Tanitha's Cosmic Musings

I started reading the second book in the Hierarchy series, “The Strength of the Few” by James Islington, at the end of December. I finished it on the 4th of January. This is a solid read, especially for a second book in a trilogy. It picks up right after the events of the first book; if you have not read the first book, there will be limited spoilers (nothing major). We follow Vis Telimus in 3 different worlds; Res, the world where Vis comes from; Obiteum, which is where Vis is rescued by Caeror, Ulciscor’s brother; and Luceum, where Vis is rescued by a druid, and lives without knowing anything of what is happening.

The book follows closely Vis in all 3 worlds. Fortunately, each chapter has the symbol for the world on it, and we know exactly where we find Vis in each world. Res, Obiteum and Luceum are very different as worlds. In all three worlds, Vis has lost his right arm. In all three worlds, he has to use Will; but each world uses Will differently, and Res is the only world where he needs to take the Will from others and give half to his superior.

Vis is trying through the book to find out the who and why of the Cataclyms; it seems that every 300 years, there is a new cataclysm. But who is causing the Cataclysms and why? Who is Ka and what is the Concurrence? Who is the real enemy?

After the cliffhanger of “The Will of the Many”, this was one of my most anticipated reads of last year. Do I wish I had gotten to it sooner? Yes and No. Yes, because it is a very solid read. No, because the less I wait for the last book in the series, the better. Because, again, Mr Islington left us with a tidbit of information about the Concurrence and Ka, that upended everything that we learned throughout the book. And has posed more questions than it answered!

One of the things I liked in this book, is how Vis is more vulnerable, and sometimes less sure of himself. He can do a lot of things, and learn a lot of things, but, especially in Luceum, he wishes he could live a simple life. I liked that less confident, less sure side of Vis; because, in the end, he is human, and he can make mistakes. And in Obiteum, he acts and we will see the consequences of that action in the next book.

The chapters that I loved the most, are the ones set in Obiteum. I have read and seen a lot of people who disliked the Obiteum chapters. But, for me, they are more interesting because the world is so different from both Luceum and Res. I want like to know how Obiteum became such a bleak place. Where are the other cities in Obiteum, if they exist. Where are the other Qabr-like places outside the cities, like in Duat. I was fascinated with Obiteum and was really waiting for those chapters.

I am also really really really upset about the character that dies in Res, in the last few chapters. Really Mr Islington? I am not going to say any more about that though. And, no, not going to spoil it for the people who want to read it. But really? That character? Damn.

All in all, this was a solid follow-up to the first book. I loved this, and the moment I finished it, I looked to check when the last book will be out. So, James Islington has a title for the third and final book: “The Justice of One”. I think this will be another door-stopper, and cannot wait for it!