The Cradle Series: Series Review
Cradle is an e-book series on Kindle Unlimited by Will Wight. Since I have just finished the last book in the series, Waybound, I thought I should write a book review on not just the book, but the entire series. The review will focus on the entire series, and not specific books. From Unsouled, the first book released in the series on June 13, 2016, to Waybound, published on June 4, 2023, it has truly been an amazing series to read.
This series follows the journey of Lindon, the protagonist in the series, and his Path in Cradle. Starting out as a talentless boy living a place isolated from the rest of the world, Lindon didn’t give up and eventually becomes one of the strongest cultivators on Cradle and defeating the world ending threat to his home. Throughout the series, Lindon has to struggle through many challenges, plot twists, and difficulties that arise. He also makes friends with people who grew with him, and also supports him. From Orthos, his draconic turtle, Little Blue, his soul spirit, and Yerlin, a strong and tough swordswoman, alongside others, they all are integral to the series and Lindon’s development as a character. As Lindon grows stronger, he is faced with more serious problems to solve.
Cradle is a world where the Monarchs, the strongest people in the world, rule their own respective factions. However, Dreadgods, mighty beasts are stronger than Monarchs, roam the world, obeying their animal instincts. These result in the Dreadgods being treated as natural disasters, and any city that is in their path is needed to evacuate to save as many people as possible. However, it is later revealed that the Dreadgods only exist on the planet because the Monarchs refuse to ascend to a higher plane. Lindon is tasked with killing all the Dreadgods and forcing the Monarchs to ascend, therefore solving the problem threating Cradle forever.
On top of everything that is happening in Cradle, a war for the fate of the universe is raging. Suriel, one of the Abidan tasked with protecting the universe, has to tend to many problems, from preventing the Mad King from destroying everything, finding Ozriel, another Abidan who has gone missing when everyone needs him, and maintaining the stability of the Way, she has a lot of problems to deal with.
This entire series has been my favorite fantasy series, as I felt it was so wonderfully written. With the two main plot lines intertwined yet separate, character development at its finest, and a logical progression unlike many other cultivation series, it stands out as one of the best fantasy series. When I finished reading Waybound, the 12th and last book of the series, it felt so bittersweet. Sad that its ending, but also happy for the amazing story that it had brought me along. Now that I have finished this series, I will definitely be reading the other works by the author of Cradle, Will Wight.
