Wintersteel: Day 2

10/7/2020

Boy, do I feel silly.

The day before Wintersteel came out, I put up a post talking about my fears and insecurities, and then a day later my book became the best-selling book on the entire Kindle Store. And has thus far stayed there for 24 hours.

There's just some kind of irony there.

I just have to say, the last day has been a blast. I was serious when I said I get really nervous before every launch, but this has been the most fun book launch ever. I'm reading all your reviews and all the discussion, and I'm both relieved and excited that you've loved the book so much.

And, frankly, I didn't realize how excited I would be to hit #1 on the Kindle Store. I never had that as a goal or anything; higher ranking makes your book more visible, which means more people see it, which is a great benefit. But we consistently hit Top 10 with Cradle, and I'm always very happy with that!

#1 is not something I thought was even possible, and for real guys, I was so excited. I cheered and shouted and jumped up and down and everything. My family dumped a bucket of Oreos over my head.

But the most fun part has been seeing how many people are enjoying the book!

This last couple of days has just been fantastic, so from the bottom of my heart: thanks, everybody! Thanks for reading the book, thanks for discussing the book with each other online, thanks for being so excited about it, and thanks for sticking with me!

I love you guys, and above all, thanks for reading!

-Will

P.S. The first seven Cradle books should still be free until the end of the day (October 7th), so if you know someone who wants free books, strike while the iron is hot! And the iron is hot right now!

EDIT: Please don't spoil Wintersteel in the comments, guys! I'll have to delete comments that give away clear spoilers.

191 Comments

10/7/2020 12:40:46 pm

I took time off of work to read Wintersteel the day it was released, and I wasn't disappointed. I think it's my favorite in the series, and that's saying something. Sincerely, Will, this series is truly excellent, Wintersteel in particular.

Well done, sir.

Jeff Weatherspoon.

10/7/2020 04:36:38 pm

I totally agree. The book started at a steady pace and increased in tempo and excitement right to the last page. I loved it!

Caleb Moshier

10/7/2020 12:41:40 pm

The book was well worth the wait. 10/10, totally subverted everything I thought would happen and added a ton of depth. It pained me to finish it because I knew I'd have to wait.

Congratulations on #1, and thank you for your stories!

Michael T`

10/12/2020 04:01:09 pm

Man I totally agree, all the good authors take too long to write! Probably why their stuff is so good. We need a time lapsed pocket dimension for Will! anyone? anyone?

Keep that stuff coming Will, this is by far my favorite series of all time! And I read a loootttt, ask my wife.....no wait don't ask her, just forget I even said that.

The-roaring-dragon

10/13/2020 12:51:10 pm

The end was probably one of the best ever
Not saying the rest was bad
The rest was the best ever to
But the ending was like the cherry on top

Unmesh Sadawarte link

10/7/2020 12:44:13 pm

Right now I'm on chapter 10 .YES I'm reading it as slowly as possible. I know the next book will take a while .. or not (glancing at will). But I must say DAMN. . .Every line I read gets my heart pounding. Especially the Ethan arc is really taking exiting turns. I hope this series will flourish like this forever.

Evan Heggem

10/7/2020 12:44:49 pm

Soooooo book 9 releases soon right?;)

isaac

10/9/2020 08:42:18 am

yes please release soon

JP Ivey

10/9/2020 11:27:37 am

When is bloodline release date????

BigFan

10/7/2020 12:47:37 pm

Francisco

10/7/2020 12:47:45 pm

It was an absolutely phenomenal book, Will. The length, the payoff, the progression, everything was just perfect.

What a world you have built with Lindon, Yerin, Eithan, Dross, Orthos, Little Blue, and all the others!

Your success is well deserved and I think I speak for most of us when I say we eagerly and patiently await the next installment, because we know it will be just as good!

Adrian

10/7/2020 02:10:00 pm

"patiently"?

You overestimate the fan base.

IDon'tKnowFish

10/7/2020 07:48:25 pm

Extreme overestimation, I am already starting to feel its been too long since the last book. The next book never comes soon enough. Will is fairly fast compared to some others, so I try to hold my innate need for the next book, but for how long?

Nate B

10/7/2020 12:49:46 pm

Just wanted to say I absolutely loved the book. I’ve been following the series like a hawk since black flame and I can never get enough of it. I killed the audiobook in a day and a half while knocking out admin stuff at my job and I swear my boss thinks I’m insane now. But once again loved the book and keep up the great work!

P.s Congrats on the #1 definitely deserved it!

Bryan

10/9/2020 06:01:22 pm

Couldn't agree more... I've been useless at work while listening to the audio book. Will stepped his game up with this book but Travis was not about to be outdone. Can't wait for the next one

Vee

10/15/2020 04:32:14 pm

Yes! I agree!! I’ve read it like 5 x already, it’s so satisfying!! Please when can we have the next one ???? lol

Apepper

10/7/2020 12:54:17 pm

Just finished. That was quite a journey. That first blooper... good to know Yerin and I have the same problem. Loved it.

Kevin

10/7/2020 12:57:01 pm

Love it so much!! Please tell me there’s an animated series in the works!!!

Rawle

10/11/2020 04:33:54 pm

100% this. This was one of my first thoughts after finishing this amazing book! The animation house would need to be superb to really do it justice though, but wow, the Cradle series definitely has the potential to be the next great animated series.

Timmmaayyyus

10/7/2020 01:18:57 pm

Already midway through my re-read. I spit my drink out twice on first read.

Liko

10/8/2020 02:29:38 pm

Right?! There were so many laugh out loud moments.

Oduwa

10/7/2020 01:24:32 pm

We should be thanking you! I absolutely loved this book. I don't think the word love is accurate enough. As a reader, I have never been so utterly satisfied. This book has occupied my thoughts for the past 2 days! Already re-read 2 times and I'm on my 3rd read. Just amazing! I can't wait to see how this story develops. This is by far the highlight of 2020 for me.

Max

10/7/2020 01:32:10 pm

Just finished it. It's a great book and the praise is well deserved. Congrats Will!

Allan

10/7/2020 01:33:16 pm

I was actually checking to see if the book was released last night and finished it today. Couldn't really put the book down. I like the surprises and cant wait to see the new dynamics in the kingdom. Considering the number of monarchs I believe is the same, so it will be an interesting shift of things.

Grumpy

10/7/2020 01:58:21 pm

I am so glad you decided not publish this as a web serial. Wintersteel has to be one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. You have done a great job and congrats on it all.

GTA

10/7/2020 01:58:50 pm

Incredible book. My heart breaks every time I finish the newest release because I know I have to wait for the next one.

Jon

10/7/2020 02:17:19 pm

I enjoyed the heck out of this latest installment. I love the payoff of having the main characters level up and wreck the foes that used to give them difficulty. Total comfort food, but you rocked it!

I was concerned about how you would resolve Ruby and Yerin. When you did, it was a huge forehead-slap (Oh, of course!) moment for me. Kudos and more kudos!

Still hoping that you have a plan to continue the story once (if?) the characters depart cradle.

Jon

10/13/2020 11:41:30 am

Just realized something bizarre as I've read and reread like there's something broken in me that only Cradle can fix...

I was irritated that we had several books focusing on a big tournament. I know it's practically compulsory in this genre, but I was irritated anyhow.

And then I loved this book to pieces in spite of the tournament centerpiece. My rereads skim right over half the book and I'm still happy as a pig in slop. Now that's a recommendation!

Mark

10/7/2020 02:20:06 pm

Finished a couple of hours ago and loved it! About to start the audio book. Thank you for such a great read!

Logan

10/7/2020 02:24:50 pm

Honestly book was great you release books that I truly enjoy.
And all three of your series are always on the top of my recommendation list for others.

Van

10/7/2020 11:10:23 pm

I got Started on the Cradle series, but when I caught up to it again last year, I had to see how good his other works where. I’m telling you, you won’t be disappointed if you pick up the other series he has to offer.

Johnbaptist

10/7/2020 02:53:56 pm

I did not realize that it was possible for Lindon to $&@-/;. It was never hinted as possible.

Patricia

10/7/2020 03:08:08 pm

Loved the book! The new drafting method seems to work as we got a lovely amount of character moments that might have not been included in an earlier book. All ready to preorder the next book whenever it comes out!

Obvious meme

10/7/2020 03:14:53 pm

So your longest book ever performed the best? Coincidence? I THINK NOT

Bleithan

10/7/2020 03:28:45 pm

I’m on my second listen of the audio book. I’m guessing you will start a new series before the next installment of Cradle but am hoping you won’t. 😬

Ramberg

10/12/2020 12:56:25 am

I wholeheartedly agree! The Cradle series is in my top 3 list along Kingkiller Cronicle and Stormlight Archive. When taking into consideration the quality of the series (just look at the goodreads ratings!) it would be a little weird not to put all efforts into making the continuation as best as possible. That being said, I understand if Will needs to pursue other projects if this is necessary from an economical standpoint. I hope however, thats not the case ;)

Mike

10/7/2020 03:30:11 pm

A well deserved congratulations!!

Matthew

10/7/2020 03:49:06 pm

I want to say will, I became a fan around the time ghost water came out and I was hooked from the first book. I can look back and say a couple great moments in each book. This book is by far my favorite, there are so many moments that were breath taking and made me shout with excitement. You did a great f-ing job, I can't wait to see what you write next

Mike

10/7/2020 03:56:35 pm

Not sure if you’ll ever se this but Thank you Will for bringing us along on this amazing journey!

Truly, thank you. .

Hayden Desrosiers

10/7/2020 03:56:54 pm

Finished it. Loved it. Need more. The Void in me demands I devour more of this story. Please, use a mind spirit if you need to, continue this story asap. I simply can not wait to see the next installment!

isaac

10/7/2020 04:06:20 pm

when are you going to release blood line

Subhashree

10/7/2020 11:46:18 pm

I am panting like a rabid dog- I am already waiting for the next book

Eithan Arelius

10/8/2020 03:05:49 pm

This... is the type of comment that makes him weep oreos

Grendith

10/7/2020 04:13:25 pm

I'm on my second listen. I've been thinking a lot about where this goes into my order of favourite Cradle books, Ghostwater was always my Number 1, this has surpassed it. Everything was spot on, loads of great surprises.

Thanks Will

P.s obligatory *when will the next one be out*

Chris

10/7/2020 04:41:55 pm

This is my favorite book in the series. I've listened to the book twice since it has been released. I was so sad after the ending to Uncrowned. This made everything that happened in Uncrowned worth it.

Tim

10/7/2020 04:44:19 pm

Wintersteel does a PERFECT job of delivering on all the setup and promos of the earlier books. So good, I read in a day. I literally could not put it down.

Malachi

10/7/2020 04:46:36 pm

Wow, just wow. Thanks for another great book. I was not a huge fan of Uncrowned at first, but I loved it a ton on all my re-reads. I imagine it is similar with Wintersteel. I felt like the fights in the tournament dragged on, but I’m pretty sure that was due to me reading it with for 8 hours straight with only a few breaks for school. I’m sure rereading it I will love how much there is, it just felt like it slowed down the plot a bit (which doesn’t have to be a bad thing.)
I really loved how each character grew in their own way, with elements that had been seeded since the first book, along with the great world building.
Looking forward to the next book, keep up the great work (though with OKAK done I hope there is a new series, maybe a new traveler’s gate)

Sean C

10/7/2020 04:47:59 pm

I had a thought prior to starting Wintersteel. It occurred to me that every book in the series thus far had me on a cliffhanger jonesing for more and not being quite satisfied with what I got. I love the series. The books are great. But all I wanted from this book was to feel figuratively full. I am so happy to say that this book provided that for me. Don’t get me wrong, I want more, bit not because this book was missing something. Something you did with this book felt complete, and its going to take me several more readings to be able to point to the exact spots. Thank you very much Will!

JM-SL

10/7/2020 04:57:04 pm

One of the best fantasy books I ever read. It went beyond my very high expectations. It is fantastic in every way. It gather the best of every previous book. It bring back the Lindon of Unsouled, it shows and open to us all so many things of this wonderful world you have created as Soulsmith, it has some really serious training (Blackflame), it feels as a great adventure with new surprises on every corner, it has even more epic scenes that Uncrowned, it answer more questions than all the previous books together and it is really REALLY fun. I mean… there was many scenes that made me laugh out loud. A truly masterpiece.

Thank you very much.

Madeline

10/7/2020 05:19:54 pm

I find myself wishing that one scene could have been told from the point of view of the girl to Sha Siris' left. That could've been entertaining.

Chris E

10/7/2020 05:30:00 pm

Thank you for crafting such an astounding world filled with brilliant characters. Wintersteel deserves to be in the #1 spot without a doubt.

Elliot

10/7/2020 05:46:40 pm

Now this is probably not what you'd consider a spoiler but a warning anyways in case Will decides to keep this up. About one or two years ago me and a couple of people had a discussion about a hidden monarch in sacred valley. My theory was that Sacred Valley drained a persons madras as well as this monarchs and kept them imprisoned in the valley. This is why the people of sacred valley never rose above Jade. I gave this as an answer as to how the Sword Sage was killed so easily. His power was drained and he became defenseless. We see in chapter one that I was only partially right. The Sage himself confirms the theory that the Valley is a huge formation. He also mentions "Subject One" is being contained. What I'm waiting to see is if Elder Whisper is the subject mentioned. However now I'm starting to realize maybe I'm wrong about that considering Will told us he was going to write about Elder Whisper checking up on Lindon. So I guess we'll have to wait and see who this monarch/subject one is.

Kenon

10/8/2020 04:01:42 am

Thinking back to older books and this one, it was mentioned that the "father of the dreadgods", the being from which the dreadgods were made, is imprisoned in the labyrinth. Since the Titan thinks of Sacred Valley as home, I'd speculate that Subject One is a being of pure Hunger Madra, maybe even a Chaos Fiend that was trapped in Cradle.

The Evil One

10/8/2020 10:46:17 pm

In this one when Lindon took madra from the Titan, the dreadgod had thought of Subject One as his brother.

Gustavo

10/7/2020 06:00:05 pm

Excellent work, Will. What an amazing book. I could not put it down until I finished it. Cheers from Colombia!

Andy

10/7/2020 06:19:15 pm

I started hitting refresh on my kindle before midnight just in case amazon let me start it few minutes early. Was not disappointed.

Charles Shumway

10/7/2020 06:30:53 pm

Will, you finally incorporated some romantic scenes into your books! YA WILL!!!! (I've been waiting 16 books for some characters to kiss!)

Julie

10/7/2020 06:37:10 pm

Just finished the audiobook of wintersteel! It's sooooooooooooooo good! Loved the little connection back to the first book!

The Dragon Beyond the Gate

10/7/2020 07:06:57 pm

It's sort of interesting. At the beginning of the novel, Lindon, Yerin, and Eithan were all Underlords, and they each go forward in their own personal ways.

Other people have probably already commented on it, but it's clearly intentional. I can't say more on it without spoilers.

Also, this novel made me feel sorry for Sopharantoth. There's one moment I think deserves some comment, because... well, things could have gone differently.

Madeline

10/7/2020 08:40:48 pm

Indeed. All of her previous actions are understandable, not necessarily evil, and it's unfortunate that she unknowingly threw away her only chance at redemption.

The Dragon Beyond the Gate

10/7/2020 10:29:16 pm

Eh, I would say several of her actions were evil. Her sisters actions were evil.

But being evil doesn't mean that's all you are. Being evil doesn't mean your pain or suffering isn't pain or suffering.

And throwing away her chance... Well, we can't comment without going into spoiler territory. But it's a step beyond 'throwing away a chance.'

Cyberbass22

10/7/2020 07:17:20 pm

Congrats Will! First for a fantastic book and a incredible continuation of the story. 2nd congrats on the #1 kindle seller!

Thank you for your work and sharing your stories.

Justes

10/7/2020 07:52:42 pm

Nothing short of Amazing!!! I will start the whole series all over again tomorrow! I can't wait for the next installment! I hope to see this series continue far into the future following their progression! 🤞🏽

Kyle

10/7/2020 09:09:13 pm

I was randomly checking every few months for news on when/whether Wintersteel was out yet, and by sheer serendipitous good fortune I decided to check yesterday when the book JUST came out!

Loving it so far - bought the kindle edition and audio book both!

I wanted to let you know, in case it's something that the audiobook publisher can release a fix for, that at 6:38:39 in the audiobook, there seems to be a skip of a few seconds of missing content.

I wasn't sure the best way to contact to let you know, so hopefully you find this and it's something that's helpful and can be fixed.

Love the cradle series and thank you for your awesome work!

The Dragon Beyond the Gate

10/7/2020 11:10:06 pm

I noticed the same. Well, I didn't check the timestamp, but there was a moment when he was talking with Grace, where something skipped.

Brendan

10/7/2020 09:19:33 pm

I have loved your series right up until Uncrowned. Unfortunately It had so many parts of it that I didn't like and decisions in it that didn't make sense to me. As such I was not eagerly waiting your next instalment like I have been for all the others (Checking the blog every third of fourth day for updates). I didn't like the direction the series was going. When it was released I gave it a go though.

It was fantastic. The best part though is that many of my concerns from Uncrowned were elaborated on and more information provided which justified the decisions a lot more. I think you did really well. Good work.

Now unfortunately I am left waiting on the next book. Sigh. I guess ill get back to checking your blog every couple of days for updates.

Kyle

10/7/2020 10:07:21 pm

Ummm, I’m just here for the fresh coriander...is this the place?

God

10/10/2020 03:12:41 am

Sorry, that’s 2 aisles down on the left

Joe Shmoe

10/7/2020 11:25:02 pm

I've enjoyed every book you've written, but wintersteel is my favorite. It captured the wushia style more than the others but didn't get bogged down with too much detail or repetitive sentences.
The new writing style you tried worked well in my opinion, plus it seemed like you wrote the book even faster that way. So if the new style is faster (and I think most of us would agree) please keep writing that way.

Thank you for doimg what you do, now I will do what I do and impatiently wait for the next book.

Zageron

10/8/2020 01:54:16 am

Holy smokes will. That was such a good piece of work. I could hardly stop listening. What an insane ride. I didn't see a single thing coming. I am so freaking excited for the next book, I can't even handle it. Congrats on this insanely successful creation. And thank you.

Steven Brown.

10/8/2020 02:54:30 am

This was an awesome read and honestly I want every book to be as long and detailed as this one. It is still a fast read but the length made it all the better. Being able to see that I still had much more story to enjoy instead of it being a flash made the experience all the better.... On a side note I cannot believe Little Blue is.... And that Dross made Lindon....

Patrick

10/8/2020 04:30:21 am

Sometimes I wish i didn't read so fast. This was a crazy great book. If this is what comes of your "new writing style", please write like this ALL THE TIME.
And.... when does the next book (9) come out ???? (tomorrow ??)

Shawn

10/8/2020 05:53:38 am

Never finished a book so quickly. I genuinely loved it! I have mixed feelings though. I'm not sure if it's a byproduct of this new writing style you mentioned but it felt a little rushed, especially around the second half. This is the longest book but I think the pacing would have been perfect if it were just slightly longer. A bit more exposition would have also been great.

Overall though, what a book. I really want to talk about Travis but I'm not sure what else there is to say. His is one of those performances that never disappoints.

Lauren Brown

10/8/2020 10:23:30 pm

Definitely agree. I really enjoyed it but missed the depth that Will's writing usually has. It was a nice change of pace but I hope he goes back to his previous style or combines them. I definitely feel like the charscters needed more time to internalize everything (myself included)

Travis

10/18/2020 02:18:57 pm

To be honest, I believe that is intentional. It had me feeling like they were running out of time...

kris

10/20/2020 08:10:10 am

I was fine for most of the book, I thought we had enough internal dialog to follow the character progression. There were only two spots which I feel would have benefited from more character development. 1) I think there should have been some scene where Lindon shared the vision of Northstrider ascending to Monarch with Yerin. That would have set the stage for her merging a bit better. As it stands when that scene happens, I was left wondering how she even knew about that possibility. Maybe it could have been a brief conversation after the dinner while walking back to the Akura tower. "Hey, I didn't want dinner to be about anything other than spending some time with you relaxing, but Dross managed to put together something from Northstrider that I think might be useful for you to know and think about during your month of training". 2) When Lindon is fighting at the end and gaining those insights into himself from his opponents which help lead him to a deeper understanding which triggers......things. It felt like a little more internal dialog from him explaining how he was considering those stray thoughts and relating them to himself would have made the scenes a bit less confusing. It's like he's mumbling random things to himself, then BAM! Insight.

Still, this was an amazing book. I've read it 3 times back to back now. And I'm still finding things that I missed the first time, or that I perceive differently knowing how things turn out.

Travis

10/21/2020 09:53:03 am

Actually, it was discussed by the Sage of Red Faith. He told her that she could become a monarch "as easily as putting on a pair of slippers" by merging with her shadow once she manifested an icon.

Kris

10/21/2020 10:34:45 am

@Travis

Yes, I remembered that scene. To me, I didn't feel like that one comment would have been enough for her to figure out what needed to be done. The vision from Northstrider would have provided enough to actually DO the merge, while the comment from the Sage of Red Faith would probably have been enough for Yerin to EVENTUALLY figure it out.

But again, these are just very minor things. As I said, the book was amazing.

Kyle

10/8/2020 06:05:47 am

Absolutely loved Wintersteel. I got it on audible and I am probably going to relisten to it a couple more times before moving on to another book. It was just so good and I’m sure I missed something in it. Can’t wait for the next one. Keep up the outstanding work!!

Southstrider

10/8/2020 07:48:53 am

Congratulations on making the #1 Kindle bestseller, Will! You are a truly incredible author. Wintersteel was absolutely amazing, I've been looking forward to it about a minute after completing Uncrowned.

Congratulations again! We love you, Will.

Kobus Brits

10/8/2020 09:02:32 am

What a masterpiece.

I have had this on pre-order since the 22nd.
I started the audiobook at 10am on the 6th and only just now finished.

What to know why it took me 2 days to complete? Because after every hour that I listened I had to stop and meditate on the amazingness of Wintersteel....

But I was also saddend to know that every minute that I get to enjoy was a minute closer to the end.

It took my two days to finish because I was scared of completing it.

But by God was it worth it. It was just amazing.

I loved the book and I am truly glad that we get to enjoy work like this.

Thanks Will.

And Travis for an awesome job on the audiobook as always.

Pat

10/8/2020 09:37:34 am

Good work on the book Will. It's great to see you really improving as an author as the series goes on. This is definitely one of your best, if not your best book yet.

I know you made an effort to add more character development and interaction (outside of fight scenes) in Wintersteel. Yerin has started to become a much more well rounded character as a result. My only request, keep doing more of the stuff you did in this book!

You're already one of the fastest, if not the fastest paced author out there. A little pause in the action for some character depth/interaction between Grace, Pride, Mercy, Yerin etc will only make the book better! Would love more on these side characters as the book goes on to keep the story exciting and engaging.

Thanks again for a great book and keep up the good work!

Mike

10/8/2020 10:52:56 am

Curse you Will, for making me procrastinate with your excellent writing! I couldn't put the book down all day, stayed up till 1 AM, and now i'm going to have to reread parts because it was so good!

Klaste

10/8/2020 11:27:24 am

Thanks for the book, and grats on #1!
I also want to commend you for the idea of having the bloopers section. It's not only hilarious every time, but having them right after the ending is a great way to counteract the melancholy that always tends to set in after finishing a great read. I was too busy laughing to feel sad about the wait.

James

10/8/2020 11:33:41 am

I listen to 8 hours of audio books every day at work. Of course I kept listening to Wintersteel well into the night until I finished it but now I have a problem. Everything I try to listen to is boring. Please fix this by writing 10 more book series. Maybe a trilogy with Orthos and Lindon's sister?

King Rex

10/8/2020 11:44:10 am

I read Wintersteel in one Day and I am amazed how much you can develop a group of characters in one book. My one solution to appease me waiting is writing on my own time. I never thought I would enjoy writing so much.

Coco

10/8/2020 12:02:01 pm

I see so many like minded comments on your books Will. It is a great story. It has great cohesion, likable characters, and we always root for the underdog.
It delivers.
And we, the dear readers, often deliver a portion of the power of square. We bring in another reader. Some bring in ten. More captives for you to torture with the hook of waiting for the next morsel of an epic story.
We thank you for the morsels, and look forward to the excruciating pain of waiting for the next one.
Thank you for another great installment.

10/8/2020 01:06:08 pm

A lot more

10/13/2020 06:56:45 am

Eithan Arelius

10/8/2020 03:03:40 pm

HEEEEY HEEEEY LOOK AT MEEEEE!!!!

Sorry, just had to get the attention...

You can tell that Wintersteel was written different than the other books but it is definitely not worse, in fact, I think that this was on par with my personal favourite book (and the best book so far) Ghostwater. They both just are more fleshed out and show him developing his own techniques. But also, I just really got hooked on reading Wintersteel and literally had a brief panic and rage attack whenever I was forced to look away from it.

Kudos (and oreo buckets) to you Will... And Congrats for #1

Chris

10/8/2020 04:39:10 pm

Epic book! One observation: I'd give a cartload of top grade scales for a world map of Cradle at this point.

nate

10/8/2020 04:44:30 pm

Great book. i would even say it is the best so far. also MORE bloopers. they are the best part of your book
thanks for the great story and all the laughs
NOW BACK TO WORK

Banks

10/8/2020 04:59:38 pm

Yo Will, maybe someone already mentioned this. But, the word wise version of the book through the kindle unlimited app is really hard to get to. I almost gave up on getting the audio version after trying two nights in a row. Had to power up an old cell phone and lucked into accessing it. I’m thinking you want it to be easy for people to buy. But that option is not visible when you go to check the book out.

Just an FYI. We got keep your funds flowing so you’ll keep writing these awesome books!

Ben

10/8/2020 06:01:38 pm

Book is great so far. Love the extra content you left in.

Dwayne Royster

10/8/2020 06:28:34 pm

Will

This book was incredible. I am heartbroken that I have finished it and not sure when the next installment arrives. I had the pleasure of reading the first 7 books in the cradle series after they all were written. I spent a couple of weeks just sitting around reading. Then I had to wait. I was so excited when this part of the saga was released. It was worth the wait!!!! I look forward to the next book.

Ross

10/8/2020 08:12:49 pm

Thanks Will, awesome read... Ghostwater had been my favourite but Wintersteel easily surpassed it (which is really saying something as this series has been top notch)... and like everyone else, can't wait for the next one

Aaron link

10/8/2020 09:08:57 pm

Dude, there's just *something* about your series that hits the nail *just right*. You manage to weave in a sense of epic fantasy, anime, and fun hero advancement....like, literally perfectly. I am still reading Wintersteel, but the ending of the last book broke my heart. And I loved it. You're somehow making bold choices, pushing fun plot, hinting at things to come, evolving the characters, keeping the action fun, evolving them in an rpg-lit sorta way without being over-the-top, and writing at Sanderson-esque speeds.

Ugh. Like, literally, if someone told me the plot of the books, I might not have picked them up. Your execution is just SO good. Keep it up. You deserve that slot.

BlackMage

10/8/2020 10:14:59 pm

Finished the e-book and now starting on the audio book. Left a 5-star review on Amazon (they need an option for 6 stars). When is pre-order for book 9 starting? :)

Lauren Brown

10/8/2020 10:18:34 pm

I'm quute disappointed with myself, I read it so quickly and when I got to the end I felt like I had missed some critical elements so now I have to go back and read it all over again...(sigh)
It left me thinking about it for days. I liked how Lindon stayed knocked out of the tournament. Obviously we wanted him reintroduced in some way but that would have been pandering to our desire for everyone to live 'happily ever after' which isn't very believable. I keep wondering what direction you'll take the next one?

rxk

10/9/2020 12:24:12 am

fantastic job on book 8 Will. I was hoping for a bit more Kelsa and Orthos content but I guess we will get it in book 9. congrats on the success, looking forward to the next installment :)

Ahkemmsh

10/9/2020 12:27:14 am

Whenever Lindon finally gets to go home. I hope his family gets a measure of what he's become. His parents have no concept of what his growth has been. The clan can rot and he should wipe that preschool that has his mom off the earth, but I want his family to really see how much he really accomplished.

Blue

10/9/2020 04:02:03 am

I loved the book, but it got me also confused.

I always wondered who stood higher in the ranking, sage or herald. The question was answerd: both are part of the same step to reach monarch/matriach.

What got me confused by that was: Why would someone with sage powers lose them when becoming herald instead of becoming monarch/matriach? Ok, that would have crumbled the story i suppose, but i found it a valid question. ^_^

Ethans explanation at the end was also interesting. Showing how 'gifted' someone was to not need all the efford a nother had to put in.

By the end of the story, i had only that question and two others.

1. the things about heralds & sages
2. why someone would want to trim his story? (i loved that it was a longer read!)
3. How the heck did no one mention that backstabber at the end? He gets away with all the sh*t he does again and again. He should seriously look for a job as a saboteur, those traits would make him world class. x))

Tryed to stay as neutral as possible in what i wrote to not put any spoilers in there. Hope that worked.

Blue

WarmRangoon

10/9/2020 07:29:46 pm

About your first question, without spoilers, they wouldn't. Flirting with the Sage stage is not the same as actually being a Sage, so that would explain that.

I too wondered about #3, guess Will needs to pump out the next book to give us a satisfactory answer, heehehe!

Dross III

10/9/2020 04:36:27 am

Absolutely brilliant! You are forgiven for ending the last book half way through 🥳

Caleb

10/9/2020 05:46:49 am

Hey Will, quick question. When is the next book coming out? Can you go ahead and put up a pre-order now so I can be sure to get it as soon as possible? Thanks!

Adama Tim link

10/9/2020 06:36:48 am

Congrats Will on this Opus. Much as we all face the melancholy of reaching the end and returning to reality, we actually need a bit of space to process all this. If your new books of this caliber came out weekly were a weekly, I'm afraid the global economy would come to a grinding halt.

One thing that is always difficult with the epic fantasy is translating it back to everyday without just wishing to go back to escape. So now we have a few months to cycle through all this as we seek to "Improve ourselves" and know what it is to contribute to and exercise ones will in accordance with "the way". The techniques may not be as flashy, but there's a lot to glean body, mind and soul from a classic of this sort in life between iterations.

Jake

10/9/2020 07:00:44 am

Love it, Will. This book struck me as a sign of depth (maturity?) coming into your writing. Now, along with excellent worldbuilding and story, there is that extra gravity that makes the story resonate.

Instead of saying, "I couldn't put it down!" which I have said about others you've written, to this one I say, "I occasionally needed to put it down." I had to ponder, reflect, and savour.

Thank you for taking a chance with your writing process. I don't know for that that was the difference maker, but I suspect it had an impact. You deserve every bit of praise, as well as a rest to recharge.

Sleepy

10/9/2020 08:33:07 am

Salutations and congratulations on another great installment Will, that book blew my mind and had me laughing out loud at many points. Phenomenal job sir well done!

Matthew Wolf link

10/9/2020 09:22:36 am

Amazing! Loved it

Chris Fournier

10/9/2020 10:35:26 am

Will,

I just want to say thank you for another amazing book. My only dilemma is my families crazy reading habits. I have the Kindle version and it was great. I have one son who only does Audible so we got that. My other son is a book snob and will only read paperbacks. How soon will the paperback be available? Please take more of my money!

Tim

10/9/2020 11:13:38 am

Not sure if anyone has pointed this out yet and I don't mean to embarrass you Will but there is an error on your website, it reads:

"Wintersteel Progress:
Monarch"

Shouldn't that say:

"Bloodline Progress:
Underlord"

Peter Cook link

10/9/2020 11:25:48 am

Can I pre-order the next one? I get it you want to relax, but this book was amazing. I am willing to wait for you to soulsmith another piece of heavenly armor in your own time, I would happily buy all the next books. I read your previous articles on how this one was done a tad differently, and you were worried, but the outcome was outstanding. This has been well worth the time and effort. Thank you for making this.

Nerevar

10/9/2020 01:45:09 pm

This book is so off the charts, its insane.
Uncrowned was somewhat dissapointing since it was the first book that didnt finish the arc, but oh boy was it worth it.

This is not merely an Uncrowned part 2. Its Ghostwater, Underlord and Uncrowned on absoulte steroids.

At first I bought kindle version because waiting 2 weeks for paperback to come is too much, but now im totally getting it.

Dear Sir, I salute you!

Ben

10/9/2020 05:59:33 pm

Just finished the book, and I am staggered. It is definitely the best of the series so far. Just enough character development, combat, info dump, and exploration of other paths. The insight into Northstrider is also really interesting. Looking forward to seeing what you have coming next.

Patrick

10/9/2020 07:01:23 pm

So, i'll echo the sentiments of many of my fellow readers: WHEN do you expect the next book in the series will be out? I've re-read Winter and am hungry for the story to continue.

10/9/2020 10:09:10 pm

Best book I have read in a long time. Best book in the series. Perfect length. Don’t go cutting down Bloodline. Can’t wait for it

Emily

10/9/2020 11:16:28 pm

Since it's on everybody's mind...what am I supposed to read next? (and please don't just link to wuxiaworld...xanxia doesn't work for me, I don't know if it's the insane levels of sexism or that characters literally never fail, I love cradle because it takes the good of that genre without the bad)

Phlinn

10/12/2020 02:46:06 pm

You might try street cultivation by Sarah Lin. The main character isn't horribly OP or a contemptible jerk. I like the urban wuxia setting.

I've found that some of the variants on wuxia work better for me, or with western authors. There are both cultural and translation issues with original xianxi/wuxia, although I've still read some of them.

Will's take is still my favorite though.

Noah

10/10/2020 02:51:17 am

When are you starting the next book

Virgil

10/10/2020 11:05:55 am

My favorite book so far from my favorite author.

James

10/10/2020 11:59:23 am

Hi Will,

I devoured <i>Wintersteel</i>. I loved it. The story caught me by surprise, for sure! Thank you for Cradle!

Nick S

10/10/2020 03:20:45 pm

I watched your pre-release event (first time doing that). After watching you play Risk of Rain 2 and then reading Wintersteel, I realized how similar the two genres were. That was a connection I had never made before. It was a weird paradigm shift thinking of Linden's sacred art advancement like a video game with deeper character interaction. It was clearly much more involved than that, I am over-simplifying, but I saw the parallel nonetheless.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly, as Wintersteel was definitely a payoff book, where Uncrowned was a conflict development book Well done. I eagerly await the next book. However, Wintersteel closed everything out very well so I don't need it RIGHT NOW; like the need I felt for Wintersteel when Uncrowned "ended".

Brian

10/10/2020 05:45:34 pm

Will, ty. Wintersteel was just great! I absolutely loved the character development of Dross, Yerrin & Ruby (wow), Lindon, and Eithan, etc. Masterfully done. Enjoyed every second reading. Hope they make a movie someday.

Matt

10/10/2020 08:03:48 pm

The best one yet! I faced a serious dilemma as I realised I was approaching the end of the book. I didn’t want to stop reading but didn’t want it to be over. It was torture. Love your work!

Evan

10/10/2020 10:57:38 pm

Will, you glorious bastard! Wintersteel was absolutely amazing! Soooooo much happened in the book! Especially at the end. I think I teared up at one point, LOL’d many times and made weird giddy noises that caused my wife to question my sanity! Well done sir, well done.

Vish

10/11/2020 06:49:50 am

Don't know why you were so worried, so far the best book of the bunch, the increased length made no difference, still couldn't put it down, in fact it was better as it lasted longer. But I cant wait another year for the next book Will, get those oreos down you and get back to it man. Once the series is finished I think you should talk to a few people to try for a TV series. I personally would love to see it developed into an Anime as there would be no limit to the visual effects possible.

João

10/11/2020 08:36:19 am

The books is awesome!!!
Thank you for the great work!
Does bloodline gets released next week? (just joking... or maybe not)

The book's length has nice but it still feels short, because of how it grabs the reader. I think I'm greatly addicted.

Please keep writing really like the story and the way you write.

I think most of the readers would love to read those scenes that you created but felled that would change the pace of the book. I respect your decision but if there way a way for us to be able to read them, we would love, at least I would really like it.
I don't have an idea of were to put then if at the end of the book like what you did with the bloopers, as a side book or even in this blog.

As someone said before, I thought you would go deeper in the details when soulsmithing, because there are other books that show more details about that RPG stuff.
So if you want to show more detail in soulsmithing it would be awesome.

Thank you once again for a great book and thank you for not taking 3 years to release each book.

James Dye

10/11/2020 07:04:36 pm

If 3 years seems long stay away from Patrick Rothfuss 😂😂😂.
In all honesty his 2 books are amazing but hes like 8 years behind his 3rd book.

Nick S

10/12/2020 05:59:18 pm

Yes. Yes he is. The Name of the Wind is possibly the best book I have ever read, but I may never know how the series ends. Don't have kids Will, or at least wait until you finish Cradle.

Connor

10/11/2020 05:57:03 pm

When can we expect Bloodline to be released? I need more Will! Please!

James Dye

10/11/2020 07:02:12 pm

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Ive been an avid reader my entire life and this is probably one of the best books ive ever read. Having just finished battle ground by Jim Butcher (Which is also amazing) I was a little worried this wouldnt measure up. But you managed to beat it! Great Job Will! 10/10!

Nathan M

10/11/2020 11:53:30 pm

I read the book the day it came out and I've been revisiting it ever since in an attempt to savour my favourite parts. So in other words I'll be reading it again very soon. Really enjoyed the fact that it was 500+ pages this time around and I especially CANNOT wait for the upcoming books in the series. I think the last time I was this excited about a book series I was 14. Really loving your work!

FuZEN

10/12/2020 03:28:02 am

Honestly I was a little disappointed after book 7. It was fine but a bit of a let down compared to other books in the series but dispite this i was sure that the next book would return to the quality that the rest of the series had. It didn't. It absolutely smashed my expectations out of the park. This is probably my favourites entry in this series. Keep em coming.

Chad

10/12/2020 05:25:34 am

I was pleased to see that Audible had this up at a reduced whisper sync price this morning. I snagged it for $8 instead of the normal price. Usually it takes a month for the match to appear.

Now to listen to the book and get the extra's that Travis adds to Wills story.

Dylan

10/12/2020 05:49:08 am

This has been the most fantastic cradle book yet. The ambition of it is impressive. I never expected you to scale of the series to such incredible heights. The diversity of story lines, new characters, and the incredible and creative arcs you wrote have made this my favorite cradle and fantasy book I have ever read. Please continue to do great work, and never stop writing cradle. It's good for my soul.

Thank you

Margaret

10/12/2020 08:19:21 am

So, so, SO awesome! I really love to read Will’s books. Great characters, great world-building, just all around enjoyable. Thanks so much for another incredible book. In fact, the best yet.

Jake

10/12/2020 09:09:13 am

Will, I just destroyed this audiobook, I listened to the whole thing in like 2 days. I am a heavy fantasy listener and I have to say, Cradle might be my favorite fantasy series ever. Please do nothing but crank the books out because they are AMAZING. Thank you for writing them!

Covilly

10/12/2020 09:12:52 am

My only problem with the book is that I’ve finished reading it and the next one is not out yet.

Matthew Garmon

10/12/2020 06:00:00 pm

I held back listening to Wintersteel for a weekend I wouldn't have my kids. I needed the moment to be perfect. After pausing on the last 5 minutes I realized I'd have to wait another year for the next book. Can I possibly bribe you to get started on it asap?? Link your cash app! Or you can have one of my daughters idc

George

10/12/2020 08:45:20 pm

So.... I accidentally picked up your series like 5 years ago Will. And I mean I had NO intent on reading your series. I saw the series was named Cradle and the first book was Unsouled. I thought it was about ghost babies.

Damn I'm glad I was wrong. Great job on the books. Is there anyway I can commission some leather bound (well, pleather bound) books somehow? Would look great in my faux mahogany library wall......

If so, I'll send you an obscene amount of Oreos. So. Many. Oreos..... Think about it?

Chris J

10/13/2020 02:05:33 am

I was pointed to the Cradle series by Ilona Andrews husband Gordon by a comment in their blog. I now owe them lots and lots of wonderful things for the referral! What a terrific series this is. Of course, as author you get the biggest praise, but the one downside to Wintersteel is the wait for the next book. Write faster!! (sounds of whips, wailing and gnashing of teeth)

Will Eccles link

10/13/2020 09:51:08 am

Wintersteel is an ABSOLUTELY great read!!... Upon my first read of the book, I just knew it was going to be my favorite of the series so far... after my second read, well, pretty much the same if only for the length of book alone.

Some of what I REALLY Loved:

-Length. This book length just gives me the impression that you REALLY took into consideration a lot of reader's gripes about the books being too short. I never complained about it, but I'm glad they did, because the result was wonderful.

-Pacing. The pace of this book was done so masterfully that I never felt like there was a lull in the story. I was on tinter-hooks the entire journey.

-Characters. I actually really enjoyed the fleshing out of the many characters in the series. You get to see some people from a different p.o.v and understand them more. In the same breath, with the fleshing out of all these many characters, ample time is still spent on the main character and the supporting cast.

ONLY issue(s):

-M.C. This book was written so well that I didn't realize I had an issue with ANY of it until after going back for my 3rd read... While I think the progression is Top Notch, the M.C of the series is TECHNICALLY going into book 9 at the same level of advancement as he ended book 6. Yes, that level has a "boost" now, but ultimately, we're going into a fourth book with him at the same level, while the main supporting characters have actually advanced; making him STILL the weakest of his group 9 books in... It doesn't ruin the book in any type of way, that's just something that bothered ME... but only because in my head, after getting so far into the series, I pictured him as passing his peers before the final book... but that's in my head.

-Wait. I have to wait for the next one to come out.

Also, it's really hard writing these while trying not to put spoilers...

Brian

10/13/2020 07:12:42 pm

Just to disagree with you a bit... there is a significant power level difference in Lindon between 6 and the ending of 8. Getting technical about it doesn't really mean anything.

I don't mind him being the weakest of his group at certain points one bit, it's close and they've been at it for years ahead of him. Without them being a bit stronger then that makes him loose something pushing him to be stronger. I certainly don't want him to blow past them because then he'd have less need for them going forward, and I don't want to lose those characters.

Overall I agree though! Amazing book!

Biggest con for me is not enough ORTHOS. I want to see a Sage level turtle next, let's goo!

Will Eccles link

10/14/2020 11:37:46 am

I hear you... I actually 100% agree with you on everything, especially the Orthos part...

There's just a little immature/kiddie part of my brain that's pouting with it's arms crossed saying "but he's STILL an Underlord"... LoL

Qudus

11/6/2020 05:18:56 pm

Honestly, I can't agree with you more. I want to see Orthos as a miniature Wandering Titan when he transforms to become more human. I'm really looking forward to his advancement to Underlord.

Mike

10/13/2020 04:08:03 pm

Loved Wintersteel... but I'm 98.99% sure that one or more chapters on soulsmithing got cut from these last two books. Any chance for some short stories to be released while we're waiting on the next book?

jabrwok

10/14/2020 12:33:38 pm

Does anyone else get his comments held for moderation, or is that just me? Maybe it's my zoho.com e-mail address.

jabrwok

10/14/2020 12:35:40 pm

Looks like that was it. Using gmail.com didn't trigger the moderation block.

So on that note, does anyone else think that Lindon is maturing into Ozriel 2.0?

Also, why did my favorite supporting character have to die!?!

BlackMage

10/15/2020 05:32:55 am

Using a VPN will get my comments held for moderation i.e. blocked.

Jim R

10/14/2020 03:28:04 pm

Dare I say that Wintersteel has the potential to redeem 2020. Honestly, this is the best thing to happened since COVID started. There were times when I literally was pumping my fist in excitement. This was a tremendous book.

Ror

10/14/2020 05:26:57 pm

awesome job, loved the book. 10/10.

Paul Artyomenko

10/15/2020 12:52:13 am

Hey Will. I started listening to your series I think last year and finished it in a week, it was so amazing, and waiting for winter steel to come out felt like forever. When I saw it in the new releases on audible, my heart jumped into my throat, I couldn’t get it into my wish list fast enough.

I thought your book was fantastic, and I hope that you find the perfect inspiration and speed for book 9. I can’t wait, I know it’s a ton of pressure on you, but just keep doing what you’re doing, because it’s great! Thanks again!

subzero_i_freeze_people

10/15/2020 12:03:23 pm

bloody hell man! cracking book. seriously.....better get cracking on the next one mate, we're already impatient. the dragon advances

SouthStrider

10/15/2020 05:22:30 pm

just thought I'd point this out, but, E. ya know? also D... but E. E is good. E
I like E

E.

Kris

10/16/2020 07:41:27 am

Like everyone else, I think this book was the perfect length. Considering how you described your editing process, I tried to picture scenes that could have been cut. I honestly don't believe that any of them could have been taken out without impacting the quality of the book.

It also felt like this book had more time spent in the editing/review stage, and it shows in a positive way. This book had the least grammatical or consistency mistakes of any of the previous 7. I only found 1 in the entire book...during the scene where the Akura family was first departing to head to the Dread God site, Lindon asks Naru Saeya "Gratitude. If you don't mind me asking, why aren't you coming home?" Which should be "...why aren't you GOING home?".

There was a lot of discussion in this thread and the previous Wintersteel post about the nature of Monarch/Sage/Herald and advancing and who is at what stage. That was the only other section of the book that at first didn't read quite right. It made more sense to me that the memory Dross took from Northstrider was his ascension to Herald, not Monarch. I had thought that it went Archlord (Sage) > Herald > Monarch. Which would tie into Yerin merging with Ruby and becoming an Overlord/Herald. I also felt like there should have been at least a brief scene where Lindon shared that memory with Yerin. Otherwise, how did she even have the idea to merge with Ruby in the final fight? Sure the Blood Sage sort of mentioned it in an offhand manner, but that wouldn't have been enough to go on to work out the details. But the ending showed that you have a definite goal in mind for all these characters, so I'll trust your judgement and enjoy this amazing story you're crafting.

Brian

10/16/2020 09:53:51 am

It was my understanding that a Monarch is a Herald that is also a Sage. It's kind of like two separate things. You become a Sage when you can draw on an Icon / use the Way, but you can become a Herald without being able to do those things.

However, you can't become a Monarch without doing that, so that's the distinction I think. For example, think about the ascension of house Akura's newest Monarch.

Kris

10/16/2020 10:07:25 am

See, I thought it was that when you went from Sage to Herald, you lost the ability to touch the Icon. When you regained that ability is when you advanced to Monarch. Which is why the person you referenced above advanced when he manifested an Icon. *shrug*....there really isn't a way for us to know unless Will clarifies things. I just thought that had the scene with Northstrider been about going from Archlord (Sage) -> Herald, then what he did would have fit what Yerin did....know what I mean? But I'm also a very lineal thinker, so I have more difficulty grasping when things don't go A -> B -> C.

Decorus

10/16/2020 12:20:30 pm

Spoilers

It’s Archlord -> Sage-> Monarch or
Archlord -> Herald -> Monarch

Lords become a Sage when they manifest an Icon
Lords become a Herald when they Merge with a Spirit.
You become a Monarch when you do both. In North Striders case he merged with a Dragon remanent becoming a Monarch which was harder, because the manifesting of an Icon makes becoming a Monarch harder and failure is bad. Fury was a Herald who became a monarch by manifesting an Icon.

In Lindon and Yetrin’s case one is an Underlord Sage the other is an Overlord Herald. As Eithan explained in the good old days Sage and Herald were more things you tacked on and less a separate stage of Advancement.

Brian

10/16/2020 12:23:45 pm

Great analysis, perhaps I should read Wintersteel again with that in mind. ;)

Will Eccles link

10/17/2020 09:17:58 pm

You're spot on with everything you've said except one bit... Northstrider merged with his own remnant to become a Monarch... yes, the Remnant was in the form of a dragon, but it was his own remnant and it took him over an hour to manifest it...

Drake

10/18/2020 10:51:11 am

Not certain this is right. From what i understood herald & sage, icon and remnant mergin are needed for advancement to monarcg/matriach.

Sean

10/16/2020 07:43:40 am

I've read, re-read, and listened to the audio version of the entire Cradle series. The books are like a visit from an old friend who always puts a smile on your face. After listening to Winter Steel, I can't count how many times I laughed and was on the edge of my seat. The characters (all) really come to life. This is a work that in my mind rivals Underlord. Well done Will. Thank you!

Amberdark

10/17/2020 11:20:29 am

I just finished reading the book, it was absolutely amazing - well worth the wait.

I am so excited I can't wait for the next one.

Thank you very much Will for this brilliant piece of work!

Travis

10/17/2020 08:46:38 pm

Question, when Lindon learned the technique he didn't need to vent. Then he had to vent again. Was this an error or intended?

Decorus

10/17/2020 08:58:44 pm

It takes time for him to filter the Madra into pure Madra so when he is in a hurry he just vents what isn’t compatible with his cores.

Steven Bagatzky link

10/18/2020 02:11:51 am

I finished listening to "Wintersteel" yesterday night. I came here to check when book #9 would be out. That's how good "Wintersteel" was! I want more immediately. Thank you for writing this series.

David

10/18/2020 06:58:59 am

Great book and yet the most important question remains unanswered.... what about the hair care?

Travis

10/18/2020 03:44:45 pm

Blooper.... *Orthos succeeds in transformation and turns toward Kelsa* "I am no longer Orthos." He says, whipping out a pair of Sais... "Call me, Raphael! Cowabunga, mothafucka..."

Ibrahim

10/19/2020 02:09:12 am

Absolutely amazing book, I can't praise it enough.

I am so damn exited for the next one.

gimme now plz(But seriously when is the pre-order for book 9 starting? :) I want it now)

Kaisoni

10/19/2020 04:14:01 am

Wintersteel is my favourite book in the series so far, absolutely superb.

It's easily lifted the series from being one of my favourite book series to just outright my favourite, beating out both The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Worm.

I'm incredibly indecisive and picky. If asked I wouldn't be able to pick a favourite band, song, TV show, or film, but I can easily name my favourite book now.

Thanks so much Will, please keep bringing us such fantastic stories! (and also importantly keep bringing these out fast - faster if possible, haha.)

Olawale Ogunlade

10/19/2020 07:45:45 am

Can't wait for the next book in the cradle series

10/19/2020 07:52:47 am

Will, I have never, ever posted on an authors page. I don’t post in comments or blogs. BUT, I just wanted to tell you how much I love this series and in particular this book. I have a large group of guys who all read/listen and talk about fantasy books together. We are always to trying to find new series and share it with each other. Most of us have read this series now and we are begging the others to hurry up and finish other series so they can start this one if they haven’t.

All that being said, I very rarely listen to an audiobook twice, and I have NEVER listened to an audio book back to back. As soon as Wintersteel ended I started it up immediately. I just couldn’t leave the world you created. Wintersteel is now my favorite of the series and one of my favorite books of all time (right up there with Words of Radiance and The Name of the Wind). Thank you for giving us a longer book, thank you for sharing your gift with us.

Michael Stephens

10/19/2020 11:53:46 am

I have fully enjoyed your entire series, but the latest book is the best of the best. The pacing just felt perfect and it is refreshing that the mold has been broken. After all the progression in previous books we well known and obvious. Now it is a mystery what the next step for them is and they are mastering their own styles.

Immortal Darknorth

10/19/2020 12:03:40 pm

Mr. Wight, what will Lindon’s title as a sage be? In my hometown they call me Sage of the Empty Noodle Bowl.

Decorus

10/19/2020 05:39:07 pm

Sages are named after the path they follow.
Sage of Endless Swords
Sage of Hungry Deep
Sage of Twin Stars

Bewildered

10/20/2020 08:19:51 pm

Is Lindon's path that of the Twin Stars though?

The Twin Star concept was about core splitting and double pathing.

One path is that of the black dragon, the other is that of pure madra.

If another individual followed the twin star\core 'path' they could choose any path combination, not just the 2 Lindon combined.

And what of Lindon's hunger arm? Does that count as a third path?

(Note I've yet to read Wintersteel so could be ignorant of something said in that, but I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity - yes I know I'm slow, but I am working on rereading the series first :-D)

The Dragon Beyond the Gate

10/22/2020 10:14:52 am

Also, you know, we have tentitive names and dates for for books 8 and 9
"
Unsouled ( Jun '16 )
Soulsmith ( Sep '16 )
Blackflame ( Apr '17 )
Skysworn ( Sep '17 )
Ghostwater ( May '18 )
Underlord ( Mar '19)
Uncrowned ( Sep '19)
Wintersteel (Oct '6)
Bloodline (Mar `21)
Sage of Twin Stars (Sep `21)
"

Of course, the Winter Sage told us that she's the Winter Sage because she achieved Ice first, and Sword later, but that she could call herself a sword sage. She's entitled to it.

So we don't know what Lindon is going to claim as his title now. It's possible he'll only claim Twin Stars once he masters a second Icon, since it's a title that suggests duality.

Or maybe Will's plans for the character will change between now and book 10. He hasn't committed to it, after all.

But he'll probably end up the Sage of Twin Stars.

James Quinley

10/20/2020 09:21:47 am

I for one, would like some clarification on Lindon's current state of advancement. Book says pretty vague about what actually happened.

Travis

10/20/2020 08:57:38 pm

From what I've gathered, he is max power Underlord/Void Sage. That is unless the Decorus person is right and it is Sage of Twin Stars. He manifested an Icon which means his will now impacts reality. He also can "Possibly" make madra do what he wants without techniques and such.

Unsouled Sage

10/21/2020 06:41:42 am

Will, loved the book! I figured now that about 2 weeks have past and i've absorbed the contents of the book for the 7th time already that we can uncover some intriguing details i'm curious about. During the scene of Lindon's fight with the High priest/Truegold priest, he uses the refurbished armor and found it clunky and generally not to his liking. Earlier in the book, when Dross reveals the memory of Northstrider's path to Monarch, it reveals how Blackflame madra can be utilized to replace skin/turn into scales. I can't help but wonder if Lindon will utilize this skill as his new form of armor. Penny for your thoughts. Also wanted to ask everyone something: If you were able to live in the world Will the Oreo Monarch has created, what would your path/iron body/jade cycling technique be.

Travis

10/21/2020 09:56:38 am

In uncrowned, I had to reread the description, but that is exactly what the claw did for his Blackflame Forger technique. It said the blackflame madra was crystalized into claws.

Unsouled Sage

10/21/2020 02:27:09 pm

So it is theoretical to apply that to his body, but i wonder if he'll have to use soulfire as the adhesive to hold it all together like he did with the Dragon Descends move.

Eli

10/21/2020 11:26:35 am

Honestly I've read/listened to each of these books in the last week from first book to now last. One of my favorite series of all time, keep up the good work.

oreos

10/21/2020 04:29:03 pm

Keep up the good work Mr. Wight!!!!

your destiny

10/21/2020 04:37:18 pm

who do you would win in fight now, yerin or lindon or eithan? eithan just broke through to Archlord, but can he beat lindon or yerin just because his realm is higher??

MIA

10/21/2020 04:41:06 pm

I think that Eithan would prob/ win b/c his path is extremely powerful . . .

blackflame

10/21/2020 04:51:41 pm

do you think lindon will manifest an icon pertaining to his path of blackflame??

Dave

10/22/2020 03:12:10 pm

I think if he goes on a Dragon-Consuming Rampage like Northstrider he could hit Dragon Icon

Bryan link

10/23/2020 06:07:14 am

I'd love to see a comparison between the characters in this series and in my brand new fiction debut, Anoroc. Let's hear what you think!

Doug

10/30/2020 03:16:01 pm

It is been so long since I found a series that is as satisfying as this. Thank you so much for putting it together and doing such a fantastic job. Looking forward to the rest and re-reading everything at once in preparation for bloodline to come out, I can’t tell you how enjoyable it is to have something this large and fruitful as a series to read. Keep it up!!!

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