Review by Drianie -- We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko
Posted: 09 Oct 2020, 02:37
[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko" by Matthew Tysz.]
We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko by Matthew Tysz is the second installment in his We are Voulhire series. The kingdom of Voulhire combines science, faith, and magic to create a world filled with intrigue and suspense. We find Voulhire in a golden age, with no city as prosperous as the city Virko, where we spend a great deal of our time. With its ash-covered streets, Virko is an industrial city on the verge of change. The dying lord and founder made it his final duty to lead Virko into a new age of government and capitalism.
Amidst this change, our hero, Galen, finds himself in Virko on a special errand for the mayor of Magnum Caelum. Accompanying him on his mission are his friends Rowan and Demetrius. The adventure begins when the dying Lord Venden instructs Demetrius to rid his house of a demon that has been bound there for years. They soon find out that this demon is under the control of Folcro, the son of the dying lord, who has his own evil plans in store for Virko. The trio immediately set out to enlist the help of the church to assist them in ridding the city of this evil. New characters, such as Lord Kayden, are introduced, who will become an important key figure in the future of Virko. Furthermore, we deal with the powerful wizard Meldorath, who further executes his evil plans with his sights set on the sacred city Yamon Soul. Will Meldorath succeed in the execution of his ambitious plans? Will Demetrius succeed in ridding the city of the evil nested there? What does the future hold for Virko?
Firstly, it is rare to find novels with both a captivating plot along with brilliantly written characters to move that plot forward. Matthew Tysz developed these components remarkably well in his story, demanding our attention. Galen, Rowan, and Demetrius make an excellent trio of friends. Their humorous dialogue often displays their extreme differences, making it particularly enjoyable whenever this trio makes an appearance. Apart from them, I loved the additional character Lord Kayden. His role in the story was a fascinating journey to follow. His character arc enthralled me and ensured an emotional element to the narrative. Alabaster, the weird old guy, is another interesting character to add to the list, and I thoroughly enjoyed all his scenes.
In addition to the characters, the creativity of this talented author is on full display with his excellent writing. You can tell that he has a passion for his craft and the world he created for us to enjoy with him. The novel gripped me from the start as the plot moves along at a brisk pace, never allowing time for a dull moment. I have to say that I enjoyed this novel much more than the first installment in this series. It is magnitudes darker, and although it seems dismal at the end, I can hardly wait to find out what happens next for the kingdom of Voulhire. I love the fact that the author included a link to his website where readers can access more information on the world of Voulhire, allowing fans to delve deeper into this fantasy world.
I mentioned that this novel is quite dark, and sensitive readers should take heed before picking it up. There are a few disturbingly violent scenes that might upset some readers. The novel also includes profanity, sexual assault, and vulgar jokes and comments. Although this novel includes these sensitive themes, the writer refrains from going into detail, making it easier to digest. Although these aspects might affect another reader's enjoyment, this did not diminish my own reading experience.
This novel is exceptional in its writing and detail of the characters and the world-building. It is also professionally edited, which is always an added pleasure to any reading adventure. It deserves 4 out of 4 stars since there was nothing I disliked. The mature topics, profanity, and violence make this inappropriate for a younger audience. However, avid fantasy readers will absolutely enjoy this novel.
******
We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko by Matthew Tysz is the second installment in his We are Voulhire series. The kingdom of Voulhire combines science, faith, and magic to create a world filled with intrigue and suspense. We find Voulhire in a golden age, with no city as prosperous as the city Virko, where we spend a great deal of our time. With its ash-covered streets, Virko is an industrial city on the verge of change. The dying lord and founder made it his final duty to lead Virko into a new age of government and capitalism.
Amidst this change, our hero, Galen, finds himself in Virko on a special errand for the mayor of Magnum Caelum. Accompanying him on his mission are his friends Rowan and Demetrius. The adventure begins when the dying Lord Venden instructs Demetrius to rid his house of a demon that has been bound there for years. They soon find out that this demon is under the control of Folcro, the son of the dying lord, who has his own evil plans in store for Virko. The trio immediately set out to enlist the help of the church to assist them in ridding the city of this evil. New characters, such as Lord Kayden, are introduced, who will become an important key figure in the future of Virko. Furthermore, we deal with the powerful wizard Meldorath, who further executes his evil plans with his sights set on the sacred city Yamon Soul. Will Meldorath succeed in the execution of his ambitious plans? Will Demetrius succeed in ridding the city of the evil nested there? What does the future hold for Virko?
Firstly, it is rare to find novels with both a captivating plot along with brilliantly written characters to move that plot forward. Matthew Tysz developed these components remarkably well in his story, demanding our attention. Galen, Rowan, and Demetrius make an excellent trio of friends. Their humorous dialogue often displays their extreme differences, making it particularly enjoyable whenever this trio makes an appearance. Apart from them, I loved the additional character Lord Kayden. His role in the story was a fascinating journey to follow. His character arc enthralled me and ensured an emotional element to the narrative. Alabaster, the weird old guy, is another interesting character to add to the list, and I thoroughly enjoyed all his scenes.
In addition to the characters, the creativity of this talented author is on full display with his excellent writing. You can tell that he has a passion for his craft and the world he created for us to enjoy with him. The novel gripped me from the start as the plot moves along at a brisk pace, never allowing time for a dull moment. I have to say that I enjoyed this novel much more than the first installment in this series. It is magnitudes darker, and although it seems dismal at the end, I can hardly wait to find out what happens next for the kingdom of Voulhire. I love the fact that the author included a link to his website where readers can access more information on the world of Voulhire, allowing fans to delve deeper into this fantasy world.
I mentioned that this novel is quite dark, and sensitive readers should take heed before picking it up. There are a few disturbingly violent scenes that might upset some readers. The novel also includes profanity, sexual assault, and vulgar jokes and comments. Although this novel includes these sensitive themes, the writer refrains from going into detail, making it easier to digest. Although these aspects might affect another reader's enjoyment, this did not diminish my own reading experience.
This novel is exceptional in its writing and detail of the characters and the world-building. It is also professionally edited, which is always an added pleasure to any reading adventure. It deserves 4 out of 4 stars since there was nothing I disliked. The mature topics, profanity, and violence make this inappropriate for a younger audience. However, avid fantasy readers will absolutely enjoy this novel.
******
We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
