Planned Release Schedule 2019+

4/1/2019

[EDIT: April Fools...OR IS IT?]

I've been consulting with THE TEAM, and after months of planning, I'm happy to announce our tentative schedule for the remainder of the year and forward (as far as we know it).

As always, these dates are subject to change, but this is the plan we'll be working on going forward.

March 1, 2019 - Cradle 6, Underlord (complete)

June 1, 2019 - Elder Empire delayed

August 1, 2019 - Cradle 7, Uncrowned

December 1, 2019 - Elder Empire delayed

March 1, 2020 - Cradle 8, Bloodfallen

June 1, 2020 - Traveler's Blade Trilogy 1, Daughters of the Wind

August 1, 2020 - Elder Empire delayed

September 1, 2020 - Cradle 9, Northstrider

December 1, 2020 - Elder Empire delayed

March 1, 2021 - Cradle 10, Nethergate

June 1, 2021 - New Series: I Reincarnated into an Online Game as a Healer

September 1, 2021 - Elder Empire delayed

December 1, 2021 - Cradle 11, Mazerunner

March 1, 2022 - Cradle 12, Breakingdawn

September 1, 2022 - Traveler's Blade Trilogy 2, All The Travelers Die

December 1, 2022 - Cradle 13, Slipperylip

February 1, 2036 - Earth invaded by slug-people.

September 1, 2079 - Elder Empire completed

It's a rough plan, but this is the goal we've set ourselves. Personally, I'm optimistic we can make it.

-Will

77 Comments

Ravi

4/1/2019 02:50:43 pm

I for one am most excited for the isekai book.

Julius

4/1/2019 03:05:21 pm

Ravi from PAX unplugged? I'm also excited for the isekai book. lol

Avinash

4/5/2019 01:01:36 am

@ravi
भइया हिंदुस्तानी हो क्या??

totally not a person that happens to like manipulating puppets in a discord that happens to belong to Andrew Rowe, the author of all books that currently exist throughout all realities

4/1/2019 02:51:27 pm

I approve

Vorstus

4/1/2019 02:53:37 pm

You had me going there at the beginning, but let's be real, the slug people are getting here no later than 2025.

Josh

4/1/2019 02:54:17 pm

Haha very funny. Stick to your day job funny man. This guy...

Luke Chmilenko

4/1/2019 02:54:56 pm

[Hype Intensifies]

This is the first time I've seen some of the titles for the forthcoming books. I am super excited!!!

Marvin

4/1/2019 02:57:13 pm

I was hyped until I saw the title slipperylip for Cradle and just assumed this list is April Fool’s. I hope it is not because I am really waiting on Uncrowned. You have picked up excitement to me in these last two Cradle books.

Devin Rogers

4/1/2019 03:10:05 pm

See.. with how much of a troll you can be Will. I just know, that some of these dates are legit.. now my anxiousness for a new book is gonna start popping up around all these dates.

PumpkinVision

4/1/2019 03:13:55 pm

Very exciting!

I think it's going to be hard to distinguish all those Elder Empire books when they all have the same title.

Brian Lindauer

4/1/2019 03:18:57 pm

Sigh. And I was really hoping for your take on Breaking Dawn...

Skeptical

4/1/2019 03:42:12 pm

Ah, finally! Will's breaking into the harem fantasy genre with that reincarnation novel, because you know those healers are always surrounded by all those stronk girls.

Brian R Cody

4/1/2019 03:44:19 pm

Ah I see you are pulling a Patrick Rothfuss move for Elder Empire... Clever...

Rogue 9

4/1/2019 08:06:07 pm

I thought it was a G.R.R.M. move

Dustin

4/1/2019 08:38:15 pm

Realistically speaking it's been done by so many authors it's a little ridiculous. I think GRRM is just the most high profile one nin recent times.

Cory H Altman

4/2/2019 04:08:44 am

Hardly. Patrick cannot keep one series going. Will has been juggling way more than that and putting out plenty of books. Prolific.

Madeline

4/10/2019 07:02:06 am

Possibly late to the party but I just noticed this comment.

There is one big, glaring difference between Will and Patrick Rothfuss, and it makes a world of difference in my opinions of the two of them. Will has two storylines that are waiting for the next book, and he is giving fans what they want by releasing books for the series fans clamor for more (Will, my mother still says she'll make you a quilt if you release another Cradle book next) rather than finishing Elder Empire, which, while good, isn't nearly as addictive as Cradle.

Patrick Rothfuss has one storyline, which fans are dying to see continue. And he pulls gimmicky stunts like "lol donate to charity and watch my fans be unhappy that I'm playing video games instead of writing the last book" stunts. That is not prioritizing the series that fans would rather see continue next, that is opening yourself up to money from trolls who take pleasure in watching your fans suffer, and it is why I am not disgusted by Will's decision to focus on Cradle like I am by Rothfuss's cruel trolling. (Can you tell I'm still ticked off by that stunt even though it was years ago?)

Cool Person

4/1/2019 03:54:44 pm

just one thing... is the uncrowned release date real? if you answer yes, I'll let you into my slug-proof bunker. if your lucky, I may even let you do crochet with me.

Nikk B

4/2/2019 09:12:03 am

Ha! If the Uncrowned release date is real and you let me read an early copy/allow me to be an advanced reader, I will let you into my salt mines! Even more slug-proof than a slug-proof bunker! Which, coincidentally, is stock full of OREOS! And milk to dunk said Oreos in. And strange voices that call out from the dark corners...

Arrddvark

4/2/2019 09:17:56 pm

HA!! If the uncrowned release date is real, I will turn you into a regenerating Oreo surrounded by a salty nebula so that you can eat yourself without getting hurt by yourself or slugs

4/1/2019 04:08:09 pm

this is a reply to the comment chain that me, Sword Immortal Darknoth, and Avinash had going on the previous comment.
2: yeah, that does make sense. so u think dreadgods are great disaster?
5: remeber line that eithan said 'only the bravest bacteria would dare invade his body' or something like that? along with part where he didn't care that he was possibly drinking poisoin? those imply that body being reforged in soulfire does grant protection to poisoin. aslo, sage would have seen poisin aura with copper sight. besides, I would think that by the time he notices poisoin in his body, he would have enough time to get a pill for it? if he has pills for regrowing arms, then he has to have pills for poisin antidotes. also, why can i not spell poison?
7: what are those paths? I haven't heard of them.

4/1/2019 08:10:22 pm

Poison

4/4/2019 08:03:29 am

@cool person
As I said before
What we know about the sages death is what yerin believe she saw
Since the sage might have been advancing or ascending instead of sleeping.
It's also possible that the weapon used was something else than poison , like some exotic weapon like the hunger binding or it just might have been a lord level or higher poison
If the poison was lord or higher level then it would be effective on him
Since even monarchs can be harmed by various methods/weapons
For all we know it might have been a missing abidan weapon that suriels presence mentioned.
7.Sha miaras path is inherited/inheritance
8.jai chens path is a mutated one

4/4/2019 08:17:49 am

@cool person
Yes I do think that the rising of all 4 dreadgods was the disaster
After all they killed a generation of monarchs so more than 8 monarchs(since a lot of clans would have been wiped out or degraded like the ones in the valley) fought and were killed
And no records of that time survived
That does sound like a pretty big disaster

4/4/2019 01:43:37 pm

if it was a weapon of lord level or higher, than how were jades able to activate it? it seems like all weapons with bindings require you to be at least that level to use them. example: harmony axe.

4/5/2019 01:06:06 am

@cool person
Yes conventional weapons do
But poison do not
And unique/exotic weapons might be usable
Example:Like Lindon was able to use the hunger binding to kill a gold

Alex

4/23/2019 07:04:44 pm

Will has said explicitly that the Sage's death by a handful of Jades was supposed to be an extremely weird scenario that was SUPPOSED to make everyone reading go "Huh? How the hell did that happen?" It wasn't meant to be an ambiguous death at all, it was supposed to be impossible... Will just didn't hammer that idea home enough is all. Plus Yerrin isn't the most trustworthy narrator in this instance since she didn't see it happen.

Moe

4/28/2019 05:48:08 am

I agree. he also might have been previously injured and recuperating / seeking treatment at HGS, potentially in the labyrinth( hypothetically looking for something for yerin's bloodshadow. you can almost rule out assasination buy a large established force as no credit was claimed. you have to wonder if the local monarch was aware when it happened. it's very strange than no one knew about the sages passing, when everyone knew about the monarchs death, even taking into account the stage difference

Jeremiah

4/1/2019 04:17:52 pm

Waiting for OKAK...

Emily

4/1/2019 04:33:50 pm

Haha yeah, I do appreciate the acknowledgement of the delays tho.

4/1/2019 04:31:04 pm

1. Pls confirm this isn’t another April fools
2. I love learning all the (expected) titles

Emmanuel

4/1/2019 05:32:58 pm

All hail our lords THE SLUG PEOPLE!!!

Sword Immortal Darknorth

4/1/2019 05:49:10 pm

And here I was hoping you'd finally acknowledge your true literary passion: writing erotica.

4/1/2019 08:44:58 pm

I'm pretty sure he is with "I Reincarnated into an Online Game as a Healer" coming out. I'd say 4 out of 5 isekai stories are ecchi harem type while 2 out of 5 are outright raunch fests.

Ethan R.

4/1/2019 06:18:52 pm

That's not that funny some of us may have forgot that it is April 1st today and got excited and then had a big let down when it just wasn't adding up.

Nate

4/1/2019 06:48:52 pm

No joke, I bet Will could pull off an isekai.

Chicknbiscut

4/1/2019 07:00:59 pm

I was excited until, slipperylips and I knew. Will, wasn't capable of this level of awesomeness.

Diego

4/1/2019 07:18:11 pm

I wonder if the Slug people are trolls? If so it may not be so different, heck anythings better than humanity leading itself. Who ever thought that was a good idea?

A Stranger Passing By

4/1/2019 07:35:08 pm

Let's be real making a book in 2079? By that time probably the people forgot about them.

Adrien

4/3/2019 06:17:23 pm

Yeah, everything will be direct idea projections. Instead of reading you just plug your brain directly into Will's, where he projects his imagination directly into your brain.

4/4/2019 01:45:06 pm

now I cant wait for 2079.

4/1/2019 08:38:38 pm

I'm anxiously awaiting Slipperylip.

Count De Monet

4/1/2019 08:52:31 pm

Hmm, does Lindon grow a pornstach in Cradle 13?

Dustib

4/2/2019 09:52:06 pm

I think he would have to grow the pornstach in Cradle 12 and then have it be destroyed in some fight or freak accident towards the end for the set up of Slipperylip.

Tempest Slug

4/1/2019 10:45:57 pm

The Elder Empire ending punch-line caused a full laugh-out-loud moment! Well played.

steelcondor

4/1/2019 11:16:09 pm

Please let the at least the travelers gate stuff be real.

Penelope27

4/2/2019 06:09:13 am

You mean there might not be a new Traveler's Gate?

Jaeger

4/2/2019 10:13:38 am

What’s Bloodfallen? Also I get this is jokes but idk how much of it is jokes and it hurts. Lol

4/2/2019 10:20:08 am

Oh it’s the title of Cradle 8 not a separate book series! never mind! Also is anything here real? Am I real? What Iteration is this? AAAAAAH

4/3/2019 10:10:53 am

None of anything is not unreal!

I assume the joke is real (Elder Empire is delayed and will be delayed a while, obviously 2079 is not real and a joke)
Uncrowned sounds real as the next title for Cradle
Bloodfallen might be real (I think this is also the name of an anime or an anime character.. Not sure but the name seems familiar)
Daughters of the Wind sounds real (maybe not a Trilogy? Maybe the title of the next Travelers Blade book? )
Northstrider is the name of a Monarch in Cradle, so I assume this is a real title
Nethergate is an old RPG Video Game (there was a remake on Steam)
I Reincarnated into an Online Game as a Healer is a joke/gag. This is a popular basis for lots of manga/anime in Japan- Dying or somehow entering an online game where you are stuck as a character in the game. A popular manga and anime named 'That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime' just finished Season 1 (and is worth watching!) and there are spin-off novels like 'I was reincarnated into a Harem Game as a Villain'
Mazerunner is the name of a few books and a movie (or two?)
Breakingdawn is the name of a Twilight Book (And a movie, and.. *Gets stabbed by an arrow*)
Slipperylip is a fake name (in this dimension anyway)
And the Earth being invaded by slug people. That is real

manty05

4/4/2019 05:25:14 am

Nethergate was also the name of the largest entrance into the labyrinth in the Sacred Valley

4/4/2019 08:08:52 am

Nethergate is the biggest entrance to labyrinth and it's located in sacred valley
And iam pretty sure Lindon will enter it once so it might very well be the true name
Also the dolls are called daughters of the wind.
So this also rings true

4/9/2019 02:31:09 pm

@Nikk B

You're probably thinking of Shalltear Bloodfallen from the Overlord series.

Rigel the 10th

4/3/2019 10:31:14 am

So when you, Will, say "Slug People" are you refering to the Farscape Hynerions?

Scott Pike

4/3/2019 12:33:06 pm

You had me believing this list was real until mazerunner.

Steve K

4/3/2019 08:02:51 pm

I assume Mazerunner is just a placeholder. To be honest I am trying to completely optimistic about the whole schedule because I want it to be true!

4/3/2019 08:04:46 pm

Well maybe not the slug people thing, that would be bad.

4/4/2019 06:28:41 am

The ironic thing is that in the context of the story (Lindon wants to save Sacred Valley from a Dreadgod attack, there are many entrances to the labyrinth that attracts the Dreadgods in Sacred Valley, the Nethergate is a location in Sacred Valley related to a labyrinth entrance, Lindon is probably quite a few books away from advancing to the point where he could save Sacred Valley from the Dreadgods), having a book 11, Mazerunner (they have to find something in the labyrinth to fight the Dreadgods) immediately after a book 10, Nethergate, (they have to get to the Nethergate in Sacred Valley before the Red Moon Hall Monarch) is actually a plausible sequence of events given that they just hit Underlord in book 6. Maybe they will be Archlords by book 9? Possibly? Which would mean at the most they'd be Heralds by Books 10 and 11, and in need of labyrinth weapons. Maybe Lindon needs a Herald level source of hunger madra to advance his arm, and that forces them into the labyrinth.

4/4/2019 08:11:30 am

@madeline
They would be archlord in the book after uncrowned
Remember the rule that stated that u can advance in between the competition.

4/4/2019 08:23:01 am

That herald hunger madras source sounds plausible

Some guy

4/4/2019 01:02:09 am

Somehow the Isekai book, Mazerunner, and Breakingdawn didn't ring the alarms but Slipperylip did. I feel silly.

BlackMage

4/4/2019 05:21:27 am

No way the slug people are going to get to invade earth. Our CAT OVERLORDS will never permit that (unless they bring lots of catnip).

4/8/2019 02:12:12 pm

No amount of catnip will defeat my CAT JUDGE, judge number 008-the once who is cute.

Adrien Agreste

4/4/2019 02:15:21 pm

Will, I want to ask you a few questions so I've been chanting your name in the mirror like it says on your Amazon profile, only you haven't been showing up for me. Please help me debug, thanks.

~Adrien Agreste.

Yin

4/4/2019 02:42:44 pm

YES! Thank you for putting this up! Now I have a relative time-frame in mind for Cradle. I've been drifting through an endless sea of uncertainty before this blog post. This is the search light in the mist, the North star in the sky that will guide my way!

4/4/2019 02:45:48 pm

But this is just a delusion created by the thirst. I am once again aimlessly drifting in uncertainty.

Black March

4/4/2019 04:08:52 pm

Soooo this may be a stretch but Bloodfallen is the last name of a character from an anime. The character is called Shalltear Bloodfallen, and the title of the anime is OVERLORD.... coincidence or is Master Wight back to his good old trolling games. If I did read too much into this, please feel free to pretend it was your idea the whole time Will lol.

Martin

4/5/2019 01:37:57 am

I hope so much that the Uncrowned book release date is as close to real date as possible. It doesn't seems too far so it fills me full of positive anticipation :-)

Peter Zandvliet

4/24/2019 08:47:39 am

I'm hoping he pushed it back 3 months in order to do a surprise May release.

Assassin

4/5/2019 11:55:01 pm

*Growls in fustration
This better be real!
If not....

Aaron

4/5/2019 11:57:11 pm

I laughed when I read "The earth is invaded by slug people".

OmegaRed

4/10/2019 07:19:48 am

I wonder if The Winds of Winter will be out before the slug-people invade? In fact, that might be the impetus for the invasion, the slug-people are like "We're tired of waiting, George R will tell us how it ends or we frag the Earth!" Next time anyone runs into GRRM tell him he is endangering the Earth.

Matt B

4/11/2019 07:40:05 am

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit, but I haven't read through a book series in almost two years (had a baby and my spare time has been dominated by Final Fantasy video games). I stumbled upon the Cradle Series as a recommendation on GoodReads and ... with insatiable remnant arm hunger I devoured Unsouled - Underlord in the past 2 weeks! I'm sad I'll have to wait until the next one, but meanwhile it looks like I'll just have to taste some of that Elder Empire!! Thanks so much Will for creating Cradle. I haven't been this excited about a fantasy series since my loner 13 year old self stumbled about the Wishsong of Shannara in my middle school library two decades ago :)

Jacob Santos

4/11/2019 05:13:02 pm

Admit it. Brandon Sanderson will complete the elder empire when you die in 100 years.

4/24/2019 08:46:25 am

Cradle Nethergate sounds like it might be a little sh*tty if you are not careful.

Also I'm dissapointed you didn't call the last one Cradle: Grave. Was it too on the nose?

Random aside: I don't think you've done the book trope of saying some form of "No plan survives contact with the Enemy" yet have you? Are we going to get that next book? I kind of thought it was a fantasy book requirement.

Nope

5/13/2019 06:47:05 pm

The next cradles on my birthday yay

SwagMatt

6/10/2019 06:46:19 pm

Love the cradle series. Just finished binging 1 through 6 in 3 days. Cannot wait for another one in August. I might even reread the series after just finishing it because I liked the world so much. I cannot wait to see the orthos storyline.

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