Following a breakout hit is a daunting task for any author, and James Islington's The Strength of the Few proves that even the most promising sequels can stumble. The 2025 follow-up to the acclaimed The Will of the Many attempts to expand its universe in bold new directions, but the result is a sprawling, overstuffed narrative that loses the focus and emotional punch of its predecessor.
Picking up immediately after the cliffhanger of the first book, The Strength of the Few finds protagonist Vis Telimus fractured across three distinct worlds: Res, the familiar setting of the original; Luceum, a Celtic-inspired land of druids and kings; and Obiteum, an Egyptian-flavored realm where Vis encounters Caeror, the brother of his former mentor. This ambitious premise sets the stage for a story that promises epic scope, but it quickly becomes apparent that Islington has bitten off more than he can chew.
A Narrative Sprawling Too Thin
The novel's structure is its biggest weakness. With 80 chapters split unevenly among the three worlds, Islington jumps between them with little rhyme or reason. Just as tension builds in one realm, the narrative yanks readers into another, leaving cliffhangers dangling for chapters on end. The pacing suffers immensely, turning what should be a thrilling ride into a frustrating slog.
The Res sections, which continue the political and personal threads from The Will of the Many, are the strongest, offering genuine progression and answers to lingering questions. But the Luceum and Obiteum chapters feel like a step backward, as Islington must introduce entire new worlds, their rules, and their key players from scratch. Unlike the meticulous worldbuilding of the first book, these new settings feel half-formed, with Luceum particularly guilty of telling rather than showing. Characters are introduced and quickly become central to Vis's motivations, yet their relationships feel unearned because we barely spend time with them.
Character Betrayal and Missed Potential
Perhaps the most egregious misstep is the treatment of Aequa, one of the most compelling characters from the original. Her fate in The Strength of the Few is a textbook case of fridging—a trope where a female character is killed off solely to further a male character's arc. The death is not only narratively unsatisfying but also gratuitously violent, and it comes at the hands of a villain with almost no development. It's a disservice to a character who deserved better.
While The Strength of the Few is not a bad book, it is a disappointing one, especially when compared to the high bar set by The Will of the Many. The ambition is admirable, but the execution falls short. For fans of epic fantasy, this sequel may leave you longing for the tighter, more focused storytelling of the original. If you're looking for other fantasy reads that nail their pacing, check out our list of fantasy books where every chapter is a masterpiece. And for those who appreciate intricate worldbuilding, see fantasy worlds that redefine the art of worldbuilding.
As the series continues, one can only hope Islington regains his footing and delivers the epic conclusion this story deserves. Until then, The Strength of the Few stands as a cautionary tale about the dangers of overreaching.
