Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
Posted: 22 Jan 2024, 04:25
[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.]
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz is a story about magic, battle, and power. Hillport has had three different lords in a relatively short time. Now, it seems like there is hope at last, and the city is finally beginning to thrive. However, from the castle across the river comes a dark, brooding presence. Are the people as safe as the king will have them believe?
This is one of the best fantasy books I've read recently. For some reason, I approached this book skeptically after reading the blurb. However, I was enamored with this book by the time I got halfway. The attraction for me was in the little details and how the author applied literary devices to elevate the story from a collection of words to a gripping, absorbing tale. The author's use of foreshadowing to build tension was impressive. A scene that caught my attention involved Lord Eldus, the newly appointed lord of Hillport, sitting down at his desk to read after speaking with some of the children about the former lord. I noticed the mention of a silver chain attached to the lamp. It seemed insignificant but was used powerfully to create tension and suspense.
I loved how the author portrayed the characters. They were distinct, complex, individual, and unique. The reader could create a mind image of what the characters looked like. Contrasts were created for the major characters when juxtaposed with others. This made their differences more obvious and would help the reader to understand each character better. For example, we could contrast Galen and Rowan, King Wilhelm and Midius Maido, and Eldus and Marshus.
I admired how the author unraveled the story to the reader. He used the literary principle of "show, don't tell." Without overdoing it, he employed a subtle yet effective approach in laying out the key characters' backstories, the kingdom's history, and the nature of their world. The author's descriptions were vivid, rapidly absorbing the reader into the scenes. In the parts that involved a lot of action, the author revealed both the characters' views (sight, sound, and smell) and their thoughts in a balanced way that would show the reader what they could witness and feel.
I didn't find any errors; the book was exceptionally edited. I found nothing to dislike about this book. Therefore, I'd rate it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to every lover of epic fantasy.
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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz is a story about magic, battle, and power. Hillport has had three different lords in a relatively short time. Now, it seems like there is hope at last, and the city is finally beginning to thrive. However, from the castle across the river comes a dark, brooding presence. Are the people as safe as the king will have them believe?
This is one of the best fantasy books I've read recently. For some reason, I approached this book skeptically after reading the blurb. However, I was enamored with this book by the time I got halfway. The attraction for me was in the little details and how the author applied literary devices to elevate the story from a collection of words to a gripping, absorbing tale. The author's use of foreshadowing to build tension was impressive. A scene that caught my attention involved Lord Eldus, the newly appointed lord of Hillport, sitting down at his desk to read after speaking with some of the children about the former lord. I noticed the mention of a silver chain attached to the lamp. It seemed insignificant but was used powerfully to create tension and suspense.
I loved how the author portrayed the characters. They were distinct, complex, individual, and unique. The reader could create a mind image of what the characters looked like. Contrasts were created for the major characters when juxtaposed with others. This made their differences more obvious and would help the reader to understand each character better. For example, we could contrast Galen and Rowan, King Wilhelm and Midius Maido, and Eldus and Marshus.
I admired how the author unraveled the story to the reader. He used the literary principle of "show, don't tell." Without overdoing it, he employed a subtle yet effective approach in laying out the key characters' backstories, the kingdom's history, and the nature of their world. The author's descriptions were vivid, rapidly absorbing the reader into the scenes. In the parts that involved a lot of action, the author revealed both the characters' views (sight, sound, and smell) and their thoughts in a balanced way that would show the reader what they could witness and feel.
I didn't find any errors; the book was exceptionally edited. I found nothing to dislike about this book. Therefore, I'd rate it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to every lover of epic fantasy.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon