K.T. Pike’s CATCHING QAT is a fascinating adventure about identity, destiny, and the unbreakable bonds of family. It delivers a mixture of diverse creatures (including pirates, witches, and dwarves) in a deeply layered world of magic and mist. The story opens with Qat, a sharp-witted assassin and thief, whose latest job goes awry when the city suddenly goes into lockdown. With the city guards on their tail, Qat is forced to find another way out or risk getting captured. But distraction—and perhaps destiny—strikes when Qat crosses paths with a unique elf wearing a necklace that’s too tempting to ignore. This reckless detour leads to a fateful encounter in a crowded tavern as Qat comes face-to-face with ae’s supposed twin.

For Qrodin Balaerdo, the moment is almost unthinkable. After spending over twenty years searching for his twin, he never expected to see aer again—let alone in his very own tavern. However, the reunion doesn’t go as he imagined: Qat has no memory of him or their mother’s tragic death. Refusing to let Qat out of his sight, Qrodin helps aer escape the city. This journey sparks an adventure that has the twin joining forces with a small, unconventional group of travelers. Together, they must navigate the dangers that lurk in the dark, unravel hidden mysteries, and face the path that destiny has set out for them.

CATCHING QAT shines well in its expansive and diverse world. The land of Oram feels alive with exotic creatures, such as hablis, dagas, elves, and so much more. There are multiple layered cultures with distinct languages, traditions, and magic systems. One distinctive feature is the use of gender-neutral pronouns (ae, aer, aem) for the people of Karatolii, which adds a bit more authenticity to the culture. Although it may require more attention to follow, Pike’s linguistic choice does help enrich the world and offer a subtle reflection on identity and inclusivity.

Equally intriguing are the characters, who add to the novel’s development and buildup. Qrodin’s decade-long search for his twin provides a strong emotional anchor and helps explore the siblings’ relationship (before and after Qat’s capture). Readers get to see how they both re-navigate their bond and search for answers behind their mother’s death and Qat’s disappearance: “After twenty years, he’s an entirely different person, but around Qat, he’s still a twin following around and looking after his other half. Unfortunately, without that rope, he doesn’t know where to be.”

Surrounding the twins are other diverse characters (a fiery dwarf with unusual abilities, a hablis whose cooking and handy skills defy expectations, a monk, and a powerful elf) that in their own way become an integral part of the story. The novel’s pace is well-balanced and the writing style is descriptive enough to immerse readers into the action, tension, and suspense. The only issue is the overwhelming detail about different cultures, languages, and creatures, which can be hard to keep track of. Overall, though, this novel proves a good start to yet another exciting fantasy saga.

K.T. Pike’s CATCHING QAT creates an exhilarating world of fantasy, adventure, and magic that’s enriched with a wild cast of diverse characters and creatures.

~ Tomi Alo for IndieReader