We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies

Galen Bray, the protagonist, is one of the four sons of the Land of Princes, which is known as the land of wars where people either die by slow starvation or “death by the sword”. Galen seems to be an innocent and relatable character that moves to Voulhire in a boat hoping for a better life at Magnum Caelum to inherit Uncle Galen Onita’s house and forge. He meets Rowan who helps him to settle in and take over the steel forge. He begins to make the unfamiliar surrounding his home by understanding its politics and corruption, unknowing of Voulhire's dark history and the happenings that unfold for him. Rowan hands him the letter that adds responsibility on his shoulder to make the country safe. Lord Eldus, a kind and good-natured King have an undying desire to reveal the mysteries of Orlin and Meldorath, the mage who experiments illegal magic on the people of Voulhire. Riva Rohavi is a merciless rebel group that frightened me to death. This has filled the book full of suspense and mysteries for the readers to find the answers about Lord Meldorath and what the future holds for Galen and the land of Voulhire.

I loved the map at the beginning of the book which is a visual treat to the readers making them delve deeper into the fantasy world.

The author’s touch in writing the book in the first and third-person narrative

to differentiate the world of Voulhire from that of Galen’s perception shows he is an ardent thinker. The author gradually surprisingly unveils the mysterious characters, making the reader travel along with the pages of the book and live the story for themselves, spicing up their imaginative skills. This is an intriguing tale that encompasses various personalities that are unique and well-developed whose descriptions are easily conveyed in multiple perspectives, giving a better picture of the story and adding depth to all the characters with a clear narrative.

The book is slow-paced at the beginning and has a frustrating climax which is understandable as there are furthermore books in the list of the series. Overall, I am rating this book 4 out of 4 stars because as a reader, I can fully realize the story and dive into Matthew’s fantasy world. I would recommend this book for readers who love science fiction, fantasy genres.