Review by mari_crespo -- We are Voulhire: A New Arrival ...

[mari_crespo]

[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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We are Voulhire, a New Arrival Under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz is the first book to the We are Voulhire series. It introduces us to a new magical world that is divided into two parallel realms; Caromentis, the world of magic, and Cosmos, the physical world. The first book takes place in Cosmos, specifically in the majestic kingdom of Voulhire. The story is narrated from varying points of view giving us an insight into how most characters perceive the world. The main characters include Galen, a boy escaping from the horrendous war going on in his homeland, the Land of the Princes. Along with Lord Eldus, an accomplished lawyer in charge to rebuild Hillport, a small fishing town healing from their previous corrupted leaders. During the story, we visit different worldviews on the Voulhire nation. From enemies to the crown, like Lord Meldorath or the Riva Rohavi to the King himself. Slowly but steadily we get to know the kingdom of Voulhire and what troubles it might encounter.

The experience of reading this book was fun and endearing, full of excitement and passion. The new world and magic system presented were original and refreshing. For instance, it included new unique cultures, celebrations, and religions. The magic system itself and how it worked was not mentioned many times, which gave it this air of mystery and made the curiosity from part of the readers grow. I also enjoyed the changing point of view since it gives the reader a different perspective on every problem, allowing them to analyze who is really a hero or a villain. The glossary at the end was also a perfect addition to the world-building since it helps remember names and adjust to this new setting.

As much as I liked the way the book was narrated I felt that the changing points of view harmed the development and depth of the characters’ emotions. Without much time to get to know the characters’ psychology most ended up being simple or bland characters. An example of this is Galen, who is a survivor of a terrible war. He shows little to no signs of trauma or trouble dealing with his past. However, it is important to remember that this is just the first book of a long series, and by leaving the characters basic on the first book they can act as a white canvas for great character development later on.

Despite all of this, I felt the book was extremely good and engaging. It is one of those books you stay up all night to finish. There is truly not a boring moment while reading it, and it feels like you are discovering a whole new world. In addition, I saw no errors in grammar nor spelling, which gives me the impression that it was cautiously edited. Altogether, I adored reading the story which brings me to give it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars.

I recommend this book to adventure seekers who are in search of the adrenaline that a good action scene gives. Or to anyone who is looking for a mysterious and fantastic world. It does contain mentions of sexual harassment and violence, so I would recommend anyone who reads it to be comfortable and old enough to read about those topics.

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

Beautiful review Mari, well done

[Kasun Perera]

Though not a very attractive read, this is the solid base of a well written sci-fi series. Nice review. Good job