I really wanted to drop the 5 star on this one, but we are landing firmly at a strong 4. I literally just came off reading the Red Rising trilogy, so there are definitely gonna be some direct comparisons here — but let me break it down.
We are in a Roman style empire with a crazy magic system where the lower classes literally cede their physical energy, known as their "Will," to power the elites at the top of the Hierarchy. Our main guy "Vis" is a survivor from a conquered nation hiding his true identity. He gets backed into a corner by a powerful government official and is forced to go undercover into their most exclusive, cutthroat academy. His mission is to investigate a mysterious death, but he is also trying to survive and navigate a system built to crush people exactly like him. He has to climb the academic ranks while playing a very dangerous game as a double agent.
The concept is not super original, but honestly? It is way less tropey than other books in this lane. The world building is top tier, but what really carries this is the character work. Yes, there are powers and magical things going on, but the heart of these characters feels way more grounded and real than I am used to in these kinds of stories.
The political intrigue, the double crossing, and the secrets are set up flawlessly. It has you completely locked in, constantly flipping pages because you just need to know what happens next.
Some gripes
First, the setup is so similar to Red Rising — which dropped like 10 years before this — that it is hard not to give it a slight downgrade. It definitely feels a little bit like a rehash of that exact vibe. In both books you have a protagonist carrying a massive secret, forced to infiltrate a deadly, hypercompetitive school meant for the absolute elites. The brutal tests, the structure of the academy, and that constant pressure of trying to outplay the people in power are incredibly similar. It is executed flawlessly here, but if you just read Darrow's story, Vis's journey is going to give you some heavy deja vu.
And let us talk about that ending. Do not get me wrong, I actually liked the ending. The cliffhanger itself and all the twists and turns it took? Pure fire. It is genuinely a great part of the book. But man, after such a big read, it leaves you hanging with so many big questions and things not tied up at all. Maybe I should have expected a super huge cliffhanger since it is literally labeled Hierarchy Number One. This is only the second series I have ever read, so maybe I just gotta get used to how these things work and that obvious play for the sequel.
But do not get it twisted — that is nowhere near a detriment. It is an easy recommend. It is awesome.
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