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

[avrilking]

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

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

On the surface, the country of Voulhire appears to be peaceful. After experiencing a period of time filled with violence and uncertainty, this would be a welcome change, if only it were true. In reality, the kingdom of Matthew Tysz’s We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies is simultaneously trying to recover from years of corruption and destruction, ensure civilians and aristocrats are safe from a band of rogues, and keep the most powerful mage in existence permanently confined. This is the situation that Galen Bray walks into as a young, hopeful refugee looking for a place to call home.

Tysz’s story is compelling and extremely well-written, with multiple instances of foreshadowing and powerful set-ups for up-coming scenes. Each individual character is well thought-out and powerfully crafted; some of the most minor characters are given rounded personalities and complicated backstories, even if they aren’t revealed to the reader in-depth. What is particularly compelling about We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies is the thought and research that must have gone into creating the fictional universe. Its histories and traditions are discussed continuously throughout the book, making it more than just a piece of land. It’s so detailed and complicated, reading about it feels like reading about a character, not a country.

My only disappointment with the book was the lack of many powerful female characters. Most of the chapters came from the male perspective, and male characters did most of the decision-making and story-telling. However, it seemed like Tysz was setting up a strong female character toward the end of the book, so it would be interesting to see if she takes more of a lead in the sequel.

The book was professionally edited and masterfully told. It’s a story that’s easy to get lost in, making the reader feel like a citizen of Voulhire after a few chapters. That’s why I’m rating it 4 out of 4 stars.

Tysz’s world was based in fantasy, but I would not describe it as whimsical. There are several mature topics that came up throughout the course of the story, including child molestation, rape, and murder. There are also some instances of mature language. Therefore, I would recommend it to anyone who is in high school or older. Individuals interested in this book should be willing to be analytical in their reading, prepared to re-read pages and chapters as more complicated themes and scenes arise. It may not necessarily be a quick and easy read, but it’s certainly worth the amount of time it takes to fully enjoy the story.

******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[John Owen]

I read and reviewed this book too, it's amazing. I'm currently on the 3rd book. It's true the book has no "strong" female characters, but it suits the book well like that (in my opinion). Nice review!