The world is divided by the Line of Limit. To the north are the Tokkebi—fire 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.

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.

Rating: 5 out of 5 hearts

Harper Collins