A review by rg9400
The Will of the Many by James Islington

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

The best book of 2023 for me.  I haven’t been hooked by a book like this in a long time, and once I started, I was so fully engrossed. The excellent pacing combined with constantly throwing in new elements just at the right moment worked so well. There is a fantastic blend of genres (including even a little horror), strong characters even outside our main protag in Vis, an interesting Roman-inspired setting whose lore and worldbuilding and political system are all working in tandem to further fuel the themes. And the themes…an excellent examination of what it truly means to be part of a political system you disagree with, and what the cost of revolution is compared to the cost of inaction.