The Will of the Many

Starred review from March 20, 2023
Maintaining suspense for almost 700 pages is a tall order, but Islington (the Licanius trilogy) makes it look easy in his staggering Hierarchy series launch, set in a world dominated by the Roman Empiresque Hierarchy. The Hierarchy maintains its power through an insidious scheme: those at the top draw energy, or Will, from those beneath them, who “voluntarily” cede some of their strength to benefit from the system. Against this backdrop, prison worker Vis, 17, must conceal that he’s really Diago, the prince of Suus, a kingdom vanquished by the Hierarchy when it executed Vis’s family. Vis gets an opportunity for revenge when he’s adopted by a powerful senator, Ulciscor Telimus, who wants him to join the Catenan Academy, where the next generation of Hierarchy leadership is trained. Ulciscor’s brother, Caeror, died there under suspicious circumstances, and Ulciscor hopes Vis can find the truth. But Vis’s options change after an encounter with violent rebels seeking to topple the Hierarchy. Islington’s worldbuilding is exceptionally detailed and thoughtful, making suspending disbelief effortless. Perfectly balancing character development and plot momentum, this will have fantasy fans clamoring for more. Agent: Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

Starred review from April 13, 2023

Ancient Roman politics, dark academia, and epic fantasy coalesce in this brilliant and gut-churning masterpiece from Islington (The Light of All That Falls). The 17-year-old orphan Vis Solum conceals his past from an Empire that is built upon the will of others. He desperately clings to his own will in a world where the weak always cede--a world of greed, backward deals, and oppressive pyramids of influence. When he unwittingly catches the eye of a Quintus with dubious motivations, he's dragged right into the thick of it, where his enemies close in on every side. Vis has to unravel a mystery that is so multilayered that it's impossible to anticipate what's coming next, and he can trust no one. Suffocating tension pervades the entirety of Vis's darkly exhilarating first-person narrative. The threat of exposure constantly hangs over his head, but he is a slippery and defiant hero who chokes on his rage and scrambles for control over his own life, which is repeatedly imperiled by the machinations of his enemies. VERDICT This is powerful storytelling at its finest, and the mind-blowing ending opens the series to so much more potential. Perfect for fans of Patrick Rothfuss and Anthony Ryan.--Andrea Dyba

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2023
In the republic, the Hierarchy rules every facet of life. Taking will from others is a kind of currency in this society; the more people one takes from, the higher the rank. Vis Telimus is not what he appears. Already an outsider because he's an orphan, he does not ever give or take will. His fate might soon be changing as he is adopted by a high-ranking man with the intention of sending him to an elite academy for his own ends. This suits Vis, as his purpose is to solve a murder and find a mythical weapon, so he goes along with it. Because of societal rules, so much is out of the control of the characters, and this is just one of many fascinating pieces of the world that Islington (The Shadow of What Was Lost, 2016) has created. It is fascinating to see Vis and the other characters navigate these rules and restrictions to accomplish their own ends. Readers that love watching a world slowly unfold with lots of political intrigue will thoroughly enjoy this book.

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Starred review from April 15, 2023
An orphaned prince on the run gets a chance at freedom if he can become one of his would-be enslavers. Three years ago, when the Hierarchy killed his family, 17-year-old Vis Solum had to hide in their Republic, bury his rage, and pretend to support the population's enslavement in order to survive. The Hierarchy is built on Will--a person's mental and physical energy--ceded by the low to those above them, and then again, all the way to the top of the three pyramids of leadership: Military, Governance, and Religion. Will powers carts and carriages, keeps vaults locked, and gives Will-users inhuman abilities while sapping ceders of their health and life span. So far, Vis has managed to refuse the ritual to cede his Will. Now, he has little more than a year before he legally has to cede or have his Will drained by Sappers. When Senator Quintus Ulciscor Telimus offers Vis the chance to escape ceding for at least another year, and perhaps never do it at all, Vis agrees. The man officially adopts him so he can attend the Catenan Academy, where all students are tested and prepared for the highest Hierarchy positions. If Vis dominates at the Academy, he can choose a position where he doesn't need to cede or receive Will at all, far away from the Hierarchy. In return, Vis must act as a spy to prove Religion is unearthing a dangerous weapon. Then, when Vis is blackmailed to act as a double agent, everything changes. In order to succeed, he must become one of those he so hates while keeping his true identity a secret. If he doesn't, he'll end up dead, or worse. This Roman-inspired fantasy starts slow but more than makes up for it soon enough. With the inevitable comparisons in mind, fans of Pierce Brown's Red Rising will enjoy this book, but it's darker, deeper, and takes unexpected paths worth traveling. Trust that the author will get you there in the end. A multilayered exploration of the complacent as complicit, all within a unique yet relatable magic system.

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