Review by Julez -- We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under ...

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Julez
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Review by Julez -- We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under ...

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[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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The thirst for power, war and magic thrives in these lands but Voulhire is the unique kingdom where you have no excuse to fail. The first installment in the Voulhire series, We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies, Matthew Tysz leaves no stone unturned as he successfully weaves a web between the reader and complex characters of the book leaving a person's attention fully captured. This is an epic fantasy novel that is suitable for both young adults and the older crowd. The narrative is told through multiple POVs which greatly reminds me of the famous Game of Thrones series, and I must commend the effort of the author because it's not an easy trick to pull.


This book opens up with a magic explosion and leaves us hanging with the question "Is Dalehei Meldorath, the powerful mage dead?" Despite a rumour that strongly lingers that he's alive, no one wants this evil mage around, including King Wilheim of Voulhire who will do anything to protect his people from the threatening evil. Still, Meldorath's ghost constantly plagues their peace. Will there be answers? Meanwhile, innocent Galen Bray from the Land of the Princes has come into an unexpected inheritance left behind by his late great-uncle. He finds himself snagged into an adventure where he unknowingly plays a major role in the city's upheaval.


My favorite character is Galen Bray. His innocence and grateful spirit is quite refreshing, and I would hate to see his character killed off. Hopefully, it doesn't happen. I also found quotes like "Keep your mind on Earth, but your heart among the stars" on page 59 and "blessed are they who earn their evening skies" on page 38 interesting. A little bit of wordplay and poetry are things I look out for in a book and Tysz did not disappoint.


I equally loved the author's inclusion of a map. His colorful portrayal of the difference in cultures among cities, and tasteful descriptions of their environment is a testament to Tysz's world building skills. He has successfully created a world of wonder called Voulhire. However, I wish this book could be satisfying on its own. If the author's aim is to make the reader pick up the second book in the series, then I'll have to say he succeeded.


I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I found it engaging and well edited. Coming across errors in a book usually puts me off and this author obviously did his homework. If you are a lover of fantasy with a sprinkle of magic, then this book is a definite pick for your bookshelf.

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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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