Book Review: The Strength Of The Few by James Islington
This book came out last November, I reread it for book club in January, and it has taken me this long to write and publish my review! Part of it was the craziness of the holiday season and the start of the year but I also really had to sit with this book and think about it.
In a surprising move for me, I did not start the book the day it came out. I didn’t need any more anticipation, that’s for sure. I just didn’t want to start it because then it would also be over. My brother read it ahead of me and it was fun to hear just the overview of how he was feeling. It also made me laugh because I am usually the one asking the questions: Have you started it? Where are you? Have you gotten to this part yet? Can I tell you a random mild spoiler? I have rarely had the tables turned on me like that! I actually enjoyed it more than I thought it would. My brother is very discerning and reads in a more analytic way than I do so I really value his opinion.
I’m excited to share my review of The Strength Of The Few with you and I hope it encourages you to read it! Fair warning that the series isn’t complete yet.
So, here’s the deal. This first section is a spoiler-free review (although there are The Will Of The Many spoilers) and then you can stop scrolling if you want when I get even more passionate about it and have to include spoilers.
Spoiler Free Review:
I stand by my statement that the first book in this series, The Will Of The Many, is one of the best books I have ever read. Because of this, I had big expectations about this book but was also nervous about it. The end of The Will Of The Many changes the dynamic a lot with the introduction of three different worlds. I was apprehensive about how Islington could pull this off.
I do think Islington pulled it off but there were definitely some rough parts. Obiteum, Luceum, and Res, are all distinct and so there was no doubt that they were different worlds. Much like The Will Of The Many though, you are thrown right into it from the very beginning. The only indication that the chapter takes place in one of the worlds is a symbol at the beginning of the chapter. My sister-in-law listened to it and she said it was hard to grasp at first.
As I said, the worlds are certainly different and I really enjoyed seeing how Vis finds a version of himself in each of them. Due to his becoming synchronous, the beginning of all three worlds are abrupt and dramatic. There is quite a bit of exposition in Obiteum and almost none in Luceum. Since we spent all of the first book in Res, as readers we understand it better but so much has changed.
Part 1 is made up of exposition, complete confusion, and the discovery of what all these worlds mean. I felt like the main purpose was really to have readers understand the dynamic of the three worlds and introduce new characters. I will say that all the new characters were pretty overwhelming. As the book continued, none of the characters were so tangential or lacked value that they could obviously be left out, but it still presented a big challenge.
Part 2 is a lot of set up for Part 3 and so there were some parts that I thought were too drawn out. I did really enjoy this section though because we did learn more about how Will functions in each world and how that will change Vis’ actions going forward. We also got quite a few answers about Res and why a lot of these things are happening.
Much like The Will Of The Many, Part 3 is an explosion of action, information, angst, and set up for the next book. For the most part, I think it moved the stories forward in all three worlds well and it did more than just set a base for the next book. Still, there were things I don’t think were necessary and some happened so fast that it felt contrite. It was also so overwhelming that I didn’t process or understand a lot of things until I reread it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There are some things that I think were over the top, some actions and deaths that felt unnecessary. I’m most frustrated that the end was so eventful and therefore rather confusing. The only other structural thing that bothers me is that the time we spend in each world is rather brief before we move on to the next one. I think I would like it better if we spent more time in each world at the same time. I saw someone online recently that said they were going to reread it and organize it so they read the whole story of each world at one time. So that might be next on my list!
STOP HERE - If you don’t want spoilers, don’t keep reading!
You’ve been warned.
I don’t even know where to begin. I have so many mixed feelings about this book. It was overall a good book and I’m still very impressed with Islington’s writing. But this book felt like a frickin’ rollercoaster. Right away I can think of things that I loved: seeing Luceum’s Vis (aka Deaglan or Leafhear) and how he finds some peace with Grainne and her family, meeting Caeror, Vis telling Edihin who he really is, how Diago the alupi is so loyal to Vis. There were also things that blew be away, some good and some bad: Vis’ ingenuity in creating the imbued blacks stones that he can manipulate into almost anything, Vis leaving Relucia in a sapper, the revelation that during the Iudicium, Calidus told the Anguis that he was Vis in order to protect his friend. This last one was gut wrenching!
So, here’s what I liked:
Meeting Caeror. I loved how he apologizes to Vis on behalf of Ulciscor threatening Vis with a sapper. His joy when he finds Vis is so emotional as a reader because we’re in such shock but Caeror is also so happy. Although he serves a big expositional function, Caeror also challenges Vis as a person and character. He encourages him to learn what he needs to know but also makes him see that it might not be easy, comfortable, and even sometimes humane. I was also impressed by his self awareness and self preservation that he did not want to hear everything about Res.
Vis, as Deaglan, finding some peace in Luceum. It didn't last long but I liked getting a glimpse of Vis at peace, finding purpose in good honest work, and feeling as though he did not have to hide who he was. He hasn’t been able to let his guard down or be himself since he escaped Suus and so we got to see a different side of him.
The character of Callidus’ father, Magnus Tertius Ericius. He is rightfully suspicious that Vis chooses to work with him but he is also very receptive and easily comes to understand what Vis’ goals are. He also pushes Vis to be more practical about the challenges he will face and forces him to see some hard truths. Ericius also clearly really loves his son and has great respect for him. He is able to admit his regret over choices that he made that alienated his son.
Learning more about Will. We learn a lot more about how Will works, especially in the world of Res. I found the placement tests determining people’s use and control over Will fascinating and also I agree with Vis when he says that running the Labyrinth really prepared him for this. In Luceum, we still have almost no idea about how Will works except that it seems to only be for a select few. In Obiteum we learn some of the harsh ways to use Will but they do serve a purpose.
The connection that the academy’s graduates make. While Iro remains harsh and separates himself. (Also, his death. What the heck?!) Even Indol seeks community with the other graduates and I enjoyed how Vis, Emissa, Aequa, Eidhin and a few others realize that they are Stronger Together (sorry, I had to) and seek to collaborate in order to solve problems and with the goal of making things better.
Eidhin is so true to himself and is often the one who offers the best wisdom. He keeps Vis honest, even when it means saying something Vis might not agree with or want to hear. I love him as a character.
Here’s what I didn’t like:
Aequa’s death. What the heck was that?! It was very unexpected, horrendously violent, and seemed unnecessary. Also it happens in the span of two pages, in the middle of a series of other huge events, and so I could barely process it. I had to go back and read it again because I almost didn’t understand/realize what was happening. I really don’t feel like this death has a purpose. Vis is already well aware of how alone he can be in the world and there’s no doubt that he knows he cannot always protect the people he cares about. I was also really bummed because it’s one of the relationships that Vis really maintains from The Will Of The Many and Vis is already so alone. He and Aequa went through so much trauma together at the Naumachia and then also at The Academy. I don’t understand or like this death at all.
I said earlier that many of them complemented the story but there were so many new characters. I couldn’t always keep track and I didn’t always understand who they were and why they were important. This was mostly true in Luceum where Vis goes through a rollercoaster of events, emotions, and situations. Ruarc, Cian, King Ronan, Gallchobhar, Lir. Some of them go by multiple names so that certainly didn’t help.
Vis’ father dies again!! I was blown away when we met Vis’ dad because it was really beautiful but also kind of random. I think it gives Vis good closure and a renewed sense of self and confidence. And yet, I’m confused about why it was necessary. It gives the reader important information about the connection between the worlds but it also brings up a ton of questions. Why would the Hierarchy keep him alive? And how does it work really? And what purpose does it serve? I have tons of questions about him coming back and how he functions but mostly what I didn’t like is that Vis loses his father again! Vis needs to move on from his grief but we also didn’t need another gutwrenching death/goodbye! Also - a total jerk move to give Vis his father back and then take him away again. “Jerk” is the nicest word I could think of for this!
How easy it is for Obiteum Vis (aka Siamun) to kill Ka. I really think it couldn’t be that easy but we have no inkling at all about that. And it just seems way too tidy, especially after all the other crap that has gone down in Obiteum. I assume that’s not really the case but it felt pretty anticlimactic.
Things I have questions about (besides just everything):
How the heck is Ruarc (from Luceum) also Caeror? Yet another thing that happens so abruptly that I almost didn't notice. For almost the whole book it appears that Ruarc has it out for Vis and now he wants to give Vis all this information and tell him that his counterpart in a different world made a mistake. Up until this point it’s very unclear how the worlds interact and how that works. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. It was made clear that Caeror is no longer synchronous so I don’t understand how he is also in the world of Luceum.
The whole power structure system in Obiteum and how the children as creepy water filters fit into it all. That was just horrific and while Netiqret sort of explains that it is because children are more powerful and malleable, it’s still confusing.
What are the interactions between the worlds and how does that work? We see Vis and Ostius move from Res to Luceum and back but it’s not clear how one affects the other except that the geographic layout is the same. We had a lengthy discussion at book club about whether or not we thought all three worlds were functioning at the same time. My brother said that maybe Luceum is the old world, Res is the current world, and Obiteum is the future world. It gives the statement "Obiteum is lost” some interesting implications! We decided it could really go either way but for sure something to ruminate on.
The whole raising of the dead situation in Res at the end. It sounds like either Religion or Military has just been collecting all these bodies to experiment on in case they figured out this pre-cataclysm power. So creepy. And also just weird. It was pretty obvious to me, and the rest of book club, who the character is who speaks the last line of the book is. Which is kind of cool but also after the dad - I don’t need or want another terrible goodbye. Because it’s not like this person can truly come back to life. So I’m curious but also apprehensive. Is Res Vis going to end up being the bad guy?
I didn’t catch this until the second time I read it, but when Vis encounters the man who he has been hiding from who is trying to find and kill Vis (we never get his name), the man reveals that Vis is now the only one who can do anything about the three worlds. He tells Vis that as of a few hours ago, Vis is the only man alive who can serve the purpose he needs to. That means there was someone else who could have! So someone else was synchronous and was able to hide it but maybe also unable to do what was needed. I need to know who it was and how this is possible.
And who the heck is this dude?. He is very powerful and dangerous but what role does he play? We discussed in book club whether or not this was the Res version of Ka but that seems a little too simple.
I like this book, I’m frustrated with this book, I have a million questions, and I’m desperate for the next one. Much like the end of WotM, I’m nervous about how Islington can bring this together going forward and if he can pull it off. Only time, and The Justice Of One (book 3, expected late 2027), will tell!
One more thing - I always thought this was going to be a trilogy and then James announced it would be a quartet. And the nerd and type-A person in me is very upset about it! The theme of 3 in these books is absolutely insane. And 3 books would be the icing on the cake! And make sense in my opinion. I’m also very curious since the book titles seem to really set up for 3 books - The Will Of The Many, The Strength Of The Few, The Justice Of One. What is book four going to be called?!? The Existence Of No One?
Last thing - rude of the publisher to redesign the cover so it didn’t match the first! They did correct it with a reversible dust jacket but I didn’t think the quality was great. And some of them said “heirarchy” instead of “hierarchy!” Honestly, that just made me laugh. Think about how many people looked at it before it got finalized!
