Books On Board
series Reading Order

Cradle Books in Order

12 Books
2016 – 2023 Published
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Reading order

Recommended Cradle Reading Order

The Cradle series is a benchmark of the progression fantasy genre. Because the story follows a linear path where the main character's growth, training, and power levels stack directly from one volume to the next, there is only one correct way to read the main series. You should read the novels in their strict chronological publication order:

  1. Unsouled (2016)
  2. Soulsmith (2016)
  3. Blackflame (2017)
  4. Skysworn (2017)
  5. Ghostwater (2018)
  6. Underlord (2019)
  7. Uncrowned (2019)
  8. Wintersteel (2020)
  9. Bloodline (2021)
  10. Reaper (2021)
  11. Dreadgod (2022)
  12. Waybound (2023)

Cradle Companion Books and Collections

Threshold: Stories from Cradle (2025)

Released wide in January 2025, Threshold: Stories from Cradle is an official anthology of short stories. These stories expand on the lore, history, and secondary characters of the series, taking place at various points before, during, and after the main timeline. Because some stories reveal key details and character fates, it is highly recommended to save this collection until after you have finished the final novel, Waybound.

Exploring the Broader "Willverse" Multiverse

All of Will Wight's series exist within a shared multiverse known by fans as the "Willverse." They are connected by cosmic structures like the Way and the celestial organization known as the Abidan. While reading his other series will give you a deeper understanding of these background elements and allow you to spot fun cameos, they are entirely self-contained stories. You can read them in any order without spoiling your experience of Cradle:

  • Traveler’s Gate Trilogy: A classic, dark, "chosen one" sword-and-sorcery fantasy series. The reading order is House of Blades, The Crimson Vault, and City of Light, plus the optional Traveler's Gate Chronicles short stories.
  • The Elder Empire: A unique project consisting of two parallel trilogies (Sea and Shadow) set on a Lovecraftian-inspired world. You can read these by alternating matching pairs (e.g., Of Sea and Shadow followed by Of Shadow and Sea) or by reading one full trilogy first.
  • The Last Horizon: An ongoing space fantasy series starting with The Captain, followed by The Engineer, The Knight, and The Pilot.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Cradle series?

You should start with the first novel, Unsouled. Because the magic system and the main character's growth build continuously across the series, reading them in publication order is essential.

QDo I need to read Will Wight's other series to understand Cradle?

No, you do not. While other series like Traveler's Gate and The Elder Empire exist in the same shared multiverse (the "Willverse"), their connections are limited to minor cameos and cosmic background lore.

QWhen should I read the short story collection Threshold?

You should read Threshold: Stories from Cradle (released in 2025) after finishing the twelfth book, Waybound, to avoid spoilers regarding character arcs and the final status of the world.

QIs the Cradle series complete?

Yes, the main series is fully complete at twelve books, starting with Unsouled in 2016 and ending with Waybound in 2023.

QWhat order should I read the parallel Elder Empire trilogies in?

You can read The Elder Empire by alternating between the parallel books (starting with Of Sea and Shadow or Of Shadow and Sea) or by reading one full trilogy (Sea or Shadow) before diving into the other.

QWho is the narrator for the Cradle audiobooks?

The audiobooks are narrated by Travis Baldree, whose performances are widely praised by fans for bringing the characters and battles to life.