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Quick answer: If you liked The Will of the Many, try The Shadow of What Was Lost, Red Rising, The Name of the Wind, Mistborn, Fourth Wing and Babel. All have gifted outsiders, hard schools, and powers that cost something.
James Islington's novel follows Vis, a boy who is rescued from a conquered land and sent to an academy in the Catenan Republic, where power flows upward through a hierarchy of people who give their Will to those above them. It has a tight magic system, a school setting and a secret. These 15 fantasy and sci-fi books share those strengths, with a focus on ambition, politics and hidden plots.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Shadow of What Was Lost | James Islington | Adult | more by the same author |
| Red Rising | Pierce Brown | Adult | readers who like brutal academies |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Adult | readers who like a clever hero |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Adult | fans of tight magic systems |
| Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros | Adult | readers who like dragon academies |
| Babel | R.F. Kuang | Adult | readers who like ideas |
| A Deadly Education | Naomi Novik | Adult | readers who like a school thriller |
| The Poppy War | R.F. Kuang | Adult | readers who want dark fantasy |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | Adult | sci-fi fans |
| Dune | Frank Herbert | Adult | readers who love politics and prophecy |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | readers who like con games |
| The Atlas Six | Olivie Blake | Adult | dark academia fans |
| A Rage of Dragons | Evan Winter | Adult | readers who like revenge stories |
| The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan | Adult | readers who want an epic |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | readers who like grimdark |
1. The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington
Islington's first novel starts the Licanius trilogy, with a school, a cursed gift and a long-hidden past. A good next read for fans of his writing.
Best for: more by the same author.
2. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Darrow, a miner, is surgically changed to infiltrate an elite school on Mars. Violent and addictive.
Best for: readers who like brutal academies.
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe, a gifted orphan, studies at the University. Lyrical and long.
Best for: readers who like a clever hero.
4. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Vin and her crew plan to topple an immortal ruler using a precise magic system. Great twists.
Best for: fans of tight magic systems.
5. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Violet joins a war college where cadets bond with dragons or die. Fast, romantic and dangerous.
Best for: readers who like dragon academies.
6. Babel by R.F. Kuang
Robin studies translation at Oxford, where silver and language power an empire. Sharp, political and angry.
Best for: readers who like ideas.
7. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
El tries to survive at a school full of monsters. Dark, funny and clever.
Best for: readers who like a school thriller.
8. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Rin tests into an elite military school and discovers a dangerous power. A brutal, powerful military fantasy.
Best for: readers who want dark fantasy.
9. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender Wiggin is recruited to a battle school in space. A classic of young genius and manipulation.
Best for: sci-fi fans.
10. Dune by Frank Herbert
Paul Atreides and his family take over the desert planet Arrakis, and a plot unfolds. A foundational sci-fi epic.
Best for: readers who love politics and prophecy.
11. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Locke leads a gang of thieves in a Venice-like city. Funny and violent.
Best for: readers who like con games.
12. The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Six magicians compete for places in a secret library. Cold, clever and full of betrayals.
Best for: dark academia fans.
13. A Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
Tau trains to become a soldier in a society ruled by war and class. Fast and violent.
Best for: readers who like revenge stories.
14. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Rand and his friends leave home as dark forces seek him. The first of The Wheel of Time.
Best for: readers who want an epic.
15. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Logen Ninefingers, Inquisitor Glokta and Captain Jezal begin a story of war and treachery. Grim and funny.
Best for: readers who like grimdark.
How to Choose
If you like school settings, pick Red Rising, Fourth Wing, Babel or A Deadly Education. For intricate magic and politics, try Mistborn and The Shadow of What Was Lost. For military settings, consider The Poppy War or A Rage of Dragons. Many of these include strong violence and mature topics, so check the notes before starting. A good way to build a reading plan is to alternate: one book with a school setting, then one with a larger political plot, so the pacing stays fresh. Audiobooks work well for the longest titles, such as The Eye of the World and Dune, which can take weeks to read in print. If you are new to epic fantasy, start with Mistborn, because its first book tells a complete story while still opening the door to a longer series.
Related: How Many Books Will There Be in the Empyrean Series? · Will Trent Books in Order Printable List
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Will of the Many a standalone?
No. It begins the Hierarchy series, and the first book ends with open questions.
Is it similar to Red Rising?
Yes, both have a hidden hero in a harsh academy, though the magic differs.
Is it good for teens?
It has violence and mature themes, so it suits older teens and adults.
How long is The Will of the Many?
It runs about 700 pages in print, and the audiobook is about 30 hours, so plan for a few weeks.
Which book is closest in tone?
Red Rising and The Name of the Wind are the closest, since both follow a gifted outsider in a hard school.