The Will of the Many by James Islington – Review

Published: May 23, 2023

Publisher: Saga Press

Series: Hierarchy #1

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 688 (Kindle)

My Rating: 5 Stars

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:

AUDI. VIDE. TACE.

The Catenan Republic – the Hierarchy – may rule the world now, but they do not know everything.

I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilised society in allowing my strength, my drive and my focus – what they call Will – to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.

I tell them that I belong, and they believe me.

But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart.

And that I will never, ever cede my Will to the empire that executed my family.

To survive, though, I will still have to rise through the Academy’s ranks. I will have to smile, and make friends, and pretend to be one of them and win. Because if I cannot, then those who want to control me, who know my real name, will no longer have any use for me.

And if the Hierarchy finds out who I truly am, they will kill me.

I can absolutely see why this is being compared to Red Rising. It is so similar in so many ways, yet different enough to hook me and not make me feel as if I’m being fed derivative work. It is an utterly addictive tale of a young man driven to succeed in the halls of the enemy, but it is also one of discovery, friendship, and sheer will power (hah).

Vis Telimus, or Vis Solum as we are first introduced to him, is an orphan who came from the royal lineage of Suus, an island nation conquered by the Hierarchy. He’s been toiling away in a minor city at the edges of the empire, but is brought to the attention of one Magnus Quintus Telimus when Vis recognizes an obscure language. Telimus adopts him, and puts him forth as a student at a prestigious academy where the sons and daughters of the Hierarchy’s most powerful players go to learn to wield Will. Of course the motive behind this is that Telimus needs a spy for the Military inside an institution run by Religion, so Vis certainly has his work cut out for him. Especially since a rebel group called the Aquiris have a plan for him as well, though he’s less keen on helping a group responsible for killing the people he perceives as innocent.

Vis is instantly likable, showing an intense intelligence and a sense of “right”. You could easily call him a Mary Sue type character, but I personally find it enjoyable when the character rises to the top with sheer brilliance and a certain degree of shenanigans.

One of the best parts of this story is Vis’s friendships developing over the course of the story. Callidus and Eidhen end up becoming two of his closest companions and Vis becomes close with a few other students as well. Of course, on the flip side he makes quite a few enemies while he’s at it. James Islington did a brilliant job of balancing plot development (the shenanigans and infiltration) alongside the human, emotional portions and this deftly executed balance is what made me love this story to such an intense degree. That and the ending that made me go “what the actual duck!”. If you know, you know. And you’re probably looking up any scrap of info available about the sequel too.

This was an easy 5 stars and will, with certainty, be going on my list of best books of the year. Now excuse me, I must go shout about this from the rooftops… I’ve already recommended it to a friend who I just got hooked on Red Rising.