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

[Chinedu Umeobika]

[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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Wow! There is this satisfaction you get from a great experience or perhaps a fun vacation that makes you ooze a thrilling breath, and We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz is a perfect example of such an experience. Talk about a magical vacation! Matthew Tysz touches on the lives of various characters, with the narrative focusing mainly on Galen Bray, Lord Eldus Alderman, King Wilhelm Arcolo, and Lord Dalehei Meldorath. Galen Bray escapes the Lands of the Princes, which have been in full-blown war for years, with the help of his great uncle and his personal executor, Rowan. He finds refuge in Voulhire's peaceful town of Magnum Caelum, where he is warmly welcomed by Mayor Malcolm and given the inheritance his uncle left for him: a forge, a home, and money. His uncle had left the Lands of the Princes on bad terms with the family but had ever worried about them, especially since the war. Finding his nephew and giving him a future by passing on his fortune felt like a good way to redeem himself and amend his mistakes, especially after not being able to meet him in his lifetime.

Lord Eldus Alderman, on the other hand, is sent to Hillport with his family to oversee the city as the new lord, especially since Meldorath had been imprisoned. Although the king made efforts to pass the message that he was dead, it was also a natural part of Eldus's work in Hillport. Combined with developing it into a booming city, he was also to ensure the people believed their former evil lord was dead and that there was nothing to fear. His son, Marshus, is also a charming character—bold, vocal, talented, and good with magic. King Wilhelm fears the time of peace might be coming to an end despite overseeing Voulhire's golden generation, and he also fears Meldorath and whatever he may be scheming. It is obvious that Meldorath has remained imprisoned only because he wants to.

Lord Meldorath, on the other hand, is the most feared character in the book. Despite being imprisoned, his name is mentioned in almost every nook and cranny, with the lord rumored to have access to powerful magic beyond what the modern age has seen, bolstered by his evil experiments while working under Lord Orlin at Hillport and after overthrowing him. With mentions of magic from the cosmos, Caromentis, and characters like Siden and Brawler, whose powers come from mastery of the physical world, along with a rebel group known as Riva Rohavi, the world of Voulhire is as interesting as it is unimaginable. What will be the fate of Galen and his friends, Lord Eldus and his family, Hillport, King Wilhelm, and the golden age of Voulhire at large? Well, that's why you have to read this wonderful book!

This book is perfection at its peak, and I love it with every ounce of literary drive in me. There are millions of things to like, and as usual, I will try to keep it limited. When you talk about an author being talented and creative, there is a lot to put into consideration, and I think writing style is the most important benchmark. I have read various interesting fictional books but felt disappointed with the style of writing, giving off signs of amateur writing or a book written by non-native English speakers. But this book—I could feel the J.K. Rowling in Tysz, as his writing was extremely remarkable, and it gave me butterflies in my stomach. It's a writing style that Dickens would be proud of. Every phrase and sentence was written in the best form, and the story presented so smoothly and engagingly that you could get lost in time in the magical world of Voulhire. I can't express how much I loved the writing style of this book.

Another thing I adore in this remarkable book, which many must have talked about, is the world and characters brought to life by Tysz. I freaking love every single character—Rowan, Demetrius, Siden, Alabaster, Meldorath, Isla, Marshus, Beth, and many more. Every character, no matter how briefly they appear in the storyline, leaves you with a lot of thought, and they feel as real as ever. The book's development, progression, and conversations are so realistic that they make you lost in the world without even knowing it because you don't feel anything false; it's all just real. Everything has its perks—even cities like Hillport harbor simple people who cherish simple lives and are not overly ambitious. As Eldus said, they can give flowers and gifts to their women without much thought—just impromptu and cheerfully. Soulhire, the capital, is more ambitious and better developed, whereas Magnum Caelum is more peaceful and values hard work. What more could you ask for in a book?

Concerning errors in the book, I only found a few, which conclusively imply that the book deserves its flowers for satisfactory professional editing. I don't have any dislikes about the book. Who would?!

Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars; I would rate it 10 out of 5 if it were possible. I enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to lovers of suspense, fantasy, kingdoms, magic, and dark thrillers. It's hard to find such wonderful books these days, and to be honest, it was sad reading the last words on the last page. Surely, I am on the hunt for the rest of the Voulhire series.

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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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[Qwerty Writes]

Haha! It sounds like a blast. I've honestly read a few other reviews on this same book. The land of the princes sounds full of power struggles and evil plots and schemes. Cool! Also, you wrote so much, I can tell the book blew you away. It was evenly paced with a good intro and you dove into the details marvelously. However I must ask, what does Galen want to accomplish?

[Alissa Nesson]

Wow! That is high praise indeed, Jason! I can feel your enthusiasm coming off the page, and it makes me very curious about the book. Tell me, is this a book with a lot of long descriptions and drawn out world building, or is it all incorporated with the story? Thanks for an intriguing review!

[Chinedu Umeobika]

Haha! It sounds like a blast. I've honestly read a few other reviews on this same book. The land of the princes sounds full of power struggles and evil plots and schemes. Cool! Also, you wrote so much, I can tell the book blew you away. It was evenly paced with a good intro and you dove into the details marvelously. However I must ask, what does Galen want to accomplish?

Since this is the first installment, we don't get much of Galen's story trajectory. However, I think it serves more as an introduction of Galen to Voulhire, setting the stage for the real dark plot that should unfold in the second installment. I won't say much to avoid spoilers .

[Chinedu Umeobika]

Wow! That is high praise indeed, Jason! I can feel your enthusiasm coming off the page, and it makes me very curious about the book. Tell me, is this a book with a lot of long descriptions and drawn out world building, or is it all incorporated with the story? Thanks for an intriguing review!

I think I was super excited then. I love books that are beautifully written with storylines that don’t disappoint. In my opinion, everything is incorporated into the narrative; there aren’t really standalone chapters or lengthy paragraphs describing a particular place or person; it's incorporated into the story as it unfolds. I believe this book is best read in paperback, as it would provide a really satisfying experience. I think you would like it .