Hi everyone
After enjoying James Islington’s The Licanius Trilogy, I was happy to see on Goodreads he’s writing a new series, so I had to give The Will of the Many a try. It’s the first book in the Hierarchy series, and I got my copy from Bol.com.
"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 civilized 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."
The Will of the Many was a very difficult book to review because there were so many amazing aspects, but also many things that didn’t work for me.
The overall tone and writing were very entertaining and engaging. The setting and world-building weren’t revolutionary or even different from other fantasy books, but the magic system was interesting.
I really enjoyed the different parts of the novel; from getting to know Vis and his background after leaving Suus to his time preparing for and studying at school. The school setting, which often feels like YA, didn’t fall into that trap here, and I loved that. There’s something so satisfying and wholesome about characters learning, making friends, and overcoming challenges.
This is also a darker and gorier novel than I expected. We get a front-row seat to some very brutal and detailed deaths, which was unexpected but awesome. James Islington writes vividly, engagingly, and amazingly entertaining scenes. Even though there’s a big focus on politics, his writing doesn’t make it boring.
And I loved the way the Anguis were written. They are as bad, as morally grey, and as violent; if not more so, than the Hierarchy. Usually, any form of resistance in books and films gets portrayed as angelic, perfectly in the right, but in reality, it’s always grey, and that’s exactly how James Islington wrote them.
I found the overall pace to be too slow, especially the first 200 pages, which were quite boring. However, the action scenes were action-packed and suspenseful, even the ones with lower stakes, like those at the academy.
I think the novel could have been at least 150 pages shorter and much better for it. There were so many repeats of events, conversations, and thoughts, and a lot of overthinking about what to do. But what aggravated me the most were all the coincidental things; people being in the right place at the perfect time, finding something just when it was needed, sensing something at the only possible moment. I find it hard to put that aside and just enjoy the story.
I was disappointed in the character development. Vis is the only character who felt like I knew and understood him. He wasn’t realistic (how is it possible he’s the best at everything?), but I felt like I knew him. Or rather, him being the best at everything and failing at lying got so predictable that I felt like I knew him. He annoyed me immeasurably with how good he is at everything, how moral and superior he is in his thinking and actions. The other characters read like page-fillers, only there to drive the plot and Vis forward, but not as people with their own history, thoughts, and motivations.
We know there’s a lot going on (why was Suus invaded? What are the Hierarchies plotting? What about the Anguis, where are they going?) but it’s all just an aside from Vis’ personal trials. There’s this continued mentioning of these (inter)national problems, but we get next to no details or progress on these. It felt like a missed opportunity to deepen the world and the stakes.
I have absolutely no idea where this trilogy is going because the ending to this first installment is very open and leaves us with many questions. I’m also not sure whether to continue the series. I liked the story, the action, and the ending is very intriguing, but Vis’ boring, predictable perfection, the slow pacing, and coincidental events made it hard to fully enjoy.
We'll see. Maybe you can sway me one way or the other?
Have you read The Will of the Many? Did you feel the same way, or did you enjoy it more than I did? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Happy reading!
Helena
