Welcome, fellow fantasy enthusiasts and general book lovers, to another review!
Today, I'm thrilled to kick off the new year with my thoughts on a book that has recently left me utterly amazed: "The Will of the Many" by the brilliant James Islington.
This is the first captivating instalment in The Hierarchy series, and trust me when I say that this is a book you won't want to miss. As we dive into the depths of this fantasy epic, I'll be sharing my personal thoughts, the magic that captivated me, and why this book earned a well-deserved five-star rating. So, whether you've journeyed through its pages already or are considering taking the plunge and picking this outstanding gem up, buckle up for me to go on about how fantastic "The Will of the Many" is!
A FEW FACTS ABOUT THIS BOOK
- Title: The Will of the Many
- Author: James Islington
- Series: The Hierarchy (Book 1)
- Published by Gallery/Saga Press
- Pages: 600+
REVIEW
Now, I must confess, I practically danced into this book with the afterglow of Islington's Licanius trilogy still lingering in my reader's soul despite reading it a wee while ago. You know the feeling, when you ADORE a book, then the amazing author publishes another…Yeah? You get a little excited. The bar was set sky-high, my friends, and I admit I couldn't help it, but I did wonder if this new adventure could match up to the brilliance of its predecessor. Well, let me cut to the chase – it not only matched but soared higher. Yes, you heard me right, and please don't shoot me, but I think…IT EXCEEDS THE LICANIUS TRILOGY!
My excitement for this book began long before I even cracked open the first page. An academy setting, an ancient weapon, a rebellious main character, a murder mystery – the blurb had me at hello. Though, I did have that niggling thought of, "but, I've seen this before," and you're not wrong but here's the magic of Islington's writing: he takes these familiar elements and transforms them into something utterly distinctive, they didn't feel reused or recycled, they felt new and amazing!
Much like in the Licanius trilogy you are going to experience Islington's unrivalled, unparalleled and fantastic ability to plot a book in such exquisite detail that you are constantly finding things out, having more mysteries thrown at you while loving it the entire time. The man weaves a story with the finesse of a wizard. This book left me with a head full of questions – different from the ones I started with, mind you (and I'm not even mad about it) – and an incredible need for the next instalment. Never have I wanted to wish away time so easily so that I can get my hands on for a sequel so intensely.
From the get-go, "The Will of the Many" had me hooked. It wasn't the typical explosive action start, but rather an immersive experience that made me hit the pause button after the first chapter. I sat there, genuinely in awe at how Islington effortlessly pulled me into his world. Yes, it's just a snippet and a location, but within those pages, I felt every heartbeat of the characters, every flicker of emotion, every worry.
Credit where credit's due – Islington knows how to wield his writing magic. Without dropping spoilers, there's this character, who makes a brief appearance but left me riding a rollercoaster of emotions, the portrayals of grief, acceptance, love and loss were done in such a way, that words don't honestly do it just as to how well it was written.
Islington's ability to give voices to his characters is downright fantastic. I found myself loving characters whose endgames were a mystery. Were they villains? Were they inherently bad? Did it stop Islington from making me care for them? Not in the slightest, and he left me torn not knowing who to trust and also making me think, shit I might just like the bad guys in this story. Nothing is black and white in this book.
In the end, these are the review in which you just don't feel like words can accurately describe how much you loved a book. So on that…"The Will of the Many" is not just a book; it's a journey, an emotional rollercoaster, and a testament to James Islington's storytelling skill. So, fellow readers, dive in, embrace this book, and get ready for a ride that will leave you craving more. Happy reading! 📚✨
Also, if you like Audiobooks, this is a fab audiobook. I listened to maybe half of this via audio and loved it!
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