Review by Uche B -- We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under...
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Uche B
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- Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz
Review by Uche B -- We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under...
[Following is a volunteer review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.]
Review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.
The Kingdom of Voulhire is a flourishing land that seems to have it all: natural resources, commerce, spirituality, magic, art and science. The protagonist, Galen Bray is an immigrant from the war-torn Lands of the Princes, who has inherited a forge and a house from his recently dead uncle in the famous Kingdom of Voulhire. He is excited to begin his life in this new land, with the help of some good friends, but he is unaware of the problems bubbling underneath the surface of the seemingly perfect Voulhire.
There is the ever present threat of the Riva Rohavi, a rebel group, and guarded on an island off the shores of Voulhire is a mysterious and dangerous prisoner. How will Galen fare in these circumstances?
This novel is the first in the We are Voulhire series. I previously reviewed the second novel in the series, and it was nice to see where the story started from. The novel is written mostly in the third person point of view, and switches to the first person point of view in chapters focusing on the protagonist, Galen Bray.
Immediately after the title page is a map, which I found quite useful, because it is simple, and it helped introduce me to the fictional world of the book. I like how the author created a multiverse; one of the best things about fantasy novels is their ability to transport readers to a whole new world. The prologue is catchy, which I think is a good way to draw readers into the story.
There is an established religion within the story; the religion has striking parallels with Catholicism in the following ways: the existence of a unified Church, the Eiodi (the human head of the Church, like the Pope), the heius priests (like cardinals), missionaries, the sin of heresy, and so on.
Magic is prominent in the story, and I like the way the use of magic is written. I love the mix of magic with the Catholic-like religion. In this world, magic is not outlawed or seen as sinful. In fact, most priests of the Church are mages. Also, the prayers are beautiful.
A narrative technique that enriches the story is the language of the novel. I would not say the language is medieval, but some terms used, such as "liege" and "vassal", are from that time. The anecdotes within the story are beautiful; they are like little doses of Voulhirian history. I should mention that the Voulhirian system of government is similar to the feudal system practised in medieval times.
The one issue I have with this novel is the naivety of the protagonist, Galen Bray. For someone who grew up suffering in a war-torn country, his innocence is a bit odd.
Finally, this novel is a really good one, and I recommend it to fans of fantasy, magic and political drama. I rate We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies 3 out of 4 stars.
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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Review of "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" by Matthew Tysz.
The Kingdom of Voulhire is a flourishing land that seems to have it all: natural resources, commerce, spirituality, magic, art and science. The protagonist, Galen Bray is an immigrant from the war-torn Lands of the Princes, who has inherited a forge and a house from his recently dead uncle in the famous Kingdom of Voulhire. He is excited to begin his life in this new land, with the help of some good friends, but he is unaware of the problems bubbling underneath the surface of the seemingly perfect Voulhire.
There is the ever present threat of the Riva Rohavi, a rebel group, and guarded on an island off the shores of Voulhire is a mysterious and dangerous prisoner. How will Galen fare in these circumstances?
This novel is the first in the We are Voulhire series. I previously reviewed the second novel in the series, and it was nice to see where the story started from. The novel is written mostly in the third person point of view, and switches to the first person point of view in chapters focusing on the protagonist, Galen Bray.
Immediately after the title page is a map, which I found quite useful, because it is simple, and it helped introduce me to the fictional world of the book. I like how the author created a multiverse; one of the best things about fantasy novels is their ability to transport readers to a whole new world. The prologue is catchy, which I think is a good way to draw readers into the story.
There is an established religion within the story; the religion has striking parallels with Catholicism in the following ways: the existence of a unified Church, the Eiodi (the human head of the Church, like the Pope), the heius priests (like cardinals), missionaries, the sin of heresy, and so on.
Magic is prominent in the story, and I like the way the use of magic is written. I love the mix of magic with the Catholic-like religion. In this world, magic is not outlawed or seen as sinful. In fact, most priests of the Church are mages. Also, the prayers are beautiful.
A narrative technique that enriches the story is the language of the novel. I would not say the language is medieval, but some terms used, such as "liege" and "vassal", are from that time. The anecdotes within the story are beautiful; they are like little doses of Voulhirian history. I should mention that the Voulhirian system of government is similar to the feudal system practised in medieval times.
The one issue I have with this novel is the naivety of the protagonist, Galen Bray. For someone who grew up suffering in a war-torn country, his innocence is a bit odd.
Finally, this novel is a really good one, and I recommend it to fans of fantasy, magic and political drama. I rate We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies 3 out of 4 stars.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"Life is more than unpainted fences" - Nomnso Mordi.
