The Heart of the Nhaga
South Korea

The Heart of the Nhaga

by Lee Young-do

Adventure & Journey Fantasy 2026

Summary

In The Heart of the Nhaga, the first volume of Lee Young-do’s celebrated epic fantasy series The Bird That Drinks Tears, four distinct peoples inhabit a world divided by the mysterious Line of Limit. To the north live humans, the Tokkebi, who wield fire as both a weapon and an illusion, and the Rekon, powerful birdlike warriors. To the south dwell the Nhaga, reptilian beings who surrender their hearts in exchange for immortality.

When a Nhaga is sent on a mission northward, three companions—one from each northern people—are tasked with ensuring his safe passage. Their journey quickly becomes more complicated than expected: the Tokkebi is a scholar rather than an adventurer, the formidable Rekon fears water, and the human hunts Nhaga for food. When their original charge is murdered and replaced by another Nhaga who still possesses his heart, the group faces an even more dangerous expedition.

As the unlikely companions struggle to survive, they must confront their prejudices and discover the true purpose of their mission. Combining imaginative world-building, political intrigue, humor, and philosophical questions about identity and mortality, Lee creates an epic fantasy that draws on Korean cultural influences while exploring universal themes of difference, cooperation, and belonging.

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Country
South Korea
Asia
About the author
Lee Young-do
Lee Young-do

Lee Young-do (이영도, born 1972) is a South Korean novelist widely regarded as one of the pioneering figures of modern Korean fantasy literature. Born in Busan, he rose to prominence during the late 1990s, when fantasy fiction was gaining a growing readership in South Korea. His debut series, Dragon Raja, became a major success and helped establish fantasy as a popular literary genre in the country. Lee is best known for creating elaborate imaginary worlds populated by distinctive peoples, complex political systems, and morally ambiguous characters. His writing combines epic adventures with philosophical questions, imaginative humor, and reflections on human nature. His major works include Dragon Raja, Future Walker, Polaris Rhapsody, The Bird That Drinks Tears, and The Bird That Drinks Blood. The Bird That Drinks Tears, the series that includes The Heart of the Nhaga, is particularly celebrated for its original mythology and its exploration of cultural difference, prejudice, power, and mortality. Lee’s work has sold millions of copies in South Korea, earning him a reputation as one of the country’s most influential fantasy writers. The English translation of The Heart of the Nhaga by Anton Hur introduced international readers to one of the landmark works of Korean speculative fiction.

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Details
Published
2026
Author
Lee Young-do