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smolbean_reads's review
3.0
Catalyst is perfect for readers who enjoy imaginative world-building and immersive fantasy/sci-fi adventure. This book is about friendship, trust, faith, secrets, and just the casual task of STOPPING THEIR WORLD GOING BAD. I was really impressed with Crilly's level of detail in the world he has created. How does this airship work, you ask? Brandon's got it covered. Really, the setting was VERY COOL, I loved the post-apocalyptic vibe- cloudless skies, Windroutes, glass domes to grow produce, god-like MONSTER THINGS, that place where you *MIGHT* fall off the edge but who knows. I loved the main characters, especially Mavrin the magician, Eyasu and Aulina. I enjoyed their witty quips and friendship. I would definitely liked to have seen more of Aulina in the book. If you're smarter than me you'll love the complex storyline though I must admit I personally got a bit lost at times. Overall this is a very good debut novel and Crilly works his magic with this genre!
numinousspirit's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ergative's review
2.25
This felt odd to give such a low rating to, because it had all the parts that combine to make the sort of story I usually like. We have mature characters with a variety of skills and backstory (no longer young wunderkinds who must come of age and learn things in front of us); we have an imaginative world-building that made me work to understand it; we have a conflict with an antagonist that comes down to a solution which does NOT involve fighting. We have WINDSHIPS and magic--both stage magic and also real magic. We have wandering scholars on a hopeless Cassandra-like quest; we have aging magicians and retired fighters and second chance love and friendship. I love these kind of things!
The problem is that I didn't feel any depth to the plot or emotional connection to any of this. I didn't care about the characters; I found their fumbling attempts at rapprochement frustrating, the repeated friction and reopening of old wounds unconvincing and irritating. I found the characterization shallow, too: the stage magician keeps being presented as using his unique magician talents because he's not a fighter and no longer a scholar and so cannot draw on any other special skills. But as far as I can tell he doesn't actually make much use of any of the clever gadgets he uses in his shows, and when push comes to shove the extent of his magician skills seem to come down to 'Ah, we must redirect people's attention elsewhere! Misdirection! The key is misdirection!' and so they make a decoy maguffin that misdirects the antagonist for like two seconds.
[nb: spoilers follow]
The plot felt shallow, too. The solution is literally a deus ex machina: they are in a hidden sactuary with a machine, and then the gods get involved and make everyone sit down and talk it out, like middle schoolers in detention for fighting.
The world-building had some elements of coolness to it. I liked the windships. I liked the hints of large-scale politics, how the Unity is trying to be a generalized government and the city of Farglade is trying to hold off Unity to build its own more socialist collective, but the ruling council is rotting from within. I thought the way the Raw gave Breck constant horrific hallucinations, sometimes as an attempt to warn him what to say and what not to say, but other times for no apparent reason other than to remind him of their power over him, was a stroke of genius. Not necessarily narrative genius, as the nature of their power over him was never quite clear, since they're supposed to be trapped in the dariss, but on a scene-level it was great. Every time he hallucinates something, I was caught by surprise.
Still, those flashes of excellence were too few and far between. It took me ages to slog through this book. Too bad. A valiant swing, but a miss all the same.
The problem is that I didn't feel any depth to the plot or emotional connection to any of this. I didn't care about the characters; I found their fumbling attempts at rapprochement frustrating, the repeated friction and reopening of old wounds unconvincing and irritating. I found the characterization shallow, too: the stage magician keeps being presented as using his unique magician talents because he's not a fighter and no longer a scholar and so cannot draw on any other special skills. But as far as I can tell he doesn't actually make much use of any of the clever gadgets he uses in his shows, and when push comes to shove the extent of his magician skills seem to come down to 'Ah, we must redirect people's attention elsewhere! Misdirection! The key is misdirection!' and so they make a decoy maguffin that misdirects the antagonist for like two seconds.
[nb: spoilers follow]
The plot felt shallow, too. The solution is literally a deus ex machina: they are in a hidden sactuary with a machine, and then the gods get involved and make everyone sit down and talk it out, like middle schoolers in detention for fighting.
The world-building had some elements of coolness to it. I liked the windships. I liked the hints of large-scale politics, how the Unity is trying to be a generalized government and the city of Farglade is trying to hold off Unity to build its own more socialist collective, but the ruling council is rotting from within. I thought the way the Raw gave Breck constant horrific hallucinations, sometimes as an attempt to warn him what to say and what not to say, but other times for no apparent reason other than to remind him of their power over him, was a stroke of genius. Not necessarily narrative genius, as the nature of their power over him was never quite clear, since they're supposed to be trapped in the dariss, but on a scene-level it was great. Every time he hallucinates something, I was caught by surprise.
Still, those flashes of excellence were too few and far between. It took me ages to slog through this book. Too bad. A valiant swing, but a miss all the same.
claudiearseneault's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The writing is fluid, the world is intricate and fascinating (I want more!!), the plot unfolds in a way that feels both inexorable and unpredictable, but more than anything, the characters are an absolute blast. A rough separation well over a decade ago leaves the main trio with a lot of baggage, making every conversation spiky and entertaining, adding a delightful layer to the mystery that had me craving for them to work their shit out while enjoying every failed attempt on the way.
janettedv's review
4.0
I love fantasy and dystopian fiction so a new fantasy novel with a strong dystopian theme really ticked all the boxes for me.
Aelda is a broken world, fractured in years gone by and now held together by the gods and their magic. The inhabitants survive in isolated communities growing food in glass domes and trading. However, there are also The Raw, beings made of energy who were somehow involved in the fracturing of the planet. They seem to be gathering power and becoming stronger which could destroy the fragile balance of life. The world building is brilliant and each of the different settings really comes to life.
I loved the main characters especially Mavrin and Deyeri who were once involved with each other and their new relationship is touchy to say the least. The interplay between all the characters is interesting and there is a brilliant supporting cast too including the young wind ship captain.
The story line is complex and at times, I struggled to follow what was going on but the novel does repay perseverance and it all comes together at the end. It is obviously intended to be a series but the book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger and this part of the story is well-resolved. I will certainly look out for the future books to see where Mavrin etc end up next.
Thank you to Net Galley and Atthis Arts for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Aelda is a broken world, fractured in years gone by and now held together by the gods and their magic. The inhabitants survive in isolated communities growing food in glass domes and trading. However, there are also The Raw, beings made of energy who were somehow involved in the fracturing of the planet. They seem to be gathering power and becoming stronger which could destroy the fragile balance of life. The world building is brilliant and each of the different settings really comes to life.
I loved the main characters especially Mavrin and Deyeri who were once involved with each other and their new relationship is touchy to say the least. The interplay between all the characters is interesting and there is a brilliant supporting cast too including the young wind ship captain.
The story line is complex and at times, I struggled to follow what was going on but the novel does repay perseverance and it all comes together at the end. It is obviously intended to be a series but the book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger and this part of the story is well-resolved. I will certainly look out for the future books to see where Mavrin etc end up next.
Thank you to Net Galley and Atthis Arts for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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