Library Journal
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This eagerly awaited sequel picks up where The Will of the Many left off, following Vis Telimus and the copied versions of himself across three worlds. In Obiteum, he struggles to survive in a desert world of ruin. In Luceum, he is being ruthlessly hunted. In Res, his original self navigates the treacherous politics of the Hierarchy. Across these fractured realities, all three versions of Vis are drawn into the same ancient war to prevent another Cataclysm. As one who survived the Synchronism, Vis may be the only hope of saving all worlds from destruction. As in the first book, there is never a dull moment in this sweeping epic. While the first installment was influenced by ancient Rome, the narrative now expands into realms inspired by Egyptian and Celtic mythology, each rendered in immersive detail with intricate systems of power and rebellion. What sets this novel apart is that, even though it follows three versions of the same character, they are so distinct and emotionally resonant that each arc demands deep investment. Their separate journeys heighten the stakes with every page. VERDICT This sequel is another striking achievement that cements Islington as one of the genre's most compelling voices.—Andrea Dyba

Publishers Weekly
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Returning to a richly drawn fantasy world in which the elite wield a magical force called Will tithed from people in lower castes, bestseller Islington’s brilliant middle volume of his Hierarchy trilogy clears the high bar set by the first installment. Following the events of The Will of the Many, Vis, a student at the academy designed to develop the Hierarchy’s next leaders, has been replicated twice. Now versions of him exist in three separate worlds—Obiteum, Luceum, and his home world, Res—all of which face the impending threat of the Cataclysm, an extinction-level event. Due to this three-way split, Vis may be the only person able to avert the devastation, as prophesied in an ancient text, though he has doubts that he has been told the whole historical truth. Evocative prose and nuanced ruminations on the nature of power and sacrifice enhance Islington’s complex multiverse worldbuilding. Readers will be on the edge of their seats—and impatient to learn how Islington pulls off the saga’s conclusion. Agent: Paul Lucas, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Nov.)

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

When Vis is copied into two other realities, he must stop a god from repeatedly culling almost everyone back home. Thousands of years ago, to prevent the Concurrence from enslaving everyone, the world was split into three near-identical copies: Res, Obiteum, and Luceum. To exist in all three worlds, to wield Will there, is to achieve synchronism. After the events inThe Will of the Many (2023), which cost Vis his arm and the life of his friend, Vis achieves Synchronism. While Res-Vis must continue to play Hierarchy politics to find his friend’s killer, Obiteum-Vis finds a ruined world, where the dead are reanimated and used by Ka, the Concurrence, and the only other person to exist in synchronism. Meanwhile, Luceum-Vis is forced into a dispute between druids, their High Council, and their kings—with one king intent on killing him—and Vis has no idea why. On all worlds, Vis is as shrewd as ever, weighing his options, planning ahead, and doing what he must to survive. However, he, too, slowly diverges, doing things he swore he never would: cede his Will, use Will to control someone else, and reveal his true name. If at least one Vis cannot use his synchronism and power of Will to kill the Concurrence, no Vis will be safe, and another Cataclysm will cull those he loves on Res. Book Two of the Hierarchy series is a speculative fantasy that is at once Egyptian post-apocalyptic, Celtic medieval, and Roman dystopian, thanks to the multidimensional setting. Although the sprawling narrative at times overextends itself, Islington rewards patient readers with a compelling story, a cast of complex and diverse characters, and a glimpse into how far a good man can go before he’s lost. A symbol at the start of each chapter delineates which world and Vis it’s about. Readers should readThe Will of the Many before attempting this volume, or they may be confused for the first several chapters and beyond. A unique concept that promises readers will find at least one, if not three, entwined but different narratives to enjoy. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.