Review by Wesley Friday -- We are Voulhire: The Fires of...

[Wesley Friday]

[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko" by Matthew Tysz.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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We Are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko is the second instalment in Matthew Tysz’s We Are Voulhire series. After the introductory instalment, the author continues the series in The Fires of Virko by zooming in on one particular Voulhirian city; the city of Virko. Virko, once an arid land in the middle of nowhere, was transformed by Venden Hrekel into the industrial hub of Voulhirian prosperity and he has been lord over the city since.

But as he nears his death, for some unknown reason, he wishes that this title not be passed down his lineage and requests the king to establish a government in the city. Against this background, the author throws in several new elements which make the story more interesting and invites the reader to keep on exploring. These new elements take the forms of wealthy and noble families who seek to remain relevant in Virko as times change, the new guards of the city, the church of Destinism as it seeks to impact secular Virko as well as rivalry between individual characters and hints of certain amorous relationships which serve as the motivation for certain characters’ acts.

Despite all these new introductions in the city of Virko, the author does not forget to keep up with the other equally important characters. Galen Bray, our refugee from the four princes island, is taking up his uncle’s trade in forgery and seems to catch on quickly. In addition to Rowan, he has a new member in his entourage; Demetrius, a monk from Yamon Soul. But at the same time, one wonders what kind of business intertwines his fate with the city of Virko. Lord Meldorath lies low in the castle of Hillport after escaping his prison in Lorcia’s Isle and now gathers his accomplices around himself right in the heart of Hillport. This could be regarded as a foreshadowing of what would happen subsequently. The question is whether he will succeed.

I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. One of the things I liked most about this book was the editing. The editing for the second instalment is just as professionally done as the first instalment and makes reading the book quite enjoyable. I also like how the author tied the personal ambitions and motivations of each major character into the grand scheme of the plot nicely. The shifting of the center of focus from other parts of the Voulhirian Empire to Virko in this instalment also made it a refreshing read since it explored the uniqueness of that part of the empire and also showcased the writer’s skills at building worlds.

I would recommend this book to persons who are particularly interested in the genre of fantasy as it combines the existence and operation of the supernatural with the physical. I would also recommend this book to all persons who have read the first instalment of the We Are Voulhire series.

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We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko
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[Asma Aisha Ansari]

Having read and reviewed this book earlier, I couldn't agree with you more. It's amazing how good the world-building, the characters and the plot of this book are.
Thanks for the review.