Is the plot really original?

Use this forum to discuss the October 2020 Book of the month, "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.
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Gabrielle Sigaki
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Is the plot really original?

Post by Gabrielle Sigaki »

Matthew Tysz brings in this novel a fascinating story with magic, some mysterious characters, and a lot more. I loved the book and thought that it was well-developed with an engaging and gripping plot. However, I also thought that it resembled other books I read about a medieval world with magical powers, heroes, kings, evil, and good. Do you think that the story is indeed unique or a common variation of the Middle Ages books?
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Post by Ellylion »

gabrielletiemi wrote: 01 Oct 2020, 06:02 Matthew Tysz brings in this novel a fascinating story with magic, some mysterious characters, and a lot more. I loved the book and thought that it was well-developed with an engaging and gripping plot. However, I also thought that it resembled other books I read about a medieval world with magical powers, heroes, kings, evil, and good. Do you think that the story is indeed unique or a common variation of the Middle Ages books?
In my opinion, this story is unique. The conception of Caromentis is very unique to start with. The author creates his own mythology, in this book it's just Caromentis, but it continues to develop as the story-lines unfold in the next books of the series. Yamon Soul is outstanding too, I would say. That's why I love this author's books, he always manages to surprise :)
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Post by rahilshajahan »

The idea of evil vs good is as old as time. Any book you pick will have an idea of evil or some concept of good. I think the story is original with interesting characters and a pick of modern day situations. So, its not a common variation of Middle Ages books.
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Post by Laura Britos »

In my review of this book I actually mentioned that it contains elements that are similar to other science fiction book. To my understanding the genre itself holds similarities whether you explore magic, time travel or other fantastic plot lines. Therefore, most books are actually similar. However I think that stories are more that the sum of its parts, even though you might think that the plot is like other stories what truly matters is the narration and how much you enjoyed the book.
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Post by Guete Zuelo »

Tysz indeed wrote a good book. The good world-building should be pointed out. But I'm going to agree with you that it resembles other books. Though it's okay to have many different books about medieval culture, magic, and the dichotomy between good and evil, I think there's nothing exclusive this book can offer :cry:
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Post by Cynthia Olyy »

It may have caught a storyline around similar topics. Meanwhile, this author's work is very unique. Not so many have tried relating magic with science in the style he did. His story is original.
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Post by Gabrielle Sigaki »

Ellylion wrote: 01 Oct 2020, 12:18
gabrielletiemi wrote: 01 Oct 2020, 06:02 Matthew Tysz brings in this novel a fascinating story with magic, some mysterious characters, and a lot more. I loved the book and thought that it was well-developed with an engaging and gripping plot. However, I also thought that it resembled other books I read about a medieval world with magical powers, heroes, kings, evil, and good. Do you think that the story is indeed unique or a common variation of the Middle Ages books?
In my opinion, this story is unique. The conception of Caromentis is very unique to start with. The author creates his own mythology, in this book it's just Caromentis, but it continues to develop as the story-lines unfold in the next books of the series. Yamon Soul is outstanding too, I would say. That's why I love this author's books, he always manages to surprise :)
Indeed the author creates a unique concept in this perspective of the mythology. I think that there are some unique aspects, such as that one you talked about, and the map of the whole world of the story. However, I think there are also some aspects that seem common, for example, a war for the throne. Maybe there are some aspects that there's no way to alter, but in the end it's indeed an amazing book :D
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Post by Gabrielle Sigaki »

rahilshajahan wrote: 01 Oct 2020, 13:58 The idea of evil vs good is as old as time. Any book you pick will have an idea of evil or some concept of good. I think the story is original with interesting characters and a pick of modern day situations. So, its not a common variation of Middle Ages books.
The Manichaean perspectives of good and evil are indeed something common in a lot of great books. However, it's great to see when the author makes a story that no one is entirely bad or entirely good. I found it very interesting, but indeed the characters and the story are unique. :tiphat:
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Post by Gabrielle Sigaki »

Ana Victoria2002 wrote: 01 Oct 2020, 18:32 In my review of this book I actually mentioned that it contains elements that are similar to other science fiction book. To my understanding the genre itself holds similarities whether you explore magic, time travel or other fantastic plot lines. Therefore, most books are actually similar. However I think that stories are more that the sum of its parts, even though you might think that the plot is like other stories what truly matters is the narration and how much you enjoyed the book.
That's an interesting question. There are some aspects that might always seem similar to other books with fantasy and that's what makes them books of this genre, but there are also some books that we can't categorize in any genre, and I found it very impressive. The book is really gripping, and fascinating, so the fact that the book was enjoyable is really something important to consider. :D
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Post by Gabrielle Sigaki »

Guete Zuelo wrote: 01 Oct 2020, 18:40 Tysz indeed wrote a good book. The good world-building should be pointed out. But I'm going to agree with you that it resembles other books. Though it's okay to have many different books about medieval culture, magic, and the dichotomy between good and evil, I think there's nothing exclusive this book can offer :cry:
The fact that this book is great indeed doesn't change with those common features. However, the author's style is unique, it's engaging and it's always hard to put down his books. That's something to consider too. In the end, there are a lot of common aspects, but some unique aspects too. :techie-studyingbrown:
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Post by Gabrielle Sigaki »

Cynthia Olyy wrote: 02 Oct 2020, 00:49 It may have caught a storyline around similar topics. Meanwhile, this author's work is very unique. Not so many have tried relating magic with science in the style he did. His story is original.
Yes, I agree with you that the author's style is unique, and it's a great book. However, I think that there are some novels with magic and science like in this book, maybe it's more related to my subject experience though.
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Post by Ellylion »

gabrielletiemi wrote: 02 Oct 2020, 06:43
Indeed the author creates a unique concept in this perspective of the mythology. I think that there are some unique aspects, such as that one you talked about, and the map of the whole world of the story. However, I think there are also some aspects that seem common, for example, a war for the throne. Maybe there are some aspects that there's no way to alter, but in the end it's indeed an amazing book :D
I agree, the first book looks like a classic fantasy novel :) But, for example, Riva Rohavi is another one uncommon aspect, in my opinion. Their dances gave me chill :shock2: :D
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Post by luchi123 »

I think I would rather use the word unique for the plot. I think that the Galen story added something different to it. I haven't read the other books in the series, but I expect Galen to be a more prominent protagonist despite all the magical powers which the others possessed.
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Post by a_r_egerton »

I'd say some elements, such as Caromentis, are quite original, while the pseudo-medieval setting is less so.

I also believe A Song of Ice and Fire is probably one of Tysz's influences. Like that series, We Are Voulhire has multiple viewpoints, and politics makes up a good part of the story. The Riva Rohavi remind me a bit of the wildlings and are even based in the northern part of the country.
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Post by Ari Martinez »

There are definitely some common concepts, such as a war for the throne, magic, and the whole bad vs good. However, the story itself is quite unique, especially when it comes to mythology.
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