Join a book club that is reading The Will of the Many (1) (Hierarchy)!

Let's Read Something Awesome

Virtual book club that focuses on reading high quality (award winning, highly rated or otherwise meritorious) fantasy and science fiction novels. If that sounds good to you, please join us!

Boston Fantasy Book Circle

A new book club in the Boston-Cambridge-Somerville area, focused on fantasy books and series of all kinds.

The Book Nook

A cozy monthly book club for readers of fantasy and mystery in the NYC area!

The Will of the Many (1) (Hierarchy)

At the elite Catenan Academy, a young fugitive uncovers layered mysteries and world-changing secrets in this new fantasy series by internationally bestselling 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 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.

BUY THE BOOK

640 pages

Average rating: 8.44

88 RATINGS

|

6 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Ali Nurmikko
Aug 02, 2024
9/10 stars
Whewwwww You know that meme of the little kid “did you ever have a dream, where you, and, and you-“ that’s how I felt in the early stages 😂 maybe I’m just dumb, but the world building, the scenery, the names of characters, the cities, the Hierarchy, sappers, will…. My brain was not computing 😅 BUT WOW. This was a great fantasy read; so different from many I’ve read. I love a competitive academy premise and this was perfection. The characters were all so strong and had so much personality-even the ones you hated, you loved. It felt eerie the whole time, trying to figure out what was going on. And the magic in this novel was unlike any that I’ve read l- using will of others for power. In terms of the end…what did I just read? Questioning everything.
alyssalou
Jul 17, 2024
10/10 stars
10000/10. This plot was seriously one gut-punch after another…what a ride! Will of the Many has earned itself a spot at the top of my favorites list next to Name of the Wind! WOTM has many similar components from NOTW I enjoyed most - political intrigue, compelling, intelligent characters, a unique magic system, and overall is a beautiful and twisty epic not easily forgotten
BookishMish
May 30, 2024
10/10 stars
Wow, all right. This world enraptured me. Not always easy to imagine exactly what was happening, but I just went with it lol. I need a movie or TV series so I can visualize the Labyrinth, the Transvects, etc.

Can’t wait for the rest of the series, however far away that may be.
HarboredInPages
May 28, 2024
9/10 stars
Wow! That was a lot. A young man put in a position to take down a corrupt hierarchical society... and it's so much more than that. Great characters, and I am still not sure who Vis can trust. I will be reading book 2 because that ending can only mean one thing. The ride isn't over!
emily_roamswild
Dec 24, 2023
10/10 stars
Might be the best of 2023. It moves very fast, while still steeped in mystery—but not confusion. This gives BIG FANTASY ENERGY but you aren’t lost for 100 pages. There is tons of politics in this book and a very weird magic system but HOT DAMN—it’s so good. The author manages to do political intrigue and mistrust without making you hate all characters. It’s subtle, you don’t feel forced into feeling for these characters or not feeling. The world is simple but there’s a lot going on and my ONLY complaint is the death of one character, that I will simply never forgive the author. That’s it. He killed my favorite character but I’m not sure it will be everyone’s favorite—because his writing is clever enough to make me feel like I’m choosing my characters, which is super SUPER clever if you understand the mechanics of WILL and just. AH. SO GOOD. Immediately stop what you’re doing and read this book if you enjoy politics, dark academia and smart writing.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.