The Will of the Many: Volume 1 by James Islington - Fiction - Paperback

Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781668066621
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Series: Hierarchy (Book 1)

Overview:
The Will of the Many launches James Islington's internationally bestselling Hierarchy series with a gripping tale of political intrigue, hidden identity and simmering rebellion. At the elite Catenan Academy, fugitive Vis Telimus must survive a brutal hierarchy that strips citizens of their strength, drive and focus to empower those above them. Blending Roman-inspired world-building with dark academia tension and epic fantasy stakes, this critically acclaimed novel is perfect for readers who love intricate plotting, morally complex characters, layered secrets and slow-burn political intrigue building toward a genuinely explosive, series-redefining finale readers won't soon forget.

About the Book:
The Catenan Republic — known simply as the Hierarchy — rules the known world by harvesting the "Will" of its citizens: their strength, drive and focus, siphoned upward to sustain those in power. Posing as an orphaned scholarship student, Vis Telimus infiltrates the Republic's most prestigious academy, hiding a dangerous secret and a mission to uncover the truth behind his family's destruction. As he rises through the Academy's brutal ranks, Vis is drawn into a web of murder, ancient weapons and simmering rebellion that threatens to fracture the Republic itself. James Islington constructs a richly detailed, Roman-inspired empire where knowledge is currency, loyalty is a weapon, and survival depends on cunning rather than brute strength. The narrative balances dark academia intrigue with high-stakes action, exploring themes of power, sacrifice, identity and the cost of resistance. Critics have praised its meticulous world-building, drawing comparisons to Pierce Brown's Red Rising for readers who want a darker, slower-burn political epic. It's an ambitious, immersive start to a series built for readers who want fantasy laced with strategy and secrets rather than simple heroics.

• First book in James Islington's acclaimed Hierarchy series, an ideal entry point for new fantasy readers.
• Immersive Roman-inspired world-building with a unique magic system based on "Will".
• Dark academia setting combined with political intrigue, mystery and high-stakes action.
• Compelling, morally complex protagonist navigating deception, identity and rebellion.
• From the internationally bestselling author of the Licanius Trilogy, translated into 17 languages.
• Critically acclaimed with starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.

About the Author:
James Islington is the internationally bestselling author of The Will of the Many, the first novel in the Hierarchy series, as well as the acclaimed Licanius Trilogy, beginning with The Shadow of What Was Lost. He has sold more than two million books worldwide, with his work translated into seventeen languages. Known for his intricate plotting and richly layered magic systems, Islington has become one of modern epic fantasy's most talked-about voices. He lives on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia, with his wife and two children.

Why You'll Love This Epic Fantasy:
A dark academia epic packed with political intrigue, ancient secrets and a magic system unlike anything else in fantasy fiction today. Fans of Red Rising and richly imagined, morally complex empires will be hooked from the very first chapter and left desperate for the thrilling sequel, The Strength of the Few.

Please Note: Cover shown is the UK paperback edition; ISBN as listed above.