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A review by diannaherondale
The Will of the Many by James Islington
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I knew what I was getting into and still... It hit me like a block in the head.
Which for me, it's vey surprising if we take into account that this a very classical story with a stereotipical protagonist archetype.
Vis is an orphan teenager that because of his talents, is picked up by a very rich upper society man who sents him to this prestigious academy to investigate the death of his brother. Vis quicky goes to become the best student in no time. He beats everyone left and right, all his teachers love him except that one who hates him for some reason and is very petty with him specifically. He has one (really two) friend who is a nerd, he likes the popular girl etc. Sounds like a familiar story, right?
Well, yes, it is. Though I feel like thetropes were more justified than other books, like for example Vis has a credible reason to be the most competent to ever be competent, I still have to admit that it doesnt make it les cliche. But I dont care. This for me is just an example that, you can have a cliche story but its all about the execution.
The Will Of The many has a lot more than that going for it. The magic system, a pyramid scheme that allows the people at the top to have magical habilities but has the people at the bottom feeling weak all the time, is simple enough and easy to understand but is really well excuted and serves to extend the methaphore of capitalism and oppresion.
And Vis, even though has all those charateristics that I alredy mention, is very easy to root for. He has a beautiful scene in which he reunites with someone from his past who really made me feel for him and his cause. His friendships also are very genuine and make the book easier to read.
But overall this book is such a blast. At first it is hard to get into but once I got it, I finished in like 2 days. The world is just so intriguing, the mistery is engaging, and that ending???? Love it.
Read it if you like Red Rising, but this is a fantasy and Darrow is less bro coded, if you like the commentary in The Poppy War about society and politics but has a lighter tone, or if you want a fast paced, Hunger games type of plot but theres magic in the games.
Which for me, it's vey surprising if we take into account that this a very classical story with a stereotipical protagonist archetype.
Vis is an orphan teenager that because of his talents, is picked up by a very rich upper society man who sents him to this prestigious academy to investigate the death of his brother. Vis quicky goes to become the best student in no time. He beats everyone left and right, all his teachers love him except that one who hates him for some reason and is very petty with him specifically. He has one (really two) friend who is a nerd, he likes the popular girl etc. Sounds like a familiar story, right?
Well, yes, it is. Though I feel like thetropes were more justified than other books, like for example Vis has a credible reason to be the most competent to ever be competent, I still have to admit that it doesnt make it les cliche. But I dont care. This for me is just an example that, you can have a cliche story but its all about the execution.
The Will Of The many has a lot more than that going for it. The magic system, a pyramid scheme that allows the people at the top to have magical habilities but has the people at the bottom feeling weak all the time, is simple enough and easy to understand but is really well excuted and serves to extend the methaphore of capitalism and oppresion.
And Vis, even though has all those charateristics that I alredy mention, is very easy to root for. He has a beautiful scene in which he reunites with someone from his past who really made me feel for him and his cause. His friendships also are very genuine and make the book easier to read.
But overall this book is such a blast. At first it is hard to get into but once I got it, I finished in like 2 days. The world is just so intriguing, the mistery is engaging, and that ending???? Love it.
Read it if you like Red Rising, but this is a fantasy and Darrow is less bro coded, if you like the commentary in The Poppy War about society and politics but has a lighter tone, or if you want a fast paced, Hunger games type of plot but theres magic in the games.