Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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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 by Matthew Tysz is the first book in the We are Voulhire series. The series takes place in various universes, each of which is governed by different principles such as science and magic. This first book is set in Voulhire, a country ruled by humanity in the science universe. Voulhire is described as a prosperous country that leads all other human-governed nations culturally and economically. We get to see Voulhire through the eyes of Galen Bray, an immigrant to Voulhire who leaves his war-torn homeland for Voulhire after unexpectedly inheriting a forge from his great uncle in the hopes of a brighter future. Despite its prosperity, Voulhire is plagued by problems that lie beneath its flawless surface. One such issue is the Riva Rohavi, a band of rebels who despise Voulhire and slaughter anyone who helps it prosper. Another issue is the house arrest of Dalehei Meldorath, a mysterious but powerful mage. The king wishes to defend his country, but he cannot rely on the Mianoran knights. Galen Bray arrives in Voulhire by boat during this time.
There were several aspects of this book that I liked. I liked how the author included a map of Voulhire at the start. The map aids the reader in visualizing where everything is taking place. Readers can also accompany the characters on their journeys through the various cities. Each city has its own distinct personality, and the map helps to put everything in context. Soulhire, the capital city of Voulhire, is an example of this. Soulhire is a fortified city and the national financial center. It also houses the king's palace. Soulhire is located at the confluence of two rivers, Ordo and Liber, which join to form the Nubere.
Another aspect of this book that I enjoyed was the excellent world-building and characterization. The author was able to create a world in which the fictional elements blended well with logic, adding depth and possibilities to the imagined world. When we first meet Galen, he appears to be a gullible main character. The depth of his character is revealed as the story progresses, raising the reader's expectations of what Galen can accomplish. Demetrius realizes while speaking to Rowan, that men like Galen are rare.
What I didn't like about the book were the numerous characters and the unfamiliar vocabulary. The book has so many characters that it can be challenging to keep track of them all and their storylines. The author could have fixed this by including a character list that puts each character in the appropriate context. The book contains many new words that are unique to the author's world. It is difficult to decipher the meaning of new words while reading the book. It's annoying to have to stop reading to look something up so you can understand the story better. The author attempted to address this by including a glossary at the end of the book. The glossary consists of terms, concepts, and names unique to the world of Voulhire.
This is an excellent book that holds your attention from beginning to end. I found no errors in the book, indicating that it was exceptionally well-edited. I really enjoyed reading this book, so I give it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Anyone who enjoys action-packed fantasy novels should read this book. The book contains some profanity and mild sexual content, making it inappropriate for young children or teenagers.
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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 by Matthew Tysz is the first book in the We are Voulhire series. The series takes place in various universes, each of which is governed by different principles such as science and magic. This first book is set in Voulhire, a country ruled by humanity in the science universe. Voulhire is described as a prosperous country that leads all other human-governed nations culturally and economically. We get to see Voulhire through the eyes of Galen Bray, an immigrant to Voulhire who leaves his war-torn homeland for Voulhire after unexpectedly inheriting a forge from his great uncle in the hopes of a brighter future. Despite its prosperity, Voulhire is plagued by problems that lie beneath its flawless surface. One such issue is the Riva Rohavi, a band of rebels who despise Voulhire and slaughter anyone who helps it prosper. Another issue is the house arrest of Dalehei Meldorath, a mysterious but powerful mage. The king wishes to defend his country, but he cannot rely on the Mianoran knights. Galen Bray arrives in Voulhire by boat during this time.
There were several aspects of this book that I liked. I liked how the author included a map of Voulhire at the start. The map aids the reader in visualizing where everything is taking place. Readers can also accompany the characters on their journeys through the various cities. Each city has its own distinct personality, and the map helps to put everything in context. Soulhire, the capital city of Voulhire, is an example of this. Soulhire is a fortified city and the national financial center. It also houses the king's palace. Soulhire is located at the confluence of two rivers, Ordo and Liber, which join to form the Nubere.
Another aspect of this book that I enjoyed was the excellent world-building and characterization. The author was able to create a world in which the fictional elements blended well with logic, adding depth and possibilities to the imagined world. When we first meet Galen, he appears to be a gullible main character. The depth of his character is revealed as the story progresses, raising the reader's expectations of what Galen can accomplish. Demetrius realizes while speaking to Rowan, that men like Galen are rare.
What I didn't like about the book were the numerous characters and the unfamiliar vocabulary. The book has so many characters that it can be challenging to keep track of them all and their storylines. The author could have fixed this by including a character list that puts each character in the appropriate context. The book contains many new words that are unique to the author's world. It is difficult to decipher the meaning of new words while reading the book. It's annoying to have to stop reading to look something up so you can understand the story better. The author attempted to address this by including a glossary at the end of the book. The glossary consists of terms, concepts, and names unique to the world of Voulhire.
This is an excellent book that holds your attention from beginning to end. I found no errors in the book, indicating that it was exceptionally well-edited. I really enjoyed reading this book, so I give it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Anyone who enjoys action-packed fantasy novels should read this book. The book contains some profanity and mild sexual content, making it inappropriate for young children or teenagers.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: JTs World by E. Alan Fleischauer
