Faithfully Fantasy Podcast

📚 The Will of the Many Read‑Along — Chapters 11–23
Our journey through The Will of the Many continues, and this week marks our final stretch before entering the Academy. JC is practically vibrating with excitement, Sian is counting the minutes until we get there, and the book… well, the book is not making it easy to stay calm.
In this episode, we dig into Chapters 11–23 and share how we’re feeling about the story so far, what’s clicking, what’s confusing, and the moments that genuinely made us stop and stare at the page. There’s that speech that left us thinking about power, loyalty, and the bigger game at play, plus a handful of early favourites that are starting to stand out.
And of course, JC brings a fresh batch of theories about what might be waiting for us once we finally step through the Academy gates. Some of them? Surprisingly reasonable. Others? Peak chaos. Exactly how we like it.
If you’re reading along, jump into the comments and tell us how the book is treating you so far. We’re dying to know your thoughts as we head into the next phase of this world.

📚 The Will of the Many Read Along — Chapters 1–10
Our read along era has officially begun. In this episode, JC and Sian dive into Chapters 1–10 of The Will of the Many and unpack all the chaos, curiosity, and character driven intrigue that James Islington throws at us right from the start.
We’re sharing our first reactions, the moments that hooked us, the things we’re still wrestling with, and of course, our early favourites (yes, we’re already emotionally attached). Expect plenty of theories and wild speculation, including:
Viridius & Vis: Their dynamic has us side‑eyeing Ulciscor’s motives and wondering what’s really going on behind the curtain.
Character Names: Are these names just names… or is Islington hiding clues in plain sight?
If you’re reading along with us, jump into the comments and tell us your first impressions. Who grabbed your attention? What’s confusing you? What theories are already brewing?
The journey has begun, and it’s already getting deliciously complicated. Let’s see where this world takes us next.

Kicking off a brand new segment, JC and Sian dive into the ultimate literary showdown. In this premiere of Convince Me to Read, Sian steps into the spotlight armed with passion, persuasion, and a spoiler free arsenal of reasons why The Will of the Many by James Islington deserves a place in Juan’s 2026 reading lineup.
She’ll break down what makes this book her standout favourite of the year, world building, themes, characters, vibes, all without giving away a single twist. Meanwhile, JC listens, questions, and judges whether the hype is real enough to earn the coveted spot as the podcast’s next season long read‑along pick.
Will Sian succeed and secure the win for her beloved book, or will she face a very public, very chaotic moment of defeat? Stick around until the end to hear JC’s final verdict.

📜 100 Years of Fantasy: The Books That Built Our Worlds 📜

Fantasy hasn't always looked the way it does today. From the early foundations of high magic to the gritty, epic sagas that dominate our bookshelves now, the genre has undergone an incredible transformation. In this episode, we’re taking a journey through 100 years of the stories that keep us dreaming!
We’re diving into the history of the genre to see how the classics opened the doors for the modern bestsellers we love. In this episode, we cover:
🗺️ The Door Openers: We look at the iconic titles that paved the way for the massive world building and magic systems we see in today's epic fantasy.

⚔️ The Evolution of Epic: How the "heroes" and "monsters" have changed from the 1920s to the 2020s.

Is your favorite fantasy book on our list? Check out our picks and if we missed the one that changed your life, let us know in the comments!
Join us as we celebrate the magic, the myths, and the timeless legends that defined a century of fantasy.

In today's episode, we’re stepping away from our usual deep dives to explore the cosmic mystery of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time.

Whether you're a lifelong fan of the book or a Stranger Things enthusiast looking for the "source code," we’ve got you covered. In this episode, we break down:
📖 The Story Summary: A complete breakdown of the book's plot (⚠️ Warning: Spoilers included!).

👤 The Parallelism: We compare the striking similarities between the book and Stranger Things. How do the characters and dimensions mirror each other?

📺 Stranger Things Finale: We discuss the connections to the end of the show (⚠️ Warning: Final episode spoilers!).

📚 To Read or Not to Read? If you’ve been on the fence about picking up this classic, we give you all the info you need to decide if this book belongs on your shelf.

Join us as we tesser through time and space to see how this iconic story’s fantastical roots paved the way for the modern adventures we love today!