Review: The Will of the Many

The Will of the Many by James Islington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am almost embarrassed to say this was my first James Islington read. What Have I been missing? I am in awe. The Will of the Many is a masterclass in layered storytelling, full of mystery, intrigue, and a beautifully built world.

The plot revolves around Vis, an orphan who despises the governing Hierarchy. Despite his humble roots, he has extraordinary skills and seems to have higher education than his social position would provide. Vis gets accepted into the Catenan Academy, an elite institution dedicated to training future government officials. It is here that the story truly begins, and turns into a tale of intrigue, survival, and secrets hidden beneath the surface.

One of the book's greatest aspects is the magic system based on the concept of “will.” This structure is based on the concept of strength or energy, which characters must give to others, transferring both physical and mental abilities. The Hierarchy is arranged in a pyramid, with the “Octavii” at the bottom relinquishing their Will to the “Septimi” and so on up to the mighty “Princeps”. This arrangement not only generates a fascinating power dynamic, but it also layers intricacy into the social structure. This made me think about whether the characters' decisions were completely moral, considering that their power comes from the Will given by others.

Vis, the protagonist, is an orphan with a burning ambition to overthrow the oppressive Hierarchy. His personal conflicts make him very relatable. His character changes from a naive idealist to a more strategic thinker as he navigates the dangerous waters of the Academy.

Then we have Kessa, another student at the Academy, who exemplifies the psychological conflict between devotion to the Hierarchy and a desire for change. Her connection with Vis adds layers of tension, as she struggles to reconcile her upbringing with her discovered insights.

One other thing I enjoyed regarding the characters was that the mentors and authority figures are not simply evil; they are multidimensional, and I could feel their own fears and ambitions. Their interactions with Vis and Kessa form a complex chain of alliances and betrayals, leaving me constantly wondering who could truly be trusted.

Each character gives a unique perspective on the Hierarchy, transforming the plot from a simple conflict between good and evil to an investigation of power relations and moral ambiguity, which increased my interest in their journeys.

In terms of pace, the first half of the book is somewhat slow, but not in a bad way. It creates tension while also establishing the world and its rules. This slower pace allowed me to thoroughly immerse myself in the complexities of the magic system and the characters' histories. However, as the narrative unfolds, the pace gains speed, especially as Vis dives deeper into the Academy’s secrets and the intrigues of the Hierarchy.

In a nutshell, The Will of the Many is a brilliant novel with excellent pacing, likeable characters, and a fascinating world. I strongly suggest this book to anyone who enjoys epic high fantasy. I can't wait for the sequel next year; In the meantime I will be exploring Islington's other works.

Trigger and Content Warnings:

Graphic - Violence, Death, Blood

Moderate - Death of parent, Suicide, Physical abuse

Minor - Vomit, War, Homophobia

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