James Islington

At the elite Catenan Academy, where students are prepared as the future leaders of the Hierarchy empire, the curriculum reveals a layered set of mysteries which turn murderous in this new fantasy by bestselling author of The Licanius Trilogy, James Islington. Vis, the adopted son of Magnus Quintus Ulcisor, a prominent senator within the Hierarchy, is trained to enter the famed Catenan Academy to help Ulciscor learn what the hidden agenda is of the remote island academy. Secretly, he also wants Vis to discover what happed to his brother who died at the academy. He’s sure the current Principalis of the academy, Quintus Veridius Julii, a political rival, knows much more than he’s revealing. The Academy’s vigorous syllabus is a challenge Vis is ably suited to meet, but it is the training in the use of Will, a practice that Vis finds abhorrent, that he must learn in order to excel at the Academy. Will—a concept that encompasses their energy, drive, focus, initiative, ambition, and vitality—can be voluntarily “ceded” to someone else. A single recipient can accept ceded Will from multiple people, growing in power towards superhuman levels. Within the hierarchy your level of Will, or legal rank, determines how you live or die. And there are those who are determined to destroy this hierarchal system, as well as those in the Academy who use it to gain dominance in internationally bestselling author James Islington’s wonderfully crafted new epic fantasy series.

The Will of the Many

will of the many vs me on a 14 hour flight

anya

Genuinely not sure what to make of my thoughts on this. I had an alright time reading it; it flowed easily for the most part, even though it would have benefitted from some editing and more focus. But at the same time, it felt so juvenile in execution that it really threw me off.

Yes, the work draws a lot of comparisons and deservedly so. It is derivative enough to be able to market it to hard-core fans of the genre but mixes things up enough to be able to offer something to newbies and/or casual readers. As someone who is in the middle, I cannot say that the comparisons are favourable. "Red Rising"? I adore the original trilogy; I was first to say how much it felt like a re-hashing of "Ender's Game" to me but still how much fun it was. "The Hunger Games"? Nowhere near enough, in my opinion; it is rather Naomi Novik's "Scholomance". "Harry Potter"? I certainly felt like I was stuck in "The Goblet of Fire" - my least favourite of the series - but twice as long. "The Name of the Wind"? Never read it because my friend took one for the team and barely got through it.

To my knowledge, this was never marketed as YA but as adult fantasy. It sits pretty squarely in the older YA age group, in my opinion. So worst of all, in my eyes, this novel has to complete with the excellent "An Ember in the Ashes", and it is not winning.

The dissonance between what the book is aiming for and where it lands carries throughout, not just in its marketing. The main character is supposed to be 17 but often sounds like someone who is headed to their 40's while also doing things that no kid that has fend for itself on the streets, however shortly, would be doing. (I think the novel wanted us to think he is smart and resourceful but he really is not either; what he is is actually lucky.) His adoptive father - and correct me if I am wrong - is about 26 years old. And you want me to take this seriously.

Most curious to me was, however, that this is a novel that feels pretty devoid of drive. It is perhaps an inherent lack of focus due to the length of the novel (the audiobook clocks in just over 28h; I think the physical is about 640 pages long). However, I cannot overlook the fact that the politics of this book are, well, bizarrely secondary - which is why I am not even bringing up the comparison to "Babel". Kuang's politics may be limited only within her own experiences but at least she holds her beliefs with conviction.

It is also why the comparison with "Red Rising" starts to fall apart; this is a series where politics are central to the story, there is an ideology and an understanding that class struggle is inextricable from a rigidly stratified society. "The Will of the Many" sometimes pretends to understand this but largely does not appear to care for it. Vis feels quite self-serving in his motivations, where present, and I found it bizarre how often the novel slipped into a reflection on the better times under his father's rule. It does not really bother to consider that maybe Vis was free because he was in a position of power. It does not really bother to consider how his experiences under the Hierarchy among the lowest strate of society could have challenged his views (if anything, there is a concerning impression that Vis looks down upon those same people).

Some may call it character consistency; part of me would be willing to even give it the benefit of the doubt that maybe it was intentional to write this bratty side of Vis's character. Some may say that these questions will form part of subsequent instalments. But 28 hours run-time is a lot of time to ignore what would be pretty key aspects of fleshing out your world and characters.

I am OK with people sometimes writing just for fun or because something sounds cool to them. But you also have to stop and wonder why while you are just entertaining yourself, certain things occur within your narration and they don't bother you.

Also this book is weird towards women. Love how institutionalised misogyny also forms part of matters mentioned but not examined. Why create a rigid society as a short-hand for imperial oppression and colonialisation, spend 640 pages on it (first of however many books) and examine the different forms of oppression and do so intersectionally, am I right, ladies?

Genuinely not sure what to make of my thoughts on this. I had an alright time reading it; it flowed easily for the most part, even though it would have benefitted from some editing and more focus. But at the same time, it felt so juvenile in execution that it really threw me off.

Yes, the work draws a lot of comparisons and deservedly so. It is derivative enough to be able to market it to hard-core fans of the genre but mixes things up enough to be able to offer something to newbies and/or casual readers. As someone who is in the middle, I cannot say that the comparisons are favourable. "Red Rising"? I adore the original trilogy; I was first to say how much it felt like a re-hashing of "Ender's Game" to me but still how much fun it was. "The Hunger Games"? Nowhere near enough, in my opinion; it is rather Naomi Novik's "Scholomance". "Harry Potter"? I certainly felt like I was stuck in "The Goblet of Fire" - my least favourite of the series - but twice as long. "The Name of the Wind"? Never read it because my friend took one for the team and barely got through it.

To my knowledge, this was never marketed as YA but as adult fantasy. It sits pretty squarely in the older YA age group, in my opinion. So worst of all, in my eyes, this novel has to complete with the excellent "An Ember in the Ashes", and it is not winning.

The dissonance between what the book is aiming for and where it lands carries throughout, not just in its marketing. The main character is supposed to be 17 but often sounds like someone who is headed to their 40's while also doing things that no kid that has fend for itself on the streets, however shortly, would be doing. (I think the novel wanted us to think he is smart and resourceful but he really is not either; what he is is actually lucky.) His adoptive father - and correct me if I am wrong - is about 26 years old. And you want me to take this seriously.

Most curious to me was, however, that this is a novel that feels pretty devoid of drive. It is perhaps an inherent lack of focus due to the length of the novel (the audiobook clocks in just over 28h; I think the physical is about 640 pages long). However, I cannot overlook the fact that the politics of this book are, well, bizarrely secondary - which is why I am not even bringing up the comparison to "Babel". Kuang's politics may be limited only within her own experiences but at least she holds her beliefs with conviction.

It is also why the comparison with "Red Rising" starts to fall apart; this is a series where politics are central to the story, there is an ideology and an understanding that class struggle is inextricable from a rigidly stratified society. "The Will of the Many" sometimes pretends to understand this but largely does not appear to care for it. Vis feels quite self-serving in his motivations, where present, and I found it bizarre how often the novel slipped into a reflection on the better times under his father's rule. It does not really bother to consider that maybe Vis was free because he was in a position of power. It does not really bother to consider how his experiences under the Hierarchy among the lowest strate of society could have challenged his views (if anything, there is a concerning impression that Vis looks down upon those same people).

Some may call it character consistency; part of me would be willing to even give it the benefit of the doubt that maybe it was intentional to write this bratty side of Vis's character. Some may say that these questions will form part of subsequent instalments. But 28 hours run-time is a lot of time to ignore what would be pretty key aspects of fleshing out your world and characters.

I am OK with people sometimes writing just for fun or because something sounds cool to them. But you also have to stop and wonder why while you are just entertaining yourself, certain things occur within your narration and they don't bother you.

Also this book is weird towards women. Love how institutionalised misogyny also forms part of matters mentioned but not examined. Why create a rigid society as a short-hand for imperial oppression and colonialisation, spend 640 pages on it (first of however many books) and examine the different forms of oppression and do so intersectionally, am I right, ladies?

This book was more than I hoped it would be! And has definitely jumped up my favourite dark academia reads!

The characters were incredibly flawed but compelling and intelligently written, giving them a substance, a realness I hadn't expected. I was instantly drawn to Vis, cheering and commiserating with him from the sidelines.

The world-building was slow but essential. You needed its slow build-up to give your mind time to get your head around how complicated the magic and ranking system in this world is.

For me, this did not deter how gripping the plot was. I found it perfectly paced and full of mysteries and intrigue. I loved discovering little details as they were revealed to Vis, keeping me hooked and never bored.

But we need to talk about that ending because I need the sequel now! What does it mean for the sequel???

Victoria Justice

This book was more than I hoped it would be! And has definitely jumped up my favourite dark academia reads!

The characters were incredibly flawed but compelling and intelligently written, giving them a substance, a realness I hadn't expected. I was instantly drawn to Vis, cheering and commiserating with him from the sidelines.

The world-building was slow but essential. You needed its slow build-up to give your mind time to get your head around how complicated the magic and ranking system in this world is.

For me, this did not deter how gripping the plot was. I found it perfectly paced and full of mysteries and intrigue. I loved discovering little details as they were revealed to Vis, keeping me hooked and never bored.

But we need to talk about that ending because I need the sequel now! What does it mean for the sequel???

This got me out of my reading slump after a whole year of avoiding my rotting TBR.

Joseph Jumao-as

What a brilliant fantasy novel!!! I haven’t read much high fantasy before and after reading this I don’t think I want to read anything but. 

The story of Vis Telimus, an orphan adopted by a powerful man & how he deceives, perseveres & tests the limits everyday against the power of the “hierarchy” 

I loved this story and it had me deeply invested. Brilliant! 

jaz ☁️

What a brilliant fantasy novel!!! I haven’t read much high fantasy before and after reading this I don’t think I want to read anything but. 

The story of Vis Telimus, an orphan adopted by a powerful man & how he deceives, perseveres & tests the limits everyday against the power of the “hierarchy” 

I loved this story and it had me deeply invested. Brilliant! 

10/5 stars. An absolute banger of a book and possibly my favorite read of the year.

The Will of the Many

Reviews