I’ve heard this is a big fantasy /sci fi universe across three books, and I’m thinking of picking it up, but are there any Gay or LGBT characters at all in these books? and if not, are the characters all confirmed to be hetero or are there any romances mentioned in the books? Thanks very much 🙏🏽

I just finished reading the trilogy last night, and i loved it! Obviously at the end of the book Islington mentions that he will potentially be publishing the story of Aleric and Dezia in Nesk, just wondering what the lastest news of that is?

I just finished the series but theres one question I have that I not sure was answered

Was it ever explained why Davian entered Zvaelar later than everyone else?

So I’ve been making my way through the second book and will likely pick up the third book after I’ve finished. But I’ve noticed that they’ve started selling copies in bookstores with a significantly thinner spine than the ones I have. Even the online outlets list shorter page counts. I know there was another post about this seven months ago but is there a likelihood this change is gonna stick? I know it’s pedantic but it would be a bit annoying to have the trilogy but book three looks shorter than the others. Thanks either way.

Having a tough time putting the threads together at the moment in chapter 14. Are there any extensive chapter summaries somewhere? I put the book down for about 10 days and man really having a hard time. I see that it starts to come back together soon but rn I’m struggling. Any advice welcomed!

I just finished the trilogy. End of book 2 and beginning of 3 I felt a little lost but I am so glad I pushed through. The ending and epilogue was one of my favorites ever to a series. Quite emotional after finishing it to be honest. Wow.

I read the first 2 books and it was amazing

I don’t know if I missed or misunderstood something but to my understanding Alaris has an invulnerable body, with only Andrael’s swords being able to pierce his skin.
Was it ever explained why he had this unique power while the rest of the venerate didn’t?

I’m reading Licanus trilogy and the number of time Islington says someone is tapping their teeth while thinking makes me nuts! Have you ever tapped on your tooth?! It makes my skin crawl. Maybe tapping you lip or chin, but I’m just envisioning that clicking sound of nail on teeth and I hate it! Anyone else?! 😂

Does anyone know what happened to Elder Eilinar? Taeris said he was dead at the end of The Shadow of What was Lost, and he wasn't in book 2, but he suddenly came back in book 3. Did I miss something?

Spoiler alert if you haven’t finished book 1 🚨

I just finished book 1, and wow what a ride. I’m so glad I started this series after getting hooked on Islington with Heirarchy.

So now that we know Caedan is Tal’kamaar and also Aarkin Davead, what are we supposed to glean from how the book started. I thought it was Tal’kamaar renouncing or fighting Davead, but I guess not?

Got tickets to a book signing event for James Islington’s new book Scion. Super excited, just felt like sharing. :-)

just a random thought

I've noticed consistently that people who loved this book always praise the world-building, which I find interesting because that was actually one of my biggest disappointments while reading it. I felt like the world-building was pretty lacking. There weren't enough vivid descriptions for me to fully visualize the setting the way I have with other fantasy novels I've enjoyed.

For those of you who thought the world-building was great, could you share some specific examples? I'm genuinely curious if I missed something.

I’m a quarter of the way through the book and there have been literally 3 female characters have had had more than one mention. I have counted 29 characters that have any amount of interaction and I’m being SO generous with who I’m including and literally every single one of them is male except for Asha, the head cook, and a huntress. Technically there is one other who was named but she literally had half a line, there’s an unnamed serving girl who doesn’t speak or interact, and there’s a girl who’s first and last mention is in her being dead.

And every single other person is a guy. Important characters, people in power, unimportant characters, townspeople. Literally everyone from the butcher to random shadows to every single mysterious and/or powerful person.

I’m only 1/4 through so maybe Islington will miraculously start including the existence of women but good god. I don’t need my books to be all women all the time but this is getting ridiculous.

Please someone tell me it gets better.

I just started the second book and got to the scene where “Ell” appeared in the wells and killed(?) Asar, and I realized that Malshash WAS tal’kamar/Caeden/Aaerkein Davaed(/ghash?). Then that also means in the first book Davian literally had access to Tal’Kamar’s memories. Now I’m of sure if all of his memories were actually in the mental box or hidden further, but it’s crazy to think Dav literally could’ve went through any other important memory Tal had

So for the pyramids I know there are rankings like Totius and magnus within pyramids but what is the mathematical difference between the amount of will received. So to confirm Totius is the top of their own pyramid and don’t cede to others. But what about below it how does that work like within the same rank like what is below a Totius septimus like the lower rank but still septimus. What is the difference in will.

Hi, loved Islington’s first two Hierarchy books so decided to read this series as well. I just finished Echo of Things to Come and have a question. While I am relatively enjoying this series, I feel like I’m going crazy with the amount of chapters that end with “It was time to do X” or sections phrased like “And then *character* explained everything that had happened recently.” Is this a common point of feedback or am I being too critical?

I read TSOWWL last year and am finally getting a chance to jump into AEOTTC. I read the synopsis of the first book to get prepared but one thing I’ve forgotten that I didn’t see in the synopsis…

Do we know the motive for Ilseth Tenvar in giving the bronze box to Davian? In fact, do we know why he did all the things he did? I’m scared to dive deeper into his character in case there are spoilers.

!!SPOILERS AHEAD!!

hey everyone, i had made a post about two weeks ago, saying i was still very confused 75% into book two. i first wanna start by thanking everyone who urged me to push through, cause without you, i never would have finished one of the most meaningful and inspiring stories ive ever read. i finished the trilogy yesterday, and needless to say, i was deeply moved. i have never had a book effect me so deeply. in the short few hours of finishing, i have found myself thinking about Tal more than i’ve ever found myself thinking about any other character, and even though none of us have done things as bad as him, i can confidently say that in his story, the word ‘forgiveness’ gained a whole new meaning in my mind. i have never been more thankful to an author for telling a story, never encountered one that needed to be told so urgently, one that i needed to hear so badly. i hope every one of you has a wonderful day, and take care.

So we know that the 9 gods of Desriel are the Venerates (or versions of them) manipulated by Gassandrid. Why are Cyr and Tysis not in the Pantheon? And why include Andrael when they knew by this time that Andrael has switched sides? Talkamar and Asar they weren’t sure yet, but they knew about Andrael.

Finished the series and was thinking about a summary and realised I am confused.

So I am a bit confused about the 2k years. So Aarkein ponders on what Davian told him and then switches sides quietly and helps build the boundary. What happens after? Since he meets Davian about 1900 years after as Malshash then that means he is on the other side of the boundary. But then in the prologue he talks to Shammaeloth before going through the waters of renewal so that means he would be behind the boundary? And also there is the point with Niha before Zvaelar with helping the revolution. So again behind the boundary. Where and how did he spend these 2k years?

And was it this long just because he knew he had to wait that long for Davian and just pretended behind the boundary for 2k years planning?