Book Review: The Strength of the Few

Brief Synopsis:

After the Iudicium, Vis Telimus finds himself split three ways. Quite Literally. Vis discovers that his world is much bigger than he thought, or rather, there’s actually three versions of it.

Vis learns that everything he was taught could not prepare him for the reality that he now faces. He grapples with the idea that there could be a greater enemy than Catenan Republic. And he must then work within the system that he’s despised for so long to get to the truth.

Review:

When you find yourself with strength, will you use it to defend or take advantage of those without it?

This is the main idea that James Islington’s The Strength of the Few.

Islington’s book is so incredibly timely for the things that are happening in our world today. Powerful people taking advantage of the weak. It’s common thread throughout all of human history, yet at this point in time, it hits home more than ever.

Vis struggles with the reality that he now holds a place of power. Something he never thought possible since the Hierarchy invaded Suus. Now that he has power, he’s not sure what he should do with it.

Time and time again all three versions of himself struggle with this question, “Do I sacrifice what I have to save those oppressed?”

I’ll let you figure out what he decides when you read the book.

Overall, I was blown away by Islington’s writing. I never imagined someone could take one character, and split him into three different people, and then have each individual character grow independently based on their own circumstances.

As someone who loves writing fiction, it’s difficult for me to handle the necessary growth of just one character, let alone three simultaneously.

The world that Islington has created has me completely captivated. I was lured in by the characters, then sucked in by the world building.

Islington has created a world that is both barbaric and sophisticated all at once. It’s not a world that I would want to live in, like Narnia. But it is fascinating in it’s own right.

I like learning about it from a distance.

Warnings and/or dislikes:

I struggle to grapple with the brutality of the culture. On one hand I know it’s human nature. I appreciate that Islington has created a world that’s realistic for the circumstances.

However, as a Christian I found it brutal and grotesque at times. So, if you are a Christian and you try to steer away from violence, this may not be the book for you. I found this book is significantly more violent and dark than The Will of the Many.

Let’s put it this way: I would never want to see this made into a movie or tv show. I don’t think I could handle it.

Conclusion:

Overall if you want to be completely enraptured in a story, this is the book for you. I wasn’t able to put it down. This book kept me up at night and dependent on caffeine the next day.