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Catalyst

Casey L. Bond (Goodreads Author)

4.36 · Rating details · 42 ratings · 20 reviews

The city of Confidence is surrounded by a thick, concrete wall. These walls are built to protect those within and to keep dangers outside. What happens when the only danger to the citizens within is its leadership?

When a young man on a suicide mission meets a young woman with a terminal illness, both of them use one another as a means to their own ends. They never expect t ...more

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Published 2015 by Self Published

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Jun 23, 2015 Cristie Alleman rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved reading Catalyst!!

It is a Dystopian story.. You can read it as a stand alone or a prequel to The Harvest Saga Series..

The story is about Mitis who is on a mission of revenge and Seven who has list of things she want to do before she dies.. From the first time they meet there is a Spark between them.. Mitis is from a village and Seven is from upper class. They are thrown together in his need for revenge and her need for help. Their path leads them to discover something so muc ...more

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Jun 17, 2015 Nancy (The Avid Reader) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, girls-heat-books, casey-l-bond, read-2015, read-june-2015

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Seven's younger sister Sonnet is so mean to her. She is always putting her down and saying mean things to her. She even says mean things about her to other people and right in front of Seven at that. I don't know where to hate (no not hate that is such a strong word, dislike is a better word) Sonnet or feel bad for her because she hates her sister so much. But I am not sure that she actually hates her or if it is the only I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Seven's younger sister Sonnet is so mean to her. She is always putting her down and saying mean things to her. She even says mean things about her to other people and right in front of Seven at that. I don't know where to hate (no not hate that is such a strong word, dislike is a better word) Sonnet or feel bad for her because she hates her sister so much. But I am not sure that she actually hates her or if it is the only way she can deal with the pain and hurt that is probably going on in her heart for her dying sister. By hating her or pretending that she is may be the only way she can stop the hurt and deal with the unfairness that the world or who or whatever is taking away the life that her big sister has ahead of her that she is never going to experience.

Yes, Seven is dying and no one really knows how long she has to live. She could die today, tomorrow, next week or next month. The medical personnel do what they can for her but that is not much. They just try to make her life a little easier for her until her time is up. The place where Seven lives has a wall all the way around it and she has never been on the other side of the wall. She has no idea what is out there. All she knows is what she has been told. She knows that there are people who live on the other side of the wall and that they are called scrubs. Seven has been taught that you can't trust a scrub and that they are the scum of the earth. And that is what she believed until she met one on one of the times that she snuck out of the house. On this one particular time when she was caught and was being escorted back home by soldier Enoch. On their way back to her home they saw a man that was trying to hide from them. Soldier Enoch saw that the person he was chasing was a scrub he arrested him and put him in the back seat with Seven. At first she was afraid of him because of how she was raised. But after seeing that he was no different than her she decides to help him escape.

Seven's family was part of the rich class of people in her world and could afford anything nearly that they wanted. In Seven's world they had what they called companions and anyone could own one if they had enough money to buy one. So with Seven being sick her father told her that he was going to buy her a companion and she could pick out her companion herself. Seven wasn't too keen on the idea of having a companion. She figured that this companion was to be like a watch dog and would run to her father and tell him everything she did. Seven knew that her father expected her to pick a young girl to be her companion. But Seven was feeling rebellious when they arrived at the action. They were like ten people for her to choose from. She got to choose first because of her father's wealth and position in society. Just imagine the surprise when she saw the scrub Mitis that she helped to escape standing there waiting to be picked as a companion. So guess who rebellious Seven chose as her companion. Yep, you got it, Mitis. Her father was fit to be tied as they say. His temperature probably went up quite a few degrees. But he did tell her that it was her choices and he couldn't go back on his word in front of all the people there.

Seven never expected to like Mitis because he was a scrub but the more time she spent with him and they both got to know each other better they decide that maybe not all of their enemies were their enemy after all. Seven had a list of things that she wanted to do before she died and her plan was for Mitis to help her do everything on her list and Mitis was just as determined as she was after he found out how nice she was. I was very surprised by a lot of the things that happened in Mitis and Seven's lives and how they lived and were treated. I was so very happy for them when they became friends. They realized that they were not different they were the same and that it didn't matter what level of the ladder you were on in society or what you believed everyone was still the same. The only way to tell one class from another are the clothes on their backs or maybe the vehicle someone drives or the home they live in but that still doesn't make us any different from the next person. They came to the realization that the only thing that is important was what was in someone's heart and how they felt about everybody. They also realized that the only thing that made people different was the love or hate they felt for others and how they treated each other.

I really loved and enjoyed reading Seven and Mitis' story. There were times that I was thrown for a loop. I would be expecting one thing and would get another. I would be reading and be like ok I got this I know what is going to happen next but nope I was wrong. Catalyst kept me guessing and on my toes all the way through it. I have found another author to go on my list for favorite authors. This is one book that everyone needs to read. In my opinion Catalyst needs no age limit put on it. I have been told on more than one occasion that I need to non-fiction books that I can't learn anything from a fiction book but undoubtedly they have never read a fiction book because I learn something from just about every book I read and Catalyst is no exception. I learned a lot from Catalyst and hope to learn and read more of Seven and Mitis' story. I also plan on checking out other books by Casey. ...more

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May 15, 2015 Wendy rated it it was amazing

What happens when two very different people discover that they share a common quest for what is just and right? Catalyst! This is the fabulous tale of people who refused to let the powers that be control their lives. Win, lose or draw, they had to try! Catalyst is a full-length novel that can stand alone or be read as the prequel to the Harvest Saga, which is the BEST YA dystopian romance series I've read in a long time!!! Either way, I just have one word to describe this story... Catalyst was S ...more

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Jun 12, 2015 K. rated it liked it

Shelves: ebooks

*I received a free copy for an honest review.*
Overall I enjoyed this book. I really like the character of Seven, although I want to know WHY she is named Seven. She's a terminally ill young woman from an affluent family in the city of Confidence. Her family decides to allow her to have a companion and she chooses a boy, Mitis, whom she met when he was arrested (read to find out why!). They use each other as means to their own ends but they wind up becoming friends.

This being said, I found it to ...more

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Jun 23, 2015 Rachael Brownell rated it it was amazing

Wonderful, fun and refreshing, Casey Bond has done it again. She has created a world unlike any other and a story with characters that you'll love. Then, just when you think you have it all figured out... BAM she hits you with a twist you never saw coming. Fantastic read! ...more

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Jan 09, 2018 Gwen Shafer rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book. It was extremely interesting from the beginning to the end. It was full of suspense and surprise at what happens in this book. I absolutely loved how two characters were brought together that were from very different lifestyles. But yet you find that these two have so very much in common. More then you could possibly realize. I absolutely love how revenge comes out in the end. This book will keep you interested from the very beginning to the very end. Casey did a gr ...more

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Mar 30, 2018 Bookish Addict rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Ah, this book is so good! I love every moment. It's like a political dystopian love story. Amazing world building and character development. It is on a predictable side, but the story being told is just fantastic. ...more

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Oct 18, 2015 Jaci rated it it was amazing

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.

Casey has taken Dystopian to a whole new level with Catalyst. What is a Catalyst? A Catalyst is 1) a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible or 2) an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action. This book is way more than just a Catalys I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review free of persuasion from the author or anyone else affiliated with this book.

Casey has taken Dystopian to a whole new level with Catalyst. What is a Catalyst? A Catalyst is 1) a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible or 2) an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action. This book is way more than just a Catalyst. How did she just name it one thing is beyond me.

When Mitis (hero) goes into the city of Confidence to get medicine he is detained and put into a car with an ELITE. Not just any ELITE but a daughter of an ELECT. She decides that once she hears his story she will do what she can to save him. Why? Who knows at this time but she does. We find out later that Mitis has to go back into the city to get get his revenge for his family. Who does he run into? None other than the ELITE he met in the back of the car he was detained in, however now he is her paid for companion. Does he use this position for good or bad?

Seven has just been diagnosed as TERMINAL. As being diagnosed as terminal means she has just been sentenced to death and her family is part of the ELITE, not just any ELITE but the ELECT. When she gets this diagnosis she runs, she runs like she has no tomorrow. Seven is finally caught running and is detained with a SCRUB. This SCRUB is trying to get medicine to his brother who has been badly injured. She does everything in her power to help this SCRUB, why--No one knows at this point. One day her father (the ELECT) decides she can choose who her companion is and she can purchase one. During the ceremony she see's none other than the SCRUB. Guess who she picks?!?!

As she is showing her companion, Mitis, around Confidence she is slowly dying from who knows what and Mitis is determined to have her fulfill her last days to the fullest before he does his duty for his family..Vengeance. Does all go according to plan? Seven seems so small and frail, however you do not see the huge plot twist coming as they are finding stuff out about the city and checking things off her "bucket list".

Author Casey L Bond has woven this novel into so many intricate details that you really need to take your time with it. I was about 60% done when I realized what was really going on. At about 90% it comes out and tells you the huge plot twist. I am telling you this right now to go into this novel with open eyes because you never see this coming. I was so happy and shocked that I was making notes on how I wanted the next book, if there is one, to happen!

Great Job again Casey! Way to stick it to the Greater Elite! ...more

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Aug 16, 2015 Kristin Dutt rated it really liked it

If you loved The Harvest Saga you'll enjoy this book hopefully. This is a great companion novel to the series or you can read as a stand alone.

I really enjoyed the world Casey created and her characters. Seven is such a unique name for a girl. Kinda wondering why she was named that. Mitis comes into the story right away and those two play off each other well.

I was disappointed how predictable it was and the constant dictionary entries felt like fillers. Maybe this was too YA dystopia for me but ...more

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Jun 19, 2015 Katy rated it it was amazing

I loved everything about this book. The Romeo and Juliet feel of forbidden romance, the secrets people keep, bucket lists, and finding joy in things you were told were bad. This dystopian tale truly weaves an amazing prequel for Casey L Bond's series, The Harvest Saga. I actually forgot that I was reading a prequel for awhile, even though it connects beautifully to those books. The characters were engaging, lovable (or easy to hate, depending), and awesome. In this dystopian world, people outsid ...more

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Feb 11, 2016 My Bookbag by Karen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: action-adventure, dystopian, emotional, new-adult, political, romance, suspense

This is a moving and very enjoyable book. I feel that author Casey Bond does a great job of weaving together the many elements of this story into a cohesive read.

With a very well thought out theme of a dystopian world in need of revolution, Bond exposes the ugliness of a corrupt and dangerous society.

Within this overall story, Bond addresses the topics of terminal illness, loss, and revenge. The heart of the story is Seven; she is also its strength, thanks to her friendship with Mitis.

The book p ...more

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Jul 29, 2015 Wendy Leonard-Richardson rated it really liked it

This is a Dystopian story. I read it as a stand alone but it can be a prequel to The Harvest Saga Series (which I will now plan on reading).

I really enjoyed this book. The plot revolves around tow very different people coming to find each other. There is quite a bit of angst involved. Dark content. But very engaging story line.

This book gets bonus points because the cover model actually matches one of the characters in the book. I am not sure I have ever read a book in which a cover model matche ...more

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Aug 16, 2015 Morgan Anderson rated it it was amazing

I have read quite a few books from Casey Bond, this is by far my favorite. This story had just the right combination of humor, love, revenge, and tragedy. I immediately loved the main female character Seven and I fell a little bit in love with the male character Mitis. I also love that this story hints just enough at one of her other books. Another great book by Casey that I just didn't want to put down. ...more

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Sep 09, 2015 Crystal rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow

This started out way different then what I'm used to reading. I told myself to give it a few chapters. Before I knew it, I couldn't stop reading. I needed answers, I needed to know if my suspicions were right. I needed my hope to win out. Amazing story. Just wish there was more to the ending. It left it open. Now as I'm writing this I have no idea if this is going to be a series or not. But if not....I wish it wasn't left like it was. ...more

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Aug 18, 2015 Karen rated it liked it

Shelves: band-of-dystopian-authors-and-fans, dystopian, read-for-reveiw

This was a quick enjoyable read.The story centers around Seven a physically ill young woman.She is brave and has the strength of character that propels her to follow her conscious and make choices that will change her entire life.I liked that the author included a little romance and a jealous younger sister.I enjoyed the addition of definitions for key words distributed throughout the book.I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Sep 04, 2015 Lindsay Carter rated it it was amazing

Mitis my new book boyfriend! wahhhhhh i want more!lol.

Catalyst is just awesome.

I was completely hooked from the first line and didn't want to put it down at all.

I don't know what to say (don't want to spoil anything) other than go and buy Catalyst actually go and buy all Casey's books they are great! and Casey is awesome! Don't even think about it just buy buy buy ;) ...more

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Sep 24, 2015 Kimberly rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book. I absolutely loved The Harvest saga series and was excited to know this was a book that kinda showed you how everything came to be! I loved the characters and the story line was great! Gotta love you some Mitis! ...more

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Oct 29, 2015 Vanessa Wester rated it really liked it

Really enjoyed this book! The Chemistry between the two characters works really well and the story-line kept me interested.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoyed Divergent. This is suitable for teens.

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About Casey L. Bond

Casey L. Bond

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Casey Bond lives in West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. She likes goats and yoga, but hasn't tried goat yoga because the family goat is so big he might break her back. Seriously, he's the size of a pony. Her favorite books are the ones that contain magical worlds and flawed characters she would want to hang out with. Most days of the week, she writes young adult fanta ...more