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Raven Son #2

The Curse of the Raven

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A city ruled with an iron fist. A swordsmith just trying to survive. A choice that could heal the world…or plunge it into ruin.

Llun the smith is an artist at heart, content to make the most beautiful swords, nails, and horseshoes in his city. But when his smithy is visited by the grand inquisitor of the secret police, his peaceful life is at an end.

He is offered a perfect job–to be the exclusive smith of the new order. Endless luxury, good food, and the freedom to create–it’s everything he ever wanted. But it comes with a price.

He has to make a seemingly insignificant object–a metal flask–as a gift to the new ruler of his city. Seized by a strange inspiration, he instead creates an object of great power that can heal thousands… or lead to a war that would never end.

The Curse of the Raven is a novella sequel to The Song of the Sirin.

81 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2017

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470 people want to read

About the author

Nicholas Kotar

39 books367 followers
Nicholas Kotar is a writer of epic fantasy inspired by Russian fairy tales, a freelance translator from Russian to English, the resident conductor of the men's choir at a Russian monastery in the middle of nowhere, and a semi-professional vocalist. His one great regret in life is that he was not born in the nineteenth century in St. Petersburg, but he is doing everything he can to remedy that error.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Nicholas Kotar.
Author 39 books367 followers
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October 30, 2023
A fantasy exploration of what it means to be an artist in a totalitarian regime... ruled by a demon.
Profile Image for Aleksandar.
84 reviews
December 16, 2020
For a sequel, it's quite short! Compared to the first book, this one's a novella. It's a shame, because I wish it were longer. Despite this, I actually found it more comprehensible, and lacking the pacing issues that the first book had.

I think Llun is one of the best characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading in a fantasy novel. He's thoughtful, and loves his work, yearning for the feeling of "being in the zone". In this regard, he's quite relatable to anyone who takes any pride in the work that they do.

Anyway, the stage may have been set earlier, but it's Llun and Mirodara in the driver's seat now. It's a shame that it was such a short ride, though.
20 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2023
My rating and this review is for the Raven son series as a whole. There are no spoilers.

There’s a principle in authentic Thai cooking. In order for a dish to be what it should be, the five tastes (salty, sweet, spicy, sour, and creamy) must be in balance. It’s that principle that surfaced in my mind when I finished reading the Raven Son series, to which this book belongs.
We’ve likely all read books that were poor mashups of epic fantasy, folk lore, and fairy tales. It’s a kitchen sink, easter eggs galore approach that rewards readers with little dopamine hits every time they find themselves saying ‘Ah! I recognize!’, or ‘Oh! I remember!’, or ‘Hah! Clever me! I caught the subtle allusion!’ and sells books – eminently forgettable books, because they’re not conscientiously crafted balanced dishes, but it does sell them.

This is where Nicholas Kotar’s Raven Son series earned its five stars from me. He incorporated Russian folk lore, fairy tales, and epic fantasy in an intentional and balanced way, and it worked. Further, he incorporated themes worth thinking about, the kinds of themes from the best old fairy tales that can help form the moral imagination. He did that without becoming overbearingly preachy, keeping the story the sort of story that a reader could enjoy sitting in a chair by the stove on a cold Russian night (even if that particular reader was reading in the triple digit temperatures of a central California summer).

Five flavors: folk lore, fairy tales, epic fantasy, fuel for the moral imagination, and genuine good story – Kotar hit his balance, and it’s that balance that earned these five stars. I don’t know if anyone will be reading the Raven Son series in 200 years, but I know that I will read it more than once.

Notes on series structure: Five books, the second and fourth of which are novella length works that serve as passageways of a sort from one part of the series to the next. Passageways are, after all, important in fairy tales. Don’t think of them as skippable, though, the second book was my personal favorite of the series and introduced the character I liked (or maybe just understood) best.

Notes on the audiobooks: I went back and forth between print and audio throughout the series depending on my reading circumstances. At first it was a little jarring to me that the text was so deeply Russian and the narrator was so obviously … not. If I had not been on a long car trip when I was starting the first book, I probably would not have continued with the audio, but the narrator gradually won me over with good characterization and excellent consistency and I ended up going back and forth between the print and audio versions through all five books.
2 reviews
August 21, 2017
What a great story! With new characters adding even more layers to the grand city of Vasyllia The Curse of the Raven is as gripping as its prequel, The Song of the Sirin. I especially appreciated the depiction of the artisan's struggle to create beauty over commodity, even when it could cost his life!

It is a good thing that the next book in this series will be published this fall. Otherwise, I would be all to anxious to read how all of the wonderful sub-stories began in these two books weave themselves together. Until then I am patiently waiting and hoping Nicholas all the best while he gets his next book out there.

P.S. I requested my local library to order a copy of The Song of the Sirin for their collection. I recommend you do the same so these great books can reach an even wider audience.
Profile Image for Zoe Kaylor.
358 reviews25 followers
October 8, 2019
It was such a thrill to return to Vasyllia in the Curse of the Raven. It's a short read, with a different set of main characters, who I really enjoyed getting to know. This novella has all the wonderful things I loved from The Song of the Sirin, and is a great read! I loved the depth of the characters and ideas. I think it's a testament to the strength of Nicholas Kotar's world-building that this novella seems to be simultaneously both independent of and closely tied to the first novel. Highly recommended!
4 reviews
September 20, 2017
Nicholas Kotar set the bar high with his first book The Song of the Sirin. Book two The Cruse of the Raven does not disappoint. The tale begins with imagery which is pure mind candy—conceptually, linguistically. This opening image sets the tone for the entire novella and sets up the reader to not only read about, but experience the major theme of the story. Kotar unveils this theme not only through the story, but through his own writing style in such a way that the message and the medium are married, inextricably bound one to another. But Kotar was not content with this level of artistry. Upon closer examination, the reader will discover that the central theme and the story serve as a microcosm for something far more profound. In this way the entire novel is akin to the works of the metaphysical poets. This is no small achievement, and it makes for a story that is compelling, profound, and a delight. Even the trajectory of the plot serves to reinforce this central theme—again, the reader experiences the theme through the characters and their journey through the story.

As is customary for Kotar, there are many twists and turns, and lots of mystery. This is a worthy sequel culminating in a breathtaking climax in the final chapter wherein the significance of the events in The Curse of the Raven, to The Song of the Sirin are revealed in glorious Technicolor. For the reader who has not read The Song of the Sirin, this book can stand alone, although the full impact of the final chapter will be lost on such a reader, this book could certainly be a wonderful introduction to the series.

This novella is a grand achievement and highly recommended both as a great read and for its literary value.
Profile Image for Priscila.
852 reviews86 followers
June 1, 2023
The Curse of the Raven was different and interesting, though I mean both positively. Different than how I imagined it would be, or what I would expect from other books, though still pretty set in the same world we've known so far. Interesting that some time (a few years?) has passed since the end of the first one, and that it doesn't follow the same main characters from the previous book, yet the overall story arc still carries on. This time while focusing on Llun and his niece Mirodara, and the difficult choices to be made while living in a city that's being ruled by the followers of the Raven (even though that's not how they present/call him to the public). The author's voice is just as good and unique in his storytelling, even though we're not following young people on epic quests anymore. This novella is rather dark and grim, yet as is usual with good vs evil stories, there's always hope, if the characters so choose to believe and follow. The narrator was equally good, and I definitely enjoyed his performance and the different voices for this set of characters.

Overall, a great continuation of this series, even if it's "only" a novella, all while introducing new characters as well as letting us know here and there what's been going on with others like Voran and Sabíana. I definitely look forward to the next one in the series. ~ 5 stars

Content:
Violence: descriptions of torture, unfair trials, and a failed uprising that ends in a bloodbath.
Profile Image for Lene Blackthorn .
1,827 reviews7 followers
October 3, 2017
Violent and greedy hunt for power and eternal life that does not stop before any obstacle.

Llun is possibly the last true artist in Vasyllia, wchich might be strange considering he is a smith, but his creation possess beauty and artistry beyond expectations. Even the smallest things coming from his hands are pieces of art. Unfortunately, Aspidian and his companions took interest in the smith, not only because of his craft, but for the name connection to a mad prophet, and blood relations to the Sons of the Swan. Even protecting and hiding Mirodara is a crime in the eyes of the power-hungry men. But Llun does not flee from any sacrifice to help the girl and his country.
Nicely written short story, with noble protagonists and very realistic antagonists, complemented by short "excerpts" from old prophecies and memoires at the end of each chapter, which lend the story certain uniqueness and the atmosphere of history. Both the plot and the characters were interesting, but I couldn't help myself - I felt distant from the story for most of the time, without any emotional connection until the last chapter. Voran and Mirodara's meeting certainly moved me. Also, I'd love to see a bit more conversations in the story. Otherwise, well done!
Profile Image for Ramona Plant.
752 reviews23 followers
January 23, 2018
The Curse of the Raven is a well written book by Nicholas Kotar. First of, I haven't read the first book in this series. Since this book is on the shorter side it made it a little difficult to get into it in the beginning, since the author didn't have a lot of time explaining things that may have been clearer if i would have read the first book of this series. So the start for me was definitely a little difficult but once I was past that I enjoyed the book. The concept of it is intriguing and the plot has some nice twists. The pace is on the faster side since the author is trying to pack a lot of story into this shorter book.

Llun is an interesting character and you get a good glimpse into his life, however you don't really find out what really happens to him, although you have a good idea. He is very strong with strong beliefs and fight for what is right at all costs.

This shorter story only really gives you a glimpse into this world which caught my curiosity so I will keep an eye out for future books in this series.

Voluntary review of Advance Reader Copy. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher.
Profile Image for John McCuen.
13 reviews6 followers
March 1, 2018
A Worthy Sequel to The Song of the Sirin

Llun the artisan is commissioned by the evil force now ruling Vasyllia to create a simple item which, as it happens, is crucial to the hopes of those who labor to see their beloved city cleansed and restored. The Raven's deception has taken on a new form, and the people are oppressed by those fellow humans who have been tortured to new depths of depravity.

There is only one problem with this most enjoyable second entry in the Raven Son series; it is TOO SHORT! I devoured it in one session. If the art of success is to leave the public wanting more, consider The Curse of the Raven as quite the success. The teaser chapters from part 3 of the series shows that Mr. Kotar has a great deal more in store for us. If you enjoy reading epic fantasy, you will enjoy this book and series.
Profile Image for Kanyon.
397 reviews
March 20, 2018
What a great continuation of the Raven Son series! This short story continues the story line with a new set of characters in a now evil ruled Vasyllia. While we are reading a whole new story, there is still so much to learn of the evil now within the walls of the temple, not to mention a powerful prophecy. There are little snippets of Sabiana and Voran, but this story is mostly focused on Llun, the last true artist of Vasyllia. As with the The Song of the Sirin, The Curse of the Raven is a beautifully written tale with engaging characters and great world building.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy.

Final Rating: 5 Stars

The Song of the Sirin (Raven Son, #1) by Nicholas Kotar The Curse of the Raven (Raven Son, #2) by Nicholas Kotar The Heart of the World (Raven Son, #3) by Nicholas Kotar Untitled (Raven Son, #4) by Nicholas Kotar Untitled (Raven Son, #5) by Nicholas Kotar
82 reviews
December 25, 2018
This second of Kotar's Raven Son fantasies is a nine-chapter novella. Kotar's writing has definitely improved from his first book. The plot is consistent and well-constructed. The characterization is well-done, with distinct characters, including the protagonist who works through a complete arc. The world-building is more realized and consistent. Voran, the protagonist from the first books, only appears at the end. Here we have the main character, Llun, metal smith, who is called upon to complete a great work of art, but in so doing transforms himself and the work he accomplishes. It is an enjoyable, single-sitting read. Kotar is an indie author who is developing into a major talent. Five stars. Available in paperback from Amazon, as well as in ebook format across multiple ebook platforms.
Profile Image for Kris.
977 reviews12 followers
December 10, 2022
The writing felt more to the point, whilst still being beautiful. Of course there’s not much time to tell a story in novella format, but because of that it feels concise and well thought out. I liked the way it connects to the first book in the end. I was amazed though how quickly I cared for the new character introduced at the beginning.

This second book in the Raven Son series is only a novella, but it packs a pretty good punch. This is a worthy sequel to The Song of the Sirin and in fact I enjoyed it quite a bit more. Whilst I struggled with the writing in book one, this one simply worked.

Because of its length and the way it connects to the first book in the end, it does feel a bit like an extended prologue for the third book (The Heart of the World), which of course now I am quite eager to read. Job well done, I suppose
94 reviews11 followers
March 6, 2018
This is far shorter than the previous book - a one-sitting morsel.

This novella shows great development on what I felt was the main flaw in Kotar's first book - characterisation. Llun the smith is fleshed-out and consistent, and we follow his emotional journey effectively. (Although, I think the comparison to 1984 is a little optimistic).

I don't like the interstitial "The sayings" - their specificity of content tends to betray the fact that they are written for the chapter, rather than ever seeming like genuine ancient documents.

All in all, I'd say this shows growth, and hints at the possibility that the remaining 3 books in the series may turn out to be the genuinely great fantasy novels that I'm sure Kotar has the raw talent to write.
Profile Image for Else.
74 reviews
October 5, 2017
This novella is a great follow up to Raven Son #1; the story tells what happens after the Raven takes over Vasyllia. It reads like the perfect "occupation" novel--except this time the occupation is by Evil himself. The characters perfectly reflect the conflicts and confusion of persons who must live in an evil-dominated society, yet remain true to themselves. The Raven series combines the best of fantasy, epic stories and fairy tales, hero characters, and the battle between good and evil. You will feel the hero journey is your own! Read "Song of the Sirin," then hurry to read this novella. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Record of the Nerds.
11 reviews
March 30, 2020
The second book in the series, this novella was quite a surprise to me. While it does not focus on Voran, this is an essential read in the series. This story develops situations that are explored more in the next book, but has a great story in itself. It echoes the themes of the first book, while building new ground. In other words, it is a great sequel. I gave it four stars though, because I could not give it 4.5. That is because I only wish it was just a bit longer, but the book is not rushed.
3 reviews
November 2, 2017
Unlikely heroes enter the fight in occupied Vasyllia
The gorgeous, almost dreamy imagery and lyrical prose present in Song of the Sirin continue as events in Vasyllia take a decidedly darker turn. Heroes slowly grown into heroism through a series of choices and trying adversities while villains are undeniably villainous, but also multifaceted—might that tiny spark in the darkness mean a glimmer of hope for a brighter future and possible redemption for Vasyllia's denizens?
Profile Image for Mauriel Joslyn.
3 reviews
March 21, 2018
The second book takes us from Voran's promising quest to Vasillya under brutal occupation by the Raven and his disciples. Kotar has deepened his characterization and honed his descriptive writing beautifully. It is a heartbreaking view, with new characters who will have a vital role to play finding courage and faith. I cannot help but be reminded of Russia under the Bolsheviks. I read this one quickly -- it was so compelling -- and am now onto Book 3. These books are fabulous!
180 reviews5 followers
May 3, 2018
This is the second novel in the Raven Son series. I really liked the first and couldn't wait to continue the story of Voran.
I was disappointed. This novel takes place many years later and Voran (the primary character of the first novel) doesn't play a considerable role in this work. This novella (quite short) is perhaps a bridge to the next novel but it didn't seem even completely necessary.
Still, the writing was engaging and I did like it.
3 reviews
November 17, 2018
A marvelous quick reading novella that
introduces new characters in Vasyllia
struggling between good and evil in this city
taken over by the Raven and his servants.
A glimpse is shown of the creative process
and choosing to serve good rather than evil
in the conflict, as well as characters who
become ever more twisted in the repeated
capitulation to evil. I recommend Curse of
the Raven highly!
Profile Image for Theron Mathis.
Author 2 books8 followers
October 8, 2017
Surprised

This second book in Kotar’s series surprised me. It picked up the story of the first book but not the characters. They were present but only minimally. The new people I met were just as fascinating and their tale moved me through the pages quickly. My only regret is that when it was over I wanted more.
870 reviews51 followers
October 25, 2018
The story moves along really quickly and is a completely engaging page turner for sure, but it ends unresolved. In that sense it reminds me of the Star War Trilogies, I always felt the 2nd movie did little except set up the need for the 3rd movie. In this case, I almost feel the book was too short and he should have just made this the final volume by making a longer book, combining books 2 & 3. In any case I've bought book 3 because I want to see where it is headed.
821 reviews2 followers
January 5, 2021
4.5. Book 2 is short and has new characters and old ones known from Book 1. It continues the plot of people trying to stay steadfast and true in the midst of an evil dominated society. I thought the writing was more concise in this book. A strong mix of fantasy, epic quests, fairy tales and a battle of Good vs Evil. I have got to see what happens next!
Profile Image for CinnamonHopes.
198 reviews
August 2, 2018
I think Nicholas is really getting his stride here. The beginning pages of Song of Sirin were a bit stilted, but worth getting through the rest of the book.

This one caught me from the opening and wouldn't let go.
Profile Image for Lydia H.
32 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2025
A solid 4 for me! I did not anticipate this being so short, but it was very concise (kindles come in one thickness, after all. The writing was better paced than the first. I truly enjoyed it. Off to book three!
146 reviews
November 12, 2025
This is a very short book bridging books #1 and #3. I was disappointed it was such a short book and had almost none of the previous book's main characters. I hope that it will make more sense with the rest of the story in book #3.
Profile Image for Tabitha Hall.
1 review1 follower
September 26, 2017
I loved getting to know more about what happened to Vasyllia next after the first book song of the siren ended. This book is intriguing and really is an amazing read. I especially love how strong Mirodara and Llun the smith is throughout the book.
Profile Image for Katie.
228 reviews35 followers
September 28, 2017
Received this Book for Free/ARC Read am voluntarily reviewing
Beautifully written terrific flow, intriguing story Leaves You anticipating the continuation of the Story. Highly recommend
10 reviews
November 15, 2017
The struggle and triumph of suffering art during the Stalinist purges of Kievan Rus under the Mongols (as it were.) An excellent book.
12.6k reviews189 followers
December 5, 2017
Loved this story. Llun is a smithy that is superb in his job. Hoping that there will be more stories to come.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews

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