Skysworn going up early!

9/30/2017

It's up! Get Skysworn here!

...if you're on Amazon.com! I don't know about other domains, sorry!

I was sitting around, and I had it ready to go, so I figured...why wait for midnight?

I uploaded Skysworn just a few minutes ago! Someone let me know when it goes live (I'm checking, but I'm sure you'll find it before I do), and I'll post a link whenever it's up!

...also, don't skip Chapter 1. There was another scene in the chapter that I was going to post tonight, but instead I uploaded the book. It's an important scene, so I didn't want you to miss it.

That's it! Enjoy!

-Will

253 Comments

roddan93

9/30/2017 05:18:49 pm

Damnit Will. Now I won't get any sleep tonight while I wait for the book!

13-year old

9/30/2017 05:18:49 pm

Can't wait to read it! Had to commandeer my mom's phone for this!

Eithan

9/30/2017 05:18:57 pm

Thanks so much Will!

The Champ

9/30/2017 05:21:08 pm

Great. Now i have to spend all night waiting and then i have to read it. You're evil Will. Evil.

Eddie Munster

9/30/2017 05:39:40 pm

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

A Flaming Turtle

9/30/2017 05:40:40 pm

I want to know about my stolen Disciple already!

Ectheledhel

9/30/2017 05:47:23 pm

The refresh spamming of amazon begins....

Thanks Will!

Eddie Munster

9/30/2017 05:54:18 pm

Exactly 😂😂😂

NinJosh

9/30/2017 05:59:54 pm

Just keep waiting, just keep waiting, just keep- WAIT IT IS OUT NOW?!?

Amazon checks it, cries inside, starts spamming refresh 😂

Alex

9/30/2017 05:48:24 pm

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes join the Discord will yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YEEEERERESSSSSSS

Josh

9/30/2017 05:48:37 pm

Is it posted on amazon yet? I don't see it....

Potatolord2000

9/30/2017 05:53:51 pm

Me neither... It seems that the Lord Amazon is being rather stingy towards our savior...

Lashan

9/30/2017 05:57:48 pm

Thank you Will! Now we all need to recommend this series to 2 more friends and acquaintances to make it up to Will!!!

Bryan

9/30/2017 05:59:58 pm

Sweet!

But damn it man, I have to work tomorrow!

Guess it'll be another book hangover day....

HAL

9/30/2017 06:02:44 pm

GLORIOUS

Master_tonberry

9/30/2017 06:03:17 pm

Nothing yet, but keeping an eye out

Crash

9/30/2017 06:05:21 pm

Yes! It's like Christmas but without the creapy fat guy in the red velour jumpsuit

Will link

9/30/2017 10:18:32 pm

I can't hear or read the word "velour" without thinking of Captain Zapp Brannigan.

13-year old

10/3/2017 03:14:52 pm

You lost me with that comment.

Olukaosky

9/30/2017 06:08:22 pm

Already up on Amazon UK

Ectheledhel

9/30/2017 06:10:27 pm

Up on Amazon AU but keeps telling me I can't have it due to copyright restrictions in Australia! WAHHHH!!!!!!

Will link

9/30/2017 10:17:56 pm

That's supposed to fix itself. It SHOULD just be a consequence of the page not being fully constructed yet.

Because I do, of course, own the copyright in all regions.

Ectheledhel

10/1/2017 01:36:51 am

Think it may have been something to do with myself clicking on it too early. Resolved the issue by removing my address field.

Book completed. *sighs happily*

HAL

9/30/2017 06:11:37 pm

It's up!

Ryan

9/30/2017 06:12:21 pm

I just bought it!!!!!!

alex

9/30/2017 06:14:48 pm

It's up now.

Alex

10/1/2017 03:13:54 pm

For the last time... IM ALEX! LEAVE ME ALONE IMPOSTER

Josh

9/30/2017 06:18:02 pm

Still nothing amazon AU...

Remnant groupie

9/30/2017 06:19:53 pm

oh i'm so excited can't wait. I took my nap, reading a will eternal for now to pass the time. eww so exciting can't imagine how will feels

Will link

9/30/2017 10:17:09 pm

Nauseous and incredibly nervous.

Putting up a new book is always nerve-wracking.

Arjun

9/30/2017 06:26:23 pm

Amazon US link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0762YQ2H8/

Can’t wait to read it now!

Remnant Groupie

9/30/2017 06:26:35 pm

I have it i have it amazon kindle unlimited (whatever). muhahahaha. starting to read right now. 9:26pm est

James L. Quinley

9/30/2017 06:28:37 pm

It's up. Just bought it.

Garbagiel the Raccoon

9/30/2017 07:13:50 pm

Thanks Will! Now to find a place where I won't be disturbed until I'm done...

John

9/30/2017 08:13:27 pm

Acquired!! Can't wait to dig in!

Nathan

9/30/2017 08:25:17 pm

I know there was a thing where the day that people bought it mattered in terms of month. Would it be best for you if we bought it tomorrow? (or twice :) )

Book Monster

9/30/2017 08:52:08 pm

So i just finished it....WILL WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING!?

Josh

10/1/2017 04:07:29 pm

Sooo, got any of them ghost waters? 😏😬😂😅

nikagomi

9/30/2017 09:13:38 pm

Got it!

That One Guy

9/30/2017 09:19:43 pm

It was fantastic. I really appreciate the contrast between steady training and buildup we've had for the past few books, compared with the severely upped ante for this one.

I'm just annoyed I'm going to have to wait for the next Iteration.

Citino

9/30/2017 09:59:51 pm

Finished it, and it was just as good as always!

Have to say I'm really looking forward to learning more about the new girl.

Samuel

9/30/2017 10:19:49 pm

Well, that was an action packed book! So much was answered, so why do I have even more questions then when I started? Help me, Will!

Will link

9/30/2017 10:30:22 pm

If I answered all your questions, you'd leave me. And I need you to stick around! Please don't say you're going out for cigarettes and then never return!

Diego

10/23/2017 08:39:26 am

I cant smoke. It'll send me straight to the hospital. Does this mean ull answer my questions? :P

Ryan

9/30/2017 11:42:10 pm

Just finished it!!! It was could possibly be better than Blackflame and I don’t think my poor heart can take waiting for Ghostwater to come out... It better be soon Will or else I’ll bring the wrath of the Dreadgods onto you. But until then I’ll have to be satisfied by rereading it several dozen times.

Ellija

10/1/2017 01:36:28 am

So excited it's dling right now. Just want to say thanks in advanced for another amazing book.

Nitin

10/1/2017 02:09:44 am

SPOILER!!

Somewhere after Black flame I made the claim that Ozriel is related to Arelius family. I even asked WIll to give his Ozriel's name before he became Ozriel;)

Hot Damn.

Josh

10/1/2017 04:08:58 pm

Noice

Diego

10/15/2017 08:09:37 pm

I acknowledge this point to you. I also thought of it, but since you commented on it I din't see a reason to repeat.

*On an off -note: I recently also thought Valinhall might be a fragment of Asylum.

mason jones

10/1/2017 03:13:46 am

Curious about the next title already! Other title's were all self explanatory. Going to reread it again but have I missed something here or is it a mystery?
As in we had a grasp of what it centred on. unsouled, soulsmith, blackflame, skysworn. Any hints towards Ghostwater?

Cameron Ove

10/1/2017 04:07:30 pm

Read the last report in the book. Last two paragraphs...#solidhint

Mason Jones

10/2/2017 02:17:05 am

ive reread that a few times, don't want to post any spoilers (not one of those guys), but i know which one is waking or should say next to awaken. guessing thats the next threat but is Ghostwater to do with that? Read a theory about Northstrider being in the next one, that would be cool. For some reason i really want him to be a dick haha

Josh

10/1/2017 04:11:54 pm

SPOILERS

(Don't keep looking, duh)

I'm pretty sure in the vision, when suriel brought Lincon underwater, that has to do with what is coming

Diego

10/23/2017 08:42:01 am

My question is why the Akura clan is keeping Sacred valley under the wraps and hidden. I'm guessing it must have something to do with the labryanth near heavens glory, but only will knows

Sage of the Impatient Reader

10/1/2017 03:14:34 am

Excellent book. A few mysteries explained, a couple excellent action scenes. The real question is: How long til Ghostwater?

Best moments (keeping it vague to avoid spoilers)
"Nice Try"
Linden's (entirely sincere) version of "2nd is just the first loser"
What Jai Chen thinks the last time we see her.

Josh

10/1/2017 04:13:31 pm

Follow up questions for above^

2nd is the first loser? Where's that?

Jai's success moment? Or the random end of chapter comment?

Save of the Impatient Reader

10/2/2017 08:19:12 pm

Was trying to be as vague as possible to avoid spoilers.

Stop reading now if you don't want to see any

Lindon's version of 2nd is just the 1st loser:
"They ranked you the 24th most powerful lowgold in the Empire, do you know what that means?"
"It means there's twenty three who are ahead of me"

Last time we see Jai:
"They would never see Lindon again", as they start heading for Lindon's home.

Also forget to mention Eithan's painting at the beginning. No wonder the Skysworn head was tired of dealing with him.

Shells-are-important

10/1/2017 05:44:45 am

HE NEEDS A SHELL!!!!!!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Lindon

10/1/2017 12:06:11 pm

Right!?

Josh

10/1/2017 04:14:02 pm

Maybe the armor he might get? 🤷‍♂️🤔

Kerai

10/16/2017 07:07:19 am

The only way he could get the shell is if he took in Ortho's Remnant

Ellija

10/1/2017 06:37:40 am

Just finished reading it and I have to say this is absolutely my favorite book in the series so far. I feel like you've managed to really distill that moment of horizons broadening that is one of the things that keeps me coming back to your works again and again. Keep up that awesome work Will!

Deadnettle

10/1/2017 07:01:23 am

Absolutely wonderful. I was up until 4 reading Skysworn last night after being alerted that it was available. Now I must shambles through my responsibilities for the day in a mindless fugue. I can't wait until OKAK!

KrisWoodsman

10/1/2017 07:05:47 am

Finally have a chance to start it. I was way too tired to enjoy it last night so I went to bed. Something like this should be savored!

Currently Skysworn:

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

#1 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths & Legends > Asian
#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths & Legends > Asian
#1 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Coming of Age

Mahfuz

10/1/2017 07:22:34 am

That scene where Othos corners Lindon about his decisions *_*
MAJOR Travelers Gate flashbacks.
Amazing work as always, Will!

Josh

10/1/2017 04:15:17 pm

Lol, I see it.

The world's fastest reader

10/1/2017 07:32:02 am

I am done reading skysworn. when is the next book coming out?

Sean K

10/1/2017 07:52:34 am

WOOT! Excellent job! Everyone give Will a hand (although maybe Lindon needs it more?)

Josh

10/1/2017 04:16:21 pm

._.

SPOILERS

DUDE
...too soon

Also, seen RWBY?

Chris

10/1/2017 08:17:18 am

You sir are a gem! I was lying awake at 11:00 last night just laying in the dark, lonely and bored as the kids and wife were asleep. I couldn't turn on the tv in the bedroom, I'd wake up the wife. I didn't want to go downstairs and turn on the tv in the living room, my kids are like heat seeking missiles and come down anytime, day or night, and they needed their rest. I thought to myself, just wait an hour, buy the book, it will be glorious, just be patient. On a whim I checked the blog, don't know why, just read some comments or whatever, it will give me something to do, and...JOY GASM, the book is already uploaded! 2 minutes and I was into the first chapter like a pig in slop. It's at this point the story takes a sad turn. I decided I needed to re-read blackflame, just to brush up you know, things weren't as crisp in my memory as I thought. This is where the story takes a happy turn (trying to be a glass half full kind of guy)! So I start blackflame, and I come to the realization, hey, instead of getting to read one book by the infamous Will Wight, I get to read two!!!! I don't know if you understand the joy you bring to your readers Will. You sir, are a gem!

Chris

10/1/2017 08:54:25 am

Wanted to add, I had a very intense debate with myself:
1. finish reading echo of things to come. This option finished in a distant 3rd. I'd compare it to me trying to run against Usain Bolt, it just wasn't competitive. I'm not into it, as I chose to lay in the dark opposed to reading it.
2. Read Echo until the core by P. Brett comes out and read that.
3. Put echo aside, get skysworn, and the core would just have to wait.

I went back and forth on which one I wanted first the core or skysworn, until my wife got frustrated and asked me "if you read the core, will you just be thinking about skysworn?" My answer "well yeah, I really want to read that book." She continued "if you read skysworn will you be thinking about the core?" I paused thinking hard, "...no, not at all. Wow thanks love!" She has a way of putting things in perspective for me. It made me realize something important. In past comments I've wrote Will Wight was one of my top 3 authors, or written another way my 3rd favorite behind P. Brett and Jim Butcher. Patrick rothfuss was an extremely close 4th and an obscure court Elynn and the falcon books 5th. I don't know when it changed, it just happened organically, but I realized my order had changed. The realization, you are hands down my favorite author. Unquestionably. I've loved every single book you've written, no matter what the story was about. It doesn't have anything to do with waiting on books by these other authors as I'm a patient man, your stories just draw me in more than any other writer out there. Your books are the only ones I re-read, the ones I am most impatient for, and the ones that I just plain love to read. I write these extremely long winded posts ultimately just to say thank you. My thanks are all I can offer you (other than buying the books with legal tender of course) for all the enjoyment I get from time spent reading your work. I know you write to make a living, but I like to think you also care about your fan base, at least it seems that way, and as a fan, again I thank you.

Gene

10/1/2017 08:58:40 am

Will, wanted to say thanks. Hope your year rocks and the writing continues to flow.

Scott

10/1/2017 09:35:58 am

Man that was nice. I thought you couldn't possibly top Blackflame, but man, that was great. Non-stop reading of a new book for a few hours is something you never get tired of.

SPOILER WARNING:
The one, and only one thing I was disappointed about was that we didn't get a second Abidan scene. I was kind of looking forward to Suriel's/Makiel's reactions, but ah well, C'est la vie.

Hoping for next book:
Sacred Valley scene
Ozriel appearance
Lindon High/True gold advancement.
Learning more about Monarchs
Maybe another Eithan Fight Scene? The last one was AWESOME

Feel free not to answer this Will, but is Herald the only stage between Archlord and Monarch, or is there another? (Prince/Princess?)
Also, they described the head of the cult as being a Overlord Sage, but I had previously thought that to be a Sage, you had to be a Archlord and "stand out" in some way.
Looking forward to Ghostwater!

Samuel

10/1/2017 12:11:04 pm

I believe they said there was an Overlord, and the Sage of Red Faith.

Scott

10/1/2017 01:00:30 pm

As separate entities? My question was whether or not it was possible to become a Sage a or a version of a Sage at the Overlord Stage.

Hayden Ainsworth

10/1/2017 06:27:58 pm

A sage is another name for an Archlord. They are supposed to be the most powerful Archlords. At least that is what I understood from Skysworn.

Samuel

10/2/2017 05:14:27 am

Yes, they were described as separate entities.

“... as well as at least one Overlord.” The muttering intensified. “And, supposedly, the Sage of Red Faith.”

It might be possible to do what you are saying, might not, but the Sage and Overlord are seperate entities.

josh

10/5/2017 04:29:42 pm

what are the levels above Overlord

Walter

10/1/2017 11:43:39 am

SO GOOD!... :( I'm sad I finished it already!! It seemed short, but I'm sure that's because I was burning to finish it! Time to read it immediately again! Can't stop won't stop-- please keep going!

Kaileonis

10/1/2017 12:01:13 pm

So he started as an Unsouled, then he turned into a Soulsmith: Iron, then he gained the path of Blackflame, and then...

(Spoiler)

... he joined up Skysworn. I'm interested to know if Ghostwater is a path, a sect, a clan, an organization, or Ghostwater Sage.....

(More spoilers)
...or an organization outside Abidan which they will form? Or has already formed?

Oooooh. Can't wait!! Like Lindon, Yerin , and Mercy I just kept getting drawn Iin to the world which is Cradle!

Mason Jones

10/1/2017 02:41:43 pm

haha this is killing me too, sounds like a place to me though either that or a soulsmithing path??

Josh

10/1/2017 04:21:13 pm

SPOILERS

The origination thing sounds legit

Bigfoot

10/2/2017 08:59:13 am

WARNIBG SPOILERS

Maybe it's in reference to his new hand AND THE POWER HE GAISB FROM IT

Kaileonis

10/2/2017 06:31:09 pm

Oh yeah!! That's right! As I was reading I thought he'll make his hand into his very own drudge as well.

It'll be an interesting ride..

I hope he don't end it at a cliffhanger like Dresden.

manty05

10/5/2017 07:37:02 am

Good point, Ghostwater could also be a binding or an elixir.

Kerai

10/16/2017 07:10:52 am

My guess is it's an ingredient for soulfire

Tame Curtsy

10/1/2017 12:11:05 pm

Great read, great job, Will. Your disarming prose is sure to charm your audience. You deserve to take a nice long break and relish in another book well-written.
...
...
...
Done yet?

On a related note, the only problem in the book is saying Ghostwater is coming out soon. If you said "Ghostwater Coming Out... Eventually" I'd accept it, but "soon" raises our hopes too much.

Mason Jones

10/1/2017 02:45:48 pm

he put this order up;

1) Of Kings and Killers / Of Killers and Kings
2.) City of Light audiobook (may be out before OKAK, depending on how long it takes me to finish those books)
3.) Cradle #5

considering his work rate id guess march for next cradle book that's 5 months but he also stated he wanted to rewrite/tune up the elder empire plus release new covers. could lengthen progress..

Cameron Ove

10/1/2017 04:13:57 pm

Will, I just want to say that you are absolutely my favorite author. I've read all your books and haven't been disappointed yet. Simon has been my favorite character so far, but, man, I really really like Lindon. Your stories are soooooooo good! I read Skysworn all in one day...don't do that often (I'm a slow reader). Loved every moment.

Thank you!!!

Coldsteel

10/1/2017 04:36:04 pm

Just an awesome book, Will. I couldn't put it down. It's hard to believe but each following book is better than the preceding one. You are really growing as an author as much as your characters are growing as sacred artists. I hope the book does really well because you certainly deserve it.

I loved the 'Orthos the Barbarian' quote. That was unexpectedly jarring and a great laugh.

I saw one minor issue at book loc 1864 where you have Linden forming a ball of blackflame between his palms. The issue there is that he only has one palm at that time.

So many answers in this book and so many new questions and problems for the next one. I really like the addition of the new team member as well. A very satisfying read and it will be a very long wait for the next one.

Kurt Ambrose, Necromancer Supreme link

10/1/2017 06:47:56 pm

I believe that I have worked out the proper series of rituals needed to clone Will Wight's brain and place it in a simulated world. I can then accelerate this world and thus get his clone brain to produce books at a faster pace. Just need to gather the needed reagents...

That guy

10/1/2017 07:02:51 pm

Loved the book! But in the progress bar it says that Lindon is True Gold, but he never went up. Did seeing what was in Ozriel's marble move him up or is it just a typo?

Nathan L

10/1/2017 07:19:02 pm

That was the progress on completing the book, not the rank Lindon has achieved, the two are not specifically related.

Brian S

10/1/2017 10:21:08 pm

I think it's extremely uncool and inconsiderate of people to post spoilers on the release thread of any book. It's also disrespectful to the author as it could possibly lead to less revenue for him.

Another guy

10/1/2017 10:31:22 pm

What is best in life?

Daniel young

10/2/2017 12:51:07 am

Crushing your enemies underfoot and smirking at the lamentions of their women?

...no?

...just me then huh? Ah well back to glorious conquest!

Maahn

10/2/2017 12:25:57 am

Another amazing addition to Cradle, thanks Will! You have successfully ruined my sleep schedule, as I saw this post as I was going to bed on Saturday and instead had to stay up and wait for it to show up on Amazon. Then I of course had to read some, then it was 5 am. Totally worth it though!

Daniel Young

10/2/2017 12:48:00 am

I had an odd thing happen to me. I purchased a copy of skysworn from the amazon kindle page and then I went and checked my kindle books and it wasn't there. Confused I then proceeded to check my order invoices and my back account only to find everything in order. Now since reading books is about as addictive as coccaine for me I then proceeded to get it on kindle unlimited and read the whole book in less than three hours go to sleep and then read it again. Now I was assuming that my digital copy I bought would show up at some point but it still hasn't so now I'm rather confused. I'm going to call amazon support later but I thought I'd ask if any of you have had similar issues in the past?

Tim

10/2/2017 03:13:08 am

We got now two new names for cultivation stages (Herald and Monarch)

12.Monarch
11.Herald???
10
9.
8.
7.
6.Sage
5.
4.
3.Lord
2.Gold
1.Primary Stages(Copper, Iron,Jade)

Tim

10/2/2017 03:16:57 am

I tihnk I got the ranking wrong(feel free to correct me)

8.Monarch
7.Herald???
6.
5.Sage
4.
3.Lord
2.Gold
1.Primary Stages(Copper, Iron,Jade)

Scott

10/2/2017 05:17:02 am

Quoting Will here "A Sage is an Archlord who has 'achieved something special'. It's actually easier to advance to the next stage than to become a Sage."

Bigfoot

10/3/2017 10:52:32 am

I think it goes copper iron, Jade, lowgold, high gold, true gold, underlord, overlord, archlord, sage, maybe something between, herald, monarch

Udhay

10/6/2017 11:27:18 pm

I think there definitely are stages between herald and monarch as the guardian remnants at the gate of the akura stronghold were herald level it would be extremely weird if the guards of the place were just a level lower than the ruler. I personally think herald is the stage after Archlord.

Lance

10/8/2017 07:28:37 am

Here's the full list we have as of now - there might be stages between the lords and heralds and between the heralds and monarch.

13. Ascended beyond cradle
12. Monarch
(potential unnamed stages)
11. Possibly Herald?
(potential unnamed stages)
10. Arch Lord (Of which the most powerful are called Sages)
9. Over Lord
8. Under Lord
7. True Gold
6. High Gold
5. Low Gold
4. Jade
3. Iron
2. Copper
1. Foundation

Scott

10/8/2017 12:53:39 pm

Lance, I think you're correct on every stage except the last. I remember (not exactly where) that on this blog, Will at one point said that the Sword Sage could have ascended beyond Cradle, if he had wanted to. So while Monarch may be the highest power level one can reach while on Cradle, I think you can leave Cradle earlier if you want to/think you're ready. Perhaps you go to different new locations when you ascend depending on your Cradle advancement level. Good job all the same.

Also, it seems likely to me that, going with the theme of three ranks to a set, and how several of the Akura family seem to not be Monarchs, there is likely to be a Prince/Princess stage between Herald and Monarch. It also just sounds better to go from an Heir to a Monarch than a Herald to a Monarch.

Tim

10/8/2017 01:55:14 pm

You are correct, Scott. Will once said that you don't have to have reached the stage of Northstrider Eight Man Empire, and the queen have reached to ascend.
I don't know if he really said that you could do so already as a Sage, but certainly before you've become a "Monarch".

Scott

10/8/2017 02:01:02 pm

I remember it was specifically referred to as the Sword Sage that could ascend at based on his stage of advancement, not necessarily all Sages.

Dww

10/11/2017 04:40:20 am

"Sages are the most powerful archlords."
So sages are within the lord realm/rank by I'd say you can be an archlord without being a sage but all sages are archlord.

That would imply the rank of sage is gained for other reasons than just power.

Barbara

10/2/2017 03:15:06 am

I just finished it! It was great!! Now back to the agonising wait for the next one...

Lazy frog

10/2/2017 06:41:47 am

What do the items Lindon couldn't use do? You should write an alternative scene where he was allowed to use them... Pretty please?

Garbagiel the Raccoon

10/2/2017 07:32:15 am

It seems weird to me that Eithan's order to gather information on the Phoenix and its vassals, as well as repair and rebuild was the order that Cassius defied.
It might have been a hard order to give, but it certainly wasn't a stupid order. Information has often been the deciding factor on who will win a war. If even one of the Arelius clan managed to return with some knowledge about their enemies, it would probably have been worth it.

Madeline

10/3/2017 02:34:16 am

I think it was more a problem that they'd already been through a harrowing evacuation, and were looking at another in the near future, and Eithan wanted to throw them into this random task that is not anything to do with getting the clan to safety. Glory for house Arelius is good, but if it means that Arelius will largely cease to exist as a result of said glory... that might take it a bit too far. Eithan may have visions of ascending from Cradle with his chosen companions in the future and be on the right path to become an Over/Archlord and on, but that also blinds him to the fact that to people like Cassius who might never advance again, this life is what they have and jeopardizing it for no reason that they can see isn't something they are willing to do. If Eithan had been able to tell Cassius his source ("uh... so that Monarch says she'll save us now but I, the Patriarch of the Arelius clan, am expected to do her a favor at some point in the future, can we please start laying the groundwork for our clan not being stomped out of existence by a giant please") would go a long way towards giving the rest of the clan a tangible goal that he is working towards, rather than just Eithan spending massive quantities of money because he is Eithan.

Bceaser1

10/7/2017 06:52:54 am

Yeah... I agree. he even admits himself it one of his failings. To beFrank from Cassius's perspective. his people came first. Especially since he wouldn't provide no more than a Vague reason than "information"for sending his people back out toward the slaughter. Yeah...he is going to have to trust Cassius a little more if he wants his absolute loyalty.

Jude

10/2/2017 08:21:44 am

Hey Will, big fan, loved the book, the first one to purchase the book and review it on Amazon.in
In the past month I've read all your works again. I don't remember the last time I was this excited about a book release, and I keep having these crazy visions about this series as an anime.
I'm a bit curious, why the sudden shift to Lindon having these "sullen, glowering" looks? Spoiling for a fight looks? I mean, in the last book he was this wide eyed, always looking, always absorbing information kinda guy.

Alpha reader

10/2/2017 09:18:18 am

Actually, if you read the previous books again, it's mentioned quite often that Lindon has a demeanor/look about him that makes people think he want's to fight or that he's scowling/glowering etc. Just off the top of my head, it's mentioned in the first few chapters of soulsmith.

ALPHA READER

10/2/2017 09:19:56 am

He's still a wide-eyed, always trying to learn information sort. It just happens that his face/frame says otherwise to people, which is why he has a lot of confrontations.

Scott

10/2/2017 10:46:22 am

While it probably is just their preconceived notions toward Blackflame's being evil, maybe the blackflame is starting to corrupt Lindon just a little bit? He's fought several strong enemies recently with it.

Jeff

10/2/2017 12:22:12 pm

I could be wrong, but I remember this being a thing in the first book, and that perhaps it just didn't come up in the 3rd book much (or at all) as he wasn't meeting that many new people for the first time who would have remarked on it.

In the first book I remember it's what got him in trouble a lot. His build and his general facial expression led people to believe he was always spoiling for a fight.

Now place him around the Skysworn "army" and trainees and you get first impressions from his peers again.

Khurram Baig

10/2/2017 08:50:37 am

You are the best (at least in KU). I can see marked improvements. You have what it takes to redefine the fantasy as well as self publishing scene.
- A fan from India.

someone

10/2/2017 10:22:50 am

hello

Lightsyde

10/2/2017 11:29:12 am

Well, I'm unhappy with the book will. If Lindon is going to lose an arm, it needs to feel like it's worth it. It just doesn't. Not at all. And what is up with Eithan? He wants the people beside him to walk to the end of the path with him, but it's fine if they lose a limb or two? So to Eithan, a Dreadgod's death is worth Lindon's life? I didn't mind the saving the world at-the-cost-of-each-other undertones because Lindon has a personal stake in it in "Unsouled", but if you're going with that theme long-term, I hope you can let me know in advance.
It feels like the antagonists in the book did an utterly fantastic job, but the protagonists fell far short in almost every way.

Jeff

10/2/2017 12:32:29 pm

I didn't have a problem with Lindon losing his arm. I have had this exact same problem you're having in 1-2 other stories I've read, but only because of the way it was handled.

In this case I wasn't bothered. In this world losing an arm doesn't hinder you as a scared artist for long and strong fighters with prosthetic limbs are quite common.

It's a bit like Luke losing his hand in Star Wars V. He gets a fully functional prosthetic so quickly and moves on. Here Lindon get's what's practically an upgrade and the downside is having to spend a few weeks learning to control it.

Diego

10/2/2017 03:02:07 pm

Doesn't really matter either way. Once he advances past a certain level he'll probably be able to regrow it anyways. It also teaches him not to be careless, he's been pretty lucky so far.

Jonathan

10/3/2017 10:24:39 am

Actually I had an issue with Lindon losing his arm at first, but the more I think about it, it seems rather logical that something like this was going to happen due to his carelessness. My biggest issue with this book is that it is basically transitional book, a filler to introduce more characters and set up for the continuation of the story. Also, it relegates, almost forces Lindon into a secondary position instead of being the main protagonist.

I say this is because it is now clear that Lindon cannot hope to reach the levels he needs to protect his home, in the time frame that he has. This means he is begging for others to do the protecting for him.

Lightsyde link

10/3/2017 02:10:05 pm

Lindon's main problem is that he is NEVER careless, which means Yerin would likely be a more exciting main character. Eithan forced that duel with Jai Long to continue, and stood by while his arm got taken off, for a concept which I've come to despise thoroughly in novels, "the greater good" - Eithan's version.

You're right about the transitional nature of the book, but I've never seen a great long-running book series without a transitional book, so I'm not gonna pick at that aspect of it.

Jonathan

10/3/2017 03:33:34 pm

I have to disagree with that statement. Lindon ALWAYS has a plan, but he is almost always careless. When his plans go awry, he jumps into things when he sees the option to gain Power as opposed to actually learning the sacred arts. Granted he has the incentive to get the Power, but the cost is usually higher than it could have been.

The issue I have with the transitional nature of the book is that there is really no progress made. I'm not saying it is not a good book, but you are left in more or less the same spot of progression as when you started the book.

Lindon:
Still Low Gold, although both cores now
Two arms, was a new one really worth it for the storyline?
Is now Skysworn

Yerin:
Still High Gold
Still has Blood Shadow, now has control
Is now Skysworn

Eithan:
Still Underlord, now not Patriarch

Mercy:
New person

Diego

10/6/2017 11:31:42 am

I agree with Jonathan. Lindon is very careless. He does usually have a plan, but he's always ignorant of half the variables he'll run into.
Take the duel he had in Heaven's glory. What possible point could that have had for him? Honor? He planned to leave as soon as possible and winning didn't get him anything but petty satisfaction.

The next one is when he tries to infiltrate the mines to steal pure scales from the Sandvipers. He didn't even take into consideration of the basic jade powers.

Another example is when he is burying the wasps at the very beginning. What would have happened if it was another clan member monitoring the arena? There are a million people in sacred valley. Split into 3 clans that's still a lot of people.

I'm not saying I don't understand. He's young and daring that's normal, but he is careless as well.

Subhadeep

10/2/2017 11:51:34 am

Outstanding novel will ! in my humble opinion the best one in cradle series yet.

Just finished it.

at the end i did feel a little bad for eithan though he had worked very hard obviously for the patriarch position.

Cheers !

Subhadeep

Charles Crapuchettes

10/2/2017 01:36:16 pm

May I suggest you make an author page on Amazon, so your fans can follow you and get notices of anything you publish?

Chris N

10/3/2017 04:04:06 pm

I believe he does have an author page on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Will-Wight/e/B00D9S1IMO/

Diego

10/2/2017 02:56:59 pm

Hey Will you said a Sage is an Archlord that had achieved something special. Are they still called Sages after they advance higher? Or is there a different name for each.

*I believe you hinted that Sages are people that can basically learned to travel between itereations.

*I know you won't answer, but it would be cool to know how Travelers in Amalgam advance to something similar to Underlord. My personal theory is that Simons mask is helping him advance, similar to how the half-silver ring help Lindon. Basically I think it's stretching the equivalent of his 'core'. Like strapping weights to your muscles to strengthen them.

Adarsh

10/2/2017 04:06:53 pm

Personally, I think that the mask is more akin to a chemical booster due to its extreme side effects, but I think that the fact that he has experienced such a deep connection to Valinhall may allow him to learn how to develop such a method on his own, or at least approach it. He may need to obtain more and varied powers from Valinhall in order to progress though, since each power could be considered a binding to Valinhall. Also, it was mentioned by Indirial that the more they use their powers the slower their chains rise+the longer they can call on their power+the stronger those powers become. So this process occurs even without the mask, though maybe at a slower pace even though we haven't seen enough evidence either way.

Chris

10/2/2017 06:32:44 pm

Actually unless I am very mistaken it is the opposite with the chains. The closer you are to Valinhall and the more powers you have the slower the chains LEAVE and the faster they rise. I think it is why Leah can't ever remember Indrial not having chains on his arm. Because the chains start there and Indrial has so many powers, and bound himself to Valinhall so much, that it takes an absurd amount of time for them to fully fade. That is just from memory though, so I may be wrong.

Diego

10/2/2017 06:55:46 pm

Chris is partly right I remember that is part of it as I remember. Kai said you could make the chains shrink and disappear with time, I think. Kind of reminds me of blockage Lindon gets from blackflame. I think Indrial never really stopped rested and fully made the chains disappear by paying his debts.

The chains basically grow when you accumulate debt to the house. I would assume there should be other ways to pay it back. I assume they disappear by themselves because simply by being a Traveler and having the connection you're helping stabilize Valinhall, thus paying your debt.

Will hasn't said much other ways to pay though. I assume Simon helping the House will have major factor to pay towards his chains in the next series.

Adarsh

10/2/2017 07:10:13 pm

Ok, so I may have not been clear enough. The chains do rise slower, but they also fall slower. Essentially your capacity to call on the powers of the house before incarnation increases the more you call upon the powers of Valinhall. I am not sure what effect "paying off debt" does though. I mean does giving a magic sword to the Eldest give Simon enough EXP to LVL up? Was Indirial so much faster than Simon(At the beginning of book 2) because the Eldest liked him more or because he was a higher level? Does the weakness from the mask come from the strain it places on your body by essentially boosting it to Incarnation level strength or from Valinhall trying to get its due? If Lindon went to Valinhall and earned the mask and steel, could his Bloodforged Iron body heal him from the weakness for after using the mask and steel? These are important questions that will reveal the meaning of life itself and i want answers!!!

Diego

10/2/2017 08:30:54 pm

I mean it reminded me of Lindon's blockage in a loose sense, as in he needed some down time or it's harmful. The bloodforged body shouldn't have anything to do stacking up debt in valinhall as they are completely different systems.

I assume if the chains rise slower and retreat slower then it means the house lets you borrow more as you've been a good customer. Similar to how a bank would willing lend someone with good credit.

Idk how Simon would level up really, or any traveler for that matter. We haven't truly seen anyone whom could go toe to toe with an incarnation without the aid of a boosting artifact or multiple allies. Maybe the King could have, but Ragnarus seems to kind of a cheat since all the artifacts are OP, plus the enhancements the King used against Simon would still sort of disqualify it.

Regular Travelers seem to be something like jades or lowgolds. Will said Simon is approx Highgold, because Valinhall is so Op, I assume with more skill he would count as true gold. The mask takes him to the level of Underlord, which is what I assume is the level regular Incarnations are at. With the power from Elysia Simon seemed to have temp risen to Overlord, which is where the King was at with the enhancements.
*This is all speculation, but the fights gave me that impression.

Mahfuz

10/3/2017 08:32:58 pm

I actually think Simon doesn’t have anything like a core. That’s the thing about Will’s multiverse. The magic systems are totally different.
That said, Amalgam looks like a weaker world to me compared to Cradle. There are basically 3 stages of power there. Either you’re a civilian, a traveler or an incarnation (who are basically mad; let’s not count them). And they are all pretty close in power levels. Nothing like the difference between, say, golds and lords of cradle.
We have seen hints of things of greater power in the short stories of TG but nothing like Cradle, which supposedly produces Abidan candidates quite regularly.
But then again Amalgam is a collection of different worlds. So maybe ascension is also different for each world? 🤷‍♂️

Diego

10/4/2017 10:10:17 am

This is the problem with trying to use comparisons lol. I'm not saying he has a core, but everyone has something they can draw their powers from and it has a limit. (which is different for each person.)

We never learned how people truly get stronger in Amalgam, I mean sure getting a new power counts, but what I mean is how do you draw even more steel safely? What does it take to grow a closer connection to your territory without incarnating? Also what separates an elite traveler from a beginner?

We saw a brief glimpse at a fight in a short-story. Simon vrs Inidrials daughter, she basically could call as much steel as Simon. What would it take for him to draw more and over-whelm her with pure brute strength? It could just be he wasn't really into the fight either, but I hope my point comes across.

Samuel

10/5/2017 01:51:01 pm

We also see him move to fast for her to see when he is actually trying to end the fight, so perhaps the essence is different than normal powers?

Wynstro

10/2/2017 04:15:13 pm

Will, this book was awesome! Thanks for all your hard work. Looking forward to the next Cradle and to OKAK.

shantanu

10/2/2017 06:04:49 pm

Loved the new book but it was too short. I hope we'll get another installment soon ;)

asian dude

10/2/2017 06:05:43 pm

renfei means flying man in chinese, and bai rou means white meat. just letting you guys know.

Asian dude

10/2/2017 06:08:06 pm

renfei is 人飞 which is man fly

bai rou is 白肉 which means white meat.

if you don't believe it, go to google translate and type these words in, and underneath, it shows the pronunciations.

Deadnettle

10/2/2017 06:24:37 pm

I wonder what type of madra is used by Mercy's path? Any thoughts on this? I would think that space would be part of it for sure.

Sage of the Impatient Reader

10/2/2017 10:36:59 pm

I was wondering this too. Based on sharing a goldsign with Akura Justice (hands that look like they are covered in tar), and the fact that Eithan recognises the goldsign as marking him as a blood descendent of Akura Malice, we can infer that Justice, Mercy, and Malice all follow the Path of the Chainkeeper.
Here's what we know:

Eithan implies that the key he uses to teleport to the Akura must have been made by Malice or a close disciple (though that could just be that they are Soulsmiths far beyond those of the Empire, not that their path uses space).

We don't see what Malice does in her fight (except be giant-is she Forging a giant construct around herself, or actually increasing her size somehow?), and Mercy never seems to use anything except forging basically anything she needs out of black madra.

Eithan does say that the walls around the Akura fortress contain death madra (which is presumably black) in addition to other things. We see Justice manipulates them at will, but this could be because he has a key to the wall. (He walks out by turning a section of the wall into a puddle).

Linden seems to think that Mercy reaches farther into her bag than should be possible. This might imply a space-based path able to create a bag bigger on the inside than the outside, or that the bag is somehow connected to a storage area somewhere else (again, this could also just be that she has equipment made by a powerful Soulsmith). This also might be an idle comment that means nothing.

Mercy gets through the obstacle course by flying on her staff (unclear if this is a property of her staff, which clearly has some type of power, or if this is one of her techniques). If her path does use space madra, then apparently even short-range line-of-sight teleporting is above lowgold.

Ultimately, we don't see the Path of the Chainkeeper do anything other than Forge items that don't have any non-physical effect (it doesn't burn on contact, emit light, look like a cloud, etc). My guess is that the Path is based around the ability to contain("chain"?) other types of madra (using some combination of either force, space, the Fisher's "attractive" madra, or something we haven't seen yet). Another possibility is that the madra is black because it is a combination of a bunch of types of madra.

Either of those might mean that the madra is extremely difficult to control at lower levels, making early progress slower. This would explain why Mercy is a lowgold, despite coming from a family where Eithan is considered weak. We know she is strong enough to advance, so maybe she is remaining at lowgold (which we know many people consider the "real" start of a Path, binding a remnant) until she is satisfied with her ability to control her madra and bound Remnant.

Deadnettle

10/3/2017 10:08:12 am

Excellent points, thanks for sharing. I too thought that her path might involve space and the fisher's binding madra. In the lowgold course that she and Lindon went through for the Skysworn she seemed to "clumsily" weave her way through the orbs without ever being hit. I think that she was displaying a spatial awareness of her surroundings.

Sage of the Impatient Reader

10/8/2017 11:27:17 am

Found this at the beginning of Soulsmith, when Lindon first sees a Dreadbeast, wondering now if it's related.

"The aura gathered around the heart's shoulder swelled like a blister, slick and crawling black. This aura felt like death and decay, like a maggots's corpse. The deep purple aura around the ribs was stringy and muscular, like roots or snakes, and somehow gave off the impression of chains held in powerful tension...He had no clue what his mother would call the tight aura chains. Connection aura? Binding aura?
There were more aspects of vital aura surrounding the dog than just those, and the unity of all those powers in one body meant something significant. He just wasn't sure what."

Purple binding aura holding other types of madra (including death) together, and described as chains. More possible evidence that the Akura use a variant of the Fishers' purple binding aura (though combined with something else for a much stronger Path). Not sure if it's relevant that the Akura have purple eyes and wear purple armor.

HIghfist

10/2/2017 07:47:42 pm

i bought the book the day it came out and a day later i have already finished reading it! now i have to wait awhile for the next :(
i got to say that one of my fav characters is Orthos, i love the way he thinks and how he is always pushing lindon to never back down.

Mmmmbeeeer

10/2/2017 08:48:32 pm

Seemed like I'd been reading for an hour and I was already more than 50% through! Out of curiosity, how many words is Skysworn compared to previous books? Seemed shorter, but maybe I just lost track of time??

Don't know if I can stand the wait until Ghostwater is released...

Sage of the Impatient Reader

10/6/2017 10:25:30 pm

According to the page count shown on Amazon, Skysworn is about the same (slightly longer) than Unsouled or Soulsmith. Blackflame is the longest by a decent margin (about 20% longer than Skysworn).

Skysworn also has a very fast pace, which makes it seem shorter.

stephen eric sorensen

10/2/2017 11:11:18 pm

Finished it already. That's my only complaint. It was good.

Spoiler:

It was nice to finally see lindon fight someone at his own level. It was funny too. I thought he should have done better with his skysworn trial, but whatever. Falling up seems to be his true path.

Good read

Samuel

10/3/2017 06:41:17 pm

I was a little worried for Lindon... then he punched the guys ribs in... I see why Blackflames were living weapons!

Mars

10/3/2017 01:33:18 am

Will I know I said this before and I have seen a few people mention it before but I would love for you to start a patreon page with weekly or even by-weekly charpter release. I would pay 20$ or more for a chapter every few weeks. I just finished skysworn and I loved it. I can't wait for more. I know you said thart you have thought about doing the patreon thing. Here is the help site for how to make and set up a patreon. I hope you choose to do so. Anyways i really just wanted to say thanks for an amazing time with skysworm until you release another book. https://patreon.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/signin?return_to=https%3A%2F%2Fpatreon.zendesk.com%2Fhc%2Fen-us%2Farticles%2F203913859--How-do-I-become-a-creator-and-make-a-page-on-Patreon-

Polycore

10/3/2017 02:07:50 am

Seconded! Of course these chapters or short stories could be modified if they end up in a book. It would just be there to give us something to chew on :p

Deadnettle

10/3/2017 10:12:41 am

I would love to have something like this available to us, but I have heard from several creators that the compulsory nature of such content can put a damper on larger projects. I'm not saying that I don't think Will could make it work, but I would much prefer the speedy release of his books. Just my two cents

bill warrilow

10/3/2017 03:32:35 am

just finished the book - Will, keep the momentum up! thoroughly enjoying the world building and the turning wheels of cause and effect from the micro to the macro scale. "as above, so below". :^)

keep 'em coming!

(having said that, the City of Light audiobook is still on my Xmas wishlist!)

thank you for the hours of entertainment!

TrembleFist

10/3/2017 03:37:17 am

Hey Will,

a bit of a random question. Are the cycling techniques mentioned in the books actual breathing techniques or just fictional techniques for the series. I only ask because I tried the heaven and earth purification wheel and it did feel like I was choking/dying... 😅

I'm dying

10/3/2017 05:23:19 am

"he needs a shell"
-Orthos

I'm dying... OF LAUGHTER!!!! ROFL LMAO :P

A bit upset

10/3/2017 05:27:10 am

The book feels a little rushed

(spoilers ahead)

chapter 1: jai daisou is a james bond villain
chapter 2: jai daishou is hitler
chapter 3-ish: eithan pissed off some underlord
chapter 4 ish: fillers
chapter 7 ish: the bleeding bird gets up
chapter 9 ish: BAM here's mercy, and she's also a hanzo main
chapter 11: Bastion POTG

Tim

10/3/2017 09:07:56 am

Although I keeep reading people praising the book, I have to say that I liked it the least, unfortunately. I didn't like the pacing.

Deadnettle

10/3/2017 10:17:04 am

The pace did seem a little breakneck in some parts, but I felt that this book really gave us a much bigger scope of the world and the ultimate goals that London and the team are working towards. Might I ask what specifically you didn't like about the pacing?

Me again

10/5/2017 03:13:53 pm

I didn't like how it felt slightly rushed at the beginning. But later from chapters 9 and on, It was more poetic and smooth like will's normal writing style.

Felt like will was stressed from all these people being like AHHH GIVE US SKYSWORN REALLY FAST HURRY UP!!!!!

seriously don't hurt our will like that.

Sean M.

10/5/2017 10:27:55 am

I got to agree with all of this. I still liked the book, but this one was my least favorite thus far. There was no advancement by either of the mains, the book rushed from fight to fight, it was taken up largely by filler information on the dreadgods and there really didn't seem to be any logical reason why they needed to join the skysworn.

Will indicated after blackflame that he had something like 50 or 60 thousand words he had cut or deleted because it bogged blackflame down in too much detail. If I remember correctly he said he was trying to repurpose/rewrite that detail and turn it into the core of skysworn. That's exactly what the fourth book feels like; a bunch of worldbuilding interspersed with action.

Still enjoyed it, but this book felt like it could have been divided up into thirds and those thirds could be inserted into the next three books to fill them out while still having a building plot, climax and resolution. It was funny actually because at one point Eithan/Gesha talk about how Lindon needs to literally slow down and rest, but then the story immediately leaps back into a breakneck pace.

Ranjit

10/3/2017 09:17:11 am

I bought the book as soon as I woke up and finished it in a single setting. lol. I have to agree with many that the pacing felt a little....off ?
BUT WHO CARES ???!???

It was just such an easy, engrossing, thoroughly enjoyable read I loved every moment of it.

BUT SO MANY QUESTIONS...but I'll restrict myself to three.

1. In the Emergency Empire meeting - we have Honored Chon Ma (1), the two Narus (2,3), Redflowerd lady (4), greyskin guy (5), and of course Ethan (6). WHO WAS THE SEVENTH UNDERLORD ? I. MUST. KNOW.

2. How does the 8Man Empire work ? Are all 8 of them Monarch level ? Do they pull of some sort of Transformer mega merge to become a Monarch ? Are they a monarch only when 8 of them fight together ? Wouldn't all the 8-on-1 fights be considered dishonorable...

3. At the end Ethan says he just did a task for Naru Gwei. Should this be Huan (the emperor) with the task being of course securing Akura Malice help ? Just a mistake or is it something I missed ?

Sage of the Impatient Reader

10/4/2017 12:31:49 am

Here's what we have:
1 Chon Ma (Path of the Cloud Hammer)
2 Naru Gwei (Path of the Grasping Sky)
3 Kotai Shou (Path of the Unstained Shield)

No clear order
Naru Saeya (Path of the Grasping Sky)
Like Min Redflower (Path of the Jade Eye)
Eithan Arelius
Someone else???

If find it odd that the only mentioned Underlord of the Redflower family, which is powerful and influential, doesn't follow any of their paths (Will described several of them), and is instead the head of the Jade Eye school. This list does contain heads of the three great clans (if Arelius replaces Jai), two heads of Schools, and the head of the Skysworn. Are there any other Schools that have been mentioned in this book or Blackflame?

Lord of the Tower

10/9/2017 06:46:26 pm

Exactly anyone who has read wuxia would know that after large advancement a time stabilizing your stage is needed

Doc Mosh

10/3/2017 11:49:10 am

Thanks Will... good stuff... but now that I'm done with it... can't wait for the next book... great world building in this one... I'm beginning to see the picture.

Dan

10/3/2017 03:02:40 pm

This may have already been said but there is so many messages that I couldn't read through them all.

What if Ghostwater is the Monarch level of the Under/Over/Archlords Spirit fire, or something? Feel free to call me dumb

Lord of the Tower

10/9/2017 06:50:27 pm

Maybe Eithans path is the path of ghost water

Mason Jones

10/3/2017 04:20:58 pm

Again i'll try to keep spoilers out of this but ive seen a few complaints from people which i totally don't understand in the book.

Yerin dueling with another highgold.
if you've read the book you'll know hwo im on about. but everyone forgets eithan isn't interested in the person who defeats her. why?
Eithan is looking for people to advance with him to crazy strong levels. Yerin's iron body gets better at every stage of advancement, she lost the duel because of one technique which is advanced beyond high gold which increases her opponent's speed. something she clearly lacks because she doesn't have any good enforcement techniques. her iron body will make up for this as she advances.

Advancement speed.
Linden, smashed through copper and iron. which children do. used Orthos to quickly advance to jade and then low gold. which is unusual, but no one ath that level usually has pure madra so not many people share with a sacred beast of that caliber. then he spent the remaining time training balancing his cores.
the fact that this underwhelmed everyone shocked me? thats a massive achievement to me.

Duel with JD
The guys is past stage 1/3 of advancing to a level that rarely anyone can, due to the power of the spear, all of Lindon's attack are slow to use. read blackflame about the trials. all the techniques linden knows are really powerful but slow attacks. the fact it ends like it did was a awesome way to expend the character.

Tried my best to avoid spoiling it. comments?

Samuel

10/3/2017 07:19:02 pm

It really was amazing. Lindons hard work paid off! Imagine doing what the H&EPW is described as for hours a day,!

Confused

10/3/2017 11:43:04 pm

When/where did Yerin duel a high gold and lose?

mason jones

10/4/2017 03:01:51 am

training duel 6 seconds on cloud ship

Joe

10/4/2017 08:46:22 pm

At the end of Soulsmith she fought Jai Long when he was a high gold, and was k/o'd.

Samuel

10/5/2017 04:48:21 pm

To be fair, she had been fighting for weeks with little rest, and has just fought nonstop all day. Also, Jai Long was, as shown in the duel between him and the Fishers, a powerful Highgold at the time of the duel.

Adarsh

10/6/2017 01:10:38 pm

Actually, Jai Long was a Truegold at that point I believe.

Samuel

10/7/2017 08:17:23 am

He became Truegold after he got the spear.

Bill

10/8/2017 07:54:30 am

Thing is, the last 2 book makes it seem more like Eithen is in a search for sidekicks, he feels much more like the driving force and protagonist than Lindon, who feels like a dog on a leash being trained, getting treats for doing whatever trick his master asks. That's a feeling that's been growing for me awhile, but not due to power or level but lack of any form of self determination (other than to continue) for Lindon. It feels to me like he's a pawn without agency these latest books.

I'm a sucker for the underdog story but only if they don't act like a pet.

Samuel

10/8/2017 01:35:48 pm

Lindon has had multiple chances to leave the Arelius Family, but has stayed because Eithan, the "omniscient puppet master" can make him more powerful than, say, running around by himself in the wilderness. We actually see him reasoning with Yerin to not join the Skysworn because Eithan can help him advance to (in this example) Truegold. But when he asks himself what HE wants to do, he goes with Yerin to join the Skysworn. Unless Eithan becomes the officer of their squad, then they will have little contact with him. Overall, I think that Lindon views Eithan as a resource, and Eithan views Lindon as a tool. Lindon wants to get everything he can out of Eithan, and Eithan wants him to get stronger so he can use him in more extreme circumstances. So when Lindon sees an opportunity for advancement without the omniscient puppet master, he takes it(albeit unwillingly).

So what do you mean about the lack of self determination except for advancing? That is what this whole story revolves around, him advancing to save his home, classic xiaxian style. And he clearly has self determination, enough to almost die every time something happens to get more powerful. Just read a little bit between the lines, and you will realize there is a lot going on here.

10/10/2017 10:33:49 pm

Eh, every disciple needs a master. It is more annoying in a story where people.have trained for centuries to get to x power level, but the main character goes to x plus 7 by wandering in the wilderness or getting angry etc. Lindon needs to build his foundation and be taught. He makes his own decisions but with Eithan providing the best path possible.with a few mistakes ... i.e. his arm. Besides it's nice to have more than one main character and more than one perspective and motivation ... see Brandon sanderson

Samuel

10/11/2017 02:05:44 pm

^^^^

Bill

10/14/2017 03:57:14 pm

Samuel,

For some reason I could not reply to you.

We actually agree, Lindon sees Eithan as a resource, Eithan, Lindon a tool. As long as Lindon retains agency that’s fine, in this book he didn’t have much/any.

Q~ That depends, is Eithan’s optional outcome the same as Lindon’s?

Lindon is “assuming” that it is and allowing Eithan to chart is path, not just to growth but more generally. That might be goo, it might be bad....but it seems Lindon hasn’t even considered the question. And since you mention Brandon Sanderson, correct but those characters usually have vastly different ideas on the “right path” and seldom allow others to determine their specific path.

The arm situation jumps out to because the difference between an arm and death was the goodwill of another. Tools are disposable

BTW~ love Will and his stories, just fun to discuss different perspective on the happenings. This one felt more like Eithan as the protagonist than Lindon IMHO.

Samuel

10/15/2017 07:00:11 pm

I kinda agree with you, actually I DO! By the thing is, this series is going to go on a LOT longer, and if Eithan has to be the protagonist until Lindon becomes a little powerful, I can live with that.

I mean, it's not like he has a magic copper mirror to help him, right?

Akura Wisdom

10/3/2017 09:02:46 pm

Where's Ghostwater? Huh?

Nitin

10/4/2017 01:11:05 am

The cycling technique Eithan is using comes straight from Ozriel. I am 99.999999999999999999% sure.

I think all high level scared artists increase the strength of their spirit.

Samuel

10/4/2017 05:17:43 am

Is that your professional opinion? That high level Sacred artists increase the strength of their spirit?xD

Samuel

10/4/2017 05:22:27 am

Spoilers

It is biding its time, for the moment when it senses its lost brother again.
Uh oh, does this mean there is another Dreadgod in the maze? Please tell me it is not so!

Nitin

10/4/2017 05:31:08 am

Likely yes. Remember when Fisher Gesha and Lindon were discussing whole "hunger madra" business? They wondered where it originally came from.

Lord of the Tower

10/9/2017 07:04:02 pm

Um I was under the impression the blood pheonix was talking about the wandering titan which started to slowly awaken

Samuel

10/10/2017 07:13:24 pm

But it's not lost, is it? The Dreadgods want to get into the maze, they can only sense it when a door is opened, the doors are now closed,so it is waiting until they are open again.
So what is the source of hunger madra?!!?!?!! Maybe we will never know! Duh duh duuuuuhhhh!!!
Then again we could be wrong and you are completely right!

Garbagiel the Raccoon

10/4/2017 12:45:21 pm

I'd be interested to learn when Will's various series take place. Is TG and EE happening at the same time as Cradle?

Chris

10/5/2017 05:00:17 am

So like my earlier comment, I will preface that this is from memory. If I recall correctly the Emperor in EE meets a specific WANDERER when he is on his journey to kill the Elders. I think this is pretty clear cut to be Valin. This is almost definitely before Valin creates Valinhall. So I can't help with cradle, but EE and TG main story lines probably take place within 1000 years of one another. Give or take the time differences in every iteration of course ;p

Garbagiel the Raccoon

10/5/2017 02:21:54 pm

I don't remember where it was mentioned that the Emperor and Valin met, but I recall there being a Valin cameo in one of the Shera EE books. I believe he was creating the dolls at the time.

Madeline

10/5/2017 04:23:43 pm

I kind of like the fact that after such a fast paced book, Lindon and Yerin haven't advanced at all. It kind of drives home the difference in power levels between Lowgold and Underlord. Yerin advanced to Lowgold at the end of book one, and to Highgold at the very end of book three. Given that pacing, even if the distance between Highgold and Truegold is the same as Lowgold and Highgold, I would be surprised if she reached Truegold before the end of book five, and similarly surprised if Lindon reached Highgold before the end of book five. Although the non stop action of Skysworn may have brought them a bit closer to advancing than otherwise possible, which was kind of the point of Malkiel's interference. I wonder how many books it will be before Eithan reaches Overlord, horrifying the Emperor, and then Archlord, horrifying the Emperor even more

Sage of the Impatient Reader

10/6/2017 11:03:41 pm

Warning, spoilers ahead

I think that Ghostwater will see several advancements. Lindon still has at least six stages of advancement to reach Herald (its possible a group of Heralds could have a small chance against a Dreadgod), and that's assuming that there is nothing between Overlord and Herald or between Herald and Monarch. Since Akura Malice told Eithan that they would need to defend themselves next time, and I really doubt the Dreadgods don't attack until book 10, the rate of advancement will have to increase.

I expect Yerin to advance early in the next book. She is shown to be a pretty strong Highgold at the Skysworn trials, and I think that learning to control her Blood Shadow will push her to Truegold.

I think Lindons arm will be the key that allows him to catch up, as Jai Long showed how useful the Spear was in advancing, and there have already been hints that the arm might convert stolen madra to pure madra (when Lindon thinks that "it was taking something, but must be doing it so efficiently that he couldn't even notice). Remember that the base for the arm was a Highgold remnant that was almost pure. I think he will hit Highgold shortly after Yerin reaches Truegold.

We don't really know how far along Eithan is in his progression to Overlord, though we do know that he has an absurd amount of madra (when he releases huge pulses of madra fighting Naru Gwei, then still has the most left to get drained by the Archstone). Eithan's thoughts at the Underlord meeting also hint that he might have been a match for Longhook if he hadn't been so drained before the fight. With his replacement as Patriarch, I think he will focus more on his own advancement. I expect him to reach Overlord in book 6 at the latest.

If Mercy is to become a main character (Eithan clearly wants her to join them in the last scene), then we know she is close to advancing (when Yerin first sees her, she wonders why Mercy hasn't advanced already).

Madeline

10/7/2017 02:14:12 pm

Actually, I would not be surprised to discover that Eithan is deliberately holding himself back until he assembles the group he will climb with. Once he advances, every Underlord as well as the Emperor will perceive him as a threat who is trying to seize the throne, and move to attack him unless he surrounds himself with enough Underlords that they won't be willing to make that sacrifice. That's the problem with being one step under the person who holds the throne. Reaching the top requires you to take that next step but taking it is something that's kind of automatically a challenge.

Sage of the Impatient Reader

10/8/2017 11:02:58 am

Eithan holding himself back to avoid offending the Emperor actually sounds quite plausible.

We know he was hiding his power until Jai Daishou forced him to reveal it, and Naru Gwei sees a threat in everything Eithan does. I have no doubt that if Eithan advanced to Overlord Gwei would advise the Emperor to destroy him. Of course, neither Lindon (a Blackflame artist) or Yerin (now controlling her Blood Shadow) are acceptable to most of the Empire either.

Coldsteel

10/6/2017 05:52:45 am

After praising the book (above) right after finishing it, I've been thinking about it a lot. The more I thought about it the more little nagging sensations of dissatisfaction set in.

I had a lot of trouble determining how much time went by in the book. Everything after the duel seemed to go by in just a day or two at most. The last part, after joining the Skysworn seemed to go by in less than a day. There just seemed to me to be way too much packed into that short period of time and I think it lessened the impact of the book's closing push.

The Dreadgod and his followers/influence were really well described and was/were actually pretty horrifying. There was a lot of opportunity to build some real tension and suspense there. But the menace rose and fell in such a short period of time that the book never had an opportunity to build up any real tension.

Overall, the book seemed really short to me (although it packed a lot of action inside). It seemed to lack some of the exposition glue needed to bind the different plot elements together. I think Will may have felt some time pressure to get this one out and it wasn't completely baked. It's still a great book and I enjoyed every bit of it. It's just that the pacing was a bit off and some of the writing seams were showing a bit on this one.

I still can't wait for the next one, though. I just hope he takes his time and puts more flesh on the next book's bones.

mothman

10/6/2017 11:16:16 am

OK, I like the book. Let me start with that. Secondly, SPOILERS BELOW - THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING. Continuing: Despite enjoying the book, I seriously feel like it was missing something. By and large, in LitRPG and (western) Xianxia novels, a large part of the appeal is that feeling of steady progress. In a LitRPG, it's the levels and skills you gain, while in Xianxia it all about your cultivation level along with the skills of your path, dao, whatever - and both genres share a love of loot, of course. But, it's this feeling of progress that's lost in this iteration of the series, I think. And, sitting to write this, I feel like this is a result of poor pacing for the story.

In regards to Lindon's progression, he drags his pure core up to Lowgold, to match his Blackflame core. This achievement feels like a letdown since it seems to happen off-camera and be glossed over. Other than this, there doesn't seem to be any real advancement. He doesn't seem to learn any new skills, gain any new piece of cool (usable) loot, or upgrade his cultivation (beyond matching what he'd already done with his first core).

Some might point out that he gained the new arm, and there's a bunch of potential for cool new tricks there. But, there's two problems with that. One, is that he had to lose his arm first, so no matter how cool the replacement, it started out as a loss. And second, is that there is no realization of that potential. It feels a little like the end of the first book, where advancement to copper is constantly teased, but never happens. Then, when it finally does, it's kind of a throwaway moment at the beginning of the second novel. As a result, you lose a bit of how significant that was to Lindon, and as readers we lose a lot of the payoff from anticipating that advancement. It doesn't even really function as a means of reinforcing how unimportant Copper stage is, because the needs of the plot force you to just keep plodding forward - only now he is being insulted as "copper" instead of "unsouled".

Having re-read the series in anticipation of this 4th book, I feel like the 3rd and 4th books, Blackflame and Skysworn, were just one book that got hacked into pieces, and put back together as two. Granted, the author sort of admitted as much, when he mentioned that part of the reason for doing another Cradle novel was the amount of usable material leftover from Blackflame writing. Looking at it, if you pull out the climactic fight at the end of the third book, and there is a fully contained arc from leaving the ruins, training with the Arelius family, culminating in the fight with Jai Long. That would have been a much better book, and would have left space in the 4th book to fix the pacing issues that a few of the other commenters have noted, allowed for more reasonable progress during the third book, and given the characters time to realize some of the progress they, presumably, received due to the nonstop battles of Skysworn.

OK, all that being said. I obviously liked the first book enough to read the rest of the series, despite my complaints above. I think the pacing in the second book is really really good (and the overall quality is excellent as well). I liked the third book enough to buy the 4th, and I like the 4th enough that I will buy the fifth. Just, you know, take your time and hit the next one out of the park, ok?

I Need an Idiot's Guide to the Willverse

10/7/2017 02:57:28 pm

THIS is exactly what I was thinking, but unable to put into words. I liked Unsouled, I really liked Soulsmith, but Blackfame and Skysworn just felt...off.
The fight with Jai-Long -- which I was really looking forward to -- felt like an unimportant filler plot. Lindon's advancements seem anticlimactic. Both Blackflame and Skysworn feel like they exist for just two reasons: 1) putting a few finishing touches on the leftovers from book two, and 2) setting the stage for the rest of the story line. It's almost like nothing really important happens in these two books.
Now, as I re-read that paragraph, it sounds harsh. So, let me clarify: they are both good books. Both were entertaining in many ways -- character development, world-building, Will Wight's trademark sense of humor, and so on. I will read them again.
But, what would really help these books is a good 5th book that shows real plot progression and uses Blackflame and Skysworn as a launching off point. That would help justify the off-kilter paces of Blackflame and Skysworn. It would gave them a very good reason for existing in the story arc. I think that is what Will is heading toward, but I just hope I'm thinking right.

Adarsh

10/7/2017 04:04:30 pm

The thing is that if Will Wight starts focusing his books on Lindon's advancement, then it loses its true charm. His books(Cradle) aren't supposed to be full on xianxia novels, they are more like American novels with a xianxia theme. As such character and plot development takes on a more important role than power development.
Basically after reading Skysworn you're supposed to understand that Lindon is now even more pressed for time and has to advance even faster now. He's portrayed as someone struggling with a mighty burden and just straining to continue walking his path as fast as possible and wondering if he is walking fast enough. He's not a genius who advances easily(though he may be compared to others on Cradle) so the story is about how he's going to save sacred valley and eventually ascend past Cradle, not about how he's going to keep on advancing down the path of cultivation.

Mothman

10/7/2017 05:51:12 pm

Adarsh: looking, seriously, at the plot of the Cradle novels, they are a typical xianxia plot, in a typical xianxia setting, with a somewhat unique(but clearly of xianxia origin) magic system, told in a Western style. Young man finds out his home will suffer a great tribulation in 30 years, killing almost everyone he knows. Young man sets out, despite his deficiencies in natural skill, to improve himself in order to prepare for this tribulation, save his clan, etc. He eventually succeeds beyond his wildest dreams and reaches a level of achievement unmatched by his peers.

Say what you will, it's a xianxia story. I don't mean this as a criticism. Will took a trope and made it his own. Make that work takes dedication, courage, and no small amount of skill.

All that being said, I think that the real problem in books 3 and 4, despite how enjoyable they were, is the pacing. It's just that you see this most in regards to Lindon's cultivation progression. He seems to alternate periods of extremely quick advancement with long periods of not seeing any changes at all. If this is intentional, then it needs to have more attention paid to showing this is intentional, and to give the reader an idea of why this is happening - from a story/plot perspective and not just from a magic/system perspective.

In a typical xianxia story, they would make some comment about how he has to solidify his foundations through combat in order to internalize the gains he had made. Will is, quite simply, too skilled to need this sort of crutch. But, what would have made sense to do would be a few moments of explication about what Lindon's cultivation level is, and how he can continue to advance. Then, a few lines throughout the story about how something felt more natural or suddenly made more sense to him would have provided a sense of progress, even if it was slowed progress, without actually changing Lindon's cultivation level. But, we don't ever see that for Lindon. Strangely enough, get that explanation for Jai Long, during the middle of the fight, but not for Lindon.

And, my original point was that it feels like we are missing this because the author felt like he had too much other stuff to cram into the book - which is an understandable feeling given that most of the book moves at a frenetic, flat out sprint. But, this seems odd when compared to how slow the plot of book three moved. This difference makes it seem like the author is having a problem with the pacing of the novels, both within each one and in the series as a whole.

At no point am I saying that focusing on cultivation/advancement should take precedence over the plot. But, cultivation is one of the major aspects of xianxia type stories, and this is a xianxia story. It is a part of the charm of the story - seeing what new cool thing Lindon will learn next, and seeing him take another step on the path to becoming a badass. However, this aspect of the story is being hurt by curious plot pacing in each book and/or restructuring of the story arcs for the series as a whole.

Madeline

10/7/2017 07:29:08 pm

It's already been said that Lindon's unique doubled core puts him at something of a disadvantage as well as giving him healing properties. He has to focus on one core at a time, and while he could just smash his Blackflame core to Monarch, neglecting the pure core, that would weaken him even more because his body heals the Blackflame degradation with his pure core. So, he will often experience periods of boring lack of development as he brings the core which doesn't have any intereating attributes up to par with the core with the interesting fighting skills.

Bill

10/8/2017 08:48:12 am

So much the same it's scary.

I loved the first two books. The last two, not nearly as much. I've given it some thought and think I know now.

For me it's the omniscient puppet master.

In the first two books Lindon was on a quest/journey/path to save those he loved. He made tough choices, faced fears, suffered for his goals. Now it feels like Eithans will, his goals, have supplanted the things that made Linton the protagonist of the story. If you were to read Skysworn as a stand alone book, to me it would seem to be Eithans story.

Eithan was cool at first, an eccentric power influencing the game board but too much detracts from the feel of the story and other characters IMHO. I believe the last two books have suffered from Eithan magnificence overload. - where others become mere tools in HIS grand plan, example the amputated arm and blood madra.

Tools being honed to Eithan's desires, not their own.

I Need an Idiot’s Guide to the Willverse

10/9/2017 01:46:39 pm

@Ardash
I agree with what you’re saying. My point was just that the advancements Lindon did make in books 3 and 4 seemed a little lackluster.
@ everyone who posted on this thread, including me
I think that all of the elements we mentioned make Blackflame and Skysworn seem a little “less than” Will’s other books.
Now, before Will starts to think I hate him, his books, and all of his raccoons, I have to put in a disclaimer: WILL, YOUR BOOKS ARE AWESOME!!! I’M LOOKING FOWARD TO OKAK AND GHOSTWATER!!!

Iforgotmyname

10/6/2017 06:52:31 pm

In the end of black flame, renfei mentions that lindons goldsign is different from the original black flames goldsign. I was wondering what the original blackflame goldsign was

Irememberedmyname I am AwesomePossum

10/8/2017 10:02:57 pm

Nobody knows?

Quinn

10/10/2017 10:09:10 pm

Hasn't been revealed yet.

Samuel

10/7/2017 08:23:43 am

Anybody think that Ghostwater is the name of the Riverseeds madra? Let the theory storming process for the 5th book and the name of the hunger madra begin!

AwesomePossum

10/8/2017 10:08:42 pm

Actually, yes, it is probable that littles blues madra is called ghostwater, but it would have to be a big part of the next book for the book to be called that, so ghost water might be something else more important to the story, mentioned in a previous book under a different name.

Samuel

10/9/2017 02:12:49 pm

Perhaps the Riverseed is the key to defeating the Dreadgods. We know they are perversions of nature, massive dreadbeasts, and that the Riverseeds form in places of perfect aura harmony. Also, the arm seems to want to devour the Riverseed more than the other valuable Remnant arms. Maybe the reason the next book is called Ghostwater is because somebody finds a way to create Ghostwater MADRA, which has some sort of special cleansing effect.
Or maybe it's called that because Ghostwater(assuming it's the madra the Riverseed is made of)is required for advancement. I also saw this theory, that it is the Matriarch version of soulfire, and I really liked that idea.
Just bouncing some ideas off a wall, I would love critisicm and people to either disprove or show their own theories, I love this kind of stuff.

Dww

10/10/2017 10:07:47 am

I think ghostwater is the opposite of soul fire. Perhaps it's even the raw material that you have to weave into soulfire.

Quinn

10/10/2017 10:08:05 pm

I don't believe so ... I keep seeing this pop up. Isn't the riverseeds madra pure. It integrates into orthos, jai Chen, lindon, yerin, etc. Other made a doesn't do that. Just a thought.

Daniel

10/9/2017 03:59:56 pm

This may be a far fetched idea but here goes nothing,

While I am waiting for Ghost Water, I decided to re-read the Travelers Gate Trilogy and while I was in the shower a light turned on in my head. What if Valinhall is a fragment of a world that the Abidan had to destroy due to corruption. In the House of Blades the Eldest Nye tells Simon that, before the Wanderer came, Valinhall was part of another world, but was separated in some big calamity. In Blackflame when Suriel was a watching the corrupted world fall apart (before she got the signal from Ozriel) she describes chunks of the world floating off into space.

Valinhall?

Coincidence? I THINK NOT.

Madeline

10/9/2017 04:08:30 pm

Congratulations, you have joined the ranks of the people who know this fact.

Madeline

10/9/2017 04:20:51 pm

Or wait, hmmm, I spoke too soon. I don't think there are any more open spots in the Order of the Secret, what should we do with them?

Samuel

10/9/2017 06:54:21 pm

You realize every single one, like Naraka or Asphodel, is a world fragment, right?

Nitin

10/10/2017 12:58:44 am

World of Simon is called Amalgam. All territories are remnants of broken worlds. Amalagam is the only iteration where they managed to not corrupt everything, forcing abidan to destroy entire iteration..again.

Samuel

10/15/2017 09:04:17 am

Territories are world fragments that glided through the universes until finding a home on Amalgam. Will even described how Ragnarus became a Territory on the Q&A blog post!

Daniel

10/9/2017 04:21:59 pm

Addition:

The house of Valinhall was where the Path of the Endless Sword (or any other Sword paths) came from before said calamity?? Although I remember reading somewhere that Madra was specific to Cradle or maybe I didn't read that? Maybe Cradle is just another chunk of a previously bigger world and Valinhall blew off Cradle. Maybe Valinhall is kinda like the RedMoon Hall and it flies away when the Big Boy who is supposed to kill Lindon in 30 years destroys stuff. Maybe Im just over thinking things, WHO KNOWS!! (Will does)

P.S. This second part came to me when I was typing the first. I think I may be rambling at this point.

Discuss!!

Nitin

10/10/2017 12:56:03 am

Madra is a Cradle thing. People on Amalgam "borrow". These parasitic pieces are remnants of worlds broken either By Abidan or "bad guys". They may predate Abidan court since it originated from Cradle. Unlike other chaos ridden pieces, these have not corrupted Amalgam and now natives of Amaglam can draw power from them.

Whole "sword" being associated with HoS thing only came to be because Valin wielded a sword. House of Valinhall only became House of Blades because of Valin. If he was a musician..WHO KNOWS!

Urban Blues

10/10/2017 11:55:01 am

Has there been a previous connection made between the Elder Empire/Aurelian Empire and Cradle/Auerlius Clan?

I'm not as good as keeping the details straight between the books and series, and read both halves of Elder Empire between Books 3 and 4 of Cradle.

Are the names just a coincidence or does it tie into the larger "Amalgam" verse - e.g . is Ozriel the Emperor from Elder Empire

I Need an Idiot’s Guide to the Willverse

10/10/2017 12:36:12 pm

I think Will said once that the Aurelius family and the Aurelian Empire are unrelated. Their names are just similar. It was something of a coincidence that he thought up two similar looking names that are otherwise independent of each other.

Samuel

10/11/2017 07:11:40 pm

What do you mean Amalgam? The Elder Empire books are in the Asylum world.

Scott

10/12/2017 05:58:44 am

Amalgam is the world the Traveler's Gate books take place in.

Samuel

10/12/2017 02:16:42 pm

I know, but he said the amalgam verse, but was implying that that was the world EE took place in.

Urban Blues

10/13/2017 06:53:31 am

Sorry. I mistyped/spoke. I was making more of a leap and asking if all the books (EE, Crade, Travelers) have shared elements or are linked - i.e. is there an "Amalgam"-verse? building on Travelers as progenitor. I guess I liked the idea of the blended worlds/universes between the various series

Sage of the Impatient Reader

10/16/2017 10:58:56 pm

All three series take place in a single multiverse, which is the one we see in the Suriel chapters. The Abidan is an organisation that protects this multiverse from threats and chaos.

Each Iteration is its own, complete universe with different magic systems, and each of the three series takes place primarily in a different Iteration. When Iterations become corrupted or damaged, the Abidan must destroy them to prevent the corruption from spreading. However, the destroyed worlds often send fragments into the Void that can collide with other Iterations. These fragments can spread the corruption from their original Iteration to the new one.

Cradle is the Iteration where Lindon lives, and is named such because it is the birthplace of the Abidan. The magic system used by the inhabitants of Cradle is the Sacred Arts, which is apparently the most likely system of all Iterations to produce people of enough power to join the Abidan.

Amalgam is the Iteration of Traveler's Gate. This Iteration is unusual (unique?) in that several fragments of other Iterations have somehow become anchored to it. The inhabitants of this Iteration have the unique ability to use the different magic systems of these world fragments, which they call territories.

Asylum is the Iteration where the Elder Empire series takes place. It's mentioned in Blackflame as a prison for the Fiends of Chaos (the Elders). The humans of this world have the ability to invest objects with their Intent. This world is an effective prison because the magic system somehow counters the Elders corruptive influence (presumably because, since everyone invests unconsciously, and they all want to world to keep existing, the world itself is enforced by the Intent of every human to ever live to continue existing).

Daniel

10/9/2017 04:24:26 pm

Oh, someone already thought of that?

>.> My bad.

New path Idea:

10/9/2017 05:03:35 pm

Forger on the path of endless pizza

Bill

10/10/2017 10:18:42 am

I’m likely the contrarian here but.....

I’m glad Lindon has not grown in power. I’d like to see him grow more as a person/man before he gets more power. Just like cycling is foundational for future potential, I believe strength of character should be too.

If he lets outhers control his actions an destiny, he deserves no more power. I would guess Lindon will grow more a person before he grows more in power.

Quinn

10/10/2017 10:00:22 pm

Agreed. And it shows the difference between the levels. Children blow to gold by a low age. But rising higher takes time.

Joe

10/10/2017 12:02:00 pm

Does anyone understand why Lindon seemed to have figured out the Blackflame striker technique at the end of Blackflame, but seems to be incapable of using it in Skysworn?

Madeline

10/10/2017 12:21:50 pm

It's not that he didn't have it figured out, it's that it's an inherently slow technique, and Jai Long's Path focuses on speed.

10/10/2017 10:53:50 pm

Next step for Lindon... advancement and find a weapon. Major questions I have ... What did heavens glory do to the wei family ... when will we see an actual member of the blackflame family... What is ghost water... does the parasite have negative effects later on ... What weapon will Lindon master... What else does mercy s madra do ... What is her trump card... What other techniques does lindon learn with his pure madra... What does the arm actually do...What rank are yerin and mercy ... how close is eithan to overlords... What can overlords do and what must one do to advance to it ... What is the third step for underlord advancement.... What powers does the titan have... does suriel join makiel...what happened to ozriel... how far does the group have to advance to be lifted up... What cool powers does jai chen have... who does lindon end up with ... if anyone at all... What is the treasure of the north and what piece of it was present on the mountain...
What major questions did I miss?

Samuel

10/11/2017 05:12:12 am

Sadly, I can only answer one, as we do not know what rank Mercy or Yerin is, but the third Lord stage is Archlord, and Sages are the most powerful Archlords that have distinguished themselves. Will said it is easier to advance to the level beyond Archlord than become a Sage.

10/11/2017 11:01:27 am

I appreciate the response but I believe the question got jumbled ... What is special about an overlord and what is the third step for underlord. Make a hole in your spirit, weave soulfire and what ... I assume it is to bathe your body in soulfire ... But I don't think it has said explicitly.

Samuel

10/11/2017 01:54:57 pm

It has not, but I believe that is correct. I assume going to over/arch lord is just like advancing from low to high to true gold. Just a matter of purifying or stockpiling madra, but there probably is some kind of step.

Samuel

10/11/2017 01:57:23 pm

Oops, was talking about the wrong thing completely! Well, they say that the second step is making soulfire, and they say without a perfect iron body you can't survive going to Underlord, so it probably is bathing your body in soulfire.

10/12/2017 01:24:30 pm

Ah ... and ... What's up with those scissors?!

The question

10/10/2017 11:26:00 pm

So Will great book by the way did Yerin really win or is she possesed. The ending was kind of fishy

Samuel

10/11/2017 05:12:46 am

I'm sure Eithan would've realized if anything was up!

THE QUESTION

10/11/2017 12:10:58 pm

Believe nothing until we have at least one POW of her

Yoso

10/11/2017 10:13:11 pm

I'm looking forward to the Chen's going to Sacred Valley so we can learn a bit about what has been going on in Lindon's absence.

Nitin

10/13/2017 11:47:43 am

Another hit in the dark.

Ascension essentially involves figuring out how to touch the Way (after you figured out that it exists). Once you do, Abidan steps in just so that you can't do it again without "agreeing to pact".

It is possible that no one below a sage can do this on their own.

Samuel

10/14/2017 03:25:52 pm

Wait wait wait, Lindon can't have Underlord weapons but Jai Long can have the spear, which we know is an Underlord weapon? Come on Gwei, thought you were the No.1 Duel Adjudicator!

Azqa

10/14/2017 07:24:59 pm

Yeah, but Gwei also shows himself to be an ass who doesn't allow a peaceful end to the duel because he's got personal issues with Eithan.

Donald

10/15/2017 07:02:52 am

They also possess the largest and most obvious entrance into the labyrinth that forms the foundation of the entire Sacred Valley, an entrance they call the Nethergate. The door stands thirty meters high, and is carved with the image of a Dreadgod. Every ten years, it opens, and the Fallen Leaf elders are able to retrieve some treasures from the shallowest levels of the labyrinth within.

Spoilers

So first off, Lindon can just go back to Sacred Valley and seal all the entrances.
Second, I read a post on Reddit about how it was a Dreadgod attack that caused the Arelius main branch to take severe losses
(as far as we know/don't know from Eithan). And it seems that every ten years, some things happen. Doors to the labyrinth open, portals open. Eithan comes out of a portal after a gamble that (according to him) probably wiped out the Arelius main branch. I think, and so do others, that the gamble was him going into the maze to get the weapon inside his soulspace, which may have been his contingency plan when fighting Longhook.
So, basically, Eithan goes into maze, takes OP weapon, Aurelius main branch(probably)killed by Dreadgod attack, he goes through the portal to get away.
How does it sound???

Chu Feng

10/22/2017 12:17:46 pm

I've spent the last weeks cultivating Martial God Asura, and now I see where the inspiration for Dreadgods must've come from!

Jimmy

11/3/2017 06:53:36 am

Well, I know what the rest of my day will look like. Side note, I always (re)read chapter 1 to help catch me up and work as a refresher.

Devin Mann

11/12/2017 12:26:43 am

I cant wait to see everyones reactions when lindon goes back to the sacred valley as like an undelord or whatever he is by then

Imaybeanidiot

11/15/2017 08:09:11 am

I finally am getting around to my re-read & had a couple of ?s that I would like to resolve.
1) While pushing the boulder to open the Ape's prison, Jai Diashou uses force aura to help & it seems to be inferred that sword aura is a close enough cousin to force aura that his mastery allows him to use it. BUT, I thought that his path was of Endless Spear? Yerrin's use of sword mandra is certainly different than anything the Jai's have used. Assuming Will correctly used "sword" here, does that mean sword and spear mandra are essentially the same thing & the chosen path dictates how it "manifests"? Has this been covered before & I just missed it?
2) Just after Lindon regains consciousness, Eithan muses that he has coaxed the details of Suriel's vision from Lindon without revealing his own vision.
We also know Eithan "recently" found an artifact that Orziel left behind for his descendants from the Suriel/ Makiel conversation. Eithan describes his marble as an inheritance from his family. That would seem to imply that the marble had been around & in possession of his family for generations. He also describes it as a heavenly relic, which also implies great age (which makes sense if Orziel left it generators ago).
So... the fact that this artifact has been around but seemingly hidden/lost until Eithan comes around (apparently the first of Orziel's descendants with the "right stuff" to "find it?) and Eithan had a vision (a conversation with an Abidan).
So, did Eithan find his mable as Makiel seems be believe, or was he given it by Orziel in his "vision"? Also along this line, why were Sureil's actions where Lindon got his marble within the Pact but Orziel's (creating the artifact - presumably the marble) not? Any insights?
thanks

Scott Russo

11/15/2017 09:24:36 am

Always glad to help a fellow reader!

So, in order to your questions:
Yes, sword madra and spear madra are functionally identical. This is revealed (or at least supported) when Yerin states that all she needs is a "sharp edge to cycle." While the madra may be called different things, it is basically edge or blade madra, rather than any specific type of blade.

This may be typo/misunderstanding on your part, but Jai Daishou and the rest of the Jai clan (excluding Jai Long) are on the Path of the Stellar Spear, not the path of the Endless Spear. I believe that the second type of madra on the Path of the Stellar Spear is force, but it may be star/space madra or someting similar.

Yerin's techniques are very different from these because of the different paths, not the different madra. As she states in Blackflame, "All of her techniques are Ruler techniques to some degree," and this makes her stronger than another sword artist as long as she has a sharp edge (provided by her Goldsign). This is the primary difference between her path and the Stellar Spear. I don't know if a Stellar Spear used could use another blade weapon (probably?) but they are trained to use their spears just as a pure martial artist, and they fight with them juts using techniques to enhance their body and the edge of their spear.

To your second question:

I believe that Ozriel left the marble/message to any of his descendants, not specifically Eithan. He says "my descendant" several times, and seems to have left this for any of his descendants who inherited his sight. You probably already know this, but Ozriel was the original Patriarch of the Arelius family, and presumably, the one who made the deal with a sacred beast to grant them their supernatural senses.

I believe that Eithan found the marble fairly recently, but before he came to the Blackflame empire, so at least 7 years ago. It seems likely that Ozriel took the marble to Cradle fairly recently (on a cosmic scale), so within the last 50-100 years. It was probably either immediately before or during he decided to leave to Abidan. He then presumably left messages to those on planets to join his new organization to "exist outside the Abidan," and to "Go where they cannot," likely named Ghostwater.

Also, the likely difference between Lindon/Suriel's marble and Eithan/Ozriel's is the function. Lindon's marble has no message, and likely only tracks him to Suriel to keep tabs on him. Ozriel's marble is likely 'treasonous,' given that it literally asks you to become powerful and NOT join the Abidan. It also reveals who the Abidan actually are, where Lindon just inferred Suriel was an angelic being. Ozriel revealed the Abidan's existence and how the Iterations work

Thanks for asking these questions, it was a ton of fun to think about it. Hope this helps!

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