Published by Independently Published on July 3, 2017
Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 344
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
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?
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 clans 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!
