Nikhil by M.K. Eidem

Nikhil by M.K. Eidem
Series: Kaliszian #1
on March 22, 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Romance
Pages: 297
Format: eBook
ISBN: 1519006284
Goodreads

As the Squad Leader of the Elite Warriors, Nikhil Kozar was the largest warrior in the Kaliszian Empire. When a shuttle crashes on one of their planets the search and rescue mission turns into something much more complicated. Mackenzie 'Mac' Wharton had agreed to guide a group that had wanted an adventure on her mountain. They got more than they bargained for when they were all abducted by a group of aliens called the Ganglians. Badly beaten and barely alive Mac finds herself in the arms of the largest male she’s ever seen. She should fear him, should be fighting to get away from him, but there was something about the massive male that called to her. A traitor threatens the Empire... Someone wants Nikhil dead.... The Zaludians want Mackenzie back... And then there was the secret she's keeping.... Would it be the one thing that finally brought down the Kaliszian Empire? Or would it be the first step in its rebirth?

First I have to say I loved Grim by M.K. Eidem it had some problems but it was still a very fun story.  I wish I liked Nikhil as much as I liked Grim, but I just didn’t.  There is a lot of text and no drama, it reads more like an episodic text than a stand alone book.  Nothing is actually decided in the text and I felt like I wasted my money.  Furthermore if you had not read the Tornians series by the author, I think you will be lost in this book, as this world building has a lot back story that this book does not cover.

 

View Spoiler »Let me run down the plot for you, Kaliszian Warrior (Nikhil) seen as violent and scary because he is huge amongst a species of huge guys, finds a beaten captive woman, species unknown. Woman turns out to be Earth woman and his true mate. How does he know she is his true mate one of his hair beads jumps ship from his head to her’s. These beads are not sentient but know true mate, it is a supposed gift from The Goddess. Warrior’s species has not had true mate in over 500 years because of the Great Infection and a petulant goddess who has made several species and millions of people suffer for the crimes of a few hundreds of years ago. Yes the crimes were horrid, but if you haven’t read the Tornian Series you would be totally lost. True Mate Mac (Earth girl) is taken to medical unit, and healed. The other humans who were captured with her are also rescued. The plot is riddled with a ton of cultural misunderstandings, more misunderstands, and unresolved misunderstandings. Mac is a pretentious heroine that just because every detail of alien life isn’t explained, she see’s it as a lie. Then the plot goes to the humans Mac was taken with needing to be healed, resulting in more cultural faux pas. Now add a traitor to the mix, shake well and you have the plot of Nikhil. « Hide Spoiler

The back story of the captured humans conflicts with the narrative established at the beginning of the book. Which is that Mackenzie was ‘Only’ their mountain guide. But later Mackenzie and Jen have know each other for years. A man named Todd is mentioned as giving crap to Jen. Then Todd is Jen’s husband who was great guy later in the book. The author jumps around so much about who knew who when and how, I got whiplash.  I seriously doubt this book was read through for continuity, as these were not the only errors.

Then there was the entire hair growth as a time frame for how long the humans had been held captive. It was mentioned several times in different scenes.  Really you did not bath or shave for the entire time you were captives, could you not just check your face if you were a man or your legs and armpits if you were a woman to see if you appeared like a Wookie. Really know how fast hair growth happened was you time indicator.  I know they were in a cave but you can track time by meals, or work shifts. These were undoubtedly some of the stupidest humans the earth had to offer.

Then the sexy times with Nikhil whose penis is the size of the wrist of the heroine.  I have moderately small wrist and I am not wanting that size penis anywhere near me. How does Mac even walk after sexy times? Bowlegged that’s how!  As a reader I understood that the culture had not had a true mate in over five hundred years, but geez the culture did have marriages just without the true mate bead, so Nikhil should not have been so totally clueless, about woman in general. His parents for chimney are married!

I really wanted to like this book, I was super excited to be getting a science fiction new release from Grim’s author, but am now totally disappointed.  I spent too much time in the medical unit and none getting to know the characters, except when they were misunderstanding each other.

This is a save your money type of book.  I suggest you buy Grim.