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Hierarchy #1
The Will of the Many
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Fantasy (2023)At the elite Catenan Academy, a young fugitive uncovers layered mysteries and world-changing secrets in this new fantasy series by internationally bestselling author of The Licanius Trilogy, James Islington.
AUDI. VIDE. TACE.
The Catenan Republic – the Hierarchy – may rule the world now, but they do not know everything.
I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus – what they call Will – to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.
I tell them that I belong, and they believe me.
But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart.
And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family.
To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. I will have to smile, and make friends, and pretend to be one of them and win. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me.
And if the Hierarchy finds out who I truly am, they will kill me.
AUDI. VIDE. TACE.
The Catenan Republic – the Hierarchy – may rule the world now, but they do not know everything.
I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus – what they call Will – to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.
I tell them that I belong, and they believe me.
But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart.
And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family.
To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. I will have to smile, and make friends, and pretend to be one of them and win. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me.
And if the Hierarchy finds out who I truly am, they will kill me.
630 pages, Hardcover
First published May 23, 2023
About the author
James Islington
9 books7,323 followersJames Islington was born and raised in southern Victoria, Australia. His influences growing up were the stories of Raymond E. Feist and Robert Jordan, but it wasn't until later, when he read Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series - followed soon after by Patrick Rothfuss' Name of the Wind - that he was finally inspired to sit down and write something of his own. He now lives with his wife and two children on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
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May 2, 2024
ARC provided by the publisher—Saga Press—in exchange for an honest review.
This is not an exaggeration. The Will of the Many by James Islington is the best fantasy book with a magical school trope I’ve ever read since The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
James Islington instantly became one of my favorite authors with The Licanius Trilogy. Since then, I knew I would need to read every new book written by him, and that's why The Will of the Many, together with Light Bringer by Pierce Brown and the four secret novels by Brandon Sanderson, reached the top of my most anticipated releases of this year. It's not a good habit to have high expectations toward any book as that makes us prone to disappointment. But I couldn't resist it here. I didn't know what the story in The Will of the Many would be, and I still entered it with very high expectations because I loved how satisfying Islington completed the complexity of The Licanius Trilogy. And luckily, Islington managed to exceed my unreasonably high expectations with The Will of the Many, the first book in the Hierarchy series. As far as the first book of a series goes, this one tops over The Shadow of What Was Lost in every possible way, and I think many of you know how much I enjoyed The Licanius Trilogy by now. To be more precise, The Will of the Many is Islington's best novel so far in his career. It is, at the very least, even though it is a different kind of book, up there with the quality produced in The Light of All That Falls. This is a contender for the best book of 2023. By the end of this year, the competition is fierce, but I will be shocked if The Will of the Many did not—at least—end up in my top 5 books of the year. And I will tell you why in this review.
The Catenan Republic—the Hierarchy—may rule the world now, but they do not know everything. He tells them his name is Vis Telimus. He tells them he was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and good fortune alone gives him a chance to enter their most prestigious school: The Catenan Academy. He tells them that once he graduates, he will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing his strength, drive, and focus—what they call Will—to be leeched away and added to the power of those above him, as millions already do. As all must eventually do. Vis tells them that he belongs, and they believe him. But the truth is that Vis has been sent to enter the Catenan Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart. And that he will never, ever cede his Will to the empire that executed his family. To survive, though, Vis will have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. He will have to smile, make friends, pretend to be one of them and win. If he fails, then those who want to control him, who know his real name, will no longer have any use for him. And if the Hierarchy ever finds out who Vis truly is, they will kill him.
This is the blurb for The Will of the Many. If you’re familiar with Pierce Brown’s sci-fi series Red Rising Saga, you might notice the similarities in the premise. For context, in Red Rising, Darrow is a Red, the lowest rank in the hierarchy of labor within the color-coded society of the series. The Gold is the ruler of humanity, and they have done irrevocable actions to Darrow and the Red for many years. So Darrow has to masquerade as a Gold and increase his fame and prestige through the rank of Gold to fulfill his revenge. Red Rising Saga is one of my favorite series of all time, and yes, the similarities with Red Rising can definitely be spotted in The Will of the Many. Even more so because Vis has a personality that is quick to anger like Darrow, and the world-building of these two series is heavily Roman-inspired as well; more on this later. But more importantly, the premise and the Roman-inspired world-building are where the similarities end.
The Will of the Many is a different kind of book compared to Red Rising. This is not like the controversial case that The First Binding by R. R. Virdi has with The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. This 240,000 words long novel never felt derivative to me. It's the other way around; with more pages read in The Will of the Many, especially after the insane ending, the more I feel The Will of the Many as a whole package, as expected of Islington, is another incredibly distinct, ambitious, and mind-blowing work of art. From my assessment, it would be more exact to say if you love the premise and world-building portrayed in Red Rising Saga, it's very possible you will end up loving The Will of the Many. Especially if you love the magical school or academy setting and trope too.
If you’ve read The Licanius Trilogy, you will know that plotting is one of the finest aspects of the trilogy. I’m pleased to mention Islington’s strength as a mostly planner storyteller (I believe every writer is a mix of both) returns powerfully in The Will of the Many. My mind is still reeling as I write this review. I cannot stop thinking about all the events that transpired in this novel and their crazy implications for the rest of the series. Only a special fantasy series can make me feel this effect right after reading the first—out of the planned three or four—installments. I predict The Hierarchy will be more than a trilogy, but that remains to be seen. I am not comparing which is better here as a storyteller: a pantser or a planner. Both have their merits. However, I believe Islington has showcased the best aspects of being a—mostly—planner type of storyteller in The Licanius Trilogy with his meticulous story structure and well-placed revelations, and I can already see these factors being implemented magnificently here. This is all splendidly realized without any sacrifice in pacing. The pacing was engrossing from cover to cover for me.
The blurb and I have mentioned the enrollment into the prestigious Catenan Academy. I do not think of this as a spoiler; similar to readers talking about Kvothe entering The University in The Kingkiller Chronicle or Harry Potter entering Hogwarts, just a few examples. Both series take place in a magical school setting, the same as The Will of the Many. But to set expectations accordingly, let me be clear that Vis' tale in the Catenan Academy did not start until we reached Part II of the book: Deus Nolens Exituus. (Get Results Whether God likes it or not.) That's 35% into the book, and by approximation, I think about 50% of the story actually takes place in The Catenan Academy. Part I of the story, Imperium Sine Fine (An Empire without an End), was the setup and foundation. This is the introductory section, and it depicts Vis’ merciless training montage and preparation under the tutelage of Lanistia before he enters the Academy. Additionally, the foundational stage and the training montage were never uneventful. Islington efficaciously made the three parts of the narrative here have their own overarching story arc (beginning, middle section, and concluding chapters) while being seamlessly connected to one another. If you already have a great time reading Part I, you will be gripped with the rest of the book. This, of course, comes with a caveat that the magical school or academy trope and setting is one of your favorites.
The Will of the Many is a book about ambition, justice, greed, vengeance, friendship, leadership, loyalty, knowledge, and family. And although these were on some level established since Part I, they were extensively integrated into the narrative in Part II and Part III: In Cauda Venenum (The Poison is in the Tail); once Vis is in The Catenan Academy, an academy that rewards greed and victory above all else. A magic school setting in fantasy is constantly irresistible to me. I have no idea when I will be over this trope, but it is not anytime soon. I am confident in that. I cannot help it, okay? Whether in novels, manga, or video games, I have many of my favorite adult fantasy stories centers or starts in a magical or battle school setting. It is one of my favorite tropes of all time. There is something about training montages, learning new abilities and skills, overcoming challenges, and defeating bullies or horrible teachers while forming friendships that always feel satisfying and relatable. These factors in fantasy novels, paired with the magical school trope, and a main character that earned my investment, have a good chance of becoming one of my favorite books. They are some of my favorite escapism. Assuming they are done right, of course, and The Will of the Many is a good example where all of these were infused incredibly well.
A few comments have stated they did not feel connected to the main characters of The Licanius Trilogy due to its heavily plot-focused storyline, except for Caeden. Although I do not fully agree with this notion, because I liked Davian, Wirr, Asha, and many characters in the trilogy enough, I certainly agree Caeden is the best character in The Licanius Trilogy; Caeden IS one of my favorite characters in the fantasy genre. It is with a heart full of happiness I say it is very likely Vis will become a character I love as much as Caeden in the future. Try not to misinterpret what I said as a criticism toward The Licanius Trilogy. The Licanius Trilogy is one of my favorite trilogies. My point is that Islington has developed further as a storyteller; with more books in the series available in the future, the potential for Hierarchy series to be better than The Licanius Trilogy is strongly evident. If I am already this compelled and invested in Vis and his story just from reading The Will of the Many, what would be the outcome after reading the sequels? I am excited to find out.
I found Vis to be a character reminiscent of Kvothe or Darrow. Forged by his brutal past, the rigorous physical and mental training he partakes from a young age has acted as an eternal fire of motivation that transformed him into a skillful fighter, intelligent, resourceful, a quick learner, and a jack of all trades. In other words, Vis is great at many things. However, he is not flawless. Vis lies a lot for survival and is often blinded by rage. This uncontrollable crimson veil of wrath often leads him toward conflicts or iconic moments, depending on how you look at the situation. His capacity for violence and fury is a weakness he needs to tame, and he soon realizes he cannot do everything by himself. This is why the unlikely friendship he forms in the Academy, especially with Callidus and Eidhin, gives him solace and hope amidst all the loneliness, dangers, and life-threatening allegiances he's juggling. Moments of virtue, loyalty, and solidarity were relatively rare and hard-earned, but the warmth of each one of these occurrences felt palpable; they radiated from the pages. All of these, along with Vis' inspiring courage, determination, and compassion, reinforce the unputdownable narrative for me.
Islington's improved prose was responsible for my immersion and connection with the novel. Islington successfully nailed Vis' personality and voice so damn well. In science fiction & fantasy novels, it is frequently crucial for me to truly feel like the POV character is telling their story, not the author. The narrative has to completely enthrall me in the POV character's narration and inner thoughts. The best kind of SFF authors can do this. Here are some examples of an SFF series with excellent first-person POV narration. Fitz in The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb, Kvothe in The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss, Darrow in Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown, and Tomas Piety in War for the Rose Throne by Peter McLean with Tomas Piety. These four characters' narration felt like the author became the messenger with a mission to write and deliver their tales. And that, precisely, is what has been accomplished in The Will of the Many. Islington’s writing style has the ability to conjure vivid imagery in my mind and an engaging reading experience effectively. And these praises are not exclusive to Vis. The entire story is told from the first-person POV narration (in present tense) of Vis, and yet, I still feel like I got to know the supporting characters' motivations and personalities almost as well as Vis. They are all unique with their own qualities.
Finally, before I close this long-enough review, I want to elaborate on the world-building of the series. When I read The Will of the Many, it hit me that I haven’t read as much Roman-inspired epic fantasy series as I thought. I think this is a factor that increased my reading enjoyment. There is Codex Alera by Jim Butcher, a popular Roman-inspired fantasy series. But, in my opinion, The Will of the Many is multiple times superior. The world-building feels relatively fresh. Many aspects of the world-building in The Will of the Many are deeply rooted in its Roman inspiration. The names, clothing, beautiful vistas, settings, in-world game, and more. Every aspect of the Roman-inspired world and Islington's crafted fantasy lore were delivered in detail gradually. I did not feel overwhelmed by the terminologies, there is a character list and glossary at the back of the book every time I need to remind myself of something, and it did not take long for me to feel immersed in this Roman-inspired epic fantasy series. And I loved it. The gladiatorial bouts, the naumachia, the Catenan rankings, and how the magic system (Will, which I'm sure we will see even more of its usage in future sequels) is interweaved into the story. Everything felt so natural to the plotlines. Plus, there is, of course, Islington's own creation in the manifestation of the mystery of the ancient weaponry and Cataclysm, a world-spanning disaster three centuries ago that left less than five people in every hundred alive. Maybe it is more accurate to call The Will of the Many, and the series, an epic science fantasy series due to how the high fantasy aspect and scientific technologies merged and enhanced the narrative. And I, as a fan of having more sci-fi elements in epic fantasy, am totally pleased by all of these combinations.
The characters' development, in-depth lore, technologies, and history established in The Will of the Many have provided possibilities for the Will and mysteries of the Cataclysm and more to be explored further in the next installments. This is also a darker novel than I expected. Explosions, massacres, shredded flesh and blood, and obsidian eyes and blades; the action scenes—the big action sequences, Labyrinth runs, or duels—were all tension-packed. Islington displayed the immense terror every second can bring in the lurking presence of disintegration and chaos. Violence begets grief, and grief begets violence. Is it a mistake, or is it righteous, to repay the sorrow caused by the heinous sins of the past with more violence of the present? The Will of the Many closed the magical/battle school/dark academia portion of the series, and that alone was already super satisfying. But oh my god... the mysteries and implications raised after the final chapters were groundbreaking, to say the least. Without spoilers, what Islington did in the epilogue, Ex Uno Plures (Out of One, Many), was nothing short of outstanding. In one chapter, Islington escalated the scintillating novel into something even more extraordinary.
My emotional attachment to the characters and events of this book is undeniable. The Will of the Many by James Islington is a phenomenal achievement. Islington has flourishingly crafted a Roman-inspired science fantasy world with brilliant plotlines that feel believable through the perspective of a talented and flawed main character imbued with a superbly distinct voice. I absolutely loved it. It IS one of the best books I've ever read, and it is also one of the rare books where, upon finishing it, I immediately wanted to reread from the beginning. And I know I will do that when the sequel, The Strength of the Few, is near. The waiting time for the sequel will be one of the worst waiting times I need to endure. How could it not be after the intense and insane culmination of the book? But until then... I will be patient. Audi (Hear). Vide (See). Tace (Be Silent). And read The Will of the Many as soon as possible. A new exceptional science fantasy series destined to become a classic is here. The Will of the Many has everything I love in an epic science fantasy novel, and many scenes here will become eternal moments in my mind.
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Most of the quotes I wanted to use in this review were taken out on Goodreads because I ran out of allowed characters.
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This is not an exaggeration. The Will of the Many by James Islington is the best fantasy book with a magical school trope I’ve ever read since The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
“The power to protect is the highest of responsibilities… When a man is given it, his duty is not only to the people he thinks are worthy.”
James Islington instantly became one of my favorite authors with The Licanius Trilogy. Since then, I knew I would need to read every new book written by him, and that's why The Will of the Many, together with Light Bringer by Pierce Brown and the four secret novels by Brandon Sanderson, reached the top of my most anticipated releases of this year. It's not a good habit to have high expectations toward any book as that makes us prone to disappointment. But I couldn't resist it here. I didn't know what the story in The Will of the Many would be, and I still entered it with very high expectations because I loved how satisfying Islington completed the complexity of The Licanius Trilogy. And luckily, Islington managed to exceed my unreasonably high expectations with The Will of the Many, the first book in the Hierarchy series. As far as the first book of a series goes, this one tops over The Shadow of What Was Lost in every possible way, and I think many of you know how much I enjoyed The Licanius Trilogy by now. To be more precise, The Will of the Many is Islington's best novel so far in his career. It is, at the very least, even though it is a different kind of book, up there with the quality produced in The Light of All That Falls. This is a contender for the best book of 2023. By the end of this year, the competition is fierce, but I will be shocked if The Will of the Many did not—at least—end up in my top 5 books of the year. And I will tell you why in this review.
The Catenan Republic—the Hierarchy—may rule the world now, but they do not know everything. He tells them his name is Vis Telimus. He tells them he was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and good fortune alone gives him a chance to enter their most prestigious school: The Catenan Academy. He tells them that once he graduates, he will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing his strength, drive, and focus—what they call Will—to be leeched away and added to the power of those above him, as millions already do. As all must eventually do. Vis tells them that he belongs, and they believe him. But the truth is that Vis has been sent to enter the Catenan Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart. And that he will never, ever cede his Will to the empire that executed his family. To survive, though, Vis will have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. He will have to smile, make friends, pretend to be one of them and win. If he fails, then those who want to control him, who know his real name, will no longer have any use for him. And if the Hierarchy ever finds out who Vis truly is, they will kill him.
This is the blurb for The Will of the Many. If you’re familiar with Pierce Brown’s sci-fi series Red Rising Saga, you might notice the similarities in the premise. For context, in Red Rising, Darrow is a Red, the lowest rank in the hierarchy of labor within the color-coded society of the series. The Gold is the ruler of humanity, and they have done irrevocable actions to Darrow and the Red for many years. So Darrow has to masquerade as a Gold and increase his fame and prestige through the rank of Gold to fulfill his revenge. Red Rising Saga is one of my favorite series of all time, and yes, the similarities with Red Rising can definitely be spotted in The Will of the Many. Even more so because Vis has a personality that is quick to anger like Darrow, and the world-building of these two series is heavily Roman-inspired as well; more on this later. But more importantly, the premise and the Roman-inspired world-building are where the similarities end.
“A man is nothing if he does not honour his debts.”
The Will of the Many is a different kind of book compared to Red Rising. This is not like the controversial case that The First Binding by R. R. Virdi has with The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. This 240,000 words long novel never felt derivative to me. It's the other way around; with more pages read in The Will of the Many, especially after the insane ending, the more I feel The Will of the Many as a whole package, as expected of Islington, is another incredibly distinct, ambitious, and mind-blowing work of art. From my assessment, it would be more exact to say if you love the premise and world-building portrayed in Red Rising Saga, it's very possible you will end up loving The Will of the Many. Especially if you love the magical school or academy setting and trope too.
If you’ve read The Licanius Trilogy, you will know that plotting is one of the finest aspects of the trilogy. I’m pleased to mention Islington’s strength as a mostly planner storyteller (I believe every writer is a mix of both) returns powerfully in The Will of the Many. My mind is still reeling as I write this review. I cannot stop thinking about all the events that transpired in this novel and their crazy implications for the rest of the series. Only a special fantasy series can make me feel this effect right after reading the first—out of the planned three or four—installments. I predict The Hierarchy will be more than a trilogy, but that remains to be seen. I am not comparing which is better here as a storyteller: a pantser or a planner. Both have their merits. However, I believe Islington has showcased the best aspects of being a—mostly—planner type of storyteller in The Licanius Trilogy with his meticulous story structure and well-placed revelations, and I can already see these factors being implemented magnificently here. This is all splendidly realized without any sacrifice in pacing. The pacing was engrossing from cover to cover for me.
The blurb and I have mentioned the enrollment into the prestigious Catenan Academy. I do not think of this as a spoiler; similar to readers talking about Kvothe entering The University in The Kingkiller Chronicle or Harry Potter entering Hogwarts, just a few examples. Both series take place in a magical school setting, the same as The Will of the Many. But to set expectations accordingly, let me be clear that Vis' tale in the Catenan Academy did not start until we reached Part II of the book: Deus Nolens Exituus. (Get Results Whether God likes it or not.) That's 35% into the book, and by approximation, I think about 50% of the story actually takes place in The Catenan Academy. Part I of the story, Imperium Sine Fine (An Empire without an End), was the setup and foundation. This is the introductory section, and it depicts Vis’ merciless training montage and preparation under the tutelage of Lanistia before he enters the Academy. Additionally, the foundational stage and the training montage were never uneventful. Islington efficaciously made the three parts of the narrative here have their own overarching story arc (beginning, middle section, and concluding chapters) while being seamlessly connected to one another. If you already have a great time reading Part I, you will be gripped with the rest of the book. This, of course, comes with a caveat that the magical school or academy trope and setting is one of your favorites.
The Will of the Many is a book about ambition, justice, greed, vengeance, friendship, leadership, loyalty, knowledge, and family. And although these were on some level established since Part I, they were extensively integrated into the narrative in Part II and Part III: In Cauda Venenum (The Poison is in the Tail); once Vis is in The Catenan Academy, an academy that rewards greed and victory above all else. A magic school setting in fantasy is constantly irresistible to me. I have no idea when I will be over this trope, but it is not anytime soon. I am confident in that. I cannot help it, okay? Whether in novels, manga, or video games, I have many of my favorite adult fantasy stories centers or starts in a magical or battle school setting. It is one of my favorite tropes of all time. There is something about training montages, learning new abilities and skills, overcoming challenges, and defeating bullies or horrible teachers while forming friendships that always feel satisfying and relatable. These factors in fantasy novels, paired with the magical school trope, and a main character that earned my investment, have a good chance of becoming one of my favorite books. They are some of my favorite escapism. Assuming they are done right, of course, and The Will of the Many is a good example where all of these were infused incredibly well.
A few comments have stated they did not feel connected to the main characters of The Licanius Trilogy due to its heavily plot-focused storyline, except for Caeden. Although I do not fully agree with this notion, because I liked Davian, Wirr, Asha, and many characters in the trilogy enough, I certainly agree Caeden is the best character in The Licanius Trilogy; Caeden IS one of my favorite characters in the fantasy genre. It is with a heart full of happiness I say it is very likely Vis will become a character I love as much as Caeden in the future. Try not to misinterpret what I said as a criticism toward The Licanius Trilogy. The Licanius Trilogy is one of my favorite trilogies. My point is that Islington has developed further as a storyteller; with more books in the series available in the future, the potential for Hierarchy series to be better than The Licanius Trilogy is strongly evident. If I am already this compelled and invested in Vis and his story just from reading The Will of the Many, what would be the outcome after reading the sequels? I am excited to find out.
“Whether the obstacles to our advancement arise from our ties or our actions, we need to learn to overcome them ourselves. It’s not fair, but nor is the world.”
I found Vis to be a character reminiscent of Kvothe or Darrow. Forged by his brutal past, the rigorous physical and mental training he partakes from a young age has acted as an eternal fire of motivation that transformed him into a skillful fighter, intelligent, resourceful, a quick learner, and a jack of all trades. In other words, Vis is great at many things. However, he is not flawless. Vis lies a lot for survival and is often blinded by rage. This uncontrollable crimson veil of wrath often leads him toward conflicts or iconic moments, depending on how you look at the situation. His capacity for violence and fury is a weakness he needs to tame, and he soon realizes he cannot do everything by himself. This is why the unlikely friendship he forms in the Academy, especially with Callidus and Eidhin, gives him solace and hope amidst all the loneliness, dangers, and life-threatening allegiances he's juggling. Moments of virtue, loyalty, and solidarity were relatively rare and hard-earned, but the warmth of each one of these occurrences felt palpable; they radiated from the pages. All of these, along with Vis' inspiring courage, determination, and compassion, reinforce the unputdownable narrative for me.
Islington's improved prose was responsible for my immersion and connection with the novel. Islington successfully nailed Vis' personality and voice so damn well. In science fiction & fantasy novels, it is frequently crucial for me to truly feel like the POV character is telling their story, not the author. The narrative has to completely enthrall me in the POV character's narration and inner thoughts. The best kind of SFF authors can do this. Here are some examples of an SFF series with excellent first-person POV narration. Fitz in The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb, Kvothe in The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss, Darrow in Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown, and Tomas Piety in War for the Rose Throne by Peter McLean with Tomas Piety. These four characters' narration felt like the author became the messenger with a mission to write and deliver their tales. And that, precisely, is what has been accomplished in The Will of the Many. Islington’s writing style has the ability to conjure vivid imagery in my mind and an engaging reading experience effectively. And these praises are not exclusive to Vis. The entire story is told from the first-person POV narration (in present tense) of Vis, and yet, I still feel like I got to know the supporting characters' motivations and personalities almost as well as Vis. They are all unique with their own qualities.
“You would be surprised at how far a combination of coin and favour can go toward silencing whole families.”
Finally, before I close this long-enough review, I want to elaborate on the world-building of the series. When I read The Will of the Many, it hit me that I haven’t read as much Roman-inspired epic fantasy series as I thought. I think this is a factor that increased my reading enjoyment. There is Codex Alera by Jim Butcher, a popular Roman-inspired fantasy series. But, in my opinion, The Will of the Many is multiple times superior. The world-building feels relatively fresh. Many aspects of the world-building in The Will of the Many are deeply rooted in its Roman inspiration. The names, clothing, beautiful vistas, settings, in-world game, and more. Every aspect of the Roman-inspired world and Islington's crafted fantasy lore were delivered in detail gradually. I did not feel overwhelmed by the terminologies, there is a character list and glossary at the back of the book every time I need to remind myself of something, and it did not take long for me to feel immersed in this Roman-inspired epic fantasy series. And I loved it. The gladiatorial bouts, the naumachia, the Catenan rankings, and how the magic system (Will, which I'm sure we will see even more of its usage in future sequels) is interweaved into the story. Everything felt so natural to the plotlines. Plus, there is, of course, Islington's own creation in the manifestation of the mystery of the ancient weaponry and Cataclysm, a world-spanning disaster three centuries ago that left less than five people in every hundred alive. Maybe it is more accurate to call The Will of the Many, and the series, an epic science fantasy series due to how the high fantasy aspect and scientific technologies merged and enhanced the narrative. And I, as a fan of having more sci-fi elements in epic fantasy, am totally pleased by all of these combinations.
The characters' development, in-depth lore, technologies, and history established in The Will of the Many have provided possibilities for the Will and mysteries of the Cataclysm and more to be explored further in the next installments. This is also a darker novel than I expected. Explosions, massacres, shredded flesh and blood, and obsidian eyes and blades; the action scenes—the big action sequences, Labyrinth runs, or duels—were all tension-packed. Islington displayed the immense terror every second can bring in the lurking presence of disintegration and chaos. Violence begets grief, and grief begets violence. Is it a mistake, or is it righteous, to repay the sorrow caused by the heinous sins of the past with more violence of the present? The Will of the Many closed the magical/battle school/dark academia portion of the series, and that alone was already super satisfying. But oh my god... the mysteries and implications raised after the final chapters were groundbreaking, to say the least. Without spoilers, what Islington did in the epilogue, Ex Uno Plures (Out of One, Many), was nothing short of outstanding. In one chapter, Islington escalated the scintillating novel into something even more extraordinary.
My emotional attachment to the characters and events of this book is undeniable. The Will of the Many by James Islington is a phenomenal achievement. Islington has flourishingly crafted a Roman-inspired science fantasy world with brilliant plotlines that feel believable through the perspective of a talented and flawed main character imbued with a superbly distinct voice. I absolutely loved it. It IS one of the best books I've ever read, and it is also one of the rare books where, upon finishing it, I immediately wanted to reread from the beginning. And I know I will do that when the sequel, The Strength of the Few, is near. The waiting time for the sequel will be one of the worst waiting times I need to endure. How could it not be after the intense and insane culmination of the book? But until then... I will be patient. Audi (Hear). Vide (See). Tace (Be Silent). And read The Will of the Many as soon as possible. A new exceptional science fantasy series destined to become a classic is here. The Will of the Many has everything I love in an epic science fantasy novel, and many scenes here will become eternal moments in my mind.
You can pre-order this book from: Amazon | Blackwells (Free International shipping)
Most of the quotes I wanted to use in this review were taken out on Goodreads because I ran out of allowed characters.
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
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December 3, 2023
holy shit.
– think dark academia meets the hunger games
– so many twists and turns!!
– single pov ! (you guys have no idea how much of a relief this was)
– cool magic systems & epic world-building (which were so easy to follow)
– mic-drop moments
– moments where i just wanted to scream because the tension suffocated me
– so much politics & scheming (i love it)
– featuring poc rep with showing rather than just “telling”
i don’t really have much to say but this was so good. i’m looking forward to rereading this when book two comes out because the reveals were chefs kiss & i loved following vis as a main character (even if it was slightly weird that he was 17 going on 18 for most of the book because he seemed too smart to be that young 😭). but basically you guys need to read this, like, RIGHT NOW.
– think dark academia meets the hunger games
– so many twists and turns!!
– single pov ! (you guys have no idea how much of a relief this was)
– cool magic systems & epic world-building (which were so easy to follow)
– mic-drop moments
– moments where i just wanted to scream because the tension suffocated me
– so much politics & scheming (i love it)
– featuring poc rep with showing rather than just “telling”
i don’t really have much to say but this was so good. i’m looking forward to rereading this when book two comes out because the reveals were chefs kiss & i loved following vis as a main character (even if it was slightly weird that he was 17 going on 18 for most of the book because he seemed too smart to be that young 😭). but basically you guys need to read this, like, RIGHT NOW.
October 17, 2023
Diago needs his own spinoff!!! Everyone would be dead if it weren't for our fluffy canine friend let's be real here.
The ending of this got me so confused I had to look up reddit posts on what it's about and what happened. Also loved how almost every male character was described as pretty, hot, buff, and or smart. All I got for the girls were their hair color lmao.
For me this started off sooo strong but lost me a bit towards the end. So much supposedly happened and yet.....so little. AND you're telling me Vis is 17??? He acts and talks like he's 40 😭!!!
(read for 200 pages a day reading challenge): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqHaj...
3.5 STARS just for Diago. Seriously everyone would be dead.
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
The ending of this got me so confused I had to look up reddit posts on what it's about and what happened. Also loved how almost every male character was described as pretty, hot, buff, and or smart. All I got for the girls were their hair color lmao.
For me this started off sooo strong but lost me a bit towards the end. So much supposedly happened and yet.....so little. AND you're telling me Vis is 17??? He acts and talks like he's 40 😭!!!
(read for 200 pages a day reading challenge): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqHaj...
3.5 STARS just for Diago. Seriously everyone would be dead.
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
April 10, 2024
let me preface this entire mini review with this: even in the year 2023, the name of the wind is still my favorite book of all time, and the will of the many was the closest book i’ve ever read to capturing the feeling of that book. and i am not saying this because there is a magical school setting in part two of this book, i am saying this because the main character, vis, reminds me so much of kvothe, the main character of the name of the wind, that it casted a magic spell on me while reading. i am also such a character driven reader, and to give me the feeling of one of my favorite characters in all literature? yeah, i fell in love with this one easily, friends. (and yes @ everyone also comparing this setting, world building/caste system, and even a trial/competition feeling like red rising!) but i don't want you all to think i only like this because it reminded me of my favorite book, because i promise you this book and story and main character completely stand on their own and deserve to be celebrated all on their own as well!
also, the prologue of this one will grip you all on its own, i promise. but after the prologue, we see vis, seventeen years old and still orphaned, working in a prison where people are being drugged and their will (or magic) is being siphoned to other people higher in society (or pyramids). But vis catches the eye of one of the visitors, and he finally receives his opportunity to train to go undercover to catena academy and get revenge for the murder of his family.
but this synopsis is really only the tip of theiceberg pyramid of this story. this is also a story about love and how that can take so many different shapes and forms. this is a story about friendship and the beauty of learning to trust after the world has given you so many reasons not to ever again. this is a story about honoring your past while also embracing the hope of what your future might look like.
this was paced so very well - the lead up was everything, but the ending was out of this world phenomenal. this was written so beautifully, from quotes to metaphors, to just being a book that i feel like i could highlight something on every page. this was also so smartly written, and always walked a really tight balance line of dark and light. and the magic system is so complex yet also simple at the same time, and it really impressed me all on its own. this book was truly an accumulation of so many amazing ideas and executed concepts that i was completely immersed from cover to cover.
and the book truly evoked so many feelings (and tears… one time even involving a lobster) from me, and it really instantly became a new all time favorite. and in 600 pages, vis really stole my heart and became a new all time favorite character. this really was one of the bright shining lights of all of sff in 2023, and very much a part of my reading year, and i highly recommend this story to you. and I absolutely cannot wait to see where this author takes this story next.
trigger + content warnings: blood, captivity, torture, child abuse, abandonment, violence, slavery, bullying, explosions, needles, mention of suicides in past, drugging, vomit (one time self induced), medical testing without consent, anxiety, ptsd, grief, drowning, claustrophobic setting, manipulation, one sentence mention of homophobia (in a negative light), loss of a limb, loss of a friend/loved one, loss of parents and siblings in past, ableist + dated language for people who have disabilities
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
also, the prologue of this one will grip you all on its own, i promise. but after the prologue, we see vis, seventeen years old and still orphaned, working in a prison where people are being drugged and their will (or magic) is being siphoned to other people higher in society (or pyramids). But vis catches the eye of one of the visitors, and he finally receives his opportunity to train to go undercover to catena academy and get revenge for the murder of his family.
but this synopsis is really only the tip of the
this was paced so very well - the lead up was everything, but the ending was out of this world phenomenal. this was written so beautifully, from quotes to metaphors, to just being a book that i feel like i could highlight something on every page. this was also so smartly written, and always walked a really tight balance line of dark and light. and the magic system is so complex yet also simple at the same time, and it really impressed me all on its own. this book was truly an accumulation of so many amazing ideas and executed concepts that i was completely immersed from cover to cover.
and the book truly evoked so many feelings (and tears… one time even involving a lobster) from me, and it really instantly became a new all time favorite. and in 600 pages, vis really stole my heart and became a new all time favorite character. this really was one of the bright shining lights of all of sff in 2023, and very much a part of my reading year, and i highly recommend this story to you. and I absolutely cannot wait to see where this author takes this story next.
trigger + content warnings: blood, captivity, torture, child abuse, abandonment, violence, slavery, bullying, explosions, needles, mention of suicides in past, drugging, vomit (one time self induced), medical testing without consent, anxiety, ptsd, grief, drowning, claustrophobic setting, manipulation, one sentence mention of homophobia (in a negative light), loss of a limb, loss of a friend/loved one, loss of parents and siblings in past, ableist + dated language for people who have disabilities
blog | instagram | youtube | kofi | spotify | amazon
December 22, 2023
Absolutely amazing in every way. Full review coming soon...
December 15, 2023
Are you KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?? GIVE ME BOOK 2 RIGHT THIS SECOND. RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOWWWWWWWWWWWW
Compelling and intelligent, yet flawed protagonist✅
Interesting world-building and use of magic✅
Involving mysteries that unfold at a good pace ✅
Well written and pulse-pumping action✅
Plot points that keep you hooked✅
IT HAS EVERYTHING MAN. MAGIC SCHOOL. POLITICAL INTRIGUE. HIGH STAKES ACTION. EMOTIONAL MOMENTS. MYSTERIOUS MOTIVATIONS AND WORLD BUILDING.
DUDE. OH MY GOD.
This is easily one of the best books I’ve read all year, and an instant addition to my required reads. Vis is an excellent protagonist, the setting is engrossing, the pacing is immaculate, and the emotional aspect of the story hit me way harder than I expected.
I can’t even write a real review right now. That’s how amped up I am. Holy shit.
100000/10. Give. Me. More.
WHY DID I READ THIS😭 NOW I HAVE TO WAIT
Compelling and intelligent, yet flawed protagonist✅
Interesting world-building and use of magic✅
Involving mysteries that unfold at a good pace ✅
Well written and pulse-pumping action✅
Plot points that keep you hooked✅
IT HAS EVERYTHING MAN. MAGIC SCHOOL. POLITICAL INTRIGUE. HIGH STAKES ACTION. EMOTIONAL MOMENTS. MYSTERIOUS MOTIVATIONS AND WORLD BUILDING.
DUDE. OH MY GOD.
This is easily one of the best books I’ve read all year, and an instant addition to my required reads. Vis is an excellent protagonist, the setting is engrossing, the pacing is immaculate, and the emotional aspect of the story hit me way harder than I expected.
I can’t even write a real review right now. That’s how amped up I am. Holy shit.
100000/10. Give. Me. More.
WHY DID I READ THIS😭 NOW I HAVE TO WAIT
December 15, 2023
This book deserves much more hype!
Dark Academia + Roman Culture + Unique & Controversial Magic System
Starts slow and yes, the book is long but it's totally worth it.
This is a story full of: intrigue, agony, deviousness, power disputes.
It has a certain complexity to understand not only the magic system but the structure that makes up this society. There is a lot of cruelty, injustice, greed... Basically Machiavellianism in all its unpleasant splendor.
"There are those who see what should be, and complain that they do not get their due. And then there are those who see what is, and figure out how to use it to their advantage. Or at least, overcome it."
Full of plot twists, great world building, lots of political schemes. The characters are tricky and interesting. It is not a light read nor for delicate hearts.
"Death is only meaningless if it does not change us."
I'm really looking forward to the publication date of the next book in this series that promises to be one of my favorites.
---------------------------
Empieza lento y sí, el libro es largo pero merece totalmente la pena.
Academia Oscura + Cultura Romana + Sistema Mágico Único & Controversial
Esta es una historia llena de: intriga, agonía, astucia, disputas de poder.
Tiene cierta complejidad entender no sólo el sistema mágico sino la estructura que conforma esta sociedad. Hay mucha crueldad, injusticia, avaricia... Básicamente Maquiavelismo en todo su desagradable esplendor.
"Hay quienes ven lo que debería ser y se quejan de que no reciben lo que les corresponde. Y luego están los que ven lo que es y se dan cuenta cómo utilizarlo a su favor. O al menos, superarlo."
Lleno de giros en la trama, gran construcción del mundo, muchas conspiraciones políticas. Los personajes son complicados e interesantes. No es una lectura ligera ni para corazones delicados.
"La muerte sólo carece de sentido si no nos cambia."
Tengo muchas ganas de que llegue la fecha de publicación del próximo libro de esta serie que promete ser una de mis favoritas.
-------------------
Oct. 5th: I promised myself I wouldn't start a series that isn't finished...
But this sounds very tempting.
Dark Academia + Roman Culture + Unique & Controversial Magic System
Starts slow and yes, the book is long but it's totally worth it.
This is a story full of: intrigue, agony, deviousness, power disputes.
It has a certain complexity to understand not only the magic system but the structure that makes up this society. There is a lot of cruelty, injustice, greed... Basically Machiavellianism in all its unpleasant splendor.
"There are those who see what should be, and complain that they do not get their due. And then there are those who see what is, and figure out how to use it to their advantage. Or at least, overcome it."
Full of plot twists, great world building, lots of political schemes. The characters are tricky and interesting. It is not a light read nor for delicate hearts.
"Death is only meaningless if it does not change us."
I'm really looking forward to the publication date of the next book in this series that promises to be one of my favorites.
---------------------------
Empieza lento y sí, el libro es largo pero merece totalmente la pena.
Academia Oscura + Cultura Romana + Sistema Mágico Único & Controversial
Esta es una historia llena de: intriga, agonía, astucia, disputas de poder.
Tiene cierta complejidad entender no sólo el sistema mágico sino la estructura que conforma esta sociedad. Hay mucha crueldad, injusticia, avaricia... Básicamente Maquiavelismo en todo su desagradable esplendor.
"Hay quienes ven lo que debería ser y se quejan de que no reciben lo que les corresponde. Y luego están los que ven lo que es y se dan cuenta cómo utilizarlo a su favor. O al menos, superarlo."
Lleno de giros en la trama, gran construcción del mundo, muchas conspiraciones políticas. Los personajes son complicados e interesantes. No es una lectura ligera ni para corazones delicados.
"La muerte sólo carece de sentido si no nos cambia."
Tengo muchas ganas de que llegue la fecha de publicación del próximo libro de esta serie que promete ser una de mis favoritas.
-------------------
Oct. 5th: I promised myself I wouldn't start a series that isn't finished...
But this sounds very tempting.
October 5, 2023
Check out my Booktube channel at: The Obsessive Bookseller
[4.5/5 stars] Yep – this solidifies Islington as a personal favorite!
You never know what to expect going into an Islington… and you may not always know what the heck is going on while you’re in there. But you can bet it’s always going to be a wild ride! I loved Licanius for its classic fantasy feel (told with a modern writing style) and its wildly dynamic plotting ideas. He brought that same weirdness and creativity to The Will of the Many and amped it up even more.
It had so many elements I love in books – fight/training sequences, school settings, competition, cool magic systems – so many great elements that I was a nervous wreck while reading it. I was so worried he was going to get my hopes up only to dash them by not delivering on all the promises. But have no fear – he completely delivers on every account with everything explored to it’s fullest. It was so satisfying!
Even though it ultimately delivered, this book is a platypus. It has a lot of wild elements that by all accounts shouldn’t work together (and perhaps wouldn’t if handled by a less deft writer), but somehow he pulled it off. I’ve found the key with Islington is to just go with it – trusting that he knows what he’s doing and it’s worth the effort. He certainly hasn’t let me down yet.
The Will of the Many had killer momentum and some of the best mic-drop scenes I’ve read in ages – many of which were so vivid and gut-punching that I’ll remember them for years to come. I loveloveloved the academic aspect and how often the main character put his skills to the test. I loved the cast of characters and the fact that I still want to know more about all of them. I loved the friendships and rivalries and that survival depended on the MC’s ability to navigate socially. I loved the competitions and that none of them were just brushed over. And I loved the epilogue – slamming down my 5-star rating and fangirl status. You’d better believe I’m already clamoring for the next one.
I loved it.
Recommendations: Just go with it! You wont regret it!
Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Melissa, Tonya, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, and Jen! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
[4.5/5 stars] Yep – this solidifies Islington as a personal favorite!
You never know what to expect going into an Islington… and you may not always know what the heck is going on while you’re in there. But you can bet it’s always going to be a wild ride! I loved Licanius for its classic fantasy feel (told with a modern writing style) and its wildly dynamic plotting ideas. He brought that same weirdness and creativity to The Will of the Many and amped it up even more.
It had so many elements I love in books – fight/training sequences, school settings, competition, cool magic systems – so many great elements that I was a nervous wreck while reading it. I was so worried he was going to get my hopes up only to dash them by not delivering on all the promises. But have no fear – he completely delivers on every account with everything explored to it’s fullest. It was so satisfying!
Even though it ultimately delivered, this book is a platypus. It has a lot of wild elements that by all accounts shouldn’t work together (and perhaps wouldn’t if handled by a less deft writer), but somehow he pulled it off. I’ve found the key with Islington is to just go with it – trusting that he knows what he’s doing and it’s worth the effort. He certainly hasn’t let me down yet.
The Will of the Many had killer momentum and some of the best mic-drop scenes I’ve read in ages – many of which were so vivid and gut-punching that I’ll remember them for years to come. I loveloveloved the academic aspect and how often the main character put his skills to the test. I loved the cast of characters and the fact that I still want to know more about all of them. I loved the friendships and rivalries and that survival depended on the MC’s ability to navigate socially. I loved the competitions and that none of them were just brushed over. And I loved the epilogue – slamming down my 5-star rating and fangirl status. You’d better believe I’m already clamoring for the next one.
I loved it.
Recommendations: Just go with it! You wont regret it!
Thank you to my Patrons: Dave, Katrin, Frank, Sonja, Staci, Kat, Melissa, Tonya, Betsy, Eliss, Mike, and Jen! <3
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
May 23, 2023
I am such a sucker for stories that involve an ancient cataclysm mystery. I mean, I love it so much and want that kind of plot injected directly into my brain. That is just one of the many intriguing storylines that acclaimed fantasy author James Islington has weaved into his latest upcoming novel THE WILL OF THE MANY. Not only that, Islington has also managed to create one of the more emotional journeys of any main character that I have come across.
Coming off of the brilliant Licanius Trilogy, I wasn't sure just what to expect from this one. Would it still give me that same magical feeling I got when I read that series? Well all I'll say is Islington has proven that he has some of the best ideas and writing chops in the game after finishing this utterly spellbinding first book in the Hierarchy series. It shouldn't have been as effortless as it was for me to fly through this almost 700 page book, but it was. And that's just a testament to the magnificent storyteller that James Islington is.
Part of the excellence of this book stems from just how many layers of mystery are involved. Just when one might look like it is solved, another pops up and often takes the story in a wholly unexpected direction. The Hierarchy is portrayed as yet another group of megalomaniacs who after conquering a weaker kingdom, now rules with absolute and unquestioned authority. They also rule by way of a super cool magic system that enables them to gain power by sucking the "Will" from those they capture and imprison. It kind of reminded me of the magic system in David Farland's Runelords series but with a slightly different and unique twist. Those with the most Will, Princeps, are ranked highest in the Catenan ruling class, followed by Dimidius, Tertius, Quartus, well you get the picture. It is by this transfer of Will that the Hierarchy is able to remain in power and maintain their seemingly invincible stranglehold.
And yet main character Vis believes all is not lost and that by infiltration into the famed Catenan Academy, he might be able to uncover vital information that could reveal potential vulnerabilities in the Hierarchy's armor. This is where the book really had me in its grip as Vis happens upon so many instances of near capture, death, and being exposed as an agent of the resistance that I wasn't sure whether he was going to even survive past the first half of the book to be completely honest. Is this a fool's errand, or can one person really hope to overturn and reverse the forces of tyranny that have taken over a battered and beaten homeland?
Wow, what an extraordinary read this was. I can't get over how many twists and turns this book took and how completely off balance I was for the vast majority of it. The thing that I liked best was not knowing who in the story was truly trying to help Vis and who was just being friendly only to bide their time until they could thrust a short blade in his back. There's so much deception involved and it's the exact type of fantasy book that I love to read. And while Islington reveals small pieces of the larger picture, he tantalizingly leaves so much still hidden and open for conjecture for the story that is still to come.
THE WILL OF THE MANY is a stunning achievement from one of the most talented epic fantasy writers in the game right now. To me this opening book in Islington's brand new series has further shown that he has the staying power to continue to create breathtaking new worlds, brilliantly realized magic systems, and characters who we can both root for and despise. Simply a wonderful book that made me all the more desperate to have the next one in my hand. It's the kind of story that stays with you long after completion and makes you hunger for more. I still have so many questions and cannot wait to continue on with this series. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a masterfully told tale with all of the elements that constitute a highly compulsive read.
Coming off of the brilliant Licanius Trilogy, I wasn't sure just what to expect from this one. Would it still give me that same magical feeling I got when I read that series? Well all I'll say is Islington has proven that he has some of the best ideas and writing chops in the game after finishing this utterly spellbinding first book in the Hierarchy series. It shouldn't have been as effortless as it was for me to fly through this almost 700 page book, but it was. And that's just a testament to the magnificent storyteller that James Islington is.
Part of the excellence of this book stems from just how many layers of mystery are involved. Just when one might look like it is solved, another pops up and often takes the story in a wholly unexpected direction. The Hierarchy is portrayed as yet another group of megalomaniacs who after conquering a weaker kingdom, now rules with absolute and unquestioned authority. They also rule by way of a super cool magic system that enables them to gain power by sucking the "Will" from those they capture and imprison. It kind of reminded me of the magic system in David Farland's Runelords series but with a slightly different and unique twist. Those with the most Will, Princeps, are ranked highest in the Catenan ruling class, followed by Dimidius, Tertius, Quartus, well you get the picture. It is by this transfer of Will that the Hierarchy is able to remain in power and maintain their seemingly invincible stranglehold.
And yet main character Vis believes all is not lost and that by infiltration into the famed Catenan Academy, he might be able to uncover vital information that could reveal potential vulnerabilities in the Hierarchy's armor. This is where the book really had me in its grip as Vis happens upon so many instances of near capture, death, and being exposed as an agent of the resistance that I wasn't sure whether he was going to even survive past the first half of the book to be completely honest. Is this a fool's errand, or can one person really hope to overturn and reverse the forces of tyranny that have taken over a battered and beaten homeland?
Wow, what an extraordinary read this was. I can't get over how many twists and turns this book took and how completely off balance I was for the vast majority of it. The thing that I liked best was not knowing who in the story was truly trying to help Vis and who was just being friendly only to bide their time until they could thrust a short blade in his back. There's so much deception involved and it's the exact type of fantasy book that I love to read. And while Islington reveals small pieces of the larger picture, he tantalizingly leaves so much still hidden and open for conjecture for the story that is still to come.
THE WILL OF THE MANY is a stunning achievement from one of the most talented epic fantasy writers in the game right now. To me this opening book in Islington's brand new series has further shown that he has the staying power to continue to create breathtaking new worlds, brilliantly realized magic systems, and characters who we can both root for and despise. Simply a wonderful book that made me all the more desperate to have the next one in my hand. It's the kind of story that stays with you long after completion and makes you hunger for more. I still have so many questions and cannot wait to continue on with this series. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a masterfully told tale with all of the elements that constitute a highly compulsive read.
March 5, 2024
I’m often complaining how stupid characters that aren’t meant to be inherently stupid sound in most books, but I do understand their “ingenuity” is a ploy for the book to be longer, for the plot to be articulated in various stages and not be told all at once. This book, though, had none of it. The main character was so smart it was hard to keep up at times, what he did to help Callidus something I’ll never forget and could have never foreseen. When he wasn’t smart enough to understand the complexity of what was going on around him, then, for sure, nor could be the reader, the politics were as intricate as politics in a roman inspired senate should be, with continuous shifting of weird, but still powered by greed, alliances. It is literally not possible to say that something that happened was predictable, because it was not, my only guide throughout the book was knowing the latin meaning of the characters’ names, as little as it helped.
Each part of the book was as surprising as it could be, it left me gasping in various occasions, and I think it was mostly because the characters themselves were, fundamentally, great, complex and each with their own astonishing secrets to tell.
On a less positive note, I really don’t like the concept of the epilogue and what may come from it, I’ll admit I’d be way more pleased if this was a stand alone because I’ve many doubts on the way things will unravel, but I guess we’ll see, I may be wrong (I hope I am).
Each part of the book was as surprising as it could be, it left me gasping in various occasions, and I think it was mostly because the characters themselves were, fundamentally, great, complex and each with their own astonishing secrets to tell.
On a less positive note, I really don’t like the concept of the epilogue and what may come from it, I’ll admit I’d be way more pleased if this was a stand alone because I’ve many doubts on the way things will unravel, but I guess we’ll see, I may be wrong (I hope I am).
May 20, 2023
My thanks to Gallery Books, James Islington and Netgalley.
I had planned on doing up one hell of a review. Characters, placement and what all.
Then I noticed Rover. That's my Betta fish. He was giving me the evil eye, and flashing his beautiful fins at me! Sure. I could almost read his thoughts. How could I not? His 👀 eyes, and his fins..Just giving me the "feed me now" look.
Yeah, he owns me!
O.K. So, in truth we all know that I never give reviews. What I give are feelings of the story.
This story was initially difficult to get into. I think it was mostly because what's his face was a bit much. Superhero a bit? Yes. Well rounded? Yes.
It was too much.
I'll confess that I really didn't like the first half of this story.
Thankfully, it definitely grew on me!
No mucking around here, but I guarantee that I'll be reading the next book.
I had planned on doing up one hell of a review. Characters, placement and what all.
Then I noticed Rover. That's my Betta fish. He was giving me the evil eye, and flashing his beautiful fins at me! Sure. I could almost read his thoughts. How could I not? His 👀 eyes, and his fins..Just giving me the "feed me now" look.
Yeah, he owns me!
O.K. So, in truth we all know that I never give reviews. What I give are feelings of the story.
This story was initially difficult to get into. I think it was mostly because what's his face was a bit much. Superhero a bit? Yes. Well rounded? Yes.
It was too much.
I'll confess that I really didn't like the first half of this story.
Thankfully, it definitely grew on me!
No mucking around here, but I guarantee that I'll be reading the next book.
March 19, 2024
An incredible, unpredictable, and wonderfully twisty fast-paced read that I could not put down. Tense and exciting, this book reminded me of Pierce Brown's Red Rising with its Roman Empire inspired worldbuilding and undercover protagonist surrounded by people he cannot trust, but it has its own style and vibe that separate it from Brown's also phenomenal series. If you're looking for a book to break your reading slump or keep you up until 3am reading, this is the book for you. Great characters, a thrilling plot, and so much fun. Plus, that ending was a serious wtf that made me excited for whatever strange twist comes next. I'm looking forward to book 2.
September 9, 2023
Wow, this was phenomenal! One of the best high fantasy novels I've read in years! (Think RED RISING meets THE NAME OF THE WIND.) I couldn't put it down!
January 31, 2024
Wow... James Islington really pulled out all the stops for this one...
So much happened in this book. I read this over about a month and a half, so looking back, I feel like I've read more than just one book in this series. Honestly, the more this story sits with me the more I love it. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Red Rising, though I do think that this focused more on intellectual and political warfare.
From the very start, I loved our main character, Vis. He's incredibly smart and skilled, but at they same time, it feels like he's still learning and just doing his best in a rough situation. I loved that he was always thinking 5 steps ahead and that he wasn't naïve in the slightest. Vis is pulled in so many directions in this book. I loved the friendships he made while in the academy (and how those friendships caused some dissonance in him due to his hate for the Hierarchy). Through the competitive nature of the academy - and just the structure of the Hierarchy in general - Islington was also super successful in creating an atmosphere of suspicion, where you're not sure whether you can fully trust anyone (no matter how much you like them).
I truly had no idea what was going to happen at any point of this, and Islington managed to catch me off guard with multiple plot twists. My only complaint is that the mechanics of the magic system is still a bit murky for me, but I'm hoping we'll get more of that in the future.
This book was incredibly complex and so well done. I now fully understand why many are hailing this as one of their favorite fantasy books of the year (me included), and I cannot wait to see where this series goes in the future!
So much happened in this book. I read this over about a month and a half, so looking back, I feel like I've read more than just one book in this series. Honestly, the more this story sits with me the more I love it. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Red Rising, though I do think that this focused more on intellectual and political warfare.
From the very start, I loved our main character, Vis. He's incredibly smart and skilled, but at they same time, it feels like he's still learning and just doing his best in a rough situation. I loved that he was always thinking 5 steps ahead and that he wasn't naïve in the slightest. Vis is pulled in so many directions in this book. I loved the friendships he made while in the academy (and how those friendships caused some dissonance in him due to his hate for the Hierarchy). Through the competitive nature of the academy - and just the structure of the Hierarchy in general - Islington was also super successful in creating an atmosphere of suspicion, where you're not sure whether you can fully trust anyone (no matter how much you like them).
I truly had no idea what was going to happen at any point of this, and Islington managed to catch me off guard with multiple plot twists. My only complaint is that the mechanics of the magic system is still a bit murky for me, but I'm hoping we'll get more of that in the future.
This book was incredibly complex and so well done. I now fully understand why many are hailing this as one of their favorite fantasy books of the year (me included), and I cannot wait to see where this series goes in the future!
February 17, 2024
HOLY FUCKING SHIT I NEED BOOK TWO IMMEDIATELY
9.71 on CAWPILE
9.71 on CAWPILE
December 20, 2023
I thoroughly enjoy epic fantasy novels, so coming off the heels of the Mistborn trilogy, I had high hopes that The Will of the Many by James Islington would deliver. And boy, did it. In the 30 some odd hours it took me to feverishly read this tome, I felt a range of emotions: amazement at its grandeur, enamored by its complexity, and delighted by the sheer energy of the character journeys. But more than anything, I was in almost constant amazement at its world-building—from the many exciting locations, the scope of the framework, the sparse but extremely effective action sequences, and the way the book rewards you for its seemingly endless setup of the first 30% or so. It will probably come as no surprise that this is probably one of my favorite reads of 2023, and I cannot wait until the next book in the series releases.
Our reticent hero is a teenager who resides in an orphanage and earns his mettle by battling foes in an arena and by keeping a watchful eye over prisoners in a dark, dank prison. (do not touch those sappers!)
After a seemingly positive interaction with a Quintus, Vis is plucked from the orphanage and enrolled in a prestigious, albeit infamous, academy. But before he embarks on his epic quest, he must endure the training of Lanistia. A quick-witted and even-tempered character that is tasked with helping Vis go from zero to hero in a few short weeks.
The training consists of all the regular superfluous studies you come to expect, including fighting, book smarts, magical concepts, passion, socialization, and immense puzzle solving. It’s all here, and Vis will need to channel all these teachings in order to succeed atHogwarts the Academy.
At its heart, the book is a coming-of-age story, and I applaud the minimalistic approach to the actual 'scene setting'—think broad brush strokes instead of illimitable detail. Typically, I usually champion equal parts detail and substance, but this book gives you just enough to flesh out the blueprints for yourself.
The plot deepens and the extensive amount of setup begins to come to light when Vis enrolls in the academy and begins to uncover some of the murky truths surrounding the institution.
But he does not go at it alone. The tone quickly changes from a fish-out-of-water scenario to being thrown into the deep end of the pool. As Vis moves up the class ranks, acquires more knowledge, and gains more friends, he learns that the tense puzzle games the students play may not be operating ‘above board’ and that the staff members might not be all that trustworthy.
From here on out, it’s a cohesive collection of Enders Game sensibilities, anime puzzler-like twists, a tad bit of Battle Royal, a dash of Red Rising, a pinch of Maze-Runner, and last but certainly not least, a whole lot of fun!
Bottom line is that it's engaging, and the characters are deep and well-rounded. The groundwork is set for more clever bits of story telling, and I will be first in line to get my eyes on the sequel.
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ Avantasia – The Moonflower Society
❖ The Beatles – Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds
❖ Entombed – Left Hand Path
❖ Journey – Wheel in The Sky
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 5 out of 5 ❖
Our reticent hero is a teenager who resides in an orphanage and earns his mettle by battling foes in an arena and by keeping a watchful eye over prisoners in a dark, dank prison. (do not touch those sappers!)
After a seemingly positive interaction with a Quintus, Vis is plucked from the orphanage and enrolled in a prestigious, albeit infamous, academy. But before he embarks on his epic quest, he must endure the training of Lanistia. A quick-witted and even-tempered character that is tasked with helping Vis go from zero to hero in a few short weeks.
The training consists of all the regular superfluous studies you come to expect, including fighting, book smarts, magical concepts, passion, socialization, and immense puzzle solving. It’s all here, and Vis will need to channel all these teachings in order to succeed at
At its heart, the book is a coming-of-age story, and I applaud the minimalistic approach to the actual 'scene setting'—think broad brush strokes instead of illimitable detail. Typically, I usually champion equal parts detail and substance, but this book gives you just enough to flesh out the blueprints for yourself.
The plot deepens and the extensive amount of setup begins to come to light when Vis enrolls in the academy and begins to uncover some of the murky truths surrounding the institution.
But he does not go at it alone. The tone quickly changes from a fish-out-of-water scenario to being thrown into the deep end of the pool. As Vis moves up the class ranks, acquires more knowledge, and gains more friends, he learns that the tense puzzle games the students play may not be operating ‘above board’ and that the staff members might not be all that trustworthy.
From here on out, it’s a cohesive collection of Enders Game sensibilities, anime puzzler-like twists, a tad bit of Battle Royal, a dash of Red Rising, a pinch of Maze-Runner, and last but certainly not least, a whole lot of fun!
Bottom line is that it's engaging, and the characters are deep and well-rounded. The groundwork is set for more clever bits of story telling, and I will be first in line to get my eyes on the sequel.
🎵| Soundtrack |🎵
❖ Avantasia – The Moonflower Society
❖ The Beatles – Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds
❖ Entombed – Left Hand Path
❖ Journey – Wheel in The Sky
⭐ | Rating | ⭐
❖ 5 out of 5 ❖
January 18, 2024
THIS BOOK HERE!! THIS IS WHY I LOVE READING
This read made me forget to eat, sleep, and work (oops). And I know I truly love a book when that happens. This is the most engaging, epic, engrossing, earth-shattering fantasy I’ve read since The Name of the Wind - and I thought I’d never come across a fantasy I’d love as much as that one again.
The Roman Empire setting, the complex and wholly unique magic system, the political intrigue and social commentary, the friendships, the mystery, the magical academy, the animal sidekick (okay it probably shouldn’t be described that way but let me be), the emotion, the layers, the plottwist, the opposing stakes!!! Every time I thought I’d figured something out, everything got turned on its head again.
It is a unique thing for a writer to be able to craft a world that feels real, along with characters that are complex and alive, invent a magic system AND write a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat for all 620 pages. And that ending… it’s just cruel to leave us behind like this.
This book is genius and I need the second one like now. Please god I beg you let this series continue unlike The Name of the Wind that has been broken my heart a little more with each passing year that there’s no third book
This read made me forget to eat, sleep, and work (oops). And I know I truly love a book when that happens. This is the most engaging, epic, engrossing, earth-shattering fantasy I’ve read since The Name of the Wind - and I thought I’d never come across a fantasy I’d love as much as that one again.
The Roman Empire setting, the complex and wholly unique magic system, the political intrigue and social commentary, the friendships, the mystery, the magical academy, the animal sidekick (okay it probably shouldn’t be described that way but let me be), the emotion, the layers, the plottwist, the opposing stakes!!! Every time I thought I’d figured something out, everything got turned on its head again.
It is a unique thing for a writer to be able to craft a world that feels real, along with characters that are complex and alive, invent a magic system AND write a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat for all 620 pages. And that ending… it’s just cruel to leave us behind like this.
This book is genius and I need the second one like now. Please god I beg you let this series continue unlike The Name of the Wind that has been broken my heart a little more with each passing year that there’s no third book
November 30, 2023
I asked for an unpredictable plot, a hero's journey that shocked me, one so completely original that I couldn't see it coming until it was exploding right in my face. The Will of the Many stepped up and said, "Bitch hold my hoops."
Never in a million years did I see this coming.
Beyond the absolutely wild and captivating ending, this book could school the fantasy genre in plot and pacing, show-don't-tell prose, competent and relatable characters that are so believably strategic they remain enigmatic, and writing a setting that immaculately blurs the lines of fantasy and science fiction, complete with a magic system that's philosophically evocative.
I can hardly believe this story is about teenagers. NOTHING about it is juvenile. The plot is so intricately woven but expertly told, that it's totally accessible while nailing about 20 different technical story-telling tactics with excellence. The story moved easily between sequences of competitive training, espionage, attacks, strategic maneuvering, emotional upheaval, moral conundrums, and backstory reveals at an effortless and constant pace. I got it all, without a single lapse.
It missed nothing. I have no notes. I do have questions and need the next book now! This is easily one of my top three reads of the year. If you consider yourself a fan of science fiction or fantasy, I cannot recommend this more.
Never in a million years did I see this coming.
Beyond the absolutely wild and captivating ending, this book could school the fantasy genre in plot and pacing, show-don't-tell prose, competent and relatable characters that are so believably strategic they remain enigmatic, and writing a setting that immaculately blurs the lines of fantasy and science fiction, complete with a magic system that's philosophically evocative.
I can hardly believe this story is about teenagers. NOTHING about it is juvenile. The plot is so intricately woven but expertly told, that it's totally accessible while nailing about 20 different technical story-telling tactics with excellence. The story moved easily between sequences of competitive training, espionage, attacks, strategic maneuvering, emotional upheaval, moral conundrums, and backstory reveals at an effortless and constant pace. I got it all, without a single lapse.
It missed nothing. I have no notes. I do have questions and need the next book now! This is easily one of my top three reads of the year. If you consider yourself a fan of science fiction or fantasy, I cannot recommend this more.
March 5, 2024
No hyperbole at all when I say this is one of the best books I have read. It was so fast paced, so immersive, so tense and exciting and all of that made this book to be one of my favourite reading experiences.
The Will of the Many is like Red Rising and Golden Son merged together with a dash of Blood Song. I couldn't put it down and I felt truly obsessed. The book consumed me, or I consumed it, whichever sounds better.
SO GOOD!
The Will of the Many is like Red Rising and Golden Son merged together with a dash of Blood Song. I couldn't put it down and I felt truly obsessed. The book consumed me, or I consumed it, whichever sounds better.
SO GOOD!
October 8, 2023
i’m so tired of books causing me emotional pain. i’m so tired of sobbing over people who aren’t real. i’ve been crying my eyes out for the last few minutes. ugh well done islington.
amazing. showstopping. an immediate favourite.
rtc
amazing. showstopping. an immediate favourite.
rtc
Read
June 29, 2023Full video review here: https://youtu.be/XU5vNTIA-JY
While I liked the book a lot, I didn't quite find it as earth-shattering as the majority of my BookTube peers. However, Mr. Islington continues to be the master of mystery in giving you more questions than answers and leaving you hungry for the next installment; which I am.
Full thoughts in the video linked above.
While I liked the book a lot, I didn't quite find it as earth-shattering as the majority of my BookTube peers. However, Mr. Islington continues to be the master of mystery in giving you more questions than answers and leaving you hungry for the next installment; which I am.
Full thoughts in the video linked above.
July 7, 2023
Introducing: One of my best Fantasy book so far this year! easy 5 STARS, love it from page one until the end… while i read this book i sweat, my heart pounded, i feel like i want to pledge my life for the main character of this book because i care for him so much! so yeah… it’s basically one of the rare book that can gave me all the feels and truely make me remember why i love Fantasy and why i love to read.
“AUDI.VIDE.TACE” (hear, see, be silent)
The Will Of The Many is a Roman inspired story but with a touch of traditional fantasy and also has it’s own technology (yes it’s very unique and nothing like i have ever read), it has magical elite militery school so if you are a fan of dark academia story this can be an option for you to read. It’s a story about survival, bravery, being true to yourself and of course a heartwarming friendship, i also really love being inside the main character’s head Vis Telimus… he is cunning, brave, hot temper but also loveable, he basically has all the quality i love from a main character and in the end of the book i just want to die for him really 😂
It will be painful to wait for the sequel but WOOW i just want to praise and thank James Islington for creating this story, it’s absolutely an amazing ride and he is soaring to my new fav author, i’ve read his book 1 of Licanius Trilogy but it feels like just an okay read… i think The Will Of The Many is a huge step up from him and i cannot wait to read more, 2024 need to come sooner please the ending just killed me 😭
The Will Of The Many is definetly A MUST READ if you love Fantasy, HIGHLY recommend it and please meet my boy Vis 👍🏼👍🏼
“AUDI.VIDE.TACE” (hear, see, be silent)
The Will Of The Many is a Roman inspired story but with a touch of traditional fantasy and also has it’s own technology (yes it’s very unique and nothing like i have ever read), it has magical elite militery school so if you are a fan of dark academia story this can be an option for you to read. It’s a story about survival, bravery, being true to yourself and of course a heartwarming friendship, i also really love being inside the main character’s head Vis Telimus… he is cunning, brave, hot temper but also loveable, he basically has all the quality i love from a main character and in the end of the book i just want to die for him really 😂
It will be painful to wait for the sequel but WOOW i just want to praise and thank James Islington for creating this story, it’s absolutely an amazing ride and he is soaring to my new fav author, i’ve read his book 1 of Licanius Trilogy but it feels like just an okay read… i think The Will Of The Many is a huge step up from him and i cannot wait to read more, 2024 need to come sooner please the ending just killed me 😭
The Will Of The Many is definetly A MUST READ if you love Fantasy, HIGHLY recommend it and please meet my boy Vis 👍🏼👍🏼
January 30, 2024
So close, yet so far!
RTC
August 12, 2023
Anytime there is consensus among people I follow who don't always enjoy the same fantasy the part of me that enjoys fucking around is tempted to pick up the book, this was no exception. It didn't hurt that this was the book my patrons voted for me to read for a vlog, so in that sense there was a little bit of external pressure for me to pick it up.
Going into this I had heard it compared to a lot of other books already available. The one that comes up the most is Red Rising [ baby monte's review can be found here ], The Blood Trials [ My Review ], and Babel: An Arcane History [ My Review ]. If it had just been the first two I might have kept going on with my life because I found both of them lacking, but the idea of another fantasy school book but with a person masquerading as someone they aren't in order to bring down the Empire? That... that I could actually get behind.
Y'all, I should have just kept on with my life.
Back in the day comp title Red Rising would get shelved in the YA section at Barnes and Noble, I have a feeling this is mostly due to the fact that dystopian fiction was in the death rattle but shelving them together felt appropriate to the powers that be. Here we have a case that The Will of the Many is solidly a piece of Young Adult fiction masquerading as an adult work at an adult imprint so that Saga Press can justify charging you 30 USD/40 CAD.
Here we are following Vis, a boy we meet at the start of the book ostensibly an orphan working at what is essentially a prison. We follow him as an upper rank individual visits said prison unexpectedly, overhears something that maybe he shouldn't have, and then follow him to the underground fight club that he participates in to earn money that he won't have to fork over to the woman who runs the orphanage he's currently still residing in. The next thirty percent of the book follows our orphan boy as we learn about his actual past, the reason why the unexpected visitor chooses to adopt him and then train him for the elite school so that the plot of over throwing the Empire that exists on every corner of the landmass of this world can be set in motion...
Only when we finally arrive at the school there's nothing elite about it. There is some throwaway discussions about fairness and how the students at this academy are all the children of Senators or other high ranking officials within the Empire, murmurs of factions already grating against one another now that the military has nowhere left to conquer. But the way that Vis just propels through the academy never hitting a roadblock that Islington won't conveniently shift out of his way was just not fun to read. Not only is there really no sense of struggle, there's no sense of growth or reasoning why this book needed to be set at a school or us to be following a child...
That's to say nothing of Vis, who is truly the worst actor. We are meant to believe that he is invested in this charade that he's been running since he left his old life behind. A life that would definitely make him a wanted man by the Empire and really the only reason he is adopted in the first place, but at every opportunity he has to reveal who he really is and expose himself he does. To the point that at the academy a character I'm meant to believe is his friend is constantly telling him that they've clocked Vis isn't who he says he is and that it's only a matter of time until the other do as well. You'd think that would be used to remind Vis the stakes of what he's doing and that he'd be more careful, but as the story enters the third act he just becomes more and more reckless.
The world building in this one is definitely a mess... You'd think that an author would use the school setting as something of a crutch to guide the reader through history or how the magic is used in the world, but here it was mostly used for us to see how smart Vis was compared to his classmates that he was always calling stupid. What we did get of the world always felt like a wink and a nudge that was reminding the reader how invested Islington was in creating his version of a fantasy Roman Empire. At the end of the day it never felt like a place that existed physically, like it stood on any firm ground or that the people of the book read as people from various parts of a world that had been conquered and united by the Empire in the book...
There were moments that I enjoyed. There was an exchange between Vis and a character he got off on the wrong foot with that he was eventually paired up with in a classic YA trope kind of way, but it was also the only relationship in the book that felt genuine and like care had gone into. So the book isn't entirely terrible... But I still wouldn't recommend. It's part of a series and so maybe once there is more to contextualize this first book with later installments it'll be worth someone's time, but as of now it's definitely not anything you need to rush out and pick up.
Going into this I had heard it compared to a lot of other books already available. The one that comes up the most is Red Rising [ baby monte's review can be found here ], The Blood Trials [ My Review ], and Babel: An Arcane History [ My Review ]. If it had just been the first two I might have kept going on with my life because I found both of them lacking, but the idea of another fantasy school book but with a person masquerading as someone they aren't in order to bring down the Empire? That... that I could actually get behind.
Y'all, I should have just kept on with my life.
Back in the day comp title Red Rising would get shelved in the YA section at Barnes and Noble, I have a feeling this is mostly due to the fact that dystopian fiction was in the death rattle but shelving them together felt appropriate to the powers that be. Here we have a case that The Will of the Many is solidly a piece of Young Adult fiction masquerading as an adult work at an adult imprint so that Saga Press can justify charging you 30 USD/40 CAD.
Here we are following Vis, a boy we meet at the start of the book ostensibly an orphan working at what is essentially a prison. We follow him as an upper rank individual visits said prison unexpectedly, overhears something that maybe he shouldn't have, and then follow him to the underground fight club that he participates in to earn money that he won't have to fork over to the woman who runs the orphanage he's currently still residing in. The next thirty percent of the book follows our orphan boy as we learn about his actual past, the reason why the unexpected visitor chooses to adopt him and then train him for the elite school so that the plot of over throwing the Empire that exists on every corner of the landmass of this world can be set in motion...
Only when we finally arrive at the school there's nothing elite about it. There is some throwaway discussions about fairness and how the students at this academy are all the children of Senators or other high ranking officials within the Empire, murmurs of factions already grating against one another now that the military has nowhere left to conquer. But the way that Vis just propels through the academy never hitting a roadblock that Islington won't conveniently shift out of his way was just not fun to read. Not only is there really no sense of struggle, there's no sense of growth or reasoning why this book needed to be set at a school or us to be following a child...
That's to say nothing of Vis, who is truly the worst actor. We are meant to believe that he is invested in this charade that he's been running since he left his old life behind. A life that would definitely make him a wanted man by the Empire and really the only reason he is adopted in the first place, but at every opportunity he has to reveal who he really is and expose himself he does. To the point that at the academy a character I'm meant to believe is his friend is constantly telling him that they've clocked Vis isn't who he says he is and that it's only a matter of time until the other do as well. You'd think that would be used to remind Vis the stakes of what he's doing and that he'd be more careful, but as the story enters the third act he just becomes more and more reckless.
The world building in this one is definitely a mess... You'd think that an author would use the school setting as something of a crutch to guide the reader through history or how the magic is used in the world, but here it was mostly used for us to see how smart Vis was compared to his classmates that he was always calling stupid. What we did get of the world always felt like a wink and a nudge that was reminding the reader how invested Islington was in creating his version of a fantasy Roman Empire. At the end of the day it never felt like a place that existed physically, like it stood on any firm ground or that the people of the book read as people from various parts of a world that had been conquered and united by the Empire in the book...
There were moments that I enjoyed. There was an exchange between Vis and a character he got off on the wrong foot with that he was eventually paired up with in a classic YA trope kind of way, but it was also the only relationship in the book that felt genuine and like care had gone into. So the book isn't entirely terrible... But I still wouldn't recommend. It's part of a series and so maybe once there is more to contextualize this first book with later installments it'll be worth someone's time, but as of now it's definitely not anything you need to rush out and pick up.
October 19, 2023
4.5 stars
Listen, this book on all accounts should not have been this fantastic, and yet it really was. The main character is a 17 year old orphaned boy who is coerced into going to an exclusive school where he has to rise in the ranks and win the final end of school year competition, all the while trying to discover the answer to a mystery. This is not something I would care to read about normally. I am over adult books with YA characters, special schools, and plot lines where adults depend on children to figure things out. AND YET THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.
Why? Because despite that being the plot of the book, it wasn't the point of the book, if that makes sense? The magic system is all about giving part of your will/energy to people in power above you in a pyramid structure where those at the very bottom only give their will and do not receive any, but the ones at the top of the pyramid receive the will of thousands of people below them, giving them immense power. It's like a literal magical translation to how "power" works in the real world and I loved it and it's implications. How does one fight against a system so stacked against you if you are at the bottom of the pyramid? If the people at the bottom have the least amount of power but vastly outnumber those in the ranks above them, and yet they still do not try to overthrow the system because it's easier to just cede some of their will instead and go about their lives - are they the largest part of the problem instead of victims of the system? These considerations are what really made this book stand out for me.
Also, it's just so well written! And the pacing is perfect! And the ending was immaculate! And I can't wait to read the next book!
Listen, this book on all accounts should not have been this fantastic, and yet it really was. The main character is a 17 year old orphaned boy who is coerced into going to an exclusive school where he has to rise in the ranks and win the final end of school year competition, all the while trying to discover the answer to a mystery. This is not something I would care to read about normally. I am over adult books with YA characters, special schools, and plot lines where adults depend on children to figure things out. AND YET THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING.
Why? Because despite that being the plot of the book, it wasn't the point of the book, if that makes sense? The magic system is all about giving part of your will/energy to people in power above you in a pyramid structure where those at the very bottom only give their will and do not receive any, but the ones at the top of the pyramid receive the will of thousands of people below them, giving them immense power. It's like a literal magical translation to how "power" works in the real world and I loved it and it's implications. How does one fight against a system so stacked against you if you are at the bottom of the pyramid? If the people at the bottom have the least amount of power but vastly outnumber those in the ranks above them, and yet they still do not try to overthrow the system because it's easier to just cede some of their will instead and go about their lives - are they the largest part of the problem instead of victims of the system? These considerations are what really made this book stand out for me.
Also, it's just so well written! And the pacing is perfect! And the ending was immaculate! And I can't wait to read the next book!
March 14, 2024
WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT??????? WHERE IS BOOK 2 IT IS A NEED
April 9, 2024
i'm a bit underwhelmed i fear.
there were things i enjoyed about this book - and things i didn't. hopefully, i can gather my thoughts coherently.
pros:
- compulsively readable writing style.
- magic that's explained and used in an academic, scientific way - i love in-world theories and scientific concepts and academic classes surrounding a magic system.
- i also liked the concept of the hierarchy and its social classes being built around this magic system.
- the labyrinth is a great competition-style game concept - i can easily see it in a movie or a video game.
- the hunger games-style iudicium (the last 15% of the book) was engaging to read. the rules were pretty interesting so i wish this was a longer section in the book.
cons:
- our protagonist - others have mentioned this and i have to agree to an extent: vis definitely feels like a 'gary stu' character. he has a bland and reactive personality and could almost be a self-insert if it weren't for some frustrating choices he makes. things come a bit too easily to him (although he does have to work for them). no matter what the obstacle is, you know he'll surpass it because the first 14 years of his life were apparently designed for this very plotline to take place (ok that's kinda unfair. his past as a prince training to be a diplomat does explain his skills...the rest are just protagonist superpowers). and look, there is a way to write a protagonist who's better than everyone else and always wins (see: the queen's thief series) but vis has none of the wit, charm, or intrigue to make that kind of character compelling.
- i also struggle to believe how vis barely has any animosity towards his family's murderers and his country's occupiers - sure he's angry and grieving but it all feels rather mild for the context. at one point, he finds out the name of the man who ordered his family's deaths and he decides that "violence is no answer to grief." maybe if vis was a 40 year old whose family died 20 years ago, i'd believe this, but for a 17 year old whose family died 3 years ago? please be for real.
- extremely disappointed by how the author decided to portray the rebellion - they're basically terrorists and don't have the people's best interests at heart because of course. vis's superior attitude towards them was so irritating to me - he kept criticizing the only force opposing his people's occupiers but refused to offer any alternatives (and we're constantly shown just how extraordinarily brilliant he is). the anti-violence stance taken here felt so disingenuous to me (and disconnected from real life resistance).
- in fact, for most of the book, vis isn't interested in truly opposing the hierarchy at all. his goals are incredibly self-serving but i guess it makes sense given his privileged past as a prince.
- side characters were boring and forgettable (except eidhin and maybe lanistia). i'd say vis and eidhin's friendship was the only complex, genuine relationship in the book.
- for all the barrage of information thrown at us regarding 'will' (the magic system), we don't really know much about it. what exactly is will? is it like qi, inner energy or something? what does it mean to imbue? what's conditional imbuing? i know we'll likely learn more in the sequel but it's funny to me that a 600+ page book told us so little about how the magic actually works.
- a lot of hype around the ending - it's intriguing for sure, but at least 3/4 of it was quite predictable too.
overall, interesting concepts, poor character work, disappointing politics. there are enough mysteries in the plot for me to pick up the sequel - i'm just not dying to get my hands on it.
there were things i enjoyed about this book - and things i didn't. hopefully, i can gather my thoughts coherently.
pros:
- compulsively readable writing style.
- magic that's explained and used in an academic, scientific way - i love in-world theories and scientific concepts and academic classes surrounding a magic system.
- i also liked the concept of the hierarchy and its social classes being built around this magic system.
- the labyrinth is a great competition-style game concept - i can easily see it in a movie or a video game.
- the hunger games-style iudicium (the last 15% of the book) was engaging to read. the rules were pretty interesting so i wish this was a longer section in the book.
cons:
- our protagonist - others have mentioned this and i have to agree to an extent: vis definitely feels like a 'gary stu' character. he has a bland and reactive personality and could almost be a self-insert if it weren't for some frustrating choices he makes. things come a bit too easily to him (although he does have to work for them). no matter what the obstacle is, you know he'll surpass it because the first 14 years of his life were apparently designed for this very plotline to take place (ok that's kinda unfair. his past as a prince training to be a diplomat does explain his skills...the rest are just protagonist superpowers). and look, there is a way to write a protagonist who's better than everyone else and always wins (see: the queen's thief series) but vis has none of the wit, charm, or intrigue to make that kind of character compelling.
- i also struggle to believe how vis barely has any animosity towards his family's murderers and his country's occupiers - sure he's angry and grieving but it all feels rather mild for the context. at one point, he finds out the name of the man who ordered his family's deaths and he decides that "violence is no answer to grief." maybe if vis was a 40 year old whose family died 20 years ago, i'd believe this, but for a 17 year old whose family died 3 years ago? please be for real.
- extremely disappointed by how the author decided to portray the rebellion - they're basically terrorists and don't have the people's best interests at heart because of course. vis's superior attitude towards them was so irritating to me - he kept criticizing the only force opposing his people's occupiers but refused to offer any alternatives (and we're constantly shown just how extraordinarily brilliant he is). the anti-violence stance taken here felt so disingenuous to me (and disconnected from real life resistance).
- in fact, for most of the book, vis isn't interested in truly opposing the hierarchy at all. his goals are incredibly self-serving but i guess it makes sense given his privileged past as a prince.
- side characters were boring and forgettable (except eidhin and maybe lanistia). i'd say vis and eidhin's friendship was the only complex, genuine relationship in the book.
- for all the barrage of information thrown at us regarding 'will' (the magic system), we don't really know much about it. what exactly is will? is it like qi, inner energy or something? what does it mean to imbue? what's conditional imbuing? i know we'll likely learn more in the sequel but it's funny to me that a 600+ page book told us so little about how the magic actually works.
- a lot of hype around the ending - it's intriguing for sure, but at least 3/4 of it was quite predictable too.
overall, interesting concepts, poor character work, disappointing politics. there are enough mysteries in the plot for me to pick up the sequel - i'm just not dying to get my hands on it.
November 30, 2023
It’s my favorite fantasy book of the year. This is it. Right here. My favorite one.
Another six star read. In one month. ANOTHER ONE. Okay I’m going to try to take some calm breaths so I can coherently speak on this book. It’s going to be hard though my pulse is elevated and I want to scream (I finished this minutes ago).
James, can I call you James? WHAT WAS THAT?!?
I haven’t been this invested in a plot since Red Rising maybe? (FYI this book gets recced to fans of RR and there are a lot of similarities… but this book and story still very much stand on their own).
Regardless, TWOTM gripped me from page one, proceeded to move at a steady clip and then had a Sanderlanche level ending. The last 15% of the book my only annotation is “wtf is going on”. I wrote that 18 times. 18 times.
What is this about? It’s about our boy Vis. Just your average 17 year old orphan with a mysterious past who lives The Catenan Republic, a hierarchy based society (with lots of Roman influence) where ones “Will” (aka your focus, drive, strength and spirit) is syphoned away so that those on the upper tiers of the class pyramid can use it. It’s a cute vibey society like that. Sharing is caring.
Thing is, Vis catches the attention of some very powerful people… and happens to get adopted and sent to The Republic’s most elite, most prestigious most cut throat (you get the point) academy. Seems fun? Nope. Children are mysteriously disappearing and/or getting murdered, (Vis is supposed to like, figure that out for his fake dad), there’s a rebellion going on (as they do) and they’ve got their hands in the chaotic cookie jar (they also want to shove Vis’s hands in there too), and then there’s Vis’s own motivations: he will stop at nothing to avoid ceding his will to the Republic. Bc they kinda killed his whole family. That’s our boys line in the dirt and I respect it. Anyway the cherry on top is that Vis has to keep everything a secret from everyone and also end up #1 in the entire academy (which conveniently has a tier system as well) for… reasons.
(None of this is a spoiler I checked the good reads summary)
If you boil it down it seems like a “underdog who’s also a spy climbs the school ranks” story but my god does it take SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS. I swear to you I would think one thing and immediate next page my jaw was on the floor. I saw nothing coming. Or if I thought I did Vis would immediately address my assumption and then things would go haywire from there.
Now let me talk about Vis for a second. The most unrealistic thing about this whole story (and it’s a straight up fantasy book mind you) was how perfect Vis is. Like ya he takes some beatings but this boy is a genius, he’s observant / perceptive / manipulative, he’s athletic, a trained warrior, well educated, gets the ladies, deceives everyone who’s ever breathed, he’s fluent in every language, he’s good at chess. Don’t even get me started on the wolf subplot.
Anyway I loved him so much. His strength of character and people reading abilities, while slightly unbelievable, were too enjoyable to read so I just had to accept it. Oh also his RAGE. Made for some gut wrenching and powerful scenes.
This book was just so interesting to me. It’s over 600 pages and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Not a single second was I bored. And let me tell you EVERY detail matters. Keep your eyes peeled.
Other things I loved in bullets bc I have to cut myself off
- There are SO many smart characters & I still have no idea what everyone’s motivations are (f u book 1)
- Friends who are enemies, villains who are friends, allies who are evil, enemies who are good. (figure that one out) (you just can’t trust anyone okay)
- There’s some occasional dry humor which was needed with all the heart pounding action
- Training scenes that don’t skimp on the details we SEE Vis learn / grow / develop
- Vis constantly assessing and analyzing… I ate that up and it provided such delicious tension in scenes that would be deceptively simple on screen without Vis’s inner thoughts. He is ALWAYS performing. He belongs on the stage fr
- Mic drop lines, duels, secret tunnel scenes
- The story is also full of a lot of grief and a lot of wisdom… which seem to go hand it hand here
- Friend side characters with depth who made me laugh and also cry
- There’s even a mystery at the center of the story…
I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS I NEED BOOK 2.
Another six star read. In one month. ANOTHER ONE. Okay I’m going to try to take some calm breaths so I can coherently speak on this book. It’s going to be hard though my pulse is elevated and I want to scream (I finished this minutes ago).
James, can I call you James? WHAT WAS THAT?!?
I haven’t been this invested in a plot since Red Rising maybe? (FYI this book gets recced to fans of RR and there are a lot of similarities… but this book and story still very much stand on their own).
Regardless, TWOTM gripped me from page one, proceeded to move at a steady clip and then had a Sanderlanche level ending. The last 15% of the book my only annotation is “wtf is going on”. I wrote that 18 times. 18 times.
What is this about? It’s about our boy Vis. Just your average 17 year old orphan with a mysterious past who lives The Catenan Republic, a hierarchy based society (with lots of Roman influence) where ones “Will” (aka your focus, drive, strength and spirit) is syphoned away so that those on the upper tiers of the class pyramid can use it. It’s a cute vibey society like that. Sharing is caring.
Thing is, Vis catches the attention of some very powerful people… and happens to get adopted and sent to The Republic’s most elite, most prestigious most cut throat (you get the point) academy. Seems fun? Nope. Children are mysteriously disappearing and/or getting murdered, (Vis is supposed to like, figure that out for his fake dad), there’s a rebellion going on (as they do) and they’ve got their hands in the chaotic cookie jar (they also want to shove Vis’s hands in there too), and then there’s Vis’s own motivations: he will stop at nothing to avoid ceding his will to the Republic. Bc they kinda killed his whole family. That’s our boys line in the dirt and I respect it. Anyway the cherry on top is that Vis has to keep everything a secret from everyone and also end up #1 in the entire academy (which conveniently has a tier system as well) for… reasons.
(None of this is a spoiler I checked the good reads summary)
If you boil it down it seems like a “underdog who’s also a spy climbs the school ranks” story but my god does it take SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS. I swear to you I would think one thing and immediate next page my jaw was on the floor. I saw nothing coming. Or if I thought I did Vis would immediately address my assumption and then things would go haywire from there.
Now let me talk about Vis for a second. The most unrealistic thing about this whole story (and it’s a straight up fantasy book mind you) was how perfect Vis is. Like ya he takes some beatings but this boy is a genius, he’s observant / perceptive / manipulative, he’s athletic, a trained warrior, well educated, gets the ladies, deceives everyone who’s ever breathed, he’s fluent in every language, he’s good at chess. Don’t even get me started on the wolf subplot.
Anyway I loved him so much. His strength of character and people reading abilities, while slightly unbelievable, were too enjoyable to read so I just had to accept it. Oh also his RAGE. Made for some gut wrenching and powerful scenes.
This book was just so interesting to me. It’s over 600 pages and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Not a single second was I bored. And let me tell you EVERY detail matters. Keep your eyes peeled.
Other things I loved in bullets bc I have to cut myself off
- There are SO many smart characters & I still have no idea what everyone’s motivations are (f u book 1)
- Friends who are enemies, villains who are friends, allies who are evil, enemies who are good. (figure that one out) (you just can’t trust anyone okay)
- There’s some occasional dry humor which was needed with all the heart pounding action
- Training scenes that don’t skimp on the details we SEE Vis learn / grow / develop
- Vis constantly assessing and analyzing… I ate that up and it provided such delicious tension in scenes that would be deceptively simple on screen without Vis’s inner thoughts. He is ALWAYS performing. He belongs on the stage fr
- Mic drop lines, duels, secret tunnel scenes
- The story is also full of a lot of grief and a lot of wisdom… which seem to go hand it hand here
- Friend side characters with depth who made me laugh and also cry
- There’s even a mystery at the center of the story…
I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS I NEED BOOK 2.
April 26, 2024
Thank you very much to Edelweiss and S&S/Saga Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
✨This book! I have so many things to say about this book that feel both adequate and a shamble ramble all at the same time! I'll start off by saying that this book set a precedent this month for reading just one novel at a time, for the first time in years! And prior to this review, now finally posted after taking a whole week to become a cohesive stretch of articulate thought, there has since been a total of 3 books to which I have given my sole attention to finishing cover to cover (or rather kindle loc 1 to 12345...). It's become something of a thing I gas myself up about now...
...speaking of singular focus, let's address POV for a second. As an avid fantasy reader, the having to navigate multitudinous POVs from a sprawl of characters over thousands of pages is absolutely brutal sometimes...most of the time. So how relieved was I to find this work unfolding solely from Vis' POV? Very much relieved. High levels of relief really. Thanks for pausing. It was refreshing as fk, and now thinking about it, this attention/attendance grabber probably changed me on some internal level, which then contributed to my sudden streamlined reading habit. Huh.
Right.
Well anyway, I really enjoyed this narrowed focus, because trundling alongside the evolution of Vis through his dynamic arc -which is still blowing my mind a week later- probably would not have been as engaging had I not been in full attendance. Maybe. Doesn't matter. What does matter is the propulsive energy catapulting this book from beginning to end, i.e. Islington's -compelling as all hell- narrative flex, which was earnest and clever and intricate without coming off poncy and full of itself. There was POC rep, and the "showing" made for a very visceral reading experience. I was unmade more than once. Also, I really loved that both Vis and I are island kids. I felt Suus in my bones and in the colour of my skin. I'm also hoping that one day soon I can stop applauding fantasy writers for making their cast of characters ethnically diverse. But I digress.
World building, especially atypical-not-high-fantasy-world building, can be overwhelming at times for a reader having to assimilate newish everything...culture, magic system, demographics, politics, ethics and, of course, engagement via the very succinct internal question: why should I give two fks? The answer: Because James (first name thrill ngl) made it so that I had no choice but to.
It helped that Vis was 17 going on 18 and that we could grow together....though I did have trouble a few times trying to reconcile his age with the nature of the circumstances he faced. His ability to triumph over all of it, though, did track, due to his hard as fk early experiences, all of which set the tone for his furtive and extraordinary character.
All the unlikeables were radically, black and white abhorrent. And all the likeables were loveable huggable forever ships I wish for all HS/College/Uni students the world over. And this ending...ahhh I've been stuck in a loop this whole time! Even now I'm still skirting the edges, like my mind won't allow itself to go over the event horizon because I'd be lost in the disintegration of self as I parse the fk out of the...the ending lol...no spoilers.
So the long and short of it is: I loved this book. I am excited to reread this book before the second installment comes out. I am even more excited for the moment when certain facets of this story (that I've been weirdly keeping at the periphery) become unignorable, and would in that moment transform an everyday occurrence -like brushing my teeth- into a labyrinthine spiral which would then lead to my dissertation on (the much flexed on) supersymmetry or something similar, which would be very amazing seeing as though I am a Classics student.
The things that can happen though...the possibilities are endless...unless this is going to be an actual trilogy...
...in which case...✨
✨This book! I have so many things to say about this book that feel both adequate and a shamble ramble all at the same time! I'll start off by saying that this book set a precedent this month for reading just one novel at a time, for the first time in years! And prior to this review, now finally posted after taking a whole week to become a cohesive stretch of articulate thought, there has since been a total of 3 books to which I have given my sole attention to finishing cover to cover (or rather kindle loc 1 to 12345...). It's become something of a thing I gas myself up about now...
...speaking of singular focus, let's address POV for a second. As an avid fantasy reader, the having to navigate multitudinous POVs from a sprawl of characters over thousands of pages is absolutely brutal sometimes...most of the time. So how relieved was I to find this work unfolding solely from Vis' POV? Very much relieved. High levels of relief really. Thanks for pausing. It was refreshing as fk, and now thinking about it, this attention/attendance grabber probably changed me on some internal level, which then contributed to my sudden streamlined reading habit. Huh.
Right.
Well anyway, I really enjoyed this narrowed focus, because trundling alongside the evolution of Vis through his dynamic arc -which is still blowing my mind a week later- probably would not have been as engaging had I not been in full attendance. Maybe. Doesn't matter. What does matter is the propulsive energy catapulting this book from beginning to end, i.e. Islington's -compelling as all hell- narrative flex, which was earnest and clever and intricate without coming off poncy and full of itself. There was POC rep, and the "showing" made for a very visceral reading experience. I was unmade more than once. Also, I really loved that both Vis and I are island kids. I felt Suus in my bones and in the colour of my skin. I'm also hoping that one day soon I can stop applauding fantasy writers for making their cast of characters ethnically diverse. But I digress.
World building, especially atypical-not-high-fantasy-world building, can be overwhelming at times for a reader having to assimilate newish everything...culture, magic system, demographics, politics, ethics and, of course, engagement via the very succinct internal question: why should I give two fks? The answer: Because James (first name thrill ngl) made it so that I had no choice but to.
It helped that Vis was 17 going on 18 and that we could grow together....though I did have trouble a few times trying to reconcile his age with the nature of the circumstances he faced. His ability to triumph over all of it, though, did track, due to his hard as fk early experiences, all of which set the tone for his furtive and extraordinary character.
All the unlikeables were radically, black and white abhorrent. And all the likeables were loveable huggable forever ships I wish for all HS/College/Uni students the world over. And this ending...ahhh I've been stuck in a loop this whole time! Even now I'm still skirting the edges, like my mind won't allow itself to go over the event horizon because I'd be lost in the disintegration of self as I parse the fk out of the...the ending lol...no spoilers.
So the long and short of it is: I loved this book. I am excited to reread this book before the second installment comes out. I am even more excited for the moment when certain facets of this story (that I've been weirdly keeping at the periphery) become unignorable, and would in that moment transform an everyday occurrence -like brushing my teeth- into a labyrinthine spiral which would then lead to my dissertation on (the much flexed on) supersymmetry or something similar, which would be very amazing seeing as though I am a Classics student.
The things that can happen though...the possibilities are endless...unless this is going to be an actual trilogy...
...in which case...✨
July 23, 2023
4.0 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/RTOeOkkD68s
This is a solid new fantasy story that draws inspiration from ancient Roman culture. I'm not the biggest fan of gladiator action but I really enjoyed it when the story moved on to the magic school setting. The mystery made a fair amount of suspense and intrigue. I read this author's debut and am pleased to see he'd grown in his writing and storytelling. This novel felt much more mature and complex. There were still some slower section, but overall an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading the next entry.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/RTOeOkkD68s
This is a solid new fantasy story that draws inspiration from ancient Roman culture. I'm not the biggest fan of gladiator action but I really enjoyed it when the story moved on to the magic school setting. The mystery made a fair amount of suspense and intrigue. I read this author's debut and am pleased to see he'd grown in his writing and storytelling. This novel felt much more mature and complex. There were still some slower section, but overall an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading the next entry.
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