Review by Zion Mesa -- We are Voulhire: A New Arrival un...

[Zion Mesa]

[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies is the first of a series of novels by author Matthew Tysz. The book acts as an introduction into the fantasy world Tysz created and sets the mood and theme for the coming books. While numerous central characters propel the story, perhaps the closest thing this book has to a single protagonist is Galen.

Galen is a young refugee from a nearby warring country and the only character whose story is told in the first-person perspective. He is brought to live in a small town in the south of Voulhire by his uncle’s executor, a man hired to help Galen follow his deceased relative’s footsteps as the local blacksmith. Aside from this simpler narrative, however, there are many more complicated and dramatic things going on throughout the story. The events of this book set the stage for the epic conflict sure to unfold in the following books.

One of the things I liked about this book was how complete the world-building seemed to be. At no point did I feel as though the system didn’t make sense, or that a scene felt out of place. Despite many of the facets of the story taking place within fantasy, they all make perfect sense within the scope of the tale. It gives the impression that every part of this world was carefully and lovingly crafted, down to the finest details. Throughout the book, the author gradually integrates more lore, history, and world-building into the story at a gentle pace. I never felt bombarded with information, and neither did I have to remain confused by an event or conversation for an extended period.

The pages are riddled with colorful imagery, making it easy to instantly connect with the scenes. Accented by a cast of unique and entertaining characters, there wasn’t a dull moment while reading this book. Tysz makes careful use of foreshadowing. It was clear from early on in the book that the adventure planned for the series was not a small one. I hope the rest of the books can continue to impress as this one did.

In my opinion, this book is worth four out of four stars. I could not find anything I disliked about this book. I did manage to find a handful of minor errors, but nothing that took away from the reading. This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Due to a fair amount of crude language and adult themes, I would not recommend this book to children or younger teens. However, anyone into fantasy, magic, and the likes will be almost sure to enjoy this story.

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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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[The Holy Grail]

I read the book, too. I will look for the other installments, too. I like your review, too!

[Oreoluwa281]

I agree with your analysis.i enjoyed reading your detailed and engaging review. Good job