Bloodline: 9 (Cradle)

Let's be honest, Uncrowned and then Wintersteel were masterpieces. So many threads. So many pivotal scenes. The action. The resolution. Any book following those two is automatically at a disadvantage. Bloodline isn't Wintersteel. Bloodline is a completely different kind of book. A transition book. The kind of book that is laying the groundwork for the next major arc in the series. After I read Bloodline, I had to stop my brain from thinking. I gave it a couple days and then read it again. Then I gave it another couple days and reread the whole series before reading it again. Takeaways: 1. There were so many things that I didn't expect that ended up happening. Many of those things were awesome (no spoilers). 2. I find myself more excited about the coming books than I do Bloodline. The next book pretty much writes itself and I want to read it. Lindon now has himself the perfect opponent, the same opponent that I thought would be a cool contrast during Wintersteel. More importantly Cradle will now be forever impacted (because of Spoilers). There are so many ways the story could twist and turn (because of spoilers). 3. I LOVED the return of Suriel. She became the champion of the Abidan portion of the story and it was the better for it. Plus, the scenes with Lindon... they were so cozy and heartwarming. Especially when she said sorry (spoilers). Her inclusion in the story added so much heart back to this series. 4. Dross... Dross, Dross, Dross... He was so human in this. The decisions he made. The paths he helped the group tread. I look forward to seeing how he evolves. 5. While it made the story slowdown... the return to home for Lindon was very real. You can never really go home because it's never the same. And Lindon got to experience that repeatedly, like a hammer to the brain. I'm the kind of reader who appreciates verisimilitude in what I read. So I happily embraced the slowing down of the story. It was harsh and uncomfortable and overall real. That said, I have real hope for the little kingdom the group seems to be carving out for themselves. It looks like it will be epic. 6. I loved the return of Elder Whisper. I'd been waiting for it and it didn't disappoint. That final sentence... It epitomizes what the next major arc of the story is going to be. And that arc excites me. 7. The Sect of the Twin Stars...! That's all I'm saying. Now, not everything was perfect. I think everyone else' story took a back seat to Lindon's. The story suffered slightly for it. I also found the story a little shorter than I would have liked. Another 50 pages would have really fleshed out the story and made it come to life. But that's all I've really got against this book. It's a great book trying to tell a difficult story after two phenomenal books. You want more of the same but it's trying to convince you that the plot twists that are coming are even better. It managed to convince me, so I'm on board.

I absolutely love the Cradle series, allow yourself to be captivated by the world created by Will Wight's vast, magical, quirky imagination, so enchanting, thrilling and funny in equal measure. With a hero/heroine you really root for and care about and a great ensemble cast of supporting characters each with their own story and personality, which draw you in & endear them to you as much as the main characters. Can't wait for the next book!

The Dreadgods have awoken and one is heading towards Sacred Valley. Lindon and company are in a race against time to get back and evacuate the inhabitants before they are all destroyed. Well we finally get to the place in time where Lindon had his vision all the way back in book one, though the timeline in-world has been greatly accelerated. I had been looking forward to this for quite a long time, Lindon getting to meet his family and clan again and seeing how far he had come. But man, be careful for what you wish for. It is a testament to the author's writing but I found his family (except for his sister) and the clan, and everyone in Sacred Valley, to be absolutely infuriating. I thought I had misremembered how petty and mean spirited everyone was but no, I had remembered correctly. We did learn lots of interesting stuff, and the explanation for why everyone there is so weak compared to outside is finally explained. The gang are really one of the major factions in the world now and it is interesting to see this being explored going forward. The artificial weakness of being in Sacred Valley adds a bit of jeopardy but nothing serious until towards the end. Some of the reunions were worth the wait, especially Lindon with his sister and Jai Long and of course Orthos. Also when Lindon introduces Yerin to his family and they cop their relationship is hilarious. Another very enjoyable book and the quality of this series really is amazing. Roll on book ten.

Bloodlines sits in a bit of a weird place to me. It’s great, let’s not get it twisted, but it’s sandwiched between two of my favourite books of the series. Wintersteel is the dramatic culmination of the three book Uncrowned Tournament Arc and has so many great moments in it that it’s hard to list them all. And Reaper rivals it. Then between them both is Bloodlines, which in some ways is a more reflective book. It’s technically the culmination of what set Lindon on this path all those books ago but in another way it’s about coming home and seeing that, while it might not have changed, you certainly have. It’s about being a new person and how you don’t quite fit into the ways that things used to be. It’s about learning that who you are now isn’t who you used to be and isn’t who you will become. It’s definitely not the end. It makes it very clear that it’s building up to something big and the last three sentences are great. There’s everything you know and love about the previous books from snappy conversations, Eithan, and solid world building. I really enjoyed reading it but when looking back it’s hard to see it between the twin stars that come before and after. It’s a good book. Read it. Then go onto Reaper.

The series just grows in plot and intrigue with every book. I seriously can't put these down. I was starting to question the battery on my kindle at one point until I realised the hours I'm spending reading these books.

Loved the book, been reading since the beginning and it felt brilliant to return to where it all began. A glimpse at where we will be going on the home stretch of the series. Everything in the book is either not how I expected it to go down, or similar to what I expected but played out in a way that still surprised me. Say’s something that even 9 books deep it all feels fresh. Never a dull moment. Strong as always Will!

There were some great moments in this book and I really enjoyed a lot of ir however I felt that the author got bogged down in the second half of the book and honestly the topic just did not interest me at all and rather than progress the story it felt that we get caught up in a Lindon's hero complex filler episode. I can understand the reactions a little of the people he is trying to save but it gets really old really quickly and their way of thinking becomes incredibly one dimensional and not rational in the slightest. Overall it is worth a read but prepare for a slog through the second half where a lot of cool moments get glossed over and a lot of boring moments get too much attention. I'm not sure I personally like the space warrior premise that gets hinted at throughout the books and Suriels chapters which are about trillions of people dying all the time and worlds and galaxies being destroyed. In my opinion it completely trivialised the entire story when the big bad dreadgods and less than fleas to the space people. Could have used a bit more mystery really rather than, and then the space scythe cuts in half a planet with a single attack...

I definitely was not expecting to see this book published so soon, especially after Will Wight's author holiday, I was more than willing to wait for the next installment. So, it was jolt to the system to see this in store. Sacred valley has been the goal, and now it's part of the main storyline. I think Will Wight has set down good foundations for future storylines and new goals in this installment of the series. Its a reunion and very much a coming of age story. I'm excited to see where this story leads. I will happily wait for the next book.

I am still eager for the next in series so that says something right there. Looking forward to the friends continued adventures and growth. Dross reminds me a bit like Fibble... Always chatting and funny with special abilities, I am sure they would get along. No adult themes except for battles and personal growth. Good mix of male and female characters and interactions.

I loved this book. I know the one before got a lot of hate but for me it was the best so far. Well, this one is even better. I havent laughed so hard in ages (even though its not comedy) the story was non stop and i was actually worried several times.

I read a lot of works from this author and he never fails to deliver! It’s a particular flavor of progression fantasy and it’s really well executed! I recommend this and all his other previous works!

BLOODLINE See my review of Unsouled for an overall series review of one of the most exciting fantasy series out there. This book is both totally spectacular and a little disappointing. On first read I was disappointed, on second I loved it and on third I loved it but found entire sequences a bit trying. It gives a much needed sense of closure to our main character's original journey and it has some of the most perfect scenes in Cradle, yet there were aspects of the main storyline I found dragged a bit and a lot of the subordinate storylines I found a bit dull or frustrating. But in the context of the overall story, it's still a fantasy volume with some of the most important sequences of the series. Worldbuilding - this is a very different feel in some ways, and very familiar in others. It's very nicely done, but the main storyline’s world feature just dragged a bit for me. Characters - Will does every bit as great a job as always at giving ensemble characters real flesh, but I didn't enjoy the characters as much as in other Cradle books because most of them are just such awful people. But the character journey (or at least the character reveals) of my favourite character are amazing. Amazing. It has one of the simple but greatest character moments in all the book. Joy! Magic - the magic is well established by now but its use here is a delight. Probably the strongest aspect of this book. Plot - this is what let this book down. The pacing and focus was just not what I was looking for at this stage of the series. But it's absolutely necessary to the premise, overall plot and primary character journey and it does it well. For those spellbound by the world aspects, you'll love it. Tone - similar to previous books, serious but humorous, gripping but playful Overall - 10/10. Of course. Key moments and clever plotting where the worldbuilding dictates the plot and pace, just with some of the more dragging scenes in the series. But absolutely critical to the overall story and sets up the CRAZY events of the next book very well.

J’en suis à 9 tomes lus à la suite ce qui n’est pas dans mes habitudes, mais l’univers est intéressant, les personnages attachants et on veut savoir jusqu’où ils iront. Dommage que cet auteur ne soit pas disponible en français.