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Nikolas and Company: A Creature Most Foul
Nikolas and Company is Goonies meets Lightening Thief that takes place on a mythological reimagination of our moon.
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“The Rones lie about their true intent. They enter the city of Huron at the peril of us all. Save me steward.” – The Voice of Huron
Nick hears a woman’s cry for help, though he cannot find the source. He soon discovers that every city has a voice, and this one calls him steward. Nick and company are transported from a space age future to a mythic past when Earth is tethered to the fantastic world of Mon, or as we have come to call her, the Moon. He arrives at the city of Huron, where he encounters fire-breathing winged lions, volcano-born nymphs, automaton-legged mermaids, and so much magic you can smell it. As steward of Huron, Nick Lyons suddenly finds himself responsible over the cradle of all magical civilization. There’s only one problem.
Nick Lyons.
When Nick gets involved, things tend to go awry—burning down the neighbor’s greenhouse kind of awry. And so no one believes him when he claims that the Rones brought an evil to Huron, which now lurks under the cobblestone streets. To make matters worse, while aboard the Mottle Craw his best friend, Xanthus is infected by a mysterious creature. Pretty soon, Nick realizes that Xanthus' mysterious creature and the evil lurking through the streets of Huron are one and the same.
Never one for responsibility, Nick is tasked with finding a cure for an infected Xanthus while protecting the city of Huron from the mysterious creature most foul.
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What people said about Nikolas and Company - First Look:
This outstanding story premise has great characters and a load of charm. It's one of the best YA novels I've come across. When the full novel comes out and I've read it, I'll do a proper review. I'm anxious to read the rest of it, but I have to wait (sigh) until Kevin releases it in September. – Rick Taubold
It deserves the five stars! I thought it reminiscent of Artemis Fowl or The Hunchback Assignments, great YA fantasy, funny, a very unique premise, very well written, great descriptions, and a great band of heroes. I think this would also make an awesome graphic novel! I'm eager to read the next segment. I sped-read this first section because it was so engaging. – 7th grade Literacy Teacher Mrs. Julie Johnson
The book is very light and easygoing. The characters are enjoyable and they make a great team! My fav character is Caroline, she seems like she would be a genuine person and how awesome would that be to have a friend who could cook you anything you wanted? – Ash
Once I started reading this 'First Look' I couldn't stop. It’s 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. – GMR
Kevin created a world filled with creatures of all kinds. My favorite creatures? The humans. I absolutely loved the teens in this story. They're witty, they're brave when they have to be, they mess up, they try again, and they talk to each other like real teens talk to each other. I felt like following them around just to listen to their banter some more. Don't get me wrong, there's adventure in this story too. - Dorothy Dreyer of We Do Write
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“The Rones lie about their true intent. They enter the city of Huron at the peril of us all. Save me steward.” – The Voice of Huron
Nick hears a woman’s cry for help, though he cannot find the source. He soon discovers that every city has a voice, and this one calls him steward. Nick and company are transported from a space age future to a mythic past when Earth is tethered to the fantastic world of Mon, or as we have come to call her, the Moon. He arrives at the city of Huron, where he encounters fire-breathing winged lions, volcano-born nymphs, automaton-legged mermaids, and so much magic you can smell it. As steward of Huron, Nick Lyons suddenly finds himself responsible over the cradle of all magical civilization. There’s only one problem.
Nick Lyons.
When Nick gets involved, things tend to go awry—burning down the neighbor’s greenhouse kind of awry. And so no one believes him when he claims that the Rones brought an evil to Huron, which now lurks under the cobblestone streets. To make matters worse, while aboard the Mottle Craw his best friend, Xanthus is infected by a mysterious creature. Pretty soon, Nick realizes that Xanthus' mysterious creature and the evil lurking through the streets of Huron are one and the same.
Never one for responsibility, Nick is tasked with finding a cure for an infected Xanthus while protecting the city of Huron from the mysterious creature most foul.
__________________________________________________________
What people said about Nikolas and Company - First Look:
This outstanding story premise has great characters and a load of charm. It's one of the best YA novels I've come across. When the full novel comes out and I've read it, I'll do a proper review. I'm anxious to read the rest of it, but I have to wait (sigh) until Kevin releases it in September. – Rick Taubold
It deserves the five stars! I thought it reminiscent of Artemis Fowl or The Hunchback Assignments, great YA fantasy, funny, a very unique premise, very well written, great descriptions, and a great band of heroes. I think this would also make an awesome graphic novel! I'm eager to read the next segment. I sped-read this first section because it was so engaging. – 7th grade Literacy Teacher Mrs. Julie Johnson
The book is very light and easygoing. The characters are enjoyable and they make a great team! My fav character is Caroline, she seems like she would be a genuine person and how awesome would that be to have a friend who could cook you anything you wanted? – Ash
Once I started reading this 'First Look' I couldn't stop. It’s 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. – GMR
Kevin created a world filled with creatures of all kinds. My favorite creatures? The humans. I absolutely loved the teens in this story. They're witty, they're brave when they have to be, they mess up, they try again, and they talk to each other like real teens talk to each other. I felt like following them around just to listen to their banter some more. Don't get me wrong, there's adventure in this story too. - Dorothy Dreyer of We Do Write
- GenresFantasy
ebook
Published September 26, 2011
6 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Kevin McGill
16 books107 followersKevin McGill is the author of the Nikolas and Company series where the Moon is much more than we think, mermen walk on automaton legs, and a 14-year-old boy talks to the spirit of a city in his head.
He's also the author who launched his book into space ->
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgZmP-...
He's also the author who launched his book into space ->
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgZmP-...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 27, 2012
Just a few of the words that come to mind when I think of Nikolas and Company: fun, creative, original, completely insane.
This book, on the outside, seems like a mixture of everything that I love in a book. Fantasy, mythical creatures, futuristic settings, medieval settings, space battles, sword battles, and a huge waffleload of other incredibly awesome things. And, once read, it is realized that it is all these things and so much more. Pure awesome in a cup. With some waffles. Which would make it a waffleload. Of stuff. Heck yeah.
The story kind of starts with a cliché-type fantasy book. Brave and misunderstood kid is taken and an incredible adventure with his friends by an old guy with a beard. We've all heard this before, right? Well yeah. But (There always is a but) past this, the rest of the plot takes you down many twists and turns that will certainly keep you reading.
Like I said above, this book is full interesting stuff. Any fans of fantasy and/or sci-fi books, this is definitely a book for you. It's a really good one.
-Austin
ReadingTeen.net
This book, on the outside, seems like a mixture of everything that I love in a book. Fantasy, mythical creatures, futuristic settings, medieval settings, space battles, sword battles, and a huge waffleload of other incredibly awesome things. And, once read, it is realized that it is all these things and so much more. Pure awesome in a cup. With some waffles. Which would make it a waffleload. Of stuff. Heck yeah.
The story kind of starts with a cliché-type fantasy book. Brave and misunderstood kid is taken and an incredible adventure with his friends by an old guy with a beard. We've all heard this before, right? Well yeah. But (There always is a but) past this, the rest of the plot takes you down many twists and turns that will certainly keep you reading.
Like I said above, this book is full interesting stuff. Any fans of fantasy and/or sci-fi books, this is definitely a book for you. It's a really good one.
-Austin
ReadingTeen.net
December 10, 2011
Great read.I truly enjoyed Nikolas & Company. The character development, world building, and story make a great read. While the author is new, he pays attention to the interests of readers and doesn't just tell a story for the current trends. I would recommend Nikolas & Company to any fan of fantasy. Also, steampunk fans will find some material to make them smile, and fans of science fantasy will feel comfortably at home. I look forward to the next time we can visit Mon.
A bit more-->
After thinking a bit more. I don't want people to get the wrong idea. I mention science fantasy as I think this could be an interesting read to fans of that genre, with the minor scientific references. It's a fantasy with some steampunk. I'm a fan of all of these genres and found elements of Nikolas & Co. appealing to each interest.
A bit more-->
After thinking a bit more. I don't want people to get the wrong idea. I mention science fantasy as I think this could be an interesting read to fans of that genre, with the minor scientific references. It's a fantasy with some steampunk. I'm a fan of all of these genres and found elements of Nikolas & Co. appealing to each interest.
December 26, 2011
review to follow :)
December 16, 2011
Nikolas and Company is not quite steampunk, but it will definitely appeal to that crowd. Author Kevin McGill has crafted a truly charming novel that is sure to delight all who read it.
Rather than give a synopsis--because the one on Amazon.com is excellent--I'm going not going to give one here. Good fantasy fiction (or any good fiction for that matter) should take the reader somewhere he's never been and should immerse him in the author's vision. Kevin McGill does it superbly with wonderful setting details that are always spot on and never overdone.
At 127,000 words, this is a meaty novel, rich in well-drawn, quirky characters. In my review of First Look (the first 100 pages released some weeks back), I said that, "This outstanding story premise has great characters and a load of charm. It's one of the best YA novels I've come across." After reading the whole novel, I have no reason to rescind even a single word of that.
McGill not only took me into his magical world, but he also introduced me to many fascinating and three-dimensional characters, all of them always consistent and true to their nature. I especially loved his amusing sound effects.
Nikolas and Company is not a breezy read. It has a good cast of quirky characters along with many story complexities, and it requires that the reader pay attention. But these elements also make for a rich, multi-layered story that's thoroughly enjoyable and holds the reader's interest. Further, it has a strong theme that will appeal to all age levels.
I initially thought the first chapter slightly confusing because it was packed with a lot of material, but after finishing the novel, I went back and re-read the opening and discovered details and some foreshadowing that I had missed the first time and which now made sense. All of this means that "Nikolas and Company" is a strong story that, like many good novels, can be enjoyed more than once.
I did find some typos scattered throughout, but they were minimal and not distracting. I've seen a number of commercially published novels with far worse and writing quality that makes one wonder why they were published. I was very pleased with the overall quality of this novel, which proves that indie publishing can give "traditional" publishing a good run for its money and bring us great books that we might otherwise never have had the opportunity to read.
I wish all the best and much success to Kevin McGill. I sincerely hope that I have the opportunity to read more from him in the not too distant future. I'd love to see a sequel to this one in order to spend more time with these delightful characters.
NOTE: Even though you can now read this novel free through Amazon Prime, I encourage you to purchase it, as I did, to support this author's endeavors and to show your appreciation for his hard work. I sincerely hope we see more indie-published novels of this quality in the near future.
Rather than give a synopsis--because the one on Amazon.com is excellent--I'm going not going to give one here. Good fantasy fiction (or any good fiction for that matter) should take the reader somewhere he's never been and should immerse him in the author's vision. Kevin McGill does it superbly with wonderful setting details that are always spot on and never overdone.
At 127,000 words, this is a meaty novel, rich in well-drawn, quirky characters. In my review of First Look (the first 100 pages released some weeks back), I said that, "This outstanding story premise has great characters and a load of charm. It's one of the best YA novels I've come across." After reading the whole novel, I have no reason to rescind even a single word of that.
McGill not only took me into his magical world, but he also introduced me to many fascinating and three-dimensional characters, all of them always consistent and true to their nature. I especially loved his amusing sound effects.
Nikolas and Company is not a breezy read. It has a good cast of quirky characters along with many story complexities, and it requires that the reader pay attention. But these elements also make for a rich, multi-layered story that's thoroughly enjoyable and holds the reader's interest. Further, it has a strong theme that will appeal to all age levels.
I initially thought the first chapter slightly confusing because it was packed with a lot of material, but after finishing the novel, I went back and re-read the opening and discovered details and some foreshadowing that I had missed the first time and which now made sense. All of this means that "Nikolas and Company" is a strong story that, like many good novels, can be enjoyed more than once.
I did find some typos scattered throughout, but they were minimal and not distracting. I've seen a number of commercially published novels with far worse and writing quality that makes one wonder why they were published. I was very pleased with the overall quality of this novel, which proves that indie publishing can give "traditional" publishing a good run for its money and bring us great books that we might otherwise never have had the opportunity to read.
I wish all the best and much success to Kevin McGill. I sincerely hope that I have the opportunity to read more from him in the not too distant future. I'd love to see a sequel to this one in order to spend more time with these delightful characters.
NOTE: Even though you can now read this novel free through Amazon Prime, I encourage you to purchase it, as I did, to support this author's endeavors and to show your appreciation for his hard work. I sincerely hope we see more indie-published novels of this quality in the near future.
April 18, 2013
I enjoyed the alternate earth/moon world that McGill has created. There are the different monsters that he’s brought to life, as well as the history that he has given to his world. I even was drawn into the future earth and moon colony that he has created as well.
I also liked the characters. I was drawn into seeing how the kids reacted to their new world and their new chance on life. I didn’t always like their choices, but they were the characters choices and they stuck by them. For example I didn’t like the way that the kids seemed to ignore that one of their own was dying. But it made sense in a way since they were from a world where people died all the time and no one cared. So it would make sense if it had desensitized them just a little.
The story was also interesting. There was just enough mystery to keep the reader interested without the mystery becoming annoying. The story is also filled with lots of action, adventure and comedy. Overall I think it is a fun read that can be enjoyed by adults as well as kids.
A lot of my readers lately have been asking for age ranges on books. This one I think is good for midgrade on up. There are some heavier spots to the story, for example the Geneva virus and the devastation it has caused, but nothing overly dark or to heavy materiel wise. However I always recommend that a parent read through a book before just blithely handing it over to a child. You never know when there is going to be something that you might not be comfortable with them reading.
I also liked the characters. I was drawn into seeing how the kids reacted to their new world and their new chance on life. I didn’t always like their choices, but they were the characters choices and they stuck by them. For example I didn’t like the way that the kids seemed to ignore that one of their own was dying. But it made sense in a way since they were from a world where people died all the time and no one cared. So it would make sense if it had desensitized them just a little.
The story was also interesting. There was just enough mystery to keep the reader interested without the mystery becoming annoying. The story is also filled with lots of action, adventure and comedy. Overall I think it is a fun read that can be enjoyed by adults as well as kids.
A lot of my readers lately have been asking for age ranges on books. This one I think is good for midgrade on up. There are some heavier spots to the story, for example the Geneva virus and the devastation it has caused, but nothing overly dark or to heavy materiel wise. However I always recommend that a parent read through a book before just blithely handing it over to a child. You never know when there is going to be something that you might not be comfortable with them reading.
November 19, 2011
**3.5 rating***
*I received this copy from the author but that does not affect my opinion.*
Nikolas is an adventurous 14 year old boy who goes on the adventure of a lifetime with his friends,brother and grandfather. Their mission is to find Huron and help the people but along the way find themselves sidetracked by various events. Nikolas was a likable character as well as his friends. I liked the idea of the book as well but it wasn't what I had expected even though I reviewed the first 100 pages, some things were changed.
If I were to describe the story I would say it's a little Zathura(movie with Josh Hutcherson) with some Avatar and Greek mythology and a lot of other original factors. If you have read my first 100 page review you know that Caroline(one of Nikolas's friends) was my favorite character and still is. I rate this 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's a lot of adventure but it was a little to sci-fi much for me, but still at least check it out! Thank you Kevin and Aero Studios!
*I received this copy from the author but that does not affect my opinion.*
Nikolas is an adventurous 14 year old boy who goes on the adventure of a lifetime with his friends,brother and grandfather. Their mission is to find Huron and help the people but along the way find themselves sidetracked by various events. Nikolas was a likable character as well as his friends. I liked the idea of the book as well but it wasn't what I had expected even though I reviewed the first 100 pages, some things were changed.
If I were to describe the story I would say it's a little Zathura(movie with Josh Hutcherson) with some Avatar and Greek mythology and a lot of other original factors. If you have read my first 100 page review you know that Caroline(one of Nikolas's friends) was my favorite character and still is. I rate this 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's a lot of adventure but it was a little to sci-fi much for me, but still at least check it out! Thank you Kevin and Aero Studios!
April 22, 2016
Is the moon really what it seems to be? In Nikolas and Company by Kevin Mcgill, it seems to be just an illusion. There is wonderful science fiction, from the Earth's old twin to mermaids on automaton legs. There is also very creepy elements throughout the book. For example, a city talking to a steward who doesn't know his true meaning. Of course, there just has to be the mystery of secret organizations in the works. This book is for anyone who would like to go on an adventure through a tether tying two planets together.
January 5, 2013
Loved it! It was such a fun adventure. I honestly have no idea why it took me so long to finish it. Lol! Great job Kevin!!! :)
August 30, 2013
I read it a while back and *forgot*? to write a review. I enjoyed this story of kids on a wild adventure in a very imaginative world.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews