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The Heart of the Nhaga: the start to the classic epic fantasy series inspired by Korean history and mythology from a legend of SFF
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jul 26Discover the bestselling epic fantasy series from the grandmaster of Korean SFF, available for the first time in English by award-winning translator Anton Hur. A can't-miss for readers of the great classics and giants of fantasy, from J.R.R Tolkien to Ursula K. Le Guin
Three handles one.
The world is divided by the Line of Limit. To the north are the Tokkebifire people able to manipulate flames as both weapons and illusions; Rekon – giant birdmen with immense strength and warrior acumen; and the humans – as divided as the other races are unified. To the south are the Nhaga – a reptilian people who relinquish their hearts for immortality. For centuries, the races didn’t cross that line, but change is in the air. A Nhaga is being sent North…and a trio is being dispatched to make sure this agent from the South makes it out alive – one from each race.
But the illusion of a simple journey is quickly dispelled by the fact that the Tokkebi is merely a scholar, not an adventurer; the Rekon is deathly afraid of water; and the human hunts and eats Nhaga. And when the Nhaga they’re supposed to be escorting out of the Kiboren forest is murdered, the one sent in his place turns out to very much have a heart – meaning he’s quite vulnerable to the dangerous exodus.
The four must quickly forge an alliance and shed the distrust and prejudice that plagues them if they are to survive. And just as crucial, they must figure out what this mission is actually about, because unbeknownst to them, the very fate of the world might rest on this one Nhaga making it to the North intact.
A classic not to be missed, Heart of the Nhaga is epic fantasy at its best, translated into English for the first time ever by award-winning translator Anton Hur.
Three handles one.
The world is divided by the Line of Limit. To the north are the Tokkebifire people able to manipulate flames as both weapons and illusions; Rekon – giant birdmen with immense strength and warrior acumen; and the humans – as divided as the other races are unified. To the south are the Nhaga – a reptilian people who relinquish their hearts for immortality. For centuries, the races didn’t cross that line, but change is in the air. A Nhaga is being sent North…and a trio is being dispatched to make sure this agent from the South makes it out alive – one from each race.
But the illusion of a simple journey is quickly dispelled by the fact that the Tokkebi is merely a scholar, not an adventurer; the Rekon is deathly afraid of water; and the human hunts and eats Nhaga. And when the Nhaga they’re supposed to be escorting out of the Kiboren forest is murdered, the one sent in his place turns out to very much have a heart – meaning he’s quite vulnerable to the dangerous exodus.
The four must quickly forge an alliance and shed the distrust and prejudice that plagues them if they are to survive. And just as crucial, they must figure out what this mission is actually about, because unbeknownst to them, the very fate of the world might rest on this one Nhaga making it to the North intact.
A classic not to be missed, Heart of the Nhaga is epic fantasy at its best, translated into English for the first time ever by award-winning translator Anton Hur.
- GenresFantasy
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 28, 2026
3.75⭐️. This was definitely one of the most unique and imaginative stories I’ve ever read! I can see how the beginning may appear a little confusing because we’re introduced not only to a wide range of characters but also to a variety of different beings unlike those commonly seen in other fantasy books. There are Nhagas, a race who dominate the southern continent, communicate telepathically and who undertake a procedure to have their heart removed, making them all but immortal. Relegated to the northern lands are humans, Rekons (giant, warrior birdmen with a fear of water) and Tokkebifire (a peace-making people who are able to manipulate flames and craft illusions). For centuries, the races didn’t cross the boundary line separating the north from south but all that is about to change…
At its heart, this book is essentially a quest story following four characters (a Nhaga, a human, a Rekon and a Tokkebi) working together to survive the journey and, in doing so, complete the task they’ve been assigned. On the surface, their relationship shouldn’t make any sense (for one, Kagan is known to eat Nhagas 😱); however, not only does it work but it allows for many moments of levity - the whole thing feels a bit like a bizarre fever dream! I do think there are moments where the writing feels a bit clunky, and that may well be because the English version is a translation. That being said, while it didn’t necessarily feel like a new favourite, there was a lot I really enjoyed about the world and the characters and I can see myself continuing on with the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
At its heart, this book is essentially a quest story following four characters (a Nhaga, a human, a Rekon and a Tokkebi) working together to survive the journey and, in doing so, complete the task they’ve been assigned. On the surface, their relationship shouldn’t make any sense (for one, Kagan is known to eat Nhagas 😱); however, not only does it work but it allows for many moments of levity - the whole thing feels a bit like a bizarre fever dream! I do think there are moments where the writing feels a bit clunky, and that may well be because the English version is a translation. That being said, while it didn’t necessarily feel like a new favourite, there was a lot I really enjoyed about the world and the characters and I can see myself continuing on with the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Heart of the Nhaga by Lee Young-Do is complex and insightful, poetical and unique in the variety of beings that populate the world and the task that the four must accomplish. This is not a simple journey but a world that is layered and full of mysteries, secrets that each race holds and gods that are inscrutable. It challenges distrust and prejudice, creates an intriguing world and is full of ideas that will challenge the reader.
One of the aspects I liked the best was how elaborate the world is, how complex. Each aspect of the world is explored in various ways, not just through the journey the four take but by stories told throughout the novel. The perspectives and judgements of each race are presented. Gods are presented and how the Nhaga survive without their heart is explored. Most of all the unique races are fantastical and beautifully presented.
If you like lyrical fantasy that is complex and insightful, this is the novel for you. It is not a straightforward story and to reach the end of the tale, you will want to read the next novel but it is a layered, intriguing world with unique individuals and characters that are a delight to read about. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
One of the aspects I liked the best was how elaborate the world is, how complex. Each aspect of the world is explored in various ways, not just through the journey the four take but by stories told throughout the novel. The perspectives and judgements of each race are presented. Gods are presented and how the Nhaga survive without their heart is explored. Most of all the unique races are fantastical and beautifully presented.
If you like lyrical fantasy that is complex and insightful, this is the novel for you. It is not a straightforward story and to reach the end of the tale, you will want to read the next novel but it is a layered, intriguing world with unique individuals and characters that are a delight to read about. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC! The Heart of the Nhaga was a fun journey! I personally have not read many fantasy books that primarily focus on a meandering and at times dangerous journey as we follow a cohort of different characters. I enjoyed the contrast between our characters that belong to different people/creature groups. We learn a bit about each group, but we learn the most about the Nhaga and their matriarchy system, which is once again something I haven’t read much of. The dry humor was fun and kept me engaged. I also liked reading about the family and friendship dynamics throughout the book. Every relationship was quite different and intriguing to read about.
Sometimes this pacing was a bit slow for my personal taste. We also jumped around quite a bit to characters outside of our main group. I understood the significance of most of them, but some of the random and less important jumps took me out of the story a bit.
Overall, if you enjoy character-driven books that follow many different storylines, I would recommend the Heart of the Nhaga! I believe that the next book will hold more action, and I am excited to see where the story goes next.
Sometimes this pacing was a bit slow for my personal taste. We also jumped around quite a bit to characters outside of our main group. I understood the significance of most of them, but some of the random and less important jumps took me out of the story a bit.
Overall, if you enjoy character-driven books that follow many different storylines, I would recommend the Heart of the Nhaga! I believe that the next book will hold more action, and I am excited to see where the story goes next.
Did Not Finish
May 20, 2026Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy
Review:
I fear that something was lost in translation with this book. I was lost for so long while reading.
Review:
I fear that something was lost in translation with this book. I was lost for so long while reading.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews