Unsouled (Cradle #1) Will Wight

  I was quite surprised that this fantasy story, heavily influenced by Chinese folklore, is actually not written by a Chinese author. While the structure is predictable, with vibes of Harry Potter, the premise and execution, as well as the context, are extremely intriguing and exciting. I intend to read the rest of the books!

  In Unsouled, a fertile valley is populated by various clans which live in a feudal equilibrium, where they are not at war, but they are eternal enemies. Families inside each clan vie against each other as well, trying to gain status within the clan. Magic is a thing and for every child a test is performed to determine what kind of soul they possess: Enforcers, Strikers, Rulers and Forgers, which will then determine their role in society. Extremely rarely, the test fails, relegating the tested to the status of Unsouled. Obviously, the main character is such a one.

  Will Wight does a wonderful job in creating the characters, their motivations, building the world and then expanding it to a ridiculous degree. I was immediately curious on what will happen and wanted to continue to read the series, which is what I intend to do. In this first book, the temporary stigma of being an Unsouled is being partially overcome, but without solving the underlying problem of having no training or usable skills. Also, really heavy stakes increase the motivation for the character to grow.

  If I were to criticize something, it's the cunning that the character demonstrates, which seems to belong solely to him. The rest of the people, including masters of magic and figures of authority, seem to be complete idiots most of the time, which diminishes the accomplishments of the hero. Overall, though, a really refreshing book.