Review by Sakura5 -- We are Voulhire: The Ascension of A...

[Sakura5]

[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: The Ascension of Akistry" by Matthew Tysz.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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We are Voulhire: The Ascension of Akistry is the fifth volume of the We are Voulhire saga by Matthew Tysz. Once again, with his writing ability, Tysz was able to exceed any expectations I had about this book.

Especially well-written and full of suspense, with this volume we are carried again in the magical world of Voulhire where, in the span of a few months, things have changed dramatically. The main protagonist, Galen, receives a visit while sleeping from the Emperor of Lullabies, a foreign evil entity that can communicate through dreams. The Emperor pushes Galen toward a mission: to get rid of Meldorath, the ambitious mage who took power over Voulhire by becoming eiodi, the spiritual guide of the country. Never revealing his true intentions, Galen nonetheless convinces his two inseparable friends, Rowan and Demetrius, to help him in this mission. They will traverse the Dire Vine Jungle, the most dangerous place on earth, in order to reach the prophet Akistry and convince him to challenge and overthrow Meldorath. The book ends with an epic battle between the two most powerful characters, the potent mage Meldorath and the 500-years-old prophet Akistry. Who will come out victorious?

Compared to previous volumes, this one gives more prominence to the religious theme. Through the invented religion of Destinism, Tysz explores problems that could be all too real: the need for a religious revival in times of crisis, difficult situations which make people doubt God, the search for confirmation of one’s chosen path. What I find very interesting in this series is the concept that religious people are the most skilled in the magical arts. Magic and religion are profoundly interconnected, and often the magical power is seen as a gift from God. I find this fascinating, for it is in stark contrast with the historical beliefs of the church, who in the past hunted down people for having alleged magical powers.

I have the feeling that with every new volume Tysz’s ability for constructing fascinating stories grows: storylines entangle and become more riveting, revealing the dark side of the good characters, and the good side of the bad ones. When you are able to feel empathy for the bad guy, then you know you are facing a talented writer. Tysz manages to give depth to each and every character, rendering it difficult to fully prefer one over another.

Additionally, the writing style and jokes are iconic: even in the most dramatic of moments, the characters bring vitality and levity through witty remarks. Irony is certainly one of the things that kept me hooked while reading these pages.

For all of these reasons, I would rate the book 4 out of 4 stars: the plotline is especially engaging and well-developed, and there is absolutely nothing that I dislike about this volume. While reading, I found only a few minor errors, which do not account for the deduction of a full star. Even if this volume contains less profanity compared to the previous ones, I still advise too young people not to approach it. It is not possible to start reading the saga at this point, and the first volumes contain much more vulgar words and sensitive concepts. Thus, I would recommend this book to all adult lovers of sci-fi, fantasy, or adventurous genre, pointing out that one’s religious beliefs would not influence the reading experience at all. I am really glad I started reading this saga and can’t wait to read the next volume!

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We are Voulhire: The Ascension of Akistry
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[PeterRabitt20]

This saga seems to get better. The cover looks serious in this installment, and so does the religious theme. The writer must be talented to be able to invent an entire religion. I see a change in the characters' consciousness. Thanks for your excellent review!

[John Owen]

ŰI am on the 3rd book and your review is already making me wish I could speed things up and get my hands on this book. I have however loved Meldorath ever since I began reading this series, he is just too mysterious and knowing his next moves is all too difficult. I am also surprised that the Emperor of the land of Lullabies is seeking help to fight Meldorath since I viewed him as all powerful in the previous books. Great review!

[kdstrack]

The author keeps readers glued to each new volume of this series with his creative writing and inventive plots! I like the way he includes humor in the midst of all the suspense and magic. This book looks like another exciting adventure in the saga of Galen and Meldorath. Thanks for the amazing review!

[smolbird]

While I didn't get to read this far, I'm glad to see that Tysz is still living up to the readers' expectations. Thank you for the insightful review!

[Sakura5]

This saga seems to get better. The cover looks serious in this installment, and so does the religious theme. The writer must be talented to be able to invent an entire religion. I see a change in the characters' consciousness. Thanks for your excellent review!

Indeed, I think the author is really talented! Thanks for your nice comment!

[Sakura5]

ŰI am on the 3rd book and your review is already making me wish I could speed things up and get my hands on this book. I have however loved Meldorath ever since I began reading this series, he is just too mysterious and knowing his next moves is all too difficult. I am also surprised that the Emperor of the land of Lullabies is seeking help to fight Meldorath since I viewed him as all powerful in the previous books. Great review!

I agree, I think one of the best things is that often the characters' moves are unpredictable, that is what keeps the suspense high! Thanks for stopping by!

[TheMazeRunner]

Great book from a great series. Good job!

[Sakura5]

The author keeps readers glued to each new volume of this series with his creative writing and inventive plots! I like the way he includes humor in the midst of all the suspense and magic. This book looks like another exciting adventure in the saga of Galen and Meldorath. Thanks for the amazing review!

Humor is definitely one of the main strength of this saga, I absolutely love that about it! Thank you for your comment!

[Sakura5]

While I didn't get to read this far, I'm glad to see that Tysz is still living up to the readers' expectations. Thank you for the insightful review!

I am sure you will continue enjoying this saga. Thanks for your comment!

[Sakura5]

Great book from a great series. Good job!

it is indeed. Thanks for stopping by!

[John Owen]

ŰI am on the 3rd book and your review is already making me wish I could speed things up and get my hands on this book. I have however loved Meldorath ever since I began reading this series, he is just too mysterious and knowing his next moves is all too difficult. I am also surprised that the Emperor of the land of Lullabies is seeking help to fight Meldorath since I viewed him as all powerful in the previous books. Great review!

I agree, I think one of the best things is that often the characters' moves are unpredictable, that is what keeps the suspense high! Thanks for stopping by!

That's right! And Tysz uses this in his favor. To me, a book without suspense is no better than childish scribbles. Even magazines and newspapers have suspense.

[Raluca_Mihaila]

I loved how you described the Voulhire universe and Tysz's writing style. I am looking forward to reading your following reviews!

[Sakura5]

I loved how you described the Voulhire universe and Tysz's writing style. I am looking forward to reading your following reviews!

I just really love this series! Thanks for your kind comment

[Kavita Shah]

Destinism is a religion and a mission to kill Meldorath is in Action. The story is captivating and I can't wait to read all the books of the series. Thank you for an informative review!