Review by Zion Mesa -- We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko
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Zion Mesa
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Review by Zion Mesa -- We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko
[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko" by Matthew Tysz.]
We Are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko is the second novel of the "We Are Voulhire" series, and continues the plot from where the first book left off. If you haven’t read the first book of the series by author Matthew Tysz then, this sequel may not make a lot of sense to you. As suggested by the title, the book moves the plot into the city of Virko, the industrial hub of the fictional nation of Voulhire.
Galen, a young immigrant and aspiring blacksmith, travels with the aid of his friends to the city of Virko in hopes to forge a business alliance with one of the many wealthy lords therein. Upon arrival, however, he and his companions find themselves thrust into the middle of a large political transition. During which, certain nobles within the city have concocted a dangerous scheme to control the power of the industrial mecca.
One of my favorite things about the story is the design of one of the central antagonists Meldorath. Often, when I read books of this nature, the central antagonists feel untouchable or particularly bloodthirsty. Meldorath is neither, he has allies who are unafraid to smart off to him or tease him on his brooding, and he also seems to have anxieties, doubts, and insecurities despite his overwhelming power and cunning.
As in the first book, the characters, settings, and interactions are engaging and unique. The pacing of this book is almost the complete opposite of the first, with it instead beginning with a small amount of exposition, after which the book rapidly increases in tension. It builds on the strong foundation of the first but integrates several new antagonists and relevant characters into the mix. This works effectively to propel the story forwards without the plot feeling rushed. Possibly my favorite thing about Tysz’s writing is his ability to create characters and setting with not only life to them, but also potential. Characters with carefully created wives, friends, and children not only give fullness to the setting but also bring a level of expectation which allows the reader to wonder how they might develop. One of the things I disliked about the book, however, was the heavy use of crude and sexual dialogue. At times it was necessary to the plot or characteristic of the speaker, but a lot of it felt gratuitous to me.
I rate this book at four out of four stars. Aside from the overuse of vulgar language, I had no complaints with this book. It was well edited, structured, paced, and written. I believe any fantasy buff would enjoy this novel. Unfortunately, due to the content of the story, I would not suggest this book to children or young teen readers.
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We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
We Are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko is the second novel of the "We Are Voulhire" series, and continues the plot from where the first book left off. If you haven’t read the first book of the series by author Matthew Tysz then, this sequel may not make a lot of sense to you. As suggested by the title, the book moves the plot into the city of Virko, the industrial hub of the fictional nation of Voulhire.
Galen, a young immigrant and aspiring blacksmith, travels with the aid of his friends to the city of Virko in hopes to forge a business alliance with one of the many wealthy lords therein. Upon arrival, however, he and his companions find themselves thrust into the middle of a large political transition. During which, certain nobles within the city have concocted a dangerous scheme to control the power of the industrial mecca.
One of my favorite things about the story is the design of one of the central antagonists Meldorath. Often, when I read books of this nature, the central antagonists feel untouchable or particularly bloodthirsty. Meldorath is neither, he has allies who are unafraid to smart off to him or tease him on his brooding, and he also seems to have anxieties, doubts, and insecurities despite his overwhelming power and cunning.
As in the first book, the characters, settings, and interactions are engaging and unique. The pacing of this book is almost the complete opposite of the first, with it instead beginning with a small amount of exposition, after which the book rapidly increases in tension. It builds on the strong foundation of the first but integrates several new antagonists and relevant characters into the mix. This works effectively to propel the story forwards without the plot feeling rushed. Possibly my favorite thing about Tysz’s writing is his ability to create characters and setting with not only life to them, but also potential. Characters with carefully created wives, friends, and children not only give fullness to the setting but also bring a level of expectation which allows the reader to wonder how they might develop. One of the things I disliked about the book, however, was the heavy use of crude and sexual dialogue. At times it was necessary to the plot or characteristic of the speaker, but a lot of it felt gratuitous to me.
I rate this book at four out of four stars. Aside from the overuse of vulgar language, I had no complaints with this book. It was well edited, structured, paced, and written. I believe any fantasy buff would enjoy this novel. Unfortunately, due to the content of the story, I would not suggest this book to children or young teen readers.
******
We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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