(Synopsis from the back cover):
«Outside Sacred Valley, ancient ruins rise from the earth, drawing sacred artists from miles around to fight for the treasures within.
Lindon has reached Copper, taking the first step on the road to power, but the warriors of the outside world are still far beyond him.
To advance, he turns to the arcane skills of the Soulsmiths, who craft weapons from the stuff of souls. With new powers come new enemies, and Lindon soon finds himself facing an entire sect of Golds.»
Soulsmith continues directly from the events of Unsouled, within the Cradle series. In this second volume, the narrative adopts a noticeably faster pace, with a strong emphasis on action, training, and situations of danger, resulting in a quick and fluid reading experience.
The novel further develops the sacred arts system introduced in the first book, adding new elements and expanding on previously established ones. This increased complexity may at times make the reader wish for a brief glossary or reference guide to better follow the system as a whole.
From a moral standpoint, the work remains appropriate: it contains no sexual content or significant vulgar language, and the violence is limited to the context of combat typical of the fantasy genre, without graphic descriptions. No relevant moral concerns are present.
The story continues to follow the protagonists in their journey of learning and self-improvement, highlighting values such as perseverance, personal effort, and constant growth.
Overall, Soulsmith is a solid continuation that reinforces the dynamic nature of the series, expands its world, and maintains an accessible and fast-paced style, especially recommended for those who enjoyed the first volume.