Verdict in a sentence: A razor sharp blend of dark academia, Roman inspired epic, and twist heavy plotting, The Will of the Many delivers the most compulsively readable academy fantasy since The Name of the Wind and the most propulsive class revolt since Red Rising.
What it is about
Vis Telimus is a lie. Beneath the borrowed name is a fugitive prince with a dead family, a talent for survival, and a mission that will not tolerate failure. The Catenan Republic organizes life through a literal pyramid of power called Will. The lowest ranks are drained of energy and agency so that those above can perform superhuman feats, build monuments, and crush dissent. To find answers and a weapon that could shatter the regime, Vis infiltrates the elite Catenan Academy where victory is currency and compassion is a liability. He must make allies, climb the ranks, and keep his secret, because discovery means execution.
Why it works
A world that feels horribly plausible. The Will system is a brilliant metaphor made concrete. Power flows upward, the poor stumble through life in a fog, and the elite glow with stolen vitality. The Roman flavor is everywhere in titles, arenas, and civic spectacle, yet the tech and mystery push the book toward science fantasy. It is immersive without drowning you in jargon.
A narrator you can live inside. Islington writes Vis in first person present with a voice that is brisk, strategic, and sometimes frighteningly honest about his own rage. He is competent in the ways that thrill, but never invincible. The friendships he forms at the Academy, especially with Callidus and Eidhin, give the book a warm pulse that offsets the ruthlessness around them.
Flawless escalation. Part I trains both Vis and the reader in the world’s rules. Part II shifts into academic warfare, labyrinth runs, and knife edge social maneuvering. Part III pays off with audacious reveals and a finale that reframes what you thought the series was about. The last chapters are the kind you want to discuss immediately.
Dark academia that earns its shadows. The Academy is not a trope playground. It is a machine that rewards greed and punishes hesitation. Trials, duels, and classroom politics carry real stakes. Wins feel costly. Losses land.
What might divide readers
- Length and density. At more than 600 pages, the book is a meal. I found the pacing relentless, but readers who want a lighter campus romp may feel the pressure.
- Vis as a live wire. His temper and talent make him magnetic and volatile. If you prefer a softer lead, his intensity may be a lot at first.
- Comparisons you cannot avoid. Fans of The Name of the Wind and Red Rising will see echoes in the setup. For me, the overlap is a doorway, not a crutch. The execution and the endgame are distinctly Islington.
Themes that linger
- Power is a system, not a speech. The Will structure turns exploitation into infrastructure. Breaking it will take more than a heroic duel.
- Debt, duty, and the cost of mercy. Characters are measured by what they owe and what they are willing to sacrifice, not by what they say they believe.
- Trust as strategy and salvation. Vis cannot win alone. The book understands how friendship forms under surveillance and why loyalty hits harder when betrayal is rational.
Craft notes
Islington’s plotting reputation from The Licanius Trilogy was well earned, and it levels up here. Revelations arrive where they will inflict maximum impact without feeling like author tricks. Action is cinematic and easy to follow. Dialogue carries subtext. The prose is clean, with flashes of lyric heat that never slow the story.
Content notes
Violence and gore in battle scenes, bullying, systemic oppression, torture, captivity, child abuse referenced, grief, explosions, needles, coerced medical procedures, ableist language quoted in world, loss of loved ones.
Who should read this
- Readers who crave academy settings with adult scale stakes
- Fans of class revolt and anti imperial themes woven into character driven storytelling
- Anyone who loves intricate reveals and series long mysteries that reward attention
Audiobook note
If you favor audio, early listeners have praised the narration for keeping the tension high and the cast distinct. Given the momentum of the text, this story is very audio friendly on commutes and long sessions alike.
Final thoughts
The Will of the Many is that rare first installment that feels both complete and like the opening move of something enormous. It is smart, muscular, and unafraid to go dark when the story demands it. I tore through the final hundred pages with my heart in my throat, then wanted to flip straight back to the beginning to hunt for all the clues I had missed. If you are hungry for a big fantasy that respects your intelligence and your appetite for thrills, this belongs at the top of your list.
Ready to dive in and judge for yourself
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