The Strength of the Few

James Islington’s Hierarchy series is part a long tradition of epic fantasy series that includes his previous series, the Licanius Trilogy, as well as popular titles such as The Song of Ice and Fire series, by George R.R. Martin, and the Stormlight Archive series by Brandon Sanderson. The second novel of the Hierarchy series, The Strength of the Few opens moments after the conclusion of the first novel. Many significant characters from the first novel remain important in the second, along with several new characters.

In the first Hierarchy novel, The Will of the Many, Vis is adopted by the Catenan Republic senator Ulciscor Telimus. Ulciscor does not know that this is due to Vis’s real identity as Diago, the last surviving prince of Suus, a kingdom conquered by the Republic. Vis attends a gladiatorial event in the capital city. During the event, Estevan, the leader of a resistance group called the Anguis, uses a mysterious weapon to kill thousands in the arena. Vis kills him to stop the carnage. He is hailed as a hero and given the title Catenicus.

After completing training with Ulciscor’s second-in-command, Lanistia, Vis attends the Academy on the island of Solivagus, sent to uncover the truth of Ulciscor’s brother Caeror’s death. Ulciscor believes Veridius, the Principalis of the school, is responsible. Vis befriends classmates Callidus, Eidhin, Aequa, and Emissa, with whom he falls in love. He also uncovers ancient ruins and a deadly Labyrinth hidden in the mountains.

During this time, Vis has been recruited by the Anguis. Ulciscor’s wife Relucia is a member, and she blackmails Vis into compliance. The Anguis order Vis to win the Iudicium, the school’s year-end competition, so he can claim a high rank in the government upon graduation. Ulciscor wants Vis to run the Labyrinth during the Iudicium, believing it will reveal the truth of Caeror’s death.

The Anguis attack during the Iudicium, leading to Callidus’s death. Vis survives the Labyrinth but is bitten on the arm by a mysterious figure. When he returns to his teammates, Emissa sees his bite mark and stabs him. Veridius tries to explain that Emissa stabbed him because she believed he was tainted by the bite and could not be saved, but Vis refuses to listen. He also rejects the high-ranking Military placement he has earned in favor of joining the Governance faction so that he can work with Callidus’s father. Unknown to all, Vis’s two copies awaken in parallel worlds, Obiteum and Luceum.

Throughout the first novel, Vis refuses to join the Republic system of ceding his Will, through which lower-ranked citizens share parts of their physical and mental strength with their superiors. He finds the practice disgusting and fears that accepting it will mean losing his identity. He also struggles with the tension of resisting a corrupt government through violence or remaining complicit in the system.