Inaugural Bookclub Read!
My friends and I started a book club recently! Such a pleasure to read and discuss books with some of my peers. For our first series, we chose Codex Alera by Jim Butcher, starting with The Furies of Calderon. A mix of Roman Empire and Pokemon to begin with, it quickly morphs into “Avatar the Last Airbender vs. the Zerg”. The general consensus was a 7/10 for the series, with everyone loving the characters and the action. The final book had some pacing issues, but all in all, a fun read and great start to our book club! Our next book is “The Poppy War” by R. F. Kuang, so I’ll try to post a similarly brief review after it.
Non-stop, popcorn-eating action
This is Kevin’s Cradle Series review. Cradle, by Will Wight, is one of my favorite series to read for exciting action without much overhead. The author himself says he is very strict on every scene that doesn’t advance the plot. Some may find this writing style lacks depth or rushes the plot but I think it reflects the story genre and keeps the pace exciting.
Cradle is a series in the xianxia/wuxia/cultivation genre. With roots in Asian martial arts, these stories typically involve endless training and meditation to gain physical and often magical power. The hero, Lindon, starts in Unsouled as the scum of his village. However, after a life-altering event, he is set on a path of training and combat that leads him to becoming the strongest person on the planet.
Most of Cradle is a fantasy, magical, martial arts action series. Lindon will have an opponent or obstacle. He will train and practice, make new allies, and at the end of the book or arc overcome this opponent or obstacle. From a top level this may seem formulaic, but then a hero’s journey often is, and the exact mechanisms are kept fresh enough to be entirely enjoyable.
The series is also carried by its characters. Lindon assembles a team of compatriots who are all marvelously distinct, even in their speaking styles, all of whom are my favorite. His chief companion and eventual love interest, Yerin, is a joy to read about. Even the character who speaks like Chewbacca, Little Blue, a spirit, has great moments in the story.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this story does not have any particular depth but is incredibly satisfying and enjoyable to read. The books are all individually short, the pacing is tight, and the plot and characters are quite fun. Highly recommend, 9/10.
(Also, the series is wrapping up this summer and Will Wight’s new series is coming out in April. Great time to get into it)
