It is only now as he begins his journey does he begin to understand. There are forces beyond his control that are leading him. Hellsfire is not ready to be on his own, yet does he have a choice? Can he find the answers and keep Alexandria from the chaos of his dreams? Can he save Krystal?
In Catalyst: The Passage of Hellsfire, author Marc Johnson has put together a story of good and evil with all the embellishments that make it exciting. His characters are wonderful foils or allies. The darkness draws the trolls and ogres, the dark and dangerous demons of the dark tide. The Wizard of the darkness, Premier, is an exceptional take on sorcery, of magic turned into darkness. The character exemplifies the fall into madness that often seems to follow the darkness.
Hellsfire is a fun and witty young man. His bravado often overrides his common sense, and yet he seems able to pull back from the very edge each time he is close to death and danger. He is full of doubts and fears and yet he has a strong belief in right and wrong. He is half in love with a woman he can never have, and yet he will lay down his life to keep her safe.
Krystal too is an amazing character. Full of life and light, and strength that run through her soul, she's steady during the destruction of her home, and never gives up. She is a vision of courage and loveliness, and a beacon for what light is all about.
I would recommend Catalyst for the young adult as well as the young at heart. Written in the manner of many of the stories of power, it is full of dwarves and elves, as well as the ugly and unassailable things that go bump in the night. It is a fun tale that holds your interest and will keep you awake well into the night.
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