If you read only one fantasy book this year, make it The Will of The Many. I can almost guarantee this book will be my #1 for 2023 as well as cementing a place on my all-time favorites shelf. I want to shout from the rooftops to anyone who will listen… read this book! It’s just that good. If you enjoy tightly-written and inventive fantasy that takes place at a magical school, I guarantee this will knock your socks off.
The Will of the Many is about Vis, an impulsive and intelligent orphan who spends his days just trying to survive. A rebel at heart who harbors resentment towards the Hierarchy, Vis refuses to play by society’s rules and cede his will to the ‘powers that be’- the elite class. It isn’t long before he is plucked from obscurity, adopted and whisked away to the Academy, where his new benefactor, Ulciscor, has grand plans for him. At the Academy, Vis must walk a tight rope in order to work his way up the fiercely competitive academic ladder, navigate the muddied bureaucratic waters of the societal factions and uncover the perplexing truth behind a former student’s death.
Islington is a competent world builder who has created a complex hierarchical society powered by will that I still haven’t fully wrapped my head around. You can see how the author derived inspiration from Sanderson and Rothfuss as he states in the Acknowledgements, and yet he manages to write in a style uniquely his own. I found myself enthralled all the way through and enraptured by the author’s penchant for surprises. Islington leaves a trail of enticing breadcrumbs, but never reveals too much. Even by the end of the novel I am left with as many questions as answers, paving the way for a much-anticipated sequel.
The Will of The Many is deceptively twisty, action-packed and one-of-a-kind. Vis is a fantastic main character- bright, daring and resourceful, yet also undeniably flawed. He demonstrates a considerable amount of growth over the course of his journey and as cynical as he might sometimes be, it’s easy to root for him. Islington boasts a solid plot and well-drawn characters here, which should appeal to all types of fantasy readers.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars
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