James Islington's 2025 fantasy novel The Strength of the Few serves as a sprawling sequel to the 2023 hit The Will of the Many. The story follows Vis Telemus as he navigates three distinct realms, though critics argue the narrative's ambition outweighs its execution.
The 80-Chapter Split Across Three Worlds
James Islington utilizes a complex, non-linear structure in The Strength of the Few, diviing the narrative into 80 chapters . the book allocates 32 chapters to the world of Res, with 23 chapters each dedicated to the realms of Obiteum and Luceum, plus two perspective shifts. Rather than following a predictable rotation, the author jumps between these settings in a chaotic sequence.
According to the report, this structural choice leads to severe pacing issues. Readers are often pulled away from a developing plot point in one world just as momentum builds, forcing them to wait several chapters for a resolution. This creates a frustrating experience where cliffhangers feel like interruptions rather than narrative hooks.
From Ancient Egypt in Obiteum to Celtic Druids in Luceum
The narrative follows Vis Telemus, who has been split across three simultaneous existences. In Res , the original setting of The Will of the Many, Vis faces a looming civil war driven by tensions between the military, governance, and religion. In the realm of Luceum, Vis adopts the name Deaglán and enters a Celtic-inspired society ruled by kings and druids, eventually clashing with a druid king named Ruarc.
In the third realm , Obiteum, Vis takes the name Siamun and draws from Ancient Egyptian influences. Here, Vis is guided by Caeror, the brother of Ulciscor, on a mission to eliminate a man known as Ka. The report suggests that this quest is central to preventing a future Cataclysm, though the introduction of these new worlds often feels like a regression in storytelling.
Why the Loch Traenala arc fails the "show , don't tell" test
The world-building in Luceum is particularly criticized for relying on exposition rather than organic development. James Islington struggles to replicate the painstaking construction of Caten seen in The Will of the Many, leaving the new realms feeling half-finished.
As the report says, the emotional stakes in Luceum are undermined by a lack of character development. Vis (as Deaglán) attends a school called Loch Traenala, and while he is eventually willing to die for his classmates,the reader only spends a few chapters with these characters. This creates a disconnect where the protagonist's loyalty feels unearned because the author tells the reader about the bond instead of showing it.
A bridge to the climax of a four-book saga
The Strength of the Few is positioned as the second entry in a planned four-book series. By design, the novel acts as a bridge, transitioning the story from the introductory phase of the first book toward an eventual series climax.
This "bridge" status often presents a challennge for fantasy authors, who must balance the need for expansion with the need for progression. While the Res chapters successfully move the overall plot forward, the introduction of Obiteum and Luceum risks stalling the narrative momentum established in the first volume.
Who is the mysterious Ostius and what is the Angruis's end game?
Several critical narrative threads remain unresolved or under-explained in this second installment. The arrival of a mysterious new character named Ostius adds a layer of complication for Vis Telemus, yet his true motives remain opaque.
Furthermore, the influence of the Angruis continues to hang over Vis, leaving the reader to wonder how much agency the protagonist truly possesses. Because the source focuses on the structural failings of the book, the specific resolutions regarding the Angruis's control and the identity of Ka are left as open questions for the remaining two books in the saga.
Comments 0