Review of We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
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Nabweteme Gloria
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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 is a book whisking one into the charming meld of science fiction and fantasy by Matthew Tysz. Set in the magical—yet mysterious and politically intriguing—Realm of Voulhire, it marks the initiation of a much larger, more captivating tale.
In this story, Galen, the hero, comes from a unyielding land of princes where life is a fight. He takes every jump-at-a-chance opportunity that transposes him to a better life whose circumstances are oppressive. For example, he travels to Magnum Caelum to secure an inheritance left behind by his uncle. Sprawl overwhelms him upon arrival in the city, as does the generosity of its people. His uncle's lands are overseen by a steward named Rowan, who knows every inch and thus proves invaluable as a guide to initiate Galen in finding his way around in this new life. At the same time, the realm is being torn apart by an internal struggle between the rising concern of Lord Wilhelm about his defiant offspring and the rising menace from the strong mage Meldorath.
Prominent in this book is that it contains a map within itself whereby readers can keep track of their position within the elaborate world of Voulhire. Details such as these provide an experiential, real feel. Matthew Tysz has deftly maintained tension throughout the narrative, with turns that keep one engrossed in the reading. The characterization is excellent, where every flesh-and-blood character brings out a presence that seems absolutely indispensable to the unfolding drama.
Despite this, notwithstanding the double account styles of first-person and third-person, sometimes a little confusing, the resources that the book gives far outweigh this minor disadvantage. The composition is clear, with well-structured events that one is able to follow hand in hand. The book is additionally well-edited, with no noticeable linguistic blunders. Given its developed topics and incidental utilisation of coarse speech, it is the most appropriate for grown-up readers. All in all, "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" turned out to be an auspicious start to what actually proved to be an ambitious series. Tight, dense world-building, and engaging enough characters in a plot full of tension and intrigue—making the work merit a deserved 4 out of 4 stars. Dream devotees searching for an enthralling read will find plenty to appreciate in this book.
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We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies is a book whisking one into the charming meld of science fiction and fantasy by Matthew Tysz. Set in the magical—yet mysterious and politically intriguing—Realm of Voulhire, it marks the initiation of a much larger, more captivating tale.
In this story, Galen, the hero, comes from a unyielding land of princes where life is a fight. He takes every jump-at-a-chance opportunity that transposes him to a better life whose circumstances are oppressive. For example, he travels to Magnum Caelum to secure an inheritance left behind by his uncle. Sprawl overwhelms him upon arrival in the city, as does the generosity of its people. His uncle's lands are overseen by a steward named Rowan, who knows every inch and thus proves invaluable as a guide to initiate Galen in finding his way around in this new life. At the same time, the realm is being torn apart by an internal struggle between the rising concern of Lord Wilhelm about his defiant offspring and the rising menace from the strong mage Meldorath.
Prominent in this book is that it contains a map within itself whereby readers can keep track of their position within the elaborate world of Voulhire. Details such as these provide an experiential, real feel. Matthew Tysz has deftly maintained tension throughout the narrative, with turns that keep one engrossed in the reading. The characterization is excellent, where every flesh-and-blood character brings out a presence that seems absolutely indispensable to the unfolding drama.
Despite this, notwithstanding the double account styles of first-person and third-person, sometimes a little confusing, the resources that the book gives far outweigh this minor disadvantage. The composition is clear, with well-structured events that one is able to follow hand in hand. The book is additionally well-edited, with no noticeable linguistic blunders. Given its developed topics and incidental utilisation of coarse speech, it is the most appropriate for grown-up readers. All in all, "We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies" turned out to be an auspicious start to what actually proved to be an ambitious series. Tight, dense world-building, and engaging enough characters in a plot full of tension and intrigue—making the work merit a deserved 4 out of 4 stars. Dream devotees searching for an enthralling read will find plenty to appreciate in this book.
******
We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
