Published: May 2023
Pages: 639
Series: Hierarchy #1
Summary
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.
My thoughts
Oh dear, I fear I now have a new obsession. I. loved. this. book.
This book is exactly what I needed. It has the perfect blend of worldbuilding, character development, dialogue, intrigue.. I ended this book with so many feelings I went straight to my phone to message my friend all my theories. I can’t wait for book two later this year, I think this series will be my new personality.
“Nervousness means there’s a fear to be faced ahead, Diago. The man who is never nervous, never does anything hard. The man who is never nervous, never grows.”
The politics of this book are complex webs. The Hierarchy is pretty much a pyramid scheme with those on the bottom of the pyramid the worst of it. It’s on their backs that society thrives the way it does – and I use the word “thrive” loosely here. It always amazes me the arrogance or ignorance of those at the top, do they realise they are nothing without those at the bottom or do they simply not care? I am so partial to an underdog, it is one of my favourite things in a book, I’ve no idea why but I eat it up every time.
This is that book. Vis is a fantastic main character. He is smart, quick thinking, filled with wit and he applies himself 1000%. He is stuck between a rock and a hard place but he is utilising this to the best of his ability. He’s not some super man that is moving through life effortlessly. No, he is having to fight tooth and nail for it all and he does not let up. His determination is admirable and the way he stays true to himself is complete dedication. He may have to change to play a part but he is still true to himself on the inside. He will not forget.
“Silence is a statement. Inaction picks a side. And when those lead to personal benefit, they are complicit.”
The characters are brilliant and I can tell that even in this mammoth of a book there is still so much to come with this cast. We haven’t even scratched the surface.
A huge part of this book is about oppression and rebellion. We see this if you’ve read Red Rising, where those at the bottom they don’t see how they’re enslaved. They receive any offering from those above as ‘gifts’ and stop questioning. Stop seeing how bad things have gotten because it could be worse or they’ve forgotten what before was like. I liked Red Rising but I think this book does it better. It takes it further and positions it in a way where even today I could really relate, feel, empathise. It felt very real.
“They know the system is wrong, but they choose not to think or speak up or act because they ultimately hope that in their silence, they will gain. Or at the very least not have to give more than they have already given.”
This book gave me such heartache. My heart was in my mouth by the end and I was not okay.
The other piece of this is the magic. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this type of magic before in a fantasy book I’ve read. The Will within a person that can be extracted via stones and used by others. The way the pieces of the story came together it was just really, really fantastic. I couldn’t quite pin how things were going to turn out and there were definitely some surprises.
The stakes are so incredibly high in this book. The writing is brilliant. I felt it all. This whole story I was right there in the corner of the room watching and listening. I felt the impact, the indecision, the conflict. Vis’ inner struggles tearing himself between who he was and what he’s had to become. The weight of his families legacy and the people that still hold out hope. The people that risk and try. The benefits of a longer story if done well is that we really see the growth and development. There is still so much to come in this huge world and I need more.
“That’s the problem with people, though, isn’t it? They always think that other people are the problem… If all you’re trying to do is change who’s in control, they you don’t really want to change anything.”
Would I recommend?
Yes, yes, yes. I cannot fault this story, even in the longer sections the characters and story kept my invested. The writing kept me hooked. I could not put this book down.