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Catalyst
"Elissa, you are the worst princess I have ever met, and by far, my favorite."
In a land divided by centuries of war and distrust, an elven princess and a human prince are the last hope for peace — or the spark that ignites another war.
Princess Elissa of Treiaul has never fit the mold of royal perfection. She prefers the forest to the throne room, her bow to the delicate trappings of court life. But when Prince Hayward of Aasleagh arrives to negotiate a fragile peace treaty, she’s ordered to play the gracious host to the human she’s been raised to despise.
Hayward is no stranger to being underestimated — the youngest of his brothers and a seasoned soldier, he’s spent his life carving out a place for himself. He enters elven territory with low expectations and party of men mostly chosen by his father who he doesn’t trust, prepared to endure the cold shoulder of a princess who sees him as the enemy.
But what neither of them anticipates is the undeniable pull between them. Their sharp words turn into lingering glances, and every clash of wills ignites something far more dangerous than hatred. As their chemistry simmers, Hayward becomes the unexpected catalyst for Elissa to embrace her wild heart and for her people to see the looming human threat for what it truly is.
With tensions rising and kingdoms on the brink of war, their forbidden connection might either shatter the fragile hope of peace — or forge a love powerful enough to change the fate of their realms forever.
This romantasy debut is a tale of passion, prejudice, and the power of choosing love in a world that demands war.
In a land divided by centuries of war and distrust, an elven princess and a human prince are the last hope for peace — or the spark that ignites another war.
Princess Elissa of Treiaul has never fit the mold of royal perfection. She prefers the forest to the throne room, her bow to the delicate trappings of court life. But when Prince Hayward of Aasleagh arrives to negotiate a fragile peace treaty, she’s ordered to play the gracious host to the human she’s been raised to despise.
Hayward is no stranger to being underestimated — the youngest of his brothers and a seasoned soldier, he’s spent his life carving out a place for himself. He enters elven territory with low expectations and party of men mostly chosen by his father who he doesn’t trust, prepared to endure the cold shoulder of a princess who sees him as the enemy.
But what neither of them anticipates is the undeniable pull between them. Their sharp words turn into lingering glances, and every clash of wills ignites something far more dangerous than hatred. As their chemistry simmers, Hayward becomes the unexpected catalyst for Elissa to embrace her wild heart and for her people to see the looming human threat for what it truly is.
With tensions rising and kingdoms on the brink of war, their forbidden connection might either shatter the fragile hope of peace — or forge a love powerful enough to change the fate of their realms forever.
This romantasy debut is a tale of passion, prejudice, and the power of choosing love in a world that demands war.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2025
5 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 5, 2025
4⭐️
2.5🌶️
🌙Romantasy
🌙Elven Princess
🌙Human Prince
🌙Forbidden Love
🌙Enemies to Lovers
🌙Land Divided by War
🌙Flirty Banter
🌙Dual Third Person POV
Catalyst is a fun cozy romantasy, it has action, banter, and hot spice thrown in. Hayward is the mysterious human prince that was sent to the elf kingdom to negotiate for peace. Elissa is the rebellious and quick witted elven princess. There is tension and banter between these two that had me giggling. Elissa plays the reluctant tour guide showing Hayward the castle. They surprisingly get along and loved how the banter turned flirty laced with innuendos. There is action where Elissa shows that she is no ordinary princess. Hayward more soldier than prince is not an ordinary human either. There is the perfect amount of detail that painted a picture of the unique world and how their kingdoms are polar opposites.
Thank you to Marlissa Cunningham for the ARC.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads 🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“Well, I suppose we should see about lunch. I don’t know about you,” he winked as he rose to his knees, ‘but I’ve worked up quite the appetite. And I don’t think you’re on the menu just yet.”
“Well, it’s good to see you’re already accustomed to sleeping with dangerous animals.”
“You are mine, and I am yours.”
2.5🌶️
🌙Romantasy
🌙Elven Princess
🌙Human Prince
🌙Forbidden Love
🌙Enemies to Lovers
🌙Land Divided by War
🌙Flirty Banter
🌙Dual Third Person POV
Catalyst is a fun cozy romantasy, it has action, banter, and hot spice thrown in. Hayward is the mysterious human prince that was sent to the elf kingdom to negotiate for peace. Elissa is the rebellious and quick witted elven princess. There is tension and banter between these two that had me giggling. Elissa plays the reluctant tour guide showing Hayward the castle. They surprisingly get along and loved how the banter turned flirty laced with innuendos. There is action where Elissa shows that she is no ordinary princess. Hayward more soldier than prince is not an ordinary human either. There is the perfect amount of detail that painted a picture of the unique world and how their kingdoms are polar opposites.
Thank you to Marlissa Cunningham for the ARC.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads 🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“Well, I suppose we should see about lunch. I don’t know about you,” he winked as he rose to his knees, ‘but I’ve worked up quite the appetite. And I don’t think you’re on the menu just yet.”
“Well, it’s good to see you’re already accustomed to sleeping with dangerous animals.”
“You are mine, and I am yours.”
August 16, 2025
This was such a sweet book. Take Flynn Rider but make him from what I picture as the Arabian desert and have him win over Elvish Merida and you've got Catalyst! While more heavy on the romance there was some fantastic subtle world building that felt natural to the story of Hayward and Elissa. Good mystery that I'm on the edge for book 2 wanting to know if we are gonna learn Hayward's secrets! It seems Elissa forgot but I didnt! I wanna know! If you enjoy a fantastical world with a beautiful love story that will have you laughing then read this book it won't disappoint!
June 4, 2025
Sweet sizzling elves and panty-melting humans, buckle up—this book is like a five-alarm fire that won’t quit. The drama? Off the charts. The passion? Hot enough to fry an egg on a dragon’s back. Seriously, from the moment you crack this bad boy open, it’s like the author handed you a ticket to the hottest rollercoaster in town—complete with enough political intrigue to make a dictator weep and enough steam to fog up your reading glasses.
Let’s talk about our main girl: Elissa. This princess is the absolute queen of zero royal etiquette. She’s the kind of woman who’d flip the bird at her fancy ballgown and pick a fight with a tree if it gave her attitude. And don’t even think about messing with her—she’s got a mouth that would make a mercenary blush, and she’s not afraid to use it (both for insults and other, ahem, more interesting purposes).
Enter Hayward/Alekzander—our knight in smoldering armor. This man is sex on legs. He’s the kind of brooding, dangerous hero who makes you want to run away with him on a motorcycle—shirtless—while the world burns behind you. He strolls into Elissa’s life like a tall drink of water in the middle of a desert and basically makes her forget that she ever pretended to hate men. One smoldering look from him, and she’s a goner.
Their chemistry? Explosive. Their relationship is a week-long festival of sexual tension, whispered promises, and enough heat to toast marshmallows. And let’s not forget that people are trying to kill him—like, can the guy get a break between steamy make-out sessions?
Of course, just when things are at peak get-a-room levels, Hayward has to leave to prevent a full-blown war between humans and elves—like a heartbreak bomb dropped right on our feels.
But trust me, you’ll be left wanting more—way more. This book is like the best kind of temptation: dangerous, addictive, and absolutely unforgettable. I’ll be here, ready to pounce the second the next installment hits the shelves. Bring on the next serving of sexy chaos!
Let’s talk about our main girl: Elissa. This princess is the absolute queen of zero royal etiquette. She’s the kind of woman who’d flip the bird at her fancy ballgown and pick a fight with a tree if it gave her attitude. And don’t even think about messing with her—she’s got a mouth that would make a mercenary blush, and she’s not afraid to use it (both for insults and other, ahem, more interesting purposes).
Enter Hayward/Alekzander—our knight in smoldering armor. This man is sex on legs. He’s the kind of brooding, dangerous hero who makes you want to run away with him on a motorcycle—shirtless—while the world burns behind you. He strolls into Elissa’s life like a tall drink of water in the middle of a desert and basically makes her forget that she ever pretended to hate men. One smoldering look from him, and she’s a goner.
Their chemistry? Explosive. Their relationship is a week-long festival of sexual tension, whispered promises, and enough heat to toast marshmallows. And let’s not forget that people are trying to kill him—like, can the guy get a break between steamy make-out sessions?
Of course, just when things are at peak get-a-room levels, Hayward has to leave to prevent a full-blown war between humans and elves—like a heartbreak bomb dropped right on our feels.
But trust me, you’ll be left wanting more—way more. This book is like the best kind of temptation: dangerous, addictive, and absolutely unforgettable. I’ll be here, ready to pounce the second the next installment hits the shelves. Bring on the next serving of sexy chaos!
July 4, 2025
There are book characters who leave an impression—and then there’s Hayward/Alekzander, the kind of complex, brooding hero who lives in your head rent-free long after you close the book. He’s fierce, protective, and carrying enough weight on his shoulders to break a lesser man, yet somehow still manages to set the page on fire every time he steps into a scene. Whether he’s facing political unrest or protecting those he loves, he does it with a quiet intensity that’s impossible to resist.
Then we have Elissa, our fierce and unapologetic heroine, who is impossible not to root for. She’s sharp-tongued, stubborn, and refuses to be boxed into anyone’s expectations—not as a princess, not as a woman, and certainly not as a pawn in someone else’s war. Watching her push against every boundary put in front of her, both in the world and in her own heart, was powerful and honestly inspiring.
The chemistry between these two? Off the charts. It’s the kind of slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers energy that keeps your pulse racing and your heart aching in the best way. But what really sets this book apart is the rich world-building and the political stakes layered beneath the romance. The tension between elves and humans, the looming threat of war, and the heartbreaking choices these characters are forced to make give the story so much depth.
Marlissa Cunningham has created a world that feels alive, dangerous, and heartbreakingly real. Catalyst is a story about sacrifice, trust, and finding love in the middle of chaos. I was hooked from the first chapter and completely wrecked by the end.
If you love romantasy filled with political intrigue, complicated characters, and emotional depth, this one deserves a top spot on your shelf. I’ll be counting down the days until the sequel.
Then we have Elissa, our fierce and unapologetic heroine, who is impossible not to root for. She’s sharp-tongued, stubborn, and refuses to be boxed into anyone’s expectations—not as a princess, not as a woman, and certainly not as a pawn in someone else’s war. Watching her push against every boundary put in front of her, both in the world and in her own heart, was powerful and honestly inspiring.
The chemistry between these two? Off the charts. It’s the kind of slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers energy that keeps your pulse racing and your heart aching in the best way. But what really sets this book apart is the rich world-building and the political stakes layered beneath the romance. The tension between elves and humans, the looming threat of war, and the heartbreaking choices these characters are forced to make give the story so much depth.
Marlissa Cunningham has created a world that feels alive, dangerous, and heartbreakingly real. Catalyst is a story about sacrifice, trust, and finding love in the middle of chaos. I was hooked from the first chapter and completely wrecked by the end.
If you love romantasy filled with political intrigue, complicated characters, and emotional depth, this one deserves a top spot on your shelf. I’ll be counting down the days until the sequel.
June 7, 2025
This book was absolutely amazing from start to finish! The attitude of the FMC was top notch! The MMC is a walking sexy god. This book has elves and humans. The chemistry between the two is chefs kiss! I need more of this story.
August 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Flirty to lovers
-Princess & Prince
-Talks of arranged marriage
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Such a fun read! Plenty of spice throughout this book, and that made it a quick read. While the ending is not a cliffhanger, it definitely leads into the next book! Personally I enjoyed the ending because of that; if you wanted to finish your reading experience with book 1, I think it's absolutely an option! Can't wait for book 2 though :)
-Flirty to lovers
-Princess & Prince
-Talks of arranged marriage
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Such a fun read! Plenty of spice throughout this book, and that made it a quick read. While the ending is not a cliffhanger, it definitely leads into the next book! Personally I enjoyed the ending because of that; if you wanted to finish your reading experience with book 1, I think it's absolutely an option! Can't wait for book 2 though :)
August 10, 2025
I’m on streak of good luck when it comes to ARC reads. This cozy fantasy is sweet, mysterious, and funny. Hayward is our rakish desert prince that’s always got an innuendo for every occasion. Elissa is a blunt, sassy, very un princess-like Elevan princess. The two together create cute and charged scenes.
Yes there is smut and a bit of it. Nothing crazy but just for the amount I’m giving 2.5 🌶️. It’s playful and unique. There is war on the brink but this books was just the dimplomatic side of war and honestly it was so refreshing. Battles are cool and I’m sure there will be some to come in the next book, but it was nice to read about diplomacy.
While the smut is there, the tension between Hayward and Elissa continues throughout the whole book. There is magic but it’s not talked about and in the background.
Now I did say there wasn’t any battles but there is definitely action. I want more of Deker and Dantares in the next book. And honestly Kohl too. Even the Elevan Princess seemed like they would be fun to get to know more too. The characters were well rounded and just a good time to read.
Go get it and enjoy the hell out of it. I couldn’t put it down. It sucked me in.
Yes there is smut and a bit of it. Nothing crazy but just for the amount I’m giving 2.5 🌶️. It’s playful and unique. There is war on the brink but this books was just the dimplomatic side of war and honestly it was so refreshing. Battles are cool and I’m sure there will be some to come in the next book, but it was nice to read about diplomacy.
While the smut is there, the tension between Hayward and Elissa continues throughout the whole book. There is magic but it’s not talked about and in the background.
Now I did say there wasn’t any battles but there is definitely action. I want more of Deker and Dantares in the next book. And honestly Kohl too. Even the Elevan Princess seemed like they would be fun to get to know more too. The characters were well rounded and just a good time to read.
Go get it and enjoy the hell out of it. I couldn’t put it down. It sucked me in.
June 10, 2025
This book wasn’t for me unfortunately. I am not a massive fan of insta love and I very much feel this is the case in this book. I’m also not a fan of this style of writing and I felt the dialogue was too modern when there was talk of chamber pots and no electricity. That made me feel confused about the world this is set in and there were too many issues in this case for me personally.
June 16, 2025
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author and I am writing an honest review after being given free access to the book.
****************There may be some spoilers ahead*************************
I will start by saying that I wish this story had more world-building. I felt as though the plot was focused around the human prince and the elven princess navigating peace talks and a potential political marriage, but we did not get a great explanation of why this was necessary. A previous war and threats of a new war are mentioned throughout the story, but because we didn’t get much background about why the tensions were so high, it didn’t feel quite as serious and almost felt like an afterthought, added just to manufacture some sort of conflict. More background and world building would have improved the story for me greatly and would have captivated me more. Much of the story revolved around Elissa showing Hayward around their palace and the lands nearby and it got old for
Prince Hayward is painted in the story as a charming, strong and handsome, battle hardened prince, visiting the eleven lands to negotiate peace talks. His personality from the very beginning came across as a little too arrogant and misogynistic for my taste, however. Throughout the story, he is frequently openly admiring the princess’s breasts or rear, and, in my opinion, it is not done in a way that is respectful in any manner to a woman. I felt myself being offended for her by being looked at like a sex object in many instances. I do not like men who constantly view “attractive” women this way and even Elissa herself claims she doesn’t like to be dressed in a manner that is meant to elicit these “breasts on a silver platter” kinds of thoughts.
Princess Elissa is the beautiful elven princess who is dangled in front of Prince Hayward as a possible political marriage partner. Her character is written to be strong, stubborn and “unlike other princesses”, a trope which I think could have been executed a little better in the writing. She refers to herself as someone who enjoys “masculine” hobbies such as hunting and she gets some slight disapproval from her mother about it while remaining defiant and does not wish to change, calling herself the “troublesome child”. Don’t get me wrong, I like a princess who is not a damsel in distress and who speaks up for herself, but I think pointing these traits out by saying “I’m not like other girls” is not my favorite way of having that presented to me in writing. I prefer to see it through actions and while the author does show you somewhat through writing the character, she still points it out with that literal statement from the FMC anyway. Her reveal about her magic also falls somewhat flat and the machinations of the magic in this world are not flushed out at all. I would have liked to see more explanation of the magic system.
With those characters in mind, let’s move to the romance part of the story. The relationship between the MMC and FMC moves very quickly. There was definitely insta-lust here. I prefer a slower burn over just meeting and then having “amazing” sex in the span of two days.
The other characters are not well flushed out and I did not really see any character development overall, which was a little disappointing.
The speech was a little too modern for me as well with words and phrases like “jiffy”, “wuss”, “cut loose”, “room service” and “spelunking”. There were also plenty of times where I thought a different word could have been used to make the sentences flow better. The dialogue also made it difficult to immerse myself in the world even more so than the lack of lore and worldbuilding. I didn’t love the overuse of phrases like “a smirk tugged at his lips” and all the laughing and chuckling. It seemed like every other sentence the princess said had her grinning, laughing, chuckling or giggling and it felt that this made her seem shallow and a little air headed. She did not have the headstrong and powerful princess vibes that I was hoping for because of this.
Overall, this was not my favorite read of the year but there is definitely room for improvement!
Thank you to the author for allowing me early access to this book!
****************There may be some spoilers ahead*************************
I will start by saying that I wish this story had more world-building. I felt as though the plot was focused around the human prince and the elven princess navigating peace talks and a potential political marriage, but we did not get a great explanation of why this was necessary. A previous war and threats of a new war are mentioned throughout the story, but because we didn’t get much background about why the tensions were so high, it didn’t feel quite as serious and almost felt like an afterthought, added just to manufacture some sort of conflict. More background and world building would have improved the story for me greatly and would have captivated me more. Much of the story revolved around Elissa showing Hayward around their palace and the lands nearby and it got old for
Prince Hayward is painted in the story as a charming, strong and handsome, battle hardened prince, visiting the eleven lands to negotiate peace talks. His personality from the very beginning came across as a little too arrogant and misogynistic for my taste, however. Throughout the story, he is frequently openly admiring the princess’s breasts or rear, and, in my opinion, it is not done in a way that is respectful in any manner to a woman. I felt myself being offended for her by being looked at like a sex object in many instances. I do not like men who constantly view “attractive” women this way and even Elissa herself claims she doesn’t like to be dressed in a manner that is meant to elicit these “breasts on a silver platter” kinds of thoughts.
Princess Elissa is the beautiful elven princess who is dangled in front of Prince Hayward as a possible political marriage partner. Her character is written to be strong, stubborn and “unlike other princesses”, a trope which I think could have been executed a little better in the writing. She refers to herself as someone who enjoys “masculine” hobbies such as hunting and she gets some slight disapproval from her mother about it while remaining defiant and does not wish to change, calling herself the “troublesome child”. Don’t get me wrong, I like a princess who is not a damsel in distress and who speaks up for herself, but I think pointing these traits out by saying “I’m not like other girls” is not my favorite way of having that presented to me in writing. I prefer to see it through actions and while the author does show you somewhat through writing the character, she still points it out with that literal statement from the FMC anyway. Her reveal about her magic also falls somewhat flat and the machinations of the magic in this world are not flushed out at all. I would have liked to see more explanation of the magic system.
With those characters in mind, let’s move to the romance part of the story. The relationship between the MMC and FMC moves very quickly. There was definitely insta-lust here. I prefer a slower burn over just meeting and then having “amazing” sex in the span of two days.
The other characters are not well flushed out and I did not really see any character development overall, which was a little disappointing.
The speech was a little too modern for me as well with words and phrases like “jiffy”, “wuss”, “cut loose”, “room service” and “spelunking”. There were also plenty of times where I thought a different word could have been used to make the sentences flow better. The dialogue also made it difficult to immerse myself in the world even more so than the lack of lore and worldbuilding. I didn’t love the overuse of phrases like “a smirk tugged at his lips” and all the laughing and chuckling. It seemed like every other sentence the princess said had her grinning, laughing, chuckling or giggling and it felt that this made her seem shallow and a little air headed. She did not have the headstrong and powerful princess vibes that I was hoping for because of this.
Overall, this was not my favorite read of the year but there is definitely room for improvement!
Thank you to the author for allowing me early access to this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2025
⚠️ I kindly received a free Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) by the author. My review remains honest. ⚠️
I actually read this book and reviewed it in due time, but having to change all my social platforms I'm afraid I lost the original one, here's my attempt at reproducing it to support the author.
This book is a shorter read with an instant love trope instead of a slow burn, and that felt like a big breath of fresh air considering what I usually find out there, it was a great palate cleanser.
Besides, we've got elves again! Don't get me wrong I love the fae, but my first contact with pointed eared creatures was with elves, so I was truly missing them!
The banter between Hayward and Elissa? Top. Notch.
It's clear that not everything or everyone is what it seems here, and it tells you just enough that you can't wait for the next one to come out and show you some more.
There's a perfect mix of good open door spice, political plotting and action. And to top that off, Hayward and Elissa are from two entirely different lands, and the ways he's shown this and how he reacts to things that are so foreign to him but yet so normal to her? It's amazing to read, it truly made for very entertaining moments.
My only critique to this book is that, perhaps due to its length, it's way too focused on the main couple and we get to see very little of the side characters, and some of them are definitely interesting, it's the only thing I'd like to change a bit for the next instances, to see a bit more of the rest of the cast, apart from that, I can't wait for the series to go on.
I actually read this book and reviewed it in due time, but having to change all my social platforms I'm afraid I lost the original one, here's my attempt at reproducing it to support the author.
This book is a shorter read with an instant love trope instead of a slow burn, and that felt like a big breath of fresh air considering what I usually find out there, it was a great palate cleanser.
Besides, we've got elves again! Don't get me wrong I love the fae, but my first contact with pointed eared creatures was with elves, so I was truly missing them!
The banter between Hayward and Elissa? Top. Notch.
It's clear that not everything or everyone is what it seems here, and it tells you just enough that you can't wait for the next one to come out and show you some more.
There's a perfect mix of good open door spice, political plotting and action. And to top that off, Hayward and Elissa are from two entirely different lands, and the ways he's shown this and how he reacts to things that are so foreign to him but yet so normal to her? It's amazing to read, it truly made for very entertaining moments.
My only critique to this book is that, perhaps due to its length, it's way too focused on the main couple and we get to see very little of the side characters, and some of them are definitely interesting, it's the only thing I'd like to change a bit for the next instances, to see a bit more of the rest of the cast, apart from that, I can't wait for the series to go on.
December 1, 2025
Loved it so much!
I was freaking hooked. I was so freaking just hooked LOL I loved loved the Stark differences between the humans and the elves. The forest and the desert. And I love the elf king. He's so.........magnanimous. merciful, kindhearted. Im hoping in the next book the human king gets what he deserves!
I was freaking hooked. I was so freaking just hooked LOL I loved loved the Stark differences between the humans and the elves. The forest and the desert. And I love the elf king. He's so.........magnanimous. merciful, kindhearted. Im hoping in the next book the human king gets what he deserves!
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