Walk Through Fire

Catalyst #1

by Zoe Cannon

Radioactive ruins. A radical anti-technology faction know as the Swords of Eden. Sinister scientists performing secret experiments. Shea knows what horrors await in the world outside the sanctuary she built for herself. Her mother is dead; her father is gone; her body is marked with the scars of what the outside world did to her. All she wants now is to be left alone.

So when she learns she’s a Catalyst, someone born to save the world by making seemingly-insignificant changes that ripple into larger effects, her answer is simple: no. This world isn’t worth saving.

Until she’s given her first mission: save the followers of a radiation-worshipping cult in the remnants of Washington, D.C. Until she discovers the secrets that tie the cult’s eccentric prophet to her own past. Until she sees a chance to regain something that was stolen from her long ago: a real family.

But there’s more than radiation worship going on in the ruins, and the prophet’s plans could put all his followers in the crosshairs of Shea’s old enemies... or cause devastation that reaches far beyond the cult. And as she races against time to stop him, Shea will face a threat that terrifies her more than any of that: the risk of starting to care about the world outside her walls.

Genres: Science Fiction

Unknown Binding

Published September 26, 2017

About the author

** I no longer use Goodreads to track my reading. My subjective rating and review standards aren’t likely to be useful to other readers--how would it help anyone else to see that I rated a book 5 stars because I read it at the exact right time in my life, or 2 stars because it used a popular trope I dislike?--and I’m not comfortable with the idea of readers and even authors taking them as objective measurements, or worse, constructive criticism. I now track my reading privately, but send out monthly book recommendations through my mailing list at https://www.zoecannon.com/newsletter. My old ratings and reviews are still here, but don’t take them as anything other than personal reactions. I may not see messages and friend requests. **

Zoe Cannon may or may not be a supervillain out to conquer the world through writing. When not writing, she can be found perfecting her schemes for world domination, plotting against her archenemies, and staying up too late reading a book. Her secret lair is rumored to be located somewhere in southern New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Abigail Grimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a reviewer, I’m always wary when it comes to indie books. There are several talented authors in the mix, but then there’s also several bad ones. Zoe Cannon is one of the former. Courtesy of the author, I had the opportunity to read her upcoming novel, Walk Through Fire before publishing. This review is in no way affected by this, and is an accurate and true statement of my opinion.

Dystopian novels are my weakness. I’m a sucker for them and there’s no point in denying that. While some readers understandably get sick of this theme, I’m a glutton for it. The fact that Walk Through Fire takes place after nuclear war is exactly why I devoured this book.

In Walk Through Fire, Cannon introduces a new and unique idea – one that I haven’t seen overplayed countless times. There’s no battle to the death for a throne, no saving the entire world, no swooning over the tall, dark and handsome dude. It’s real in the best of ways. The main character, Shea, is in her teens – a common occurrence for young adult literature. After being tortured for years by doctors that were supposed to help her, she finds peace in the world. Until the Swords come. Cue anti-technology group. With her home in ruins and a mysterious girl telling her where to go, Shea finds herself caught up in a radiation worshipping cult.

As a horror fanatic, I’m no stranger to the concept of cults. Oftentimes they all play out the same and in many ways, this one is little different (hence why I took away one skull). Caught up in the wave of zealotry, Shea finds she is the only one not blind to what is truly happening, but is that enough?

Walk Through Fire has a shaky start, but after the first fifteen percent it becomes obvious that Cannon has found Shea’s voice. From there, the story is deeply engrossing. Shea is a character readers can identify with in several ways. For me, I was fond of her “no bullshit” style of handing things. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

[Michael Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This is a story about Shea, a girl barely living in a post-apocalyptic world. One day, when she is almost a captured, a girl appears to her and tells her she has a mission from God and sends her to a cult compound which she must destroy. I found the overall story interesting, and the story has a lot of potential to go great places in future books (Shea being a "catalyst" to perform missions to improve the world). I was very interested in what Avery would be telling Shea throughout the book. But once she got to the compound, things kindof slowed down and meandered too much. Also, I felt like a lot of things were not touched on that could have been: more about the "swords", the doctors who experimented on Shea, the war that resulted in a bomb being detonated, and Avery (her messenger from God). 

NOTE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.This review was originally posted on MichaelSciFan

[Dee Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the concepts in this book. People needing purpose and people as catalyst for change. This book would definitely be appropriate for high school and upper junior high. There is some violence, but I think it is balanced by hope and hope and purpose and the knowledge that each person can have a huge effect on others are all things that the world needs more of - especially right now. There is some negative - dealing with the false hope that peace and running away (and death) can give but in the end, there is redemption and the choice that life is precious and forgiveness necessary. It kept my attention and while the world in which the story takes place is dark (it is dystopic - duh!) and the main character can be a bit whiny and irritating occasionally, I can see room for her to grow.

I received a copy of this book from the author and I am always nervous because what if I hate it??? This was a win. I definitely did not hate it. Bravo!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 4.5 star read for me. I think this book has it all. A great character that is flawed but still tries their best to make a better world, interesting premise, good cast of secondary characters, and twists that will keep you guessing. The book has an original idea from the majority of dystopians I have read in the past. I like Cannon's concept a lot. I do think the beginning was a bit hard to get through, but if you stick with it. I'd say after about 20 pages you really get into the mind of this character and truly find a connection with this story!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and enjoyable book. Shea's struggle for survival in a post apocalyptic world and her role as a catalyst are intriguing.Butt the most interesting character is that of Shea's conduit Avery.The book finishes nicely without a cliffhanger,yet leaves plenty of unanswered questions about the duos future for future books.I look forward to reading more about this world the author created.I received an arc for a voluntary and unbiased review.