Review by Jkure -- We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko

[Jkure]

[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 by Matthew Tysz is a sequel to an earlier book. The Science Fiction/Fantasy is an intriguing book that has the ability to draw you in, offering twists and thrills on a page by page basis. Tysz presents an absolutely remarkable story, so engaging that one is left anticipating a subsequent book in the series.

Virko found itself on the brink of a transition. Lord Venden Hrelek, the man who built the city - and who now ran it - wanted a shift from sovereign rule to a more contemporary capitalist government. Being on the brink of death, the Lord sought to limit - if not wipe out - the power available to nobles, including his family. This proposition didn't go down well with many, including Hans Hrelek (his own son who was in line to succeed him) and a certain Lord Dragan. This prompted some political power play, as certain Lords fought to maintain their power.

The story also follows Galen Bray, a blacksmith and refugee along with his companions Rowan and Demetrius. The three set out to Virko in search of iron supplies, which saw them caught up in the chaos brewing in the city. They encountered a demon, and Demetrius - being a monk - took it on himself to rid the town of the evil. The future of Virko was on the balance as the events unfolded.

The lovely thing about this story is how it analyses certain ideologies across religion and politics, as the city's powers tried to redefine its position in both. The author addresses the business of running a city, but still offers an intimacy with the plot through his unique characters. Each character had something likable about them, with even the villains attracting some form of sympathy at times. Tysz employed a unique style where he frequently switched between first and third person point of view, as the story had a more personal touch for some characters more than others. He also weighed in regularly with a healthy dose of humor that ensured the book was really fun to read. This book was very well edited as there were no typos or grammatical errors.

I would rate this book four out of four stars. Tysz does a very good job of providing entertainment at every turn, with an unpredictability that kept you guessing. The absence of errors means that there is nothing not to like about this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Science Fiction/Fantasy.

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We are Voulhire: The Fires of Virko
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