give my rankings and some thoughts. From worst to best:

7) Skysworn
6) Unsouled
5) Soulsmith
4) Uncrowned
3) Blackflame
2) Ghostwater
1) Underlord

First thing to say is that even what I consider the worst of them is still an enjoyable read in my eyes. Honestly, a Will Wight book is a lot like pizza: even the worst of them are still good. Now, down the list.

Skysworn - I think this is ranked so low because of how it feels like there's little progression compared to the others. Yes, like people have mentioned, there are no major power-ups despite the amount of time this book covers. (Also, in retrospect I'm surprised Lindon's "basic training" didn't happen at this point, rather than waiting until Uncrowned.) But it really feels like the characters didn't progress much either. There was so much time building up the duel with Jai Long, and it didn't live up to the hype. The aftermath consumed a lot of the book. But it had some good foundational work for stuff that would come later. It was consistently good, but didn't have any highs to make it stand out.

Unsouled - A lot of time spent building the world and the character basics, along with the lack of the amazing character dynamics that are in the later books, didn't give it as much time to shine in comparison. But that's the benefit of a series: the ability to do more in later books because of all the groundwork. Still, I was hooked in fairly quickly and was hungry for every bit of lore and worldbuilding I could get. Loved getting into Lindon's head and seeing him forced to be clever.

Soulsmith - Honestly, just everything good about Unsouled but more. More hints at deeper mysteries, more worldbuilding, a more thrilling adventure, more interesting characters (have to love Eithan)... and it's our first taste of seeing Lindon learning and growing stronger.

Uncrowned - Right now, it's the middle point of the series for me. I had some amazing things: the Lindon/Yerin fight was absolutely superb and pitch perfect; the Nain fight was good, seeing all the Paths was interesting; the glimpse into the wider world was appreciated; good tension and good humor; etc. But there were also things that were kinda short of expectations: Lindon's training (I was hoping to see Mercy train and to see them train together). Only one scene with Orthos and Kelsa despite how much I need to see Kelsa's reaction to Lindon's story. (I can't wait until they go back to Sacred Valley in general... and I'm curious how Jai Chen's strong fate that was hinted at is going to interfere with other character developments. One of my favorite things to see, that few stories very rarely do, is to go back to show how far the characters have come.) Outside of Lindon/Yerin and Yerin/Eithan, feels like there weren't many character dynamics were developed. The transition to Underlord felt underwhelming... I expected a more spiritual connection, for lack of a better term, to start emerging... that we'd start getting glimpses into deeper mechanics (beyond Yerin's training anyway). We didn't get to see the treasure vault (or anyone picking their treasures), or to see Lindon do some soulsmithing to make his shield. If he's truly out, feels like Lindon lost one round too soon... not to mention, I would imagine that this isn't the best way to choose the top 8 fighters. I really wanted to see the main characters get a prizes from everyone. But maybe worst was that cliffhanger when it looks like there's going to be a solid year between books. But even still, final evaluation depends on Wintersteel since this is more of a two-parter than any other.

Blackflame - Just felt like the first time we really stepped into the wider world, but more than that the first time we really start to see Lindon start growing into the Sacred Artist he was meant to be. I absolutely loved sinking into the mechanics of the Sacred Arts and seeing him train, struggling to make himself more powerful. First time I really felt like Lindon and Yerin were more than just temporary allies. And we really got to see Eithan being Eithan.

Ghostwater - Just all-around good stuff. Yerin and Mercy started to bond, and their fight to survive was a good arc. Though it felt underutilized, which is one reason why this isn't the #1 spot. Seeing Lindon be the protector rather than the protected, and bond with his companions was great. We got to see him be clever and resourceful again, a lot like at the beginning of the series. And he finally started to become strong enough to stand tall with others. Not to mention, the tension of surviving Ghostwater on a clock, coupled with the humor from the introduction of Dross, was Gold. (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun, haha.)

Underlord - Beats out Ghostwater by a

Chris

6/5/2020 03:22:43 pm

I could gush on and on about your books, love them! I really just want to say I’m very glad that you didn't let Dross personality ruin the story line. When he was first introduced I was afraid he was going to turn out like Jar Jar Binks (the main reason I didn't like Phantom Menace). Glad to see him toned down to enhance Lindon, not over shadow him!

Will

6/5/2020 04:09:33 pm

The Cradle series is so far my favorite series I've ever read. Each time I read the series is a dose of adrenaline and dopamine that crashes half an hour later because I just remembered the next book isn't out yet. Despite that, for the next fortnite my mind is consumed with thoughts of Cradle, how would this path function, what will happen to this character, did Eithan find one of the vegetable wraps Northstrider was eating? It permeates my conscious. Hearing your prospective on how the audio changes the experience for the better I entertain the idea of a non stop marathon of Cradle, a Cradle-thon if you will.

Ryan

6/5/2020 04:29:49 pm

I feel like I am missing sections in my copies of UL and uncrowned about soulfire. For such a big power advancement I felt like it got the least amount of description. Like how it's obtained or how much Lindon has the capacity to hold. Did you feel the same way during your re-listen? Or maybe this was intentional. I also could see that maybe there isn't alot of depth to it.

Cheese Doodle

6/5/2020 05:24:04 pm

I know people don't like Uncrowned. And I thought it was just ok my first read through. And then I read it again... It is so good! I just breezed through it the first day it came out on my first read and I feel like I missed a lot.

I think the initial hate is because of the cliffhanger, but it really is a good place to stop the book and the fight at the end.... amazing!

Eithan Arelius

6/5/2020 06:16:24 pm

I lost power for 3 days straight and during it the books I turned to were yours. After my brother said he didnt want to read travelers gate trilogy, I took it upon myself to lash him 400 times for his insolence. Then I forcefully converted everybody in my family with your books. Then after my binge-read was over, the Abidan took mercy upon me and saw fit to restore my power...

Juan

6/5/2020 08:52:26 pm

I really loved this post. Keep up the good work buddy.

Pikachu

6/5/2020 10:05:00 pm

Been waiting forever and have been updating my dad about it and now I still can't wait so keep up the good work and thanks for keeping us happy during these times.
:)

Fan

6/5/2020 11:47:25 pm

So for me all your books are great. I have read all I could get on amazon barring 1 the last book KK series. Uncrowned was the first book I got upset with mainly because of Lindon fever. Also seemed rushed, like it was thrown out to get people off your back. (Blog contributed to that feeling) To this day I have not finished that other series because I blame it for Uncrowned. Upon re-read of uncrowned I enjoyed it much more and still one of my least favorites.

Putting that aside (favorite to least):
1) Unsouled
2) Ghostwater
3) Blackflame
4) Underlord
5) Skysworn
6) Uncrowned
7) Soulsmith

6/6/2020 12:09:04 am

Ghostwriter is definitely up there as one of my favorites for the reasons you outlined. It was all about how Lindon progressed in so many ways, such as how Lindon researched and eventually developed his own technique utilizing his pure core. Loved how as a low gold he took on a true gold. And I always enjoy scenes in which we see the perspective of someone looking at Lindon, such as when Akura felt threatened by Lindon's advancement to true gold. Also, this is where Dross was introduced.

BillyBlanco

6/6/2020 03:29:23 am

I've read and listened to these books so many times now that it has an effect on my reading experience and opinion of the books. It sounds like most of the people on here are in the same boat, but you have to wonder what percentage of readers go on to reread these books over and over. I think when you write it has to be more focused on the experience of the first time reader. I'm glad you got to go back and have as close of that experience as you can get as the author, but I am surprised that it didn't make you put unsouled higher on the list. That book has left a lasting impression on me and has managed to keep me heavily invested through it all. It's the beginning but nothing will feel resolved until Lindon makes his way back to sacred valley. In a way this series boils down to...a significant event happens in unsouled and everything until he returns to sacred valley is just preparation for resolving that event. I'm still so invested in unsouled that the one part of the series that I have read more than any is Orthos' trip after his transformation. Those original sacred valley characters and conflicts got me good and hooked the first time out, so much so that any tease of information about them has me sitting up straighter with my heart beating faster.

Scott S.

6/6/2020 06:26:22 am

one thing I'm curious about is the bowl of pure madra. Didn't Fisher Gesha say that there is no such thing as pure madras essence? (Should be when she was training g Lindon in the beginning of BF). But then, how does Sacred Valley do their bowl test? Wasn't that pure madra?

6/6/2020 09:26:34 pm

I believe that it was "distilled madra" which I think is made from any madra that is refined... or something. Besides, nobody cultivates a pure madra technique in Sacred Valley because they view it as below them, so how would they get a constant supply of pure madra to test with?

Kaz

6/6/2020 08:21:54 am

I've enjoyed the series. I came across the "Cradle" audio series prior to leaving on a vacation. I started listening to "Unsouled" and I couldn't stop! I enjoyed the series more than the vacation *peeks over shoulder*. Last year I was disappointed with Uncrowned, only to completely change my mind yesterday after listening to it for the second time this last week. "Underlord" set the bar sky high. I read "Underlord" 2X and listened to it 3X. I still think that "Uncrowned" was too short, and I'm still upset with Northstrider's matchmaking, but I don't blame that on Will. Thanks for enriching my life with your books Will!

Dario

6/6/2020 09:58:10 am

I was annoyed with Ghostwater in the first few chapters If I remember correctly. I was like, you're going to break up the gang? What about the valley, training, etc... It became my favorite of the bunch and I think it still is.

Unsouled is your Eye of the World when Rand is a youth in Two Rivers. It has no foundation nor weight. It's a bright chardonnay at lunch and not the Islay Scotch after dinner. But it's necessary. Could you write something like Name of the Wind for your start? Yes, I'm sure you could, but then where do you go from there?

I'm enjoying this ride, this castle has a solid foundation Will.

Shawn

6/6/2020 10:36:25 am

I personally think Unsouled is the best in the series. The moment I heard that sample on Audible I knew this was gonna be a wild ride. I won't say how many times I've personally listened to the series after that.

I generally stay away from reading the thought process of writers in-between books as I found that it negatively impacts my immersion when reading if that makes sense. I'd save them for after. In this case however, I don't find that to be true. In fact, I now think I should do this more often.

IDontKnowFish

6/6/2020 04:52:20 pm

But Skysworn did have that epic moment where Lindon Beats the **** out of that weak lowgold at the Skyswon tryouts (I guess thats what you would call it)

Givonne

6/7/2020 09:30:54 pm

I agree, this is also the first time we get to see Lindon’s progress as every other fight has been against people way stronger than he is ( at least two levels).

Also, Jai Daishou’s slow decent into saying f*** it, always makes me smile.

Jason Wang

6/7/2020 09:56:39 am

Nice! I think Ghostwater would be the top ranking. As for Uncrowned, I think it would rank somewhere in between Skysworn and Soulsmith. Unsouled is the weakest - it's too generic.

Zach

6/7/2020 10:21:11 am

Welcome to the cradle fandom. Glad to have you on board :D

Josiah

6/8/2020 02:29:19 pm

Will, thank you so much for sharing your views on your work! That was very interesting to read and enjoyable too.

I agree with your rating of the books, except that I think that Ghost Water is #1 - even over Under Lord.

Sometimes, when I am listening to the series again (I do this several times in between reading other books) I just go directly to Ghost Water and listen to it again. I think it's your best work so far. I LOVE it.

Thank you so much for writing. Also thanks for your recommendations on reddit (spelling?) about the Chinese Novels on Wuxia world. You were right!!! They are very enjoyable to read too - very addicting. Extremely long, though! But worth it. I guess it is something to do as I wait for the next Cradle installment!

Once again, thank you!!!

Josiah.

6/8/2020 02:30:29 pm

Drew

6/8/2020 05:23:16 pm

“I got a Fever, and the only cure... is more Cradle”

God I love this frickin series so much.

*loud, prolonged, Maniacal laughter*

Marc

6/8/2020 06:33:40 pm

I absolutely devoured these books. Can we please please PLEASE get into contact with the animators of Avatar: TLA to make the Netflix adaptation!?

Side note you ROCK. Thank you for all the hard work, I felt enraptured in the world from day one of reading. I only wish I had picked up your series earlier in the quarantine.

Joshua Pender

6/8/2020 06:58:31 pm

As a new reader only for a month now I have already listened to the cradle series twice. Its wonderful. Unsouled had me hooked fast. I google almost everyday news about the release of wintersteel. Thank you Will for my adventures win Lindon Yerin Eithen Orthos Dross and cutest Little Blue

Dustin

6/8/2020 07:58:09 pm

"Wow, that castle is amazing!" and I thank them, but I know it's just a crappy sandcastle.

That made me laugh entirely too much. I don't know why. I just found it much more amusing than I think it actually warranted.

Orphiex

6/9/2020 02:17:47 am

It's great to get that sort of perspective. "Look how far I've come." Hope it serves as fuel for the creative fires!

So I wanna talk about Unsouled. I'd been reading Wuxia and Xianxia fiction for a while when it popped up in my Amazon Recommendations, and I'd loved the Traveler's Gate books, so I thought, hey, let's give it a whirl.

I was blown away, and I couldn't figure out why. I mean, like you said, it had all the tropes of a "semi-generic martial arts fantasy series", like what I'd been reading (and getting bored of). What was it that made me reread this book three times? Eventually, I narrowed it down to a few things.

First, it was written like an actual book. Not as a bunch of sequential chapters and entries that were being put out as fast as they were written; no, these had been edited, reviewed and polished before they were put out to see the light of day. They flowed. Which leads to point number two: not once in the novel did I feel that I was reading any "padding" content. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the Xianxia writers' tricks to increase their word counts and up the "wish-fulfilment" factor, such as "Do you know who I am?", or "Everyone's jaws dropped" and such other expressions of shock, or "coughed up blood" or "had eyes but could not see Mt. Tai". God I hate that phrase. No idea why it ticks me off so much, but I really just hate that saying. Anyway, there was none of that, and it filled a hole I hadn't realized was there. Which leads to the third point: there were none of the filler characters that Xianxia stories seem to demand. No villainous stepping-stone character, no spurning love-interest, no OP teacher, none of that. The characters felt like real people (yes, even Suriel). It all came together to form something that ticked most of the usual boxes and yet came together to create something completely different and better, something that used the tropes as touchstones and surpassed them purely on writing alone.

And you know what? You're right. Each successive book took all three of those traits and kept going with them. Polishing, solidity and characters; they're what has made the series great, and everything else about the stories has only been improved as they drift from the classic tropes and incorporate new story elements. Unsouled may or may not be the weakest of the series, but it set the foundation that the rest of them are built on, and it holds a special place with me for being my introduction to Cradle.

6/9/2020 08:07:06 pm

Orphiex, I could not agree with you more - I REALLY loved Unsouled, for all the reasons you mentioned.

I agree with you - it felt real. Like actual people you could relate to. You could actually put yourself in those beginning scenes and feel the emotions of a little boy who is being mistreated.

And yes, the expressions in Xianxia books sometimes get . . . well, you said it.

I actually had to go find that Mt Tai online. Then I asked myself: "Doesn't this destroy the suspension of disbelief for Chinese readers?" Apparently not.

Angella

6/9/2020 06:59:50 am

I feel like I’m posting to late. Just gonna say, I love your books. I brag about your stories to anyone who’d listen as if I wrote them myself.... lol. They’re just so much fun. I’m just really glad I discovered your series around book 3 and have been in cradles loving embrace ever since. Keep evolving Will. I’m glad you’re seeing yourself more clearly.

6/10/2020 10:59:20 am

Hi Will,
You are too hard on yourself! You are an awesome, awesome writer! I can’t wait for your next instalment!

For me, the ranking would be as follows:
7) Skysworn
6) Underlord
5) Ghostwater
4) Soulsmith
3) Unsouled
2) Blackflame
1) Uncrowned (as close to perfection as one can get)

Unsouled is pretty high up for me as this is where the story began so it holds a special place! I always love the first instalments where the adventure starts off, even though the story may take many tangents in later instalments.

Kris

6/10/2020 11:07:56 am

I'm torn by this post. I'm glad that you've come to appreciate these books as a reader as well as an author. On the other hand, I had hoped that after going back and reading them all again, you'd talk about an issue that I've seen over the past several books. Which is the growing number of errors in each book. I'm not speaking of places where I disagree with the story, or wish you'd included a scene. I mean mistakes in the actual writing itself. The STORY that you're writing is phenomenal, your characters largely capture the imagination and the world-building you've done is fantastic. However the WRITING over the past couple of years has suffered in my opinion.

My current count of mistakes:
Unsouled - 2
Soulsmith - 4
Blackflame - 4
Skysworn - 3
Ghostwater - 13
Underlord - 7
Uncrowned - 18

Some of these in all fairness only become apparent because I've re-read the books many many times. They don't really detract from the story on the first read through, but are only noticeable when I go through the story again. However in Uncrowned, the errors pulled me from the story completely several times. Uncrowned was also really the first book where the actions of most of the characters simply didn't make a lot of sense to me. Sure there were places in other books where I questioned a characters motivations or the hypocrisy of their words, but this book had me saying "WTF" far too many times to be enjoyable. Even the Abidan parts, which I normally enjoy, felt like they had been thrown together only to give a larger conflict to the story. To me it felt like Uncrowned was a bunch of scenes written at different times then shoved together into a book with a few bridge chapters here and there added to flesh it out.

Again I want to emphasis that I think the STORY you're writing is amazing, I just think the pressure to release has caused the writing to suffer a bit.

6/10/2020 02:49:24 pm

Never, ever, and I mean ever,,, read Song of Ice and Fire. If you think some of the logic is confusing at times in this then never read any George RR Martin books. I would also recommend explaining the 'errors' you are talking about. Finally, the biggest problem with writing is you have to keep a story going. If the Black Dragon dude just all of a sudden stopped fighting when Lindon had little blue heal him, it could have caused an even bigger possible conflict that would have to be written in another way. No author is perfect and Indie Authors don't have an editing team and beta readers to check for errors in consistency or flow or believability.

6/11/2020 11:31:23 am

Huh, I checked the 'notify me of new comments' box but didn't see this reply.

I unfortunately read the "Wheel of Time" series from the start, so I just cannot bring myself to dive into another epic fantasy series like "Song of Fire and Ice".

And I get it, if I understood everything about the story, then the entire thing would be predictable. But I'm sorry, I just can't wrap my head around the idea that with the Uncrowned tournament being as important as it was talked up in the big parade scene right before Lindon, Mercy, and Pride left, that the Akura team didn't seem to do ANY actual TEAM training. Or the fact that Pride seems to have absolutely no tactical sense at all and solves every problem by rushing in recklessly. This is something your Monarch believes is important, so you can't transport the actual team members to the same place so that ALL of your teams could practice together? Or that they didn't seem to do anything at all when 3 out of 4 of their teams were ambushed, one of which was completely destroyed. And when one team doesn't show up, you don't take your ship and start back along the direction they would have taken to look for them? Again, we're talking about a contest on a GLOBAL scale that supposedly has the very best in the world, but honestly from what we've seen so far of how the teams prepared, the Dragons deserve to win.

I haven't typed up the errors from "Uncrowned" yet, I wasn't sure if it was worth me spending the time to transcribe my notes if they fell on deaf ears. But below are the errors from the first 6 books. Entries with a * are ones that are open to interpretation. I recognize that they're not really WRONG per se. They just don't feel RIGHT...if that makes sense.

Tally:
Unsouled - 2
Soulsmith - 4
Blackflame - 4
Skysworn - 3
Ghostwater - 13
Underlord - 7
Uncrowned - 18

Unsouled:
Chapter 8 - Page 90
“All of the Kazan wear badges, of course, but these are seemingly crafted with perfection in mind as well; they are four or five times bigger than those of the Wei clan, so that the adults wear plates of copper or iron over their entire chests.”

This was probably caused by autocorrect or something similar. I imagine that it was supposed to say “….crafted with protection in mind as well…”

Chapter 15 – Page 179
“Those had the feel of an official declaration, but what he said next sounded much more formal”

Probably meant to be ‘informal’. “Formal” doesn’t make sense when paired with the previous statement about “..the feel of an official declaration”.

SoulSmith:
Chapter 7 – location 1297:
“She tapped one scar that ran down parallel to her ear”

This book was written entirely from Lindon’s point of view. He was in a different bathing shack, so he wouldn’t have been able to see this gesture.

Chapter 12 – location 2105:
“Previously, she’d had to share one long log cabin with twelve other women. Now, she had her own, smaller log cabin, complete with baked clay tiles for the roof and a hearth and chimney.”

This contradicts what was said at the opening of chapter 10 “The space they’d found for Yerin was among the main sect, in rooms reserved for honored guests of the Fishers.

Chapter 12 – location 2212:
“She couldn’t control the bladed arm on her back as well as he thought she should”

Why would ‘he’ have any thoughts on how well she should be able to control anything? Lindon knows nothing about Gold signs. It was probably meant to be ‘..as well as she thought she should”.

Chapter 14 – location 2687:
“Jai Long didn’t dare to twitch to betray his support.”

Given the context of the conversations, "support" doesn’t make sense. Perhaps ‘…twitch to betray his surprise”

Blackflame:

Chapter 13 – location 2761:
“It showed a grassland on the newly formed world of Pioneer 8089,”

In the last book, the world the refugees were going to be sent to was Scour. From Soulsmith “…transporting them to Iteration 213, the world was known as Scour, the most inhospitable place she’d ever seen with a native population…”

*Chapter 14 – location 2975:
“She would still be a stage behind him in advancement, but Cassias wasn’t sure that would matter”.

Cassias having knowledge that Jai Long would be True Gold hasn’t been shown during the given narrative. All he currently knows is that Jai Long is a Highgold. This is more of a stylistic interpretation than something that qualifies as an actual error.

Chapter 14 – location 3000:
“After using her power, she grew pallid and weary on her own, and then demanded even more scales.”

Except that this is the first time Lindon has seen her use her powers. This sentence and the one immediately follo

6/11/2020 12:02:25 pm

Must have hit the character limit....drat.

Chapter 14 – location 3000:
“After using her power, she grew pallid and weary on her own, and then demanded even more scales.”

Except that this is the first time Lindon has seen her use her powers. This sentence and the one immediately following indicate a level of familiarity with the Sylvan’s powers that neither character has at this point in the narrative.

Chapter 18 – location 3881:
“It was on the same stage as the cycling technique his master had passed to her.”

Most likely should have said “…as the cycling technique her master had passed to her”

Skysworn:
Chapter 4 – location 860:
“His madra would run out quickly, with the Cloak active.”

When describing his use of the Cloak in Blackflame, it was said he could hold it for 20 minutes.

Chapter 5 – location 955:
“Just in case Jai Long were to use the Ancestor’s Spear”

Why would he need to prepare for this? Eithan has the original spear, and nobody but Eithan knows about the trip into the labyrinth.

*Chapter 5 – location 1012:
“I follow the rules, Arelius. Our laws are etched in steel.”

Except the rule about not bringing a weapon above your level to the fight. The copy of the Ancestor’s Spear was found in the labyrinth in the section for Lord level artifacts. So why wasn’t that taken away from him prior to the fight, or at least when he pulled it from his soul space?

Ghostwater:
Chapter 5 – location 1098:
“Lindon almost dropped the ball.”

“The ball shifted in his hands, as though looking around for other people.”

Except he’s not holding it. Two paragraphs prior, it just said “Lindon lowered the flashing ball to the ground”.

Chapter 5 – location 1176:
“Dross sighed. “Well that was disappointing”.

This statement doesn’t make sense when combined with the line a bit further down that says “I have staggered even myself”. I’m not actually sure what would make sense in the context given for this sentence.

Chapter 6 – location 1299:
“At worst, you would affect nothing, and perhaps have a few fortunate encounters of our own”.

Most likely should have been “…a few fortunate encounters of your own”.

Chapter 6 – location 1377:
“It had been restored by the greatest healer in the Blackflame Empire, so he wondered if it was still wounded, or if it was just the shame of losing blood”.

This sentence doesn’t make a lot of sense….”shame of losing blood”. Maybe “pain of losing blood”….or “shame of losing to a blood shadow”???

Chapter 6 – location 1383:
“Except for one minor detour to pull his disciples out of a basement, Eithan had spent the past several weeks hunting emissaries.”

The timeline is off here. He rescued everyone right after the battle between the Bleeding Pheonix and the Monarch. BEFORE the scene where he agreed to help hunt down the Redmoon emissaries.

Chapter 7 – location 1558:
“For eight hours straight, Orthos forced him to practice veiling his power over and over…..”

Again, timeline issues. Lindon slept for at least some period of time, explored the entire hallway, found Dross, merged him with the Eye of the Deep, and then practiced veils for 8 hours. But Eriki only waited 3 hours before she sent her attendants away, then ‘several hours later’ she felt Lindon at the END of his hunt.

Chapter 7 – location 1569:
“As a fellow dragon, Ekeri would be able to discover…”

Except Lindon isn’t a dragon…so she’s not a ‘fellow dragon’. Probably should have just said, “As a dragon, Ekeri would be able to discover…”.

*Chapter 12 – location 2385:
“Lindon missed his parasite ring…”

It would have been nice to know where/how he lost it. Taken away when he was first taken into custody by the Skysworn? Prior to his fight with Jai Long? Lost when his pack was destroyed by Ekeri earlier?

Chapter 12 – location 2389:
“When he came back, he would dip his bowl into the Spirit Well, take one halfhearted sip, and then dump the rest over his head so that it washed the blood away in finger-thin rivulets.”

Why does he have blood on him? This was well AFTER the fight with the sea snake.

Chapter 14 – location 2966:
“I put a couple of Golds on a task for me, and they seem to have gotten themselves stuck.”

He didn’t put Yerin and Mercy on any sort of task. Seems like a passage from a previous story line that perhaps got cut.

Chapter 14 – location 3057:
“It feels a lot like grief,” Dross observed. “I don’t like it.” “It’s not my favorite eit

6/11/2020 12:04:29 pm

This is going to get old....*sigh*

Chapter 14 – location 3057:
“It feels a lot like grief,” Dross observed. “I don’t like it.” “It’s not my favorite either.” He spun quietly for a while, processing the water.

The second line is spoken by Lindon. Who probably didn’t spin his core or around his core or anything. Mismatched action/dialog character.

*Chapter 14 – location 3097:
“Harmony nodded to the door. “You opened the door not six hours ago.”

Timeline issues again. Lindon cycled Life well water to Dross “Over the rest of the day and into the night..” This one might be possible, but it’s cutting it mighty close. And assuming that Harmony felt Lindon and Orthos when they arrived, why did he wait 6 hours to investigate? It also reads as if Harmony hadn’t visited the Life Well prior to this scene, so how did he get to Northstrider’s chambers below? If there was another entrance to those chambers, why didn’t Dross tell Lindon about it?

Chapter 17 – location 3661:
“Malice is off-balance.”

Harmony, not Malice

Chapter 18 – location 3865:
“The difference between perceived strength and actual strength is smaller than you would believe.”

That statement doesn’t really fit the narrative. Maybe it was supposed to be ‘…the difference between perceived weakness and actual weakness is smaller ….”.

Chapter 18 – location 3899:
“Out of four thousand and ninety-six possible Eyes, two thousand, four hundred and thirteen had been returned.”

The numbers don’t add up from a previous scene. This number is about half the total, not the third that were returned as stated previously.

6/11/2020 12:07:13 pm

Last one. As I said, I didn't type of Uncrowned. I will, if you at all think it would be useful input.

Underlord:
*Chapter 1 - location 227:
"It had been more or less intact, but the crystal flask that stored its cloud madra was not entirely full".

It makes no sense that after a month it wouldn't be full. It would have made more sense to say that without a wind artist like Renfie they couldn't refill it on the flight back.

Chapter 1 - location 228:
"Lindon suspected the Skysworn would have evacuated the innocents as soon as they arrived,..."

This word is past tense when the scene is in present tense.

Chapter 2 - location 589:
"Little Blue stared at her from within a bundle of firewood…"

Little Blue was literally just riding on Lindon's shoulder in the previous scene. So he opened his void key on the stairs or something where anyone could see it?

Chapter 7 - location 1749:
"We still have to open Yerin's soulspace…"

Then what did she beat him to by 10 seconds a few paragraphs ago? They were both already Truegold.

Chapter 11 - location 2405:
"He bowed, ushering the raindrop-stained paper to Lindon."

Makes no sense. Probably should have been "...offering the raindrop-stained paper…"

Chapter 16 - location 3252:
"...could not have time to mobilize a force like theirs,"

Should be "...would not have time..."

Chapter 18 - location 3641:
"So three days ago, when Lindon had discovered what Dross could do for a Soulsmith…"

It's been a couple of months since the first Soulsmith test with Dross, not 3 days.

6/14/2020 12:09:23 pm

Oops, I don't know what I was thinking, but the following isn't an error. It's a mistake on my part.

Chapter 14 – location 2975:
“She would still be a stage behind him in advancement, but Cassias wasn’t sure that would matter”.

Cassias having knowledge that Jai Long would be True Gold hasn’t been shown during the given narrative. All he currently knows is that Jai Long is a Highgold. This is more of a stylistic interpretation than something that qualifies as an actual error.

Travis Baldree

6/11/2020 05:50:48 am

FWIW, most editorial errors are caught during audio and repaired on the fly - so if you are listening to the books, you're not likely to notice them. (So Will wouldn't have hit them on a listen-through)

I tend to send these notes back after recording and I think they get incorporated into later versions with whatever mysterious and terribly inefficient delivery Amazon deigns to allow.

Joe

6/15/2020 09:29:57 pm

Travis, just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your portrayal of all the characters in the book. You are a master of voices, emotional context, and comedic timing. Thank you.

6/16/2020 11:57:50 pm

I just wanted to say "amen" to what Joe said below. Thanks, Travis!

Nehemiah

6/11/2020 03:12:57 pm

Hmm... If I was going to make a list...

7. Skysworn (Cradle Book 4)
I think this is the only book in the series I actually dislike.

6. Unsouled (Cradle Book 1)
Set up the rest of the series, but the characters hadn't really been realized yet. It got me started, but that was the strength of the hook, more than the book, if you catch my meaning.

5. Soulsmith (Cradle Book 2)
I mix of fun and slow, though we're now into the territory where I do just enjoy it.

4. Uncrowned (Cradle Book 7)
I kept going back and forth between this and Blackflame. Both of them are a quite good. The meat and potatoes of the series (but good meat and potatoes, like Masaman Beef Curry).

3. Blackflame (Cradle Book 3)
Sort of what I said above - these two were vary close for me.

2. Underlord (Cradle Book 6)
The series at it's peak.

1. Ghostwater (Cradle Book 5)
It was pretty hard for me to choose between Underlord and Ghostwater. I think I liked the story of Underlord more, but Ghostwater had excellent pacing, and that put it slightly ahead.

Karl Henize

6/12/2020 11:18:28 am

I agree with Will’s self-assessment and ranking of the first 6 books.

I was very disappointed with Uncrowned, during my first read through. I just read it a second time (skipping the Abidan sections), and I enjoyed it much more on my second read through.

I had a lot of expectations that were not met on the first read through. On the second read through, I no longer had the same expectations and could enjoy it for what it is. I am cautiously optimistic about Wintersteel.

While Uncrowned was probably not the “worst” book in the series, I think for many it was the most disappointing, especially after setting the bar so high in Ghostwater and Underlord.

Ghostwater ends after Lindon leaves the pocket world of Ghostwater. Underlord ends after London and Yerrin become Underlords. Uncrowned ends... after the first match of the fourth round of the Uncrowned King tournament?

Uncrowned (prior to Wintersteel publication) feels like an incomplete book. To me, there was an implied “promise” that the book would cover the entire uncrowned tournament (or at least get to the top 8). As it is, no one actually becomes an “uncrowned king” in a the book named “Uncrowned”.

Madeline

6/13/2020 11:15:49 am

To me it.... kind of makes sense.... in that at the end of Uncrowned, the Uncrowned King tournament ceases to be the Uncrowned King tournament. It's no longer a group of Underlords vying against each other for fame and glory. It's now a bunch of Underlords, vs. one Monarch who wants the prize. The cheating and blatant favoritism in Uncrowned have led to the tournament becoming... something else. Something lesser.

Or how else can you explain Regan Shen being allowed to give Eithan a useless gift, thus preventing him from receiving an actual, useful gift from another Monarch? How else can you explain a Monarch being allowed to compete? How else can you explain labelling this a tournament that's supposed to show which faction's champions are the strongest, then setting the matches up so that the Akura faction's champions fight each other while the other factions get to eliminate other factions' champions? It was tainted from the beginning.

6/14/2020 11:18:29 pm

Not to mention that with the new prize, it's no longer about the winner, it's about the winner's patron.

Charles Shumway

6/12/2020 04:18:00 pm

What if Lindon split his core again then bonded with the Deepwalker Ape? Would that influence his bond with Orthos? Does the Deepwalker Ape ever come into the story again?

CradleFanToTheMax

6/12/2020 04:20:09 pm

Hey Will have a question about elder empire how are the great elders doing like can kelarac come back and is the Great elder oz faced dead or what.

Robert

6/13/2020 10:35:45 am

Well of course you can't comment on uncrowned yet.
Its only 2/3 of the way finished. /s(?)

I agree with your ranking though and believe that uncrowned suffers from a similar poroblem to skysworn where it will be fine when read through but doesn't as well standalone.

For me personally, all the setup leading up to uncrowned was about the tournament. And, while you did put some build up for lindon versus yerin, it was far outshined by the former so it felt like you made the wrong promises.

Dave

6/14/2020 10:29:02 am

Absolutely love all the books, I think I'd give them the same ratings but I'm biased because the newer books also have the new mechanics and secrets of the Paths that I get so excited about.

**SPOILERS**
Quick thought though; when the Abbadon said "the rules of the tournament must be upheld from this point on" did that include the fact that there was a Monarch competing?? It seems mildly (very) unfair to let her get the certain death weapon if she won so I am hoping Will tossed out this little phrase in order to leave Lindon a backdoor into the tournament next book. Either way I am brimming with excitement, these books have been completely amazing and I really like the addition of Dross. Dross seems to give Will an outlet to be very VERY funny, particularly in the audio books with the inflections thrown in, and overall adds some levity to Lindon's very work-focused outlook.

Love the series, can't wait for the next one, Will you rock!

Rezkin

6/16/2020 08:30:59 am

I have listened to these books several times as well. Most recently with my teenage son. It’s great sharing the experience with someone new and watching them take it in for the first time. I love how cradle is set up for an epic war and cannot wait to see if North strider will wind up directly or indirectly helping him progress. Thanks for the stories!

Tobe

6/17/2020 02:33:47 am

You had a “Moneyball moment” :)

6/17/2020 07:41:01 am

Yeah, though I had to look up that reference. 🤷🏼‍♂️. It’s a great series to share with likeminded friends and family.

santa poring

6/18/2020 11:56:35 am

unsouled was actually my favorite book so far, i miss lindon relying on his wits to defeat challenges rather than a collection of toys gimmicks and pokemons to do everything for him

6/19/2020 06:34:37 am

Are...are you sure you don’t have that backwards?

Toys, gimmicks, and Pokémon are exclusively what he uses in Unsouled.

Toys = Crystal flask, boundary flags, Remnant seals, Thousand-Mile Cloud

Gimmicks = Skipping the Heaven’s Glory trial, splitting his core, the Empty Palm

Pokémon = He literally traps elemental hornets in a small container and unleashes them to win a 1v1 battle. If he had said “I choose you,” I think he would legally be considered to have won an official Cradle League Trainer Match.

Maybe you want to see him use toys, gimmicks, and Pokémon MORE...?

6/19/2020 11:18:45 am

😂🤣😂🤣

giancarlo

6/18/2020 01:28:43 pm

Self doubt is normal, but usually deceiving. I've been practicing martial arts for 30 years. When I practice my training I usually feel like I'm sooo crappy at most things. If you talk to my students, they think I'm soooo good and great and awesome. So, take heart and dont be deceived :)

Wes

6/22/2020 10:52:24 am

I just listened to Ghostwater through Uncrowned, and they were fantastic. I have read and re-read the series a few times (with each book release) and listening to these books has deepened my belief that this is my favorite series! Ghostwater is both my favorite read and listen. All of that being said ... I'm sure I read this somewhere in your blog ... but you did say that Northstrider will use is ability as the one and only judge of the tournament to advance in the tournament since his fight was so incredible? I was just looking for your confirmation ;)

I can't wait to read and listen to the next one!

7/9/2020 10:52:22 pm

I just started listening to your books during quarantine. I got hooked, that doesn't really happen to me much. I only listen to audio books while driving and I find myself making excuses to go for drives to listen to them. Travis kills it as a narrator one of my favorites on Audible but man I'm hooked I find myself constantly wanting to learn more about Lindon and Yerin and Cradle. I'm currently about an hour left of Underlord and Can't wait to start book 7. Truly thank you for bringing these stories to us.

Carmen

7/14/2020 02:11:06 pm

I just wanted to let you know that I love this series. I listen to the series at least every 2 months - I just can't get enough of it. I love the voice for Dross :) Every time I listen through the series, I have to run to Audible to see if the next one is out yet. The wait is torture.

Jens

7/14/2020 07:15:53 pm

I actually really like Unsouled. It sets up an interesting society that remains separate from the other story, and I was really looking forward to reading more about it in book 7 after Orthos went there in book 6, but alas there wasn't much.

Aman Sidhu

7/29/2020 12:45:27 pm

Ghostwater was my number 1
Underlord at number 2.

The rest align to your rankings. Setting up a series is always hard so Unsouled and Soulsmith are the necessary precursors to the really good stuff, personally you were too hard on yourself I love this series. Thank you for these wonderful books I'm waiting at the edge of my seat for WinterSteel. I keep checking your blog and amazon.

kenny

4/20/2021 07:51:20 pm

I want to let you know your series is an amazing castle and i love it flaws and all. One of my best friends is deployed but we still talk on a pretty regular basis and 90 % of what we talk about is your series how much we love what we thought of certain scenes and our theories for the future. When bloodline came out we where stoked we both finished listening to it with in two days and it gave us weeks of exciting things to talk about. Thank you for writing this series.

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