Just finished the book last night (LOVED IT) this was a great breakdown of some of the main themes and moments, a good refresher and helped a lot with clarity. Also I love your idea for the book 3 title, that would be super neat to see happen!
I listened to the audiobook and loved it! After I finished I immediately went to the author's website to see when book two was coming out. It's been a while since I've been so excited for a book to come out 📚
Love this book so far ! I am 55% in and cannot put it down. The world building is excellent and you really care about the main character...Vis. Great review!!!
I did stop early in the video, went and smashed the audiobook and have returned! In that time I also smashed through The Way of Kings and smiled off the back of another Sanderson connection.
I recently discovered your channel and oh my goodness, am I glad! The effort you put into disclosing aspects of the books you talk about is phenomenal. Also, I've seen this book around a lot lately and your description of it made me wanna read it someday.
I definitely need to move this one up my tbr, it sounds really good. I’ve got back into reading realm of the elderlings recently though so might be a while before I get to it 😂
hey Book Guy. great content. Discovered your channel yesterday and am going through reviews of books I've read and have been interested in reading. Your videos are great, good commentary with just about the perfect touch of comedy. I've been able to add to my list of books to buy and am really grateful for that. In this video you mention there are 3 main characters. I'm curious as to why you concluded there are three main characters in this story. Ulciscor and Sedotia both see comparable page time to other characters and, due to the first person narrative, we are never given direct insight into the perspective of any character other than Vis. Was this a rule of three type of decision when writing for the video? Or was it more based on the vibe and the narrative push those two provide? Would love to hear your thoughts on categorizing them as main characters vs side characters. Keep up the great work! Hope to read your books soon :)
Thanks mate! Appreciate those compliments. That's a good question about characters. You're actually 100% right, there's more than 3 main characters. I just pick 3 as examples for the video to show the quality of character writing. James Islington's earlier works, the Licanius Trilogy, is sometimes criticised for having shallow characters. So I wanted to show that his more recent work has improved in this area. Hence, 3 examples. That said, sometimes it is very tricky to categorize main characters vs side characters!!! Those lines can definitely blur.
this magic system sounds like verbatim word for word Thomas Hobbes "The Leviathan". Its all about how in effort to escape the horrors of the state of nature, people form commonwealths where populations give up rights and freedoms to a sovereign who as an accumulation of rights and power decides the fate of society.
Great review! I can't wait for the second book. If it is a year away those are going to be a long 12 months. For info, looks like the paperback edition of the 1st book will be coming in August '24.
Came up at the perfect time. Started reading this one two days ago 😅 so maybe I will start to understand the hierarchy. I am missing a map so I am confused about the world (I’ve read about 10% so far). Edit: guess which book I finished before this one - yes, Warbreaker. I really picked the next read well.
So I was a bit too intimidated to start on the monumental quantity of Hobbs books! Went for this instead. That way I can feel like I'm at the cutting edge of popular fantasy writing.
@@silversolar7181 I know, I just like to see the progression in a writers style, and I think I’d read the finished trilogy before starting a new one anyways.
This is what I did. Read Licanius in 2023 and then The Will of the Many January 2024. You definitely don't have to do that, but I also wanted to read them in that order!
I see a lot of parallels to Red Rising, also in regards to the characterization of Viz. Would you agree? I didn't enjoy Red Rising, I read the first book and tried the second book, but ultimately I couldn't empathize with the main character's angsty hatred and didn't like the narration style. I also didn't like the militaristic nature of the book (I just generally find military one of the most boring subjects for books ever). Would you still recommend me The Will of the Many considering these aspects? It does sounds pretty interesting aside from these points.
I've never read Red Rising so I can't answer you entirely but I will try. I personally didn't find Viz to be "angsty" or overly consumed with hatred. I think he has a justifiable disgust for the corrupt system which destroyed his life and is destroying many others...so yes he does hate them, but it's also complicated by the fact that there are individuals he realizes that he comes to care for / love. That is actually one of the aspects I liked best in this book (the conflict of never being able to trust anyone and yet wanting to despite yourself). Personality wise he actually comes off as rather cheeky and has a sense of dark humor / snark, which I personally enjoyed and found fitting for him being a bit of a bratty teen (the novel specifically points out his anger management issues but it's more that he gets tired of hiding his power level and being treated badly so it slips out). I'm not sure what you mean about 'militaristic nature.' There is a LOT of training. Actually in the beginning is the only part where the book almost lost me because of a training arc about 20% of the way in (followed by one of my favorite sequences in the whole book which completely re-hyped me). And then they go to a school so... But personally I don't think it bogs the story down too much. While they are a militaristic society and the characters are literally associated with the Military branch, there isn't anything to do with planning a war or war strategies or stuff like that. Obviously I can't speak for the sequels. The strategies are more on how to deal with individual problems like "get x person to like me" or "how to break into x place." There are some survival stuff and games stuff the character deals with and there are some physical fights but they don't drag on IMO and the stakes and mystery keep it interesting. I'd say it's a lot more like a spy thriller because of that.
Thanks! Turns out it also misspelled apocalypse... this is what I get for posting late at night. Also 10/10, that was such a kind way to point out a mistake. Appreciated!
This book was amazing but to me this was number 2 of 2023 the best books of 2023 were the From Ryan Cahill and the bound and broken. Have you reviewed that SERIES IT IS FUCKING AMAZING!!! TO ME THAT series will go down with Lord of The Rings, Hobbit, Song of Ice and Fire, Wheel of time as one of the best series EVER. This series can be really highly rated as well.
This is in my top books of 2024! It's basically Red Rising 2.0 to me-- It better delivered on everything I wanted from RR, but also left out everything I absolutely hated. (I think I've seen that you really like that series, but Red Rising is my personal worst book ever 😅)
Mmmm I wouldn't say fascist honestly because people can move on from how shitty the Roman world actually was. It is a republic just an imperialist oroborus type of republic
There is LGBT rep. There’s a character that is highly, highly implied to be gay. Not stating the name in case of spoilers, but it is pretty obvious. I’m assuming it will be explored in the sequels
Sorry I had to stop the video at 2 minutes, I'm sold going to read it now
Awesome to see a new video from you! Def one of my favourite book RUclipsrs!
Thanks buddy! I appreciate that a lot. ❤❤❤
Just finished the book last night (LOVED IT) this was a great breakdown of some of the main themes and moments, a good refresher and helped a lot with clarity. Also I love your idea for the book 3 title, that would be super neat to see happen!
I listened to the audiobook and loved it! After I finished I immediately went to the author's website to see when book two was coming out. It's been a while since I've been so excited for a book to come out 📚
Love this book so far ! I am 55% in and cannot put it down. The world building is excellent and you really care about the main character...Vis. Great review!!!
Wow, this book arrived on my doorstep just yesterday! Thanks for that extra boost of motivation to start reading it immediately!
I did stop early in the video, went and smashed the audiobook and have returned! In that time I also smashed through The Way of Kings and smiled off the back of another Sanderson connection.
I recently discovered your channel and oh my goodness, am I glad!
The effort you put into disclosing aspects of the books you talk about is phenomenal.
Also, I've seen this book around a lot lately and your description of it made me wanna read it someday.
Love your videos, you put so much thought and effort into them.
I definitely need to move this one up my tbr, it sounds really good. I’ve got back into reading realm of the elderlings recently though so might be a while before I get to it 😂
Awesome video as always man.
Just finished and neeeeed to process.
Sounds very much like the red rising plot and main character motivation.
This book is bloody awesome and you should read it now!
hey Book Guy. great content.
Discovered your channel yesterday and am going through reviews of books I've read and have been interested in reading. Your videos are great, good commentary with just about the perfect touch of comedy. I've been able to add to my list of books to buy and am really grateful for that.
In this video you mention there are 3 main characters. I'm curious as to why you concluded there are three main characters in this story. Ulciscor and Sedotia both see comparable page time to other characters and, due to the first person narrative, we are never given direct insight into the perspective of any character other than Vis. Was this a rule of three type of decision when writing for the video? Or was it more based on the vibe and the narrative push those two provide? Would love to hear your thoughts on categorizing them as main characters vs side characters.
Keep up the great work!
Hope to read your books soon :)
Thanks mate! Appreciate those compliments.
That's a good question about characters. You're actually 100% right, there's more than 3 main characters. I just pick 3 as examples for the video to show the quality of character writing. James Islington's earlier works, the Licanius Trilogy, is sometimes criticised for having shallow characters. So I wanted to show that his more recent work has improved in this area. Hence, 3 examples.
That said, sometimes it is very tricky to categorize main characters vs side characters!!! Those lines can definitely blur.
this magic system sounds like verbatim word for word Thomas Hobbes "The Leviathan". Its all about how in effort to escape the horrors of the state of nature, people form commonwealths where populations give up rights and freedoms to a sovereign who as an accumulation of rights and power decides the fate of society.
Great review! I can't wait for the second book. If it is a year away those are going to be a long 12 months. For info, looks like the paperback edition of the 1st book will be coming in August '24.
I'm definitely gonna read this. I was wondering I you had read any Jay kristoff? Another great Australian writer.
@@davidwilcock2416 I've read the Illuminae files, which he cowrote. I'm gonna read his Empire of the Vampire series soon. Great suggestion!
It's a great fucking book! Loved it.
(I really enjoyed The Power of One, and I’m not from Oz…but now I’m also hoping that becomes the title of the third here 😅)
Came up at the perfect time. Started reading this one two days ago 😅 so maybe I will start to understand the hierarchy. I am missing a map so I am confused about the world (I’ve read about 10% so far).
Edit: guess which book I finished before this one - yes, Warbreaker. I really picked the next read well.
So I was a bit too intimidated to start on the monumental quantity of Hobbs books! Went for this instead. That way I can feel like I'm at the cutting edge of popular fantasy writing.
Book guy id love to hear your thoughts and breakdown on the Dragonlance novels
How often do you think about the Roman Empire?
Subtle and smooth, good sir! 😉
I need to read the licanius trilogy before I read this one I feel, idk just makes sense to go in publication order.
I don't think this book is connected to the Licanius trilogy. That's just a finished series written by this author.
@@silversolar7181 I know, I just like to see the progression in a writers style, and I think I’d read the finished trilogy before starting a new one anyways.
This is what I did. Read Licanius in 2023 and then The Will of the Many January 2024. You definitely don't have to do that, but I also wanted to read them in that order!
If your shirts don't have holes then do you really have a cat? 😂
Funny thing last year I did read an Austrian crime novel, "The Dry".
Just for a little info: its planned to be a 4 book series not a trilogy.
This sounds like a Chinese light novel I read decades ago. The magic system is literally the same
I didn't super love this book, I didn't hate it either, but the ending was 😮
I see a lot of parallels to Red Rising, also in regards to the characterization of Viz. Would you agree? I didn't enjoy Red Rising, I read the first book and tried the second book, but ultimately I couldn't empathize with the main character's angsty hatred and didn't like the narration style. I also didn't like the militaristic nature of the book (I just generally find military one of the most boring subjects for books ever). Would you still recommend me The Will of the Many considering these aspects? It does sounds pretty interesting aside from these points.
I've never read Red Rising so I can't answer you entirely but I will try. I personally didn't find Viz to be "angsty" or overly consumed with hatred. I think he has a justifiable disgust for the corrupt system which destroyed his life and is destroying many others...so yes he does hate them, but it's also complicated by the fact that there are individuals he realizes that he comes to care for / love. That is actually one of the aspects I liked best in this book (the conflict of never being able to trust anyone and yet wanting to despite yourself). Personality wise he actually comes off as rather cheeky and has a sense of dark humor / snark, which I personally enjoyed and found fitting for him being a bit of a bratty teen (the novel specifically points out his anger management issues but it's more that he gets tired of hiding his power level and being treated badly so it slips out). I'm not sure what you mean about 'militaristic nature.' There is a LOT of training. Actually in the beginning is the only part where the book almost lost me because of a training arc about 20% of the way in (followed by one of my favorite sequences in the whole book which completely re-hyped me). And then they go to a school so... But personally I don't think it bogs the story down too much. While they are a militaristic society and the characters are literally associated with the Military branch, there isn't anything to do with planning a war or war strategies or stuff like that. Obviously I can't speak for the sequels. The strategies are more on how to deal with individual problems like "get x person to like me" or "how to break into x place." There are some survival stuff and games stuff the character deals with and there are some physical fights but they don't drag on IMO and the stakes and mystery keep it interesting. I'd say it's a lot more like a spy thriller because of that.
Might I suggest a thumbnail update? Current one is missing the G in "mythology."
Thanks! Turns out it also misspelled apocalypse... this is what I get for posting late at night.
Also 10/10, that was such a kind way to point out a mistake. Appreciated!
This book was amazing but to me this was number 2 of 2023 the best books of 2023 were the From Ryan Cahill and the bound and broken.
Have you reviewed that SERIES IT IS FUCKING AMAZING!!!
TO ME THAT series will go down with Lord of The Rings, Hobbit, Song of Ice and Fire, Wheel of time as one of the best series EVER.
This series can be really highly rated as well.
This is in my top books of 2024! It's basically Red Rising 2.0 to me--
It better delivered on everything I wanted from RR, but also left out everything I absolutely hated.
(I think I've seen that you really like that series, but Red Rising is my personal worst book ever 😅)
Isn't this just a ripoff of David Farland's Runelords?
Mmmm I wouldn't say fascist honestly because people can move on from how shitty the Roman world actually was. It is a republic just an imperialist oroborus type of republic
There is LGBT rep. There’s a character that is highly, highly implied to be gay. Not stating the name in case of spoilers, but it is pretty obvious. I’m assuming it will be explored in the sequels
Did you say there is no lgbt representative? God damn Wtf
😂😂😂😂