The Will of the Many (May 2024) Buddy Read Discussion - Jen K & Dia

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the The Will of the Many Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on May 5th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 05/05
May 5th: Ch I - XI

Week of 05/06
May 6th: Ch XII - XXII
May 7th: Ch XXIII - XXXII
May 8th: Ch XXXIII - XLII
May 9th: Ch XLIII - LII
May 10th: Ch LIII - LXIII
May 11th: Ch LXIV - LXXIV

PARTICIPANTS
~ Jen K
~ Dia

[Brianna]

Started this one today and am surprised how easy it was to get into the grove of things - there are still some aspects of the world building that I am not sure about, but those will probably get more clear the more I read.
spoilers through end of XI: (view spoiler)[The opening scene/paragraph made me think of The Lion King. lol
The traveling Transvect still don't quite make sense. I also am still a bit iffy on Will and how that magic works. I like that there is a bit of a mystery aspect to this. I am definitely intrigued to see what happens with Sedotia and how she knows that Vis is a prince from a fallen/rival kingdom (maybe?). All kinds of people are lining up to take advantage/use Vis which very much spells disaster in the works. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

So many secrets and politics already. I'm not sure how Vis will manage to keep track. Enjoying already even if world building is slightly confusing.

[Dia]

ooh i'm a bit slow with this one, just finished up till XI. I had to keep re-reading parts just to understand them and had to keep going to the ranking page because I don't remember the ranks

the worldbuilding is quite complicated and takes me awhile to put the pieces together but I am starting to understand it now

@Brianna I have a hard time picturing how the Transvect is supposed to look like too hahha

I am pleased for Vis that he is able to leave the orphanage and that life behind but I do wonder what lies ahead for him especially when there is someone who knows who he is

[Jen K]

Not at all Dia, I haven't gone past XI either but will pick it up again tonight.

For the Transvect, I imagine a speed train but hovering over the track rather than sitting on it. Not sure if that helps.

Vis will need to do some serious maneuvering to keep all the secrets straight.

[Brianna]

through chapter xxiii
(view spoiler)[Im sorry but how the heck did Estevan do whatever it is that he did?!
Things are definitely getting a bit more complex and we aren’t even at the Academy yet. I’m still pretty interested and intrigued so we shall see what happens next! (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Also through Chapter XXII and in response:
(view spoiler)[ I have no idea and I also don't get how drawing blood with the stylus protected Vis. I do think that Estevan intended Vis to kill him, maybe to improve his standing at the academy. Super excited for him to actually get to the academy. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

Jen K wrote: "Also through Chapter XXII and in response:
[spoilers removed]"

@Jen K - (view spoiler)[It definitely seems super intentional but also weird about the stylus - if he was the leader of the rebellion then why would he want to die? (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

@Brianna- (view spoiler)[ It sounded as if the Hierarchy was about to nab him so he chose to make a grand/ gruesome statement than be caught and better to boost Vis at the same time. My theory :) (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

just got till XXII
it was interesting to see the training Vis is going through to prepare him for the academy. I wonder if aequa will be an important ally for him moving forward.

it is interesting what happened in the arena. the power that estevan held, is certainly interesting, probably related to how they made the Ulciscor pass out after shooting him with an arrow. I think things will get really interesting especially once the hierarchy hears of this power.
and yes it was weird that he gave himself up like that but I think in the sewer, he realised that Vis really won't spy/fight for them and he felt like it was the last resort to spur Vis into action and change his mind?

also in case you'll find this useful https://jamesislington.com/hierarchy_...

[Jen K]

I only made it through Part 1 yesterday.

I wonder what consequences will come up later for the physician taking his blood. I'm also curious about the magic/power that Estevan used to take away everyone's excess will and the arrow.

Thanks for the glossary.

[Dia]

Up to XXXII

(view spoiler)[ things are definitely more interesting now that Vis is at the academy. It is moving faster and harder to put the book down.

I have to admit Veridius does seem nice and at first I thought maybe he is innocent after all but then what Callidus said was true. Veridius seems to put Vis in a situation where he would have been expelled.

I also like Callidus so far, but I do wonder what happened for him to have fallen down to the seventh class. He obviously very smart and he knows about the politics that goes on in the academy, just like the real world. It is unfair that even the academy doesn't reward based on meritocracy.

Reading about Vis and Eidhin in the labyrinth is almost like watching Vis tame a wild horse. Greatly disappointing when they were disqualified. (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

end of XXXVII
OMG (view spoiler)[ Vis' adopted mother omg I did not see that coming (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

up to XLII

(view spoiler)[ it's a lot harder to stop reading now. pace has definitely picked up, things are much more exciting and starting to unravel. I can't believe he had this crazy plan and semi pulled it off. I'm really curious about the "test" and hoping to see Vis attempt it sometime in the future. But sounds like by end of this trimester things in the Republic might be falling apart? so we might not see it after all. I'm so excited we see an alupi and I have to wonder if one day it'll return the favour and save Vis. can't wait to see how it all unfolds (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

I am working on getting caught up as I did not get a chance to read any yesterday. I wrapped up Part I (through end of XXIV) and figured I'd do a quick update for Part I since it seems like up next is the beginning of the Academy!

- The political structure and some of the history still confuse me a bit, but some things are starting to line up. I am very much assuming anything is in a structure like a pyramid scheme and that has helped a little.

- That physician guy who random showed up all secretly and suspicious like is certainly on my radar. The pictures they showed Vis must mean something. Also, the fact that Lanistia pointed out that the method of confirming it was him or what not with the tile was outdated - could be someone working with old information that does not have the best of intentions.

- The students Vis met after the Transvect accident are probably going to pop up in some sort of fashion while at the Academy - regardless if they are Military and they think the Academy leader guy will focus on Religion and whatever the other one is more so.

[Brianna]

thoughts up through end of XXXII:
"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."
(view spoiler)[Things are truly on the move now! There is definitely a lot of politics happening even with the school - along with unnecessary biases and feuds. I like Callidus and Eidhin so far. I'm curious to see how Vis and Eidhin become friends (if they do) - they both seem to have a lot in common so I wouldn't be surprised. Callidus also knows a lot of things that he probably shouldn't so I wouldn't be surprised if Vis ropes him in on the plan. I am annoyed Vis and Eidhin were disqualified when they succeeded - I'd say a dead language could count as a code - how would other people know it wasn't a coincidence they sounded the same? lol (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Finished through the OMG XXXVII

I really like that Vis has been somewhat choosy with friends. Callidus and Eidhin seem solid especially because they were reluctant to be social. I hope to learn more about them, fascinated by Eidhin's story.

For the OMG reveal, I had no clue but now I'm wondering why I didn't guess it.

Think this is after XXXII (view spoiler)[ what the heck is going on with the glowing speared bodies in the ruin in the forest???? how is the blind thing related to Tatsinia and her trip to the forest? what are the ruins generating? are they new bodies or old bodies? what the heck? (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

@Jen K for the reveal I think because Vis couldn't have guessed and we're seeing things unfold based on what he knows. (view spoiler)[ It was well written and the two personas were worlds apart which was brilliant (hide spoiler)]

and it was during XXXIII
I can't believe I didn't react to this I think I was so taken aback by the reveal hahaha and also because I read through XLII in the same sitting (view spoiler)[ YES it was horrifying seeing those speared bodies and the fact that they opened their eye lids?? are they being kept alive or something because that is so strange. at first I thought maybe they were powering whatever is down there in the ruins (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

Read through Part 2, chapter LI. Huh, I thought I read ahead but I guess I only mostly caught up.

The book is getting really addictive now. I can see how Dia finished early. I want to read more but also need to do other stuff. Maybe tomorrow...

(view spoiler)[ Are the missing students in the ruins? How creepy were those "traitors"? What does it mean to try to be synchronous? I guess the Labyrinth is really to train people to take the test in the ruins.

Sedotia/ Relucia is not nice. I'm sad that Vis relationship with Aequa came to a bad end too but I guess it had to happen to clear his way to the Third Class.

I wonder what Callidus is up to with Belli. He definitely knows more than he lets on. I'm glad that Eidhin shared that that Veridius put him up to the punch. It was really bothering me that the event seemed so out of character of who he seems to be. He wouldn't have done it for another student but the Principal for a deal does make much more sense.

Will be interesting to see what happens in Suus!
(hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

through XLII
(view spoiler)[OMG WHAT?! She's his step mom?! and she shot her husband?! Does he KNOW?! I am shook. (obviously)

The intrigue is strong and if I didn't have another book I want to try to finish I'd probably read more (which would help me catch up also). I'm curious what the Labyrinth thing and the dome place have to do with each other.

I am also surprised that father dearest finally caught on that Vis is not from where he says he's from. I can respect that Vis essentially admitted that is right but still kept it a secret and daddy wasn't mad about it.

Puppy! I hope he pops up again in a good way. (hide spoiler)]

[Dia]

@Jen K yes Veridius was so wrong for that, he took advantage of them all, some principaliss he is

@Brianna I can't believe you called it a puppy hahaha

[Brianna]

I am almost caught up and will more than likely finish today as planned!

up through LXIII: (view spoiler)[Things went better on Suus than I thought they would be. I do think Vis has revealed to more people than he should have that his background is not what they think as far as being from Aquiria.

The Iudicium is going to be interesting - I'm guessing this is where things truly hit the fan (and maybe puppy will be back!) (yes - I call it a puppy because it is an alupi pup ergo puppy lol). I also REALLY want to know what conversations Veridius had with Callidus, Aequa, and Eidhin - especially since Eidhin changed his mind about helping Vis.

With how much has happened in this first installment, I am very curious to know where things are going to go in later installments. (hide spoiler)]

[Brianna]

so.... finished the book and I cannot wait to discuss that ending with y'all!

[Dia]

@Brianna (view spoiler)[ I agree, I thought things would go horribly wrong at Suus but it didn't which makes the suspense builds up even more and I'm glad Vis discovered he has more supporters than he thought.

the fact that Eidhin said if I do the Lucidium with you, you'll no longer trust me!! i was also dying to know what was said privately to the helpers (hide spoiler)]

[Jen K]

I'm on LXIII still. I have plans with friends this afternoon but will finish tonight. So excited!

[Jen K]

Just finished. I have so many questions!!!! Gutted that the next book is not available now.

[Dia]

Me too! So many questions. I want to start the next book straight away.

It seems like by finishing the labyrinth test Vis' body was divided (I can't tell if it was into 2 or 3) and went to different places for the first time, and in one of them he met Caeror and they saved him in the original but the original Vis doesn't know about this. So he can communicate with himself by writing on his own skin!! Veridius also knows this, so he must have survived the same way and I wonder what he means it is to prevent the Cataclysm. I'm looking forward to his appointment in the Censor and meeting the man who let him go by saying

[Brianna]

I went to the author's website and it looks like as of March, the author is still working on book 2 but hopes to have the manuscript in by May so hopefully we don't have to wait *too* long for the sequel!

I'm curious if Vis lost his arm to hide that there was writing or if it was because of other wounds. I also wonder what Veridius's and Caeror's experiences were presuming they went through that specific Labyrinth as well.

I also am so bummed that Callidus didn't make it and I'm guessing that is part of why Vis chose the Censor position. He has seen how much information goes through that department so to speak. Also could be helpful in further protecting his original identity.

[Jen K]

Also the scarred Anguis guy, he referred to his relationship with Vis as kin and that Vis like himself and others all lost something coming out of the labyrinth. It must be why they are checking blood as well and explain Vis' new powers which might be how Melior managed his powers?

I love that Vis chose the Censor. So sad about Callidus. Do you think Aequa did actually try to warn him?

So ready for the next book!