Bound & Determined to Find a Good Read: Review: Nikolas & Company: The Merman & the Moon Forgotten

Nick lives in a time when one can extend their life indefinitely through cerebral downloads, zip from country to country in hovercars, and have every whim taken care of by the ever faithful nannydrones.

Nick hates it.

Aside from the refugee camps, overpopulation, and unchecked consumerism filling every city across the globe, Nick just doesn’t belong. That is when he hears the voice of a woman:
“The Rones lie about their true intent. They enter the city of Huron at the peril of us all.”

Shortly after, his slightly crazed grandfather reveals to him:
“All you’ve ever heard about the Moon is a lie, my dear Nikolas. He was not always a mere satellite, a ghost wandering the stars. In an age before our own, Moon was our twin, and in him bore the whole of magical life. The cradle of this magical civilization was a fantastic metropolis filled with fire-breathing winged lions, volcano-born nymphs, automaton-legged mermaids, and so much magic you can smell it. We called this city Huron, and you, Nikolas, are her steward.”

Meanwhile on the moon, the senior stagecoach driver Yeri Willrow thought he was performing a simple drive and drop for his mysterious passengers, until they are attacked by foul-breath red-eyed creatures. He soon learns that his passengers are a family of automaton-legged merfolk, and he is their only hope. Yeri suddenly finds himself tasked with saving the merfolk or they will fall to the peril of the creature most foul.

ebook, 130 pages
Published March 31st 2012 by Aero Studios (first published December 15th 2011)
ISBN: B006K3MS1K (ISBN13: 9780983415626)
url: http://nikolasandco.com
(Goodreads)

I don’t read fantasy books. At all. It’s not my thing. I don’t watch sci-fi/fantasy movies or TV shows. I just don’t get them. I can’t follow them. I don’t even give them a chance. Then, Kevin McGill contacted me and I read the first few chapters of Nikolas & Company: The Merman & the Moon Forgotten. And I was instantly hooked. It’s almost like this book was written as my introduction to the sci-fi/fantasy genre.

McGill has an interesting take on the Earth-Moon relationship, one that seems plausible, yet fantastical at the same time. We’re dropped into a dystopian-future society where the Geneva virus has wreaked havoc on the populace. It’s a harsh, and prejudiced, but it is what they know. Though we are only very briefly introduced to Nikolas & Company, you tell right off that there is a strong friendship between them all, a depth of friendship that sincere and honest.

Though the writing was choppy at times, I was able to follow the story. Even, all the different names, places, etc. were distinct enough that I was able to keep up with it all. Which is a near miracle to me, because with most movies of this genre, the names alone would be enough to have me puzzled. Thank you for not loosing me, Kevin!

At the end we have a cliffhanger, which I’m not usually a fan of. But it was appropriate, and Episode 2, When Boats Breathe and Cities Speak releases June 16th!