Once I started reading this 'First Look' I couldn't stop. its Fantasy with a enough grounding in our world to be enjoyable even to those not steeped in the full genre. All it takes is a bit of imagination. Rest assured I'm eagerly awaiting the September release date to see just what happens next. ( )

fun read...drew me in. Frustrated by muddied voices, viking Scotsmen and a seeming need for better editing what was most frustrating was being left in the middle of the story. ( )

I really enjoyed this book.
World building...check
Great characters...check
Story that pulled me in...check
but
I didn't give it 5 stars for a few reasons. I thought the beginning was confusing for the reader (me). Not much happened - seemed the whole point of the book was to setup the next book. I understand episodic stories but you've got to give me a little more in each episode. And there were a few areas where some more editing would have been beneficial.
but
don't get me wrong...Kevin McGill has talent and I will be reading the next episode and I recommened this book to others who are looking for a good story with characters they can get behind and pull for. ( )

Nikolas and Company: The Merman and the Moon Forgotten (Episode #1) is a good start to what promises to be a great series. Kevin McGill has created a dense beginning, with many characters, a complex universe that spans both time and space, and several linked realities none of which are identical to the one we live in. Mixing elements of science fiction (hovertrucks, robots, and space travel), fantasy (mermaids, underwater castles, magical powers) and, of course, adventure, Nikolas and Company is packed with characters, action, and more than a few mysteries. The ending of episode one leaves the reader wanting more without feeling cheated, which is not an easy feat, judging by how rare it is to see it done well.

At the same time, the sheer density of this first book poses some problems that will challenge the author as he continues. There are many characters beyond the titular Nikolas, none of them thoroughly drawn yet; moreover, McGill tends to rely on relatively recent pop culture references to sketch them out, which is potentially dangerous in a YA book, as each cohort of readers gets farther and farther from the time in which the reference is based. For example, the character of the Grandfather reminds several characters of William Wallace which, in addition to feeling a bit odd within the context of the novel, can only be a reference to the Mel Gibson epic 1995 film Braveheart. The author will also be challenged to handle all of the social and political elements introduced in this first book, from the strange medical and environmental issues of the present-day Earth equivalent to the backstory of the human-mermaid coexistence in the past Earth-Moon setting.

In all, an intriguing start. I look forward to reading the next installment. ( )