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
In We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz, the author takes us on an excursion to the fantasy kingdom of Voulhire. The sea around Voulhire is owned by the Emperor of Lullabies who gifted to his sons four islands to the southwest of Voulhire. This generous gift was meant by the Emperor to divert from himself the threat of being killed by his sons as they aspire to take his throne. Since then, these islands, known as The Lands of the Princes, have been in a constant state of war unleashed by the Emperor’s sons against each other. The desperate fugitives were fleeing to Voulhire from the warring Lands of the Princes, wreaking havoc in its cities, and troubling the citizens of Voulhire. Eventually, the Voulhire's king had to close immigration from the Lands of the Princes, except under special circumstances. Against this backdrop, a shimmer of luck brightens the life of Galen Bray, a twenty-eight-year-old native of the Land of the Princes. As the sole heir of his late great uncle who owned a forge in Voulhire, Galen is granted the citizenship of Voulhire, and he boards a boat to flee The Lands of the Princes for Voulhire. Reading this book, we join Galen on his travels and discover Voulhire and the incredible adventures that lie ahead for him.
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies is a fascinating fantasy. The author masterfully develops and connects several threads of the plot, giving the readers a wholesome picture of life in Voulhire. Reading this book, I felt as if I were out there in Voulhire, experiencing the adventures alongside Galen on his quest to learn the trade of a blacksmith in this fantasy world. From the outset, I took instantly to Galen, not least because in his life he tries to follow his grandmother’s advice – “See the good in everything, and the best of it will find you.” (page 15, the fourth paragraph) – no matter what adversities and perils confront him in his life. This is my favourite thread in the story.
In parallel with the adventures of Galen, the author develops other threads that kept me captivated. The two worlds - Cosmos and Caromentis - that co-exist in Voulhire; the mystery surrounding the eviction of Lord Meldorath; the supernatural events that unfold in the Meldorath's castle; the gift to Galen of a lactis iron rod by a mysterious mage; and how all these events are connected – all these and more distinct yet connected threads drive the plot, making this book a gripping and enjoyable read.
I also liked that this book is more than simply a well-written fantasy. The author bravely exposes the problems of pedophilia and immigration from warring states.
Last but not the least, I liked that this book is the first book in the We are Voulhire series of nine novels, and I look forward to my reunion with Galen in the next book of the series.
I did not dislike anything in this fascinating book.
The book is exceptionally well-edited, and I did not find any errors. I thoroughly enjoyed every episode, so I happily rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
I recommend this book to a wide adult audience of fans of fantasy and adventure. The book’s title and cover do not look unquestionably “adult”, and young teenagers may feel tempted by the unusual word “Voulhire” and by the intriguing mention of “New Arrival” in the book’s title. So I ought to mention that the book has mild sexually-charged scenes. Likewise, the book has very few and mild instances of profanity. These instances make the book unsuitable for children.
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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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