I was first drawn to The Catalyst when I learned that its author, Helena Coggan, wrote the first draft for the book at the age of 13. Now 15, she has seen her work published and has moved on to writing its follow-up. Written for young adults, The Catalyst is one of those books that will be enjoyed by adults as well as young readers. It fits into the dystopian society/fantasy genre that has been so popular in recent years.
The story takes place in London, 18 years after scientists cracked open the sky and released souls from beyond which then inhabited the bodies of those here on earth. Society was divided into two factions - the Gifted which have magic powers; and, the Ashkind, which have no powers. These sides battled it out in a world war call the Angelic Wars.
The Catalyst's main character, Rose, is 15-years-old and living in a world that has an uneasy peace. Her father works in a police-type division called the Department, and they are in charge of keeping the world safe. There are many secrets among the characters of the book, including between Rose and her father. There are groups trying to start another world war, and there are groups called Demons and Hybrids that inter-twine with the Ashkind and the Gifted that cause many stresses and strains.
The book is a quick read, but pay attention to where everyone's loyalties lie - there are many twists and turns as the story plays out. It comes to a tidy conclusion, but it also leaves itself open for the volume that Coggan is currently at work on.
No comments:
Post a Comment