The Catalyst

Helena Coggan's debut novel, 'The Catalyst,' introduces readers to a complex fantasy world where a dimensional break has created two distinct human populations: the magical Gifted and the nonmagical Ashkind. The story follows fifteen-year-old Rose, a Gifted girl who shares a terrible, life-threatening secret with her father, a high-ranking member of the oppressive Department. When a murder threatens to expose their secret and ignite a new war, Rose must confront difficult truths about her family, the government, and her own identity. This book explores themes of justice, loyalty, family bonds, and the courage to stand up against injustice, making it suitable for young adult readers aged 12-18 who enjoy intricate world-building and suspenseful plots.

In a thrilling debut by sixteen-year-old Helena Coggan, a girl with a terrible secret is tested to her limits as her fractured world teeters on the brink of war. Eighteen years ago, a dimensional break ripped open the sky, drawing humans into an ancient conflict. Otherworldly souls rained down and fused with those of people, dividing the population into the green-eyed, magical Gifted and the dark-eyed, nonmagical Ashkind. A devastating war followed, and the Gifted have managed a fragile peace ever since, largely through a brutal law enforcement organization known as the Department. Fifteen-year-old Rose’s father, David, has a leading role in the Department. Rose and David are Gifted, but they are also something else — something terrible. Their lives depend on keeping it secret. But when a mysterious murder threatens to tear Rose’s world apart, forcing long-buried secrets into the open, her loyalties are put to the test. How much does Rose really know about her father’s past? How far is the Department willing to go to maintain order? And, when the time comes, who will Rose choose to protect?