The Heart of the World
- Downloads：3403
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-11-02 09:54:19
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Nicholas Kotar
- ISBN：099884795X
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
All 16-year-old Khaidu ever wanted was her own hunting eagle。 Her ten brothers laugh at her。 The rule-bound world of the Gumiren nomads has no place for a girl hunter， much less a crippled one。 But Khaidu has a secret。 She masters the ancient magic of eagle-binding and captures the largest eagle her tribe has ever seen。
Except her eagle isn't an eagle at all。 She's a dying queen under an enchantment。 Khaidu's binding unlocks an ancient curse of blood and loss。 As the curse turns Khaidu's people against each other， the bond between eagle and hunter shatters。 To find her lost eagle， Khaidu will brave monstrous beasts， face an army of shape-shifting giants， and cross the known world。。。only to be faced with a terrible truth。
If Khaidu cannot save the queen in time， the world itself may die with her。
The Heart of the World is the third book in an epic fantasy series。 Inspired by the Russian fairy tale "Finist the Bright Falcon，" it features complex characters， gorgeous magical landscapes， and unexpected plot twists。 If you like creative twists on myths and legends and classic fantasy， then you'll love Nicholas Kotar's sweeping tale。
Except her eagle isn't an eagle at all。 She's a dying queen under an enchantment。 Khaidu's binding unlocks an ancient curse of blood and loss。 As the curse turns Khaidu's people against each other， the bond between eagle and hunter shatters。 To find her lost eagle， Khaidu will brave monstrous beasts， face an army of shape-shifting giants， and cross the known world。。。only to be faced with a terrible truth。
If Khaidu cannot save the queen in time， the world itself may die with her。
The Heart of the World is the third book in an epic fantasy series。 Inspired by the Russian fairy tale "Finist the Bright Falcon，" it features complex characters， gorgeous magical landscapes， and unexpected plot twists。 If you like creative twists on myths and legends and classic fantasy， then you'll love Nicholas Kotar's sweeping tale。
Reviews
Aleksandar
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This series just keeps getting better and better。 Quite a few plot twists that I wasn't expecting， with the same engaging writing style that seems to getting more refined with each book。Khaidu， despite being a new character， is an enjoyable one。 I'm also enjoying watching Voran come into his own。 The Christ-like parallelism is a bit heavy handed at times， though。 He literally takes on everyone's pain at multiple times in the story， causing damage to his own body。 And if that wasn't enough， now h This series just keeps getting better and better。 Quite a few plot twists that I wasn't expecting， with the same engaging writing style that seems to getting more refined with each book。Khaidu， despite being a new character， is an enjoyable one。 I'm also enjoying watching Voran come into his own。 The Christ-like parallelism is a bit heavy handed at times， though。 He literally takes on everyone's pain at multiple times in the story， causing damage to his own body。 And if that wasn't enough， now he's going through something like Hades to get to the bottom of things， and set reality right。 The orthodoxy is oozing from the pages。 But wait， there's more。 Voran's now got The Raven pestering him in his mind now， kind of like the devil continuously tempted a certain someone else for some time。Again， it doesn't bother me too much， but if I'm thinking about this while I'm reading instead of engrossed in the story itself， it means that the brush used was heavier than it needed to be。 。。。more
Shmuel
，
The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend， even if something is what it seems to be， you're maybe still fail to interpret it right。 seemingly trivial ideas， but the author managed to quite skillfully give a unique take on them in this book， giving quite an enjoyable reading experience。 The enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend， even if something is what it seems to be， you're maybe still fail to interpret it right。 seemingly trivial ideas， but the author managed to quite skillfully give a unique take on them in this book， giving quite an enjoyable reading experience。 。。。more
Jillian
，
More of a 3。5。 I was initially frustrated that the book started with an unknown character instead of picking up with one already introduced， but I really enjoyed this and the character Khaidu is awesome！Once again， I'm a little disappointed that the story is not complete， but that's common in fantasy。 There was a lot of ugliness in this story and I'm excited to see a redemptive ending at the end of this series。 More of a 3。5。 I was initially frustrated that the book started with an unknown character instead of picking up with one already introduced， but I really enjoyed this and the character Khaidu is awesome！Once again， I'm a little disappointed that the story is not complete， but that's common in fantasy。 There was a lot of ugliness in this story and I'm excited to see a redemptive ending at the end of this series。 。。。more
John
，
Having finished the third book in the Raven Son series， I must say wow。 This third book is darker than the first， but not bleak。 The story follows through the book into a wonderful conclusion that will satisfy the excitement that you build up as you read。 Author Nicholas Kotar illustrates how it is hard to do what is right， physically， emotionally， and mentally， but you have to do what is before you。 Even in the darkest of times， they strove to fight for the truth， even when it cost them。 Compel Having finished the third book in the Raven Son series， I must say wow。 This third book is darker than the first， but not bleak。 The story follows through the book into a wonderful conclusion that will satisfy the excitement that you build up as you read。 Author Nicholas Kotar illustrates how it is hard to do what is right， physically， emotionally， and mentally， but you have to do what is before you。 Even in the darkest of times， they strove to fight for the truth， even when it cost them。 Compelling and exciting， fantasy readers will enjoy this read。 。。。more
Laura Hargett
，
I haven't enjoyed a work of fiction published in the last century as much as this series。 I suppose being Russian Orthodox helps。 I haven't enjoyed a work of fiction published in the last century as much as this series。 I suppose being Russian Orthodox helps。 。。。more
Sanja_Sanjalica
，
Excellent 😀
John Coatney
，
I'm enjoying this series， and I will continue to read Kotar's books as they are published。 I'll need to read each one another time or to in order to figure out whether the story is as disjointed as it seems this time around， or whether it is a result of my poor reading skills （I don't read a lot of fiction）。 I'm enjoying this series， and I will continue to read Kotar's books as they are published。 I'll need to read each one another time or to in order to figure out whether the story is as disjointed as it seems this time around， or whether it is a result of my poor reading skills （I don't read a lot of fiction）。 。。。more
Karen R。 Todorov
，
BravoExcellent writing， of the highest quality。 This series only gets better！ Amazingly exciting， and truly unique。 Best writing I have read in a long time。
John Considine
，
This review is for the Raven Son Books 1-3。 Kotar has created an epic fantasy that has many layers。 In the first layer， it's really just a good story with good and bad characters who do good and bad things。 In the next layer religious themes are apparent。 A reader with some knowledge of Christianity， Islam， Hindu （and other religions） will recognize story elements。 In the another layer， a reader with Orthodox Christianity will recognize characters and other elements that Kotar has taken from Ort This review is for the Raven Son Books 1-3。 Kotar has created an epic fantasy that has many layers。 In the first layer， it's really just a good story with good and bad characters who do good and bad things。 In the next layer religious themes are apparent。 A reader with some knowledge of Christianity， Islam， Hindu （and other religions） will recognize story elements。 In the another layer， a reader with Orthodox Christianity will recognize characters and other elements that Kotar has taken from Orthodox Christianity and hagiography。It seems to me that this work has a been a labor of love for Kotar and he clearly gives a nod to Tolkien。 I'm not comparing this work to LOTR but some themes are clearly present for LOTR readers。 I'm giving 5 stars because， while the story isn't finished yet， Kotar has created a story with depth which is a testament to his talent。 For a story to work on different levels the author is playing several games of 4D chess simultaneously。 I'm looking forward to the next book。 。。。more
Paul Vinogradski
，
The beginning of the three book series is very similar to the author's earlier book Raven Son， but this complete series is now fully fleshed out。 Raven Son， in retrospect， feels quite cramped。 Engaging and unpredictable storyline takes the reader on a thrilling adventure， through a terrain of archetypes clothed in images from russian folklore。 Very rich in insight on both the personal and societal level， would recommend this to thoughtful readers seeking to exercise their imagination！ The beginning of the three book series is very similar to the author's earlier book Raven Son， but this complete series is now fully fleshed out。 Raven Son， in retrospect， feels quite cramped。 Engaging and unpredictable storyline takes the reader on a thrilling adventure， through a terrain of archetypes clothed in images from russian folklore。 Very rich in insight on both the personal and societal level， would recommend this to thoughtful readers seeking to exercise their imagination！ 。。。more
Andrew Bennett
，
Kotar again writes a compelling tale， rich with action， fascinating characters and full of surprises。 He builds a many colored world of Vasyllia and beyond。 The characters struggle between good and evil，humility and pride， selfishness and the claims of family， clan， and nation。 Especially strong is the theme of power made perfect in weakness and repentance， but never in a preachy way。I read this book with great enjoyment and am anxiously awaiting the next in the series！The story carried me away Kotar again writes a compelling tale， rich with action， fascinating characters and full of surprises。 He builds a many colored world of Vasyllia and beyond。 The characters struggle between good and evil，humility and pride， selfishness and the claims of family， clan， and nation。 Especially strong is the theme of power made perfect in weakness and repentance， but never in a preachy way。I read this book with great enjoyment and am anxiously awaiting the next in the series！The story carried me away except for chapter 4 that just didn’t hold my attention like the rest of the work。 I hated to come to the last page！ 。。。more
Ted
，
While I really liked the book， it was a page turner and I was eager to see how it was going to resolve， I was totally disappointed to discover that this is not a trilogy but a series。 Well written and engaging， but I like books to come to an end。 I like books that have a resolution to them， hopefully one that I consider good。 But i am not a patient reader， so have no intention of reading a series forever。
Deborah Cox
，
This young author is equal to Tolkien！
Brandon Wilson
，
The third installment in my new favorite series did not disappoint。 Nicholas Kotar absolutely nailed the pacing of the novel as he cycles through several interesting storylines and characters making sure to always keep you on the edge of your seat。 I have been waiting for a series like this - a series with all the depth and familiarity of the great world weavers but the longed for appearance and suddenness of different and ancient cultures and belief systems。 I can’t wait for the fourth book。 I The third installment in my new favorite series did not disappoint。 Nicholas Kotar absolutely nailed the pacing of the novel as he cycles through several interesting storylines and characters making sure to always keep you on the edge of your seat。 I have been waiting for a series like this - a series with all the depth and familiarity of the great world weavers but the longed for appearance and suddenness of different and ancient cultures and belief systems。 I can’t wait for the fourth book。 I am a Kotar reader for life！ 。。。more
Jerry
，
It was a good read with an abundance of detail。 There were many different factions that were intertwining with in it。 I was left surprised at the directions being taken at the end。
Kate
，
Soon after finishing the second work in the series， I picked up the this， the third， and what I thought was the final work of a trilogy。Although I really liked the Song of the Sirin and liked Curse of the Raven well enough， I felt like I was slogging through this novel。 Unlike the first novel （and to some extent the second）， this novel started having lots of characters and story lines。 Too many。 They do converge at the end， but this so many characters is a detractor for me。There were some story Soon after finishing the second work in the series， I picked up the this， the third， and what I thought was the final work of a trilogy。Although I really liked the Song of the Sirin and liked Curse of the Raven well enough， I felt like I was slogging through this novel。 Unlike the first novel （and to some extent the second）， this novel started having lots of characters and story lines。 Too many。 They do converge at the end， but this so many characters is a detractor for me。There were some story lines I liked， but overall， it just felt slow and dragging。 And then， in the last page or two， the novel decides that it is not the end of the series and I got incredibly annoyed。 I'm not sure that there's more story that I care about here for me to continue。 。。。more
Mat
，
Absolutely beautifully written story。 We are once again thrown into the wars of Vasyllia and the strife's of the main characters we have come to know and love。 We meet new characters who have the same internal struggles and must decide for themselves what the best course of action is; whether they follow their heart and what they most desire or what is best for the world around them。 Kotar does a masterful job of weaving and fabricating a new story that steals the reader into a world that's neve Absolutely beautifully written story。 We are once again thrown into the wars of Vasyllia and the strife's of the main characters we have come to know and love。 We meet new characters who have the same internal struggles and must decide for themselves what the best course of action is; whether they follow their heart and what they most desire or what is best for the world around them。 Kotar does a masterful job of weaving and fabricating a new story that steals the reader into a world that's never been seen before。 You become lost in a realm of beauty and magnificence but also one full of hate and ugliness。 In many ways， I think Kotar has hit the nail on the head and shows us what the real world has become。 A world where people are power hungry and will do whatever they can to become the most powerful， no matter the consequences。 I can't wait to read what book 4 has in store for us。 One of the best novels I've ever read。 It's one that I wanted to sit with and let permeate within me and not finish。 The finish did not disappoint one bit though。 。。。more
CinnamonHopes
，
Aaaand with the left turn at the end。I am really enjoying this series， and I'm truly anxious to see where the characters get off to from here。 Aaaand with the left turn at the end。I am really enjoying this series， and I'm truly anxious to see where the characters get off to from here。 。。。more
Debbie Pierce
，
The Heart of the World （Raven Son）， had a hard start but once it got going I couldn't put it down。 So much happened and the world was so diverse that it is hard to describe it all in a short review。If you love fantasy mixed with some war torn peoples and lands and all the hope of those trying to make things right， then you will love this book。 I could not recommend it highly enough。 The Heart of the World （Raven Son）， had a hard start but once it got going I couldn't put it down。 So much happened and the world was so diverse that it is hard to describe it all in a short review。If you love fantasy mixed with some war torn peoples and lands and all the hope of those trying to make things right， then you will love this book。 I could not recommend it highly enough。 。。。more
Gloria Smith
，
It's been a while since I first read this， but every time I glance at it and see "Khaidu" I catch my breath at the memory of this beautifully drawn character。 The story is intense， with the gorgeous prose I have come to expect from Nicholas Kotar， and the plot held my interest from start to finish。 A few segments felt rushed， but the majority of the pacing was on target， and I highly recommend reading this book， as well as the earlier books in the series。 It's been a while since I first read this， but every time I glance at it and see "Khaidu" I catch my breath at the memory of this beautifully drawn character。 The story is intense， with the gorgeous prose I have come to expect from Nicholas Kotar， and the plot held my interest from start to finish。 A few segments felt rushed， but the majority of the pacing was on target， and I highly recommend reading this book， as well as the earlier books in the series。 。。。more
David Wood
，
The Heart of the World （Raven Son Book 3） is yet another masterpiece by Nicholas Kotar。 As a good series should， each book gets better and better。 With book three Kotar continues to weave his tapestry filled with heroes mythical characters and a genuine understanding of human beings and the human condition。 The many threads in books one and two have been gathered and woven together into one cohesive story along with some new threads and new characters。 Kotar explores some of the other races in h The Heart of the World （Raven Son Book 3） is yet another masterpiece by Nicholas Kotar。 As a good series should， each book gets better and better。 With book three Kotar continues to weave his tapestry filled with heroes mythical characters and a genuine understanding of human beings and the human condition。 The many threads in books one and two have been gathered and woven together into one cohesive story along with some new threads and new characters。 Kotar explores some of the other races in his world in such a way that each one's nobility is revealed。 For those who love lore as I do， this book promises to satiate and tantalize all at once。 Enough is revealed， but enough is left a mystery。 Kotar's world comes alive in new ways in this volume filled with complex real characters who are unique and beautiful each in their own way。 Kotar's understanding of humanity is not only real， but sympathetic and compassionate。 This is a book which explores the goodness， nobility， and beauty in humanity even under the most horrendous and grievous conditions and leaves the reader feeling inspired to persevere through the greatest of trials and use them to ones betterment。 。。。more
Tanya
，
everyone tells her she cant have a hunting eagle because she was a girl and a cripple。 she was going to do it no matter what。 she gets the biggest eagle but what she does not know is that her eagle is an enchanted queen。 she can use magic but when the bonds break down between them she must go on a journey to find her。 if she cant everything may come to an end。 will she succeed？ find out by readingi was gifted a copy by the author and i enjoyed it so much that i want to review
Zoe Kaylor
，
Kotar’s new novel does everything that good fiction should do。 The Heart of the World takes the reader out of the real world and shows us all the good and bad that we can do， that actions have consequences， and that what is in our hearts matters。 But we also see hope and we leave at the end ready to emerge back into our world as warriors。 Kotar has really come into his own with this novel。 I was drawn in from the very first chapter and felt like he maintained his momentum and purpose throughout Kotar’s new novel does everything that good fiction should do。 The Heart of the World takes the reader out of the real world and shows us all the good and bad that we can do， that actions have consequences， and that what is in our hearts matters。 But we also see hope and we leave at the end ready to emerge back into our world as warriors。 Kotar has really come into his own with this novel。 I was drawn in from the very first chapter and felt like he maintained his momentum and purpose throughout the novel。 I was a little thrown off guard by the fact that the events of The Heart of the Wolrd take place 20 years after The Song of the Siren， but Kotar seamlessly weaves all the stories and characters together to create a brilliant narrative。 This one of the most impactful novels I have read in recent years and I can’t wait to see what Kotar does next！I was given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review。Update from a reread:I have been going back through the novels so as to get myself into the world again before jumping into book 4。 Perhaps because I kept starting and restarting this book， the first third was difficult for me， but once all the characters are really in action， it’s a wild， magical ride and I could not put it down。 I love that Kotar is not afraid to weave worldview， mythology， history， and philosophy into his novels: I love the classic slavic folktale characters and the parallels to Soviet history are almost shocking and thought provoking。 I also really appreciate Kotar’s willingness to write actual battle scenes， and， combined with the struggles of morals and conscience as the characters struggle against themselves for good， this really is an epic heroic tale。 。。。more
Michael Knierim
，
This is a good book， a deep book that explores themes of disability， power and healing in a dazzlingly beautiful cosmos。 There are some truly wondrous images and scenes but I don’t want to give anything away。 The intricate， revelatory story-line at times reminds me of Voyage to Arcturus or even Xenogears （one of the few videogames that is more spiritual gain than loss！） This is probably the best in the series so far yet I give it four stars， because I think the author can improve the distracting This is a good book， a deep book that explores themes of disability， power and healing in a dazzlingly beautiful cosmos。 There are some truly wondrous images and scenes but I don’t want to give anything away。 The intricate， revelatory story-line at times reminds me of Voyage to Arcturus or even Xenogears （one of the few videogames that is more spiritual gain than loss！） This is probably the best in the series so far yet I give it four stars， because I think the author can improve the distracting narrative structure。 Even so， this is a memorable， rare work。 。。。more
S。B。
，
The highly developed writing style I enjoy and have come to expect from Kotar is evident yet again， in this 3rd book of the ‘Raven Son’ series。 While some authors’ follow up books lack the strength， intensity & polish of the first， this is far from the case here。 Kotar continues to provide us with a wonderful， complex story。 His characters develop and grow。 Unique worlds unfold with his magical descriptions - setting detailed scenes with a cleverly worded sentence or two。If you enjoy the complex The highly developed writing style I enjoy and have come to expect from Kotar is evident yet again， in this 3rd book of the ‘Raven Son’ series。 While some authors’ follow up books lack the strength， intensity & polish of the first， this is far from the case here。 Kotar continues to provide us with a wonderful， complex story。 His characters develop and grow。 Unique worlds unfold with his magical descriptions - setting detailed scenes with a cleverly worded sentence or two。If you enjoy the complexity of classic fantasy， （and I do）， this book， this series， is definitely worth a read。 I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Heart of the World
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Heart of the World&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft