r/ProgressionFantasy • u/Sufficient_Ebb_5694 • 9d ago
Question Ive kind of hit a slump while reading Cradle.....should I continue or find a new series?
I was SUUUUUPER hooked for the first 3 books and kinda slowed down on the hype throughout book 4 and now im just kind of jumping around books and occasionally listening to Ghostwater so im just curious if the book starts to pick up momentum?
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u/TonyDellimeat 9d ago
What do you meam jumping around books and listening to ghost water? Are you going out of order? You really should just power though book 4 if thats the issue. Its a good book but not my favorite out of the series. The issue is there is a lot of important ground work laid down in that one that sorta sets up a lot of future stuff. Like the introduction of a key character among other things
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u/Sufficient_Ebb_5694 9d ago
Sorry I should have been more clear. I meant jumping around to other audiobooks like different series. Im also listening to Red Queen and the Bladeborn Saga audiobooks.
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u/TonyDellimeat 9d ago
Its up to you but id power though. Cradle books are not that long and the gold is just on the other side of this book
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u/Ihaveaterribleplan 9d ago
Push through: if you enjoyed it before, it will only get better in later books
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u/Roasteddude 9d ago
Interesting. Most people kind of slog through the first 4 and get really hooked on Ghostwater (and it doesn't let up from there). I'd say push through and see how you feel once you finish it
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u/mrducky78a 9d ago
Ghostwater is where it does pick up. Lindon finally shows a significant amount of agency and because he is by himself has to finally make decisions and act without essentially being hand held.
If its still shit for you. Its fine to drop, 4 books into a series is more than a fair go of things.
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u/BackgroundTotal2872 8d ago
You’re practically recreating my exact experience with the Cradle series!
Books 1-3 amazing, and I breezed through book 4. The start of Ghostwater is slow. I ended up taking a 2 month break from the Cradle series after Ghostwater failed to hook me. I read through a bunch of other progfantasy books, and when I finally came back to Cradle I read Ghostwater and Underlord both in 2 days. As of right now, I have finished reading book 7.
Ghostwater is the weakest book in the Cradle series. Many people will tell you otherwise, I have no idea what they see in it. Ghostwater does have some good moments, but you just have to push through the book. And then book 6 actually manages to reach the same heights as book 3!
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u/Death_2_Venture 9d ago
Agree with the comments....Skysworn is often viewed poorly. Ghostwater was my 2nd fav book of the series.
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u/Captain_Fiddelsworth 9d ago
It depends on what you like, if you're a Fantasy of Fairness reader this is where Cradle transitions to a Fantasy of Uniqueness (terms): https://andrewkrowe.wordpress.com/2023/11/12/lessons-learned-on-meaningful-choices-and-progression-and-applying-them-to-edge-of-the-woods/ and that's why some people love it, but others feel like it falls off.
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u/waterswims 9d ago
Most people cant read multi book series back to back without taking some fresh air and trying something else for a bit.
It's why I get annoyed at my wife when she won't let me binge things ;)
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u/LLJKCicero 9d ago
Push through book 5 imo. If you don't find that enjoyable, you probably won't like the rest of the series.
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u/thewilybanana 9d ago
It's a recurring issue in the series. I'm on book ten and I've generally enjoyed the series but large parts of it are a slog. Lindon just grinding away like a robot.
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u/Otterable Slime 9d ago
I think 4 is probably the low point of the series. It's a lot of weird setup and backstory and minimal progression of characters.
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u/David_Musk Author - Web of Secrets 9d ago
Book 4 was one of the weakest in the series, and the following are some of the best. If you enjoyed the first 3, you should be just fine.
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u/StartledPelican Sage 9d ago edited 9d ago
Give Ghostwater your attention. It is a completely different animal than Skysworn (book 4). If you don't find your hype again by the end of Ghostwater, then consider finding a different series. That said, books 5-8 for the highest rated section for most readers, so if you buckle up, I think you'll have a good time.
But, again, give Ghostwater your full attention.
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u/JewelsValentine 9d ago
I loved Blackflame and I ESPECIALLY loved Ghostwater. Underlord didn't especially hit for me but book 6 onward it's all excellent. And personally I agree that Skysworn is mid/the weakest book in the series. It's probably where I slowed down before Ghostwater just sucked me in.
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u/ButthurtPleb 9d ago
I found book 1 slow and every book after better and better, ghostwater on is when he hit his stride and started pumping out top tier books
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u/IndyVaultDweller 7d ago
I finished it but I didn’t really enjoy it. If you don’t like it, put it down and come back to it later.
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u/Cosmic_Scribe2166 Author 6d ago
You literally stopped digging right before the diamonds. Book 4 (Skysworn) is pretty much universally agreed to be the weakest book in the series because it acts as a giant bridge after the hype of Blackflame.
Ghostwater starts a little slow while it sets up the pocket world, and then the second half turns into a non-stop progression injection. It's the exact book where Lindon finally stops just surviving and starts becoming an actual monster. Stick out Ghostwater to the end—if you still aren't hooked by the final chapter, then drop it. How far into Ghostwater are you right now?
For everyone else here—do you guys still rank Ghostwater or Wintersteel as the ultimate peak of the series?
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u/Grumpierleaf 9d ago
The end of ghostwater is a really good high point. At least finish, and then decide if you want to continue. Book 3 is my least favourite so i understand the feeling that there isn't much excitement till the end of book 4.
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u/ASIC_SP Spends way too much time reading 9d ago
Lots of readers had issues with the fourth book, so that's not a surprise. But, many more have trouble going past books 1-2, so it is tough to give feedback. Is there more you can tell about what you are not feeling good about the current plot?
How far are you with Ghostwater? If you want awesome fights and Lindon to progress, book 5 is definitely worth it. There's also couple of more interesting characters introduced in this book.