The Will of the Many (Volume 1) (Hierarchy)

Product Information

He’s been working here too long.” Hospius’s intense brown eyes search mine until I turn forward again, focusing on the steps. “You don’t have to worry. I won’t say anything.” We’re thrilled to share the cover of James Islington’s The Will of the Many, a new fantasy publishing May 23, 2023 with Saga Press. Anyway, I’ll update here sooner if anything significant happens, otherwise I’ll aim to post again in a few months!

Hospius looks up at me again and I do everything I can to apply the warning he’s giving Nateo. I’m not supposed to know what the word means. Why would I? Vetusian is a dead language. An academic oddity. Aside from the odd word already integrated into Common, it was excised by the Hierarchy more than a hundred years ago. Its only real purpose is to allow for the reading of original texts from an era long past. I can. A little.” Nateo’s voice is like nails scraped weakly across stone. He uses the dead language too, though with far more comfort than the man here to see him. “How long?” His gaze roves, as if seeking the answer somewhere other than Hospius.I can winch him up. Break the connection.” Nausea threatens as I consider what is about to happen. “It will not be pleasant, though. Especially for him.”

This harry potter and the philosopher's stone, but in ancient Rome! Now, there's nothing wrong with doing a 'magical academy' story, or from taking inspiration from another work, but this hits every beat of that book to an absurd degree. The Audible version should release on the same day, but there's no link for it yet. I'll update here as soon as one is available. To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Academy's ranks. I will have to smile, and make friends, and pretend to be one of them and win. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me. As at 09/2022 I’m currently up to 110,000 words for the current draft of The Strength of the Few: not amazing progress, but given that the last three months were quite stop-start between holidays and copyedits and various other obligations, it certainly could have been worse.Hm.” Hospius, fortunately, doesn’t sound as impressed as Hrolf seems to think he should be. “Well, if a more appropriate position for someone his age should come up in Letens, I’ll mention him.” There’s a vague, dispassionate note that signals it’s a conclusion to the conversation. I puff out my cheeks in silent relief. An orphan boy who is abused by his guardians is rescued by a mysterious benefactor. Whisked away on a magical transport to a school for gifted children, where the head master takes a great interest in them. All is not well, however, for there is a mysterious artifact hidden in the school that he must find. An artifact that may spell his doom!

On the more subjective side of things, I’m very happy with where everything’s at currently. It’s been challenging writing a story set in a new world—a big adjustment after writing Licanius for so long—but things have started to feel like they’ve really come together over the past month or so. There isn’t a magical academy, coming of age, epic fantasy trope that Islington doesn’t put on display here. I’m not sure this is necessarily a criticism, but my feelings about the tropiness of the story did vacillate frequently as I was working my way through the book. Vis is a low class kid placed in magical academy to aid in the resistance (although the resistance here is another branch of the government rather than the resistance movement). There is a love triangle between Vis, one of the upper-class classmates, and one of the resistance fighters. There is a cruel professor and a professor that supports Vis. A lot of the worldbuilding is done through class lectures and grand speeches. There is a dangerous game (that isn’t really a death game, but death is possible) that all of the students need to participate in. I could keep listing them, but my point is that if you are looking for something that revels in these tropes, The Will of the Many has them all. However, if you hate these tropes you might want to look elsewhere. That's about it for now - I can't overstate how much I'm looking forward to (finally) getting this into everyone's hands in May!! It's early days and so the audiobook length isn't known just yet, but the print book's word count is roughly on par with that of An Echo of Things to Come, which turned out to be a touch over 26 hours in audio. I'd expect something similar for The Will of the Many. I’ve been working here almost a year longer than him, so he’s wondering again whether my mind is losing its edge. Like his has been for a while, now.

The Will of the Many

Looks valid,” I agree, understanding Hrolf’s displeasure. This paperwork allows our visitor access to the lowest level. It’s cruel to wake the men and women down there mid-sentence. I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus – what they call Will – to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.

At the elite Catenan Academy, a young fugitive uncovers layered mysteries and world-changing secrets in this new fantasy series by internationally best-selling author of the Licanius Trilogy James Islington. You know your way around.” Hospius’s deep voice booms off the austere walls, despite his attempt to match his voice to the hushed surrounds.That’s about all there is to tell, for now: long story short, things are still moving along well. Wishing everyone a great Christmas, and I’ll aim to post another update around March 2021!