Unsouled
 | |
| Author | Will Wight |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Cradle |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Published | June 13, 2016 |
| Media type | ebook, paperback, audiobook |
| Followed by | Soulsmith |
Unsouled is the first volume in the 12 volume series, Cradle, by Will Wight. It has one main character. There are twenty chapters and one epilogue.
From the back cover
Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world.
Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan.
When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he's ever known...and forge his own Path.
Summary
Wei Shi Lindon of the Sacred Valley is Unsouled. Determined to practice the sacred arts despite his clan's disapproval, he acquires an ancestral orus fruit, a treasure that will increase his madra, the fuel of the sacred arts. This leads him to an encounter with Elder Whisper, one the founders of his clan. Whisper, who can sometimes see pieces of fate, sees a potential connection between Lindon and a disaster that he has long seen coming. He encourages Lindon in his study of the sacred arts, inspiring him forge his own path. Encouraged by Elder Whisper, Lindon finds an old technique manual, The Heart of Twin Stars, in his clan's archive. While the title technique doesn't suit him, it mentions another technique, the Empty Palm, which Lindon is able to adapt for his own use with the help of his sister Kelsa. The Empty Palm allows to him defeat a rival clan member in a duel and helps him prepare for the upcoming Seven-Year Festival, where he will be required to compete against young sacred artists of rival clans.
Thanks to the ancestral orus fruit, his sister's help, and the Empty Palm, Lindon easily wins his stage in the tournament, earning the right to challenge someone a stage higher from a rival clan. Before he can do so, his clan's Patriarch, Wei Jin Sairus, intervenes, as the clan's guest have found an Unsouled winning against other sacred artists offensive. When Lindon refuses to abandon his opportunity to fight, the Patriarch requires him to instead face Wei Jin Amon, who is the Patriarch's grandson and a skilled fighter two stages higher than Lindon. Lindon agrees, but before the fight occurs the tournament is interrupted by Li Markuth, Grand Patriarch of the Li clan, who has returned to the Sacred Valley after ascending to the heavens. After killing Wei Jin Sairus, Li Markuth challenges the remaining Wei clan. Lindon chooses to fight alongside his clan and die with honor rather than submit, and is subsequently killed by Li Markuth.
