Raven Son in Ask Nicholas Kotar

Jul 09, 2017 Nicholas Kotar added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Russian fairy tales are a fascinating blend of the beautiful, the macabre, and the bizarre. If you read them, you’ll encounter fantastical creatures like firebirds, dragons with many heads, shape-shifters, paradise birds with the heads of beautiful women and the bodies of eagles, hags with dubious loyalties, and nature spirits that sometimes help the hero, but sometimes want to eat them alive.

But underneath all the arresting strangeness, there’s a well of profound and even spiritual meaning that ...more

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Feb 05, 2014 Alexandra Taylor rated it it was amazing

Nicholas Kotar's writing has the elegance, lyricism, and attention to detail that all fantasy readers eagerly hope for. With these skills he crafts the beautiful setting of Vasyllia which comes to life before the reader's eyes, and we are introduced to a refreshingly new scene for the contemporary fantasy/adventure genre. After I finished readingRaven Son, it took me some time to narrow down the specific elements of the novel that raised it from great to masterful. The answer is not in the previ ...more

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Jan 27, 2014 Dcn Peter Markevich rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Nicholas Kotar's debut novel has the enviable quality of becoming increasingly difficult to put down as one reaches all the way to the last page. The flip side of this is that the first chapter almost turned me off the whole book. There were just too many concepts and characters with their backstories introduced at breakneck speed. The author seemed to forget that this world, which has been swirling around in his head for years, is still completely new to the reader. Fortunately, the confusion I ...more

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Jan 24, 2014 Kaz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

There are some questions better left unasked, and yet others that no one has ever thought to ask. Such as: What if Krilof or Afanasief had been Inklings? Perhaps this is not a question that Nicholas Kotar sought to discover as he ground pen and key to produce the manuscript for Raven Son, but in a roundabout way the tale borrows freely from both traditions of Russian Folklore and English/Anglophonic Mythopœia to create a tale that both entertains and edifies the soul. There's even allusion to th ...more

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Aug 31, 2017 DúviAurvandil Ericsson e Pereira rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It is somewhat rare when a fantasy story causes one to examine his life, his spiritual state, and to plunge into his heart to make needed amends. In fact, one often turns to fantasy to escape the boring mundaneness that may plague most his days when his heart, soul, and manfulness are sickly and leprous. This is not the story for one who wishes to remain in such a state.

Yes, it's exciting. Yes, it's magically bewildering. Yes, it's poetically beautiful. But most of all, it's true on a level tha It is somewhat rare when a fantasy story causes one to examine his life, his spiritual state, and to plunge into his heart to make needed amends. In fact, one often turns to fantasy to escape the boring mundaneness that may plague most his days when his heart, soul, and manfulness are sickly and leprous. This is not the story for one who wishes to remain in such a state.

Yes, it's exciting. Yes, it's magically bewildering. Yes, it's poetically beautiful. But most of all, it's true on a level that both transcends and plunges deep into spiritual and physical realities. There are characters here who mirror the bitter jealousies of a friend betrayed, there are adulterers and corrupters, there are wounds of the heart that can only be healed through mystical means, there are hopes and dreams that are dashed and may yet only be realized at the end of days, there are real true hurts and sorrows, triumphs and failures.

Through it all, there is hope, even if that hope is weak and nearly drowning in tears, even if the victory is beset with casualties and loss, even if only through great pain and suffering can a man and the things he holds most dear be healed.

For one quite unfamiliar with Russian fairy tales, many of the references are ethereal and hung, it seems, on gossamer, not quite substantial enough for one to fully grasp the meaning and import of sayings or characters or beasts, but tied to a world of rich beauty and gilded tales. One hopes that more of these glimpses of Russian folk wisdom and spirituality will be developed and rounded out more fully in the subsequent volumes.

If you have ever been in a place of exquisite natural beauty and felt your soul ascend like light in a cathedral, you will find even more inspiration in this tale. If you have ever felt that the most profound thing you have ever seen is also the most simple possible, you will have confirmation in this book. If you ever desired the courage to grasp the sword-hilt of your heart and wrest it from destruction, you will have a helping hand here. If you have ever wished to fight against the ever increasing darkness with simple acts of kindness and love, you will find succor in the Song of the Siren. ...more

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Jan 24, 2014 Julia Stephanie rated it it was amazing

This is an epic tale that is every bit as mystical and beautiful as the cover depicts! It's written in the old world style, part of why I love it so much. There are many riddles and fantastical beasts littered between the intricately woven story of how every little person can make a difference and of their trials and suffering. It reminds me of the old Greek and Roman hero stories, with less brute, and is reminiscent of old Russian fairy tales. It is a truly wonderful story and I am eagerly anti ...more

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Jul 28, 2017 Jill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If you are in the mood for a traditional storyteller, read anything by Kotar. He brings elegance to his stories.

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Jul 05, 2017 Julia Stephanie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I don't usually read epic fantasy, but I've always loved Russian folktales and I immensely enjoyed this novel! I cannot wait for the next book! The religious parallels are so expertly woven into young Voran's (and the 3 other main characters') experiences and I even felt a similar reflection on the current state of politics. If you're a fan of old Slavic folktales or epic fantasy, I urge you to read this! ...more

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