L
Lee Young-Do
Yeong-Do Lee is a writer who gained attention for his fantasy novel The Heart of the Nhaga. His stories often focus on world-building and character development within the fantasy genre.
The Heart of the Nhaga
Synopsis
The Heart of the Nhaga is the first English-language volume of The Bird That Drinks Tears, the landmark epic fantasy by South Korean author Lee Yeong-do, widely regarded as a father of modern Korean fantasy. Originally published in Korea in 2003, the four-volume saga sold hundreds of thousands of copies and has been called the Korean Lord of the Rings. This first English translation is rendered by award-winning translator Anton Hur.
The story unfolds in a world divided by the Line of Limit and inhabited by four races: humans, the avian Rekon, the fire-wielding Tokkebi, and the reptilian Nhaga, who give up their hearts for immortality. A secret northward mission collapses when the chosen Nhaga is found murdered, forcing an uneasy alliance of four strangers, one from each people, to carry on together despite deep mutual distrust.
Lee replaces the familiar furniture of Western fantasy with concepts drawn from Korean myth and language, producing a richly imagined world praised for its inventiveness, wit, and emotional depth.
Genres
Characters
Kagan DracaProtagonist
Ryun PeiProtagonist
Frequently asked questions
Is this book part of a larger series?
This novel is the first volume in a four-part series titled The Bird That Drinks Tears, which was originally published in South Korea in 2003.
Is there a video game adaptation of this story?
A video game based on the world and lore of The Bird That Drinks Tears is currently in development.
How does the author approach the writing process?
The author has described his writing method as typing the story as he composes it, a process he refers to as being a typer rather than a traditional planner.