James Islington is an Australian epic fantasy author best known for The Licanius Trilogy (The Shadow of What Was Lost, An Echo of Things to Come, The Light of All That Falls) and his latest series Hierarchy (The Will of the Many, 2023). Originally a tech startup founder, he only began seriously writing after turning 30. He lives with his family on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
š Inspired to write after reading Brandon Sandersonās Mistborn and Patrick Rothfussās Name of the Wind āØ Self-published The Shadow of What Was Lost before signing with a major publisher š Licanius captivated readers with its deep worldbuilding, complex magic, and political intrigue ā The Will of the Many (2023) kicks off a new series where people relinquish their will for the greater good ā³ Balanced writing with a career in tech for years before going all-in on fiction š Draws landscape inspiration from British and Eastern European scenery š Has sold millions of books worldwide, translated into 17 languages š Moved to Hierarchy to explore fresh themes and characters after completing Licanius š° Curious: juggled startup life and writing ā and says it was the best gamble he ever took š„ Funny: believes animation is the perfect medium for fantasy adaptationsāit lets worlds shine without massive budgets.