** Fantasy Soup **
When it comes to fantasy, the author can chose different gini coefficients for magic-power distribution. Egalitarian powers aren’t fun, so few write such stories. It class based magic systems, an entire section of the population has magic powers, like the jedi of Star Wars or the wizards of Harry Potter. Islington chooses the most unequal distribution of all: a magic oligopoly, where a few named characters each have special powers in a nearly explicit hierarchy. Similar to wuxia novels, only a few of the characters are introduced in the first book to save the reader headache, and a self contained plot begs for sequels.
The plot is a well executed riff of tropes around time travel, free will, conflicting belief systems, and the responsibilities of power. Influences from Sanderson and Rothfuss are clear but not unwelcome. The chapters spin by and this served as an acceptable distraction and enough to keep going with the series.