The Will of the Many: Hierarchy, Book 1 (Unabridged)
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4.7 • 119 Ratings
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- $42.99
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- $42.99
Publisher Description
At the elite Catenan Academy, a young fugitive uncovers layered mysteries and world-changing secrets in this new fantasy series by internationally best-selling author of the Licanius Trilogy James Islington.
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 civilized 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.
Customer Reviews
Amazing
Incredible, can’t wait for book 2!!
Worth every second.
I’ve heard a bit about this book before giving it a shot, but not nearly enough. This is sure to be a phenomenal series. Plenty of mystery, sci-fi and character/world building to leave us happy. Can’t wait for book two!
Almost perfect
I absolutely enjoyed this book. Wonderful audio narration too. It was reminiscent of school based fantasy books like Hogwarts and Patrick Rothfuss’ school of magic in the Kingkiller series. In some ways the magic “Will” system is less technically fleshed out here- not a bad move. You don’t bog down in explanations of how stuff works.
The protagonist is also similar; he’s a protege type, and he’s the same smart, capable protagonist who goes from rags-to-riches as in other noted fantasy stories of this type.
Some passages between major plot points lost my attention, and I felt that you should have dragged out the rise between levels at school. Maybe making each a book even. It felt rushed.
I was confused by the events in the chapters in the red-glass dome. After the maze I was super confused.
Characters were well presented with vivid personalities. The friend trio almost mirrors Kvothe’s dynamic trio in the Kingkiller series.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to get scared, but when they find the mass grave and realize they’re being hunted I feaked-out. I wasn’t expecting it and you completely surprised me with it and multiple other plot points too! Nothing keeps a story more interesting than surprises and mystery! Keep it up!
Also, I felt like the whole book could be used for a conversation about corporate responsibility, capitalism, and monarchies. At the end of the book I don’t know who can be trusted at all; government, religion, and military are all suspicious, and the main character is a ping-pong-ball they keep slapping into their opponents field. One second he’s spying FOR military, the next he’s spying ON military. And constantly characters are betraying each other. Well done if you ask me.
The pyramid scheme is intriguing; I wish you had emphasized the gaps between the levels of power. After eights and sevens you barely mention how much stronger each level is. Maybe this is explained better in your other works (which I haven’t read yet).