Three Goodreads views of NIKOLAI by Angelia Sparrow
James Ligatos sees ruler potential in the leader of a street gang in Memphis, Confederate States of America. The only way up is through-- a grueling apprenticeship that involves every part of young Nick's mind, body, and heart.
Jenre of Leeds says,
"The main part of the plot centres on Nick, his tests and the relationship he develops with James and the other Team members. This takes on a BDSM theme as the dynamics of slavery are explored and also different aspects of D/s style relationships. There's a lot of sex, but it was all varied and there for a reason. It was also very well written as it was used to show the development of Nick's feelings for the team and James through their various sexual encounters. Those of you who aren't keen on multiple partners will not find this book to your taste...
My emotions fluctuated a bit between sympathy and a liking for Nick to almost hating him for his callous behaviour and it shows the skill of the author that he remains mainly a sympathetic character in my eyes. No matter how you may see things, this was not a dull book! I found it compulsive reading and I'm looking forward to the next in the series where I hope some of the loose threads will be tidied away. One final note is to say that there is a short scene of m/m/f sex and another couple of short scenes of m/f sex in this book. I didn't mind this because the scenes were short. You could easily skip over them if it's not your thing.
I have to admit, grading this book has not been easy. On one hand the characterisation of Nick as a amoral character, willing to do anything for James sent a shiver of repulsion through me, but on the other hand I was heavily invested in him, his training and his relationship with James."
to see more, go here
Elisa Rolle says,
Nikolai is a very strong and crude tale, for sure not for tender hearts. It's not a love story, even if Nicholas arrives to depend in body and soul to his Sir. It's more a need to have someone to rely, to finally have a home and a family, as strange it can be. James can have a soft spot for Nicholas, but as I have read him, faces to the choice to sacrifice the boy for the "mission", I think he will kill him, or order to someone else to do it. Both Nicholas than James are not cruel men, they know they are doing horrible things, but still they will do it again and again, they are trained to do that, and the training is so deep that neither their consciousness could break it.
Part of the training is also the sex. But the sex you will read in this novel is not the arousing genre. It is a way to learn something, a way to pet a puppy for doing a right thing, a way to gain something, a way to stress out. Sex in this novel is like a safe blanket, like a teddy bear for a child: it is a way to give comfort and to believe you are still alive...
Nikolai is not a novel for people who search for good feelings and romance. It is not a novel for those who sees the world in black and white. But if you are able to see the shades of life between, that there is not always stark right and wrong, but half-truths between them, you should read Nikolai, and give me your own opinion.
To read more, go here
Helgaleena says,
Kink levels-- Very high. The future Confederate States of America condones debt slavery, and in the secret circles of the planetary ruling councils, BDSM relationships go hand in hand with leadership skills. the shattered map of North America contains many realms with vastly different ethics and morals.
Suspense levels -- High. In the shifting maps of power, life is cheap and the gap between rich and poor can mean actual starvation or profligate extravagance. Angelia Sparrow's hero is an amoral gang leader who catches the eye of one of CSA's most powerful men. Can he be tamed or trained to his greatest potential by love?
read more here
Unlike Elisa, I do consider it a love story. Love is the one thing that keep Nick's 'training' from being some circle of hell. And at the end, I felt hope-- that the future CSA would be better for the forging of the steel in Nick.
Judge for yourself. http://www.darkroastpress.com/nikolai.php