Unsouled (Cradle, #1)

by Will Wight

[sa090]

It's a little too easy to see that Will Wight was influenced a little too much with anime when writing this one.

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I really enjoyed the first half of this book, the magic system Will Wight built with a youkai-esque theme to it made me a little too giddy since I'm a huge fan of anime as it is, with that theme being a favourite and a book that is influenced by both should be something I really enjoy. Too bad it wasn't that enjoyable in the end. The idea itself isn't bad, I've seen it multiple multiple times in Anime that it can be the basis to any underdog story and with how it's executed, it could end up being a very awesome thing which again didn't happen here. Will Wight's main issue, or at least what I consider to be his main issue here is that he's trying to do too much in a very short book. For example explaining the sacred arts (the magic system) in this story needs way too much work than what was given here since at the beginning we're given a broad idea that like in Avatar there are only FOUR basic things to have an affinity to before you can take them further.

Here, it started with 4, then those 4 turned out to be only four parts of ONE sacred art path before we see 2 others and then they become 5 before it seemingly becomes endless (I get that the synopsis said a 1000 paths or whatever but from the first book?!!). I don't understand the need for this complexity so early in the series, add the fact that for the majority of the book Lindon is unsouled, meaning that he doesn't have an affinity to any of them so how, pray tell, am I supposed to get better acquainted with a whole new magic system when my main character isn't going to be included in the learning of any of them? To me personally seeing Lindon try to break those chains around himself and gradually get better at the 4 types of his clan's sacred art would've been a much more interesting journey to watch BEFORE we go to other broader and more complicated things should the need arise. He doesn't have to master them mind you, just get a little better so I can get a little better with him.

We don't end there, no, Will Wight later brings higher beings of power that start spouting terminologies that show that this world is going to be insanely huge and he confirmed that this series isn't ending anytime soon so again, why is he rushing through the events? If all this needs to be included then a bigger, more detailed book would've easily done a better job for him, since I did previously imply that this starts out insanely interesting before it becomes messy and kind of forgettable. I mean I get that the 4 basic affinities don't change no matter which sacred art you're following (they remain forger, enforcer, striker and ruler) but the arts themselves are so different that with every addition of new characters, it shows you that this person is practicing and able to use something completely different than the others that it's just way too confusing.

It could be because this is the first book and he's going to expand later on but come on, this is way too much. The worst part of this book though is that the book feels like it's contradicting itself. Because of the origins of the culture of the book, you get so many people spouting about honour and such but then you get Lindon doing some things that are clearly dishonourable but no one thinks of holding him accountable for it or actually punishing him for it, instead he's rewarded. Deception is very different than blatant cheating and I may be alone in thinking like this but honestly, this aspect really rubbed me the wrong way.

There are good aspects to this book, don't get me wrong, I really really enjoyed the first 50% of it with the awesome magic system and the promise of a bigger struggle (think Deku from Boku no Hero Academia and his journey to become the greatest hero) with the awesome bonus of it being insanely easy to get through Will Wight's writing but with the new things coming in it at such a haphazard and messy pace it just ruins it for me. I want to continue the series to see if this was a hiccup in a to-be-entertaining-series but at the same time I'm not that willing to try any time soon.

Final rating: 2/5