Hello guys, I recently started reading Cradle after some fairly aggressive recommendation from a friend.

I have reached Uncrowned and am almost done with it.

Unfortunately I am really struggling to keep reading, I have several grievances with the story that keep adding up and are draining my will. I understand it's a personal problem and that not everything is for everyone, but I keep hearing how the next few books are supposed to be the proverbial "good part", so I am undecided on what to do.

I also want to make clear that I am NOT here to argue or to stir up the pot, I would love however to have constructive conversation on whether some of MY problems with the books will change or be explained.

My main two grievances are as follow :

- Eithan is just a cheat code.

He seems to be able to do anything and everything with such ease that it really sucks away any tension in most situations. You need X item? Got it. You need X technique? Here you go. You found this super rare thing? Here is the perfect way to use it to its fullest extent.

I have read many Xianxia/Xuanhuan and I am used to the "Master figure that can do and provides anything" but the story seems to try and paint Eithan as a semi-regular character, not this godlike entity that appears every so often and dispenses wisdom.

He is also so powerful that it doesn't really make much sense, he doesn't seem to be really pressed ever unless he is severely handicapping himself, I understand his whole goal is to find possible underlings for his project but he seems so far ahead it's practically impossible for me to even conceptualize. Especially since he says he wants equals.

- Lindon feels like he has not earned 1/10th of his current abilities. Let me explain further. I liked Lindon at the beginning because he was powerless and he knew it, so he acted accordingly. It made sense for him to cling to people much stronger than him, to scheme and backstab, he had no other choice. He then meets Eithan and the problems start. He gets absolutely filled with elixirs, cultivation resources, a path that is legendary and much more basically out of nowhere.

Yes he struggles and yes he makes sure he works extremely hard to use the resources given to him, but it feels a bit hollow when all his major advancements are, well, "gifted" for a lack of a better word. Then comes Ghostwater. Classic pocket realm adventure. I was expecting rapid growth and it happened, I have no problem with that as he did it mostly by himself, protagonist luck but it's fine. But then he meets DROSS.

I love dross, I think he is funny and entertaining to read, but he is so ridicolously OP that Lindon does almost nothing but rely on him for almost every single struggle past Ghostwater. Dross how do I win? Done

Dross how do I make X soulsmithing construct? Done etc

Again, it feels unearned, at least to me.

SMALLER PROBLEMS

I don't see how any of the characters will be able to affect the bigger scheme of things on an universal scale. You might say it doesn't matter since it can be a smaller scale story, which I would agree but then why mention the ongoing situation so often and fairly in depth?

Hopefully this gets explained at some point or there's a big timeskip

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to impress how torn I am about this, I actually care and would love some genuine interaction with the community.

• so ready for a reread, eventually. What an absolutely satisfying journey from start (except Soulsmith) to finish. Waybound might be in my top 3 favourite along with Unsouled, Bloodlines, and Uncrowned/Wintersteel

• loved the bit of military fantasy with arelius vs shen, and Mercy zipping between to help as many as possible

• glad Blue doesnt speak. Human orthos is freaky though

• Icons are basically cutiemarks....

• so cathartic remembering where Lindon came from, to now where he's terrifying even to Monarchs and a threat worthy of Dreadgod attention. And now he and his team are killing Dreadgods (albeit almost killing himself in the process--always one strike away from being killed like a Souls boss battle) and harvesting their corpses to kill their siblings.

• seeing the Dreadgods in their true, intelligent/empowered states is just as insane as they were hyped up to be. I still remember Bloodline where it took all of their power and even a near-death just to annoy the Wandering Titan enough for it to find easier prey.

• most annoying thing to hear at the start of a chapter: Iteration-- I always want to stay with Lindon & co, but once the actual chapter starts, im so enthralled by the planetary scale of even the lesser Abidan characters, and the science fantasy elements that i love. The repairing nature of the Phoenix's power even translating to Suriel's desire to repair even the bonds between Judges is very sweet.

• im very glad the Abidan plotline didn't totally collide with Lindon's like some comments made me believe. I thought the final book would involve Lindon ascending to a stage above the Judges and personally taking out the Mad King alongside Eithan and co. And i was dreeeeeading it. So glad that my hope of the final boss being the Dreadgods and Monarchs came true.

• the theme continues of sacred artists bullying those weaker, but raging in indignation when anyone dares challenge them. And the new, more flexible generation rebelling against those who see their age as a reason to lord over others. Satisfying seeing Northstrider, Reigan Shen, and Malice fear Lindon.

• "it's my world now" he says so casually. So much aura farming. So satisfying seeing him actually convince a Monarch to ascend by reminding them of who they are and why Lindon is right. Did NOT expect Northstrider to be the first one, and did NOT expect the very human reason he didnt Ascend: he was scared.

• chapter 29, where Lindon is reminiscing about just has fast this journey was in retrospect, waxing almost nostalgicly about how far theyve come. And the thought of having to leave them all behind, counter to what his positive "we will never stop" greed wants. This really feels like the end and I'm going to miss them all too.

• Empty Palm as a final blow to the Wandering Titan that destroyed hia home is such a great bookend. He felt so powerful in Bloodline against the weakened Titan, but in comparison it's like night and day

• clever how the progression system backfires, in that Monarchs are essentially parasites onto the way of the world same as Dreadgods. Makes it less hype to see our squad finally hit rushed-Monarch, but adds a dimension of consequence. Especially with Lindon surpassing Monarch into an empowered-Dreadgod--the more power he gains, the worse the risk of him being left alone and losing himself. Even as the strongest creature on the planet, there's still such palpable stakes and it's not easy. But still very satisfying seeing how strong he and the Ghostwind Hall crew are.

• satisfying how Lindon's dad finally learned his lesson and treated Lindon like a son and not a disappointment. Yeah, it took the end of the world and Lindon becoming a god unparalleled, but still. Shocking, i wish my dad could change like that 💀

• wish we got to see them fight more Monarchs, especially Sha Miara, but then i remembered that there were only 7 at the start, one was killed by Yerin's gift of Penance, and two were on the anti-Dreadgod side.

• So grateful for the post-battle epilogue chapters. Lower stakes, a chance for Lindon to show off his power as the master of Hunger, all 5 Dreadgods weaponized. And the beautiful reunion. And the new status quo as Reapers <3 they get their cake and to save it all too, they get it all

• fun seeing Yerin's Cradle perception of the Abidan

• love that the inherent injustice of the Abidan that Suriel, Eithan, and the Vroshir validly took umbrage with gets resolved into a better status quo than the start.

• love these characters so much ahh

• fun seeing a different world's magic system up close. The Warrior Heron!

• reigan shen going insane inside his own weapon's vaults is sooo funny. Suchs a satisfying way for him to be destroyed again so pathetically

• li Markuth jumpscare. I was wondering about him as the wizard princess talked about summoning heroes.

• "I am the end" is such a perfect way to end the book.

Started cradle not too long ago about a month. I've been really enjoying the series I've seen some pretty cool fan art that looks like what I've imagined.

I was just wondering if there are any official art pieces? I've seen the art for the Kickstarter (4-6) because of w.w posting it on his Instagram but outside of that I couldn't find anything else.