Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
Posted: 26 Apr 2023, 08:08
[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.]
The book "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz surprised me by how much I liked it. I hardly ever read books in this category, but I couldn't put this one down. The book opens with the phrase "Once there was...", which has the feeling of a fairy tale and causes you to lean back in your chair and imagine yourself in a foreign and fascinating world.
The country of Voulhire serves as the setting for the book, which is set in a fictional universe. A king witnessed his four sons turn against one another in an effort to gain the throne. He also thought they might be planning to get rid of him. The monarch responded by giving each of his sons an island as well as ample funds and resources to live comfortably and peacefully. However, a civil war started after a very short period of time. Twenty years later, Voulhire is experiencing economic prosperity. Even if everything appears to be moving in the right direction, people are finding it difficult to articulate their values. People of faith, magic, and science are all advocating for a solution to bring the nation together, but misunderstanding still prevails. When one of the king's four sons, Galen, visits Voulhire, everything is suddenly altered.
I really enjoyed a lot of things about this book. First of all, I appreciated that the author started with a map. It was great to be able to visualize the layout and the locations where everything is happening and where people are going. It felt almost like you were meeting the characters in person because of how realistic they were. The main character was quite realistic, and since the novel was written from his point of view, it was easy to understand what he was thinking. He experienced the same feelings and had the same thoughts that you and I have every day. He wasn't particularly exceptional or spectacular; he was simply credible. The descriptive text was wonderful throughout as well. As an illustration, it states on page 13 that "the war dragged on, like fingernails cracking in the dirt, for years." I adore books that really make your imagination run wild.
I found no errors in the book, and I thought the editing was exceptional. I didn't find anything about the book unappealing. These factors led me to give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The chapters are kept brief, and each has a title that describes the main topic of the story. The diverse personalities of the various individuals revealed, as well as how well they complement and get along with one another, really captured my attention. I particularly appreciated the author's use of straightforward, everyday language, which gave me the impression that the action of the narrative is taking place in our actual world.
I'd suggest this book to anyone who likes fantasy or who wants a brief getaway from their regular lives.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The book "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz surprised me by how much I liked it. I hardly ever read books in this category, but I couldn't put this one down. The book opens with the phrase "Once there was...", which has the feeling of a fairy tale and causes you to lean back in your chair and imagine yourself in a foreign and fascinating world.
The country of Voulhire serves as the setting for the book, which is set in a fictional universe. A king witnessed his four sons turn against one another in an effort to gain the throne. He also thought they might be planning to get rid of him. The monarch responded by giving each of his sons an island as well as ample funds and resources to live comfortably and peacefully. However, a civil war started after a very short period of time. Twenty years later, Voulhire is experiencing economic prosperity. Even if everything appears to be moving in the right direction, people are finding it difficult to articulate their values. People of faith, magic, and science are all advocating for a solution to bring the nation together, but misunderstanding still prevails. When one of the king's four sons, Galen, visits Voulhire, everything is suddenly altered.
I really enjoyed a lot of things about this book. First of all, I appreciated that the author started with a map. It was great to be able to visualize the layout and the locations where everything is happening and where people are going. It felt almost like you were meeting the characters in person because of how realistic they were. The main character was quite realistic, and since the novel was written from his point of view, it was easy to understand what he was thinking. He experienced the same feelings and had the same thoughts that you and I have every day. He wasn't particularly exceptional or spectacular; he was simply credible. The descriptive text was wonderful throughout as well. As an illustration, it states on page 13 that "the war dragged on, like fingernails cracking in the dirt, for years." I adore books that really make your imagination run wild.
I found no errors in the book, and I thought the editing was exceptional. I didn't find anything about the book unappealing. These factors led me to give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The chapters are kept brief, and each has a title that describes the main topic of the story. The diverse personalities of the various individuals revealed, as well as how well they complement and get along with one another, really captured my attention. I particularly appreciated the author's use of straightforward, everyday language, which gave me the impression that the action of the narrative is taking place in our actual world.
I'd suggest this book to anyone who likes fantasy or who wants a brief getaway from their regular lives.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon