I love learning halfway through a book that a character you thought was 20 is actually in her 40s.

The Will of the World is a fantasy novel set in a world where amalgamations (basically zombies) roam the world and can only be warded off by magic crystals. It is reminiscent of older fantasy adventures with bands of mercenaries and old-fashioned assassins.
This story reminded me a lot of classic adventures where there isn't necessarily a clear goal in mind but the characters go off on the occasional journey to save the world. I really liked the beginning, especially with the set-up for Ren's trauma given the prologue. Some of the first few chapters had an academia kind of vibe, which I liked but it was quickly replaced with adventure vibes. Admittedly, I did find the ending to be a bit disappointing because there wasn't really a climax and there were just a handful of fights scattered throughout. The lack of a clear goal and two specific slower POVs also were struggles for me.
There are four POV characters in this book, and I really liked two of them. Ren and Seffin are arguably the most "main" of the main characters. They're both young men in their final years of magic school, and there's a bit of ...tension between them. I liked their dynamic a lot and I thought they both had some unique qualities. I thought Flicker was neat as an assassin, but her POVs were a bit confusing until her identity was revealed. The same goes for Jessica. I understood her importance, but her chapters were sort of boring compared to the rest.
If you're looking for a classic fantasy adventure with a new zombie twist, The Will of the World is a fast-paced book with the beginnings of a found family.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!
3.5/5