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Chronicles of the Enlai #1
The Nexus Mirror
A secret race, locked in two-hundred years of war.
An ancient portal guards the ultimate power.
One girl is the key to it all.
The only question is who will find her first…
The year is 2094. A secret war has ravaged the Earth for centuries, desolating the Enlai race. Every tribe, each with their own powers, must choose a side. The sinister Following has toppled the Alliance, striving for world domination. The Resistance has been beaten into the dust. Now, the fate of the world lies in the hands of one man.
Raiden, typical of most teachers, can't shoot fireballs from his hands. He can't read the thoughts from behind a man's eyes or walk through walls. But when his orphanage is attacked by the very same organization of super-powered thugs who murdered his father, it is up to him to protect his student Sarah from their clutches. Sarah, the last of her tribe, holds the key to an ancient portal called the Nexus Mirror—and with it the last hope of The Resistance.
A mysterious, powerful new player joins the battle…
Alia had always known she was different. She could sense what others could not, feel what those around her were feeling. But despite her almost psychic intuition, she is alone on the streets. Every penny she earns goes towards taking care of her disabled sister, the only person in the world she has ever loved or trusted. Alia's entire life is about to change as Roko, the billionaire leader of the Following, shows a particular interest in her, generously taking her in and promising to heal her sister. As Alia rises in the ranks of The Following, unraveling the mysterious of her past, she must make a choice. Should she continue to sacrifice everything on behalf of her sister, even if that means hurting innocent people, or has the time come for her to resist Roko and fight for what is right?
Chronicles of the Enlai
Taking place in the near future, this thrilling sci-fi/fantasy series tells the tale of a secret, formidable race of super-powered beings fighting for the fate of the planet. The action-packed adventure will take you soaring through the skies on genetically engineered dinosaurs, charging the mountaintops with an army of sword-wielding Shadows, and sailing through perilous waters infested with zombies and super-powered pirates.
An ancient portal guards the ultimate power.
One girl is the key to it all.
The only question is who will find her first…
The year is 2094. A secret war has ravaged the Earth for centuries, desolating the Enlai race. Every tribe, each with their own powers, must choose a side. The sinister Following has toppled the Alliance, striving for world domination. The Resistance has been beaten into the dust. Now, the fate of the world lies in the hands of one man.
Raiden, typical of most teachers, can't shoot fireballs from his hands. He can't read the thoughts from behind a man's eyes or walk through walls. But when his orphanage is attacked by the very same organization of super-powered thugs who murdered his father, it is up to him to protect his student Sarah from their clutches. Sarah, the last of her tribe, holds the key to an ancient portal called the Nexus Mirror—and with it the last hope of The Resistance.
A mysterious, powerful new player joins the battle…
Alia had always known she was different. She could sense what others could not, feel what those around her were feeling. But despite her almost psychic intuition, she is alone on the streets. Every penny she earns goes towards taking care of her disabled sister, the only person in the world she has ever loved or trusted. Alia's entire life is about to change as Roko, the billionaire leader of the Following, shows a particular interest in her, generously taking her in and promising to heal her sister. As Alia rises in the ranks of The Following, unraveling the mysterious of her past, she must make a choice. Should she continue to sacrifice everything on behalf of her sister, even if that means hurting innocent people, or has the time come for her to resist Roko and fight for what is right?
Chronicles of the Enlai
Taking place in the near future, this thrilling sci-fi/fantasy series tells the tale of a secret, formidable race of super-powered beings fighting for the fate of the planet. The action-packed adventure will take you soaring through the skies on genetically engineered dinosaurs, charging the mountaintops with an army of sword-wielding Shadows, and sailing through perilous waters infested with zombies and super-powered pirates.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2019
About the author
N.E. Michael
2 books8 followersMy name is Noah Michael, and I am the author of the Chronicles of the Enlai series. I have two undergraduate degrees in bio-medical engineering and the medical sciences, and am currently a student in medical school. I am all about following your dreams, and so despite my busy schedule, I never gave up my hobbies which include writing, music, and traveling. Aside from my current series, I have two other worlds in my head just waiting to be built, and I can't wait to share them with you! Please don't hesitate to reach out and share your dreams with me as well, and I hope you enjoy reading mine!
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February 16, 2020
ARC provided by N.E. Michael. All opinions are mine and freely given.
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02-16: 'The Nexus Mirror (Chronicles of the Enlai Book 1)' by N.E. Michael is a futuristic fantasy novel with strong sci-fi elements about a war that has been ongoing for over two-hundred years, a puzzle-trapped portal hiding a weapon that could theoretically win that war for whomever finds it, and the race to find the girl that's the key.
"My beautiful sister, when will you learn that some fights are just not worth the consequences?"
Now, this was actually a bit of a dense read and not entirely due to the deep story and world-building at play, but it absolutely maintained my interest to the end. The author has woven a number of historical figures and creatures of lore throughout the mythos of the races. Though I'm unsure if I like it in this particular case, I find it incredibly ambitious and very creative. However, some of the technology within is absolutely fascinating and not so far fetched, considering the testing going on in robotics
"The ceiling was filled with small bee-like robots which flew from computer to computer, plugging their stingers into slits on top of the computers, transferring data, and then flying to their next destination..."
To begin with, there are many 'tribes' within the Enlai race. Each tribe has special abilities they're known for, such as elemental molding or dimension jumping. Some of them are content to lock themselves away in their own spaces and remain uninvolved, while others actively partner up with beings on each side of the war, for their own personal agendas.
What made this story so intense, is that literally everyone involved.. was willing to do just about anything to achieve their goal. In some cases that meant treachery and murder.. while in others.. it meant making the ultimate sacrifice for another. As their personal motivations came to light and their true natures began to show beyond their initial impressions, I often found myself disliking people I thought I'd like and championing those I thought I wouldn't. Michael excels at this kind of malleable character depth.
I grew especially invested in the Shadow tribe and if you read it, you'll understand why. There is just so much fire and heart in their people. So damn much fight. They have some unsavory members, as all the tribes seem to.. but inherently, I get what motivates them.
"His face painted with burns, smoke, and blood, he stood on one leg, the other hung loosely in its place. His arms and chest were on fire, yet his eyes burned brighter."
The action scenes felt a bit overdone to me, not in that they were frequent or violent. I'm good with both. I just find that for me, overexplaining a fight bores me a bit. I want the author to draw the parties to their conflict, give me a few physical highlights, and get back to the story. OR.. or.. if you really want to go into this kind of detail.. save it for pivotal battles, give it to us once or twice, and never again. They read like someone sitting in front of a movie, trying to explain every move to someone who isn't watching, and it's a bit much.
A book with this much story to tell, doesn't even need it. After the first couple of times, each fight got increasingly heavier in my mind, increasingly harder to read, even tiresome. I began to wish I could skip them at times and if I had been reading purely for pleasure, maybe I'd have considered it, but when I review.. I refuse to skip anything AND.. everything else was so interesting, I would have been afraid I'd miss something important anyway.
There's a slight tendency to information dump here and there, but mostly I feel this is due to the sheer scope of the world the writer has created and the time limit within one book to set everything up and still have room to move the story.
Admittedly, the only other small complaint I have is with the 'Reader' tribe, especially Alia, since it's her inner-narrative we're subject to so frequently. I understand that they're typically calm in stressful situations and their ability allows them insight, but the drawn out formal thoughts just don't meld well with the atmosphere of the story. In the heat of battle where one is receiving sensory input in quick bursts, assessing it, and deciding a course of action.. it just isn't how 'our' brains work. Sure, this is a work of fiction and even human brain functions vary.. theirs are probably different, but it just felt out of sync to me.
"They say," he started, breaking the silence and gesturing to the bowl, "these tears are the final gifts of the departed. That is why we collect them. For even in death, our loved ones wish to comfort us."
Honestly though, my two minor criticisms are just that. Minor. Overall, the book is highly engaging, both the backstory and current timeline are fascinating. There were all kinds of shifty characters coming and going, some good and some bad, at all times. Things were rarely as they seemed.. and I loved it. In fact, now I'm going to have to order the second book..
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02-14: So far this title is leaving me with quite a bit to ponder. It's a bit denser read than average, though I enjoy that.
02-10: I'm very excited to get to this one. I sort of glanced through it when it arrived and it looks really interesting and well structured. Should be starting it in the next day or so..
January 31, 2020
We have here a story about a hidden race on Earth, known as the Enlai, and a human who sets out to stop a war between the different factions of this race. Then we have a woman of the Reader Enlai group being manipulated by the villain after her sister is kidnapped. Finally, later in the book, we are introduced to the ruler of the Shadow Enlai, who ultimately became one of my favorite characters.
This book took me by surprise. What I mean by that is that after several chapters of slowly being introduced to the characters and the world that Michael Noah created, I found that I wasn’t that interested. First, because I am a Mortal Kombat player, the name Raiden immediately had me thinking of the game. As I read further and became introduced to the different races in the book, I felt more and more like I was reading a fanfiction story. The Shadow Clan, the Readers, the Shifters, the Burners, it all sounded like the clans in the game. There was even a dream sequence where Raiden found himself caught between two characters who reminded me strongly of Scorpion and Sub-Zero battling it out. However, I stuck to it, and I'm pleased I did.
Several chapters in (I want to say around the 40% mark on the Kindle), the depth of the characters really started to shine, and the action had purpose. I started to get sucked into the story. Raiden’s motivations became more sincere. Alia, the Reader, began to show more feeling and discovered some real challenges.
Maybe somewhere deep down, this story was inspired by Mortal Kombat, but if so, it took the story so much further than the hokey storyline of the aforementioned video game, and brought the characters to life. I commend Michael Noah for the depth of his characters, turning this action-packed book into more than just a cheesy action flick and into something with interesting hooks and lures.
I can’t wait to see what else the author creates in this interesting new world.
This book took me by surprise. What I mean by that is that after several chapters of slowly being introduced to the characters and the world that Michael Noah created, I found that I wasn’t that interested. First, because I am a Mortal Kombat player, the name Raiden immediately had me thinking of the game. As I read further and became introduced to the different races in the book, I felt more and more like I was reading a fanfiction story. The Shadow Clan, the Readers, the Shifters, the Burners, it all sounded like the clans in the game. There was even a dream sequence where Raiden found himself caught between two characters who reminded me strongly of Scorpion and Sub-Zero battling it out. However, I stuck to it, and I'm pleased I did.
Several chapters in (I want to say around the 40% mark on the Kindle), the depth of the characters really started to shine, and the action had purpose. I started to get sucked into the story. Raiden’s motivations became more sincere. Alia, the Reader, began to show more feeling and discovered some real challenges.
Maybe somewhere deep down, this story was inspired by Mortal Kombat, but if so, it took the story so much further than the hokey storyline of the aforementioned video game, and brought the characters to life. I commend Michael Noah for the depth of his characters, turning this action-packed book into more than just a cheesy action flick and into something with interesting hooks and lures.
I can’t wait to see what else the author creates in this interesting new world.
July 2, 2020
This was an action packed science fiction which was etched beautifully right from the word go.
The characters - the Reader of the Enlai was really very well brought out.
The science fiction elements and the different worlds, their war and the politics were all weaved beautifully well. Enjoyed it.
The characters - the Reader of the Enlai was really very well brought out.
The science fiction elements and the different worlds, their war and the politics were all weaved beautifully well. Enjoyed it.
April 24, 2020
Received a copy for review from the author.
Wow, this gets a 4.5 star rating from me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The blurb alone was interesting, but diving into the world, the political drama, the action and magic system was absolutely phenomenal. N.E. Michael did a fantastic job crafting this story about Enlai and it's people. The multiple POVs was such a great touch and easy to flow with.
Raiden was everything to me as the protagonist! He was funny, determined, down to do the right thing and even though he didn't know much about Enlai he was always ready to face things head on. Maximus is my second favorite for sure. I enjoyed his seriousness to offset the wildness of Raiden. The pair together were awesome.
Sarah is my little butterball. She's such a sweet and sassy girl. I adored her from beginning to end. Alia was badass! I loved her determination, her heart, her drive and her guts. She defied all odds, didn't let any man stop her and though she did make stupid mistakes she tried to correct them.
Roko was pure evil. I hated him from beginning to end. He tried hard to get his way and play people out, but was also scared when it came to him being played. He irked me. The Shadow Chief Yuran was amazing! He seemed evil at first, but as the story progressed and his story unfolded I began to enjoy his character and heart. I felt bad for Raja, but his mentality was ANNOYING! I needed him to really grow up and stop being an idiot.
The world of Enlai is so interesting to me. I love the different tribes they had and their respective "magical" abilities. Seeing the tribes both work together and against one another was a fun ride. Seeing how their different abilities could work to build peace or wage war was insane.
That ending was crazy in both a confusing and good way! I loved how invested in the characters I was that each fight and death affected me and had me on the edge of my seat. The truths revealed, oh my! I cannot wait to continue on with the series!
Wow, this gets a 4.5 star rating from me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The blurb alone was interesting, but diving into the world, the political drama, the action and magic system was absolutely phenomenal. N.E. Michael did a fantastic job crafting this story about Enlai and it's people. The multiple POVs was such a great touch and easy to flow with.
Raiden was everything to me as the protagonist! He was funny, determined, down to do the right thing and even though he didn't know much about Enlai he was always ready to face things head on. Maximus is my second favorite for sure. I enjoyed his seriousness to offset the wildness of Raiden. The pair together were awesome.
Sarah is my little butterball. She's such a sweet and sassy girl. I adored her from beginning to end. Alia was badass! I loved her determination, her heart, her drive and her guts. She defied all odds, didn't let any man stop her and though she did make stupid mistakes she tried to correct them.
Roko was pure evil. I hated him from beginning to end. He tried hard to get his way and play people out, but was also scared when it came to him being played. He irked me. The Shadow Chief Yuran was amazing! He seemed evil at first, but as the story progressed and his story unfolded I began to enjoy his character and heart. I felt bad for Raja, but his mentality was ANNOYING! I needed him to really grow up and stop being an idiot.
The world of Enlai is so interesting to me. I love the different tribes they had and their respective "magical" abilities. Seeing the tribes both work together and against one another was a fun ride. Seeing how their different abilities could work to build peace or wage war was insane.
That ending was crazy in both a confusing and good way! I loved how invested in the characters I was that each fight and death affected me and had me on the edge of my seat. The truths revealed, oh my! I cannot wait to continue on with the series!
June 26, 2019
The Nexas mirror is a young adult book set in 2049. The fantasy world is called Enlai, and the tribe people living in it have certain powers. Everything should work smoothly; however, not for this world. There are many characters at play, such as Raiden, Sarah, and Alia. Things take a turn when Sarah, who is the last from her tribe, has the ability to end the resistance. She holds the key to an ancient portal called the Nexus Mirror. Raiden has also had his own fair share of loss and agony. His orphanage gets attacked, and he also has lost his father in a bad way. He too has enough motive to end the constant troubles and seeks peace.
The story begins with each chapter explaining the time era and the various characters. The sci-fi world has secrets, and it is filled with magical beings such as engineered dinosaurs, zombies, and super-powered pirates. I wasn’t sure how this all was going to work out at first but was pleasantly surprised with how the author had kept everything together and did not leave any loopholes out.
The literature required a more in-depth descriptive nature as it was to be the first book of a sequel, but what did exist was pleasantly appreciated. The material was definitely suitable for the young adult genre. The chapters were short, and this created gaps between the flow for the story as chapters kept jumping from locations and characters to the next.
What I believe you will experience is a thrilling journey filled with excitement, and I would recommend it to sci-fi fantasy readers.
The story begins with each chapter explaining the time era and the various characters. The sci-fi world has secrets, and it is filled with magical beings such as engineered dinosaurs, zombies, and super-powered pirates. I wasn’t sure how this all was going to work out at first but was pleasantly surprised with how the author had kept everything together and did not leave any loopholes out.
The literature required a more in-depth descriptive nature as it was to be the first book of a sequel, but what did exist was pleasantly appreciated. The material was definitely suitable for the young adult genre. The chapters were short, and this created gaps between the flow for the story as chapters kept jumping from locations and characters to the next.
What I believe you will experience is a thrilling journey filled with excitement, and I would recommend it to sci-fi fantasy readers.
February 12, 2020
The Nexus Mirror is set in the year 2094. The country has been in a secret war for many, many years. In The Nexus Mirror there is a fantasy world called Enlai, each of the tribe members have their own special powers with each one being different from the other. And in this fantasy world Enlai it has magical creatures like zombies, shifters and super-powered pirates.
There is lots of action in The Nexus Mirror and it is filled with fighting scenes that keeps the pages turning. The Nexus Mirror grabbed my attention with the summary as it was set in the future in the year 2094 and with war as that means lots of fighting.
The Nexus Mirror keeps the adrenaline coursing through the old veins pumping you up for what is to come next in everyone’s journey in locating this one girl who is the key to stopping the war. The mention of the magical creatures drew me in as I do love zombies, shifters and pirates,
When I was reading The Nexus Mirror I got this feeling that I was reading a comic book with superhero characters. I felt as if the superhero characters were coming to life right before my eyes or the characters eyes. I could see it all playing out in my head like a movie and speaking of movie I would like to see this one on the big screen with all the magical creatures and the Enlai with their magical powers.
I highly recommend The Nexus Mirror to all superhero fans set in a fantasy world of magical creatures.
There is lots of action in The Nexus Mirror and it is filled with fighting scenes that keeps the pages turning. The Nexus Mirror grabbed my attention with the summary as it was set in the future in the year 2094 and with war as that means lots of fighting.
The Nexus Mirror keeps the adrenaline coursing through the old veins pumping you up for what is to come next in everyone’s journey in locating this one girl who is the key to stopping the war. The mention of the magical creatures drew me in as I do love zombies, shifters and pirates,
When I was reading The Nexus Mirror I got this feeling that I was reading a comic book with superhero characters. I felt as if the superhero characters were coming to life right before my eyes or the characters eyes. I could see it all playing out in my head like a movie and speaking of movie I would like to see this one on the big screen with all the magical creatures and the Enlai with their magical powers.
I highly recommend The Nexus Mirror to all superhero fans set in a fantasy world of magical creatures.
March 2, 2020
Amazing
Continuous action from beginning to end!.Amazing storytelling and imaginative characters who are small blessed with special powers and who use these powers to save their kingdom from a power hungry lunatic. Great read.
Continuous action from beginning to end!.Amazing storytelling and imaginative characters who are small blessed with special powers and who use these powers to save their kingdom from a power hungry lunatic. Great read.
March 26, 2020
The Nexus Mirror was a fascinating combination of dystopian, fantasy, and comic book goodness woven together into an intricate story with numerous side stories feeding into the story arc. Michael keeps a quick pace in this story almost immediately throwing readers into the chaos that ensues after Raiden stumbles into a hidden world, of sorts, and realizing that his dreams and comics are real. The author did an excellent job crafting the world, giving us the histories of each clan and their abilities. I enjoyed the small glimpses on the villainous side the most and watching Alia’s struggles to come to terms with the sacrifices she has to make to keep her sister safe and the resulting impact on the community and world.
The biggest issue I had centers on there being so much happening at any given time. I highly recommend you are a reader that handles multiple POVs well because, unfortunately, I am not that person.
I struggle to connect to characters if I don’t spend enough time getting the feel for their personality. There was a curious lack in emotion in the characters that made conversations feel stilted and unnatural; almost like they were all B actors on a makeshift stage. Truly, it is probably just my inability to wrestle with multiple POVs.
I really don’t want to drag this debut through the mud because it is clear that Michael has thoughtfully crafted the world. The magic system is clever and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the descriptions of the various clans. In the end, I think I am just the wrong reader for this epic fantasy world. Even though I struggled with this debut novel, if you enjoy detailed battles, POV bonanza, and inspiring speeches that rally the troops then this may be your jam. The Nexus Mirror and the second book, The Legend of Solis, is also available on Amazon (free if you have Kindle Unlimited.)
**Thank you to the author that brought this book to my attention!
The biggest issue I had centers on there being so much happening at any given time. I highly recommend you are a reader that handles multiple POVs well because, unfortunately, I am not that person.
I struggle to connect to characters if I don’t spend enough time getting the feel for their personality. There was a curious lack in emotion in the characters that made conversations feel stilted and unnatural; almost like they were all B actors on a makeshift stage. Truly, it is probably just my inability to wrestle with multiple POVs.
I really don’t want to drag this debut through the mud because it is clear that Michael has thoughtfully crafted the world. The magic system is clever and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the descriptions of the various clans. In the end, I think I am just the wrong reader for this epic fantasy world. Even though I struggled with this debut novel, if you enjoy detailed battles, POV bonanza, and inspiring speeches that rally the troops then this may be your jam. The Nexus Mirror and the second book, The Legend of Solis, is also available on Amazon (free if you have Kindle Unlimited.)
**Thank you to the author that brought this book to my attention!
November 24, 2019
A really worthy read
If you are looking for a world to get lost in, then I recommend The Nexus Mirror. The story has a great plot, a decent cast of characters and an interesting magic system. I am definitely going to read further books about the Enlai
If you are looking for a world to get lost in, then I recommend The Nexus Mirror. The story has a great plot, a decent cast of characters and an interesting magic system. I am definitely going to read further books about the Enlai
March 12, 2020
A rip roaring adventure in the fantasy genre. Earth is at stake! The characters are dynamic, believable, & have powers I would love to possess. Each tribe has its own power; separately they are losing the battle. But when they unite, WOW! If you are a fantasy junkie, like me, this series is for you.
March 10, 2020
What Made Me Read It I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The author described it as "a contemporary YA fantasy book about a hidden race of thirteen tribes, each with their own super-power, government, and society, fighting for control over Earth and humanity". It sounded interesting so I decided to give it a go.
The Plot All his life Raiden has had vivid dreams of a race of powered people called the Enlai, living in secret among humans. But when his 10-year-old bright student Sarah is kidnapped by a group of highly skilled thugs, Raiden's life becomes as strange and surreal as the comic books he draws, and he finds himself in the middle of the same ancient conflict he believed was a mere product of his traumatized mind. Maximus is a Reader, an Enlai whose powers rule over the subconscious mind and emotions. A warrior hardened by too many losses as a member of the now disbanded Resistance, Maximus has a new mission: to revive the Alliance and protect Sarah, the last member of the Surgers tribe, from the Shadows and the head of the Following, a faction of Enlai intent on enslaving humanity.
Yuran is the Chief of the Shadows, a tribe of proud warriors who value honor in the battlefield and walk through dimensions. A devoted leader who will do anything to protect his people, Yuran is haunted by the loss of his father and sister, condemned to exile inside the Nexus Mirror. There is only one way to save them: find the girl who holds the key to the ancient artifact.
Roko is a Builder, of the Enlai experts of technology and invention. The billionaire CEO of Discovery Inc. and head of the Following, Roko believes in the superiority of his race and their right to rule over humanity. But for that he needs the ancient power contained within the Nexus Mirror. Alia has been an orphan all her life, unaware of her heritage as a Reader. When Roko approaches her with an offer to join the Following ranks, Alia's abilities tell her he cannot be trusted. But Alia will do anything to provide her disabled sister Bella with the best medical care possible, even make a deal with the devil himself.
The Good "The Nexus Mirror" is the first book in the Chronicles of the Enlai series, an urban fantasy young adult novel with science fiction elements, set in the near future of 2094 in London, Chicago and Epirus (Greece). It chronicles the civil war between the different tribes of the Enlai, a secret race of powered people who have coexisted with humanity since the beginning of time, influencing the history of mankind behind the scenes; while some of them choose to live their lives in secluded peace, others seek to rule over humanity. At the heart of the conflict is one powerful man, using whatever means necessary to find the Nexus Mirror, an ancient artifact that holds a great power within as old as time itself, and a 10-year-old girl, the last of her tribe, who holds the key to enter the Mirror.
The plot takes place over the course of a single month, fast-paced and action-packed with intense battles, but also moments of introspection as each character must face hard choices that will affect the lives of those around them. The worldbulding is incredibly rich and deeply detailed: each character has a background story that motivates their actions; the 13 tribes of the Enlai - Shadows, Molders, Surgers, Burners, Absorbers, Coders, Readers... - with specific powers, social rules and beliefs; the history of the Enlai race, split in two factions - the Alliance who protects mankind and the Fury intent on controlling humanity - secretly shaping the world and human history throughout the millennia; the believable and plausible futuristic technology from drones to artificial hearts and force fields...
The characters are 3-dimensional and complex with realistic behaviors, motivations and goals, going through an emotional growth throughout the story as we get to know their personal history and what drives them through shifting allegiances and betrayals as they're tested in their resolve and values.
The Not So Good Even though it's obvious how much effort the author put into building such a complex and rich world, sometimes all that extra information ends up slowing down the narrative, with details that aren't entirely relevant to the story and feel more like an encyclopedia entry.
Some parts of the plot require greater suspension of disbelief; even in a fantasy world where people have enhanced abilities and intelligence, a character, who has spent her entire life ignorant of her heritage, suddenly rising to the rank of an almost invincible general of a powerful army with minimal training and in just a couple of weeks is a little hard to swallow.
Also, the plot includes too many skirmishes and open conflicts, barely allowing us time to breathe between intense action sequences; the story gets increasingly more violent, with every character repeatedly threatening to kill one another. It was just too much for my personal taste and the reason it lost another star in the final rating.
Read the full review on: https://literaryportals.blogspot.com/...
Final Rating 3 of 5 stars. "The Nexus Mirror" is the first book in the Chronicles of the Enlai series, an urban fantasy young adult novel with science fiction elements set in the near future of 2094, fast-paced and action-packed with intense battles. Recommended for those who enjoy stories about people with super powers.
The Plot All his life Raiden has had vivid dreams of a race of powered people called the Enlai, living in secret among humans. But when his 10-year-old bright student Sarah is kidnapped by a group of highly skilled thugs, Raiden's life becomes as strange and surreal as the comic books he draws, and he finds himself in the middle of the same ancient conflict he believed was a mere product of his traumatized mind. Maximus is a Reader, an Enlai whose powers rule over the subconscious mind and emotions. A warrior hardened by too many losses as a member of the now disbanded Resistance, Maximus has a new mission: to revive the Alliance and protect Sarah, the last member of the Surgers tribe, from the Shadows and the head of the Following, a faction of Enlai intent on enslaving humanity.
Yuran is the Chief of the Shadows, a tribe of proud warriors who value honor in the battlefield and walk through dimensions. A devoted leader who will do anything to protect his people, Yuran is haunted by the loss of his father and sister, condemned to exile inside the Nexus Mirror. There is only one way to save them: find the girl who holds the key to the ancient artifact.
Roko is a Builder, of the Enlai experts of technology and invention. The billionaire CEO of Discovery Inc. and head of the Following, Roko believes in the superiority of his race and their right to rule over humanity. But for that he needs the ancient power contained within the Nexus Mirror. Alia has been an orphan all her life, unaware of her heritage as a Reader. When Roko approaches her with an offer to join the Following ranks, Alia's abilities tell her he cannot be trusted. But Alia will do anything to provide her disabled sister Bella with the best medical care possible, even make a deal with the devil himself.
The Good "The Nexus Mirror" is the first book in the Chronicles of the Enlai series, an urban fantasy young adult novel with science fiction elements, set in the near future of 2094 in London, Chicago and Epirus (Greece). It chronicles the civil war between the different tribes of the Enlai, a secret race of powered people who have coexisted with humanity since the beginning of time, influencing the history of mankind behind the scenes; while some of them choose to live their lives in secluded peace, others seek to rule over humanity. At the heart of the conflict is one powerful man, using whatever means necessary to find the Nexus Mirror, an ancient artifact that holds a great power within as old as time itself, and a 10-year-old girl, the last of her tribe, who holds the key to enter the Mirror.
The plot takes place over the course of a single month, fast-paced and action-packed with intense battles, but also moments of introspection as each character must face hard choices that will affect the lives of those around them. The worldbulding is incredibly rich and deeply detailed: each character has a background story that motivates their actions; the 13 tribes of the Enlai - Shadows, Molders, Surgers, Burners, Absorbers, Coders, Readers... - with specific powers, social rules and beliefs; the history of the Enlai race, split in two factions - the Alliance who protects mankind and the Fury intent on controlling humanity - secretly shaping the world and human history throughout the millennia; the believable and plausible futuristic technology from drones to artificial hearts and force fields...
The characters are 3-dimensional and complex with realistic behaviors, motivations and goals, going through an emotional growth throughout the story as we get to know their personal history and what drives them through shifting allegiances and betrayals as they're tested in their resolve and values.
The Not So Good Even though it's obvious how much effort the author put into building such a complex and rich world, sometimes all that extra information ends up slowing down the narrative, with details that aren't entirely relevant to the story and feel more like an encyclopedia entry.
Some parts of the plot require greater suspension of disbelief; even in a fantasy world where people have enhanced abilities and intelligence, a character, who has spent her entire life ignorant of her heritage, suddenly rising to the rank of an almost invincible general of a powerful army with minimal training and in just a couple of weeks is a little hard to swallow.
Also, the plot includes too many skirmishes and open conflicts, barely allowing us time to breathe between intense action sequences; the story gets increasingly more violent, with every character repeatedly threatening to kill one another. It was just too much for my personal taste and the reason it lost another star in the final rating.
Read the full review on: https://literaryportals.blogspot.com/...
Final Rating 3 of 5 stars. "The Nexus Mirror" is the first book in the Chronicles of the Enlai series, an urban fantasy young adult novel with science fiction elements set in the near future of 2094, fast-paced and action-packed with intense battles. Recommended for those who enjoy stories about people with super powers.
March 3, 2020
I'm a bit torn with this review. There were both things I liked and things I didn't like, so I'll try to be as unbiased as possible while I break down the review below.
Neutral points (points worth mentioning, but aren't really positive or negative):
-This book is marketed as Young Adult (YA); and, while it may fit that category, it's definitely on the younger side of YA. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but just expect it to be only a small step above Juvenile Fiction.
-Only things that are necessary to the story are described in any real detail. Again, this isn't necessarily a bad thing as it allows for a faster read, but just know that you aren't going to get much more than large brushstroke descriptions for a lot of things.
-There were a few questions left unanswered, but they seem like they might be answered in the sequel; so, as long as they do get answered at some point, I don't see that as a terrible thing.
What I liked:
-The overall story was good. It had a lot going on and covered a lot of different things in its sci-fi-esque urban fantasy version of Earth, so I was able to get a good image of the world as a whole.
-The secret race, called Enlai, have had a large impact on the Earth's history, but only from the shadows. I liked how the author incorporated real historical people and events into the story, but with an Enlai twist.
-Many of the characters had a backstory that was clearly thought out by the author, even if many of their backstories played no real part in the story.
What I didn't like:
-There were a LOT of story-altering/story-necessary coincidences in this book. I can let one or two of those slide, but after a point it starts to become too much to ignore. For example, the characters were heading somewhere, but had no idea how to get there, so they just started walking. Then, something unexpected to the characters happens, which ends up taking them right where the story clearly wanted them to go. And this happened several times.
-The story had a lot of points that needed quite a bit of flushing out. Too many things (that I assume were supposed to be big or important things) happened with no lead up. A few examples were people of immense power or importance showing up out of nowhere to save the day, but I had no idea who those people were and it felt more like plot convenience than anything. This was probably my biggest complaint about the book. I love surprises and and foreshadowing, but The Nexus Mirror had almost none of the latter and it, unfortunately, felt kinda cheap. My suggestion to the author would be to build up to those surprises more and maybe even cut a few of them out; even if the surprises had all been done right, there were just too many of them for my taste and it lost the effect.
Neutral points (points worth mentioning, but aren't really positive or negative):
-This book is marketed as Young Adult (YA); and, while it may fit that category, it's definitely on the younger side of YA. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but just expect it to be only a small step above Juvenile Fiction.
-Only things that are necessary to the story are described in any real detail. Again, this isn't necessarily a bad thing as it allows for a faster read, but just know that you aren't going to get much more than large brushstroke descriptions for a lot of things.
-There were a few questions left unanswered, but they seem like they might be answered in the sequel; so, as long as they do get answered at some point, I don't see that as a terrible thing.
What I liked:
-The overall story was good. It had a lot going on and covered a lot of different things in its sci-fi-esque urban fantasy version of Earth, so I was able to get a good image of the world as a whole.
-The secret race, called Enlai, have had a large impact on the Earth's history, but only from the shadows. I liked how the author incorporated real historical people and events into the story, but with an Enlai twist.
-Many of the characters had a backstory that was clearly thought out by the author, even if many of their backstories played no real part in the story.
What I didn't like:
-There were a LOT of story-altering/story-necessary coincidences in this book. I can let one or two of those slide, but after a point it starts to become too much to ignore. For example, the characters were heading somewhere, but had no idea how to get there, so they just started walking. Then, something unexpected to the characters happens, which ends up taking them right where the story clearly wanted them to go. And this happened several times.
-The story had a lot of points that needed quite a bit of flushing out. Too many things (that I assume were supposed to be big or important things) happened with no lead up. A few examples were people of immense power or importance showing up out of nowhere to save the day, but I had no idea who those people were and it felt more like plot convenience than anything. This was probably my biggest complaint about the book. I love surprises and and foreshadowing, but The Nexus Mirror had almost none of the latter and it, unfortunately, felt kinda cheap. My suggestion to the author would be to build up to those surprises more and maybe even cut a few of them out; even if the surprises had all been done right, there were just too many of them for my taste and it lost the effect.
August 21, 2020
Fantastic New Writer
N. E. Michael has managed to meld together 3-4 storylines into a cohesive fantastical trip through his imagination. I currently have only the 4 chapters of my Bookfunnel copy, but those 4 chapters are chalk full of action, suspense and thrills. It grabbed me from the first page and wouldn't let go, as my imagination soared with his through a fantastical plot like I have never read before. Well Done! And I know I used fantastical too much, but it really is fantastic!
N. E. Michael has managed to meld together 3-4 storylines into a cohesive fantastical trip through his imagination. I currently have only the 4 chapters of my Bookfunnel copy, but those 4 chapters are chalk full of action, suspense and thrills. It grabbed me from the first page and wouldn't let go, as my imagination soared with his through a fantastical plot like I have never read before. Well Done! And I know I used fantastical too much, but it really is fantastic!
April 4, 2020
Really enjoyed. This book is the kind of book that I think would ideally be for high-schoolers, but adults can enjoy as well if they're into action fantasy or sci-fi. I saw some of the reviews here saying that the middle of the book was a bit heavy, it didn't really bother me. I really got into the series though after the second book, which in my opinion really brought things to an awesome new level.
April 2, 2020
I enjoyed the beginning and the end of the book, but the middle was a little lacking.
It starts out with action and ends with action but in between the story just got slow, and a little boring.
Overall it wasn’t a bad book, but i found it hard to want to keep reading since i never felt any connection to any of the characters.
It starts out with action and ends with action but in between the story just got slow, and a little boring.
Overall it wasn’t a bad book, but i found it hard to want to keep reading since i never felt any connection to any of the characters.
April 4, 2020
This book was filled with action and had some really cool sci-fi aspects. The middle of the book was a bit heavy like an epic fantasy kind of heavy, but I highly recommend finishing and continuing with the series, since book 2 gets even better.
April 2, 2021
Epic story
The tale is timeless but the telling is what makes it great. Our author is in full command of his craft. He has developed believable characters and placed them within a sleek vehicle. I loved reading this book
The tale is timeless but the telling is what makes it great. Our author is in full command of his craft. He has developed believable characters and placed them within a sleek vehicle. I loved reading this book
March 27, 2020
Very fun, and book 2 is even better!
May 8, 2020
This book was loads of fun. 5 stars, especially for a debut author. If you like sci-fi/fantasy, superheroes, mysteries and action, check it out!
March 18, 2021
Confusing!
Couldn’t make heads or tales of the story or characters. It seemed very juvenile. I guess it is just not my cup of tea.
Couldn’t make heads or tales of the story or characters. It seemed very juvenile. I guess it is just not my cup of tea.
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