The Will of the Many

Vis Telimus is the hidden last prince of Suus, the country the Catenan Hierarchy crushed three years ago, living under a false name in the Hierarchy's capital and breaking horses for a living. His foster father pushes him to compete for a place at the Catenan Academy, the elite school on the island of Solivagus that trains the empire's next ruling tier. The Hierarchy's magic runs on Will, a substance every citizen is required to cede up the rank above. Vis enters the Academy with three secret missions, one fake identity, and no Will to give, and the book runs 600 pages of patient court-and-academy maneuvering before the first volume closes on a turn readers do not see coming.