Blackflame is an incredible fusion of eastern and western ideas. In the third installment of Will Wight’s Cradle series it’s obvious that the author not only loves this world and the characters but is also comfortable enough with them to truly begin spreading his wings. Whether you are a fan of xianxia tales or a complete newbie to the subgenre, Blackflame will entertain you and make you love the characters Wight has crafted.
By the time you get to a third book in a series things can begin to feel formulaic, or at least slightly stale. Wight largely manages to avoid those feelings. He does this by continuing to reveal more about the setting while continuing to offer intriguing mysteries. There is a lot going on in Blackflame from a worldbuilding perspective. It would be easy for this to feel overwhelming, yet somehow Wight ensures that it all feels authentic. As Lindon learns more about his world, Iteration 110 Cradle, we are learning right along with him. This keeps things feeling fresh, which is impressive. Lindon continues to be an underdog in this world, and you’d think that would be wearing thin as well, and yet Wight weaves his story with such skill that—far from wearing thin—it feels quite expected and real for Lindon to continue having the struggles he is having. Wight’s ability to interweave world building and fascinating, deep characters is second to none. Blackflame has world building depth that could give Brandon Sanderson or George R.R. Martin a run for their money, but it’s all packed into a quick read that is fast-paced with little to no down time. Not only is the world building impressive, Wight is really flexing his character muscles in this one, as we begin learning more about both Yerin and Eithan. Not only this, but Wight has given us an interesting, multi-faceted antagonist in Jai Long. All of these are wrapped up in a story that has more than a few twists in it.
If any criticism can be offered for this book, it’s that it definitely feels like it’s part of a series. While the read was satisfying, it certainly didn’t have a self-contained plot, and plenty of threads are left hanging. It’s hardly fair to expect otherwise in a middle book, and yet I do think Wight might have been able to do a little more to give this book its own internal arc.
If you enjoy hopeful fantasy with a blockbuster style, Blackflame will be right up your alley. It’s got all the items you’d expect in a Will Wight book, a fun magic system, deep characters, and complex world building all held together in an excellently paced story that keeps the pages turning. If you haven’t given Wight’s Cradle series a go yet, do yourself a favor and pick up the first book, Unsouled as soon as you can.
4.6/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
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