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

[Sudasha Donatien]

[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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Are you a lover of Game of Thrones? Do you love novels that depict an entirely different world and have many characters who will entertain you as much as they will aggravate you? If so, then We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz is the novel for you. Fantasy meets fiction in this book as the author weaves an elaborate universe filled with different persons and personalities- some easier to love than others. We are introduced to Voulhire through the perspectives of several protagonists; most given in a third-person narrative. These consist of Lord Dalehei Meldorath- an infamous mage who has murky intentions, Wilhelm Arcolo- King of Voulhire, Lord Eldus Alderman- new Lord of Hillport, Midius Maido-High Chancellor of the Mianoran Council, and the Riva Rohavi- an insurgent group whose main goal is the destruction of the nation. The only first-person narrator comes in the form of Galen Bray. Seen as the main character, he journeyed from the Land of Princes where one's fate is either "death by the sword or a slow starvation." Given the opportunity for a better future by his deceased uncle who bequeathed him all his possessions and property, he moved to Voulhire, and we receive a first-hand account of this new world through his eyes.

As the first book in a series, it mostly focuses on world-building and familiarizing readers with the history and present time of Voulhire. I really enjoyed the author’s ability to draw me into the realm. His descriptions of both the land and the people were engaging and almost made me feel as if I was physically there. My favorite character is definitely Rowan- he was sarcastic and witty- and he felt the most realistic to me as I myself can be described thusly. Though he did not play a major role, I hope his personality is developed further and I see more of him with Galen in future novels.

The biggest negative lies in the slow-paced beginning of the book. For the first two-thirds of it, there was not much action, as more focus was placed on the world-building and introductions of the various characters. As someone who is accustomed to watching and reading fantasy shows and novels, I did not have much trouble with the interspersing and sporadic views; however, it is worthy to note that new readers to this genre may find it a little difficult to keep track of all the major players.

I can definitively rate this novel with 4 out of 4 stars as I absolutely loved it in its entirety; it was right up my alley as I am a huge fan of the fantasy genre. As I previously explained, it was not the most traditionally exciting book as it is the first in a series; there was no action until the last part. However, this did not detract from my delight while reading it. As I am knowledgeable about this genre, this is par for the course and came as no surprise to me. There were some minor grammatical errors but again, nothing that stopped me from reading.

I recommend We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival Under Great Skies to anyone who loves an elaborate plot where the action may be limited but the potential is limitless. Readers should also be a fan of fantasy fiction and have an open mind. In addition, I would not deem this suitable for anyone under 16 as there are some instances of major profanity and derogatory language. I have already downloaded the second novel in the series and cannot wait to begin reading!

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

This book's fantasy is on a whole new level. I'm glad you'veove it, too. Nice review!

[Oreoluwa281]

Your review is so descriptive, it's like I'm watching a movie while reading it. I would also give this book a 4-star.

[Sudasha Donatien]

This book's fantasy is on a whole new level. I'm glad you'veove it, too. Nice review!

Yes, it's definitely one of the best fantasy novels I've read in a long time! The descriptions were beyond vivid and Voulhire felt so real! Thank you so much for reading my review

[Sudasha Donatien]

Your review is so descriptive, it's like I'm watching a movie while reading it. I would also give this book a 4-star.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review and give it such a nice compliment! Yes, this novel definitely deserved the highest rating; it was that good of a read.