Blog Tour: Catalyst by Tracy Richardson #UltimateBlogTour #TheWriteReads

Hi Blisses,

I’m here again for another blog tour hosted by TheWriteReads and it’s about sci-fi book that’s concern with saving the world. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

TITLE: Catalyst
BY: Tracy Richardson
SERIES: The Catalysts #2
GENRE/S: Science Fiction, Young Adult
PUBLICATION: June 2nd 2020 by Brown Books Publishing Group

BLURB

Marcie is spending her summer working on the archeological dig that her mother runs: Angel Mounds, a site of an ancient indigenous civilization. Soon after she arrives, she meet some intriguing individuals, and becomes wrapped up in a supernaturally-charged mission to save the planet from the destruction man has brought upon itself.

Marcie Horton has a sixth sense. Not in the “I see dead people” way, but . . . well, maybe a little. She feels a sort of knowing about certain things that can’t be explained-an intuition that goes beyond the normal. Then there was that one summer four years ago, when she connected with a long-departed spirit . . . But nothing that incredible has happened to Marcie since.

This summer, Marcie is spending time working at Angel Mounds, the archeological dig her mother heads, along with her brother, Eric, and his girlfriend, Renee. The dig is the site of an ancient indigenous civilization, and things immediately shift into the paranormal when Marcie and her teammates meet Lorraine and Zeke. The two mysterious dig assistants reveal their abilities to access the Universal Energy Field with their minds-something Marcie knows only vaguely that her brother has also had experience with. Marcie learns how our planet will disintegrate if action is not taken, and she and her team must decide if they are brave enough to help Lorraine and Zeke in their plan to save Mother Earth, her resources, and her history. It looks like the summer just got a lot more interesting.

REVIEW

Before reading this, I read book 1 of the series, for which the copy was also provided by the author and host of this blog tour. That said, I have an idea of what I’m getting into with Catalyst. Catalyst is a young adult science fiction with a hint of supernaturals. It’s also about saving the world. In short, Catalyst is about the world before total destruction, before dystopia. That, for me, is a very interesting concept. I like it when the main characters are already in action before it’s too late. Sadly, though, I wish the plot was executed better.

Catalyst is in a first person POV, told by Marcie, who has some kind of sixth sense. And the story started with Marcie, her older brother, Eric (protagonist of book 1) and Renee (Eric’s girlfriend, also from book 1) arriving at the archeological dig courtesy of Marcie and Eric’s mother. There, Marcie instantly feel a connection with two of the seniors, Lorraine and Zeke. The mystery surrounding Zeke and Lorraine kept me interested for a while but I don’t really buy their “More will be revealed to you in time.” thing. It’s their answer when Marcie, Eric, Renee and Leo (one of their teammates in the dig) ask about what exactly they can do to save the world. Because saving the world is what Lorraine and Zeke said they will do.

The saving the world thing disappoints me. I was expecting a climactic events in the last part but it didn’t really happen. And the events that lead to the ending are a bit underwhelming. Like I said, the plot could be executed better. Catalyst has lots of elements and I found some of them too much. Like there are levels of dimensions and most people on earth are in third, and fifth is the highest which means whoever are in fifth are considered extraterrestrial beings. That element of the plot is okay for me but then there’s teleportation, chanting, some mention of totems, healing touch, levitating things and the most ridiculous is the meeting of the major supernatural beings known to humanity – like Jesus. Added with that is a conflict about fracking.

Suddenly, I feel like the plot is all over the place. Maybe it makes sense that supernatural beings is included in the plot because humanity believes they’re in charge of earth and maybe the fracking conflict is the author’s way of presenting a humane conflict but I feel like the plot isn’t cohesive enough.

I wasn’t also convinced enough about Marcie and her friends as the first chosen to later teach others how to save the world. Speaking of the characters, they’re just fine. Zeke and Lorraine caught my interest and made me wish the book is more focus on them. Because Marcie is only plain okay. I do like Eric because I liked him in book 1. Renee is okay as well. I found Leo more convincing because his reaction to Lorraine and Zeke is more realistic. I’d be skeptical too when someone tells me I should save the world. Like, it’s just outlandish (character’s term). Speaking of Leo, I don’t like his and Marcie’s excuse for a romance. It’s so insta-attraction and Marcie still running towards him despite their extremely different views about important things is a turn off.

I do like Marcie and Eric’s relationship as siblings. They’re not that close but they talk about important things. That’s one of the things I like in Catalyst. I also like the message the book is trying to convey. It is important and makes you think. There’s a thorough knowledge about fracking and how it affects nature. And more importantly, if archeology interests you, this book has lots of scenes and knowledge about the subject. Even I who’s not interested in archeology, or even farming really – you know getting mud in my nails – was entertained by this aspect of the plot. Don’t judge me with the mud in the nails thing, my parents have a farm and I grew up there but I love nail care more and of course, nail polishes.

RATING: rounded to 3.

I can say, I enjoyed book 1 more.

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Have you read this book? Or planning to? What do you think of it? Let’s chat.