Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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JSWorrilless
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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.]
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies is one of the most interesting fantasy novels I have read. Matthew Tysz narrates the tale of Galen, a young man who leaves the war-stricken Lands of the Princes to find his uncle's home in Voulhire. What seems like the end of his plight is merely the start of a journey filled with mystery and adventure. Voulhire seems like the most prosperous kingdom in outsiders' eyes but on the inside lies a retinue of jaw-dropping secrets. Under the calm facade is a fierce battle for power, unnoticed violence, magic, and betrayal. The book also gives attention to the various lords who rule the land, each of whom has his hidden secret.
Sufficient effort has been put into writing this story and it is evident in every chapter. Matthew uses different points of view to narrate the story, making it easier to comprehend why certain things happen the way they do. The characters' feelings and internal conflicts have been described in detail. I also love the clarity given to every aspect of the book. The author focuses on the tiniest of details, for instance, the dancing culture of the Riva Rohavi that brings the novel to life. There is also a separate section at the end of the book where all uncommon words and phrases have been explained for clarity.
One of the things I love the most is the fact that Matthew is unafraid of the controversy that may arise from delving into certain sensitive topics, and he does so without offending any of the involved parties.
The protagonist is portrayed as a realistic character, without the pretense of being too kind for his own good. For example, it is clearly stated that although the demise of his uncle devastates him, he is thankful to his uncle's executor for giving him the chance to have a home. I especially enjoyed reading the stories of different main characters thanks to the chapter headings that provided a smooth transition from one story to another. It is a well-written and well-edited book and I only encountered one absolute error.
The only thing I dislike is the fact that it takes too long for the protagonist to be clearly revealed. As a result, I did not fully grasp the story until I read several chapters.
I adore this story and can't wait to read the other books in the series. Although I would have preferred it if the protagonist was given more focus, the other characters are equally interesting so I rate it 4 out of 4.
This book is an excellent choice for readers who are curious about kingdom politics and the greed that lies within the seemingly magnificent countries. I would not recommend it to readers who are not accepting of the coexistence between magic and religion, because the two go hand in hand in this book. Since most of the tropes are complex, I would recommend the story to adults and teens above the age of 14.
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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies is one of the most interesting fantasy novels I have read. Matthew Tysz narrates the tale of Galen, a young man who leaves the war-stricken Lands of the Princes to find his uncle's home in Voulhire. What seems like the end of his plight is merely the start of a journey filled with mystery and adventure. Voulhire seems like the most prosperous kingdom in outsiders' eyes but on the inside lies a retinue of jaw-dropping secrets. Under the calm facade is a fierce battle for power, unnoticed violence, magic, and betrayal. The book also gives attention to the various lords who rule the land, each of whom has his hidden secret.
Sufficient effort has been put into writing this story and it is evident in every chapter. Matthew uses different points of view to narrate the story, making it easier to comprehend why certain things happen the way they do. The characters' feelings and internal conflicts have been described in detail. I also love the clarity given to every aspect of the book. The author focuses on the tiniest of details, for instance, the dancing culture of the Riva Rohavi that brings the novel to life. There is also a separate section at the end of the book where all uncommon words and phrases have been explained for clarity.
One of the things I love the most is the fact that Matthew is unafraid of the controversy that may arise from delving into certain sensitive topics, and he does so without offending any of the involved parties.
The protagonist is portrayed as a realistic character, without the pretense of being too kind for his own good. For example, it is clearly stated that although the demise of his uncle devastates him, he is thankful to his uncle's executor for giving him the chance to have a home. I especially enjoyed reading the stories of different main characters thanks to the chapter headings that provided a smooth transition from one story to another. It is a well-written and well-edited book and I only encountered one absolute error.
The only thing I dislike is the fact that it takes too long for the protagonist to be clearly revealed. As a result, I did not fully grasp the story until I read several chapters.
I adore this story and can't wait to read the other books in the series. Although I would have preferred it if the protagonist was given more focus, the other characters are equally interesting so I rate it 4 out of 4.
This book is an excellent choice for readers who are curious about kingdom politics and the greed that lies within the seemingly magnificent countries. I would not recommend it to readers who are not accepting of the coexistence between magic and religion, because the two go hand in hand in this book. Since most of the tropes are complex, I would recommend the story to adults and teens above the age of 14.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Phobia Relief by Kalliope Barlis
