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Catalyst Moon #1
Incursion
The One god shaped the world to exist in perfect harmony...until Seren, the second moon appeared, bringing magic and throwing humanity into chaos. Now, mages are captives, guarded by high walls and highly-trained sentinels, men and women who ingest a dangerous substance to gain an immunity to magic. Only then can they protect the world from the magic-users and abide by their oath: Honor. Service. Sacrifice. Kali, a crippled mage, travels to Whitewater City to meet with a powerful healer. When her sentinel escort is decimated by monstrous bandits, she is left in the company of a single sentinel, Stonewall, a man with nothing left but his chosen name and his faith in the gods. Together, they must survive demonic creatures, bloodthirsty nomads, and a strange magic never seen before. But with every strife comes a discovery of new landscapes within each other’s hearts.
291 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2016
21 people are currently reading
1567 people want to read
About the author
Lauren L. Garcia
10 books129 followersLauren finds Real Life overrated, and has always preferred to inhabit alternate realities, both self-created and created by others. However, after being burned by certain fandoms one too many times, Lauren decided to focus her reality escape attempts on her own creations. She's much happier now, although she still enjoys fandoms - in small doses.
A believer in love, hope, compassion, and similar squishy ideals, Lauren endeavors to create stories that both gut-punch and elevate her readers. Emotional rollercoasters are what make fiction fun, after all.
When she's not avoiding Real Life responsibilities, Lauren enjoys dancing at music festivals, spending time in nature, and tending to her cat's every whim. She lives in North Florida with her partner and assorted furred critters, but can be found online at laloga.com
A believer in love, hope, compassion, and similar squishy ideals, Lauren endeavors to create stories that both gut-punch and elevate her readers. Emotional rollercoasters are what make fiction fun, after all.
When she's not avoiding Real Life responsibilities, Lauren enjoys dancing at music festivals, spending time in nature, and tending to her cat's every whim. She lives in North Florida with her partner and assorted furred critters, but can be found online at laloga.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 31, 2017
4 boom stars!
Set in the dystopian world, the first book in Catalyst Moon series, Incursion took me by surprise.
Plot :
The story unfolds itself with Kali, a mage who is shackled inside a cage and is being transported to Whitewater City. Mages are the creatures that need to be kept away from the rest of the world. They are guarded by the Sentinels. Their task is to protect mage from other people and people from mages. Kali somehow succeeds in escaping from these Sentinels but in the end gets trapped in a world unknown to her. She is helpless there. Will she be ever getting out of there?
Writing Style :
It is an excellently written book. I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Writing style is what you will look for it a dystopian fantasy novel. Good characters and catchy dialogs enhance the adventure you have with this one. There is a plethora of events where you find yourself engaged to this book. The black cover keeps you guessing what happens next. I just can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Recommended to those who are interested in Fantasy Novels.
Set in the dystopian world, the first book in Catalyst Moon series, Incursion took me by surprise.
Plot :
The story unfolds itself with Kali, a mage who is shackled inside a cage and is being transported to Whitewater City. Mages are the creatures that need to be kept away from the rest of the world. They are guarded by the Sentinels. Their task is to protect mage from other people and people from mages. Kali somehow succeeds in escaping from these Sentinels but in the end gets trapped in a world unknown to her. She is helpless there. Will she be ever getting out of there?
Writing Style :
It is an excellently written book. I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Writing style is what you will look for it a dystopian fantasy novel. Good characters and catchy dialogs enhance the adventure you have with this one. There is a plethora of events where you find yourself engaged to this book. The black cover keeps you guessing what happens next. I just can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Recommended to those who are interested in Fantasy Novels.
December 11, 2017
Reviewed by Lexie on www.whisperingstories.com
– Above all other things, this is a story about love –
Ms. Garcia spins a tale of the Sentinels sworn to protect the world from the Mages. Kept in city’s locked away from the world Mages are feared, despised. As a Sentinel and Mage head to their destination eyes are opened truths are seen and problems old and new are shown in a new light. Their adventures are eye opening for both of them. As they face the world, an unlikely love unfolds. The thing I loved most about their relationship was it came naturally.
“Kali’s breath came shorter as her heartbeat quickened and her gaze was drawn to the stubble on his cheeks and chin, the curve of his mouth, the dark, fine fringe of his hair… “
“As he fought, he prayed. Tor keep her safe. I’ll do anything if you keep her safe…“
The secondary character’s stories are told revolving around the same events, sometimes at different timings but slowly they start to come together. With Milo telling the side of twins who are just climbing the ranks of the sentinels. Eris and Gideon Eshina a married Mage couple who have had enough. Commander Talon a hard core Sentinel. The lastly the first Mage who has a story we have yet to discover.
Then there are the Sufani whom abhor the Sentinels, because they too are rejected by the rest of the world. Yet they hate the Mages too.
“Why do you poison your body and sentence yourself to an unnaturally short life, just so you can resist the effects of a magic-user?” “Because my life is not as important as those I serve,” Stonewall shot back, even as his hand crept to one of the pouches at his belt. “Someone has to protect the world against magic. There must be balance.” “There must also be tolerance,” Leal said. “Some beliefs are strong enough to dictate extreme action. It is not your place to judge us, Sentinel, just as we should not judge you. Isn’t that what the One teaches?”
With five different POV’s most authors have a difficult time truly capturing every side of the story. Ms. Garcia managed this with ease. It took me a few pages to get into the story but, once I was in I didn’t leave until I finished.
There were a few questions left unanswered which left me hanging, but I felt as if the author wanted us to discover them along with the characters. The unanswered questions created plot holes leaving you scrambling to understand what was going on.
Overall this has been one of the best books I’ve in a while. Everything from the characters to the world itself makes you want to know more. With every twist and turn we learn something new of this amazing new world. You journey with every character discovering their flaws and strengths. The many races of humans the segregation and prejudice is one of the biggest plot point.
I can’t wait to see where the author goes with it. I can see now that this is a series I will follow to the end. Would I recommend this book? Yes to anyone who enjoys fantasy and new worlds. Besides I have a feeling the story gets better. Can’t wait for the next book!
– Above all other things, this is a story about love –
Ms. Garcia spins a tale of the Sentinels sworn to protect the world from the Mages. Kept in city’s locked away from the world Mages are feared, despised. As a Sentinel and Mage head to their destination eyes are opened truths are seen and problems old and new are shown in a new light. Their adventures are eye opening for both of them. As they face the world, an unlikely love unfolds. The thing I loved most about their relationship was it came naturally.
“Kali’s breath came shorter as her heartbeat quickened and her gaze was drawn to the stubble on his cheeks and chin, the curve of his mouth, the dark, fine fringe of his hair… “
“As he fought, he prayed. Tor keep her safe. I’ll do anything if you keep her safe…“
The secondary character’s stories are told revolving around the same events, sometimes at different timings but slowly they start to come together. With Milo telling the side of twins who are just climbing the ranks of the sentinels. Eris and Gideon Eshina a married Mage couple who have had enough. Commander Talon a hard core Sentinel. The lastly the first Mage who has a story we have yet to discover.
Then there are the Sufani whom abhor the Sentinels, because they too are rejected by the rest of the world. Yet they hate the Mages too.
“Why do you poison your body and sentence yourself to an unnaturally short life, just so you can resist the effects of a magic-user?” “Because my life is not as important as those I serve,” Stonewall shot back, even as his hand crept to one of the pouches at his belt. “Someone has to protect the world against magic. There must be balance.” “There must also be tolerance,” Leal said. “Some beliefs are strong enough to dictate extreme action. It is not your place to judge us, Sentinel, just as we should not judge you. Isn’t that what the One teaches?”
With five different POV’s most authors have a difficult time truly capturing every side of the story. Ms. Garcia managed this with ease. It took me a few pages to get into the story but, once I was in I didn’t leave until I finished.
There were a few questions left unanswered which left me hanging, but I felt as if the author wanted us to discover them along with the characters. The unanswered questions created plot holes leaving you scrambling to understand what was going on.
Overall this has been one of the best books I’ve in a while. Everything from the characters to the world itself makes you want to know more. With every twist and turn we learn something new of this amazing new world. You journey with every character discovering their flaws and strengths. The many races of humans the segregation and prejudice is one of the biggest plot point.
I can’t wait to see where the author goes with it. I can see now that this is a series I will follow to the end. Would I recommend this book? Yes to anyone who enjoys fantasy and new worlds. Besides I have a feeling the story gets better. Can’t wait for the next book!
August 23, 2016
Caveat Lector: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
4.5 stars really.
Ms. Garcia was an unknown author, and I had no expectations going in. I intentionally didn't read the blurb.
By the end of the first chapter I was intrigued, and by 25% had already decided to read the sequel when that comes out.
The book was almost entirely error free, which was a pleasant surprise for a work of this pricing.
The characters, Main and Secondary, are well developed, and none that has center stage time felt even remotely like a cardboard cutout. Which became my only issue with the book, more on that later.
The plot and action are well described. The reader discovering the real world and Kali's magic as she does. The reader is dropped right into the story with few explanations, A rigid social and economic class structure, with the Mages as a needed but despised underclass, kept as untrusted prisoners.
One of my favorite parts, the author didn't have the MC's saving the world in Book#1, so that they have to save the Universe by Book#2. There is a lot left unresolved, but this stage of their adventure was well completed.
I foresee troubles coming, as the Mages are controlled and restrained by the use of a resource that isn't rare, but also isn't common or easily accessible. When this finite resource is exhausted things could go bad.
My one real issue is that I enjoyed the Secondary characters more than the Primary. As time went on I found myself more invested in; Eris and Gideon and their troubled love. Milo and Flint and their sibling troubles. Riel and Jennet and their children. Even Commander Thorn and his troubles with the Church and his superior, Argent. I, as well, wouldn't mind seeing the Sufani Aderey and Leal returning in the sequels.
By the time Stonewall and Kalindra find their Love, I almost no longer cared, and that is why I didn't give it 5 stars.
I will be looking forward to the sequels. the world is rich enough to support several.
.
4.5 stars really.
Ms. Garcia was an unknown author, and I had no expectations going in. I intentionally didn't read the blurb.
By the end of the first chapter I was intrigued, and by 25% had already decided to read the sequel when that comes out.
The book was almost entirely error free, which was a pleasant surprise for a work of this pricing.
The characters, Main and Secondary, are well developed, and none that has center stage time felt even remotely like a cardboard cutout. Which became my only issue with the book, more on that later.
The plot and action are well described. The reader discovering the real world and Kali's magic as she does. The reader is dropped right into the story with few explanations, A rigid social and economic class structure, with the Mages as a needed but despised underclass, kept as untrusted prisoners.
One of my favorite parts, the author didn't have the MC's saving the world in Book#1, so that they have to save the Universe by Book#2. There is a lot left unresolved, but this stage of their adventure was well completed.
I foresee troubles coming, as the Mages are controlled and restrained by the use of a resource that isn't rare, but also isn't common or easily accessible. When this finite resource is exhausted things could go bad.
My one real issue is that I enjoyed the Secondary characters more than the Primary. As time went on I found myself more invested in; Eris and Gideon and their troubled love. Milo and Flint and their sibling troubles. Riel and Jennet and their children. Even Commander Thorn and his troubles with the Church and his superior, Argent. I, as well, wouldn't mind seeing the Sufani Aderey and Leal returning in the sequels.
By the time Stonewall and Kalindra find their Love, I almost no longer cared, and that is why I didn't give it 5 stars.
I will be looking forward to the sequels. the world is rich enough to support several.
.
August 26, 2016
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, for an honest review.
Mages are kept locked away from the rest of the world. Guarded by Sentinels, who protect the people from the mages, and the mages from the people. Really mages are held prisoner. They have no freedoms. Kali is a mage being transferred to Whitewater City. There are eight Sentinels to guard her, and she is shackled inside a carriage. The group is attacked and one of the Sentinels, Stonewall grabs Kali and they get away on a horse. Before they get out of the carriage, Kali grabs the key to her shackles and frees herself. Now they are galloping for their lives, and Kali uses magic to try and help them escape. As she releases the magic, her and Stonewall dissappear! They next thing they know, they are days away in the middle of nowhere. Kali has no idea how they got there, and Stonewall is freaking out. Magic doesn't work on him. So how did they end up here? Now they must figure out how to get back to Whitewater City. All the while avoiding raiders, gypsy's, bandits and anything else between then and safety.
I enjoyed this book. It's very well written. The dialog is great, and the characters are captivating. I think the series has potential. I would love to read the next book. I definitely recommend this book!
Mages are kept locked away from the rest of the world. Guarded by Sentinels, who protect the people from the mages, and the mages from the people. Really mages are held prisoner. They have no freedoms. Kali is a mage being transferred to Whitewater City. There are eight Sentinels to guard her, and she is shackled inside a carriage. The group is attacked and one of the Sentinels, Stonewall grabs Kali and they get away on a horse. Before they get out of the carriage, Kali grabs the key to her shackles and frees herself. Now they are galloping for their lives, and Kali uses magic to try and help them escape. As she releases the magic, her and Stonewall dissappear! They next thing they know, they are days away in the middle of nowhere. Kali has no idea how they got there, and Stonewall is freaking out. Magic doesn't work on him. So how did they end up here? Now they must figure out how to get back to Whitewater City. All the while avoiding raiders, gypsy's, bandits and anything else between then and safety.
I enjoyed this book. It's very well written. The dialog is great, and the characters are captivating. I think the series has potential. I would love to read the next book. I definitely recommend this book!
August 24, 2016
Catalyst Moon: Incursion (The Catalyst Moon Saga Book 1) is a well crafted Science Fiction & Fantasy novel. And I would imagine that fans of this genre will love sinking their teeth into this one! This is my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.
The story had every element a good story should have. An exciting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well illustrated scenes that really make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that's something I really look for in a good book.
This captivating and commendable work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling. There are twists and turns in this page turner that will take the reader on a gripping journey!
It’s one of those stories that come along once in awhile that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!
I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from Lauren L. Garcia in the future! I would definitely recommend this book! Five stars from me.
The story had every element a good story should have. An exciting plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well illustrated scenes that really make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that's something I really look for in a good book.
This captivating and commendable work had me immersed from the beginning. The story flows from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional skill when it comes to storytelling. There are twists and turns in this page turner that will take the reader on a gripping journey!
It’s one of those stories that come along once in awhile that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!
I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from Lauren L. Garcia in the future! I would definitely recommend this book! Five stars from me.
July 21, 2016
Author Lauren L. Garcia writes an intriguing saga of a fantasy world where sentinels, mages, and magical forces provide plenty of engaging scenarios that will keep you entertained. Developed characters and plots, Garcia provides substance to each character. The saga begins with Gray, the steady sentinel tugging at captive Kali Halcyon, the heroic mage. The drama continues as Kali begins her journey. "Gray was a few paces away, bleeding from a cut on her temple, holding the reins of a trio of wide-eyed horses with one hand while her other gripped her sword." A fun, epic adventure that you will recommend to your friends.
September 1, 2016
One of the most vital aspects that contribute to the success of a fantasy novel is the creation of the world and its internal consistency. It matters not how utterly foreign something that happens in the world, as long as it follows the rules set up by the author. I have, unfortunately, read numerous fantasy novels that have fallen flat because the action of the plot did not follow the rules. This is definitely not the case in this novel. Lauren L. Garcia has crafted a world for us that is filled with magic and with faith. There are rules that govern magic and, even when the magic users don't fully understand how their magic works, the reader is not left feeling like the author simply used that as an excuse to not explain. What I found most fascinating about the book is the fundamental human distrust of anyone who is "different". In this world, mages are so distrusted, so maligned that they are bound with a mineral that dampens their connection to their magic. Even a Mage like Kalinda Halycon, who is voluntarily being transferred is shackled by hematite cuffs and shadowed by a Sentinel. I particularly enjoyed watching Kali and Stonewall start at opposite ends of a spectrum where Kali is ruled by magic, not having need of the gods, and Stonewall living by faith, honor, and duty. As the story progresses, and the pair meet more and more obstacles, they realize that they have both been suffering from numerous misconceptions.
In addition to a well-crafted world, the author has created fully-developed secondary characters in a genre where secondary characters are more likely to be stereotypes and caricatures rather than well thought-out, fully-distinguishable characters. I look forward to reading more in this series so I can find out whether Kali and Stonewall are able to pursue the friendship that began on their arduous journey. I also want to learn more about some of the secondary characters like the twins, Milo and Mira.
There are some allusions to sex, but there is nothing more explicit than heavy petting in this installment. Also, while the book ends in such a way as to indicate there will likely be future books in the series, it is not a cliffhanger ending, which I definitely appreciate. I very rarely give 5-star reviews, so we'll done, indeed.
Reviewed by HR Duby for Romance Authors that Rock
In addition to a well-crafted world, the author has created fully-developed secondary characters in a genre where secondary characters are more likely to be stereotypes and caricatures rather than well thought-out, fully-distinguishable characters. I look forward to reading more in this series so I can find out whether Kali and Stonewall are able to pursue the friendship that began on their arduous journey. I also want to learn more about some of the secondary characters like the twins, Milo and Mira.
There are some allusions to sex, but there is nothing more explicit than heavy petting in this installment. Also, while the book ends in such a way as to indicate there will likely be future books in the series, it is not a cliffhanger ending, which I definitely appreciate. I very rarely give 5-star reviews, so we'll done, indeed.
Reviewed by HR Duby for Romance Authors that Rock
August 26, 2016
I received this ebook for free from the publisher for an honest review. I have to let you know it is a slow read since it is the start of a new series we need more information to process certain scenes that happen. Do we know everything that really is going on in the book no. However, Lauren did a wonderful job of writing in third person point of view and jumping to different characters during Catalyst Moon. It gave us, the readers, more insight on what was happening. I understand why we were jumping around with the characters but I just don't enjoy that.
Catalyst Moon is set in a time of magic but since it is new to the world most of the people are scared of it. However, we get to people change their views on mages because of what Kali does with her magic. I loved seeing the compassion and camaraderie between Kali and Stonewall grow each time we are with them. The other characters provided us to know what really is happening around the world and not just showing the start of a magical partnership.
If you enjoy magical stories such as the Courtlight series and Chronicles of Elantra. I would recommend giving this a try. It is only 99 cents right now on Amazon.
Catalyst Moon is set in a time of magic but since it is new to the world most of the people are scared of it. However, we get to people change their views on mages because of what Kali does with her magic. I loved seeing the compassion and camaraderie between Kali and Stonewall grow each time we are with them. The other characters provided us to know what really is happening around the world and not just showing the start of a magical partnership.
If you enjoy magical stories such as the Courtlight series and Chronicles of Elantra. I would recommend giving this a try. It is only 99 cents right now on Amazon.
August 25, 2016
Fast paced and fun to read. already downloaded book 2
Well written, Likable characters, moderate adult language and tasteful romantic encounters. Nothing too explicit (Thank you to the author) as I enjoy reading good entertaining literature not soft porn.
Stonewall is a great. Behind every lead woman character that can potentially destroy the status quo, there needs to be a warrior like him. He's definitely my favorite character. I also enjoyed how many different ways prejudice, pride, honor and true human feelings were illustrated. This book was recommended and I am glad it was.
In a world where magic users are feared and tightly controlled there is a light at the end of the tunnel
Well written, Likable characters, moderate adult language and tasteful romantic encounters. Nothing too explicit (Thank you to the author) as I enjoy reading good entertaining literature not soft porn.
Stonewall is a great. Behind every lead woman character that can potentially destroy the status quo, there needs to be a warrior like him. He's definitely my favorite character. I also enjoyed how many different ways prejudice, pride, honor and true human feelings were illustrated. This book was recommended and I am glad it was.
In a world where magic users are feared and tightly controlled there is a light at the end of the tunnel
August 27, 2016
I was impressed...
I don't read much fantasy but was asked to give this a try. After working my way through learning all the names enough to keep them straight and learning their particular jargon, I found I really liked this story. There are some errors missed by the editor, but nothing major I couldn't get passed and they were few and far between.
This story is unlike anything I've read before. It takes place on a fictional Earth with fictional races of humans. I don't normally do well reading SciFi/fantasy as involved as this story. I tend to find them a bit on the cheesy side and I'm unable to relate to the characters. I got engrossed with this one, I didn't want to put it down. I think I might read the second book!
I don't read much fantasy but was asked to give this a try. After working my way through learning all the names enough to keep them straight and learning their particular jargon, I found I really liked this story. There are some errors missed by the editor, but nothing major I couldn't get passed and they were few and far between.
This story is unlike anything I've read before. It takes place on a fictional Earth with fictional races of humans. I don't normally do well reading SciFi/fantasy as involved as this story. I tend to find them a bit on the cheesy side and I'm unable to relate to the characters. I got engrossed with this one, I didn't want to put it down. I think I might read the second book!
August 26, 2016
Like a fire starting it builds up to a slow roar.
Author asked me to read and review, makes a change to the usual business and self help books I'm offered! Once started this was hard to put down helped by a delayed flight. Glad I read it as there's a good foundation for several more books to follow for multiple characters - looking forward to more
Author asked me to read and review, makes a change to the usual business and self help books I'm offered! Once started this was hard to put down helped by a delayed flight. Glad I read it as there's a good foundation for several more books to follow for multiple characters - looking forward to more
August 31, 2016
A Breath of Fresh Air....in this story of more than just Magic and Intrigue!
This story is full of a new imagination that We readers have been looking for. And more so is the fluidity in which this writer weaves her own magic with her descriptive writing.
This story is full of a new imagination that We readers have been looking for. And more so is the fluidity in which this writer weaves her own magic with her descriptive writing.
February 1, 2017
***3.5 heretic stars***
This book to me was very confusing and seemed slow the first half of the book. It wasn't a "bad" read...just not really for me.
I found myself lost a lot but still couldn't stop reading till the end so I could find out what happened.
This book to me was very confusing and seemed slow the first half of the book. It wasn't a "bad" read...just not really for me.
I found myself lost a lot but still couldn't stop reading till the end so I could find out what happened.
August 2, 2016
*E-arc provided via NetGally in exchange for an honest review*
Actual rating: 1.5 stars
Let's go straight to the point: would I recommend this book? Mostly no. But Yes, to those looking for a fast and easy read and are OK with something highly unoriginal.
Let me elaborate...
Now, the writing style is clear and nice, although no very detailed it is still pleasant to read and kind of smooth. The pacing was all right---and here end all the positive things I can say about "Catalyst Moon".
The premise was great but unfortunately the book ended up being terribly bland and predictable. You can predict right from page one that the mage is going to end up with the sentinel, still it could have been totally fine if the whole development of their relationship hadn't been totally unsurprising, bland and basically a big fat cliché.
The world building was close to absent, blurry at best. The lack of detail concerned the characters as well, leaving reader to match a random name to a nondescript face, resulting in very hazy and confusing scenes.
Sadly, the characters didn't fare any better. All of them felt flat and inconspicuous. I really couldn't care about any of them. Every aspect of this book was painfully dull! (duh!). An example? The mage was kind and the sentinel stony, the sentinel didn't trust the mage at first but warmed up bit by bit to her once he starts to see how good she is and kind.---*Roll eyes*. Oh! If thing had been developed a bit more originally, with less clichés and stereotypes! What I mean is that no one is reinventing the wheel, still many authors manage to use a classic recipe to and still get a very original and enthralling story out of it (e.g. V.E.Schwab, L.Bardugo and so on). So you see, it is possible! Anyway, let's move on.
A sentence in the book really made me want to gauge my eyes out!There are two mages, wife and husband and at some point it is hinted (quite lamely) that they're making love. So you have these two going toward the bed, then black screen, and then the most horrible sentence comes up "Once they were both sated - quite thoroughly too - ..." Oh God! *Gags* This is the most horrible sentence I have ever read, referred to the act of love making. It was terribly and atrociously anticlimactic. Besides, dear author, in YA books sex isn't that taboo! It is OK to write "making love" or even sex--without getting into detail but--Gosh, it is still OK to use the word!! (Is this a young adult or children fiction?).
In the end, Catalyst Moon ended up being that kind of book that you read, maybe find nice and that's all. Two days at most and you'd forget about it. It is not a book that steals your heart away, nor it is one of those that you like and really want to keep. Personally, I wouldn't waste shelf or kindle space on it!. In a word, this book was totally uninspiring.
Actual rating: 1.5 stars
Let's go straight to the point: would I recommend this book? Mostly no. But Yes, to those looking for a fast and easy read and are OK with something highly unoriginal.
Let me elaborate...
Now, the writing style is clear and nice, although no very detailed it is still pleasant to read and kind of smooth. The pacing was all right---and here end all the positive things I can say about "Catalyst Moon".
The premise was great but unfortunately the book ended up being terribly bland and predictable. You can predict right from page one that the mage is going to end up with the sentinel, still it could have been totally fine if the whole development of their relationship hadn't been totally unsurprising, bland and basically a big fat cliché.
The world building was close to absent, blurry at best. The lack of detail concerned the characters as well, leaving reader to match a random name to a nondescript face, resulting in very hazy and confusing scenes.
Sadly, the characters didn't fare any better. All of them felt flat and inconspicuous. I really couldn't care about any of them. Every aspect of this book was painfully dull! (duh!). An example? The mage was kind and the sentinel stony, the sentinel didn't trust the mage at first but warmed up bit by bit to her once he starts to see how good she is and kind.---*Roll eyes*. Oh! If thing had been developed a bit more originally, with less clichés and stereotypes! What I mean is that no one is reinventing the wheel, still many authors manage to use a classic recipe to and still get a very original and enthralling story out of it (e.g. V.E.Schwab, L.Bardugo and so on). So you see, it is possible! Anyway, let's move on.
A sentence in the book really made me want to gauge my eyes out!There are two mages, wife and husband and at some point it is hinted (quite lamely) that they're making love. So you have these two going toward the bed, then black screen, and then the most horrible sentence comes up "Once they were both sated - quite thoroughly too - ..." Oh God! *Gags* This is the most horrible sentence I have ever read, referred to the act of love making. It was terribly and atrociously anticlimactic. Besides, dear author, in YA books sex isn't that taboo! It is OK to write "making love" or even sex--without getting into detail but--Gosh, it is still OK to use the word!! (Is this a young adult or children fiction?).
In the end, Catalyst Moon ended up being that kind of book that you read, maybe find nice and that's all. Two days at most and you'd forget about it. It is not a book that steals your heart away, nor it is one of those that you like and really want to keep. Personally, I wouldn't waste shelf or kindle space on it!. In a word, this book was totally uninspiring.
August 31, 2016
Received a free copy in exchange for a honest review.
Catalyst Moon: Incursion is a high intensity journey through undiscovered territory. As a Mage, Kali has never roamed far from her prison. She yearns for nothing more then an escape from her painful past- even if that means only a transfer to another facility to mend what is broken. With high hopes and an eager mind she embarks on a simple journey that turns out to be a deadly nightmare.
Stonewall has nothing but his faith, duty, service and sacrifice- order changeable, never forgotten. He has a God given mission and he will complete it- God willing.
With wild bandits on the loose, unpredictable circumstances and mind altering instances erupting out of thin air both Kali and Stonewall have only themselves to rely on until they can reach their destination.
When things get chilly and they are at the frozen state will a belief in God be enough? Or will Stonewall sacrifice a deep seated belief to fulfill his duty and trust in something less tangible, to him, then God himself?
Catalyst Moon: Incursion is a high intensity journey through undiscovered territory. As a Mage, Kali has never roamed far from her prison. She yearns for nothing more then an escape from her painful past- even if that means only a transfer to another facility to mend what is broken. With high hopes and an eager mind she embarks on a simple journey that turns out to be a deadly nightmare.
Stonewall has nothing but his faith, duty, service and sacrifice- order changeable, never forgotten. He has a God given mission and he will complete it- God willing.
With wild bandits on the loose, unpredictable circumstances and mind altering instances erupting out of thin air both Kali and Stonewall have only themselves to rely on until they can reach their destination.
When things get chilly and they are at the frozen state will a belief in God be enough? Or will Stonewall sacrifice a deep seated belief to fulfill his duty and trust in something less tangible, to him, then God himself?
May 29, 2016
I would first like to thank tumblr user chrissylvania for recommending this book to me and sending me a link to read it. Thank you! This was such an amazing read - the characters were all unique in their own way, and their development was written very smoothly and realistic. As soon as you begin reading the book, you are immediately thrown into the action and plot line, and are introduced to the main characters that you will be seeing throughout the book. There was never a dull moment while I was reading this book - there was always some sort of action, situation, or confrontation - making this the perfect read for those who love to be on the edge of their seats reading a book that is constantly moving at a fast pace. You will fall in love with the characters and root for their success throughout the entire book, hoping for the best, as any reader would. There is a dash of romance in the book, but it does not overtake the entire plot, which is refreshing to see, and allows the readers to become invested in the plot, rather than the romance alone. Also, huge plus - no love triangle!! - this was such a nice aspect of the book because it took away the constant struggle of choosing who Kali, the main character, would end up with. I highly recommend this book to fans of Blackmoon Beginnings by Kaitlyn Hoyt and The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa, both include a fantasy aspect and romance that will draw the reader in until the very end. Please check this book out, and support Lauren L. Garcia and her fantastic writing!
** You can find all of my reviews here, on my Goodreads page; add me as a friend!, as well as on my blog: www.thepaperworlds.blogspot.com and can find me on Instagram and Twitter as @thepaperworlds and on my Tumblr: www.thepaperworlds.tumblr.com **
** You can find all of my reviews here, on my Goodreads page; add me as a friend!, as well as on my blog: www.thepaperworlds.blogspot.com and can find me on Instagram and Twitter as @thepaperworlds and on my Tumblr: www.thepaperworlds.tumblr.com **
February 28, 2017
For those who liked the Dragon Age storyline, you might find this interesting. It had a lot of the same elements to it: mages are feared and locked away in towers, rogue mages are hunted by sentinels, sentinels keep watch over mages and take an elixir to make them immune to magic. It’s been ages since I played the video game so I can’t say if there are more similarities, but the book felt very familiar to me.
The book follows a few different characters, all of whom seem fleshed out to a bare minimum. They were interesting enough, but I felt a bit distant from all of them. I can’t say why, exactly. Perhaps the story never fully grabbed me, or the history of the characters was revealed too late for me to fully care. If I’d known some of their past hardships a bit earlier on, I might have cared more. However, I like my characters a bit more brooding, and these seemed to me to be on the lighter side.
The same could be said for the entire story. The grittier and darker the better for me. This had potential, but it stayed on this side of clean. Matter of fact, besides character development, all we got were some bandits that weren’t normal anymore. A couple encounters with them and then not much else. It kinda felt a bit of a letdown. I get this is the first book and we’re setting up for the big bad, and I don’t need a huge climatic ending, but I felt there needed to be something more for how long the book was. There just wasn’t enough conflict. The most conflict we had through the first 3/4 of the book was two of our characters trying to reach a destination, and since not much else happened except a few attacks by said creatures, I was left feeling a bit disappointed. Much more happened in the last quarter but I found myself wishing I’d had more tension for the rest of the book.
Now, for those of you who remember the Dragon Age story, it does keep true to that conflict of how mages are treated. They are dangerous, but is locking them away the right thing to do? And you have mages that don’t care and those that want their freedom. You have sentinels that respect mages and treat them kindly, and those that don’t. So you do get a decent spectrum of opinions. But without me caring for any of the characters, what should have been truly important issues didn’t carry the weight it needed. I found it wasn’t explored as well as it should have, which left the world feeling a bit lackluster.
For all my “meh” feelings, I still found it entertaining. There’s a little love story going on, which evolved at a nice pace, I must say. I was dreading finding these two characters madly in love after just a day, and while their affections grew quickly, it felt right. The conflict between mages and sentinels was touched upon just enough to keep me interested. It’s a fast read, despite some of the slower parts. The writing flowed nicely for me, clear and to the point.
So overall, if you’re looking for a shorter, fast read, I’d give this a try. If you’re a Dragon Age fan, you might find this interesting if going in expecting something a little light. I'd like to point out that the average rating on Goodreads is pretty decent, which leads me to think I'm just being my usual picky self.
The book follows a few different characters, all of whom seem fleshed out to a bare minimum. They were interesting enough, but I felt a bit distant from all of them. I can’t say why, exactly. Perhaps the story never fully grabbed me, or the history of the characters was revealed too late for me to fully care. If I’d known some of their past hardships a bit earlier on, I might have cared more. However, I like my characters a bit more brooding, and these seemed to me to be on the lighter side.
The same could be said for the entire story. The grittier and darker the better for me. This had potential, but it stayed on this side of clean. Matter of fact, besides character development, all we got were some bandits that weren’t normal anymore. A couple encounters with them and then not much else. It kinda felt a bit of a letdown. I get this is the first book and we’re setting up for the big bad, and I don’t need a huge climatic ending, but I felt there needed to be something more for how long the book was. There just wasn’t enough conflict. The most conflict we had through the first 3/4 of the book was two of our characters trying to reach a destination, and since not much else happened except a few attacks by said creatures, I was left feeling a bit disappointed. Much more happened in the last quarter but I found myself wishing I’d had more tension for the rest of the book.
Now, for those of you who remember the Dragon Age story, it does keep true to that conflict of how mages are treated. They are dangerous, but is locking them away the right thing to do? And you have mages that don’t care and those that want their freedom. You have sentinels that respect mages and treat them kindly, and those that don’t. So you do get a decent spectrum of opinions. But without me caring for any of the characters, what should have been truly important issues didn’t carry the weight it needed. I found it wasn’t explored as well as it should have, which left the world feeling a bit lackluster.
For all my “meh” feelings, I still found it entertaining. There’s a little love story going on, which evolved at a nice pace, I must say. I was dreading finding these two characters madly in love after just a day, and while their affections grew quickly, it felt right. The conflict between mages and sentinels was touched upon just enough to keep me interested. It’s a fast read, despite some of the slower parts. The writing flowed nicely for me, clear and to the point.
So overall, if you’re looking for a shorter, fast read, I’d give this a try. If you’re a Dragon Age fan, you might find this interesting if going in expecting something a little light. I'd like to point out that the average rating on Goodreads is pretty decent, which leads me to think I'm just being my usual picky self.
December 5, 2017
I Reviewed this book for Whispering Stories Blog
Catalyst Moon : Incursion Review / 4.5 Stars
- Above all other things, this is a story about love -
Ms. Garcia spins a tale of the Sentinels sworn to protect the world from the Mages. Kept in city's locked away from the world Mages are feared, despised. As a Sentinel and Mage head to their destination eyes are opened truths are seen and problems old and new are shown in in a new light. Their adventures are eye opening for both of them. As they face the world, an unlikely love unfolds. The thing I loved most about their relationship was it came naturally.
"Kali's breath came shorter as her heartbeat quickened and her gaze was drawn to the stubble on his cheeks and chin, the curve of his mouth, the dark, fine fringe of his hair... "
"As he fought, he prayed. Tor keep her safe. I'll do anything if you keep her safe..."
The secondary characters stories are told revolving around the same events sometimes at different timings but slowly they start to come together. With Milo telling the side of twins who are just climbing the ranks of the sentinels. Eris and Gideon Eshina a married Mage couple who have had enough. Commander Talon a hard core Sentinel. The lastly the first Mage who has a story we have yet to discover.
Then there are the Sufani whom abhor the Sentinels, because they too are rejected by the rest of the world. Yet the y hate the Mages too.
“Why do you poison your body and sentence yourself to an unnaturally short life, just so you can resist the effects of a magic-user?”
“Because my life is not as important as those I serve,” Stonewall shot back, even as his hand crept to one of the pouches at his belt. “Someone has to protect the world against magic. There must be balance.”
“There must also be tolerance,” Leal said. “Some beliefs are strong enough to dictate extreme action. It is not your place to judge us, Sentinel, just as we should not judge you. Isn't that what the One teaches?”
With five different POV's most authors have a difficult time truly capturing every side of the story. Ms.Garcia managed this with ease. It took me a few pages to get into the story but once I was in I didn't leave until I finished.
There were a few questions left unanswered which left me hanging, but I felt as if the author wanted us to discover them along with the character. The unanswered questions created plot holes leaving you scrambling to understand what was going on. Overall this has been one of the best books I've in a while. Everything from the characters to the world itself makes you want to know more. With every twist and turn we learn something new of this amazing new world. You journey with every character discovering their flaws and strengths. The many races of humans the segregation and prejudice is one of the biggest plot point. I can't wait to see where the author goes with it. I can see now that this is a series I will follow to the end.
Would I recommend this book? Yes to anyone who enjoys fantasy and new worlds. Besides I have a feeling the story gets better. Can’t wait for the next book!
Catalyst Moon : Incursion Review / 4.5 Stars
- Above all other things, this is a story about love -
Ms. Garcia spins a tale of the Sentinels sworn to protect the world from the Mages. Kept in city's locked away from the world Mages are feared, despised. As a Sentinel and Mage head to their destination eyes are opened truths are seen and problems old and new are shown in in a new light. Their adventures are eye opening for both of them. As they face the world, an unlikely love unfolds. The thing I loved most about their relationship was it came naturally.
"Kali's breath came shorter as her heartbeat quickened and her gaze was drawn to the stubble on his cheeks and chin, the curve of his mouth, the dark, fine fringe of his hair... "
"As he fought, he prayed. Tor keep her safe. I'll do anything if you keep her safe..."
The secondary characters stories are told revolving around the same events sometimes at different timings but slowly they start to come together. With Milo telling the side of twins who are just climbing the ranks of the sentinels. Eris and Gideon Eshina a married Mage couple who have had enough. Commander Talon a hard core Sentinel. The lastly the first Mage who has a story we have yet to discover.
Then there are the Sufani whom abhor the Sentinels, because they too are rejected by the rest of the world. Yet the y hate the Mages too.
“Why do you poison your body and sentence yourself to an unnaturally short life, just so you can resist the effects of a magic-user?”
“Because my life is not as important as those I serve,” Stonewall shot back, even as his hand crept to one of the pouches at his belt. “Someone has to protect the world against magic. There must be balance.”
“There must also be tolerance,” Leal said. “Some beliefs are strong enough to dictate extreme action. It is not your place to judge us, Sentinel, just as we should not judge you. Isn't that what the One teaches?”
With five different POV's most authors have a difficult time truly capturing every side of the story. Ms.Garcia managed this with ease. It took me a few pages to get into the story but once I was in I didn't leave until I finished.
There were a few questions left unanswered which left me hanging, but I felt as if the author wanted us to discover them along with the character. The unanswered questions created plot holes leaving you scrambling to understand what was going on. Overall this has been one of the best books I've in a while. Everything from the characters to the world itself makes you want to know more. With every twist and turn we learn something new of this amazing new world. You journey with every character discovering their flaws and strengths. The many races of humans the segregation and prejudice is one of the biggest plot point. I can't wait to see where the author goes with it. I can see now that this is a series I will follow to the end.
Would I recommend this book? Yes to anyone who enjoys fantasy and new worlds. Besides I have a feeling the story gets better. Can’t wait for the next book!
April 4, 2017
This is the first installment of an enjoyable saga, Catalyst Moon. I don't read many series, though, and this book reminds me of why. Incursion does a good job of setting up the characters, the world, and the conflicts, but the pace is leisurely and once things are really getting going, the book ends. I might read the next one, but I have so many other things to read in the meantime that it will be months if not years until I get around to it. I don't believe this book stands on its own.
If that aspect doesn't bother you as a reader, there are many things to like and recommend about Incursion. The system of magic is interesting and consistent. I liked the fact that the viewpoint mage characters were not fully aware of the extent of their powers and were engaged in realistically portrayed quests of self-discovery. I found their self-directed trial and error to be a refreshing change from stories in which magic users are put through their paces at established elite academies, taught by all-knowing, almost god-like sages. I also liked the relative gender equality in this society, despite its being largely pre-technological. Kalinda and Stonewall are appealing characters, and the romance is sweet, if somewhat predictable. It would be easily appropriate for YA readers. In general, I found the author's approach to relationships to be positive and uplifting, and it seemed that sibling and parent/child relationships, in addition to romantic ones, were all going to play an important role in the saga.
I wish that, given the long set-up and leisurely pace, we had been shown more complexity and ambiguity in some of the characters. Perhaps this will be revealed in later books, but I think we need more of it sooner. For example, I thought that the revelation about Kalinda's parentage and past was too long in coming, and it didn't apparently change anything for her or for her relationship with Stonewall in the present. And Eris and Gid's relationship confused me: first Eris came across as madly in love, and then she was angry almost to the point of contempt. Of course those two feelings can easily co-exist in the same person and the same relationship, but the writing wasn't convincing. I needed to see the seeds of one feeling in the other, whereas these characters just came across as entirely different people in different chapters.
The title, "Incursion," gives very little information about the book's plot, character, or themes. In fact, I still don't know what it means. "Catalyst Moon" at least throws me a bone, referencing the world's moons and the fact that mages are sometimes referred to as moon bloods. I also see the mages' role as catalysts for change and growth (and chaos). And I liked the cover. I found it eye-catching and appropriate to the book. I interpreted the woman on the cover as Kalinda and I found her sympathetic. I'm glad I read this book, and I do want to know what happens to the characters. But I wish I didn't have to wait so long to find out.
If that aspect doesn't bother you as a reader, there are many things to like and recommend about Incursion. The system of magic is interesting and consistent. I liked the fact that the viewpoint mage characters were not fully aware of the extent of their powers and were engaged in realistically portrayed quests of self-discovery. I found their self-directed trial and error to be a refreshing change from stories in which magic users are put through their paces at established elite academies, taught by all-knowing, almost god-like sages. I also liked the relative gender equality in this society, despite its being largely pre-technological. Kalinda and Stonewall are appealing characters, and the romance is sweet, if somewhat predictable. It would be easily appropriate for YA readers. In general, I found the author's approach to relationships to be positive and uplifting, and it seemed that sibling and parent/child relationships, in addition to romantic ones, were all going to play an important role in the saga.
I wish that, given the long set-up and leisurely pace, we had been shown more complexity and ambiguity in some of the characters. Perhaps this will be revealed in later books, but I think we need more of it sooner. For example, I thought that the revelation about Kalinda's parentage and past was too long in coming, and it didn't apparently change anything for her or for her relationship with Stonewall in the present. And Eris and Gid's relationship confused me: first Eris came across as madly in love, and then she was angry almost to the point of contempt. Of course those two feelings can easily co-exist in the same person and the same relationship, but the writing wasn't convincing. I needed to see the seeds of one feeling in the other, whereas these characters just came across as entirely different people in different chapters.
The title, "Incursion," gives very little information about the book's plot, character, or themes. In fact, I still don't know what it means. "Catalyst Moon" at least throws me a bone, referencing the world's moons and the fact that mages are sometimes referred to as moon bloods. I also see the mages' role as catalysts for change and growth (and chaos). And I liked the cover. I found it eye-catching and appropriate to the book. I interpreted the woman on the cover as Kalinda and I found her sympathetic. I'm glad I read this book, and I do want to know what happens to the characters. But I wish I didn't have to wait so long to find out.
July 24, 2016
e-ARC provided by NetGalley.
Let's, for a moment, pretend that I'm not familiar with a video game series that sounds kind of like "Schmagon Schmage," which large parts of this novel and its setting resemble very strongly--far, far past the point where I'm willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt. Let's, for a moment, pretend that I've never even heard of those video games, let alone played a few hundred hours of them, and read the supplemental materials, and that I didn't spend my entire read-through marking all the stuff that was definitely, hmm, borrowed.
Let's just judge this book on its own merits.
IN A WORLD where magic users are kept under lock and key in "bastions" for whatever reason by some religious authority... they're dangerous, I guess. Mages are guarded by sentinels, who take (a preparation of?) hematite to increase their resistance to magic, which is apparently so bad that it's worth using this substance that will eventually drive them insane at a young age. Cool. We aren't shown exactly why magic is so bad, but we're meant to believe it. Cool.
And in this world, a young mage named Kali, whose defining characteristics are that she's an Average Girl with a bum knee who can play the viol(in) pretty well and doesn't believe much in The Gods, is going off to a notoriously strict bastion because she's heard there's someone there who can do something for her bum knee. All mages are so dangerous, but also so coveted by the unwashed, superstitious masses, that they need a fully armed escort and cuffs that suppress their magic to go anywhere.
In order for there to be a plot, the escort is attacked by PSEUDO-VIKING ???? RAIDERS who may also be DEMONICALLY POSSESSED, though the story does not give us any lore or worldbuilding to work off of that would make us believe this is a explanation that the characters would immediately leap to.
Anyway.
So our Very Average Kali is stuck with a sentinel named Stonewall. We're not going to talk about Stonewall's personality, because it doesn't really matter. (He Took An Oath and has a sad past. There you go, that's all you need to know.) She, a very average and not at all distinguished mage, does some probably-impossible magic to teleport them very far away from this attack. Cool.
The bulk of the rest of the book is the author trying to convince us Kali and Stonewall have chemistry. Kali gets plenty of chances to show that she's a good person and a good healer, and therefore more than just a mage.
There's also a subplot at the bastion they're headed for, where the MENACING COMMANDER TALON--she was my favorite character hands down--and her LOYAL CAPTAIN COBALT simultaneously try to figure out what happened to this armed escort and try to deal with a few troublemaking mages who just WANT THEIR FREEDOM, who I'm supposed to care about, because mages are oppressed.
I guess those mages also have names and personalities, too, as does the one sentinel with the sister issues, but they don't matter except as set-up and set dressing for the shitstorm Kali and Stonewall are about to walk into in the next book.
Also, there are gypsies, literal gypsies, the word gypsy was used, which I found a little 'yikes...' but which might not make some people's Bad Race Stuff meter twitch. It should, I think.
I don't know. If I had a little more context, historical or otherwise, for why mages are oppressed, and why sentinels are necessary, I might care more about Kali and Stonewall's outcome. As it is, I don't. (From a blk girl to a presumably Latina sister, you really, really gotta give us more here.)
This reads as a very long prologue. The worldbuilding is flimsy, the characters leave me cold. At no point was I invested in the mystery behind Kali's newfound magical powers, let alone in the romance itself. Bbut the pacing is all right--I pushed through the last 1/3 of this last night, but it didn't really feel like pushing, which is something. Would I read the next book? No. Was the day and a half I spent reading this a total waste? Also no. So there's that.
.
.
p.s. Author. Author. My dude. I'm addressing this directly to you. A Foley is a type of catheter. It goes in through the urethra and up to the bladder to drain urine into a gross little baggie. That was all I could think about while reading aboutFirst Enchanter Orsino Foley Clementa. I said some pretty harsh things up there, I admit, but I consider this naming choice to be your biggest mistake.
Let's, for a moment, pretend that I'm not familiar with a video game series that sounds kind of like "Schmagon Schmage," which large parts of this novel and its setting resemble very strongly--far, far past the point where I'm willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt. Let's, for a moment, pretend that I've never even heard of those video games, let alone played a few hundred hours of them, and read the supplemental materials, and that I didn't spend my entire read-through marking all the stuff that was definitely, hmm, borrowed.
Let's just judge this book on its own merits.
IN A WORLD where magic users are kept under lock and key in "bastions" for whatever reason by some religious authority... they're dangerous, I guess. Mages are guarded by sentinels, who take (a preparation of?) hematite to increase their resistance to magic, which is apparently so bad that it's worth using this substance that will eventually drive them insane at a young age. Cool. We aren't shown exactly why magic is so bad, but we're meant to believe it. Cool.
And in this world, a young mage named Kali, whose defining characteristics are that she's an Average Girl with a bum knee who can play the viol(in) pretty well and doesn't believe much in The Gods, is going off to a notoriously strict bastion because she's heard there's someone there who can do something for her bum knee. All mages are so dangerous, but also so coveted by the unwashed, superstitious masses, that they need a fully armed escort and cuffs that suppress their magic to go anywhere.
In order for there to be a plot, the escort is attacked by PSEUDO-VIKING ???? RAIDERS who may also be DEMONICALLY POSSESSED, though the story does not give us any lore or worldbuilding to work off of that would make us believe this is a explanation that the characters would immediately leap to.
Anyway.
So our Very Average Kali is stuck with a sentinel named Stonewall. We're not going to talk about Stonewall's personality, because it doesn't really matter. (He Took An Oath and has a sad past. There you go, that's all you need to know.) She, a very average and not at all distinguished mage, does some probably-impossible magic to teleport them very far away from this attack. Cool.
The bulk of the rest of the book is the author trying to convince us Kali and Stonewall have chemistry. Kali gets plenty of chances to show that she's a good person and a good healer, and therefore more than just a mage.
There's also a subplot at the bastion they're headed for, where the MENACING COMMANDER TALON--she was my favorite character hands down--and her LOYAL CAPTAIN COBALT simultaneously try to figure out what happened to this armed escort and try to deal with a few troublemaking mages who just WANT THEIR FREEDOM, who I'm supposed to care about, because mages are oppressed.
I guess those mages also have names and personalities, too, as does the one sentinel with the sister issues, but they don't matter except as set-up and set dressing for the shitstorm Kali and Stonewall are about to walk into in the next book.
Also, there are gypsies, literal gypsies, the word gypsy was used, which I found a little 'yikes...' but which might not make some people's Bad Race Stuff meter twitch. It should, I think.
I don't know. If I had a little more context, historical or otherwise, for why mages are oppressed, and why sentinels are necessary, I might care more about Kali and Stonewall's outcome. As it is, I don't. (From a blk girl to a presumably Latina sister, you really, really gotta give us more here.)
This reads as a very long prologue. The worldbuilding is flimsy, the characters leave me cold. At no point was I invested in the mystery behind Kali's newfound magical powers, let alone in the romance itself. Bbut the pacing is all right--I pushed through the last 1/3 of this last night, but it didn't really feel like pushing, which is something. Would I read the next book? No. Was the day and a half I spent reading this a total waste? Also no. So there's that.
.
.
p.s. Author. Author. My dude. I'm addressing this directly to you. A Foley is a type of catheter. It goes in through the urethra and up to the bladder to drain urine into a gross little baggie. That was all I could think about while reading about
July 26, 2016
3.5 stars
Catalyst Moon: Incursion by Lauren L. Garcia was a fun little adventure and the first in a new series.
In this world magic users are considered dangerous and kept secluded in heavily guarded bastions, only allowed out when they are subdued with hematite cuffs.
There are sentinels who are dedicated soldiers who guard the mages and on occasion take them out to use their abilities for the benefit of the dominant society.
We are not given much information about this dominant society other than it is very hierarchical. The only information we are given has to do with the sentinels, the mages, and the role of religion.
We know there are 5 tiers to the society, but there is no real information about any of the tiers or about how the society functions outside of the little subset we have with sentinels and mages.
Kali, a crippled mage, is being transferred to Whitewater City by a sentinel escort when they are attacked by bandits who seem transformed into some kind of demonic state. Kali and the sentinel who guards her manage to escape.
There is plenty of action and some budding romance. Another reviewer referred to this first book as a kind of prologue, and I have to agree. It was fun, but there are more questions than answers. Hopefully, the next book will provide a more satisfying explanation of why things are the way they are, give a more developed look at the society, and explain what is going on with that second moon. And I liked it plenty well enough to want to find out more.
NetGalley/Inkitt
Fantasy. July 14, 2016. Print length: 292 pages.
Catalyst Moon: Incursion by Lauren L. Garcia was a fun little adventure and the first in a new series.
In this world magic users are considered dangerous and kept secluded in heavily guarded bastions, only allowed out when they are subdued with hematite cuffs.
There are sentinels who are dedicated soldiers who guard the mages and on occasion take them out to use their abilities for the benefit of the dominant society.
We are not given much information about this dominant society other than it is very hierarchical. The only information we are given has to do with the sentinels, the mages, and the role of religion.
We know there are 5 tiers to the society, but there is no real information about any of the tiers or about how the society functions outside of the little subset we have with sentinels and mages.
Kali, a crippled mage, is being transferred to Whitewater City by a sentinel escort when they are attacked by bandits who seem transformed into some kind of demonic state. Kali and the sentinel who guards her manage to escape.
There is plenty of action and some budding romance. Another reviewer referred to this first book as a kind of prologue, and I have to agree. It was fun, but there are more questions than answers. Hopefully, the next book will provide a more satisfying explanation of why things are the way they are, give a more developed look at the society, and explain what is going on with that second moon. And I liked it plenty well enough to want to find out more.
NetGalley/Inkitt
Fantasy. July 14, 2016. Print length: 292 pages.
August 28, 2016
This is an nice, interesting read. The lay of the land got me excited. I found Kali to be a surprise. Each time that she used her abilities there seemed to be something new that even Kali was learning about her full powers. Although, I agree with another reader that the use of the other characters calling Kali "Mage Halcyon" was confusing at first. This is because the author really did not it clear that Mage Halcyon and Kali were the same person. It was not until after about chapter 10 that Kali even questioned what Stonewall was calling her by the other name that he explained it was out of respect.
In fact, the first 5 to 6 chapters were not really explained that well in regards to the events or why Kali found herself in handcuffs at the beginning of the story. Yet, I stuck with the story despite this as I liked Kali and I did find the story to have action and it moved at a steady pace. If you can get past this then the story does get better the further you get into it. In regards to the romantic relationship between Stonewall and Kali, if it was not even there I would have been fine with it. It was sweet but I did not feel the great passion. Readers who are looking for something different to read may be interested to check out this book.
In fact, the first 5 to 6 chapters were not really explained that well in regards to the events or why Kali found herself in handcuffs at the beginning of the story. Yet, I stuck with the story despite this as I liked Kali and I did find the story to have action and it moved at a steady pace. If you can get past this then the story does get better the further you get into it. In regards to the romantic relationship between Stonewall and Kali, if it was not even there I would have been fine with it. It was sweet but I did not feel the great passion. Readers who are looking for something different to read may be interested to check out this book.
September 3, 2016
Interesting story on the positions of mages within a society
I was given a free copy of this book by the author is exchange for my honest review. Personally loved this book. It was interesting the way the author portrayed a mages role in society: how they were shunned and feared and even guarded. All considered lesser citizens despite the help they bring to the populace with their abilities. A new threat is in the rise with these "demon" Calderii who attack at will and with no seeming purpose. Hints are laid in the book to a much larger picture with more at stake than realized.. I cannot wait to see the rest of this story unfold!
I was given a free copy of this book by the author is exchange for my honest review. Personally loved this book. It was interesting the way the author portrayed a mages role in society: how they were shunned and feared and even guarded. All considered lesser citizens despite the help they bring to the populace with their abilities. A new threat is in the rise with these "demon" Calderii who attack at will and with no seeming purpose. Hints are laid in the book to a much larger picture with more at stake than realized.. I cannot wait to see the rest of this story unfold!
September 5, 2016
Very good
I enjoyed Catalyst Moon. it was original and interesting story. It told about a Mage and a Sentinel's journey and the problems they encountered on their way to Whitewater City.
It had a few typing errors but not enough to take away from the book. I am looking forward to part II so I can see what happens to Mage Halcyon and Sentinel Stonewall.
I was given this book in exchange for my honest review. I recommend this book to everyone, it will keep you interested until the last page.
I enjoyed Catalyst Moon. it was original and interesting story. It told about a Mage and a Sentinel's journey and the problems they encountered on their way to Whitewater City.
It had a few typing errors but not enough to take away from the book. I am looking forward to part II so I can see what happens to Mage Halcyon and Sentinel Stonewall.
I was given this book in exchange for my honest review. I recommend this book to everyone, it will keep you interested until the last page.
November 11, 2020
I'll start off by saying that Incursion, book 1 of Lauren L Garcia's Catalyst Moon series gave me serious Dragon Age vibes – so much so that I'm sooo tempted to wonder if this as an incredibly well-crafted fic that had its serial numbers filed off. And to tell you how much I loved this book, I immediately went out and purchased book two (which is a rare occurrence for me when I'm considering books for review).
In this world, magic users are reviled and locked up in bastions that are guarded by templ— Sorry, sentinels, who chug lyr— haematite that boosts their powers to stop mages from acting out. Honestly, the similarities in the worlds did not bother me so much, because a) I'm a huge fan of Dragon Age and its tie-in fiction and fanfiction and b) Garcia's writing is lovely.
We meet Kali, a mage, who is being transferred to another bastion so that she can have her bad knee looked at (not all mages are equal in their powers, and she's hoping that someone at the bastion will have a better grip on healing magic). Plus, her friend is there, and they haven't seen each other since forever.
Of course no plans go without a hitch, and her party is waylaid by demon-possessed barbarians who pretty much decimate their patrol, leaving only Kali to escape with the young sentinel Stonewall. And her magic has ways of its own that result in a wild escape that sets them practically on the other side of the map. Now they must journey back to the bastion, and learn to trust one another in an often hostile environment.
Meanwhile a mage rebellion is brewing... Of course.
What I love about Garcia's writing is that she brings in the human element with all her characters – we see both mages' and sentinels' points of view, and it's easy to understand where both stand on the divide. All the while I was cheering on those who were able to build bridges rather, but by equal measure curse those too myopic to see the bigger picture – because Garcia lays plenty of seeds hinting at a bigger, brewing danger. If you're looking for a fantasy adventure that focuses on the human elements of magic vs. non-magic conflict, then give Incursion a shot. She has created a varied cast and I'm so curious to see how all the secondary characters' story arcs will pan out.
In this world, magic users are reviled and locked up in bastions that are guarded by templ— Sorry, sentinels, who chug lyr— haematite that boosts their powers to stop mages from acting out. Honestly, the similarities in the worlds did not bother me so much, because a) I'm a huge fan of Dragon Age and its tie-in fiction and fanfiction and b) Garcia's writing is lovely.
We meet Kali, a mage, who is being transferred to another bastion so that she can have her bad knee looked at (not all mages are equal in their powers, and she's hoping that someone at the bastion will have a better grip on healing magic). Plus, her friend is there, and they haven't seen each other since forever.
Of course no plans go without a hitch, and her party is waylaid by demon-possessed barbarians who pretty much decimate their patrol, leaving only Kali to escape with the young sentinel Stonewall. And her magic has ways of its own that result in a wild escape that sets them practically on the other side of the map. Now they must journey back to the bastion, and learn to trust one another in an often hostile environment.
Meanwhile a mage rebellion is brewing... Of course.
What I love about Garcia's writing is that she brings in the human element with all her characters – we see both mages' and sentinels' points of view, and it's easy to understand where both stand on the divide. All the while I was cheering on those who were able to build bridges rather, but by equal measure curse those too myopic to see the bigger picture – because Garcia lays plenty of seeds hinting at a bigger, brewing danger. If you're looking for a fantasy adventure that focuses on the human elements of magic vs. non-magic conflict, then give Incursion a shot. She has created a varied cast and I'm so curious to see how all the secondary characters' story arcs will pan out.
August 8, 2016
Having been informed that folks of Inkitt, of which I have never heard, had programmed a robot to select bestsellers, I was intrigued when I was invited to review the very first book the robot selected.
At the time I write this, I am well into the second chapter and, Inkitt, you have to reprogram that robot because this book is boring.
For one thing, what on earth is going on? We are introduced to a mage, Kali, who is handcuffed with hematite cuffs which prevent her from using magic. Why is she handcuffed? Why is it undesirable for her to perform magic? Why do the guards treat her poorly, even refusing her request for her cloak to keep warm? Adding to the confusion is the number of people referring to a Mage Halcyon who turns out to be Kali. Would have been very helpful had the author referred to her as Mage Kali Halcyon the first time we meet her because it took me a bit of time to realize that Kali and Mage Halcyon were the same person.
The guards are escorting Kali from the bastion where she grew up to Whitewater City. At first, I thought it was because she was to have her bum left knee fixed, but later own the chapter when asked why she wanted to go to the city, she refuses to answer. Since getting medical care is a straight-forward reason for the journey, it seems very odd to me that she wouldn’t answer.
They are attacked by bad guys, the party splits up because the guard has to protect Kali. Several people lose their lives. Kali managed to get out of her cuffs before they abandoned the carriage. With a bit of concentration, she performs a feat of magic which causes Kali, the sole remaining guard, Stonewall, and their horse to travel exceedingly fast. Sadly, though, they end up three extra days from their destination, having traveled in the wrong direction. Kali has no idea how she did it.
Chapter Two begins with another carriage and I thought the story had looped back to before the attack and this was the same journey, but from a different point of view. But it’s not.
I really am lost. Where is the world-building that would tell me something of this society, their values, and motivations? There are several references to “burnies” and “cinders” with no definition and insufficient context from which to glean their meaning. The guards, called sentinels, consume hematite because to makes them immune to magic and also gives them increased physical strength and sharpened senses. Of course, it also shortens their lives. What the heck is a bastion in this story?
Most of these first two chapters is consumed by exposition that really doesn’t provide solid information. The exposition describes what is happening, but not why. I am at the point where I am ready to say “I don’t care any more.” But I’ll read a bit further.
Scene shifts to Whitewater City. A reference to something called Aredia? What is that? Another city? A district? A country? The name of the planet? Then a young man is referred to as a burnie, so now I know a burnie is a person but I’ve still no idea why he is referred to in this manner. All of a sudden there is a reference to a Gideon Echina and that he is in custody. Who is he? Why is he in custody? But then it turns out Gideon requested Kali’s transfer and “nothing suggested she was a troublemaker” yet she was in handcuffs to prevent her use of magic. If she is not a troublemaker, why the handcuffs?
Inside the Whitewater Bastion we meet Eris Echina. Clearly she shares a last name with Gideon but is she his wife? Daughter? Mother? Aunt? Cousin? Sister? Five pages later, I learned she is Gideon’s wife. She is also a heretic moon-blood. Whatever that might be. On the other hand I did discover that Kali is traveling to Whitewater City at Eris' suggestion to have their healer examine Kali's bum leg. Why this has to be a mystery for a few chapters makes no sense.
Apparently, the mages are not free to roam about as they wish. They are under guard constantly. Gideon and Eris want to free all the mages and for some unexplained reason, it is vital that Eris be able to shape shift into a bird in order to achieve this goal.
The first four or five chapters of this book make very little sense and needs to be rewritten. However, starting in chapter five, I finally began to get some answers to questions posed above. Burnies are sentinels new to hematite. Cinders are sentinels who have been taking hematite for a long time and who need to increase and increase their doses until eventually the hematite kills them.
Sentinels are necessary because mages must be kept under control. Mages are forced to live in bastions. Mages are not allowed to wander around freely, living their lives as they see fit because they are too dangerous. But there is no evidence offered to support this prejudice and I think that is a major flaw of the story. Moon-bloods is a derogatory term for mages but there is no explanation why this is a nasty thing to call them or what the moon and blood have to do with anything.
Around chapter six, the author settles down into storytelling that makes sense. One thing I really liked about it was the complete equality between men and women and people with different skin colors. It helped that I finally find out some of the whys and wherefores, but I really wanted them much earlier. It became an interesting enough that I continued to read although I never did find any reason why it was so crucial that Eris shape-shift into a crow. She manages it, but the feat seems to do nothing about freeing the mages.
I was also repulsed by all the bigotry against the mages, especially as there was no explanation. This book is volume one of a series which I am not going to bother to read but I feel as if it ought to be volume two because of all the backstory that is missing. The sentinels, who take all sorts of vows to protect the mages are particularly bigoted against their charges that I had to wonder why they would consume a substance that would dramatically shorten their lives to protect people they hate. The only reason ever offered is when Stonewall says something about how dangerous the mages are and that they have to be controlled. Makes zero sense to me because there is no evidence, just bald statements.
Sorry, Inkitt robot, you not only did not select a bestseller, you didn't even select a well-written story.
At the time I write this, I am well into the second chapter and, Inkitt, you have to reprogram that robot because this book is boring.
For one thing, what on earth is going on? We are introduced to a mage, Kali, who is handcuffed with hematite cuffs which prevent her from using magic. Why is she handcuffed? Why is it undesirable for her to perform magic? Why do the guards treat her poorly, even refusing her request for her cloak to keep warm? Adding to the confusion is the number of people referring to a Mage Halcyon who turns out to be Kali. Would have been very helpful had the author referred to her as Mage Kali Halcyon the first time we meet her because it took me a bit of time to realize that Kali and Mage Halcyon were the same person.
The guards are escorting Kali from the bastion where she grew up to Whitewater City. At first, I thought it was because she was to have her bum left knee fixed, but later own the chapter when asked why she wanted to go to the city, she refuses to answer. Since getting medical care is a straight-forward reason for the journey, it seems very odd to me that she wouldn’t answer.
They are attacked by bad guys, the party splits up because the guard has to protect Kali. Several people lose their lives. Kali managed to get out of her cuffs before they abandoned the carriage. With a bit of concentration, she performs a feat of magic which causes Kali, the sole remaining guard, Stonewall, and their horse to travel exceedingly fast. Sadly, though, they end up three extra days from their destination, having traveled in the wrong direction. Kali has no idea how she did it.
Chapter Two begins with another carriage and I thought the story had looped back to before the attack and this was the same journey, but from a different point of view. But it’s not.
I really am lost. Where is the world-building that would tell me something of this society, their values, and motivations? There are several references to “burnies” and “cinders” with no definition and insufficient context from which to glean their meaning. The guards, called sentinels, consume hematite because to makes them immune to magic and also gives them increased physical strength and sharpened senses. Of course, it also shortens their lives. What the heck is a bastion in this story?
Most of these first two chapters is consumed by exposition that really doesn’t provide solid information. The exposition describes what is happening, but not why. I am at the point where I am ready to say “I don’t care any more.” But I’ll read a bit further.
Scene shifts to Whitewater City. A reference to something called Aredia? What is that? Another city? A district? A country? The name of the planet? Then a young man is referred to as a burnie, so now I know a burnie is a person but I’ve still no idea why he is referred to in this manner. All of a sudden there is a reference to a Gideon Echina and that he is in custody. Who is he? Why is he in custody? But then it turns out Gideon requested Kali’s transfer and “nothing suggested she was a troublemaker” yet she was in handcuffs to prevent her use of magic. If she is not a troublemaker, why the handcuffs?
Inside the Whitewater Bastion we meet Eris Echina. Clearly she shares a last name with Gideon but is she his wife? Daughter? Mother? Aunt? Cousin? Sister? Five pages later, I learned she is Gideon’s wife. She is also a heretic moon-blood. Whatever that might be. On the other hand I did discover that Kali is traveling to Whitewater City at Eris' suggestion to have their healer examine Kali's bum leg. Why this has to be a mystery for a few chapters makes no sense.
Apparently, the mages are not free to roam about as they wish. They are under guard constantly. Gideon and Eris want to free all the mages and for some unexplained reason, it is vital that Eris be able to shape shift into a bird in order to achieve this goal.
The first four or five chapters of this book make very little sense and needs to be rewritten. However, starting in chapter five, I finally began to get some answers to questions posed above. Burnies are sentinels new to hematite. Cinders are sentinels who have been taking hematite for a long time and who need to increase and increase their doses until eventually the hematite kills them.
Sentinels are necessary because mages must be kept under control. Mages are forced to live in bastions. Mages are not allowed to wander around freely, living their lives as they see fit because they are too dangerous. But there is no evidence offered to support this prejudice and I think that is a major flaw of the story. Moon-bloods is a derogatory term for mages but there is no explanation why this is a nasty thing to call them or what the moon and blood have to do with anything.
Around chapter six, the author settles down into storytelling that makes sense. One thing I really liked about it was the complete equality between men and women and people with different skin colors. It helped that I finally find out some of the whys and wherefores, but I really wanted them much earlier. It became an interesting enough that I continued to read although I never did find any reason why it was so crucial that Eris shape-shift into a crow. She manages it, but the feat seems to do nothing about freeing the mages.
I was also repulsed by all the bigotry against the mages, especially as there was no explanation. This book is volume one of a series which I am not going to bother to read but I feel as if it ought to be volume two because of all the backstory that is missing. The sentinels, who take all sorts of vows to protect the mages are particularly bigoted against their charges that I had to wonder why they would consume a substance that would dramatically shorten their lives to protect people they hate. The only reason ever offered is when Stonewall says something about how dangerous the mages are and that they have to be controlled. Makes zero sense to me because there is no evidence, just bald statements.
Sorry, Inkitt robot, you not only did not select a bestseller, you didn't even select a well-written story.
February 28, 2017
The first ever winner of the writing contest on Inkitt, a website that allows you to read and write fresh new stories from new authors, brings us Catalyst Moon: Incursion. As a member of Inkitt, I was granted a free copy of the story and decided to give it a shot. I've read a lot of good stories on the site and so, as the first ever book from the site to receive publication based on the site's database, I just had to give it a read. Sadly, I'm not impressed. Let me explain.
The story is of a mage named Kalinda "Kali" Halcyon, who is being escorted from one mage stronghold to another by a group of sentinels, soldiers whose job is expressly to keep the mages in line. But when their group is attacked, Kali manages to escape with a sentinel named Stonewall to make it to the stronghold in peace. Meanwhile more strange attacks take place, plots for mages to escape their captors, and emotions and things just all kind of happen at the same time.
Yeah, I can't summon a lot of energy for this one. For as long as this book is very little actually happens in it. Aside from fight scenes that take way too long and plot lines so barely explored you don't really know what the point of them is, the story is just a romantic road trip story trying to take place along side a recycled rebellion plot dripping with soap opera drama. The first problem is that there are way, way too many characters in this book. That's fine and all, but you're supposed to remember each and every one of them and what they're doing in the story and how it adds to the grand scheme. This is a problem because these characters are just not memorable! Too many names and not nearly enough details left me struggling to remember who they were, why we're supposed to care about them, what they contribute, whether they are male or female, etc.
The main character, Kali, has a wealth of potential for a character; a magic user whose hasn't seen much of the world that's been crippled since birth. But she never does anything! Her journey with her potential boyfriend is a side quest in her own story. It's the generic "girl unlike any he's seen before" who attempts to "get him to lower his defenses" (geddit? His name is Stone-Wall. He's guarded!) that we've seen over and over again. Only one time does something legitimately interesting happen to them, a fight with some possessed barbarians, but it goes on for so long even that got boring. For her to be the star of this show, her path is way too easy and much too uninteresting and I just couldn't get into it.
The only other characters I remember at all are this pair of twin sentinels that we follow for reasons that I still can't figure out. I mean it! I don't think they contributed anything to the story. They could be cut out entirely and the plot wouldn't miss them. At all. I only remember them because they made me so angry that if I was reading this on anything other than my expensive Kindle, I'd have thrown it across the room. The brother is seriously overly keen on his sister, to the point where it's almost a bit uncomfortable. Brothers don't think about their sisters nearly as much as this guy does. It's unhealthy. It's even more unhealthy when the sister is a horrible piece of human filth that deserves to die! I'm serious, this woman is just despicable! The guy she's sleeping with gets killed and she so she tells her brother, the only family she has left in the world mind you, and says she wishes that he was the one who died and wishes all manner of cruel and horrible fates upon him for having the gall to not have died. And she's all like, "Oh, gee, I'm sorr-well, not really sorry but I was hurting at the time so we're cool, right?" No! No, you're not cool! I don't care if you apologize! I don't care if you cure cancer! Saying horrible things like that is never going to make people relate to or like you! I couldn't stand her and it just left me angry for the wrong reasons.
Also when this plot isn't going at a snail's pace, it's jumping around all over, making the story hard to keep track of and making it even harder to remember already unmemorable characters! One minute we're over here with Kali, next we're with these mages trying to escape, next we're with these fifteen sentinels whose names we're all supposed to remember. The mages are so bland that I can't get behind their cause, and how are we supposed to get behind them when we're also supposed to want the sentinel's to win. That and some borrowed details were really distracting. For example, there's an offensive name for a mage in this world and that's "moon-blood". Hmm, does that sound familiar at all to you? Well, it should. Also, there's this one deity that they keep swearing on, but the swears come in the forms of "Ea's tits" and "Ea's balls". Okay, either A. this is some kind of transgender deity or B. this is just inconsistent. I'm betting on B. Lastly, this book has no climax. None. At all. It just builds and builds and...ends. They want to get to the place and they get to the place. The end. Not twist, no conclusions, no cliffhangers, no answers, no...nothing! There's nothing that makes me want to continue the story, nothing that makes me long for the next installment. It's just...done. Whatever, at least I can be done.
The story is of a mage named Kalinda "Kali" Halcyon, who is being escorted from one mage stronghold to another by a group of sentinels, soldiers whose job is expressly to keep the mages in line. But when their group is attacked, Kali manages to escape with a sentinel named Stonewall to make it to the stronghold in peace. Meanwhile more strange attacks take place, plots for mages to escape their captors, and emotions and things just all kind of happen at the same time.
Yeah, I can't summon a lot of energy for this one. For as long as this book is very little actually happens in it. Aside from fight scenes that take way too long and plot lines so barely explored you don't really know what the point of them is, the story is just a romantic road trip story trying to take place along side a recycled rebellion plot dripping with soap opera drama. The first problem is that there are way, way too many characters in this book. That's fine and all, but you're supposed to remember each and every one of them and what they're doing in the story and how it adds to the grand scheme. This is a problem because these characters are just not memorable! Too many names and not nearly enough details left me struggling to remember who they were, why we're supposed to care about them, what they contribute, whether they are male or female, etc.
The main character, Kali, has a wealth of potential for a character; a magic user whose hasn't seen much of the world that's been crippled since birth. But she never does anything! Her journey with her potential boyfriend is a side quest in her own story. It's the generic "girl unlike any he's seen before" who attempts to "get him to lower his defenses" (geddit? His name is Stone-Wall. He's guarded!) that we've seen over and over again. Only one time does something legitimately interesting happen to them, a fight with some possessed barbarians, but it goes on for so long even that got boring. For her to be the star of this show, her path is way too easy and much too uninteresting and I just couldn't get into it.
The only other characters I remember at all are this pair of twin sentinels that we follow for reasons that I still can't figure out. I mean it! I don't think they contributed anything to the story. They could be cut out entirely and the plot wouldn't miss them. At all. I only remember them because they made me so angry that if I was reading this on anything other than my expensive Kindle, I'd have thrown it across the room. The brother is seriously overly keen on his sister, to the point where it's almost a bit uncomfortable. Brothers don't think about their sisters nearly as much as this guy does. It's unhealthy. It's even more unhealthy when the sister is a horrible piece of human filth that deserves to die! I'm serious, this woman is just despicable! The guy she's sleeping with gets killed and she so she tells her brother, the only family she has left in the world mind you, and says she wishes that he was the one who died and wishes all manner of cruel and horrible fates upon him for having the gall to not have died. And she's all like, "Oh, gee, I'm sorr-well, not really sorry but I was hurting at the time so we're cool, right?" No! No, you're not cool! I don't care if you apologize! I don't care if you cure cancer! Saying horrible things like that is never going to make people relate to or like you! I couldn't stand her and it just left me angry for the wrong reasons.
Also when this plot isn't going at a snail's pace, it's jumping around all over, making the story hard to keep track of and making it even harder to remember already unmemorable characters! One minute we're over here with Kali, next we're with these mages trying to escape, next we're with these fifteen sentinels whose names we're all supposed to remember. The mages are so bland that I can't get behind their cause, and how are we supposed to get behind them when we're also supposed to want the sentinel's to win. That and some borrowed details were really distracting. For example, there's an offensive name for a mage in this world and that's "moon-blood". Hmm, does that sound familiar at all to you? Well, it should. Also, there's this one deity that they keep swearing on, but the swears come in the forms of "Ea's tits" and "Ea's balls". Okay, either A. this is some kind of transgender deity or B. this is just inconsistent. I'm betting on B. Lastly, this book has no climax. None. At all. It just builds and builds and...ends. They want to get to the place and they get to the place. The end. Not twist, no conclusions, no cliffhangers, no answers, no...nothing! There's nothing that makes me want to continue the story, nothing that makes me long for the next installment. It's just...done. Whatever, at least I can be done.
August 5, 2017
Hey this was pretty good!
The story takes place in a world where mages are second-class citizens with limited rights, who are kept confined to their houses except when the regular people need them for something. Our main character is Kalinda, a mage who's being transferred to another city in a prison wagon. The wagon is attacked and Kalinda ends up lost with one of the guards, Stonewall.
I liked the characters and the world building. It's interesting how little is known about magic in this world. There seem to be several people with stronger powers just starting to realize it, so that's interesting.
I didn't know really what to expect but this was a fun read.
The story takes place in a world where mages are second-class citizens with limited rights, who are kept confined to their houses except when the regular people need them for something. Our main character is Kalinda, a mage who's being transferred to another city in a prison wagon. The wagon is attacked and Kalinda ends up lost with one of the guards, Stonewall.
I liked the characters and the world building. It's interesting how little is known about magic in this world. There seem to be several people with stronger powers just starting to realize it, so that's interesting.
I didn't know really what to expect but this was a fun read.
September 10, 2016
I was gifted a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. Now, let's get to it!
Fantasy novels are some of my favorite to read, because they allow for the reader to lose themself in a new world...if done correctly that is. Catalyst Moon introduces us to a world where mages are feared and imprisoned, for all intents and purposes at least. The way that Garcia portrayed the way magic works in her world is really creative. It's one of the brighter spots of the story. The other would be the world.
From the get go, you realize that even though there are those who can wield magic, it isn't a cure-all for everything; quite the opposite actually. The very first page opens up with our mc, Kali being dragged away in magic-muting chains from the place she was raised (after what's hinted at her losing the last person who cared for her), so from there we can tell just because magic exists in this world, it doesn't mean that things will always go a mage's way. I mean, Kali has an injury she was born with and her magic can do nothing about it. It's a far cry from the magic of other stories that can do darn near anything. Magic isn't all flowers and bright lights in this world.
We meet Stonewall, our other mc as Kali is being taken to another city. When I saw that the main characters were male and female, and that they both had somewhat tragic pasts, I couldn't help but think that they would end up romantically involved. It seems to occur more often than not, not matter how much I'd prefer it not to. It's almost as if people think it's impossible for platonic relationships to exist. Still, when you're trying to survive, romance is one of the last things on your mind. That said, I did enjoy how naturally their relationship progressed in the short amount of time that they spent together; it didn't seem forced or shoehorned in at all. Or maybe I'm just getting soft...
I do think that the magic if this world is done in a much more creative way than I've seen done before. You don't just wave your grand, and poof, magic! No, there's much more complexity to how mages perform feats of magic and the way Garcia shows this is so engrossing, so vivid, you can't help but picture it in your head. Her skill with imagery is top notch. On another note though, I didn't expect to enjoy the areas of the story that dealt with the religion and social hierarchy of this world. To think that people would be branded based on where they stand in society, and whether they're a mage or not; it was interesting to say the least, if not a bit unsettling. Seeing the underlying (and most of the time, outright blatant) tension between mages and everyone else was interesting, especially when you think of how people would react to the unknown of magic in the real world. I think it'd be the same way. People generally tend to fear what they don't understand after all.
All in all, Catalyst Moon was an enjoyable read, with a rich world and entertaining characters. I'll admit that I enjoyed Kali and Stone's story more than the other mages and Sentinels' journeys, but that's not to say that they were uninteresting. I just enjoyed our main Kali and Stone's story the most. Plus, Kali's wry humor and sarcasm was one of my favorite parts of the book. She was a delight to read! The side characters in the book, while not eye-catching, didn't feel unnecessary and I came to care about what happened to them. Though I would point out that there are a few errors that seemed to have slipped through the cracks of the editing process. That said, I'm definitely looking forward to what comes next for these characters. Can't wait for book 2.
Fantasy novels are some of my favorite to read, because they allow for the reader to lose themself in a new world...if done correctly that is. Catalyst Moon introduces us to a world where mages are feared and imprisoned, for all intents and purposes at least. The way that Garcia portrayed the way magic works in her world is really creative. It's one of the brighter spots of the story. The other would be the world.
From the get go, you realize that even though there are those who can wield magic, it isn't a cure-all for everything; quite the opposite actually. The very first page opens up with our mc, Kali being dragged away in magic-muting chains from the place she was raised (after what's hinted at her losing the last person who cared for her), so from there we can tell just because magic exists in this world, it doesn't mean that things will always go a mage's way. I mean, Kali has an injury she was born with and her magic can do nothing about it. It's a far cry from the magic of other stories that can do darn near anything. Magic isn't all flowers and bright lights in this world.
We meet Stonewall, our other mc as Kali is being taken to another city. When I saw that the main characters were male and female, and that they both had somewhat tragic pasts, I couldn't help but think that they would end up romantically involved. It seems to occur more often than not, not matter how much I'd prefer it not to. It's almost as if people think it's impossible for platonic relationships to exist. Still, when you're trying to survive, romance is one of the last things on your mind. That said, I did enjoy how naturally their relationship progressed in the short amount of time that they spent together; it didn't seem forced or shoehorned in at all. Or maybe I'm just getting soft...
I do think that the magic if this world is done in a much more creative way than I've seen done before. You don't just wave your grand, and poof, magic! No, there's much more complexity to how mages perform feats of magic and the way Garcia shows this is so engrossing, so vivid, you can't help but picture it in your head. Her skill with imagery is top notch. On another note though, I didn't expect to enjoy the areas of the story that dealt with the religion and social hierarchy of this world. To think that people would be branded based on where they stand in society, and whether they're a mage or not; it was interesting to say the least, if not a bit unsettling. Seeing the underlying (and most of the time, outright blatant) tension between mages and everyone else was interesting, especially when you think of how people would react to the unknown of magic in the real world. I think it'd be the same way. People generally tend to fear what they don't understand after all.
All in all, Catalyst Moon was an enjoyable read, with a rich world and entertaining characters. I'll admit that I enjoyed Kali and Stone's story more than the other mages and Sentinels' journeys, but that's not to say that they were uninteresting. I just enjoyed our main Kali and Stone's story the most. Plus, Kali's wry humor and sarcasm was one of my favorite parts of the book. She was a delight to read! The side characters in the book, while not eye-catching, didn't feel unnecessary and I came to care about what happened to them. Though I would point out that there are a few errors that seemed to have slipped through the cracks of the editing process. That said, I'm definitely looking forward to what comes next for these characters. Can't wait for book 2.
August 26, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am somewhat undecided about this book. On the one hand, the grammar and syntax errors are minimal and not noticeable, and the overall writing is good. The world building is fairly consistent even though many things are barely touched on or left out altogether. It felt as if we are only touching the main story at one point rather than having the complete story. Since this is book 1, I presume the plan is for there to be other books in the series so that we can get the whole story. The part that was most filled out was the love story between Kali and Stonewall.
Kalinda Halcyon (Kali) is a mage who has suffered from a deformed knee since birth. In Aredia, mages – people who can use magic – are regarded as dangerous, and the government keeps them locked up and heavily guarded at all times. For additional safety, they are bound in handcuffs made of or embedded with hematite (an iron ore) which is supposed to keep them from using their magic whenever they are away from the guarded prisons where they are normally kept.
The guards who are charged with keeping them in line are known as sentinels. The sentinels periodically take hematite like a drug. On them, it appears to act as a stimulant, the effects somewhere between steroids and amphetamines. It is supposed to protect them against the effects of magic and the effects of wounds. But it is also known to shorten their lives. It appears to be addictive, and one suspects that this is further used by the government to control them. However, this is never more than implied.
While Kali is being transferred from Starwatch to Whitewater City, a group of barbarian bandits attacks them – barbarian bandits with unnatural star-like eyes and unnatural screams. One of the survivors refers to them as demons. The sentinel guarding Kali accompanies her out of the cramped carriage in which she has been traveling, and another sentinel brings horses for them. As they are fleeing from the barbarians, Kali steals the key to her hematite cuffs and gets rid of them. In the process of running from their attackers, she is properly scared and uses her magic to get them away from the battle in a manner previously unheard of. Kali and her sentinel minder, Stonewall, find themselves on the other side of the country from where they were a few minutes before.
The remainder of the book is occupied by their journey back to Whitewater City, where they were supposed to be going all along. Although they have several adventures, heal several people along the way (this is the primary reason mages are ever allowed outside their citadels at all), and fall in love along the way, not much else in the way of changing their situation occurs on the journey.
Meanwhile, the other mages of Whitewater City and several of the other sentinels are engaged in mysterious other projects, most of which produce tantalizing but inconclusive results. The result is that, in spite of a lot of action, the only concrete results of all this action are that Kali and Stonewall fall in love, and some people wind up dead.
I am somewhat undecided about this book. On the one hand, the grammar and syntax errors are minimal and not noticeable, and the overall writing is good. The world building is fairly consistent even though many things are barely touched on or left out altogether. It felt as if we are only touching the main story at one point rather than having the complete story. Since this is book 1, I presume the plan is for there to be other books in the series so that we can get the whole story. The part that was most filled out was the love story between Kali and Stonewall.
Kalinda Halcyon (Kali) is a mage who has suffered from a deformed knee since birth. In Aredia, mages – people who can use magic – are regarded as dangerous, and the government keeps them locked up and heavily guarded at all times. For additional safety, they are bound in handcuffs made of or embedded with hematite (an iron ore) which is supposed to keep them from using their magic whenever they are away from the guarded prisons where they are normally kept.
The guards who are charged with keeping them in line are known as sentinels. The sentinels periodically take hematite like a drug. On them, it appears to act as a stimulant, the effects somewhere between steroids and amphetamines. It is supposed to protect them against the effects of magic and the effects of wounds. But it is also known to shorten their lives. It appears to be addictive, and one suspects that this is further used by the government to control them. However, this is never more than implied.
While Kali is being transferred from Starwatch to Whitewater City, a group of barbarian bandits attacks them – barbarian bandits with unnatural star-like eyes and unnatural screams. One of the survivors refers to them as demons. The sentinel guarding Kali accompanies her out of the cramped carriage in which she has been traveling, and another sentinel brings horses for them. As they are fleeing from the barbarians, Kali steals the key to her hematite cuffs and gets rid of them. In the process of running from their attackers, she is properly scared and uses her magic to get them away from the battle in a manner previously unheard of. Kali and her sentinel minder, Stonewall, find themselves on the other side of the country from where they were a few minutes before.
The remainder of the book is occupied by their journey back to Whitewater City, where they were supposed to be going all along. Although they have several adventures, heal several people along the way (this is the primary reason mages are ever allowed outside their citadels at all), and fall in love along the way, not much else in the way of changing their situation occurs on the journey.
Meanwhile, the other mages of Whitewater City and several of the other sentinels are engaged in mysterious other projects, most of which produce tantalizing but inconclusive results. The result is that, in spite of a lot of action, the only concrete results of all this action are that Kali and Stonewall fall in love, and some people wind up dead.
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