Unsouled: A Deep Dive into Will Wight’s LitRPG Masterpiece

A Tale of Survival and Growth

Unsouled: A Deep Dive into Will Wight’s LitRPG Masterpiece

Complex world-building, heroic journeys and rich character developments are the classic themes of High-fantasy novels. From famous series like “The Song of Ice and Fire” and “Eye of the World” to the more anticipated “Kingkiller Chronicles”, these themes are presented uniquely and entice the reader.

Through this article, I am sharing my opinion on one such novel, where rich world-building, interesting dialogue, and fast-paced action attracted its audience and hooked them to the series. Why is this book regarded so highly by Lit-RPG readers? Let’s find out.

Our Main Character, Lindon, is an “Unsouled”. What’s an Unsouled? To understand that, we need to know a bit more about the power system of this world. The power system here is tied to one’s soul and is quantified using “madra” instead of the traditional mana used in magic. In this world, people are categorised based on their affinity for different enabled by madra. For example, a ‘striker’ can use madra to attack enemies from a distance, a ‘forger’ creates artefacts, an ‘enhancer’ strengthens their body, and a ‘ruler’ controls ethereal forces. This is the basic power system around which the story progresses. An “Unsouled” is someone unfit for all these tasks. But, as with any Lit-RPG, Lindon has to gain power. The beauty of this book is not about “how” Lindon gains it but rather about how he survives despite being the weakest.

The story of Lindon.

We start in a place called “Sacred Valley”. This is where Wei Shi Lindon lives. Like a typical fiction protagonist, he is the sole outcast of his clan. He is blatantly discriminated against, and as we get to read the story, we slowly feel that this discrimination is reasonable. The world we explore is extremely dangerous for the weak, demanding Lindon give up his dreams to ensure survival. He is not given much resources. Why? Investing in a sacred artist who could help the clan survive is purely a better option than investing in an unsouled. In a world where the strong dominate the weak, being the weakest carries serious consequences.

“When a traveller cannot find a path, sometimes he must make his own.”
 — Unsouled, Will Wight

However, just like a Shonen protagonist, Lindon doesn’t accept his fate. He grits through this entire situation, desperately looking for some hope. Of course, Lindon is not dumb. He, too, knows that the only way to live in his world is to win and survive. So, he uses anything he has at his disposal to win. Some actions might not be honourable, but he understands that the honour of the weak doesn’t have any meaning in his world. Is this the right choice? Wouldn’t it be okay for him to give up? After all, survival is the highest priority. Well, there is a sequence beautifully describing Lindon’s choice not to give up, was in fact, a good one.

That’s, in fact, my favourite sequence, too. We feel happy along with Lindon as we find the possibility that he could lead a better life where he is not discriminated against and where he is respected like a normal human being. He could marry, have kids and live a fulfilling life. This heartwarming discovery, however, is quickly overshadowed by a sense of dread as we learn about the cataclysmic danger in store for the sacred valley. Lindon, who knows this, is still among the weakest in the sacred valley. So, he is presented with an option to choose. Just when he sees a possibility for a better future, he now has to choose between living this life or discarding it for an uncertain and probably more dangerous future. The way this is portrayed conveys the heaviness of the situation to the reader. This sequence is just beautifully written. However, the component that made it beautiful is — the Dialogue.

There are a million Paths in this world, Lindon, but any sage will tell you they can all be reduced to one. Improve yourself.
 — Unsouled, Will Wight

The beauty of the dialogue

Each character’s motivations, cunning nature and the way they hide multiple meanings in the same sentence are meticulously written. As the world is presented, it’s not easy to trust someone. The dialogue is written to portray this. It subtly displays one’s motivations to the reader while also playing an integral part in the story. Even the monologues of Lindon, his phases of self-doubt, confusion and the immense relief when he finds his path are masterfully portrayed.

A few pet peeves…

It’s not like the book has no problems. The pacing wasn’t quite to my taste. While the deliberate pacing deepens the immersion in Lindon’s world, it also occasionally breaks the momentum, making some sections feel unnecessarily prolonged. The side character’s opinions and feelings on Lindon are repeated a lot.

The ending, too, is abrupt. We are cut to the next novel when we feel like we are in the middle of an arc. Combining this with the pacing, it feels like we progressed nowhere. But these are just pet peeves that don’t affect the overall story.

Ultimately, I enjoyed reading this book and would continue reading this series. This book has left me eager to see how Lindon’s story unfolds and what dangers he must face to become strong. If the series improves upon this, as mentioned by the other reviews, I won’t have to search for new novels in the next few weeks.

During these weeks, however, I will keep posting my opinions on this and other novels here. So don’t forget to follow The Story Taste to discover more fascinating stories. Thanks for staying till the end. Until next time — happy reading.✌️