Catalyst: Medieval magic meets modern military thriller

by Jacky Gray

A shiny new romance. A world-threatening hazard. Will Archer ever get his girl?
Not if fate, karma and the Gods have a say in it. Let alone the guy with the huge bag of spanners.
Archer never thought his love of spy movies would bleed into real life. His to create a powerful mandala which will seal the rifts between the two worlds. Having collected the tokens, everything should be on course for Archer and Rory to fulfil their destiny. But the reality of sharing her with his former arch-enemy-turned-good brings its own set of problems. Their progress is hampered because three really is a crowd but, just when the end is in sight, Gaia chucks in another spanner in the form of new rifts.
They are caused by a dark experiment, for which his brother's dodgy past was the catalyst. Archer won't sanction using Rory as bait, but the biggest spanner of all leaves them no choice. They must infiltrate a secret military lab to determine exactly what is causing this latest threat to the Hengist people. No biggie, then.

This blend of paranormal mystery, military thriller and espionage romp, infused with humour and romance, will delight fans of heist stories such as True Lies, Mr and Mrs Smith, and Mr Right.

Cool “Throw a spanner in the works” – dates back to the nineteenth century rebels who would sabotage the usurping machinery by chucking a spanner (wrench) into the cogs, making the machines grind to a halt. Note to reader :

Although in principle a stand-alone story, this is the culmination of a 13-book saga, so it has a fun catch-up at the start in the form of movie scripts to remind of previous pertinent scenes.

Colour of Light
#1 Context : Seven short stories of rebellion and redemption
#2 Chrysalis : Medieval magic meets modern-day mystery
#3 Captive : Modern-day mystery meets medieval magic
#4 Catalyst : Medieval magic meets modern military thriller

If you want to read more in this epic saga, there are two prequel
Nature’s Tribe – medieval adventures with magic, romance and humour
3 Handfastings and a Burial – Wedding-themed short stories
12 Days of Yule – Christmas-themed romance
8 Sabbats of the Sun – Seasonal-themed romance
13 Esbats of the Moon – Dystopian origins adventure
Nature’s Tribe Boxset – (Books 1-4 + Bonus Shorts)

Hengist – the adventures of Archer and friends in the quasi-medieval world
Archer – A sensitive warrior
Rory – A lonely misfit
Reagan – An intrepid geek
Slater – A courageous time-traveller
Geraint – A reluctant heir
Archer’s Quest (Books 1-2+Bad Boys)
Uniting the Tribes (Books 3-5+Good Guys)

Genres: Paranormal

316 pages, Paperback

Published June 22, 2021

About the author

As so often happens with these things, Archer was born while I was in the middle of writing another book. Events were conspiring to ensure I wrote this story, beginning with a trip to Warwick Castle where I stood enthralled with my friend and our kids while the Warwick Bowman talked us through the history of the long bow. He treated us to the ultimate demonstration, firing 100 arrows in rapid succession through a loop of rope, approximately the size of a human head. The warrior within me awoke - I was hooked.

I had recently read the first two books in Bernard Cornwell’s excellent Grail Quest series – these obviously made a big impact. I started writing it in march 2009; 18 days and 56,000 words later, Archer’s tale was told. After a year spent mostly in Wessex, the next four books were drafted and I was ready to go back and start editing the first two books.

I am currently writing the 6th book in the series and wondering if this will be the last.

Reviews

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes old problems require modern solutions and vice versa. Fortunately, our heroes are versed in both and they are going to need them.

This is book four and the conclusion of the series, but it actually does a surprisingly good job of standing on its own. So feel free to start here and go back to the others at a later date. I know I will.

This is a fascinating blend of genres with magic, paranormal and military adventure all mixed in. The story is well written and easy to read, although there is a lot going on so you might need a scorecard at times. The setting is well developed and fun to explore. I have a distinct feeling that there is a lot more to see in the earlier books. Our characters are also well developed and fun to read. They are tough and smart, but are still challenged by all the things being thrown at them. The pace is fast and the action is copious, making this rather a fun read. Overall, a great story and I look forward to going back to the earlier books.

Highly recommended

I received an ARC from Hidden Gems for review purposes.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rift is threatening to open between the worlds which would destroy them, both the Medieval and the modern. Archer and a small group of people on both sides must work quickly to repair it. It will take magic, solving puzzles and destroying a military lab to end the situation. This is a story that moves quickly and keeps you involved.
I especially liked the ending when Rory meets her father and finally marries Archer.

[AND 1515 · Rating 5 out of 5]

and1515
First and foremost the unique way two different worlds were so seamlessly stitched together to work so cohesively especially when you add a variety of characters with brilliant styles and different quarks add tremendous flair to this fascinating story.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catalyst brings this series to an epic climax. The characters are quite believable. The author seamlessly melds together the medieval and modern worlds. Serious themes are balanced with romance and humor. Jacky Gray never disappoints.

[Coco.V]

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