Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies

[Cara Wilding]

[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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“We are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies” by Matthew Tysz is the first book of his series. The first pages invite you into a time where there is magic, mages, and lords. We meet Galen, who escapes from the war-torn Lands of the Princes, where one’s fate is to suffer from toil or poverty. There is not much to hope for in the Lands of the Princes, but in Voulhire – this was a much better place…or so it seemed.


Galen inherits a forge from a distant great uncle and is beyond grateful for the opportunity to learn the blacksmith trade in his new home, Magnum Caleum. Meanwhile, glimpses of unease arise in other parts of this utopian kingdom. A fleet of ships mysteriously wardens a remote island from something or someone dangerous. A masquerading and malevolent community conspires to dismantle the empire. This story takes place in a multiverse where three worlds exist: the physical world – Cosmos, the magical world – Caromentis, and the spiritual world – Alithea. Which characters are charitable or nefarious? How will the worlds collide? What peril is approaching?


The reader is at once absorbed into the fantasy universe that forms a hybridized version of our modern world. The author’s use of language is captivating and compels the reader to keep turning the pages (e.g., he described how much focus a specific type of magic needed as “It’s like threading a mile of string through the eye of a needle without touching the edges.”) The author devotes his writing to all human senses; you can see, smell, hear, feel, and taste the words on the pages. The narrative is exciting and keeps attention from the beginning to the end. The reader will have questions left by curious crumbs; for example, when Galen’s pursuers say to his savior, “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into!” Or, when Demetrius talks of Galen and says, “…there is something else, but when I try to perceive it, that cloud only seems to thicken.” There is a looming sentiment that Galen is not who he seems and that he is hiding something significant.


The book is enthralling, well-written, and well-edited. The author includes links to his website at the beginning of the book, offering a more in-depth look at the worlds he has created for this series, which adds more insight into the story; however, it is unnecessary to enjoy the book. I have never experienced an author doing this before and enjoyed getting a more profound view. The only thing I wish the author would have done differently is to make the plot more transparent in this first book. The reader needs to understand how or why Galen is important or what his goal is, and the book ends by opening a can of worms! Despite this, I rate the book a 4 out of 4 as I cannot wait to read his next book and discover who Galen truly is! I recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy, science fiction, and the metaphysical. It also might appeal to young adults, action-adventure lovers, and those with a penchant for myths and legends.

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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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[Anu Anand]

I really enjoyed this book! The author did a great job with all the characters. Lord Meldorath was my favorite too, and I hope he's not the evil one. Galen, despite his kindness, gives off some mysterious vibes. Maybe he has a big mission ahead, like creating a magical sword or something.
I loved how you summarized the book with a hint of mystery. It is well-crafted and undoubtedly has the potential to pique readers' interest. For me, writing a review for this book felt a bit tricky because it had so many intriguing elements to choose from, and it had to be done without giving any spoilers. I think I ended up being a bit vague, but it's nice to see your take on the book. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing this fantastic and detailed review!

[Cara Wilding]

I really enjoyed this book! The author did a great job with all the characters. Lord Meldorath was my favorite too, and I hope he's not the evil one. Galen, despite his kindness, gives off some mysterious vibes. Maybe he has a big mission ahead, like creating a magical sword or something.
I loved how you summarized the book with a hint of mystery. It is well-crafted and undoubtedly has the potential to pique readers' interest. For me, writing a review for this book felt a bit tricky because it had so many intriguing elements to choose from, and it had to be done without giving any spoilers. I think I ended up being a bit vague, but it's nice to see your take on the book. I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing this fantastic and detailed review!

Anu, I guess I missed your comment on my review back in October—well, I'm here now! Have you had the chance to read the next book? I felt like it was tricky writing this review as well, primarily so as not to spoil it, but as you point out, there were so many significant aspects to choose from! I'm glad I'm not the only one who really enjoyed this author! Thanks for taking the time to read my review, and sorry for the late response! Until next time...

[Mari Thompson]

Excellent summary. I read this book too and it sure does seem like Galen is going to be going through a lot in the books to come. I look forward to reading more of your reviews.

[Seetha E]

Wow, Cara! The author's writing style is incredibly engaging and has a way of drawing you in. It's clear that you really immersed yourself in the book and found it to be a delightful read. I'll definitely keep an eye out for this one based on your recommendations. Thank you for sharing such a thorough and insightful summary!