Douglas N. March opens the Cat Slayer Saga with an imaginative middle-grade adventure filled with mysterious powers, unusual heroes, dangerous creatures, and a teenager discovering that his life has a much greater purpose. Cat Slayer introduces readers to Anthony Blackburn, a 15-year-old whose return to Castle Valley, Utah quickly becomes anything but ordinary.
A New Beginning Leads to an Extraordinary Discovery
Anthony has recently returned to the United States after living in Spain. His mother has accepted a job offer from renowned geneticist Catherine Alley Clysm, bringing the Blackburn family back to Castle Valley. For Anthony, the move means adjusting to a different school and becoming familiar with his surroundings again.
Blending into the crowd proves difficult. Anthony has striking sunfire orange eyes that naturally attract attention, something he would rather avoid. He simply wants to get through school and settle into his new life.
That plan begins changing one morning when Anthony overhears his parents having a serious conversation. Their words include strange references to Cataclysm, the Hammer of Time, the Slayer’s Edge, and someone known as the Cat Slayer. Anthony has no idea what any of it means.
His father soon gives him an unusual black watch and tells him to wear it at all times. Its red face and sword-shaped hands immediately make the object intriguing. Anthony senses that the watch carries a purpose his parents have yet to explain.
Douglas uses these early mysteries to create curiosity while keeping Anthony’s everyday teenage experiences at the center of the story. The unanswered questions give the opening chapters an adventurous energy and encourage readers to discover exactly what Anthony’s family knows.
School Life Meets a Superhero Mystery
Anthony’s first day at school introduces several memorable personalities. His teacher, Mr. Fardlog, gives him an enthusiastic welcome, while a student named Van immediately tests Anthony’s reflexes by throwing a paper airplane toward his face. Anthony catches it just inches away, surprising everyone around him.
Then there’s Tempest.
Anthony is immediately fascinated by his new classmate, whose eyes are as distinctive as his own. Their friendship develops through nervous conversation, shared curiosity, and plans to meet during lunch.
Their lunchtime meeting becomes the moment when Anthony’s world changes completely.
The sun suddenly begins setting several hours earlier than expected. Students become confused, and Anthony discovers that his mysterious watch has started glowing. Words appear around its face: “A hero in the night, here to fight the fight.”
When Anthony reads the phrase aloud, energy rushes through him. His watch transforms, its hands forming the shape of a complete sword. Tempest notices something even more astonishing. Anthony is suddenly dressed in armor and a cloak.
The meaning becomes clearer just as someone screams that a giant cat monster has appeared in the road.
Anthony’s ordinary first day has officially become his first encounter with a destiny he never expected.
Evil Cats, Courage, and a Larger Fantasy World
Cat Slayer builds its identity around an entertaining premise: superheroes battling an evil race of felines. Douglas expands that concept through magical objects, unusual abilities, mysterious family knowledge, and a larger conflict that Anthony is only beginning to understand.
The story takes place in 2035, giving its superhero fantasy a futuristic dimension. The Hammer of Time introduces the possibility of manipulating daylight, while the Slayer’s Edge and Anthony’s watch suggest a deeper mythology surrounding the Cat Slayer identity.
Anthony also makes an approachable young protagonist. He experiences nervousness around classmates, feels uncomfortable receiving attention, develops an immediate interest in Tempest, and wonders why his parents are keeping secrets from him. These familiar experiences give readers an accessible path into the larger fantasy adventure.
At the heart of the story is courage. Anthony receives extraordinary responsibilities while he is still learning about himself. His integrity, skills, and willingness to act when danger appears become essential qualities as the saga begins unfolding.
About the Author
Douglas N. March is a 23-year-old author living in Bozeman, Montana, with his Pitbull, Destiny. He began writing at 18 and enjoys fantasy, mystery, outdoor activities, camping, and stories featuring cats, dragons, and animals.
Douglas has Asperger’s and views his writing journey as a way to demonstrate that a disability doesn’t have to prevent someone from pursuing a dream. Creating fiction gives him the opportunity to develop original worlds shaped by imagination and possibility. His Christian faith is also an important part of his life, and he believes in treating people respectfully regardless of their beliefs.
Cat Slayer is available in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover editions on Amazon.
A Heroic Journey Takes Its First Step
As the first installment of the Cat Slayer Saga, Cat Slayer establishes a playful superhero universe with plenty of room for mystery, friendship, danger, and discovery. Anthony’s glowing watch, emerging powers, unusual companions, and monstrous feline enemies give the opening adventure its own personality.
For young readers who enjoy superheroes, fantasy creatures, secret destinies, and imaginative worlds, Douglas has created a story that invites them to discover what happens when an ordinary school day becomes the beginning of an extraordinary heroic journey.