Review by MarianaFigueira -- We are Voulhire: A New Arri...

[Mariana Figueira]

[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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Reading We Are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies allowed me to witness the birth of a narrative universe in the form of stories from the perspectives of various characters: Galen is the nephew of a recently deceased blacksmith, who arranged for him to come to Voulhire and left him everything he possessed; King Wilhelm is the ruler of all of Voulhire, a prosper land that just entered an age of gold; finally, Lord Meldorath is a powerful mage, who committed severe crimes and is sort of the monster under the bed now. Early on, these characters and stories seem worlds apart but converge as the plot develops. Meanwhile, Voulhire manifests.

I am extremely pleased with this novel. First and foremost, I have to acknowledge the incredible imagination of author Matthew Tysz: not only he created a whole other world, but what is more impressive, he managed to present it in such a delicate way that the reader likely wouldn't notice that this was an introduction unless it was explicitly mentioned.

The book involved many components but did not feel cramped at all; the way Voulhire's culture, geography, and history were on display without it being too obvious was remarkable. What's more, there is plenty of depth to this universe; its political system encloses intrigues, the enemies of the nation have a history that goes back a long time, and there is magic: a trait that anyone can possess if they put their minds to it, which contains different specializations (like biomagic, for example), and is under the influence of Caromentis, the magical universe.

I am fascinated by the fact that Voulhire contains aspects of medieval times, such as weapons and armors, but also elements of industrialization, like trains; and current expressions as "micromanagement" and "cognitive dissociation". The combination is unusual, but it works, showcasing the charm of the old-fashioned times with touches of modernity.

The writing style is illustrative and pleasing. Most of it was rather slow-paced but did not get tedious at all. The focus changes from one character to another but maintaining a linear timeline, and it includes first and third-person narrative. Additionally, it is exceptionally well-edited.

There wasn't a single thing I didn't admire from this book. Overall, it was an extraordinary way to embark on a journey to a new universe, and I can't wait to read the following books. Accordingly, I grant it 4 out of 4 stars. Note that this has mentions of sexual abuse and pedophilia, other sexual instances, violence, and vulgar language, which is why it is most adequate for non-apprehensive adults with a taste for science-fiction.

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

You sure do know how to express yourself with words. You review perfectly summarized this book, and I enjoyed reading it.
Indeed the author did a great job in making this introductory installment intriguing and enjoyable, without boring the reader with mundane details.

[Harty Muli]

The author has really tried in terms of creating villains like Lord Meldorath and protagonists like Galen. Thanks for the enjoyable review.

[Mariana Figueira]

You sure do know how to express yourself with words. You review perfectly summarized this book, and I enjoyed reading it.
Indeed the author did a great job in making this introductory installment intriguing and enjoyable, without boring the reader with mundane details.

Thank you so much!

[Mariana Figueira]

The author has really tried in terms of creating villains like Lord Meldorath and protagonists like Galen. Thanks for the enjoyable review.

Thank you for the comment!

[Tayejim1]

Seems to be a look with a complex plot. I'll pass this time. Thanks for a great review.

[aby johnson]

Wow your review is so perfectly written and you have given such an insight into the book. Thanks for this. I recently read the book and I enjoyed it too very much. Meldorath seems like a powerful enough villain.

[aacodreanu]

There are two elements that I particularly liked in your excellent review: one is the depth of the Voulhire culture discreetly displayed, and the other the combination between medieval arts and trades on the one hand, and discreetly suggested modern practices, such as communication and school life.
I had noticed them miself but failed to mention them in my review.

[GianKosi77]

Indeed, the author's incredible imagination glued me to the novel till the end. The book is fascinating from the first page. I look forward to reading the entire We are Voulhire series.

[Nmesoma]

Your review is incredible. I've read the book and your review describes it perfectly.

[Mariana Figueira]

Seems to be a look with a complex plot. I'll pass this time. Thanks for a great review.

Thank you for the comment!

[Mariana Figueira]

There are two elements that I particularly liked in your excellent review: one is the depth of the Voulhire culture discreetly displayed, and the other the combination between medieval arts and trades on the one hand, and discreetly suggested modern practices, such as communication and school life.
I had noticed them miself but failed to mention them in my review.

Thank you for the thoughtful comment

[Mariana Figueira]

Indeed, the author's incredible imagination glued me to the novel till the end. The book is fascinating from the first page. I look forward to reading the entire We are Voulhire series.

Me too! Thank you for commenting

[Mariana Figueira]

Your review is incredible. I've read the book and your review describes it perfectly.

Thank you for commenting

[Eutoc]

I was more fascinated with the geography of voulhire than the characters. It's really commendable on the author's part.