Honestly, it’s rare for a book to live up to the massive, suffocating hype of BookTok or the r/fantasy subreddit. You see those glowing reviews and your brain immediately prepares for disappointment. But The Will of the Many by James Islington is one of those rare exceptions that actually makes the noise feel justified. It’s a genre-bending masterpiece.
Most people know Islington from his Licanius Trilogy. That was a solid series, sure, but it felt a bit like he was finding his feet. With this new book—the start of the Hierarchy series—he hasn’t just found his feet; he’s sprinting. He’s managed to blend a Roman-inspired setting with a magic system that feels like a terrifying corporate pyramid scheme.
It’s brutal. It’s smart. It’s got a protagonist you actually want to root for.
What is The Will of the Many Actually About?
At its core, the story follows Vis. He’s an orphan with a massive, dangerous secret: he’s the former prince of a conquered kingdom. He’s been hiding in an orphanage, scraping by, until he’s basically blackmailed into joining the Catenan Academy. Think Harry Potter meets Gladiator, but with way more political backstabbing and a lot less whimsy.
The Academy is where the elite of the Hierarchy are trained. The Hierarchy is this massive empire that runs on a power source called Will. This isn't just "belief" or "mana." It's literal life force. People at the bottom of the social ladder—the Ceded—transfer their "Will" to those above them. This builds up into a massive pyramid of power.
If you're at the top, you're basically a god. If you're at the bottom? You’re a shell.
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Vis has to navigate this world while pretending to be someone he’s not. He’s been recruited by a high-ranking Senator to find out what’s happening at the Academy. People are dying. Weird things are moving in the shadows. And Vis is stuck in the middle of it all, trying to survive the cutthroat competition of the school while hunting for the truth.
The Genius of the Will Magic System
Let’s talk about the magic for a second because it’s easily the coolest part of the book. James Islington has created something called "Will," and it’s essentially a socio-economic nightmare turned into a magic system.
The Hierarchy functions through a process called "Ceding." A person gives up their physical and mental energy to someone else. That person then passes it up to someone higher. By the time it reaches the top, a single individual might have the strength, speed, and cognitive processing power of thousands of people.
- The Foundation: This is the bulk of the population. They have almost no Will left for themselves. They're slow, tired, and easily controlled.
- The Middle Ranks: These are the administrators and soldiers. They have enough power to be dangerous, but they're still beholden to those above.
- The Quintus and Above: This is where things get wild. These people can move faster than the eye can see and heal from wounds that would kill a normal person.
It’s a perfect metaphor for late-stage capitalism or total authoritarianism. It makes you feel slightly nauseous while also being incredibly cool to read about in action. Islington doesn't just use this for combat; he uses it to build the world. The architecture, the lighting, the transport—everything in this world runs on the stolen life force of the poor.
Why Vis is a Refreshing Protagonist
Vis isn't your typical "chosen one." He’s smart. Like, actually smart. He’s a polyglot who understands history and logic. When he gets into trouble, he usually thinks his way out of it before he has to fight his way out.
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He’s also incredibly cynical. Having seen your family murdered and your kingdom burned to the ground will do that to you. But he’s not a "dark and edgy" caricature. He has a moral compass, even if it’s a bit buried under layers of self-preservation. Watching him try to maintain his integrity while competing in a school designed to break you is the emotional heart of the story.
You’ve got to appreciate how Islington writes the "magic school" trope here. Usually, these schools feel cozy. The Academy in The Will of the Many feels like a meat grinder. The students are ranked. If you’re at the bottom, you’re expelled—which in this world means being "Ceded" and losing your mind. The stakes aren't just bad grades; they're the loss of your very soul.
The Mystery and the Ending (No Spoilers, I Promise)
The book starts with a prologue that makes absolutely no sense until you finish the last page. It’s one of those endings that makes you want to immediately flip back to Chapter One and start over.
Islington is a master of the "long game." He drops hints throughout the text that you’ll completely miss on a first read. There are layers to the world that go beyond just the Roman aesthetic. We’re talking ancient civilizations, weird temporal anomalies, and a mystery involving the "Labyrinth" that keeps the tension high.
A lot of readers compare this to Pierce Brown's Red Rising. I get why. Both have that high-octane, "man against the empire" vibe. Both involve a protagonist infiltrating the elite to tear them down from the inside. But while Red Rising is a space opera that feels like a fever dream, The Will of the Many feels more grounded and methodical. It’s more The Name of the Wind in its prose and Andor in its political complexity.
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Common Misconceptions About the Book
Some people see the Roman names and the "Class I, Class II" system and think it’s going to be a dry history lesson. It’s not. It’s an action thriller.
Others worry that it’s too similar to Islington’s previous work. If you didn’t like the Licanius Trilogy, don’t let that scare you off. The writing style here is much more refined. The pacing is tighter. The characters feel more like real people and less like chess pieces moving toward a predetermined endgame.
There's also a misconception that it's a "Young Adult" book because of the school setting. It really isn't. The themes of slavery, institutionalized cruelty, and political assassination are handled with a weight that is firmly in the "Adult Fantasy" category.
Why You Should Care About the Pacing
The book is long—over 600 pages. Usually, that’s a red flag for "filler." But there isn't a wasted scene in the bunch.
Islington uses the first half of the book to ground you in the world and Vis's struggle. By the time you hit the halfway mark, the momentum is unstoppable. The final 100 pages are basically one long, heart-pounding sequence that doesn't let up. You’ll be stay-up-until-3-AM-reading kind of hooked.
Actionable Next Steps for Fantasy Fans
If you’re looking to get into the series, here is how you should approach it:
- Don't skip the appendix: There’s a glossary of terms at the back. The Hierarchy has a lot of specific ranks (Octavus, Septimus, etc.). Glance at it early so you don't get confused by the hierarchy of the Hierarchy.
- Pay attention to the "Relics": The world is littered with items from a lost civilization. These aren't just flavor text. They are central to the mystery.
- Read it before the sequel drops: The second book, The Strength of the Few, is one of the most anticipated releases in the genre. Getting through the first one now gives you time to digest the theories.
- Check out the audiobook: If you’re a listener, Euan Morton does the narration. He’s fantastic and captures Vis’s dry wit perfectly.
The Will of the Many is a rare bird. It manages to be a page-turner while also saying something profound about how power works and what we’re willing to sacrifice for it. It’s the kind of book that reminds you why you started reading fantasy in the first place. Go grab a copy. You won't regret it.