The Rusted Blade

Raven Son #0.5

by Nicholas Kotar

Dark Omens. Rumors of War. An enemy that cannot be stopped.

Otchigen has been the first warrior of Vasyllia for twenty years. The honor of his city and training of his brother-warriors dominates his life. But all that changes when the city's newest champion is attacked at night, merely for being an Otherlander. Otchigen's wife is struck down by a strange illness, then disappears in suspicious circumstances. To make things worse, age-old alliances collapse amid rumors of war and strange portents.

But when Otchigen comes face to face with a terrifying new enemy, all his military training fails him. Enslaved, he is given an impossible choice: betray his city or lose everyone he loves.

The Rusted Blade is a novella prequel to the Raven Son epic fantasy series inspired by Russian fairy tales.

Genres: Fantasy

100 pages, ebook

Published August 1, 2018

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Nicholas Kotar]

This novella is available (for free) for subscribers to my email list. Chronologically, it fits before book 1 in the Raven Son series, but it is perhaps most effective if read AFTER book 1, The Song of the Sirin. If you'd like to give it a chance, visit my website at www.nicholaskotar.com, where you can sign up for my Readers' Group and receive this novella for free.

[Iri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite... clearer than The Song of Sirin. Maybe short lenght stories suits Mr. Kotar better, I don´t know.

[Zoe Kaylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella takes place before the first novel in the Raven Son series and will make more sense if you’ve read the first novel but can stand alone. It starts as a sort of vignette from the life of Otchigen and see a man whose anger is starting to eat away at him. I really enjoyed learning more of his character arc. I also got a better sense of Voran, Lebia, and Mirnian from this and I’m looking forward to reading the next book with this in mind.

What I like most about this series is that Kotar is not afraid to have characters who doubt and fail. They come to realize the consequences their choices and thoughts on their loved ones and the world around them. Though difficult, there is always a choice to act for others, to deny oneself. Despite their weaknesses, they (and us) are not doomed to be weak forever. We can always choose the good, and that starts by fighting the evil in our hearts.

Kotar wrote a Writer’s Manifesto a while back that talks in part about the transformative role of fantasy in changing us and challenging us. This is my measure of good fiction and fantasy, but I’m always very pleased when an author can do it without it feeling forced and Kotar consistently does that with this series.

[Michael Knierim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rusted Blade has to be the most “psychological” book in the series so far. It gets deep inside the head of a very rich and complex character who is neither hero, nor villain, is easy to sympathize with and is not at all static. The focus is tight, the pacing is good. The reader is never distracted nor bored. We don’t get to see as much of the richly populated world in this short novella, yet Kotar still manages to throw in a memorable demi-god or two. I look forward to the next full-length installment!

[DúviAurvandil Ericsson e Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I wish it was twice as long! This prequel novella has more humor and moves more swiftly than its predesuccessor, but still has enough of the inward soul searching and pointed spiritual commentary to make one think and pray and fight and weep. The story of Vasyllia is fleshed out and the lore of the world of Aer is given more depth and poignancy. Seriously, the only way I wish it was different would be for it to be longer. Highly recommended for fans of the Raven Son / Sirin series.

[Daniel Lieuwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. It is good as a prequel to the Song of the Sirin series. I disagree with the other rater that it stands on its own. It is interesting because it gives you backstory --- and spoilers if you read it first --- to the rest of the series. I'd read it in the order it was written.

[Joel Wiedrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. I actually liked this prequel better than the first novel in the series. Great writing. This story made me care about the characters and their lives from the first few pages.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great depth.
This is an intense story that sets the background for 'The Song of Sirin' and the rest of the series.