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Catalyst Moon #2
Breach
In an uncertain world on the brink of chaos, can love and destiny prevail?
After Kalinda parted ways with Stonewall in Whitewater City, she didn't know if she would ever see him again. But when their paths cross once more and their mutual attraction blooms, they struggle with their respective roles.
Meanwhile, fear consumes the land of Aredia as the body-snatching thralls multiply, destroying everyone in their path. Desperate for aid, Aredia calls upon the sentinels to fight this growing threat. But the mages take advantage of the sentinels' distraction to escape from their hematite prison; an act that will shatter the balance of the world.
Kali and Stonewall must join forces to confront these impending disasters, but can a mage and sentinel ever be true allies?
The Catalyst Moon Saga:
Book One - Incursion
Book Two - Breach
Book Three - Storm
Book Four - Surrender (Coming 2020!)
After Kalinda parted ways with Stonewall in Whitewater City, she didn't know if she would ever see him again. But when their paths cross once more and their mutual attraction blooms, they struggle with their respective roles.
Meanwhile, fear consumes the land of Aredia as the body-snatching thralls multiply, destroying everyone in their path. Desperate for aid, Aredia calls upon the sentinels to fight this growing threat. But the mages take advantage of the sentinels' distraction to escape from their hematite prison; an act that will shatter the balance of the world.
Kali and Stonewall must join forces to confront these impending disasters, but can a mage and sentinel ever be true allies?
The Catalyst Moon Saga:
Book One - Incursion
Book Two - Breach
Book Three - Storm
Book Four - Surrender (Coming 2020!)
- GenresFantasy
ebook
Published August 16, 2017
6 people are currently reading
22 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 15, 2017
Have you ever read a series and the second book is so much better than the first one? Actually, so much better that you have to reread the review you wrote on book one to make sure its the same book. That is the case with Catalyst Moon: Breach. I remember reading Incursion and thinking that it was that a bit boring and a little vague. So when I requested this book from Inkitt, I was expecting the same. So, I was thrilled when I started reading the book and could get into it.
Breach starts a few weeks (or a month or so, it didn’t say) after the events of Incursion. Kalinda hasn’t been in touch with Stonewall since he brought her to Whitewater City. She starts the painful task of healing her knee. She is also waiting for Stonewall to return from his mission. She hopes that they will pick up where they left off. But there is an undercurrent of unrest and unease at the bastion. The mysterious Assembly has been stealing all of the hematite. They have been doing it with help from the Sufani, a Gypsy like people. The sentinels are jonesing for their next fix and it is beginning to show within ranks. Meanwhile, a group of mages are planning to break free of Whitewater City. They are prepared to do whatever they need to do to escape. Also, the thralls and the Canderi are coming more often and in greater numbers. Add all that together and it made for a very good and suspenseful read.
The romance between Stonewall and Kalinda was a lot better in this book. You knew that they were together almost from the beginning. I did feel that it was taking on a Romeo and Juliet type romance. I almost wanted to start quoting Shakespeare when he was sneaking into her room. But, it isn’t Romeo and Juliet. Not by a long shot. It is a forbidden romance between a sentinel and a mage and as with all forbidden things, it gets found out.
The storylines are merged towards the end of the book. It made for a very fast paced read. I swear, I held my breath for most of the ending. I will tell everyone that there is no happy ending for this book. The way this book ended, I am looking forward to reading book 3.
My Summary for Catalyst Moon: Breach: 4 stars
Catalyst Moon: Breach is a fast paced, action filled fantasy romance. I felt that it was a step up from Incursion and it did not suffer from the sophomore slump. It had characters that were flushed out and plotlines that were not vague. A book that I enjoyed reading and I cannot wait to read book 2.
Will I reread: Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes
Age range: Older teen
Why: Sexual situations (characters have sex but no details are given) and violence. No language.
I would like to thank Lauren L. Garcia and Inkitt for allowing me to review Catalyst Moon: Breach
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
Breach starts a few weeks (or a month or so, it didn’t say) after the events of Incursion. Kalinda hasn’t been in touch with Stonewall since he brought her to Whitewater City. She starts the painful task of healing her knee. She is also waiting for Stonewall to return from his mission. She hopes that they will pick up where they left off. But there is an undercurrent of unrest and unease at the bastion. The mysterious Assembly has been stealing all of the hematite. They have been doing it with help from the Sufani, a Gypsy like people. The sentinels are jonesing for their next fix and it is beginning to show within ranks. Meanwhile, a group of mages are planning to break free of Whitewater City. They are prepared to do whatever they need to do to escape. Also, the thralls and the Canderi are coming more often and in greater numbers. Add all that together and it made for a very good and suspenseful read.
The romance between Stonewall and Kalinda was a lot better in this book. You knew that they were together almost from the beginning. I did feel that it was taking on a Romeo and Juliet type romance. I almost wanted to start quoting Shakespeare when he was sneaking into her room. But, it isn’t Romeo and Juliet. Not by a long shot. It is a forbidden romance between a sentinel and a mage and as with all forbidden things, it gets found out.
The storylines are merged towards the end of the book. It made for a very fast paced read. I swear, I held my breath for most of the ending. I will tell everyone that there is no happy ending for this book. The way this book ended, I am looking forward to reading book 3.
My Summary for Catalyst Moon: Breach: 4 stars
Catalyst Moon: Breach is a fast paced, action filled fantasy romance. I felt that it was a step up from Incursion and it did not suffer from the sophomore slump. It had characters that were flushed out and plotlines that were not vague. A book that I enjoyed reading and I cannot wait to read book 2.
Will I reread: Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes
Age range: Older teen
Why: Sexual situations (characters have sex but no details are given) and violence. No language.
I would like to thank Lauren L. Garcia and Inkitt for allowing me to review Catalyst Moon: Breach
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
September 16, 2017
So, Catalyst Moon: Breach is the follow up to Catalyst Moon: Incursion, a story about a mage, Kali, and Stonewall AKA Stone, the sentinel tasked with escorting her across the country. Trouble ensues, relationships are formed and tested, and their journey comes to an end. And now, the sequel continues that story.
Breach picks up not too long after Incursion ended, with Kali receiving treatment for her bum knee and Stone off in the world doing his duty, fighting the dangerous thralls that popped up in the prequel. Breach is a step-up in every way in regards to its predecessor, be it the character arcs, the romance between our leads or side characters even, or the world-building. We learn a bit more about the gods of this world, including legends that may be more than mere children’s stories. I’ve always been a fan of mythology, and since Garcia continues with her light-handed presentation of religion and politics, and how the two are intertwined without being overbearing, I enjoyed the mythological/religious aspects of the book.
The sentinels are steadfast in their beliefs, and their obligation to perform their duties, almost to a fault. That reminds me of the way veterans or those who serve in real life are patriotic, sometimes extremely so. That said, one thing I wasn’t really a fan of was the blatant sense of hatred between the mages and basically everyone else. I remember finding it interesting to see in Incursion, but I don’t know, I thought things would have changed a bit in the sequel. Though, I guess that’s asking too much considering not much time has passed. Still, to see mages being feared, imprisoned, even killed just because of what they are…well it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I suppose it just resembles real life too much when you think about how things would be if mages were real. But the argument could be made that certain races are feared and thus treated differently in real life, so there’s that.
The plot of Breach was easy to follow as Incursion’s was but offered a sense of tension that I found lacking in Incursion. The threat of death is constant in this one, and when the layers of the characters are peeled back so wonderfully as they are here, then you can’t help but fear for many of them throughout the story, sometimes rightfully so. In a world where magic is as dangerous as it is helpful, there’s no telling who will come out alive.
Catalyst Moon: Breach offers higher stakes, deeper relationships, tenser interactions and shocking revelations. I’m anxious to see what comes next for these characters, even if I disagree with a lot of their decisions…
Breach picks up not too long after Incursion ended, with Kali receiving treatment for her bum knee and Stone off in the world doing his duty, fighting the dangerous thralls that popped up in the prequel. Breach is a step-up in every way in regards to its predecessor, be it the character arcs, the romance between our leads or side characters even, or the world-building. We learn a bit more about the gods of this world, including legends that may be more than mere children’s stories. I’ve always been a fan of mythology, and since Garcia continues with her light-handed presentation of religion and politics, and how the two are intertwined without being overbearing, I enjoyed the mythological/religious aspects of the book.
The sentinels are steadfast in their beliefs, and their obligation to perform their duties, almost to a fault. That reminds me of the way veterans or those who serve in real life are patriotic, sometimes extremely so. That said, one thing I wasn’t really a fan of was the blatant sense of hatred between the mages and basically everyone else. I remember finding it interesting to see in Incursion, but I don’t know, I thought things would have changed a bit in the sequel. Though, I guess that’s asking too much considering not much time has passed. Still, to see mages being feared, imprisoned, even killed just because of what they are…well it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I suppose it just resembles real life too much when you think about how things would be if mages were real. But the argument could be made that certain races are feared and thus treated differently in real life, so there’s that.
The plot of Breach was easy to follow as Incursion’s was but offered a sense of tension that I found lacking in Incursion. The threat of death is constant in this one, and when the layers of the characters are peeled back so wonderfully as they are here, then you can’t help but fear for many of them throughout the story, sometimes rightfully so. In a world where magic is as dangerous as it is helpful, there’s no telling who will come out alive.
Catalyst Moon: Breach offers higher stakes, deeper relationships, tenser interactions and shocking revelations. I’m anxious to see what comes next for these characters, even if I disagree with a lot of their decisions…
June 2, 2019
The Basics:
With the completion of Stonewall’s mission to escort Kali to her new home-slash-prison in Whitewater City, the sentinel and mage have little excuse to have anything more to do with each other, but the feelings that bloomed between them on the road refuse to fade, pulling the two of them into a treacherous double life.
Meanwhile, the Thralls, victims of a spreading epidemic of demonic possession, are not only threatening the physical safety of the kingdom but turning its people against the mages, whom many suspect of being the cause. As for the mages, an escape plot is stirring within the bastion among Kali’s more rebellious friends, giving her only a few short weeks to decide where to place her loyalty, and her hopes for her future.
The Downside:
I may be the only person in the world who actually prefers the first Catalyst Moon book to the second. This is probably because I'm exceptionally picky about my love stories, and the romance is even more of a focal point in this one, in spite of Stonewall and Kali spending more time apart in it.
I’m still rooting for these two; they’re so genuinely sweet and serious about each other that it’s hard not to, but given how thoughtfully subversive the series is in so many ways, I was disappointed by the forced drama of them failing to communicate vital information for inadequately motivated reasons. It’s far from the most toxic of standard romance tropes, and not a disqualifying one on my shelf when I like enough other elements, but still one of my literary pet peeves just for being lazy and tired.
The Upside:
Breach’s deeper exploration of the world and people of Catalyst Moon, on the other hand, takes some of the most fascinating details of the first book and brings them to the next level.
The status quo of the kingdom, from its commodification of magic users, to its caste system, to its assumption that the monsters of its children’s stories are nothing more than stories, is clearly fraying at the seams, waiting for someone to apply the right pressure in just the right place. Well, not just someone. Therein lies the difficulty. It’s going to take a lot of someones to break the old system and build a new one, and much of Breach is about the difficulty of getting enough someones pulling in the same direction. There are plenty of people with every reason to be dissatisfied, certainly, separated to all corners and entrenched in their own coping mechanisms. Many have convinced themselves that the way things are is the right way or the only way. Others fight ardently for their own interests while clinging to their irrational prejudices against each other.
The political side of the story makes for a frustrating read, but in a much better way than this installment’s romantic misunderstandings. The state of the world of Catalyst Moon is integrated much more smoothly into the story than is the case in many comparable fantasy epics, presented through the subplots of a sensibly sized cast of characters, all of them organically introduced and then cinched together in new ways. Breach comes together like a cat’s cradle, weaving together threads from Incursion so efficiently that the process can almost go unnoticed until the interlocking pattern surprises with its elegant intricacy.
Once the forestory at the bastion takes off, it happens quickly, culminating in a tense finale that pulls insistently into book three — a pull I have not resisted.
More on that soon.
(This review and others originally posted on www.fjrtitchenell.weebly.com)
With the completion of Stonewall’s mission to escort Kali to her new home-slash-prison in Whitewater City, the sentinel and mage have little excuse to have anything more to do with each other, but the feelings that bloomed between them on the road refuse to fade, pulling the two of them into a treacherous double life.
Meanwhile, the Thralls, victims of a spreading epidemic of demonic possession, are not only threatening the physical safety of the kingdom but turning its people against the mages, whom many suspect of being the cause. As for the mages, an escape plot is stirring within the bastion among Kali’s more rebellious friends, giving her only a few short weeks to decide where to place her loyalty, and her hopes for her future.
The Downside:
I may be the only person in the world who actually prefers the first Catalyst Moon book to the second. This is probably because I'm exceptionally picky about my love stories, and the romance is even more of a focal point in this one, in spite of Stonewall and Kali spending more time apart in it.
I’m still rooting for these two; they’re so genuinely sweet and serious about each other that it’s hard not to, but given how thoughtfully subversive the series is in so many ways, I was disappointed by the forced drama of them failing to communicate vital information for inadequately motivated reasons. It’s far from the most toxic of standard romance tropes, and not a disqualifying one on my shelf when I like enough other elements, but still one of my literary pet peeves just for being lazy and tired.
The Upside:
Breach’s deeper exploration of the world and people of Catalyst Moon, on the other hand, takes some of the most fascinating details of the first book and brings them to the next level.
The status quo of the kingdom, from its commodification of magic users, to its caste system, to its assumption that the monsters of its children’s stories are nothing more than stories, is clearly fraying at the seams, waiting for someone to apply the right pressure in just the right place. Well, not just someone. Therein lies the difficulty. It’s going to take a lot of someones to break the old system and build a new one, and much of Breach is about the difficulty of getting enough someones pulling in the same direction. There are plenty of people with every reason to be dissatisfied, certainly, separated to all corners and entrenched in their own coping mechanisms. Many have convinced themselves that the way things are is the right way or the only way. Others fight ardently for their own interests while clinging to their irrational prejudices against each other.
The political side of the story makes for a frustrating read, but in a much better way than this installment’s romantic misunderstandings. The state of the world of Catalyst Moon is integrated much more smoothly into the story than is the case in many comparable fantasy epics, presented through the subplots of a sensibly sized cast of characters, all of them organically introduced and then cinched together in new ways. Breach comes together like a cat’s cradle, weaving together threads from Incursion so efficiently that the process can almost go unnoticed until the interlocking pattern surprises with its elegant intricacy.
Once the forestory at the bastion takes off, it happens quickly, culminating in a tense finale that pulls insistently into book three — a pull I have not resisted.
More on that soon.
(This review and others originally posted on www.fjrtitchenell.weebly.com)
November 7, 2017
Set my particles tingling!
I've loved this series from the start for its excellent word-building, fascinating plot and new insights into magic. But what will really convince you to take this journey into Aredia, are the characters.
Garcia has wowed me with two absolutely wonderful main characters. Kali's quirky sense of humour never fails to get me laughing at the oddest moment (I've gotten more than a few odd looks on the bus, now). While Stonewall is both charmingly sincere and frustratingly noble (I can't decide whether to swoon over him or smack him upside the head). But the real deal-breaker are her cast of supporting characters.
Too often, secondary and tertiary characters are nothing but window-dressing - two-dimensional, cliched and here and gone again like fall leaves in the wind, with no real purpose other than to point out something obvious. Not so in CM.
In this series, every character is crafted with a loving eye to detail. They serve a purpose; whether it's the mysterious Cypher at Parsa, or the lovable old couple from the market, they help not only the plot, but also to give further insight for the reader into this new world. No matter how fleetingly mentioned, you sense a story behind every person who passes through this book and little details flesh them out until they jump from the pages.
More than that, these characters interact with one another, whether they realise it or not, without the presence of the main cast. Reading "Breach," I never once had the feeling as if the entire world stopped when the main characters weren't in the picture. Rather, Garcia gives such a well-rounded view of events, that it becomes clear even her main characters are only a small part of what is happening, and we'd best pay attention to everything, or else risk missing a vital piece of the puzzle.
By now, I Burn to know not only what will happen to Kali and Stone, but also Talon, Eris, Foley, Adrie, Cai, Leal and all the rest. Garcia's characters are like the particles of her magic; they are everywhere, and they make up everything, and without them, we'd only be left with the void in-between.
If it's characters that feel like real people you want out of a book, then definitely sit down and read CM. You won't regret it.
I've loved this series from the start for its excellent word-building, fascinating plot and new insights into magic. But what will really convince you to take this journey into Aredia, are the characters.
Garcia has wowed me with two absolutely wonderful main characters. Kali's quirky sense of humour never fails to get me laughing at the oddest moment (I've gotten more than a few odd looks on the bus, now). While Stonewall is both charmingly sincere and frustratingly noble (I can't decide whether to swoon over him or smack him upside the head). But the real deal-breaker are her cast of supporting characters.
Too often, secondary and tertiary characters are nothing but window-dressing - two-dimensional, cliched and here and gone again like fall leaves in the wind, with no real purpose other than to point out something obvious. Not so in CM.
In this series, every character is crafted with a loving eye to detail. They serve a purpose; whether it's the mysterious Cypher at Parsa, or the lovable old couple from the market, they help not only the plot, but also to give further insight for the reader into this new world. No matter how fleetingly mentioned, you sense a story behind every person who passes through this book and little details flesh them out until they jump from the pages.
More than that, these characters interact with one another, whether they realise it or not, without the presence of the main cast. Reading "Breach," I never once had the feeling as if the entire world stopped when the main characters weren't in the picture. Rather, Garcia gives such a well-rounded view of events, that it becomes clear even her main characters are only a small part of what is happening, and we'd best pay attention to everything, or else risk missing a vital piece of the puzzle.
By now, I Burn to know not only what will happen to Kali and Stone, but also Talon, Eris, Foley, Adrie, Cai, Leal and all the rest. Garcia's characters are like the particles of her magic; they are everywhere, and they make up everything, and without them, we'd only be left with the void in-between.
If it's characters that feel like real people you want out of a book, then definitely sit down and read CM. You won't regret it.
August 14, 2017
I liked this second book of the Catalyst Moon series better than the first. But I think anyone who tried to read it without having read the first book would probably find it as confusing as I found the first book. It definitely builds on not only what happened in the first book (Catalyst Moon Book 1: Incursion), but also on what we learned in the first book about mages, sentinels, thralls, mage magic, hematite, and some other stuff.
Kali and Stonewall foolishly continue their romance right there inside Whitewater Bastion. So, naturally, everybody eventually finds out about it. Among the everybodies who find out are the members of Stonewall’s squad, the Sentinel commander, Talon, the First Mage, Foley, and Eris, the mage who can turn into a bird. All of these people have different reactions to the affair, most of them bad.
We learn more about the plans of the mages of the bastion to escape. We learn more about the Assembly Mage, Drake, who is spearheading a campaign to steal all the bastion’s hematite shipments to render the sentinels weaker for the planned escape. And when Kali finally gets a chance to investigate some thralls, we learn a little, but not nearly enough about the thralls.
Most of what we learn is about the implacable hatred between the sentinels and the mages. We also learn some about the occasional love between Sentinels and mages. The events of this book don’t do much to relieve the hatred or soothe the hurts caused by the love.
Thanks to Inkitt for a free review copy of this book.
Kali and Stonewall foolishly continue their romance right there inside Whitewater Bastion. So, naturally, everybody eventually finds out about it. Among the everybodies who find out are the members of Stonewall’s squad, the Sentinel commander, Talon, the First Mage, Foley, and Eris, the mage who can turn into a bird. All of these people have different reactions to the affair, most of them bad.
We learn more about the plans of the mages of the bastion to escape. We learn more about the Assembly Mage, Drake, who is spearheading a campaign to steal all the bastion’s hematite shipments to render the sentinels weaker for the planned escape. And when Kali finally gets a chance to investigate some thralls, we learn a little, but not nearly enough about the thralls.
Most of what we learn is about the implacable hatred between the sentinels and the mages. We also learn some about the occasional love between Sentinels and mages. The events of this book don’t do much to relieve the hatred or soothe the hurts caused by the love.
Thanks to Inkitt for a free review copy of this book.
August 11, 2017
When I start reading this book, I really didnt know that this was a second delivery of they story, my stars are to be more precise 4.5.
As I didnt read the first delivery, I only have a vague idea of what happened earlier.
A good story, a mixture of politics and religion that we all know is not always a good idea in the end, folklore, politics and religion, are something I really liked, as stories vary depending on the "ethnicity" decade individual That participates in the gathering of the moment.
As for the Main characters, I don't know much about Kalinda's pastor, I guess the first books has the info, but on this book we saw her getting to know about her magic. Then we have Stone or Elan,I got to know a little about him, the reasons behind him being a sentinel, his thoughs of being promoted. I wont said anything about their relationship, that I will save it for the next books.
It was a good book, entertaining, I did not think I would really like it, but it caught me.
I need to read te first book to have an opinion on the rest of the characters.
As I didnt read the first delivery, I only have a vague idea of what happened earlier.
A good story, a mixture of politics and religion that we all know is not always a good idea in the end, folklore, politics and religion, are something I really liked, as stories vary depending on the "ethnicity" decade individual That participates in the gathering of the moment.
As for the Main characters, I don't know much about Kalinda's pastor, I guess the first books has the info, but on this book we saw her getting to know about her magic. Then we have Stone or Elan,I got to know a little about him, the reasons behind him being a sentinel, his thoughs of being promoted. I wont said anything about their relationship, that I will save it for the next books.
It was a good book, entertaining, I did not think I would really like it, but it caught me.
I need to read te first book to have an opinion on the rest of the characters.
December 11, 2017
I liked book 1 a lot. I was surprised at the relationship between Kali and Stone because they are taught not to like each other. In this book he is sneaking to see her and I was so scared for most of the book that they would get caught and Kali would be hurt by Talon. Their relationship takes a sexy turn and really heats up. I was upset that made her feel bad but it was for the best. I can't wait to see how they work out being together.
The last page left me so hopeful. So hopeful in fact that if this was the last book, I would still be okay with how the series ended.
There are a few side stories to this series that I hope are fleshed out. Eris and Gideon, I would like to know more about. The Thralls, I can't wait to learn more about along with Kali's research. I still want to know more about the hematite and its effect on magic.
I got this ARC from Inkitt
The last page left me so hopeful. So hopeful in fact that if this was the last book, I would still be okay with how the series ended.
There are a few side stories to this series that I hope are fleshed out. Eris and Gideon, I would like to know more about. The Thralls, I can't wait to learn more about along with Kali's research. I still want to know more about the hematite and its effect on magic.
I got this ARC from Inkitt
May 27, 2019
So as much as I absolutely loved the first book, I loved this one even more! I highly suggest reading the first book though before this one, as this book picks up right where the 1st one left off. The characters really came into their own in this book and we found out so much more background on them. The book is full of awesome energy and I really didn't want it to end, yet I wanted to know what would happen! The author did an awesome job at keeping my interest up throughout the book. The ending was...oh my gosh intense!! I cannot wait to read more in the next book!! I'm so glad I found this author and her work! I love Stone and Kali so much!!!!!
August 25, 2017
This book was great. I would give more stars if I could. Loved it better than book one (and I really liked book one). I felt more close to the characters and sympathize with them. It is a good example of people who wants to get rid of what they don’t understand.
I recommend this book to everyone. I am looking forward to the next book.
This book was given as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I recommend this book to everyone. I am looking forward to the next book.
This book was given as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2017
So much better than book one . . .
Once I got on track and got the details that I felt was missing. I got back to book two. Now that I am finished I am uncertain if I am reading the same author and the same series. Things this time around feels so different. So much more. I fell like things have evolved. The pacing was faster. The romance felt more real. The tension heightened. The bite of forbidden was clear and you feel the intensity of it all. Book two was most certainly a step up.
Once I got on track and got the details that I felt was missing. I got back to book two. Now that I am finished I am uncertain if I am reading the same author and the same series. Things this time around feels so different. So much more. I fell like things have evolved. The pacing was faster. The romance felt more real. The tension heightened. The bite of forbidden was clear and you feel the intensity of it all. Book two was most certainly a step up.
September 7, 2017
This novel offers intricate world and culture building. The characters are interesting and flawed. It is stronger on sci-go than it is on fantasy, but there is definitely some fantasy there. A must read. You won't want to put it down.
* I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest and frank review. *
* I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest and frank review. *
February 8, 2018
I liked this. We're -slowly- learning more about the Thralls/zombies that have been appearing. Eris and Gideon are still trying to escape. It's fun YA fantasy.
October 21, 2017
When I reviewed Book 1 in this series, Catalyst Moon: Incursion, I wrote “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.”
It turns out I didn’t have to wait very long at all. Book 2, Breach, is here, and it’s significantly better than Book 1. The characters and relationships are more complex, and the story more riveting. Now there are so many threads to be resolved that I am wondering if the author has bitten off more than she can chew. Like Incursion, this volume does not stand on its own, and it leads you to want to read the next book in the series to find out what happens.
Breach essentially picks up where Incursion left off, with Stonewall and Kali separated and Kali beginning to receive magical treatment for her bad knee, the ostensible purpose of the trip that set this whole thing in motion. For a magical system that is otherwise quite well thought out, I think Kali’s knee poses a “transporter problem.” Like the transporter in Star Trek, the magic of this world should be capable of solving almost any problem a human writer can throw at it. But since that would make for a less dramatic story, the author has to set up some artificial obstacles and constraints that the technology (or magic) can’t easily solve. That is what Kali’s knee problem feels like to me. Magic that can cure the deathly ill and that works by rearranging fundamental subatomic particles is not going to be stopped by a limp. So I am wondering if there is more to Kali’s knee problem than we’ve been told so far. We don’t find out much in this installment.
We do, however, find out much more about Stonewall/Elan in Breach. His struggles with learning to lead his squad, with learning to read and write, and with his feelings about the reappearance of his long-lost brother, round him out as a character and lift this story above a simple cliched romance. I continued to enjoy the romantic plot between Stonewall and Kali, although it is a little sappy at times. And the fact that sentinels in this world don’t seem to live past age 40 very often would make the love story tragic enough even without all the other stuff going on.
The subplot involving Eris, Gid and the other mages also starts to take off in this book (literally). In Incursion, I found these characters somewhat puzzling and annoying, but here they find their voice. The author herself seems to be going through such a process of finding a voice, and it is a pleasure to watch it happen.
It turns out I didn’t have to wait very long at all. Book 2, Breach, is here, and it’s significantly better than Book 1. The characters and relationships are more complex, and the story more riveting. Now there are so many threads to be resolved that I am wondering if the author has bitten off more than she can chew. Like Incursion, this volume does not stand on its own, and it leads you to want to read the next book in the series to find out what happens.
Breach essentially picks up where Incursion left off, with Stonewall and Kali separated and Kali beginning to receive magical treatment for her bad knee, the ostensible purpose of the trip that set this whole thing in motion. For a magical system that is otherwise quite well thought out, I think Kali’s knee poses a “transporter problem.” Like the transporter in Star Trek, the magic of this world should be capable of solving almost any problem a human writer can throw at it. But since that would make for a less dramatic story, the author has to set up some artificial obstacles and constraints that the technology (or magic) can’t easily solve. That is what Kali’s knee problem feels like to me. Magic that can cure the deathly ill and that works by rearranging fundamental subatomic particles is not going to be stopped by a limp. So I am wondering if there is more to Kali’s knee problem than we’ve been told so far. We don’t find out much in this installment.
We do, however, find out much more about Stonewall/Elan in Breach. His struggles with learning to lead his squad, with learning to read and write, and with his feelings about the reappearance of his long-lost brother, round him out as a character and lift this story above a simple cliched romance. I continued to enjoy the romantic plot between Stonewall and Kali, although it is a little sappy at times. And the fact that sentinels in this world don’t seem to live past age 40 very often would make the love story tragic enough even without all the other stuff going on.
The subplot involving Eris, Gid and the other mages also starts to take off in this book (literally). In Incursion, I found these characters somewhat puzzling and annoying, but here they find their voice. The author herself seems to be going through such a process of finding a voice, and it is a pleasure to watch it happen.
April 30, 2022
I would first like to thank Inkitt for providing me with a copy of Breach to review - after reading Incursion (Catalyst Moon, #1) through Inkitt, it was amazing to have the opportunity to give an honest review through them once again.
You can read my review of Incursion, the first installment of the Catalyst Moon series here.
This review contains minor spoilers for Breach - please read with caution if you have not completed the book.
I was so excited to finally get back into the Catalyst Moon series, and the second installment did not disappoint. Garcia does an excellent job at world-building and character development, so much so that you can clearly see what is happening during each chapter, and you can feel the emotion behind the dialogue and inner thoughts of the characters. Stonewall and Kali are such a unique pairing, and as we saw in the first book, their bond forms significantly more from their initial meeting. We get to see so much more of their relationship take shape as we experience the complexity of their stations unfold, and the romance really takes off in this second installment.
When Kali was healing the woman in the village along with other mages and soldiers, I knew something was going to happen and did not anticipate that in trying to heal this woman, she actually ended up killing her. It was heartbreaking to see the aftermath of that scene, but great to see people standing up for Kali to prove that she did not intentionally mean to harm that woman.
I really enjoyed how we see the storylines begins to merge towards the end of the book - everything starts coming together and brings you so much anticipation on how everything will either be resolved or left to us to find out more in the next book. In my opinion, this installment has a quicker pace to it than the first book, which I believe compliments the story and gives both world-building and action their own spotlights, respectively. Things are much more high stakes in Breach, and it adds to the tension between Kali and Stonewall's romance, as well as to their own individual journeys throughout the book and series. It definitely builds upon what we saw in Incursion, and doesn't gloss over any information that we needed more details - it is excellent character development all around.
I can't wait to continue on with this series and see what Lauren L. Garcia has in store for us next!
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July 15, 2021
Breach drops us where Incursion ends: at Whitewater Bastion, the location both Kali and Stonewall had been dreading, because it would mean the end of their forbidden romance. No longer isolated, the two have to decide if they can still have a relationship.
As the pool of characters expands, so do their private struggles to find love in a crazy world. Not only is the representation diverse, so are the love stories. Drama knows no boundaries! I loved getting deeper into the headspace of the wide cast, as well as the deepening relationship between Kali and Stonewall.
Read my full review on F-BOM: https://f-bom.com/2020/07/03/catalyst...
As the pool of characters expands, so do their private struggles to find love in a crazy world. Not only is the representation diverse, so are the love stories. Drama knows no boundaries! I loved getting deeper into the headspace of the wide cast, as well as the deepening relationship between Kali and Stonewall.
Read my full review on F-BOM: https://f-bom.com/2020/07/03/catalyst...
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