The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1) by James Islington
Published 2023 · 207,794 words · about 14 hours at an average pace
How hard is The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1) to read?
The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1) scores 54 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it quite demanding. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.
- Vocabulary: 48 out of 100
- The vocabulary is relatively straightforward, with some invented terms related to the world's hierarchy (Princeps, Dimidius, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, Sextus, Septimus, Octavus, Catenan). There are also some archaic words like 'matron' but the language is generally accessible and doesn't require specialized knowledge.
- Sentence structure: 55 out of 100
- The sentences vary in length and complexity, with some longer descriptive passages and dialogue. While there are some instances of nested clauses, the syntax is generally navigable and doesn't present significant challenges to understanding. The writing is more complex than The Great Gatsby but less complex than 2666.
- Abstraction: 52 out of 100
- The narrative balances concrete descriptions of the world and events with some exploration of themes like power, control, and identity. While the story is grounded in the protagonist's experiences, there are moments of reflection and social observation. The level of abstraction is similar to The Great Gatsby.
- Information density: 58 out of 100
- The book presents a moderate amount of information per page, requiring attention to the world-building and character relationships. The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with reveals and details that contribute to the overall understanding of the story. The information density is similar to The Great Gatsby.
- Narrative indirection: 68 out of 100
- The narrative requires some inference, particularly regarding the protagonist's past and motivations. The reader must piece together information from dialogue and actions to understand the full context of events. This is similar to Midnight's Children.
- Symbolic density: 60 out of 100
- There are some symbolic elements, such as the Sappers representing the exploitation of the many by the few, and the protagonist's scars representing past trauma. However, the symbolism is not overly dense or abstract, and the narrative remains relatively grounded in literal events. This is similar to The Great Gatsby.
- Ironic distance: 40 out of 100
- There is some ironic distance, particularly in the protagonist's observations of the Hierarchy and its members. However, the narrative is generally sincere in its portrayal of the protagonist's struggles and motivations. This is similar to War and Peace.
- Resolution withholding: 62 out of 100
- The ending leaves several questions unanswered, such as the true nature of Hospius's mission and the protagonist's ultimate fate. While the immediate conflict is resolved, the overall narrative arc remains open-ended, functioning as the first installment in a series. This is similar to The Great Gatsby.
- Structural complexity: 45 out of 100
- The structure is relatively straightforward, with a linear timeline and a single point of view. There are some flashbacks and shifts in setting, but the overall structure is easy to follow. This is similar to War and Peace.
How The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1) is regarded
The Will of the Many (Hierarchy, #1) holds a literary regard score of 23 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.