Warning! All spoilers for previous books in the Cradle Series are UNMARKED!
The Uncrowned King tournament is in chaos. With the Abidan offering Penance, the unstoppable one-hit kill weapon, as a prize for the champion, all the normal plots and plans are in disarray. The Monarchs, who assumed themselves safe no matter what happened, realize that they finally have a personal stake in the issue. They move to empower their champions to even greater feats.
Meanwhile, Lindon, as the only member of the Top Sixteen to have been eliminated so far, has to find something else to do with his time. He decides to join the Akura forces that are camped around the sleeping Wandering Titan, fighting the Dreadgod cult known as Abyssal Palace. Here, Lindon can earn power and prestige, leading his team to victory and earning rewards from Akura Fury. If he advances fast enough, he might even be able to keep up with Yerin.
As one of the last remaining human competitors, Yerin gets all the focus and support of the human factions. The Winter Sage and the Sage of Silver Heart are practically glued to her side, and even Northstrider offers her what support he can. If she wins, one of the greatest enemies of humanity will fall. If she loses, the Dreadgods march on Sacred Valley.
And no matter how the mortals plot and plan, the Dreadgods stir in their sleep, ready to rise.
Wintersteel is the eighth novel in the Cradle Series by Will Wight. It is the second of the Path of Lords collection.
This novel provides examples of:
- The Chosen One: Kiuran refers to Lindon as "Suriel's favorite," implying that it's common knowledge that she chose him.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Emriss is the only Monarch who suggests making a pact to use Penance on a Dreadgod. Everyone else ignores her.
- Sword of Damocles: Several of the Monarchs muse that having Penance as a threat is far greater than actually using it. Kiuran forces the winner to use it immediately, having conveniently forgotten to mention this little detail earlier.
- Throwing the Fight: Eithan doesn't want to draw attention to himself by winning the tournament, so he takes a massive bribe from Reigan Shen and loses in the most obvious way possible.
- Waking Up Elsewhere: After Consuming from the Wandering Titan Lindon passes out and wakes up with his friends all peering at him as he lies in bed.
