Worldcatcher: A Young Adult Sci-Fi

by Casey Waldam

From the sun-drenched streets of Riverside, California to the chilling, unfathomable void of space, unfolds a tale of love, lost memories, interdimensional war, and the relentless search for identity.

Ben Kensi, a top high school basketball player, is haunted by dreams of a green-eyed girl wielding PSI powers. When tragedy strikes heartbreakingly close, he's cast into a realm beyond our galaxy. He soon finds himself aboard the flagship of a beleaguered human civilization from another dimension—the Alliance.

As he endures grueling training and stands on the precipice of war with the dreaded Acheron, pieces of Ben's obscured past collide with his reality. The mysterious green-eyed girl transitions from a figure in his dreams to a tangible link to a history rife with love, betrayal, and powerful PSI abilities.

Yet, with Earth's very survival at stake, revelations arise that shake the core of Ben's identity. Is he truly the savior foreseen to prevent interdimensional war, or is he just a pawn in a grander scheme? As destiny's crossroads near, Ben is forced to face the ghosts of his tormented past and determine his role in the looming cosmic conflict.

In "Worldcatcher", alliances waver, hidden truths surface, and the very fabric of reality becomes questionable. Dive into an epic interstellar journey where nothing is as it seems.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 7, 2025

About the author

Casey Waldam writes YA science–fiction books about love, strange worlds, and superheroes with PSI powers.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding who you are

A good book. Like most first books in a series, there is a lot of world building. This shows the book down a bit. The book really gets going from about halfway through.

Ben can't remember his past, but he seems to have settled into a nice life with his new foster family. However, visions and headaches threaten to derail his life. Now, his past is catching up to him and will change his future and possibly the future of the universe as well.

A good book that definitely had me intrigued by what is coming next. It's a little slow in places for me, but good. The only criticism I have about the book is that there seemed to be some language mistakes in the Kindle version. I will definitely be back for the next book.

[Deity World · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I’m the first review! First of all what a suspense read that was I did enjoy that there wasn’t just science fiction but crime and romance included as well. If you are a science fiction fan I’m sure you will enjoy this book

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable Young Adult science fiction novel. Easy to read with shorter chapters, but the story flows smoothly so it's not a hindrance. Keeps your attention with interesting and likeable characters.
I definitely would read the next book in the series as the author has captured my curiosity with the universe and situations she has created. Great story!

[Dee Hancocks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable Sci-fi, I liked the transition from a normal life for Ben to having to train and become badass! I think the story could go anywhere…literally!

[Chantie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a few chapters into this book, my first thought was ‘this would make a good movie’. Though the synopsis was interesting, the story was a bit much. It wasn’t to my liking. The book was told in the third person about a hidden ongoing war in the multiverse. Ben was supposed to be the protagonist. After the death of his adopted family, he was saved and recruited to fight in said war.

To be honest, I had zero emotional connection to Ben. When the scene came where the author had the opportunity to let me sympathize or empathize with the protagonist, it fell flat. I wished he had mourned his loss a little more. The way it was brushed off made it seem like it didn’t matter. It should have mattered because it was what propelled him to have a goal. I didn’t get what I wanted, which played down everything else for me.

Then there was the inciting incident. It took way too long to happen. I understand the author wanted to give us an overview of the protagonist’s life before the inciting incident and why it would push him out of his comfort zone. But blending in plot points similar to the pinch point before the inciting incident happened was a bit weird for me and confused me on several occasions. Some of the scenes throughout the book could have been omitted or written in a more subtle form without interrupting the actual storyline.

In the first few chapters, I noticed an excessive use of pronouns before the use of the names of the characters. This was written from a third-person point of view. Upon introducing a character to the reader, it would have been better to use their name. Like in real life. If you are introducing a friend to someone, I’m sure you aren’t going to use their pronouns. You’d use their name. It should be the same in a book

With that said, the story was intriguing. Some instances were a bit cliché for my taste and somewhat predictable. Others kept reading on. This story is perfect for people who have no problem reading stories replicating the procedure on the big screen. Hopefully, book two is better. I find myself wanting to know what happens to the new team on their journey for revenge and answers.

Thanks, Casey Waldam, for the chance to read an ARC of this book. This is indeed my honest review of World Catcher. Happy reading, folks.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was packed full of action sequences, emotional moments and unexpected twists. I felt the pain that Chloe was experiencing and her part of the story was the most exciting for me. I liked seeing how the characters bonded after going through shared experiences. And whenever a book has short chapters, that’s a plus for me. I would pick this up if you enjoy action/sci-fi/romances.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book.

[Nigella [Semi-Hiatus]]

At sixteen, she was born again, baptized with a fire, pale as ice. The same fire that took everyone she ever loved.

Sheesh. The beginning's pretty good, yo!
Plus, the cover is stunninnngggg~

P.S. Thnx for the free e-book giveaway, Casey Waldam. ^v^✨

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review posted on my blog The Writer's Library.



My relationship with YA literature has been interesting, to say the least. When I was in high school (as the target audience for stories in this age category) I did not often find myself reading YA for fun. It just did not interest me at the time.
Now, years later, I find myself wanting to occasionally look at offerings in the YA to see what it is like today. While I have not read a lot from it, I have enjoyed what few works I have picked up and find myself enjoying most of the stories in a similar way that I enjoy works in Adult Fiction. Literature, in any category, really has the power to speak to anyone, and Casey Waldam’s story of a young boy thrust into a galactic science fiction adventure is no exception to this. The short of it is, I enjoyed the story she has delivered here, and feel it’s a very strong offering for both young readers and adults!
With that out of the way, let’s dive into the review!
Summary
We open to a prologue where a young, unnamed girl is trying to escape confinement. She is captured by an unnamed group and thrown back into her cell, where she calls out to a boy named Ben.
Moving on from the prologue, we meet Ben as he is waking up from a nightmare involving this girl. He feels like he should know the context of his dreams, but he is unsure why. However, when a mysterious black car starts following him and his family is murdered, Ben finds out that those dreams are more than what they originally seemed, and the girl means more to him than he thought, which leads to confusion and a desire to know who she is.
Before he knows it, he finds himself thrust into a conflict that threatens his home Earth and everyone on it. Will Ben be able to sort out his past before Earth is destroyed?
Thoughts
So, the opening of this story confused me a bit and I was a little caught off-guard when the narrative shifted from the perspective of the young girl to a boy I had not been introduced to. That said, as the story went on, I enjoyed how Waldam melded the two plotlines together. I have seen that narrative technique before, and I am fond of how it has been used across many different stories.
Waldam’s story is no exception to this, showing Ben’s straightforward narrative while also keeping up a sense of mystery and intrigue as the story went on. Seeing how the plot unfolded with Ben and his sister Ann being stalked by the black Taurus kept me hooked, interested in whatever was about to happen! I will say that – despite the strong setup with mysteries such as the Taurus – I do think Waldam needed to spend more time on certain action sequences that are present in the story. Cases where the action goes too fast in this story are rare, but they do happen. That said, there is not enough time to discuss the problem in full here, so I will delve more into this in the writing section to explain what I mean and how such a problem could be handled in future works.
For now, let’s move on to characters!
Characters
Ben Kensi
Right off the bat, I liked Ben a lot. When I was first diving into this story, I was concerned that I may not like him or enjoy the narrative he is involved in. However, it turns out that I needn’t have worried. Ben is an extremely likable individual with good morals, it is clear he cares for the people in his life, and at the same time he goes through some trials and tribulations that test his character and morale. And when I say this, I am not talking about the training sessions toward the end of the novel. I am talking about his family.
I enjoyed seeing his relationships with his foster parents Chris and Lindsay and his sister Ann throughout the story. I honestly think one of the best indications of his kind heart is how he treats Ann after the disaster with his family. I have always loved when the strength of a relationship between two characters is clear and presented in a way that tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. To me, these types of relationships are vastly more compelling than romantic interactions, despite both relationships being strong when handled well. I just think romantic interactions are easier to mess up, so therefore have always preferred familial love and interactions over romance. And, in this story, I feel like the familial love is more important than the romantic love that is set up.
The Girl from the Prologue
From the moment this mysterious girl is introduced, I found myself intrigued by her story. I find it interesting that Waldam decides to give her psionic powers, because I was introduced to what psionics were over this past summer when I read another story that dealt with the concept. Waldam’s psionic is built up with some mystery, keeping me hooked and interested to learn more about her. Once we do learn more, I found myself feeling pity after all she went through. It seems like the people in charge in the novel just do not care at all about how their actions will affect her, painting an image of an adolescent who has seen more than her fair share of pain and suffering. And that is terrible to know – she is so young.
Moving on from the sadder implications, I found myself enjoying how she was built into the world. As I said before, Waldam does not tell the reader anything right away, instead opting for the plot events to reveal her personality. As a result, what we get is an incredibly tragic figure, but one that will not take mistreatment lying down. This character is amazingly strong! Besides all that, I found myself incredibly interested in learning about her connection to Ben. I will discuss why in the structure section, as how she works in the story is more apropos there.
Avi Ronejson
What I am going to say about this character will not provide much detail, as I am still unsure overall how to feel about him. I guess I do feel some degree of pity and sympathy for him, as I think even he was blindsided by some events of the novel. That said, how his character intertwines with Ben’s has me questioning if down the road he could turn to darker motives, given he basically kidnapped Ben. He always seems to be planning things that involve Ben, while rarely allowing Ben himself to be part of the planning that goes on, so I have my suspicions given what Waldam allows us to see go on with him.
That said, the buildup of his character and the entire team he leads is fantastic! I love how, even when he is seen before Ben meets him, the reader is kept in the dark about what exactly is going on with him. This leaves suspense and mystery surrounding his character that I still do not think is entirely resolved, because I don’t think we are seeing just how he’ll factor into the overall narrative yet. We only know that he is watching Ben.
Structure
I think the structure of this novel is one of its strongest aspects besides the likable characters. Like I mentioned earlier, I particularly enjoy how Ben’s story is intertwined with the young girl from the prologue. Waldam sets her character up first, and the way the novel is written makes it almost seem like her story will somehow intertwine with Ben’s, although how that will occur is not apparent right off the bat.
Setting the story up like that gives context about – not only Ben’s situation – but the world he is living in. And, in this story, the worldbuilding is crucial to creating a compelling plot. We do not know much about this girl until far into the narrative. Waldam, by introducing her first, is providing a hook. I think it is a given that this story will continue in another novel, so I believe it is a great idea to expand even more on the girl’s background and character and tie her into the story in an even bigger fashion. We get some information, but I think there is more to show about how her story factors into the society being built, just like there was more to Ben’s story than what the reader was first told on the surface.
Writing
As I said in that last section, one of the characteristics of the structure is the intertwining of the perspectives and stories of Ben and the girl from the prologue. To do something like this, there need to be distinct characteristics in the writing to tell the sections apart and make them different. There are two completely different tones with the sections involving Ben and the girl. With the girl’s sections – especially in the beginning – Waldam opts for an ominous, mysterious tone as the child does what she can to escape the situation she is in. This sets up her world as threatening and mysterious, making the reader want to know more while also engaging them with a sense of uneasiness.
During Ben’s sections, we see a more mundane situation set behind a tone that can turn dark and ominous at any moment. In the first chapter where we are introduced to him, Waldam’s writing sets up an interesting similarity to the imprisoned girl. In that opening chapter, the writing almost suggests that Ben is also a prisoner himself before he gains more awareness of his surroundings. It is only when he picks up his cellphone in that scene does the tone relax, showing an ordinary morning for a high schooler, showing distinct differences from the girl’s world, but also making it more believable when the two worlds begin to overlap.
The one issue I have with the writing is (as I hinted earlier) the action sequences. Now, granted, the climax was gripping, and that is important. Unfortunately, though, there are one or two scenes that are built up to be highly intense and of great importance, but Waldam blows through these sequences so quickly that it leaves little impact on the reader. If I remember correctly there is one scene where Ben is sneaking up behind someone while on a mission, and he gets caught, but I remember little else about the scene other than those two details. I think with that scene, there is nothing of emotional significance to attach it to. Therefore, it left no impact on me, so perhaps an easy fix would be to get the girl involved somehow, like she wanders off and gets attacked, so she and Ben fight the assailant together. Perhaps that would help make it more memorable in the moment.
Conclusion
Overall, I enjoyed this quite a bit! Waldam is a great writer and the narrative she has woven together is gripping! Her characters are easy to sympathize with, the world is beautifully built, and the conflict carrying the story is captivating!
In the end, I would recommend this to a young science fiction fan looking for a solid mystery with a rich world, fun characters, and an intriguing plot line that will keep you hooked until the last page is turned!

[Fred Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK TO START THE SERIES FOR ALL WHO ENJOY READING SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURES!

"Worldcatcher" by Casey Waldam is a book for all ages for those who really enjoy science fiction, action, and an intriguing storyline that will hold your interest from the first page to the last. You will find yourself routing for Ben and Chloe as well as their friends and teammates Kenzo, Jen, Rui, Ginny, and Wison to name a few as they join the Alliance to battle the Acheron who are set to eradicating all life to turn the universe into ash and darkness. The cast of characters are well defined. The twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat on each page, and just when you think you know what's going to happen next, Casey will send your brain spinning (in a good way) trying to figure who is actually the good guys and who are evil. The pain and loss will spark emotions of revenge, and at times, you will be thinking to yourself yes, way to go. I really enjoyed this book, and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I hope you will enjoy "Worldcatcher" as well as I did.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway. It said that this book was similar to Divergent and the Fifth Wave and I really enjoyed those series. It was similar to Divergent because the training scenes reminded me of that book. The taking over planets and controlling the minds of people is definitely Fifth Wave. I also thought it was similar to Michael Vey and that Hersman was very similar to Dr. Hatch. I was not expecting Ebba to be the spy or even Ben working for the enemy before he lost his memory. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Casey Waldam for letting me read the new version of Worldcatcher.
I loved it. The writing is solid, the sci-fi storyline is compelling and full of twists. But the true strength of this book lies in its characters. Each one is meticulously crafted with depth and individuality, taking the reader on a great journey.

Really excited to see what happens next with the story and characters.
If you're into sci-fi, give it a read!

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read this type of book in a long time and I have to admit that I missed it. I missed that action mixed with the supernatural. And I am very happy that I had the opportunity to read this book.

Ben is a person who has lost his memory. A wonderful family took him under their protection and Ben found his home there. But his world changes rapidly when he realizes that not everything is as he sees it, that is, how the people around him see the world. Ben is haunted in his mind by images of an unknown girl he has feelings for, but in reality he is haunted by people who want to kill him. Very soon he loses his family and learns that there are worlds around him and that there are creatures that want to destroy those worlds. Ben makes new friends, and with it, a family he never thought he would have, and goes into battle as he discovers piece by piece the puzzle he's missing.

The beginning of the book delighted me. It pulled me into that world so quickly that the pages just kept turning. That beginning was full of events and the characters themselves were interesting so there was no room for the story to drag on or become boring. I was surprised how easily some characters were removed from the story, especially because these characters gave Ben a certain strength and determination. And that's why I'm giving it a higher rating, because it didn't follow a set pattern that many books have. I have to admit that for a moment while Ben was on board, I lost that enthusiasm because I think that one thread that maintained that high level of action and events disappeared. But I don't see it as such a negative part. Of course, the book ended with quite a cliffhanger and many open questions, but that's how it is with sequels.

Definitely looking forward to second book and to see what will happen. Just hope it won't be streched too much. But big Thank you to Casey for giving me the opportunity to read this book and to Booktasters for connecting me with Casey.

[Tayler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been in a reading slump this month. I have DNF’d so many books this month it isn’t even funny. This kept my attention. Also, everyone needs a friend group like Ben’s. Plus, the last part of the book was nothing but twists. Every time I thought I had it figured out,I was wrong. I can’t wait to see what happens next. There were a couple grammar things here and there. But, I truly enjoyed it.

[Morgan Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Worldcatcher: A Young Adult Sci-Fi (Book 1)" by Casey Waldam is an engaging entry into the young adult science fiction genre. This book kicks off with an intense, action-packed storyline that quickly draws readers into a world filled with suspense, mystery, and unexpected twists. The story is centered around strong, well-developed characters, particularly Chloe and Ben, whose narratives intertwine in fascinating ways. Chloe’s use of telepathy to reach out to Ben introduces an intriguing layer of sci-fi elements that keeps the plot dynamic. The novel’s pacing is well-executed, with tight, clean writing that avoids overwhelming information dumps, which can often plague this genre.

One of the strengths of "Worldcatcher" is its world-building. Waldam skillfully constructs a universe that feels both vast and intimate, blending high-stakes action with moments of emotional depth. The character development is exceptional, particularly as the author explores themes of identity, resilience, and trust against a backdrop of a futuristic setting. There are moments that are genuinely heart-wrenching, making the reader deeply invested in the characters’ journeys. While the book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, it resolves enough of its plot threads to leave readers satisfied yet eager for the sequel.

However, some readers might find the rapid shifts between action scenes and quieter moments a bit jarring. The complex narrative, with its multiple points of view and layers of mystery, may also be challenging for those who prefer straightforward storytelling. Nevertheless, for fans of young adult science fiction that combines elements of thrillers, mystery, and romance, "Worldcatcher" offers a compelling read that promises even more excitement in future installments. This debut entry sets the stage for what could become a standout series in the genre, reminiscent of other popular YA sci-fi hits like "The 5th Wave" and "Divergent".

[Jessica Juby | jesshidesinbooks]

I was supplied a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few mistakes that should've been picked up by the editor or a proofreader. I have around 30 highlights where a contraction should've been used, there was a mis-phrasing, the tense changed, etc.

It's pitched as YA and the majority of the language does suit a younger audience, with the exception of some violent scenes and use of the word "fetor" (I had to look it up 🙈)

This is a fast-paced novel with great action scenes. You can whip through it really quickly; chapters are typically no longer than a page or two, the longest maybe being four pages.

There is one main story arc which dominates, rather than having multiple b-plots. The action of this main plot keeps the pace and story swift so makes up for the lack of subplots.

One of the twists is fairly predictable but a second caught me by surprise.

While I'd be interested to see where the story goes, the writing makes it difficult for me to stay with the flow of the narrative.

[Mathgeek97pi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. Below is my honest review.

A lot of YA feels written for all audiences, but is YA for its rating and because the main character is a teenager. This felt like a YA book written only for the younger YA audience. Language was definitely too childlike for me.

I liked the fact this was more than just a sci fi story. It had romance and mystery, too. I loved that Ben and his foster sister got along. However, this just wasn’t quite right for me. Do I think it is right for a younger audience? Absolutely! Three stars for me, possible five for the right audience. I’m giving it an average of four

[David Gillett · Rating 1 out of 5]

The atrocious writing made this somewhat interesting book unreadable. I got about halfway through and I just couldn't take it any more.

The author mangles simple English colloquial speech patterns. Where was the editor??? The straw that broke the camels back:

"The girl they held for two years in Lima failed to comply with their expectations". You don't "comply" with expectations, you "fulfill" expectations. The book is littered with similar awkward mis-wordings.

As Dorothy Parker once said, "This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force."

Get an editor who speaks English as a native language.

[Aubriana Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute page-turner! The plot was brilliantly constructed, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The characters were multi-dimensional and felt incredibly real, making their triumphs and failures all the more impactful. The themes explored were both timely and timeless, offering a deep exploration of human nature. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for a story that’s both thrilling and thought-provoking.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to a space science fiction series. Won in a giveaway.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok. So. This book. I really don’t know where to start.

First things: I got this book free through a Goodreads giveaway. So I felt obligated to finish it and write a review.

Three stars for the concept. Honestly it has potential. But lots of gaps and opportunities for improvement. I didn’t understand any of the characters. Their thoughts and emotions were flat. Instead of understanding each of them it was like I was being told things in a clinical detached sense. I didn’t feel any sympathy for the characters and the “bad guys” didn’t seem bad.

It’s supposed to be a romance but that fell flat too. Half the book doesn’t even involve the romance, and besides her green eyes I have no idea why they even like each other.

The story overall just didn’t engage me. When I read fiction I want to engross myself in the story and be in another world. This wasn’t possible here. I was way too distracted by the writing. Which leads me to…



One star for execution. This book needs a good editor. A human one. I can’t shake the feeling that this was AI generated. Enough small weird phrases that I was unable to escape into the story and instead kept having to re-read sentences to make sense of what was going on. I think this is part of why the story just didn’t work for me.

A few examples:
“The smooth fabric of a police jacket was slipping out of his hands. He squeezed Ann tight and landed on his side, running away from the patch of light emitted by the Ford’s headlights.”

How exactly does one squeeze someone, fall on his side, and run at the same time?

“Finally, he pulled himself together and recognized a metal bed under his back. The sheet was stiff, the pillow fresh. When he sat down, the darkness was dispersed by the pale light of the lamp placed on the small table pressed to the wall.”

How did he go from lying in the bed to the action of sitting down?

“He noticed with scare how weak her grip was.”

???

[Fer Galan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable young adult Sci Fi read. Many of those who like to read about romance with supernatural elements will find intriguing. The author made a great job of shifting between timelines and providing each character with a storyline and description. Personally it was hard for me to connect with the characters although I did enjoy them I found myself wishing they had more fire. I liked the creativity the author brings to the table as she is able to discuss a multitude of topics. I found very interesting the dream sequences between the characters and the telepathy. If you like sci fi books this is a one of a kind story that is sure to keep you intrigued.

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this is a case of not for me kind of book. I received a copy of this book for free by the author herself in exchange for an honest review which will follow. That free copy and even the very kind letter and nice bookmark that came with it, which was very thoughtful from Casey won’t affect my opinion on her book at all.

That being said, I already mention it wasn’t for me. My personal enjoyable was a low three out of five, but it isn’t a bad book and I really think there is a public for it. The writing is very fluid, the narration alternating between characters in very short chapters give it a fast pace as well. But what didn’t work for me was all the tropes that too often are present in way too many ways and places in YA book. This is a really typical YA story and that very reason for which I didn’t really enjoy it, might be the very reason some of you would love it. If you like YA I think this book deserve to be look at. I’ve seen YA book publish by big publisher to be below this one, so the fact that it’s self publish should stop you considering it for your next read at all. It’s an ambitious first book by the author that should please a specific audience.

So to explain my rating, I would give it a low 3, maybe even 2,5 as personal enjoyment, but I think that it can reach a potential 4 for the right readers, so I will give it a fair 3.

[Aleksandr Zahharov]

Waldam's writing is noted for its accessibility, featuring shorter chapters that maintain a smooth narrative flow without hindering the story's progression. This approach has been highlighted in reviews, making it an enjoyable read for those seeking a captivating yet straightforward sci-fi experience.

[Chloë · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author sent me this book via Kindle in exchange for honest review.

The premise of this book is interesting and intriguing, I was really excited to potentially start a new series obsession. The chapters are short and it reads really fast.

However there are too many issues for me. The book was sent to me directly by the author and yet was filled, literally filled, with spelling and grammatical errors. There was clearly no editing process at all here. I stopped writing them all down eventually because there were just too many.

The writing itself made little sense. I was re reading sentences over and over and over again because I just either had no idea what they were trying to say, or they just literally weren’t written properly. I really am convinced that this book was written by AI. I had a basic idea of what was happening but also no idea at all. It was really confusing. It’s also marketed as YA but the language flicked between middle grade and adult.

The concept was original but the execution felt wrong. It could just be me but there were a lot of elements I felt were heavily inspired by other books in similar genres. The spaceship felt very akin to Illuminae, there was a maze too (maze runner). There was a ginger girl called Ginny (HP) and a mention of a character called Tris (Divergent). Again it might be me.

I’m really disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this as I love supporting small authors but I promised an honest review so that is what I’ll give.

[christina clymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

i got the amazing opportunity to read this story from the author and i am just want to shout out casey waldam for sharing this story with me!! (as well as an updated manuscript, huge thanks!)

i enjoyed so much about this story it’s hard to pick a place to start. i greatly enjoyed the fantastic cast of characters and the story line that each of them to us readers. the universes building was very well described for it being a science fiction story and sometimes bringing many different worlds can get confusing at times, but it was easy for me to keep track of.

all i can say is now that i am beyond excited for where this story and these characters are headed next!!

[Buzz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This reads like a mediocre wattpad story. The characters are so one dimensional and I started skipping pages and felt like I wasn’t missing anything. On the other hand, I felt like things came out of nowhere. I would reread the pages and still feel confused. Something’s severely lack explanation. On top of that, all the “twists” were so predictable.
It’s advertised as a “sci-fi romance.” Is the romance in the room with us rn? There isn’t anything remotely romantic in it. Is there a love interest? Sure. But they don’t even meet face to face until over halfway through the book.
I won the book from a giveaway for kindle. I always read digital books on dark mode. Huge mistake. The font kept switching between gray and white. Sometimes it would be chapters, pages, paragraphs, or sometimes random words would be a different color. At one point it even changed mid word. Also, there were so many spelling and grammatical errors. Did no one edit or peer review this?
The plot itself had so much potential, but it fell flat so hard. Huge waste of my time and not worth it.

[Daisy Hollands · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful, eye catching cover. I love it. I was definitely drawn into reading the book. It’s really thought provoking. As we all know, YA is not my preferred genre, and at 57 I don’t think I and the target audience. However, this was a really enjoyable read. It was a bit of a slow burner but that worked well because it enabled the readers to really familiarise themselves with the characters. The story picked up pace though and was actually quite gripping. It’s a really well told, action packed sci-fi story which I think a lot of people would enjoy reading

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worldcatcher by Casey Waldam is an electrifying tale of self-discovery and interdimensional conflict. After a life-changing chase, high school basketball star Ben Kensi begins experiencing vivid dreams of a green-eyed girl. These dreams hold the key to his forgotten past and his mysterious PSI powers. As Ben is drawn into a cosmic battle, he struggles to uncover whether he is destined to save the world or merely a pawn in a larger game. Full of mystery, adventure, and forbidden love, Worldcatcher is a story of fate and destiny that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

[kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable Young Adult sci-fi book that was well written with a captivating storyline and well developed characters.
The book is full of world building and really set the scene for the books that will follow.

I was so intrigued by the premise of the story and my interest was held all the way through and I was hoping it wouldn't end. I am also so intrigued by what will come next and I cannot wait to see what happens.

[D.A. Wysong International Author Paranormal Author - Screenwri · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Untimely Hero

I couldn’t put this book down as I turned the pages to watch the protagonist Ben Kensi stand against the perpetrators that were coming against humanity.
Such a timely tale considering everything that is happening currently in our world today with Alien disclosure.
If you like The Hinger Games You will love Worldcatcher: The Shadows Of Acheron.
D. A. Wysong Author Of the best selling series Monster Hunters Of America.