Likely Stories - The Will of the Many by James Islington

Think The Hunger Games meets Gladiator with a dash of dark academia, a bit of magical realism, and top-notch world building and language mixed in. If you have read other fantasies like Name of the Wind or Red Rising, this will feel nicely familiar while still standing on its own merit.

The newly-formed Roman-esque Republic of Caten is built on the Hierarchy system, where citizens are divided into castes (Octavii, Septimii, and on up) who cede their Will for the betterment of the groups above them. The prestigious Academy is a training ground for the best and brightest young people to work their way up the class system and participate in a year-end trial to determine their placement in the Senate, the Military, or within the Religion sector, even though political and religious tensions often abound between the factions. Enter Vis Telimus, a talented young man with a secret past, who is tapped to join the Academy because of his inability or refusal to give up his Will for others above him.

Powerful people need Vis to infiltrate the Academy to discreetly search for 'something' that is hidden there, 'something' which could change everything. He must acclimate quickly, ascend the ranks, avoid enemies (of which there are many), and adapt to his changing surroundings. Danger and risk of failure is at every turn, and with Vis chasing a target that's constantly moving, he has to determine if his will is stronger than theirs.

This book is so complex and layered, and with a massive list of supporting characters, everyone feels interesting and rich. Almost everyone has ulterior motives for their actions, and teasing them out keeps things moving at a fairly brisk pace (though you will need to commit to making it through the world-building in the first 25%). A working knowledge of Latin helps with the pronunciation and understanding of the universe (shout-out to my 7th grade Latin teacher for things I still remember!), but you can always flip to the glossary and guide at the end.

There's a sequel coming in May, so now is a perfect time to be one of the few to jump into this fascinating story.

RECENT EPISODES OF LIKELY STORIES

Likely Stories - The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand

Hi, and welcome back to another edition of Likely Stories. I’m Paige Connell, and I teach English at Midway High School. Growing up, I went to a private school for many years, though it wasn’t a boarding school, and whether it’s in real life or in pop culture, I think there’s just something about the prestige and allure of a private academy that makes people want to know all the potentially lurid details of life behind the curtain.

Likely Stories - Why I Love Horror by Becky Siegel Spatford

I have a confession to make. I hate jump-scare horror movies. I always have. I don’t enjoy being startled. It took me until adulthood before I could even watch fireworks without bracing myself for the next explosion. (Truth be told, I still kind of do). I’m not a huge fan of gory horror movies either. And yet, I absolutely love horror novels.

Likely Stories - Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word and Me by Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor

I’m Kevin Tankersley, and this is Likely Stories.

Likely Stories - The Land and Its People by David Sedaris

My name is Maggie McCarthy and today I will be reviewing The Land and Its People by David Sedaris.

Likely Stories - Two Old Women by Velma Wallis

I'm not a huge fan of hot weather. My summer reads tend to be set in cold climates, in wintertime- books that take me away from the heart of Texas. Two Old Women by Velma Wallis is a perfect diversion.

Likely Stories - A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L Peck

Imagine if one day you suddenly discovered that the tenets that have governed your life, through no choice of your own, have been undeniably broken. This is exactly where protagonist Soren Johanssen finds himself at the start of Steven L Peck’s novella, ‘A Short Stay in Hell.’

Likely Stories - Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Haven’t we all thought at one point how nice it would be to get away from the hustle and bustle of workaday life and return to living in simpler times? To disconnect, to live off the land, to embrace true family values? It sounds so refreshing in theory, but I’m not sure I could hack it in reality.

Likely Stories - Bone Valley by Gilbert King

Sometimes the most meaningful gifts come with a story inside them. Bone Valley tells the haunting case of a young man convicted of murder—and the decades-long search for the truth that followed. It’s a gripping look at justice gone wrong, and what it takes to make it right. Trust me—you won’t see the final turn coming.

Likely Stories - The 10 by E. A. Hanks

Gia Chevis reviews The 10 by E.A. Hanks—a reflective road trip memoir about memory, identity, and finding meaning in small moments along the way.

Likely Stories - Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

A charming but mysterious stranger arrives in a college town. He skirts questions about himself and his past, but soon becomes a vital part of the community through his kindness, his generosity, and his willingness to be friends with anyone.Welcome to “Likely Stories.”I’m Diane Kemper.