By: Erik D. Larson
Publisher: Kikiloa Press
Publication Date: July 21, 2026
ISBN: 979-8994982808
Reviewed by: Diana Coyle
Review Date: August 10, 2026
In The Kikiloa Chronicles by Erik D. Larson, we meet our main character Kikiloa “Kiki,” who appears to simply be a fourteen-year-old girl living in San Francisco.
What people don’t realize is that Kiki is really the 200,000-year-old mother of humanity. She is a time surfer now residing in a fourteen-year-old body. Not even her best friend, Hazel, knows who Kiki really is. Amazingly, Kiki feels that there is something special about Hazel but is still trying to figure out what that special trait is and how it fits into Kiki’s life. Does Kiki ever find out if there’s more that meets the eye with Hazel?
My first impression of this story from an adult point of view was WOW! Just the thought that Kiki was 200,000 years old blew me away. Erik Larson takes his readers on a literal timeline of events at different times and locations that Kiki has lived or is presently living through. This novel is rich in details of multiple places and times throughout the story. Although readers need to pay attention to the storyline to help their understanding of the time travel, the transitions flow seamlessly as they take the readers on a literary adventure. Larson did a commendable job with character crafting as both Kiki and Hazel are well-developed characters with a great deal of depth, making them extremely relatable to readers.
Another point that needs mentioning is that although there are light moments in the story told from a teenager’s perspective, as time and locations shift throughout, there are also plenty of extremely heavy and mature moments of content. The topics range from a tsunami to gun violence, and oppression. Due to the deeper nature of some aspects of the story, I would recommend this book for older, mature teens and adults.
The cover design definitely caught my eye because there is quite a bit going on and the colors are very striking and vibrant. Just one look at the cover will let potential readers know that this storyline will be a unique and legendary journey, one which they’ve never experienced before. The cover captured the idea of the time travel and consistently changing locations that are found in the story perfectly.
Erik D. Larson is a decorated Air Force captain and Silicon Valley entrepreneur. He has written poetry, edited university newspapers and literary reviews, and published behavioral science research. This is his debut novel.
Quill says: The Kikiloa Chronicles is an intense and engaging science fiction novel with a very deep storyline that readers will relish. Fans of science fiction and time travel stories should not miss this debut!
For more information about The Kikiloa Chronicles, please visit the publisher's website at: kikiloachronicles.com
