The Will of the Many
May 2023 · Hierarchy Book 1 · Simon and Schuster
4.8star
147 reviewsreport
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640
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About this ebook
At the elite Catenan Academy, a young fugitive uncovers layered mysteries and world-changing secrets in this “brilliant and gut-churning masterpiece” (Library Journal, starred review) by the internationally bestselling author of The Licanius Trilogy, James Islington.
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.
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.
Ratings and reviews
4.8
147 reviews
Rizwan Lokhandwala
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May 28, 2025
Plot: 8/10 Interesting story with nice twists and desire to keep reading. Only problem is there being a couple of plot holes and a lot of rather confusing moments. I assume most of this will be resolved in future books, but a few small discrepancies seem like oversights. for example: SPOILER Belli is a daughter in military, yet she accepts the foundation match to have Vis join government, weakening military? There are a couple other oversights like characters doing things that seem completely opposite of what they would actually do. Eidhen comes to mind. Characters: 6/10 Many of the characters feel flat. there isn't much character development. it's mostly just Vis being unstoppable and better than everyone else, Emissa being the perfect girl, etc. World Building: 8/10 I enjoyed the world the author created. I am also excited for some more political depth in the next book. Main concern is how a lot of the magic 'explanations' are just info dumps without any actual information.
Zita Okeke
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December 8, 2024
I think this is a good book. Its not predictable. I really liked the main character. It had a unique spin with it's undercurrents of politics.i found the explanations behind every decision vis made a little bit repetitive and clunky. I only occasionally found the pace a bit slow.
Manny Smalls
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June 3, 2025
This book is action-packed, while also being thought-provoking. I LOVED it, and can't wait for the next installments! Great job Mr. Islington!
About the author
James Islington is the bestselling author of The Will of the Many (the first novel in the Hierarchy series), as well as the Licanius Trilogy (beginning with The Shadow of What Was Lost). He has sold more than two million books, and his work has been translated into seventeen different languages. He lives on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia, with his wife and two children.
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