Those Who Prepare the Way

In the breathtaking sequel to Lee Young-do’s acclaimed fantasy series that started with The Heart of the Nhaga, an unlikely leader must bridge the divide between duty and destiny. Available for the first time in English by award-winning translator Anton Hur.

In a world teetering on the brink of another devastating war, old hatreds run deep. The northern lands live in the shadow of the Nhaga, a powerful race from the south, whose ambition threatens to once again plunge the world into chaos. To stop them, an ancient prophecy must be fulfilled, and a new leader must rise—one who can unite the fractured kingdoms against a common enemy.

When a young Nhaga warrior is reluctantly thrust into a position of leadership, a perilous journey begins. The warrior, along with a grizzled pathfinder haunted by his past and a band of misfits, must navigate a realm of political intrigue, mythical beasts, and warring gods. They are pursued by relentless assassins and confronted by a conspiracy so vast it could shatter the foundations of their world. To survive, they must forge new alliances and confront the ghosts of their memories.

An unforgettable epic fantasy, Those Who Prepare the Way is brilliantly translated into English for the first time ever by award-winning translator Anton Hur.

Reviews

'Lee, South Korea’s leading fantasy writer, is a skilled worldbuilder in the Tolkien vein… A pleasure for readers of fantasy outside the Western tradition'

Kirkus Reviews ​​​​​​​

'This extremely accessible epic fantasy, a Korean classic available for the first time in English, uses familiar genre foundations with exciting South Korean twists to create an unputdownable read that feels part Nicholas Eames’s Kings of the Wyld and part T. Kingfisher’s Nettle and Bone'

Library Journal

'This series will be catnip to readers that love epic journeys, high stakes adventures, intricate societies, an amazing plot, and a world on the cusp of change. Fans of Marlon James’ Dark Star trilogy will devour this and anticipate the next in the series'

Booklist

About the author

Widely acknowledged as the father of Korean fantasy genre, Lee Yeong-do is an exceptionally imaginative writer who builds elaborate worlds and fills them with complex characters rendered through his narrative that strikes a brilliant balance between comedy and poetry. His books have sold over 5 million copies: including the series The Dragon Raja, Future Walker, Polaris Rhapsody, The Bird that Drinks Tears, and The Bird that Drinks Blood.

Anton Hur was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and was subsequently raised in six different countries on four different continents, including British Hong Kong, Ethiopia, the United States, and Thailand, but he spent most of his time in Korea. He has worked as an interpreter and translator for more than two decades. In 2022, he was double longlisted and shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, and, in 2023, his translation of Bora Chung’s Cursed Bunny was a finalist for the National Book Awards. He lives in Seoul.