REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: THE RUSTED BLADE (RAVEN SON BOOK 0.5) BY NICHOLAS KOTAR

Abstract: This is another short but interesting novella from this series.  In this prequel to The Song of the Sirin, some questions are answered, others are not.  Otchigen makes for a good focal point, with virtues that are also the origin of vices, and his story gives him a level of humanity that had been lacking.

Content Warning (highlight to view): some violent and frightening imagery, disturbing imagery, an instance of gross-out humor, demonic possession

———

I forgot that this was a blog weekend until a few hours ago, so here’s just a quick review for a quick read.  It’s also the last entry in the Kotar series for a bit (not that I have a choice, since the next book hasn’t come out yet).  The Rusted Blade is a prequel novella to Kotar’s Raven Son series detailing the circumstances leading to the disgraceful absence of Voran’s parents, in particular his father, in The Song of the Sirin.  As such, there are a couple spoilers for the series in this book, so advance with caution if you have not read the other works.  Now, onward!

Otchigen is a man of Old Vasyllia: a proud warrior of long lineage and a love for the city’s traditional hierarchy and virtues.  He is also a disappointed and absent father and a man of increasingly violent and short temper.  Though back-to-back incidents call into question his reliability, he is summoned by his trusted friend, Dar Antomir, to investigate a troubling report regarding a prophecy and a rusting blade.

I rather like this novella.  I wouldn’t say Kotar’s writing has improved since The Heart of the World, but it still shows how he has grown since The Song of the Sirin.  The plot is interesting, though not as efficient as The Heart of the World, and while the twists in the story are, as usual, not exactly ground breaking, they are done relatively well.  There is some set up that isn’t resolved, though, and about something important to the novel.  However, what is resolved, including certain questions from The Song of the Sirin, is engaging.

What makes the plot work, though, is the character of Otchigen.  I like what Kotar did with the character.  I like how he is proud but not unbearable, how he is self-righteous but understandably so, and I like the complexity of his conflict with his family.  For instance, I like how his rejection of the contemplative Voran stems from he values martial strength and his perception of courage, and how those same sources of conflict help him form meaningful bonds with other characters.  How some of his strengths are also sources for blind spots.  In other words, he is human.  Not fully fleshed out, not a Tolstoy or Dostoyevski character, but still human, and that struggle with vice and virtue forms the  story’s emotional core as Otchigen tries to figure out what exactly he should be doing and where he has gone wrong.

Again, this is a pretty quick read.  It isn’t a masterpiece delving into the full depth of the questions it asks, nor does it fully embody its characters, but it does a decent job with the space it has.  I even left the book wanting more from the series, and that’s a pretty good place to leave a reader.

P.S. Just as a note, this particular volume of the series is only available by signing up for Kotar’s email list.  It’s free, so if you’re fine with a few spoilers and want to check out his work, this wouldn’t be a bad place to start.

Update: In August 2019, Kotar released this volume for purchase on Amazon