- Publisher: Waystone Press
- Available in: Paperback, Kindle
- Published: March 13, 2018
A land destroyed by war. An army of giants on the rampage. Can a crippled girl heal the world before it dies?
All 16-year-old Khaidu ever wanted was her own hunting eagle. Her ten brothers laugh at her. After all, 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. Mastering the ancient magic of eagle-binding, she 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. Desperate 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.
Inspired by the Russian fairy tale “Finist the Bright Falcon,” The Heart of the World 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.
Purchase now in ebook or paperback formats!
Preview
Reviews
“Like the first two books, this book has a FANTASTIC pace— it moves from scene to scene breathlessly, with action and interest. There were plot twists that surprised and delighted me, two of which have stayed with me since I finished the book, making me think. No spoilers here though, you’ll have to read it for yourself. :-)” – “Tess”
“I couldn’t wait to read this third installment of Nicholas Kotar’s tale of Vasillya, and I was not disappointed! The characters and their “threads” are expertly woven into a tapestry of surpassing beauty, complexity, and depth; each warp and weft combining into a pattern richer and stronger than the individual yarn would seem capable of making.” – Katherine Tolf
“Wow – the series keeps getting better and better! Not only did the author keep several story lines going (the seemingly cursed and worn out healer, the cripple shaman and were-wolf mother, the broken and power-mad war leader, the tragically flawed prince, and the sleeping beauty princess), he brings them together into a climax that was so unexpected (and perfectly obvious) that I couldn’t decide whether I should laugh or cry. Well done!” – Anthony Perkins