Review by Vivianne Nat -- We are Voulhire: A New Arrival...

[Van112]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies is the first installment in Matthew Tysz’s series. This is a creatively crafted dark fantasy story filled with an incredibly intricate storyline and unforgettable characters. In this tale, readers get to experience a whole new perplexing world of magic.

The novel starts from the perspective of our protagonist, Galen Bray. He narrates the story of how the war started in the Land of the Princes, the place where he is from. He finds himself on a voyage bound to Magnum Caelum, one of the towns of the prosperous kingdom of Voulhire, when his dying Uncle summoned him to inherit his forging business and properties. Just a few days in this new land and Galen already had so much to experience with the help of Rowan, his Uncle’s executor. In other parts of the kingdom of Voulhire, the lives of the people continue and so are the secrets and mysteries that wrap its lands. There are kings, mages, priests and so many more characters waiting to be known and there are so many things to unravel.

The world of Voulhire is indeed another realm to love since Tysz masterfully penned this series and filled it with action, mysteries, magic, and adventure. I especially love the flamboyant descriptions of each land and events, however, I’d have to say that the depictions of Yamon Soul and the Riva Rohavi are incredibly illustrated. There are a lot of things going on behind but they are seamlessly presented in a way that can be easily understood by any reader. Every intriguing chapter leaves us with questions and cliffhangers making us crave answers.

Furthermore, I adore how each character was vividly described making them relatable and unforgettable. The author did a wonderful job knitting their backstories to help us understand their personalities and motives. Galen for example is a stranger in a new land but his innocent aura breathes freshness into the story. Another persona is Eldus Alderman, a respectable judge who is loyal to his king but is also a man of principle and wisdom. They are just two of the many characters in the story who keeps it vibrant.

The story somewhat reminded me of Game of Thrones, but as you go on, you realize that Tysz’s story has its take on things. It brought my imagination back to the medieval days and made me see the places and events in my mind through its descriptions. I appreciate how the author anticipated that his readers are going to be intrigued by the world he has created, hence, he placed a map showing the lands of Voulhire and a website where one can learn more about the series at the beginning of his book. Also, I find the glossary to be very helpful. There is nothing to dislike from the book, however, there is one piece of information that seems out of place. It was a conversation between Eldus and her daughter Isla wherein she mentioned something about having a “gym” in Hillport. Apart from that, everything else is wonderful.

I gladly rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because the story is rich and well thought of because it's meticulously written. I was completely immersed with its pages as it allowed me to experience various emotions and it was indeed a thrilling ride. This is a series to be watched out for because it is engaging and a page-turner. I encountered some minor errors but they can be managed with another round of proofreading.

This is a highly recommended read for fiction lovers out there, especially those who are inclined to reading stories about mysteries, adventures, and magic. Moreover, this isn’t for the fainthearted though, as it contains violence. Lastly, there are a few sexual themes embedded in the book which are not suited for minor readers. Overall, the book is worthy of attention and I am looking forward to the next one.

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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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[The Holy Grail]

The manner in which the characters were drawn made them relatable and memorable. I agree with that. Nice review!

[Oreoluwa281]

Thank you for sharing this fantastic and honest review. I have read this book and, I enjoyed every detail of the book