The seventh volume in the New York Times best-selling Cradle series!Emriss Silentborn, Memory of the World. Tiberian Arelius, the fallen Patriarch. Akura Malice, Queen of Shadows. Seshethkunaaz, King of Dragons. Reigan Shen, Emperor of Lions. Luminous Queen Sha Miara. The Eight-Man Empire. Northstrider.The Monarchs, the most powerful sacred artists on Cradle, rule with unquestioned authority. They are mysterious and distant, and catching a glimpse of one is privilege enough for a lifetime.Now, they have all gathered in one place, bringing their heirs and greatest students together for a competition to determine whose successor is the best in the world:The Uncrowned King tournament.Series DescriptionThe Cradle series is a completed 12 volume series now being published in trade paperback and trade hardcover for the first time. It is the best-selling example of the Progression Fantasy subgenre, which includes works of fantasy where the primary plot revolves around a character growing more powerful in their use of magic.Cradle is high-stakes, fast-paced, and action-focused, with minimal time dedicated to world-building, and as such the books are lean and focused. The series is often compared to anime, with fans emphasizing the story's specialty of loud and colorful super-powered battles along with lots of humor.