Review by Andrea Sales 1 -- We are Voulhire: A New Arriv...

[Andrea Francene]

[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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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz tells the story of the Kingdom of Voulhire, its people, and the refugee, Galen Bray. This is the first book out of nine in the Voulhire series and it does an excellent job in introducing its world and its characters.

We are first introduced to Dalehei Meldorath, one of, if not, the strongest mage in Voulhire. The opening act shows his magical prowess and already sets the tone of why the people fear and even admire him. The next person of interest is the refugee, Galen Bray. He hails from the Lands of the Princes, a kingdom in constant civil war, rife with poverty and betrayal. We follow his journey of escaping his homeland, his new life in Voulhire and discovering more of this world he lives in. Along the way, we meet more of the people that live in Voulhire, its history, struggles and beliefs.

The writing is so detailed and compelling that you can actually picture yourself in that world, taking part in the royal gatherings, marveling at the architecture of Voulhire alongside Galen, fearing the very mention of Meldorath’s name. Instead of chapters, the stories are segmented by different points of view. For Galen, it is always in his perspective, for everyone else, it is told in the third person. At times, a change in perspective can cause confusion, but I found it was not detrimental to the reading experience and actually makes scenes with Galen feel more personal.

I enjoyed reading this book from start to finish and with the cliffhanger at the end, I can’t wait to jump to the next book. Out of the nine books, six have already been published including this first title so there’s no reason to end your journey through Voulhire just yet. There is a glossary of terms, along with a pronunciation guide for some of the names, which is a very appreciated addition when it comes to fantasy novels such as this. There is also a link that brings you to a website for further reading on the universe and history of Voulhire if you need more of Matthew Tysz’s wonderful creation.

I found nothing to dislike about the book and didn’t notice any errors while reading. I give it a 4 out of 4 stars for its excellent storytelling and world building that you can’t just get enough of.

I recommend this to people who enjoy reading adult fantasy with not only magic but also political intrigue, suspense and action. There are topics that some might find hard to read about like violence, paedophilia and implied rape. If you wish to enter the world of Voulhire, you are in for a story so well crafted, you’d want to be part of it.

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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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[Ace John]

You explain the book wonderfully that it makes me want to read it. I'm glad you loved it and I may choose it next. Nice review.