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.
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.
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Find The Will of the Many James Islington in PDF, EPUB, ebook, audiobook, print, or library editions.
Find The Will of the Many James Islington in PDF, EPUB, ebook, audiobook, print, or library editions.
2 books in catalog
Intricately plotted epic fantasy and detailed magic systems form the foundation of modern speculative fiction, as demonstrated in The Licanius Trilogy. Australian author James Islington established his career in high fantasy through this trilogy before introducing the Hierarchy series with the 2023 novel The Will of the Many.
Islington's work has reached an international audience, selling over two million copies and being translated into twenty-two languages. His narratives frequently combine structured, rule-based magic with suspenseful political intrigue and complex temporal mechanics.
Born around 1981 and raised in southern Victoria, Australia, Islington initially worked outside the publishing industry, running a technology startup before committing to writing full-time. An avid reader of speculative fiction who grew up following The Wheel of Time, he was directly inspired to write his own fiction after reading Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. He began working on his debut novel, The Shadow of What Was Lost, on a part-time basis in 2011.
Islington self-published The Shadow of What Was Lost in 2014. Following its successful initial reception, the book was acquired by Orbit, launching The Licanius Trilogy, which was completed with An Echo of Things to Come and The Light of All That Falls. Following the completion of his debut series, Islington expanded his output with the Hierarchy series, beginning with The Will of the Many in 2023 and continuing with The Strength of the Few. He resides on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria with his wife and two children.
Islington's writing style is characterized by meticulous plotting, fast pacing, and structured magic systems that dictate clear consequences for characters. Drawing influence from epic fantasy classics, his books frequently feature overarching themes of fate, free will, morality, and systemic political power. His narratives often employ multiple perspectives and complex timelines that culminate in carefully planned plot revelations.
2 books in catalog
Intricately plotted epic fantasy and detailed magic systems form the foundation of modern speculative fiction, as demonstrated in The Licanius Trilogy. Australian author James Islington established his career in high fantasy through this trilogy before introducing the Hierarchy series with the 2023 novel The Will of the Many.
Islington's work has reached an international audience, selling over two million copies and being translated into twenty-two languages. His narratives frequently combine structured, rule-based magic with suspenseful political intrigue and complex temporal mechanics.
Born around 1981 and raised in southern Victoria, Australia, Islington initially worked outside the publishing industry, running a technology startup before committing to writing full-time. An avid reader of speculative fiction who grew up following The Wheel of Time, he was directly inspired to write his own fiction after reading Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. He began working on his debut novel, The Shadow of What Was Lost, on a part-time basis in 2011.
Islington self-published The Shadow of What Was Lost in 2014. Following its successful initial reception, the book was acquired by Orbit, launching The Licanius Trilogy, which was completed with An Echo of Things to Come and The Light of All That Falls. Following the completion of his debut series, Islington expanded his output with the Hierarchy series, beginning with The Will of the Many in 2023 and continuing with The Strength of the Few. He resides on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria with his wife and two children.
Islington's writing style is characterized by meticulous plotting, fast pacing, and structured magic systems that dictate clear consequences for characters. Drawing influence from epic fantasy classics, his books frequently feature overarching themes of fate, free will, morality, and systemic political power. His narratives often employ multiple perspectives and complex timelines that culminate in carefully planned plot revelations.
Hierarchy
Hierarchy
