Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
-
Izzy Kruger
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 95
- Joined: 17 Apr 2022, 04:14
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 66
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-izzy-kruger.html
- Latest Review: The First Time Father by Thomas Alfie
Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.]
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies has everything you want in a good fantasy series. Intricate world-building, including a comprehensive map, intriguing and diverse characters and backstories, religious and moral dilemmas, and an underdog protagonist that embodies everything good in the world. This is the first book in the fantasy series, “We are Voulhire”, by Matthew Tysz, that takes place mainly on the continent of Voulhire. Not only is there magic, but there are also political battles, socio-economic struggles, and a rebellion of epic proportions. The main protagonist, Galen Bray, arrives as an immigrant in Voulhire from a war-torn island where he has struggled his entire life to survive. He quickly makes some new friends and starts to find his place in his new world of politics, magic, and intrigue while never losing his unique naivety and honesty.
The story is well-written and easy to read. The character descriptions are vivid and colourful, and the landscapes are placed beautifully into the reader’s imagination through words. It is action-packed throughout, keeping the reader spellbound and avoiding the temptation of rushing ahead to discover what happens next. There are also many real-world components incorporated into the writing to make it easier for the reader to identify with the story. For instance, the characters make a big deal of the processes of finding, choosing, and preparing food. And the dialogues are sprinkled with humorous quips and sarcasm for a bit of lighter entertainment.
One of the concepts synonymous with fantasy writing is the creation of expressions and curse-words specific to that fantasy realm. I didn’t find that in this book and was a bit disappointed. It would also have been nice to see some more definite direction for the transition into the second book, at the end of the first book, such as an epilogue to awaken some curiosity in the reader.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars since it was well-edited, and I would definitely recommend it to fantasy fans looking for a new series to dive into.
Fans of epic-fantasy writing will enjoy this book and hopefully be tempted to keep reading the series. While Matthew Tysz’s writing doesn’t quite yet have the substance you can find in other epic-fantasy series, such as the writing of Brandon Sanderson or Steven Erikson, I see the potential in him to grow bigger in his writing. This book can also be a good entry point for people who want to try and get into reading the fantasy-fiction genre since it is an easier read than the norm for this genre. It is not a good read for people who are not interested in fantasy novels.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies has everything you want in a good fantasy series. Intricate world-building, including a comprehensive map, intriguing and diverse characters and backstories, religious and moral dilemmas, and an underdog protagonist that embodies everything good in the world. This is the first book in the fantasy series, “We are Voulhire”, by Matthew Tysz, that takes place mainly on the continent of Voulhire. Not only is there magic, but there are also political battles, socio-economic struggles, and a rebellion of epic proportions. The main protagonist, Galen Bray, arrives as an immigrant in Voulhire from a war-torn island where he has struggled his entire life to survive. He quickly makes some new friends and starts to find his place in his new world of politics, magic, and intrigue while never losing his unique naivety and honesty.
The story is well-written and easy to read. The character descriptions are vivid and colourful, and the landscapes are placed beautifully into the reader’s imagination through words. It is action-packed throughout, keeping the reader spellbound and avoiding the temptation of rushing ahead to discover what happens next. There are also many real-world components incorporated into the writing to make it easier for the reader to identify with the story. For instance, the characters make a big deal of the processes of finding, choosing, and preparing food. And the dialogues are sprinkled with humorous quips and sarcasm for a bit of lighter entertainment.
One of the concepts synonymous with fantasy writing is the creation of expressions and curse-words specific to that fantasy realm. I didn’t find that in this book and was a bit disappointed. It would also have been nice to see some more definite direction for the transition into the second book, at the end of the first book, such as an epilogue to awaken some curiosity in the reader.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars since it was well-edited, and I would definitely recommend it to fantasy fans looking for a new series to dive into.
Fans of epic-fantasy writing will enjoy this book and hopefully be tempted to keep reading the series. While Matthew Tysz’s writing doesn’t quite yet have the substance you can find in other epic-fantasy series, such as the writing of Brandon Sanderson or Steven Erikson, I see the potential in him to grow bigger in his writing. This book can also be a good entry point for people who want to try and get into reading the fantasy-fiction genre since it is an easier read than the norm for this genre. It is not a good read for people who are not interested in fantasy novels.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The First Time Father by Thomas Alfie
