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Catalyst
Betrayal. Exile. Captivity.
Frey’s ambition to slay the tyrannical king of her people survived all three.
Her quest for power leads her to the Crystal, renowned as the Realm of Mages, a supposed oasis of prosperity and peace.
But is it really?
Red paints the all-seeing eyes of a clairvoyant, betraying his wrath.
Ink stains the tears of a good man who nearly lost his path.
Scars mar the skin of the shapeshifter renouncing their face.
Doom threatens a newborn crying in their mother’s embrace.
Right. “Peace”. What a bloody joke.
A ruthless killer shatters the illusion and Frey’s humor dies with it. Their use of the one school of magic she hoped to never encounter again replaces it with fear.
Her allies may yet prove to be a childhood friend turned mortal enemy who'd kill Frey at the first slip of her disguise and the most feared man in the Crystal, who holds the thread that can unravel her web of lies.
Both could kill her. Both have reason to try.
Frey can’t keep her distance from either.
The line between good and evil is nonexistent: compassion would cost lives where cruelty might save them. In a world insistent on claiming her humanity, can Frey afford the sacrifices that would preserve it?
Frey’s ambition to slay the tyrannical king of her people survived all three.
Her quest for power leads her to the Crystal, renowned as the Realm of Mages, a supposed oasis of prosperity and peace.
But is it really?
Red paints the all-seeing eyes of a clairvoyant, betraying his wrath.
Ink stains the tears of a good man who nearly lost his path.
Scars mar the skin of the shapeshifter renouncing their face.
Doom threatens a newborn crying in their mother’s embrace.
Right. “Peace”. What a bloody joke.
A ruthless killer shatters the illusion and Frey’s humor dies with it. Their use of the one school of magic she hoped to never encounter again replaces it with fear.
Her allies may yet prove to be a childhood friend turned mortal enemy who'd kill Frey at the first slip of her disguise and the most feared man in the Crystal, who holds the thread that can unravel her web of lies.
Both could kill her. Both have reason to try.
Frey can’t keep her distance from either.
The line between good and evil is nonexistent: compassion would cost lives where cruelty might save them. In a world insistent on claiming her humanity, can Frey afford the sacrifices that would preserve it?
558 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 29, 2024
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Jean K. Silver
2 books6 followersJean K. Silver is an independent Fantasy & Romantasy author passionate about crafting worlds where magic thrives — but people’s hearts are what shapes reality, not their talent or power.
Their stories often explore themes of resilience, purpose, and the extraordinary hidden within each and every one of us — magical or otherwise. They often touch on the horrors of war rather than romanticize it, exploring the many moral complexities derived from fighting one or surviving it.
When not weaving tales of adventure or romances epic enough to subvert fate and challenge the Gods, they share their journey as a writer through their YouTube channel, Silver Writes Fantasy or @jeanksilver. There, they offer insights into the creative process, productivity tips, deep-dives into various systems for managing the chaos of existence and a glimpse into the life of an indie writer.
Follow @jeanksilver on Youtube, X, Instagram and other socials for updates on their latest releases, behind-the-scenes content and musings on creativity and life.
Their stories often explore themes of resilience, purpose, and the extraordinary hidden within each and every one of us — magical or otherwise. They often touch on the horrors of war rather than romanticize it, exploring the many moral complexities derived from fighting one or surviving it.
When not weaving tales of adventure or romances epic enough to subvert fate and challenge the Gods, they share their journey as a writer through their YouTube channel, Silver Writes Fantasy or @jeanksilver. There, they offer insights into the creative process, productivity tips, deep-dives into various systems for managing the chaos of existence and a glimpse into the life of an indie writer.
Follow @jeanksilver on Youtube, X, Instagram and other socials for updates on their latest releases, behind-the-scenes content and musings on creativity and life.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 29, 2024
Amazing, it was a truly amazing read that felt like a reward for my brain after suffering through midterms. As a fast reader I finished this within the afternoon, but I was so sucked in to the book that I didn’t even notice the time passing, my full focus had been on reading and finding out what happens next.
I have no problem with fantasy coming out right now, but most that’s I’ve consumed recently have been romantasy (which I still love), but this book had a heavy emphasis on it’s plot, reminiscent of a lot of fantasy books from before booktok and bookstagram. The plot itself is also uniquely unlike most other popular fantasy books right now and it was immensely refreshing. Catalyst’s world building was also simply mouthwateringly delicious, it was elegantly inserted into the book in the dialogue in a way that wasn’t clumsy block of texts of lore. The author has outdid herself with well written action scenes that were effortless to follow the action while also showcasing the chaos of an active battle. The characters of the Sanctuary series enraptured me with their personalities, their flaws, and their growth; it had been personally rewarding to witness the growth of character for the main characters.
I’m sure this isn’t my most eloquent review, since midterms stole my brain cells one by one. But to sum it up, Catalyst has been masterfully written with love that can be clearly felt through the amount of detail that Silver has poured into her book. Today marks the release date of the book and I simply can’t wait to see more of the world of Sanctuary in the next book.
I have no problem with fantasy coming out right now, but most that’s I’ve consumed recently have been romantasy (which I still love), but this book had a heavy emphasis on it’s plot, reminiscent of a lot of fantasy books from before booktok and bookstagram. The plot itself is also uniquely unlike most other popular fantasy books right now and it was immensely refreshing. Catalyst’s world building was also simply mouthwateringly delicious, it was elegantly inserted into the book in the dialogue in a way that wasn’t clumsy block of texts of lore. The author has outdid herself with well written action scenes that were effortless to follow the action while also showcasing the chaos of an active battle. The characters of the Sanctuary series enraptured me with their personalities, their flaws, and their growth; it had been personally rewarding to witness the growth of character for the main characters.
I’m sure this isn’t my most eloquent review, since midterms stole my brain cells one by one. But to sum it up, Catalyst has been masterfully written with love that can be clearly felt through the amount of detail that Silver has poured into her book. Today marks the release date of the book and I simply can’t wait to see more of the world of Sanctuary in the next book.
February 26, 2024
If you're looking for a more mature take on the fantasy genre, with realistic character dynamics and higher representation of different communities, this book is for you.
There are several things that Catalyst does really well:
1) Frey is a good person at her core but she's also selfish: she'll go out of her way to help a person in need, to some degree, but she has her ambition and refuses to die before achieving it. If at some point the danger becomes too great, she bolts. I really enjoyed that duality in her character.
2) Every character in the cast is full of secrets and trauma. It's fascinating to see how Frey tries to maintain friendships when she can't be fully honest and how the main relationships in the story adapt and change when inevitably the truth comes out.
3) The action scenes are very cinematic and fast paced. Just fun to read.
I can honestly say this a very good book.
There are several things that Catalyst does really well:
1) Frey is a good person at her core but she's also selfish: she'll go out of her way to help a person in need, to some degree, but she has her ambition and refuses to die before achieving it. If at some point the danger becomes too great, she bolts. I really enjoyed that duality in her character.
2) Every character in the cast is full of secrets and trauma. It's fascinating to see how Frey tries to maintain friendships when she can't be fully honest and how the main relationships in the story adapt and change when inevitably the truth comes out.
3) The action scenes are very cinematic and fast paced. Just fun to read.
I can honestly say this a very good book.
October 16, 2024
Honestly, I downloaded the app only to write this review.
The book is great. Wonderful!!
The world is hella rich, with an elaborate magic system, different races, and full history.
Also, despite being a heavy book with a lot of things going on, it doesn't have any pacing problems.
The wording is just beautiful, having the majestic language you would expect in this kind of books, but it doesn't stop the characters from using relatable language at times. It's simply worded in a very simple yet smart way that makes the book easy to read, even for someone who isn't a native English speaker.
The characters are fully developed, and the fighting scenes are written SO WELL.
I genuinely think that any fantasy lover would enjoy this book very much.
In addition, as I discovered, the author has a YouTube channel with the same name as the author's. As an aspiring author, this discovery made my day.
In conclusion, read the book.
The book is great. Wonderful!!
The world is hella rich, with an elaborate magic system, different races, and full history.
Also, despite being a heavy book with a lot of things going on, it doesn't have any pacing problems.
The wording is just beautiful, having the majestic language you would expect in this kind of books, but it doesn't stop the characters from using relatable language at times. It's simply worded in a very simple yet smart way that makes the book easy to read, even for someone who isn't a native English speaker.
The characters are fully developed, and the fighting scenes are written SO WELL.
I genuinely think that any fantasy lover would enjoy this book very much.
In addition, as I discovered, the author has a YouTube channel with the same name as the author's. As an aspiring author, this discovery made my day.
In conclusion, read the book.
February 5, 2024
I really enjoyed this book.
One of the things that stood out to me especially was the world-building. The book is set in a vast, well described world that contained many elements that I have never seen in a fantasy book before. The magic system was (to my knowledge) completely unique, and there were many magical races of creatures that I encountered for the first time.
I also felt that the characters were written really well, and especially in a very realistic way. The characters reacted to different situations in ways that were very believable, and I felt like I got to know them better as the book progressed.
All in all, this was a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it to any reader who enjoys fantasy, or a good story in general.
I can't wait for the next book to come out!
One of the things that stood out to me especially was the world-building. The book is set in a vast, well described world that contained many elements that I have never seen in a fantasy book before. The magic system was (to my knowledge) completely unique, and there were many magical races of creatures that I encountered for the first time.
I also felt that the characters were written really well, and especially in a very realistic way. The characters reacted to different situations in ways that were very believable, and I felt like I got to know them better as the book progressed.
All in all, this was a fantastic book and I would highly recommend it to any reader who enjoys fantasy, or a good story in general.
I can't wait for the next book to come out!
February 6, 2024
Great book, I really enjoyed it!
It kept surprising me with plot twists I didn’t anticipate.
The book, especially towards the end was fast-paced and full of action. It was really tough to put down.
The characters and their relationships, especially Frey, were complex and interesting, very well-written.
It kept surprising me with plot twists I didn’t anticipate.
The book, especially towards the end was fast-paced and full of action. It was really tough to put down.
The characters and their relationships, especially Frey, were complex and interesting, very well-written.
August 5, 2024
Beautifully written debut!
Was enamored with the mature dialog between the characters, really a breath of fresh air.
The world building is detailed and intriguing. The action scenes were fantastic.
Waiting with anticipation for what is to come for Frey!
Was enamored with the mature dialog between the characters, really a breath of fresh air.
The world building is detailed and intriguing. The action scenes were fantastic.
Waiting with anticipation for what is to come for Frey!
November 13, 2025
Background (For transparency): I mostly read fanfiction. The original content I consume is Chinese, Japanese, and Korean web/light novels. With strict vetting, I read smutty romance novels from time to time. I haven't read any romantasy/fantasy/ya books so Catalyst would be my first one and I'm going blind here.
(This review contains SPOILERS)
Book Title: Catalyst (Sanctuary Book 1)
Author: Jean K. Silver
Genre: Romantasy & Dark Fantasy
Date Published: February 29, 2024
Number of Pages: 551 (Kindle)
Was Recommended By: I've read one of the BEST fanfic I've read so far and one I have and would reread again and again and was directed to the author's socials (youtube) where I discovered that they write dark romantasy novels which is my jam!
Would Recommend To: If you love The Thousand-Armed Goddess of Mercy then this novel is for you.
Started: November 11, 2025
Finished: November 12, 2025
Book cover: The book cover gave dark vibes (which I wasn't opposed to) but the book setting being in The Crystal made it more surprising to me. I've imagined The Crystal to be white, glowing, iridescent, and maybe rainbow-y if that makes sense. I will say that the ending of the book made the cover make more sense to me because that's exactly how I imagined Leadrean to look like.
First impressions: I love the Author's Note. The glossary being at the beginning makes so much sense. If there's something I could always count on when reading any of Jean K. Silver's work is the amount of care put into it. Throughout the book, I could feel just how much effort was made to make sure no reader was lost. There's a lot to be revealed but not unanswered questions or plot holes.
Worldbuilding: One of the strong points of the book I would say is how seamless the worldbuilding is. I found myself referring the an index of sorts but by 5% of the book, I am fully programmed and invested. The Catalyst is very easy to follow and get into. The story beats made me think of The Thousand Armed Goddess of Mercy a lot but when it comes to the worldbuilding and setting, from time to time (not a lot), it would make me think of Attack on Titan, The Divergent Series with a dash of Harry Potter.
The Characters: Every character is fleshed out and makes more sense as the story goes on. I would definitely reread because there are a lot of in hindsight moments I could think of as I process everything. Frey is a very strong main character without being cliché. I can't believe how much was said without a prologue or even a flashback. Each of her injuries, tells the story and she's very good at getting her message across. There's something to be said about a main character who is very good at communication even with the fallouts and severed bonds. Also, someone who has strict boundaries and sticks to them.
I love the supporting cast. I loved everyone! Perhaps because everyone is an adult, everyone felt fully formed and distinctive from each other. Shoutout to Aster! I love him!
Plot: (I'm the type to correctly predict stuff in novels and movies and I love spoilers) but Catalyst surprised me several times. It wasn't what I imagined (AT ALL) and I have no idea where the story was going. I found myself dreading the end because I simply want more.
Romance: The romance made me want to skip to the end of the book to take a peek. Several times, I found myself confused and nervous because I might be setting myself up for heartbreak as I might be on the wrong ship. I must confess that I have loved Frey and Orion since the beginning. From the first moment Orion shielded Frey and defended her gave me so many butterflies.
Orion is the typical male lead (not in a bad way) but rather, since the beginning, I could feel that he and Frey have this connection/attraction to each other (or maybe I'm just a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope). There's this magnetism and inevitability with Orion and Frey that gave me the feeling that they would always be connected and drift back to each other. They give ENDGAME vibes! AND THEN the plot twist of Sylvan and Frey being... some kind of soulmates(?)/fated. *404 error* This plot twist surprised and caught me off guard because I imagined Sylvan as some sort of a mentor (a Kagami Uchiha figure of sorts)... BUT I have full trust in the author and that it would make more sense.
Lesson Learned: Do not get in the way of someone's RESEARCH 💀 (especially if they have nothing else but research).
Overall: I am setting up my lawn chair and beverages to line up and wait for book 2. No pressure but I want and am ready for more!
(This review contains SPOILERS)
Book Title: Catalyst (Sanctuary Book 1)
Author: Jean K. Silver
Genre: Romantasy & Dark Fantasy
Date Published: February 29, 2024
Number of Pages: 551 (Kindle)
Was Recommended By: I've read one of the BEST fanfic I've read so far and one I have and would reread again and again and was directed to the author's socials (youtube) where I discovered that they write dark romantasy novels which is my jam!
Would Recommend To: If you love The Thousand-Armed Goddess of Mercy then this novel is for you.
Started: November 11, 2025
Finished: November 12, 2025
Book cover: The book cover gave dark vibes (which I wasn't opposed to) but the book setting being in The Crystal made it more surprising to me. I've imagined The Crystal to be white, glowing, iridescent, and maybe rainbow-y if that makes sense. I will say that the ending of the book made the cover make more sense to me because that's exactly how I imagined Leadrean to look like.
First impressions: I love the Author's Note. The glossary being at the beginning makes so much sense. If there's something I could always count on when reading any of Jean K. Silver's work is the amount of care put into it. Throughout the book, I could feel just how much effort was made to make sure no reader was lost. There's a lot to be revealed but not unanswered questions or plot holes.
Worldbuilding: One of the strong points of the book I would say is how seamless the worldbuilding is. I found myself referring the an index of sorts but by 5% of the book, I am fully programmed and invested. The Catalyst is very easy to follow and get into. The story beats made me think of The Thousand Armed Goddess of Mercy a lot but when it comes to the worldbuilding and setting, from time to time (not a lot), it would make me think of Attack on Titan, The Divergent Series with a dash of Harry Potter.
The Characters: Every character is fleshed out and makes more sense as the story goes on. I would definitely reread because there are a lot of in hindsight moments I could think of as I process everything. Frey is a very strong main character without being cliché. I can't believe how much was said without a prologue or even a flashback. Each of her injuries, tells the story and she's very good at getting her message across. There's something to be said about a main character who is very good at communication even with the fallouts and severed bonds. Also, someone who has strict boundaries and sticks to them.
I love the supporting cast. I loved everyone! Perhaps because everyone is an adult, everyone felt fully formed and distinctive from each other. Shoutout to Aster! I love him!
Plot: (I'm the type to correctly predict stuff in novels and movies and I love spoilers) but Catalyst surprised me several times. It wasn't what I imagined (AT ALL) and I have no idea where the story was going. I found myself dreading the end because I simply want more.
Romance: The romance made me want to skip to the end of the book to take a peek. Several times, I found myself confused and nervous because I might be setting myself up for heartbreak as I might be on the wrong ship. I must confess that I have loved Frey and Orion since the beginning. From the first moment Orion shielded Frey and defended her gave me so many butterflies.
Orion is the typical male lead (not in a bad way) but rather, since the beginning, I could feel that he and Frey have this connection/attraction to each other (or maybe I'm just a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope). There's this magnetism and inevitability with Orion and Frey that gave me the feeling that they would always be connected and drift back to each other. They give ENDGAME vibes! AND THEN the plot twist of Sylvan and Frey being... some kind of soulmates(?)/fated. *404 error* This plot twist surprised and caught me off guard because I imagined Sylvan as some sort of a mentor (a Kagami Uchiha figure of sorts)... BUT I have full trust in the author and that it would make more sense.
Lesson Learned: Do not get in the way of someone's RESEARCH 💀 (especially if they have nothing else but research).
Overall: I am setting up my lawn chair and beverages to line up and wait for book 2. No pressure but I want and am ready for more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2024
This was SO good. I shouldn't feel so surprised because I've read other work written by this author and I'm always enamored. I enjoyed this book a lot, from the worldbuilding, and the dialogue, to the plot. Every detail is so interesting and rich.
I'm in love with the main character. I love the chemistry she has with her main friends and her mentors. I was so invested in what Frey needed to go through in order to achieve her plans. I cannot wait to see how her story goes, I will 100% be buying the continuation as soon as it comes out. The ending just left me feeling so numb, I couldn't pick up another book for days just because I wanted to process this one. This is the best type of book for me, one that leaves me thinking about what will happen, and how will she react to new situations in future installments.
The only qualm I have with this book is that sometimes it takes a couple of pages to explain worldbuilding to me. It assumes that I have all the information to get the answer to the puzzle at the same time as the protagonist and that just isn't true. Sometimes I had to go back to re-read scenes because I got the context later. It doesn't damper my reading experience (if anything it makes it so that I can truly understand it all), but it does confuse me at times. I wasn't sure if this was on purpose.
Everything else was great. Just a good old fantasy book that scratched my brain in the best way. PLEASE take my money gimme gimme gimme Sanctuary 2.
I'm in love with the main character. I love the chemistry she has with her main friends and her mentors. I was so invested in what Frey needed to go through in order to achieve her plans. I cannot wait to see how her story goes, I will 100% be buying the continuation as soon as it comes out. The ending just left me feeling so numb, I couldn't pick up another book for days just because I wanted to process this one. This is the best type of book for me, one that leaves me thinking about what will happen, and how will she react to new situations in future installments.
The only qualm I have with this book is that sometimes it takes a couple of pages to explain worldbuilding to me. It assumes that I have all the information to get the answer to the puzzle at the same time as the protagonist and that just isn't true. Sometimes I had to go back to re-read scenes because I got the context later. It doesn't damper my reading experience (if anything it makes it so that I can truly understand it all), but it does confuse me at times. I wasn't sure if this was on purpose.
Everything else was great. Just a good old fantasy book that scratched my brain in the best way. PLEASE take my money gimme gimme gimme Sanctuary 2.
November 9, 2025
Catalyst is a fantastic read for fans of flawed (but still powerful) female characters in a high fantasy setting. Frey acts her age, sometimes doing stupid stuff, she also acts according to her traumata, with trust issues and everything that entails. She feels, for a lack of better words, alive. I was constantly wondering what she would do next to right her wrongs, to maybe find some trust in her companions. The world J.K.Silver created is vibrant, with its own customs and its own races. Very interesting for me was the decision to NOT make the human race the one to be the most numerous. It's a refreshing take to the usual fantasy setting with humans outnumbering every other race.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of literature with us!
And you, potential reader: if you have not read this book yet, I can tell you that it is worth your time, that this book has heart.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of literature with us!
And you, potential reader: if you have not read this book yet, I can tell you that it is worth your time, that this book has heart.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews