Messy start to a New Year and The Will of The Many | HELLO, GENTLE VIEWERS, EP06
Added 2024-01-20 03:27:23 +0000 UTC
Comments
I was not a fan of this book, it took me forever to get through it. I do like historical novels, love Roman history, but this didn't do it for me. I am not a fan of romance, any kind of romance, but if you are going to pick one, let it have a science fiction setting. I need to keep an open mind, in my book club , where we meet in a bookstore. They know that I don't like romance novels, but we still read at least one a year. Keep on reading.
Jimmy
2024-01-21 21:22:38 +0000 UTCAlastair I'm so glad you finished and enjoyed this book as much as you did! I haven't belonged to a book club before and its been years since I had to read anything with a deadline. I knew I needed to finish Will of the Many at least a week before Christmas Shenanigans started so I began it with pace. I noticed right away the font was small and the page was full, in addition to being 600 pages so I doubled my efforts! I appreciate your positivity and enthusiasm for reading, and it is that which I am drawn to. However I do think literary criticism is important particularly when it comes from an honest place. While people were still reading this I was only supportive but now I think I can say a few things.... I really enjoyed the story and the setting and the ceding of Will is a really interesting idea with lots of possibilities. I want to know more and yet following Vis through the Academy I didn't learn much at all. I can understand the rules of not using Will for an unfair advantage but I found the time at the Academy proper to be a bit flat. The characters at the school - teachers and students - all seemed to be background, and I felt I didn't get a good sense of even those closest to Vis. I wanted more description, more mannerisms, more personality. Even though Vis had an agenda that set him apart from everyone it would have been interesting if he had stronger feelings, particularly with Emissa, and if he struggled with them. ***SPOILERS*** At first I felt the Labyrinth was a strange, almost artificial device used by the author until I learned it was a copy of a secret, prehistoric device of real importance. The repeated belief that training the Labyrinth was important for learning to use Will seemed hollow, and I was rewarded to discover it was perhaps just a plausible cover story since a real Labyrinth existed and the best students were training to test it. If only the time spent at the Academy could have had a greater reward... but i suspect Islington didn't want to (or know how to) write an entire civilisations backstory before all the future books in the series are written... Finally I will say I don't think it is my fault for reading this book with pace that I realised before I was half-way through that I didn't have a good picture of Ulciscor in my mind. Let alone any of the classmates. I may read it again before I read book 2 to flesh this out. I thought the setting and story were excellent. Vis is real to me, since the story is omniscient from his point of view, but do wish for more from the people that surround him. Nevertheless I'm totally intrigued by the story and am looking forward to more about the worlds Luceum, Obiteum and Vis' transformation. I think losing the arm was sadistically done to hide the scars he received. I wonder if Emissa's betrayal had a noble purpose? Also, I would bet money that Ulciscor's brother was killed to hide the truth and he is working in opposition to Veridius from the mirror worlds... lots of great things to look forward to!
Ryan Barry
2024-01-21 17:24:04 +0000 UTCThree copies were gifted at Christmas amongst my close family and I was the lucky recipient of one of them... its here beside me, waiting, taunting me.... I'm looking forward to starting it next
Ryan Barry
2024-01-21 15:50:36 +0000 UTCI've never been a reader. I'm going to try again, so wish me luck. I got Red, White & Royal Blue, and Fellow Travelers for Christmas, so we'll see if I can get though them. I know most of you will roll your eyes at this, but I did also get the five book Heartstopper series, and I did read all of those. As far as plans for 2024, I've already accomplished one major thing. I want to travel more. I'd been thinking about going to London for my birthday, but I couldn't pull the trigger. On January 2nd, I finally did. I'm totally excited! I'm hoping to read during the flight. We'll see!
Chris Metzger
2024-01-21 05:40:34 +0000 UTCAgreed! I loved “Boyfriend Material” but was ‘on the fence’ with “Husband Material”
Michael Ocampo
2024-01-20 20:42:56 +0000 UTC(P.P.S. If you want to look at MM romance novels here are a few suggestions: “Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall “Him” by Sarah Bowen & Elle Kennedy - this one MM erotica “Football Sundae” by Daryl Banner - also MM erotica) ✌🏽
Michael Ocampo
2024-01-20 20:41:08 +0000 UTC"Ten Things That Never Happened" by Alexis Hall is as good a rom-com as I have read recently.
J BORG
2024-01-20 20:28:15 +0000 UTCHey, everyone. Wanted to ask all you on Patreon: anyone read or listen to Patrick Stewart’s memoir “Making It So”? Being a generation close to Sir Patrick, I’ve found his book so fascinating!
Michael Ocampo
2024-01-20 20:24:59 +0000 UTCI did like this book but, like yourself, it took me a while to get into the plot. It was a great read with an infuriating cliff-hanger 😅 But I am seriously looking forward to book 2 and the rest of the series. 👍🏽 (P.S. As for the other stuff - in your personal / professional life - I have no doubt that you & Z will make everything work out. Trust in your gut. ✌🏽)
Michael Ocampo
2024-01-20 20:17:14 +0000 UTCI ordered a copy of Cradle book 1 " Unsouled ". Alastair you can take credit for that! (And I'm sure to thank you later)
Ryan Barry
2024-01-20 18:59:07 +0000 UTCI've got to retry this series. I started watching with people who knew the books and were so upset that it wasn't a verbatim rendition that we stopped.
Marky Mark
2024-01-20 18:39:07 +0000 UTCNice seeing you Alastair, I loved The Will of many really enjoyed Vis as a character. Also enjoyed its speed and how quickly he brought us into the story. The only disappointment for me was book 2 is not available. Cradle will be interesting, I personally havent found animation a great way to go but let’s see. I am curious to see what you boys do after the army. I think you have great foundations to be a writer….exciting future is just waiting.
Brad Harper
2024-01-20 16:15:06 +0000 UTCAlastair have you seen Foundation on Apple tv+? Starring Lee Pace and based on the books by Isaac Asimov. I came to it not knowing anything about it and I think it's terrific. Sumptuous setting. Intrigue. Impossible technology and timescales. Epic. Season 2 was even better than season 1 in my opinion!
Ryan Barry
2024-01-20 15:23:41 +0000 UTC
