THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLE SURPRISE. I cover judged, okay?! I’m ashamed of it now, but I did. The weird eyeball made me think of Sauron’s non-bloodshot eyeball. And the vague blurb made me squint shiftily. But I actually freaking loved it! Yes, I had to put my analysing brain on mute a few times because the plot logic left a little to be desired, but the characters?! THEY WERE ADORABLE LITTLE DEVILS WHOM I SHOULD LIKE TO HUG. Although they’d probably shoot my face off, so, um, maybe I’ll stand far away and toss them small warm donuts? Yes? Okay.
Anyway. See the similarities? Yes.
I’m sure Sauron had blue eyes on his good days. But clearly the stress of running Morder got to him. BUT I DIGRESS.
SO! It’s actually an ANGEL BOOK! Who’d of thought from the blurb right!? Noooot me. It’s not a traditional angel book, either. It has an apocalyptic military vibe, that wholly swallowed me. Though as to “why” the angels are ruling earth, I don’t have a clue. I didn’t always understand the reasonings behind the plot. Not sure if it as just me, or if the plot was undercooked.
Between being befuddled of the politics of post-apocalyptic-London, I think basically there’s angels + magic humans + non-magic-humans + demons + hybrids. I don’t actually know what the hybrids are. (A cross between angel and demon? Maybe? Except that doesn’t work because you can catch being a hybrid. It’s like a flu that makes you get cranky every 2 months and rip people’s guts out.) Plus all the world-building came in INFO DUMPS. I loathe info dumps. My brain wants to gloss the mega-paragraphs of info and get back to the action.
But despite me going, “HUH? BUT WHY” to a lot of the world-building…I loved the characters. Like really loved them. And everything can be forgiven in the face of epic characters.
It’s (mostly) told by Rose Elmsworth, who’s 15 in this apocalyptic war-torn London. She’s adopted, and her dad is a famous agent. Seriously, this dude is awesome. He’s got an evil past, a dark secret, and he loves Rose fiercely. WELL HOLD MY BLEEDING HEART. THEY ARE ADORABLE. Seriously I can’t even name another book with a GOOD father-daughter relationship! They’re so sweet. And complete psychopaths. Both of them.
this is my happy dance, yes
And the humour? LOVE IT. It’s subtle and dry and perfect. Actually the dialogue reminds me of Skulduggery Pleasant. It’s got the wittily dry British vibe, which makes my Australian heart glow. I understand this language. I DO.
And despite being miffed about the details and politics, I really loved the setting! Angels and demons? Military? Secret agents? Rebels to be crushed? Monsters? Tests and conscription? Yes please and thank you. PLUS THERE’S A HECK OF A LOT OF GUNS AND WAR STUFF. I love books with army aspects. It reminded me a bit of The Girl with All the Gifts, too. And Rose might be 15, but she’s seriously mature and works part time as an agent under her dad. Usually I go, “Yeah, but like THAT could happen” and snort disdainfully…but it worked here. The author’s writing was solid and her characters were winning and I basically was okay to accept that 15 year olds could be in the army.
And the author is only a teen. SO UM YEAH. If this is only her debut, I’m 100% confident that she’s set for a good writing career. Talent!
I think some of my biggest complaints are a) title and b) cover. Neither make it look like a warish angelish YA book. It looks adult, right? And, um, eyes are VERY central in the book but NOT BLUE EYES. I can’t understand why the cover is a blue eyeball! IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. Plus “The Catalyst” doesn’t inspire anything in me either.
So don’t be a deluded eyeball like me! Don’t judge this book on its looks! It is WONDROUS. I had a small bucket of issues with it, but basically it was a) unique, b) surprising, c) detailed in the plot, d) army themed (!), e) magical but not overwhelmingly, f) funny, g) basically zero romance, and h) has one of the best father-daughter relationships EVER. I love reading about families. They melt my cold Vulcan heart. I recommend this one, peoples! Especially if you like angels done differently.
\\ Thank you Hachette for this deliciously wonderful review-copy! The Catalyst by Helena Coggan hit shelves in May, 2015. //
Rose Elmsworth has a secret. For eighteen years, the world has been divided into the magically Gifted and the non-magical Ashkind, but Rose’s identity is far more dangerous. At fifteen, she has earned herself a place alongside her father in the Department, a brutal law-enforcement organisation run by the Gifted to control the Ashkind. But now an old enemy is threatening to start a catastrophic war, and Rose faces a challenging test of her loyalties. How much does she really know about her father’s past? How far is the Department willing to go to keep the peace? And, if the time comes, will Rose choose to protect her secret, or the people she loves?
Goodreads Boomerang Books AU Book Depository Hachette AU
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I mean in THEORY I love the idea of angel books (just because I love everything about Biblical stuff…like in His Dark Materials). But not many angel books have all that cool Biblical stuff with the angels and Lucifer and all that – mostly it’s forbidden romances. Which saddens me 🙁
SO TRUE. Like where are all the angels/demons things?? Mostly it’s 900 year old dudes and 16 year olds, which disturbs me on so many levels. *heavy sigh* BUT. The protagonists aren’t angels in this one, so at least there’s that. Although the focus isn’t so much on angels as on monsters?? Idek, but someone must write a more biblically-based on sometime. LIKE SUPERNATURAL.
I can’t even fault you for judging by Sauron’s Eye because damn, that is actually pretty close. But AAAAH the premise of post-apocalyptic military angel-demon fight sounds SO AMAZING. And actual parents who love their kids in sane ways while still being psychopaths. And less romance. AND BRITISH HUMOUR. I think you just sold me here.
IT IS SO WONDERFUL AND ADORABLE. I love parents in YA books (I don’t reckon they’re around enough) and it’s especially awesome when the relationship is epic and active instead of just shoving the parents into a corner. Also cute psychopathic families are my favourite.
Mmmmm… warm doughnuts. Military vibe angels? I am still so bleck, “I want to take a shower”, from the one and only angel book I read over three years ago that I haven’t even attempted the Angelfall books yet (maybe never). EVERYONE seems to have told me to read them though. I do, however, love it when a book surprises, so I am with you on that point. 🙂
I SHALL NOT TELL YOU TO READ ANGELFALL. Although I do love them, but hey, angel books aren’t for everyone!! Although, tbh, I think Angelfall is better than The Catalyst. But they’re really incomparable at the same time.
I wouldn’t have guessed this was an angel book either, but this one sounds like a lot of fun! The post-apocalyptic London and the British humour definitely sounds charming. It’s like a British Angelfall! Lovely review, CAit!
British humour FTW, I SAY. I feel like the Brits have a very similar dry/sarcastic style that we Aussies have too.
I was reading your review and thinking ‘hmm, I don’t know..’ and then you said Skulduggery. SKULDUGGERY YOU SAY, I AM THERE PEOPLE, I AM COMING TO THIS PARTY. *clears throat* Yes, I think you may have sold me on this book in one sentence, but still Father/Daughter relationships, crazy personalities. I, like you, judged this book on it’s cover, and now I want it. I WANT TO READ IT NOW. Thank you for putting this on my radar you awesomeness you!<3
IT IS EPICALLY WITTY. BUt I mean, it’s probably not on par with Skulduggery, because who can match the incredible wit of Derek Landy??? BUT it’s totally an acceptable replacement, imho. *nods* It just needs a serious cover rehaul…
I very nearly just spat coffee on my laptop, all the lovely father-daughter relationship stuff then “They’re so sweet. And complete psychopaths. Both of them.” I’m going to have to ban myself from liquids while I read your posts!
As for the eye, I am COMPLETELY with you. I’ve seen this book about and all I can think of is Sauron! Haha. Although I’ve seen the cover all over social media I’ve never actually looked to see what the book was really about, until reading your post! Definitely sounds interesting and I’m pretty intrigued now! Great post, as always!x
MWHAHAHA. I HAVE A WAY WITH WORDS, I DO. XD They are sweet psychopaths. You must read it and understand. 😉 But, yes, I apologise, because once you get Sauron’s eyeball stuck in your head there is NO unthinking the comparisons.
I so would not have guessed angels at all by that cover. I still kind of like the cover though. ANYWAYS – I am always up for a sweet father -daughter pyschopath relationship. Too much. This really does sound interesting and I think angels are pretty cool. Wonderful review.
Yaay! Thanks, Grace!! And seriously there are not enough sweetly adorable psychopathic father-daughter relationships out there. :’) My new favourite.
It sounds really original – angels don’t usually pop up in dystopia. I’ve only really read two angel books – Mercy and Halo. I enjoyed Mercy, but I DNFed Halo. From what I remember though, Mercy was mostly a romance so I don’t know whether it’d be your thing or not.
The last book I wrongly cover judged was Ghostgirl, but not in the “nice surprise” way, more in the “WHY did I have to pick this up” sort of way. 😉
Ugh, that is NOT a fun sort of surprise with Ghostgirl then. >_< I AM SAD FOR YOU. I've been told to stay faaaar away from Halo. XD Which is a pity, because isn’t it by a teen author too?? Gah. I loved Angelfall which was like apocalyptic instead of dystopic. But all that end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it stuff is my favourite.
Army themed, no romance and a great father-daughter relationship? I AM SOLD.
MY JOB HERE IS DONE THEN. XD
the distance between Us by Kasie West. I believed that it meant a long distance relationship instead it was more about social status. Still loved the book and thought of it as a cute contemporary read.
I LOVED THAT BOOK!! It was so meltingly cute, but agreed, the cover/title is a bit misleading. 😐
Hmm, come to think of it, I’m not sure I’ve read any angel books, like ever. Course, my brain could just be cramping, but for some reason I’ve never found myself drawn to that subgenre. The Catalyst looks good though–I’ll probably add that to my reading list at some point (gah, too many books! *dies*). I like books with family relationships and no romance. 🙂 The eye threw me off too–in some ways, it reminded me of the Signet Classics edition of 1984 by George Orwell, so I got the impression that maybe there was a bit of a Big Brother government going on there (which I totally wouldn’t have minded). Also, teen writers are great–I love watching them progress and get better as writers. And their publishing success warms my unfeeling soul. Thanks for sharing!
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY BOOKS? IT IS TOO HARD TO KEEP UP. This struggle is real. I think, Liz, we should just abandon hope and eat ice cream, tbh. It’s a fabulous plan. JOIN ME. Ahem. But yes, erk, it does remind me of that George Orwell cover now that you mention it! I think the emphasis was on green eyes in the book, though?? So the blue confuses me even more. >_<
Angels? Demons? Father-daughter relationships? London? I’m in.
My mom actually told me about the book after she read an article/interview with the author. But the article was more focused on Helena Coggan than it was on the actual premise of the book, so I’m glad I got to hear more about it. 🙂 It sounds awesome!
Hey Cait,
I just wanted to stop by and say I tagged you for the Things That Make You More Happy Than Not tag 🙂
It’ll be the post that comes up on Commentluv if you want to check it out <3
OMG THANK YOU. I was seriously coveting that tag.
This book actually sounds really interesting!
I LOVE getting to see father/daughter relationships because it feels like so often in YA the parents are forgotten. The protagonist doesn’t have a good relationship with their parent(s) or they don’t really ever talk to and the parents are non-relevant.
I’m definitely going to check this out now and because Rose and her dad sound ADORABLE.
Olivia @ Fluttering Pages
It’s totally true! And I feel that, usually, it’s the mother that gets the highlight…which is epic, and I do love it, but it’s refreshing to see a father-daughter for once. THEY ARE ADORABLE LITTLE PSYCHOS. :’)
I’ve got to be truthful, I totally judged this book too. I got sent it a little while ago from the publishers and the cover made me a bit meeeeeehhhhh, so it has stayed sat on my shelf since. I do feel a lot better about it having read your review. I totaly though the ‘ashkind’ were going to be faeries (not my favorite thing to read about) so I kinda of avoid. But I may actually pick it up now. I kind of like the eye, but then I have a weird thing for books with eyes! Haha 🙂
ME TOO. I totally just left it mouldering (it’s like a May book!) FOR SO LONG because…cover loathing. >_> I feel so bad about it now, because once I started I was totally engaged. Bad me for cover judging. 😉 BUT IT’S SO HARD NOT TO!!
Oh, I AM guilty of judging this book by its cover, Cait. I saw it on Goodreads, and passed it by. IT IS NOT MY FAULT, IT IS THE COVER’S >_< The only good angel books I've read so far are the Angelfall series. All the others have been very bleh. This one sounds good, though! Definitely going on to my immediate TBR.
THIS IS ME 100%. I honestly put it off for the longest time because, ugh that cover. I just thought it’d be a catastrophe, so I really do think the cover is hurting the awesomeness inside. >_<
This sounds awesome, and it starts sounding even more awesome when I heard that’s it a teenager writer!
Why aren’t my ideas this cool?! //bangs head against desk
I KNOW. WHY ARE THESE TEENAGERS SO CLEVER. GAh.
Apocalyptic London? I think I’ll read that book purely for researching purposes. 😉
This sounds like a great story – and written by a teen? Applause all around!
I haven’t read a good angel book in ages, usually I feel a bit iffy about them (I only like spooky paranormal on my good days) but hey, if the story’s good then okay angels you’re here to stay! The last book I wrongly cover judged? Hmm. I haven’t done that in a while. Probably A Game of Thrones. I don’t like the covers for the series at all. (I don’t usually like fantasy covers – unless we’re talking Pratchett/Gaiman). But of course I absolutely love GoT (I just have to get back to it!). And yes, if I get my hands on The Catalyst (somehow) I’ll give it a go.
AGREED on the GoT covers…they don’t inspire anything in me at all. And how old is that series?! I’m surprised they haven’t gotten an awesome revamp yet. :O
I’ve read quite a few angel books. Some have been really good… and some not so good at all. The good: Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke & Bone series (of course); Skellig by David Almond; and the Penryn & the End of Days series by Susan Ee (although, I could’ve done without book #3). Some of the ones that I didn’t enjoy so much (but that others have liked) are Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors (even though, technically, the dude is not an angel… gah!); The Sweet Dead Life by Joy Preble (it was a bit young and predictable for my taste); and the Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand (I only read the first one… and that was enough for me!). If you’re feeling really masochistic, you could always try Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush series; Outcast by Adrienne Kress (I DNFed it); and Evil? by Timothy Carter (which I would only recommend if you want to read a book with constant references to masturbation; it’s young adult, but I think it was aimed at boys).
I still have to read the third Penryn book! I’ve heard it’s not excellent though, and I already felt World After wasn’t as good as Angelfall, so YEAH AWKWARD. I’ve been recommended the Unearthly books now. :O So no go? You didn’t like them? And I was feeling masochistic and read Hush, Hush. -_- Like, I hated it, but at the same time I was intrigued. XD I’m not sure I’m continuing with that series though… I don’t think Evil is for me. >_< I hate those "boy books".
Yeah, for some reason, I gave Hush, Hush four stars… but it wasn’t like I loved it or anything (I read it a long time ago). I thought the narrator was terribly stupid, her friends were awful, and Patch was a jerk. I have the second book, but I couldn’t get more than a few pages into it. Bleh.
Unearthly was just too… YA for me. It’s formulaic, the main character is kind of a Mary Sue, and there was so much attention paid to Tucker’s dimple that it was unintentionally funny. I only read the first book in the series because I just didn’t think I’d like the rest of them. But if you don’t mind the standard YA tropes, you might enjoy it.
I’m not sure how I feel about angel books. If anything, the mention of angels still immediately sends me into flashbacks of the Weeping Angels on Doctor Who *shivers*. Last week I unexpectedly received this book as a gift from Hodder & Staughton (who publish this in the UK), and it’s high up on my TBR.
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender: Beautiful cover filled with foiled gold paper and a brightly coloured feather. Yes it does cover the fact that Ava is a girl born with wings, but it does not however tell you about the horrendously long backstory that happens before we even meet Ava (definitely a title flaw). Additionally, it NEVER tells us about how ridiculously dark the plot is.
AHHHH. I completely concur on the horrendously long backstory for Ava Lavender. I *whispers* couldn’t deal with that book. I felt it was beautiful, but I didn’t care, because it was so much telling instead of an actual story happening, you know? SADNESS. I want to love all the books.
I probably won’t read this, because I’m not usually a fan of angels, but I enjoyed your review anyway. Lovely pictures, as usual! I can tell you haven’t gotten bored with your new camera yet. 😀
It looks like you’ve already already read Angelfall and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. What about the Unearthly trilogy? Those are the only other books I can think of with angels in them. Wow, it is really hard to type “angels.” I type “angles” EVERY SINGLE TIME.
HA! YES. Although, technically this review has been sitting around for so long I actually took these photos on my parents camera, but whhhhessht. I love cameras. I have an addiction/obsession. NO BODY SAVE ME. I haven’t read the Unearthly trilogy! I shall look that up. AND I HEAR YA WITH THE ANGLES. Me too. -_-
Post Apocalyptic world with angels reminds me of Angelfall but then this book also has secret agents. SECRET AGENTS! Huzzah!
AND I LOVE ME A good relationship between parent and kid but I am especially humored by the fact that they are both (in your words) psychopaths.
ALSO WHAT IS UP WITH THAT COVER? That does not make me thing angels in the slightest. Maybe something more science fiction-y but not angels. I literally do not understand this trend of eyeballs. Who wants to look at eyeballs on covers anyway? Are they supposed to make me think “OMG GORGEOUS COVER”. *shakes head*
SECRET AGENTS ARE SO COOL. That is all. Well. Nearly all. The psychopaths really sold it for me, because they’re adorable and totally crazy and it just meshes. <3 Help me, Rashika. I'm in love.
So I’m very terrible at commenting lately? UGH GAH I NEED TO WORK ON THAT. Um. Anyway. Angels in post-apocalyptic London AND a Skulduggery Pleasant vibe? CLEARLY I NEED TO READ THIS. Thanks for the enthusiastic review – I saw this at the library but didn’t pick it up because the cover is kind of, um, BORING. And WEIRD.
P.S. Speaking of glorious novels set in post-apocalyptic London, when are you going to read V for Vendetta? 😛
OMG YES I’M GOING TO READ VENDETTA REALLY SOON. BECAUSE I WANT TO AND I AM EXCITED FOR IT. I JUST KEEP FORGETTING, WOULD YOU BELIEVE?!! I always forget my kindle. -_- Bane of my life. But yuuuuus. Skulduggery Pleasant humour, though, of course, nothing quite reaches the level of extreme Derek Landy awesome. But this is a pleasant close. *nods*
I don’t think I’ve read that many angel books, but this one sounds quite fascinating. I’m sorry the plot was a bit difficult to understand but it’s good to know going in (for everyone reading your review!) I also really love that you adored the characters, because characters are usually my number one for books. 🙂
-Lauren
They’re totally my top NEED for a good book too!! I can forgive any amount of plot holes for characters I just melt for. :’)
Wow, wait. . . no romance?
Okay, I want to read this book.
Awesome father-daughter relationships! Yay! You don’t see that often in books. I mean, the parents are usually dead. . .*cough*
It’s been a long time since I’ve read an angels book with a military vibe. Also the humor sounds great too. If someone can make me laugh, I’ll probably love them forever.
YES YOU DO WANT IT. And I know right?! Why are father-daughter relationships so rare? There are some epic mothers out there, but not so much for the dads…um, yes, UNLESS EVERYONE IS DEAD. Which is like 90% of the time. xD
I am really unsure about this book. I don’t know, it’s just so big! And to have so many things that are confusing… I just don’t know if I can. But I’m glad you enjoyed it, thank you for the review!
I don’t mind angel books. The Fallen books were awesome until the last one, and I enjoyed the Hush, Hush series too… but I think something a little different to my angels in future if they’re in a paranormal romance. You might want to try Angel Fall by…whoever wrote it…L. A. Weatherly! I’ve only read the first one, but it was SO good! Really need to read the next two. There’s a romance, but there’s more too, and OOOOH it’s bloody brilliant!
This book sounds super interesting, despite having a really creepy cover. And I am all for supporting a teenage author. That is kind of cool. I am super jealous! 🙂
Father daughter relationships with no romance? THAT’S new. Sounds like it’s really a how you judge it thing. I know some people that’d be entirely ruined by the info dumps, but for me, the most important things are the characters!
I’ve owned this book for so long and not got to it… THAT MUST CHANGE!!!
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