Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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Lakshuu Jangid
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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.]
For 28 years, Galen lived an existence devoid of hope, plagued by crushing poverty, absolute solitude, and the chaos and war of the Land of the Princes. But then, quite suddenly, everything changed because of the discovery of an uncle he had never known—a blacksmith living in the supposedly peaceful territory of Voulhire. That uncle, it turned out, had written Galen into his will as the sole heir to his estate and had contracted a man named Rowan to ensure that Galen was brought to Voulhire, away from the war-ridden Land of the Princes. Sadly, Galen's uncle had passed before the two men could meet, but he had left behind a letter for Galen, a manual on blacksmithing that he had written himself, and a forge that was supposed to be in working order. As opportunities allow, both Rowan and Galen dig into the mystery of a strange stone, a stone that might be Voulhire's only redemption.
The first book in the We Are Voulhire series, titled We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies, is authored by Matthew Tysz. The tale unfolds in an alternate reality—one governed by magic and avarice, where the forces of good and evil are indistinguishable.
There are many characters in this book, and their development is excellent. I especially loved Rowan's mix of wit and humor. I liked how he was always so patient with Galen. However, I can't shake the feeling that Demetrius might make off with the stone if he ever figures out its true power. My main issue with this book is that Galen's character development seemed a little lacking. He obviously seems to be the main protagonist, and the story is mostly told from his perspective, but he is a very poor character to hang a story on. He is far too naïve for someone who has had to lead a life of constant fear and oppression for over twenty years.
The book is so dark and intense that at one moment, I had to stop and take a break just to recuperate from the intensity. But even while my breathing was evening out, I knew I couldn't abandon the story because it was too compelling. Matthew is a wizard with words and uses every part of speech strategically and beautifully. That was certainly the case for this one.
I adore every single aspect of this book—from its writing and editing to its overall presentation. Each word imbued my very being with a sensation of delight; I was utterly powerless to resist the siren's call of a page, and I prayed the chapters wouldn't end. Undoubtedly, this book deserves its hard-earned 5 out of 5 stars. I didn't detect any issues worth mentioning, and I did not encounter any grammar or typographical errors, so I can only assume this book was exceptionally well edited.
This book has likely not-for-kids content and shocks a youthful audience with an extremely violent murder in its introduction. Not for anyone who has a weak stomach. But if you are looking for something mesmerizing, if you can take the red stuff and don't mind it across the pages, We Are Voulhire is absolutely captivating.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
For 28 years, Galen lived an existence devoid of hope, plagued by crushing poverty, absolute solitude, and the chaos and war of the Land of the Princes. But then, quite suddenly, everything changed because of the discovery of an uncle he had never known—a blacksmith living in the supposedly peaceful territory of Voulhire. That uncle, it turned out, had written Galen into his will as the sole heir to his estate and had contracted a man named Rowan to ensure that Galen was brought to Voulhire, away from the war-ridden Land of the Princes. Sadly, Galen's uncle had passed before the two men could meet, but he had left behind a letter for Galen, a manual on blacksmithing that he had written himself, and a forge that was supposed to be in working order. As opportunities allow, both Rowan and Galen dig into the mystery of a strange stone, a stone that might be Voulhire's only redemption.
The first book in the We Are Voulhire series, titled We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies, is authored by Matthew Tysz. The tale unfolds in an alternate reality—one governed by magic and avarice, where the forces of good and evil are indistinguishable.
There are many characters in this book, and their development is excellent. I especially loved Rowan's mix of wit and humor. I liked how he was always so patient with Galen. However, I can't shake the feeling that Demetrius might make off with the stone if he ever figures out its true power. My main issue with this book is that Galen's character development seemed a little lacking. He obviously seems to be the main protagonist, and the story is mostly told from his perspective, but he is a very poor character to hang a story on. He is far too naïve for someone who has had to lead a life of constant fear and oppression for over twenty years.
The book is so dark and intense that at one moment, I had to stop and take a break just to recuperate from the intensity. But even while my breathing was evening out, I knew I couldn't abandon the story because it was too compelling. Matthew is a wizard with words and uses every part of speech strategically and beautifully. That was certainly the case for this one.
I adore every single aspect of this book—from its writing and editing to its overall presentation. Each word imbued my very being with a sensation of delight; I was utterly powerless to resist the siren's call of a page, and I prayed the chapters wouldn't end. Undoubtedly, this book deserves its hard-earned 5 out of 5 stars. I didn't detect any issues worth mentioning, and I did not encounter any grammar or typographical errors, so I can only assume this book was exceptionally well edited.
This book has likely not-for-kids content and shocks a youthful audience with an extremely violent murder in its introduction. Not for anyone who has a weak stomach. But if you are looking for something mesmerizing, if you can take the red stuff and don't mind it across the pages, We Are Voulhire is absolutely captivating.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
