The Will of the Many

This book blew me away! Seriously, every single page had me hooked, It had me pulling all-nighters, unable to put it down. The suspense was off the charts, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. And that ending? It left me craving more, I need the next book ASAP. The protagonist was an absolute joy to invest in and root for! It also helps that this book served up all my favorite fantasy tropes on a silver platter! Hands down, it's one of the best reads I've come across lately.

TITLE The Will of the Many
AUTHOR James Islington
Genre Fantasy
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Emotional Impact 8.5
Characters 8.25
Plot 8.25
Worldbuilding / Magic System 8.5
Dialogue / Prose 7.75
Official Rating 8.29
Goodreads Rating 4
Date Started 2/3/2024
Date Finished 2/19/2024
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NOTES Beginning was a bit slow but the 2nd half picked up immensely, very excited for the next book in the series!!!

This is a fantasy novel composed of pieces carved from other, better fantasy novels. There's nothing new here, not even really a different take on something familiar - it's just all stuff you've seen before. This also makes it very predictable. On the plus side, solid pacing and the writing itself isn't bad. So... Can't really recommend it, but it's not the worst book to pick up.

A long book, but a very gripping one. It is a strange land governed by strange rules and practices and strange powers. It is complicated, yet interesting. There is a lot of politics, which I usually detest, but not so much in this case. A great book overall, I will definitely continue reading this series. 

The Will of the Many was textbook entertaining fantasy. It’s fast-paced, easy to digest, and has enough magic and politics to keep it interesting without going too much in depth. I also thought Vis was a strong narrator and I liked his emotional/intellectual depth, where I struggled with him was that he was just too overpowered. I recognize that he’s meant to be talented and have trained for a long time, but the fact that everywhere he goes he instantly is the best without really having to try too hard was frustrating. I feel like I’m leaving the book with a lot of unanswered questions, but it’s set up well to answer those and go beyond in the next book, which I will certainly be reading when it comes out next year.

So the setup immediately had my YA alarm bells ringing (17 year old lead who is really smart, strong and is fighting against an unjust and wrong society) but this was honestly really good! The plot and characters are complicated enough that it's not clearly split into good guys and bad guys, so I'm keen to see where this goes next.

Holy cow that was outstanding. This may be my favorite book of the year. I was really worried at first because it was just soooo slow but just good enough to keep me going and has lingering mystery to keep you engaged, but the last 1/4 of the book was just so amazing that it made all the build up worth it!!

The story honestly has some similarities to Red Rising. There is a hierarchy and everyone at the bottom gets the shit end of the stick. You have Vis Telimus, telling his story in first person, was a prince of an invaded island called Suss. His whole family was murdered but he escapes and then pretends to be one with the enemy. He gets adopted by a man in the Hierarchy who puts him in the academy where he's trained and desires to rise in the ranks to avenge his family and destroy the Republic. His adopted father has his uses for him as does the Academy as does the Aquerins, which are a Guerrilla group that may be even worse then the Republic. Vis doesn't know who's in the right and must choose his own path and find out who's really to blame for how evil his world is.

The Will of the Many is the fantastic start to a fantasy series from James Islington, author of the Licanius Trilogy. Set in the Roman-inspired Catenan Republic, an orphan harboring no love for the nation  stemming from a dangerous secret, is adopted by a Senator to investigate a mysterious death at the country's most elite academy. Vis is quickly tangled in a web of conspiracies and mysteries that play out in a way you have to read to believe. On the outset, this book seems extremely similar to Pierce Brown's Red Rising, but despite the parallels Islington crafts a story that diverges from Brown's work (or at least the first three books that I've read) in significant ways, creating a wholly unique and captivating fantasy experience. Excellent character development, shocking plot twists, and good world building. Readers will be left with many questions, but it's a brilliant ride that left me eager for a sequel. 

I went on the hype train with Christopher and it was a hell of a ride. I was hooked from the first chapter and devoured the book as fast as I possibly could, which means I'm currently very sleep deprived so I apologize if this is not the most coherent review.

This book has everything I love in fantasy: interesting magic system with a huge development potential, political intrigue, friendship, betrayals, mystery and a great title. This book reminded me a lot of other books, but if feels original and it was flawlessly executed. James Islington writing is very captivating and I loved how he guides us through the story-line, and how he plants clues and the seeds for future expansion.

I absolutely love the reluctant hero trope and Vis is no exception! He was one of my favorite things in the book and I loved to see everything unfold through his eyes. Although he's a bit of a Gary Sue, he's so instantly likable that I'm prepared to defend his honor to anyone who dares criticize him. I can't wait to keep seeing him grow into the amazing leader we already know he is.

The ending?? It's obviously a cliffhanger but it was incredibly good and I can't wait to see how everything will unfold.

The Will of the Many will live rent free in my brain until the second installment is out (I need it desperately).

This is a MUST read for Fantasy readers and I would advise you to go in as blind as you possibly can.

P.S - I have minor issues with the female characters in this book. I don't think James Islington did a great job describing them... they all have cascading hair (which may be brown, red and probably blond, but I'm not even sure). To be completely honest, they could be interchangeable and read mostly the same to me, except we are supposed to like some more than the others. However, we do have women in the story, and they have roles (albeit limited) besides looking pretty, working in pubs or being SA, so all in all, I can't complain.
I'm curious to know how he's going to develop their future roles as the whole society is highly patriarchal (this is no surprise as it is based on Roman Empire), but the school setting gives as a false sense of equality.

Ijinkan aku mengenalkan teman-teman pada salah satu buku fantasi terbaik yang aku baca tahun ini. The Will of The Many adalah mahakarya Mr Islington, kombinasi dari suspense, misteri dan fantasi yang terinspirasi dari Romawi, mengingatkanku pada seri Red Rising & An Ember in The Ashes.
Republik Catenan atau dikenal dengan sistem hierarkinya, merupakan pemimpin dunia. Cerita ini mengikuti seorang yatim piatu bernama Vis, yang tinggal di panti, yang kemudian jalan hidupnya berubah total.
Bagian I mengenalkan pembaca pada tokoh Vis. Vis tadinya adalah seorang bangsawan dari negeri bernama Suus yang telah diinvasi oleh yang kini dikenal sebagai Republik Catenan, yang berdiri dengan sistem hierarki. Diluar dugaan Vis - yg tinggal di panti asuhan - diadopsi oleh seorang anggota senat, Ulciscor Telimus, dengan posisi kelima dari hierarki. Rupanya Ulciscor memiliki tujuan tersendiri, Vis dimaksudkan untuk mencari kebenaran misteri kematian saudara laki-lakinya, Caeror yang kala itu masih berstatus siswa di Akademi Catenan. Sebelum masuk akademi Vis dilatih oleh Lanistia, orang kepercayaan Ulciscor.
Memasuki bagian II, dimana Vis memulai pendidikannya di Akademi Catenan. Di sekolah inilah fokus sebagian besar cerita dan plot. Ada misteri yang sangat penting yang disembunyikan oleh akademi, dimana semua pihak sekolah melakukan apapun supaya tidak terungkap. Misteri inilah berhubungan dengan kematian Caeror dan hilangnya penglihatan Lanistia.
Secara keseluruhan buku ini seru, sungguh pengalaman yang menegangkan melihat Caten & hierarki dari sudut pandang si cerdas Vis. Bagaimana Vis mengakali para Praetor juga memainkan psikologis teman sebayanya hingga dia bisa mencapai kelas yg diinginkan oleh Ulciscor, juga mencapai reruntuhan untuk mencari kebenaran yang disembunyikan oleh akademi.

Easily one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long time. I seriously can't wait for the next book in the series. Great characters combined with a killer world and tense story made this a book I didn't want to ever put down. Also I have to give credit to the voice actor for this book who did an amazing job distinguishing the characters and adding emotion and emphasis to tense scenes. Can't wait to recommend this book to others! 

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 at Hogwarts 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.

Fast paced, very little exposition, steadily trickles the lore, tense and mysterious, good characters. Main character is definitely a Gary Stu with seemingly infinite energy when needed, but it keeps the book moving!

My favorite sci-fantasy book I've read since Red Rising - they both have page-turning pace.

this was one of the craziest reading experiences i've ever had. i'll probably try to write an actual review in a few days but rn my vision is still partly obstructed by tears and my brain is scrambled and i'm literally sweating from that ending. so i'm gonna just say this may be one of my new all-time favorite fantasy books. maybe even books in general but i'd have to think on that a bit more