Prior to becoming a writer, Islington ran a tech startup.^[1] Though he always liked the idea of becoming an author, he only began writing seriously at the age of 30.^[2] Islington originally self-published The Shadow of What Was Lost in 2014. He signed a deal with Orbit Books less than a year later. He has published two sequel novels, entitled An Echo of Things to Come (2017) and The Light of All That Falls (2019).^[3] Islington stated that writing the second novel was much more stressful than writing his debut novel, in part because of the increased pressure that comes from being signed by a major publishing company.^[4]

The Shadow of What Was Lost received moderately positive reviews. Some critics praised the novel's complex magic, political intrigue, and large cast of characters, while others criticized the unoriginal premise while still complimenting the author's prose.^[5][6][7][8] The second book, An Echo of Things to Come, has received positive reviews which described it as a "dense, suspenseful adventure",^[9] as well as "gripping [yet] overelaborate".^[10]

The Licanius Trilogy edit

1. The Shadow of What Was Lost. (4 August 2014). Originally self-published, later Orbit Books. ISBN 9780992580209
2. An Echo of Things to Come. (22 August 2017). Orbit. ISBN 9780316274111
3. The Light of All That Falls. (10 December 2019). Orbit. ISBN 9780356507835

The Hierarchy edit

1. The Will of the Many (23 May 2023). Gallery/Saga Press. ISBN 9781982141172
2. The Strength of the Few (TBA)

Islington was born and raised in Victoria, Australia. He and his wife live on the Mornington Peninsula. They have two children.^[11]