Janet Snakehole

The Will of the Many by James Islington: I feel like I need to take a deep breath before I start a high fantasy, because it always takes a while for me to immerse myself in the world and learn the systems. But I found myself sucked into this one almost immediately. I didn’t entirely understand everything going on, but I wanted to know more and found myself staying up for one more chapter...and then another... and another. Always a good sign. It did still take me a while to read, simply because it’s complex and layered, but I was never bored. The characters are excellent — Vis is angry, but know he has to adapt to his new life in order to get the revenge he deserves, and it feels so realistic to watch him struggle with making friends and move through a world he hates, but has to live in. I could say similar things about all of the other characters, and the fact that they all get a chance to shine and grow is really impressive. The magic system is a little bit confusing, but I kept just nodding and moving forward. The ending made me go out and buy the second book immediately!