Review by revathy sw -- We are Voulhire: The Knights of ...

[revathy sw]

[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: The Knights of Chalethire" by Matthew Tysz.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Matthew Tysz has once again given readers a spectacular and commendable addition to the sci-fi genre with the smashing We are Voulhire: The Knights of Chalethire, the fourth installment in his We are Voulhire series. This novel is mostly set in Chalethire, a Voulhirian city, which is mostly known for its powerful army, and which in its magnificence puts the capital Soulhire to shame. A question that is sure to dog readers from the start is whether the formidable Chalethire will stand proud and victorious, or whether it will meet the same fate as its neighbors. It is in this city that Galen, Rowan, and Demetrius have taken up residence. In this book, we find the three friends trying to bring some justice and peace to a world where both are fast becoming scarce commodities.

What makes this series — including this book — so gripping and memorable is that Tysz makes us feel all the emotions — the good ones and the bad — that his characters feel. This is because of how human and relatable his characters are, and how common and understandable the issues and dilemmas that they face are. The touching friendship among Galen, Demetrius, and Rowan, Midius Maido's stark desperation, Meldorath's shockingly human moment of grief — all of these are sure to resonate with readers. What is also appreciable is the detail with which the author has built up his kingdom. He references its literature, gives vivid descriptions of the landscape and architecture, and delineates its political and religious groups and hierarchies.

Another constant source of delight in this series is how the author steadily increases the insights he gives us into his characters. We get more of an understanding of the dynamic of the friendship among our three heroes. Rowan and Demetrius are so similar in some ways and are perfect foils to the humble, good-natured, and self-deprecating Galen. Apart from these, the author also unfailingly makes sure to sprinkle plenty of light-hearted moments and laugh-out-loud banter. The novel also has many quotable lines that are highly perceptive. The action scenes too were vivid and a joy to read.

When it comes to this book’s cons, the only issue I had was with Rowan's thoughts and actions. As I mentioned before, the author continuously introduces us to new facets of his characters. In Rowan's case, we see a side to him, in his interactions with Kayden, which to me, seemed like it came out of the blue.

I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. This is because, even though the book is close to perfect as far as storyline, characterization, writing style, and worldbuilding are concerned, it has quite a lot of editing mistakes.

The novel has a lot of swearing and is more straightforward in its references to sexual acts than the previous novels in the series. There are also several scenes of bloody violence and destruction. With this in mind, I would recommend We are Voulhire: The Knights of Chalethire to lovers of sci-fi and fantasy above the age of eighteen.

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We are Voulhire: The Knights of Chalethire
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[markodim721]

It is great that the author has managed to design an entire civilization. Few writers have the talent for it.

[revathy sw]

It is great that the author has managed to design an entire civilization. Few writers have the talent for it.

Yes, I completely agree with you. Tysz's worldbuilding is on another level.

[NISSE]

Seems like a sequel in a fantasy adventure book series.I have not read the first couple of books.so, will skip this for now.Great review!

[revathy sw]

Seems like a sequel in a fantasy adventure book series.I have not read the first couple of books.so, will skip this for now.Great review!

This is an amazing fantasy series, one of the best I've ever read!