Force of Chaos (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Book 1): A Novel

by Diana Ma

From the world of Hasbro’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers entertainment franchise comes an action-packed, original YA novel from the point of view of Trini Kwan, the Yellow Ranger

Trini Kwan is trying to get through high school unnoticed. Nobody knows that she has trained for years in martial arts, and she prefers to let her classmates think she’s just the shy Asian girl.

But Trini’s world turns upside down when the homecoming game is attacked by an otherworldly winged beast with an army of clay soldiers. Unable to sit by while innocent people get hurt, Trini springs into action—alongside science genius Billy, her childhood best friend Zack, popular jock Jason, and new girl Kimberly.

In the aftermath, the five teenagers are recruited by an alien warrior named Zordon to become the new Power Rangers, charged with protecting the planet from an evil sorceress who recently escaped imprisonment. Suddenly thrust in the middle of a millenniums-long intergalactic war is hard enough, but getting her new teammates to work together proves to be a difficult task.

Can Trini help the others move past their rocky first impressions—and her own complicated history with Zack—to protect their home from destruction? And will she be able to finally accept her full self—and this new role?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Superheroes

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Christian Wermeskerch]

One thing I've noticed with YA IP books: lots of times, elements of the IP are lost in favor of YA elements. In MMPR, Zordon's three major rules for Rangers aren't mentioned at all, and two are broken pretty easily in the course of the story. Other elements of MMPR disappear for either story convenience or just...because (one element seems especially pointless to remove?).

In terms of bringing the series to today, I mostly thought it worked. One major area that the original series never touched on was gender and race, so this novel investigates those in the context of MMPR. Most of the questions are interesting and well-handled, and some become even more interesting in the context of the real-life context of Dark Side of Hollywood. Sometimes they feel a bit ham-fisted until you remember these are teenagers, which makes it feel more realistic and actually made them feel more real. One conversation, which I can't imagine is a huge spoiler, is Trini thinking about being a Chinese-American woman assigned the yellow Power Coin. This opens interesting questions about identity, race, and community which drive Trini's character forward through the novel.

Reading this book made me laugh in realizing that rebooting Power Rangers, or giving it the life it needed before it's pretty much permanent cancellation (unless it does magically raise from Limbo, Sentinel-Knight reviving spent Ranger powers-style), was just real life characters. We didn't need American-exclusive suits or a better Sentai season, we just needed real people beneath the suits. There's a reason series like Lightspeed Rescue, Dino Thunder, and RPM worked: we got to know the people beneath the suits.

I feel like I'm harping on this a little, but don't expect this to be MMPR as you knew it. The book definitely takes place somewhere else in the Grid than the TV series. It blends a lot of the comic timeline with elements of the 2017 movie timeline, but then adds a lot of its own lore. I think it works the sooner you realize that it's not the TV show.

[Jahlani Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry but this book was not it. I have no problems with Power Rangers being written for young adults. I believe it’s a franchise that can handle those elements while still being true to its essence. However, Force of Chaos felt like a 300 page fanfic with MMPR characters.

Keep in mind this is coming from a huge fan of Power Rangers so that’s the frame of mind I’m working with.

The squad lacked any of the likability from the show. Jason was a demanding prick, Zack constantly made jokes to the point it was grating, Billy had this weird hero worship of Jason, Kim was more of a diva, and Trini had ZERO confidence in herself (more on that in a bit). Sure, the rangers from the show were kind to a fault, almost unrealistically so for teenagers, but that was part of the reason they were chosen to be rangers. I’m not opposed to adding depth to character traits, but don’t take away what made them who they are.

Now to the main character of the novel, Trini. At first, I didn’t mind her wanting to be “out of sight, out of mind”. But turning her into a purposeful doormat? Absolutely not. Trauma or not, that’s so against what Trini Kwan should be. Almost ALL the problems the rangers were having in the field could’ve easily been avoided had she actually showed what she’s capable of. And then she just quits??? When did ANY of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers just give up??

I know it’s not completely fair to compare it to the source material but that’s where these characters are coming from. Trini was the heart of her team, giving up on no one, including herself. Force of Chaos did her and the rest of the rangers very little justice. I gave it 2 stars because there were some things I liked but overall, I was very disappointed. Maybe I’m judging it too hard. Maybe I just got tired of the sexual tension between her and Zack.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe we got a Power Rangers YA book and that it’s so good!! Ma does such a great job with Trini, I could feel the love and connection she has with her. And the tie in with Chinese mythology made all the connections really grounded. I can’t wait to see what character pov we get next and what PR era it will be about!

[Jimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Force of Chaos is a 2025 Young Adult novel written by Diana Ma and published by Amulet Books.

This reimagined retelling of the early days of being a Power Ranger blends elements from the original TV show, the comics, and the 1995 and 2017 movies, along with the author's personal experiences. The story offers a unique first-person perspective on what it’s like to be a Power Ranger, this time through the eyes of Trini, the Yellow Ranger.

The novel explores the team dynamics, the friendships (or lack thereof) among the Rangers, and how they ultimately come together to save the day.

The book is clearly written for a Young Adult audience. While reading, there were moments that caught me off guard, and I had to remind myself that I’m not the target demographic. Those choices will probably resonate well with younger readers, even if they weren’t quite for me.

There were also a few decisions made by Trini that left me puzzled, until I reminded myself that she’s a 16-year-old girl without the benefit of hindsight or the life experience that someone like me, a grown adult, has.

Overall, this was a fun and engaging story. It was refreshing to see the Rangers from a different point of view, and since this is book one, I’m hopeful it will lead to a full series.

If this is how a young reader discovers and falls in love with Power Rangers, then I fully support it. I’m excited to see where it goes from here.

This book also made me curious about future installments from the perspectives of other Rangers. That said, Trini often feels like the emotional core of the team, so it makes sense for the series to begin with her story.

Diana Ma did a great job writing characters I’ve loved for over 30 years, and I look forward to seeing more from her in the future.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A more condensed version of this starred review appeared in the article "The Plot Thickens in These 23 YA Fiction Series" for School Library Journal:

Trini Kwan doesn’t want to have a reputation for fighting. She's still mortified that she was suspended after punching another kid in kindergarten. She also doesn't want to be an Asian stereotype for practicing martial arts with her grandmother even if she loves wushu and knows that the meditation exercises have helped with her anger management. As one of the only non-white students in the town of Angel Grove, California it's easier to blend into the background and save her true self for when she's home. Except on group projects when everyone assumes that Trini will do all of the work for them. Because Trini does usually do all of the work for them.

Her reputation as a quiet, shy girl is blown apart when a winged monster shows up in the middle of a homecoming game and Trini rushes to help other students escape. She knows she could have done more. But she's not ready to share her martial arts prowess with the whole school when there were other people ready to step in.

After the attack Trini is recruited to join an intergalactic war against space witch Rita Repulsa. Trini's ambivalence about becoming a superhero only grows when she considers the other recruits: her estranged best friend Zack who was all too ready to drop her for the popular crowd in middle school, her one close friend Billy--the resident school genius, popular football player Jason, and new girl gymnast Kimberly.

With little in common but a desire to save their town from invasion, Trini has to help make this unlikely group a real team before it's too late in Force of Chaos (2025) by Diana Ma.

Find it on Bookshop.

Force of Chaos is the first book in the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series inspired by the entertainment franchise of the same name. While the story closely follows early episodes of the Power Rangers TV series from the 1990s, readers can come into this novel without any previous knowledge of the franchise or these specific characters. Dedicated to Thuy Trang, the actress who originated the role of Trini Kwan in the American television show, this book brings care and nuance to the classic series with an enthusiasm fans will appreciate.

The story is narrated by Trini who is deeply aware of the specific challenges she faces as an Asian American teen in a predominantly white community. Challenges that are compounded when she finds out she is supposed to be the Yellow Ranger--with yellow traditionally being used in racial slurs and insults directed toward Asian American communities. (This issue was also raised in the fandom when the series first aired and forms a core piece of the plot here as Trini struggles with this new identity.) She tries to embrace it the way Zack decides to lean in to being the only Black member of the team and the Black Ranger. But it's hard to do that when she is so worried about how others will see her.

Ma brings complexity and depth to all of the Power Rangers but especially to Trini, who struggles with how to be true to her values while embracing her new role as the Yellow Ranger and her identity in the Asian American diaspora. Added nuance for Rita Repulsa and Zordon's back stories as well as light hints of romance between Trini and Zack further elevate this action-packed story.

Force of Chaos is a dynamic series starter that perfectly translates the iconic action of the long-running television series into an engrossing novel. Highly recommended.

Possible Pairings: Harley Quinn: Reckoning by Rachael Allen, The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas, Super Adjacent by Crystal Cestari, The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune, Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu, Renegades by Marissa Meyer, Faith by Julie Murphy, Fate of Flames by Sarah Raughley, Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson, Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti

[Nick Eisengruber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this felt just like childhood again, would gladly read many more books in this vein.

[Mikel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to preface this review by acknowledging that I'm far from the target audience. However, I am an avid YA reader (and writer) and big Power Rangers fan-- with Trini being my favorite Ranger ever since I first got her action figure in the 2nd grade.

I liked a lot of things about this book, namely the weaving of Chinese mythology and culture into a plot that has been well-tread over the years. And it does succeed in making Trini a badass. It also makes her boy-crazy and waffling--but not in the good way. All that drama, confusion, and tension around the teenage experience didn't really seem to land, especially when it could've been played against the backdrop of a city under attack. Things barely change in the hallways of Angel Grove High, despite a pending alien invasion. Additionally, a lot of the conflict seemed forced ("We stopped being friends one day") and the resolutions very easy ("I guess we're friends again"). Seemed like every time a secret or mystery began forming, another character blurted out the answer or reveal a sentence later. Some of this would be forgivable in a book for much younger readers...but then it's paired with very adult themes and language. Left me wondering who this book was for.

I liked this book. I think it's important, and I want the series to continue. There were moments where I could tell the author tapped into her own experiences, and those wrenched my heart. As a Power Rangers story, it certainly checked the boxes (and created a couple of its own) but overall, I expected more from the first opportunity to explore the Ranger POV in prose.

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morphenomenal!

I’ve been waiting for a novel about the Power Rangers for so long, and this one delivers on so many levels.

My review is mixed, but I must give credit to the author, Diana Ma, for attempting to transform the concept of spandex-clad superheroes who take orders from a giant floating head to defeat an intergalactic sorceress with enormous, pointy nippled breastplates. While the source material isn’t particularly grounded in reality, Ma’s creative retelling succeeds in humanizing the characters we’ve grown to love - even if at times, the characters aren’t fleshed out quite enough.

Initially, I was curious why the story focused on Trini Kwan, but I eventually came to appreciate the buildup of her finding her confidence in embracing her heritage and self-acceptance, even if it sometimes felt clichéd.

Setting the rangers in today’s day and age was also a smart move, with thoughtful nods back to the 90s, such as the Homecoming Dance theme. I particularly enjoyed the created lore behind the origin of the catchphrases “Go go Power Rangers” and “It’s Morphin Time!”.

For the most part, the rangers are written exactly like their tropes, for better and worse. I appreciated the callouts to how the black and yellow rangers were stereotyped, and there’s nuance given to the conversation on leadership. Very self-aware and smart to acknowledge.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Rita Repulsa was humanized and given a backstory to her evil. This makes the entire premise of good versus evil more nuanced and elevates the story for a more mature and contemporary audience.

However, my biggest gripe is that the story isn’t quite modern enough. It’s clear that this novel was written specifically for Power Rangers fans who are now in their 30s and 40s, as the author states in her acknowledgments, but the reading level remains at a young adolescent or teen level.

There are amateur or weak moments in the book, such as Zack and Jason’s reconciling, which ends as soon as it begins. They literally have a chat, and all is well as if it’s just a tableau. There are also flagrant grammar or spelling mistakes, like a page with Jason’s name spelled “Jasno” and another with Kimberly written as “Zimberly.” These mistakes really ruin the story and take you out of it and should have been caught.

Also, some parts of Power Rangers that are staples are simply omitted. For example, “make my monster grow!” or “we need dinozord power now!” are never uttered, and strangely, Jason morphs by saying “Tyrannosaurus Rex” rather than just “Tyrannosaurus!” This is a flagrant miss from the source material, along with the order in which the rangers morph for the first time, which would have been a thoughtful nod to the series.

On the other hand, there was at least some research done, such as Trini’s fear of heights and Kimberly’s bickering parents before their divorce. It’s odd as there are nods to deeper cuts, but Ma misses some of the marks on the basics fans expect.

As a lifelong fan of the Power Rangers, I only wish the author had leaned more into knowing the reader base. We are adults and are not looking for scholastic-level content. I loved all the layers and character developmental effort put into the book, and this novel shines the most on the theme of finding the bonds between the Power Rangers themselves as the source of their power. The whole arc of forming the megazord was well-thought out, coinciding with the metaphorical link of the rangers learning to come together as well.

I hope this series continues and the writing matures, but again, for a novel on the Power Rangers, this is morphenomanal!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed this so much. Trini was always my favorite ranger for so many reasons, and Diana Ma captured everything I always felt and connected with as a child. Importantly, she also had me making realizations and connections I wasn't aware of while growing up to the point that I'm not sure another character has ever made me feel as "seen" as this version of Trini does. I can't wait until the next book to see where Ms. Ma goes with this.

*edit* I want to add that I feel seen regarding the emotional transformation Trini deals with connected to her mental health and how she views herself. Obviously I cannot speak to the racial components on a personal level, but I am happy they're finally being acknowledged and am hopeful this will encourage white women (and men) to check their own privilege and take it upon themselves to learn as much as they can regarding other races/cultures/etc.

[Brielle "Bookend" Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

84/100

Y’all, this is the sapphic Power Rangers reboot I didn’t know my queer little heart needed. Diana Ma brings fresh life to Trini—awkward, tough, proud, and more than the “quiet Asian girl” label she’s been boxed into. The action zips, the team drama feels real, and those crushy, complicated vibes with Zack? Chef’s kiss. Is it campy? Of course. But the joy is real, the girl power is loud, and the representation hits where it counts. If you grew up on morphers, get in here—your inner child deserves it.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS THE POWER RANGER MOVIE WE DESERVED instead of that 2017 garbage. Hollywood needs to be making this book into a movie pronto! The plot was amazing and really good at interpreting the power rangers story into modern day

[robbiepea]

power rangers books have been historically bad but i still want to give this one a try!! (send me the arc)

[Sam Hince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would lvoe to see more of this...