When human bodies are found with scales and tails, DNA specialist Kat Crocker is assigned to uncover the cause of the mutations and stop them before they spread. But her growing visibility makes her a target. As attacks escalate, the trail leads her to a newly released VR game powered by impossible genetics—and to one man: the mentor who taught her everything, the father she buried years ago.
Review
The Catalyst by Andrea GoyanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well, that was trippy. Goyan has created a bendy world where gaming blends with reality to create a super-race of animal-human hybrids. It's an extension of Ready Player One where the company wants more than allegiance- it wants to own every identifying piece of the participants. The book has some great reviews.
Overall, the story is written with immersive, detailed scene-setting and an excellent sense of suspense. It keeps you curious until the final reveal. I wish it had leaned a little heavier into the science. The "why" of it all is largely left untouched and I would've enjoyed knowing more about the transmission of DNA from one organism to another. However, the overall premise and good plot stitching help to keep the novel solid and intriguing. So while it isn't a perfect sci-fi, it has a lot to recommend it and is worth picking up.
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Purchase Link
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/
https://www.amazon.com/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/
Author Bio – Andrea Goyan is an award-winning author and
an avid animal person who grew up being called Goat-Girl and Raccoon-Mama. She
is a grateful part of a flock of collaborative Magpie Poets whose first
collection, An Illegal Feast, was released in 2025. Andrea also co-hosts
MetaStellar Magazine’s “Long-Lost Friends” and “Storytime.” In her spare time,
she walks her dogs and loves to paint, especially animal portraits.
Many of her stories are available for free on her website.
Social Media Links –
Website Andrea Goyan,
Facebook Andrea Goyan Storyteller,
Bluesky Follow Andrea on Bluesky!
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