Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

This is a Buddy Read for The Strength of the Few by James Islington starting on November 18, 2025.


Happy Reading!

Thank you!

Series Schedule:
1. The Will of the Many (July 21) [Link]
2. The Strength of the Few (Nov 18)

Availability? Audible Only?

Starting this one today. It has been ages since I started reading a book on it's release date. It hits a bit different joining the initial crowd, especially for such a highly anticipated sequel.

I remember how hyped the release BR was for Rhythm of War or Oathbringer, around here...

Up to chapter 8. So
(view spoiler)[Rome, Scotland, Eqypt. Basically. (hide spoiler)]

I didn't reread the first book and think I need a summary before diving in. Going to dig that up first before I leap.

Popular enough to be on book series recaps website:

https://www.bookseriesrecaps.com/the-...

Up to chapter 24

(view spoiler)[ I can't imagine how hurt it was to be taken into flight while being skewered. Wonder if the three Vis would meet one day but likely at least one of them would die.

Also wondering why Caeror can't go back to Res, is it because his self there already died or that he's not a Synchronous like Vis? (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Popular enough to be on book series recaps website:

https://www.bookseriesrecaps.com/the-..."

this is awesome. though I just read the first book last month i am still forgetting some of the names.

Chapter 9
(view spoiler)[Copies don't know about Emissa's betrayal yet... Luceum copy doesn't even know he is in another world entirely. Res original has no clue he was copied. And that he already basically touched the Aurora columnae when passing tha gate so what will happen if he does it again? Only Obiteum copy knows the situation so far. Curious to see how long will the two stay ignorant. And supposedly he cannot go back to being one but can he make connection? Also he is already having some new powers? Maybe the amulet worn by his Obiteum copy is healing him? Like Obiteum copy is stopped from being affected but maybe can still cause others to be affected. Will his powers depend on people ceding to him or are there more options when you have the synchrony.

Esteban for sure used the other worlds for his weapon. Maybe some other way to tap into it? I don't think he had the synchrony. The teleporting Anguis guy probably can switch to the other world copy temporarily. So many questions!

I also make ChatGPT try to translate the non-lating this book uses and the password to open the door is not latin but from the roots of the word might mean something like "spark from one" which made me think of originally the will was used not with ceding but someone from top was sharing power from some source? Like the pyramid symbol is same but different meaning altogether? Could just also mean the copying of the world I guess. (hide spoiler)]

Vetusian (view spoiler)[is latin (hide spoiler)] and the language in the Lucieum (view spoiler)[is irish! (hide spoiler)]

The copies (view spoiler)[ have different understanding on what's going on indeed. Both Luceum and Obiteum's don't even know what happened to Callidus, as also portrayed in his thoughts... (hide spoiler)]

I am up to chapter 57. Interesting how (view spoiler)[Ostius is using the worldhopping as an escape route. I was confused why he brought Vis to Luceum but apparently just for shortcut??

And the reveal of Vis's dad knowing about the Cataclysm....so there is a possibility that he also got copied somehow and that Vis saw his Luceum copy. (hide spoiler)]

Edit: nvm, it got answered in chapter 59 😅

Michelle wrote: "Vetusian [spoilers removed] and the language in the Lucieum [spoilers removed]"

irish or celtic or gaelic ? (view spoiler)[I somehow thought of Luceum as an ancient Scottish land due to the blue thing Vis mentioned. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Irish. (hide spoiler)]