Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
-
Charlie Ronaldson
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 31 May 2021, 21:56
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 5
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-charlie-ronaldson.html
- Latest Review: San Francisco Values by Geri Spieler and Rick Kaplowitz
Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.]
The universe smiles on Galen Bray when it transforms a bad thing into the key to his freedom. The best thing that could ever happen to him was the death of his uncle, Onita Galen. As the heir to his uncle’s fortune, he acquires the papers he needs to finally escape his home in the war-torn Islands of the Princes. The Emperor of Lullabies, the warring princes’ father, does not try to settle the differences between his sons. If anything, he is mad with joy that his boys are at war because this would keep them from plotting to assassinate him to take his throne. So, there is no end in sight for the ongoing war that has lasted for over a decade already. So, it makes sense that Galen would jump at the first chance to escape this place before it kills him.
The boat he joins takes him to Magnum Caelum, his new home in Voulhire. This is his chance to start over and forget about the years of death and suffering that he has seen. Happy-go-lucky Galen, naïve Galen, wants to be the best blacksmith that this small town has ever seen. He wants to build a successful life here. He plans on making things work. But will the danger that looms over Voulhire like rain clouds allow him to achieve even a sliver of his dreams. Will the Riva Rohavi destroy Voulhire before he even has a chance to make a life for himself here. Would Lord Meldorath make this beautiful kingdom a place that would see Galen fleeing for safety in the future?
Matthew Tysz wrote We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies as the first novel in the We Are Voulhire series. It serves more as an introductory script to Voulhire, its people, enemies, and allies. It gives bits and pieces of background stories on some places, things, and characters in the book. Many of these characters will become reoccurring characters for the rest of the series so it is only proper that we know a thing or two about them and their past.
There is so much to love about the way Matthew Tysz writes this novel. The first and most noticeable thing about the writing style is the fact that he employed the use of two narrating techniques to tell the story. One is the first person POV which he gave solely to Galen. This is to say that Galen told the story as he saw them. The second is the third person POV which was used on all other characters and subplots. The second noticeable thing that has to do with the way the novel is written is the structure. There are no chapters (like chapters 1, 2, 3, etc.). Rather, supposed chapters bear the name of the character around whom the subplot or events in that chapter would orbit. I like this unique style. In fact, I like it most out of all other features or positive points in We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies.
The only dislike (and my least liked point) in We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies is how scanty information provided concerning the past of both Rowan, Galen’s companion, and Meldorath are. There was little to nothing about the kind of people they were before Galen arrived in Voulhire. I was left wondering what was up with them and what dark secrets they were hiding in their past.
I give We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies a four out of four stars rating. Even though I was not happy with the little information given about Meldorath's and Rowan's past life, I believe that my questions will be answered in the other books in the series. So I cannot complain too much. The rating also came about because of how interesting and properly developed the story is. The blend of magic and science was also nice, innovative. The whole book is filled with mystery, suspense, and interesting revelations. It was also flawlessly edited.
We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies should be read by anybody looking for a good fantasy novel that has a bit of magic, science, war, humor, and a lot of adventure. There are a lot of mysteries and puzzles that I cannot wait to decode in the sequels of the book. So, I cannot wait to read its sequel.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The universe smiles on Galen Bray when it transforms a bad thing into the key to his freedom. The best thing that could ever happen to him was the death of his uncle, Onita Galen. As the heir to his uncle’s fortune, he acquires the papers he needs to finally escape his home in the war-torn Islands of the Princes. The Emperor of Lullabies, the warring princes’ father, does not try to settle the differences between his sons. If anything, he is mad with joy that his boys are at war because this would keep them from plotting to assassinate him to take his throne. So, there is no end in sight for the ongoing war that has lasted for over a decade already. So, it makes sense that Galen would jump at the first chance to escape this place before it kills him.
The boat he joins takes him to Magnum Caelum, his new home in Voulhire. This is his chance to start over and forget about the years of death and suffering that he has seen. Happy-go-lucky Galen, naïve Galen, wants to be the best blacksmith that this small town has ever seen. He wants to build a successful life here. He plans on making things work. But will the danger that looms over Voulhire like rain clouds allow him to achieve even a sliver of his dreams. Will the Riva Rohavi destroy Voulhire before he even has a chance to make a life for himself here. Would Lord Meldorath make this beautiful kingdom a place that would see Galen fleeing for safety in the future?
Matthew Tysz wrote We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies as the first novel in the We Are Voulhire series. It serves more as an introductory script to Voulhire, its people, enemies, and allies. It gives bits and pieces of background stories on some places, things, and characters in the book. Many of these characters will become reoccurring characters for the rest of the series so it is only proper that we know a thing or two about them and their past.
There is so much to love about the way Matthew Tysz writes this novel. The first and most noticeable thing about the writing style is the fact that he employed the use of two narrating techniques to tell the story. One is the first person POV which he gave solely to Galen. This is to say that Galen told the story as he saw them. The second is the third person POV which was used on all other characters and subplots. The second noticeable thing that has to do with the way the novel is written is the structure. There are no chapters (like chapters 1, 2, 3, etc.). Rather, supposed chapters bear the name of the character around whom the subplot or events in that chapter would orbit. I like this unique style. In fact, I like it most out of all other features or positive points in We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies.
The only dislike (and my least liked point) in We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies is how scanty information provided concerning the past of both Rowan, Galen’s companion, and Meldorath are. There was little to nothing about the kind of people they were before Galen arrived in Voulhire. I was left wondering what was up with them and what dark secrets they were hiding in their past.
I give We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies a four out of four stars rating. Even though I was not happy with the little information given about Meldorath's and Rowan's past life, I believe that my questions will be answered in the other books in the series. So I cannot complain too much. The rating also came about because of how interesting and properly developed the story is. The blend of magic and science was also nice, innovative. The whole book is filled with mystery, suspense, and interesting revelations. It was also flawlessly edited.
We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies should be read by anybody looking for a good fantasy novel that has a bit of magic, science, war, humor, and a lot of adventure. There are a lot of mysteries and puzzles that I cannot wait to decode in the sequels of the book. So, I cannot wait to read its sequel.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: San Francisco Values by Geri Spieler and Rick Kaplowitz
