Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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Charlotte King
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- Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz
Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.]
The first instalment in Matthew Tysz's Voulhire series, We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies, turned out to be so much better than I expected. The novel is layered and complex, with multiple points of view, morally grey characters, and an unpredictable plot. We are introduced to the war-torn Lands of the Princes through Galen, an asylum seeker who arrives in the kingdom of Voulhire. Far away from the wicked emperor and the four princes, Galen becomes absorbed in the culture of Voulhire and begins to discover himself. King Wilhelm of Voulhire and other political and religious figures seek to protect the nation from the Riva Rohavi rebels who are closing in from the Graylands, a wasteland north of Voulhire. Meanwhile, a powerful mage, imprisoned on an island off Voulhire's shores, awaits his chance to strike. Through the rising tension, motives unravel, loyalties shift, and we learn that all is not what it seems.
Galen's fascination with what others take for granted quickly won me over. His initial interactions appear innocent and naive, but his past does not leave him unscathed. He struggles with dark thoughts and post-traumatic stress at times. And he is only one of the many fleshed-out characters in Matthew Tysz's world. The different magic disciplines felt natural to the setting. I loved the presence of bio magic and the moral implications and concerns over mages being able to manipulate the body on a cellular level. Tysz's writing style is direct and does not get in the way of the story. The plot initially develops at a slow simmer while notes of mystery and intrigue lace the air. When we reach the boiling point, the payoff is well worth it. I couldn't put the book down, and the conclusion left me with a craving for more.
Matthew Tysz wrote one of the characters in the first-person narrative. Though I respect the style decision, the barrage of consecutive sentences starting with "I" broke my immersion at times. The world is imaginative and different from ours. Still, we get some modern pop-culture references that seem out of place in the setting. This one might sound petty, but different characters often use the word "pretty" to describe things. I stopped counting after ten, but it's hard to imagine a lord using the word "pretty" to describe his castle or a young blacksmith referring to a "pretty rock".
Despite my minor quibbles, I rate this book four out of four stars. It is professionally edited, delivers on all you'd expect from a good fantasy story, and then surprises you with more. It's a fantastic first introduction to the series.
Due to the language, dialogue, and heavy themes, I recommend this novel to adults who enjoy complex political history and court intrigue in a fantasy setting. It hints at grimdark, though I cannot say where the author intends to take the story. Also, consider that the humour is crude in places, and the book has some instances of profanity. It's not a light-hearted story, and you'll have to engage your mind to keep up with the plot. Nothing about We are Voulhire is on the nose, and you'll often question your perceptions of the protagonists and the antagonist.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The first instalment in Matthew Tysz's Voulhire series, We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies, turned out to be so much better than I expected. The novel is layered and complex, with multiple points of view, morally grey characters, and an unpredictable plot. We are introduced to the war-torn Lands of the Princes through Galen, an asylum seeker who arrives in the kingdom of Voulhire. Far away from the wicked emperor and the four princes, Galen becomes absorbed in the culture of Voulhire and begins to discover himself. King Wilhelm of Voulhire and other political and religious figures seek to protect the nation from the Riva Rohavi rebels who are closing in from the Graylands, a wasteland north of Voulhire. Meanwhile, a powerful mage, imprisoned on an island off Voulhire's shores, awaits his chance to strike. Through the rising tension, motives unravel, loyalties shift, and we learn that all is not what it seems.
Galen's fascination with what others take for granted quickly won me over. His initial interactions appear innocent and naive, but his past does not leave him unscathed. He struggles with dark thoughts and post-traumatic stress at times. And he is only one of the many fleshed-out characters in Matthew Tysz's world. The different magic disciplines felt natural to the setting. I loved the presence of bio magic and the moral implications and concerns over mages being able to manipulate the body on a cellular level. Tysz's writing style is direct and does not get in the way of the story. The plot initially develops at a slow simmer while notes of mystery and intrigue lace the air. When we reach the boiling point, the payoff is well worth it. I couldn't put the book down, and the conclusion left me with a craving for more.
Matthew Tysz wrote one of the characters in the first-person narrative. Though I respect the style decision, the barrage of consecutive sentences starting with "I" broke my immersion at times. The world is imaginative and different from ours. Still, we get some modern pop-culture references that seem out of place in the setting. This one might sound petty, but different characters often use the word "pretty" to describe things. I stopped counting after ten, but it's hard to imagine a lord using the word "pretty" to describe his castle or a young blacksmith referring to a "pretty rock".
Despite my minor quibbles, I rate this book four out of four stars. It is professionally edited, delivers on all you'd expect from a good fantasy story, and then surprises you with more. It's a fantastic first introduction to the series.
Due to the language, dialogue, and heavy themes, I recommend this novel to adults who enjoy complex political history and court intrigue in a fantasy setting. It hints at grimdark, though I cannot say where the author intends to take the story. Also, consider that the humour is crude in places, and the book has some instances of profanity. It's not a light-hearted story, and you'll have to engage your mind to keep up with the plot. Nothing about We are Voulhire is on the nose, and you'll often question your perceptions of the protagonists and the antagonist.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
