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Millennial Mage #6
Fused
The world reclaims all things. Humanity thrives within their ever-dying cities. Mages and Archons devote their lives to create the only path forward.
Tala is finally able to test the edges of her ever growing capacities among a group of peers. Hungry for ascension, she pushes boundaries she once deemed unbreakable, and already Tala has set her sights on advancing further in her power and skills. Yet even as her abilities continue to grow, her first lessons from so long ago still ring Magic is expensive.
Continuing to Fuse requires a cost that she will struggle to pay. In order to advance, Tala will need to come to terms with every part of where she is, where she's going, and where she came from. Her path will guide her back to those who started her on her journey, and success or failure will depend upon how she confronts her origins.
If she ever wishes to become fully Fused, she must find a way to pay the heavy price her magic demands.
Tala is finally able to test the edges of her ever growing capacities among a group of peers. Hungry for ascension, she pushes boundaries she once deemed unbreakable, and already Tala has set her sights on advancing further in her power and skills. Yet even as her abilities continue to grow, her first lessons from so long ago still ring Magic is expensive.
Continuing to Fuse requires a cost that she will struggle to pay. In order to advance, Tala will need to come to terms with every part of where she is, where she's going, and where she came from. Her path will guide her back to those who started her on her journey, and success or failure will depend upon how she confronts her origins.
If she ever wishes to become fully Fused, she must find a way to pay the heavy price her magic demands.
441 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2023
164 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Mullins
14 books92 followersJ.L.Mullins has been writing since he was five years old. Blessedly, he has improved through the years, and while 'The Case of the Missing Stapler' will likely never see widespread publication, Mullins enjoys little more than sharing his newer stories—his worlds—with others.
He lives with his wife, six kids, and their rescue-akita named Fenrir.
Find him on Patreon:
patreon.com/MillennialMage
Join his Discord:
discord.gg/FddACAjUrR
Find the latest on Millennial Mage here:
royalroad.com/fiction/47826
He lives with his wife, six kids, and their rescue-akita named Fenrir.
Find him on Patreon:
patreon.com/MillennialMage
Join his Discord:
discord.gg/FddACAjUrR
Find the latest on Millennial Mage here:
royalroad.com/fiction/47826
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 20, 2025
This is sixth in a series you should read in order.
This one starts off beads-on-a-string as a pattern. But then Tala decides to confront the ghosts of her past and head back to the city she comes from. There she meets her family and tries to work out the trauma that has been core to her since the series started.
I really liked that the author didn't try to make everything okay or pull some kind of happy families nonsense out of thin air. And I like even more that Tala's siblings took her to task for shutting all of them out. Tala has some honest blame for her actions and accepts that and tries to make it better. And I liked her siblings and their various personalities and concerns and developments—particularly that a couple of them are getting ready to follow in her footsteps of entering the magic academy as she did.
I was heading for the standard four stars I've given most of this series, but the author pulls a staggeringly ginormous cliffhanger in the second epilogue (yeah, add epilogue abuse to the piling sins). And that's an automatic loss of a star. So three stars and I'm not sure I want to move on to the next, but probably will at least sample it.
* Cliffhangers and why they are evil: Cliffhangers are the ultimate disrespect to readers. They're an overt emotional manipulation to invest you in the next story by holding a metaphorical pistol to your head saying "you don't get a satisfying conclusion unless you read the next book, sucka!". Or, less hyperbolically, "I don't trust you to be interested in the next story unless I employ this emotional manipulation to ensure that you are." If you don't believe me that they are an active offense to readers, try this mental exercise: imagine for a moment that an author put a big star on the front of their story proclaiming "Contains Cliffhanger!" Would that make readers more or less likely to want to pick up that story? Right. That's all you really need to know about cliffhangers. Which is why cliffhangers are an automatic loss of at least one star.
A note about Chaste: Still very intimacy averse. Frankly, I'm starting to feel sorry for Rane. Maybe he needs to move on?
This one starts off beads-on-a-string as a pattern. But then Tala decides to confront the ghosts of her past and head back to the city she comes from. There she meets her family and tries to work out the trauma that has been core to her since the series started.
I really liked that the author didn't try to make everything okay or pull some kind of happy families nonsense out of thin air. And I like even more that Tala's siblings took her to task for shutting all of them out. Tala has some honest blame for her actions and accepts that and tries to make it better. And I liked her siblings and their various personalities and concerns and developments—particularly that a couple of them are getting ready to follow in her footsteps of entering the magic academy as she did.
I was heading for the standard four stars I've given most of this series, but the author pulls a staggeringly ginormous cliffhanger in the second epilogue (yeah, add epilogue abuse to the piling sins). And that's an automatic loss of a star. So three stars and I'm not sure I want to move on to the next, but probably will at least sample it.
* Cliffhangers and why they are evil: Cliffhangers are the ultimate disrespect to readers. They're an overt emotional manipulation to invest you in the next story by holding a metaphorical pistol to your head saying "you don't get a satisfying conclusion unless you read the next book, sucka!". Or, less hyperbolically, "I don't trust you to be interested in the next story unless I employ this emotional manipulation to ensure that you are." If you don't believe me that they are an active offense to readers, try this mental exercise: imagine for a moment that an author put a big star on the front of their story proclaiming "Contains Cliffhanger!" Would that make readers more or less likely to want to pick up that story? Right. That's all you really need to know about cliffhangers. Which is why cliffhangers are an automatic loss of at least one star.
A note about Chaste: Still very intimacy averse. Frankly, I'm starting to feel sorry for Rane. Maybe he needs to move on?
October 21, 2023
progression but no results
I want to first say that this book in and of itself deserves closer to 4 stars. The reason I’m giving it 2 stars is because it is book 6. 6 books in and the MC is more useless and uninteresting magically than in book 1. I absolutely love that the author is writing a fleshed out magic system and maintaining consistency, but unfortunately the magic use is boring. The one fight in the story showed how ineffective she is and how limited her abilities are. Yea she is hard to kill but it’s had to make that interesting magically. Love the idea of scripts and concepts but being endurable and manipulating gravity that doesn’t work on most of her foes sucks. It’s dope she resolves family issues but none of the interesting things progress. We don’t find out more about Arcanes or the pillars of humanity. One of the biggest issues with cultivation based magic systems is you get entire books of supposed growth with very little to show for it. From book 1-6 she is harder to kill, can bind more items, and can connect slightly easier for her gravity manipulation. Barely any difference at all.
I want to first say that this book in and of itself deserves closer to 4 stars. The reason I’m giving it 2 stars is because it is book 6. 6 books in and the MC is more useless and uninteresting magically than in book 1. I absolutely love that the author is writing a fleshed out magic system and maintaining consistency, but unfortunately the magic use is boring. The one fight in the story showed how ineffective she is and how limited her abilities are. Yea she is hard to kill but it’s had to make that interesting magically. Love the idea of scripts and concepts but being endurable and manipulating gravity that doesn’t work on most of her foes sucks. It’s dope she resolves family issues but none of the interesting things progress. We don’t find out more about Arcanes or the pillars of humanity. One of the biggest issues with cultivation based magic systems is you get entire books of supposed growth with very little to show for it. From book 1-6 she is harder to kill, can bind more items, and can connect slightly easier for her gravity manipulation. Barely any difference at all.
September 26, 2024
That ending forced me to keep reading. There's plot happening!
June 29, 2024
Simply Shook
If you are even looking through a review for book 6 in this series then you probably already know it's incredible. But I had to stop my binge reading and give J.L. Mullins top accolades for being able to do something that most authors, regardless of genre, fail to do: accurately capture the nuance of family trauma. No spoilers, but it is so incredible to see the impact and growth of this character probably in a time when I needed it most. I might be crying again writing this but I have never felt so seen in a character. It's easy to make family trauma completely negative and horrendous or gloss over to a happy kumbaya resolution, it is so much harder to show the shades in between; especially in a novel I originally picked up for the magical mayhem! I need to go back to binge reading but if you are still reading this (and you aren't the author - who like omg can't thank you enough) stop already and open up the book!!!!
If you are even looking through a review for book 6 in this series then you probably already know it's incredible. But I had to stop my binge reading and give J.L. Mullins top accolades for being able to do something that most authors, regardless of genre, fail to do: accurately capture the nuance of family trauma. No spoilers, but it is so incredible to see the impact and growth of this character probably in a time when I needed it most. I might be crying again writing this but I have never felt so seen in a character. It's easy to make family trauma completely negative and horrendous or gloss over to a happy kumbaya resolution, it is so much harder to show the shades in between; especially in a novel I originally picked up for the magical mayhem! I need to go back to binge reading but if you are still reading this (and you aren't the author - who like omg can't thank you enough) stop already and open up the book!!!!
July 5, 2024
Not an Alat fan
Really like the books and the world but really don't love Alat as a character it's like okay but mildly annoying, but it basically being the therapist and sounding board for everything Tala does is super frustrating. I was looking forward to her having to work through these things interacting with other people and characters and Alat just solves it and to do stuff like tell her the right things to say to her family is just super super lame. A lot of the character growth and power growth through Alat just feels so artificial and like the author ran out of ideas or just wanted an easy way out. Kinda bummed want to read more but just really frustrated.
Really like the books and the world but really don't love Alat as a character it's like okay but mildly annoying, but it basically being the therapist and sounding board for everything Tala does is super frustrating. I was looking forward to her having to work through these things interacting with other people and characters and Alat just solves it and to do stuff like tell her the right things to say to her family is just super super lame. A lot of the character growth and power growth through Alat just feels so artificial and like the author ran out of ideas or just wanted an easy way out. Kinda bummed want to read more but just really frustrated.
October 28, 2025
A bit of an odd one
This book tries to pack a lot of character development into it. It somewhat succeeds, but it doesn't feel properly earned. Some side characters speak like a therapist. This could be fine for the older characters, especially if it were not so uniform, but it is jarring in the children.
That being said, there are still plenty of fun and interesting moments and sequences and the introduction of a monolog-facilitating character is very enjoyable.
I'm definitely still looking forward to the next book.
This book tries to pack a lot of character development into it. It somewhat succeeds, but it doesn't feel properly earned. Some side characters speak like a therapist. This could be fine for the older characters, especially if it were not so uniform, but it is jarring in the children.
That being said, there are still plenty of fun and interesting moments and sequences and the introduction of a monolog-facilitating character is very enjoyable.
I'm definitely still looking forward to the next book.
April 13, 2024
That was nice.
I finished all the available books (not going to read the Royal Road offers). It ended in a good spot that I'm not manic about the next book.
Really don't know what the outcome of the series will be.
There is a lot of hidden truths that were tossed out
We will see what the future brings.
3/5 Stars
I finished all the available books (not going to read the Royal Road offers). It ended in a good spot that I'm not manic about the next book.
Really don't know what the outcome of the series will be.
There is a lot of hidden truths that were tossed out
We will see what the future brings.
3/5 Stars
March 21, 2025
Another nice addition to the series. The build up to the family meeting was kinda getting irritating, but it worked out mostly well in the end, so much so I wish there were more chapters with them. Given the relatively short time passed since the start of the series, some time skips at the end were welcome. The epilogues ended on an ominous note though and I'm guessing the events are gonna escalate a lot more going forward.
October 24, 2023
A stagnant pacing
Tala has been working on the whole fused thing for most of the series so far and while I get she's a prodigy and she's done it faster than others having this one goal that she's creeping towards has really made the plot stagnate. Still other than that it was a good book.
Tala has been working on the whole fused thing for most of the series so far and while I get she's a prodigy and she's done it faster than others having this one goal that she's creeping towards has really made the plot stagnate. Still other than that it was a good book.
October 27, 2023
Quirky fun, Action and Tears
The sixth book in the Tala series and still going strong. There is humour, character development, facing past trauma, action, human interest and tears. It is a real world with real people and magic and the author has continued to open up new aspects to his world. I've thoroughly enjoyed this series and hope to read more by the author in the future.
The sixth book in the Tala series and still going strong. There is humour, character development, facing past trauma, action, human interest and tears. It is a real world with real people and magic and the author has continued to open up new aspects to his world. I've thoroughly enjoyed this series and hope to read more by the author in the future.
November 12, 2023
I love this series
This story keeps getting better with each installment. I’ve grown to love the trips they take and ways they progress. I hope others keep reading these so the author will keep writing them.
This story keeps getting better with each installment. I’ve grown to love the trips they take and ways they progress. I hope others keep reading these so the author will keep writing them.
April 17, 2024
That goodness that trauma starts to be addressed in this book because 5 books of being affected by family trauma and not doing anything about it was too much.
I appreciate how much Tallah grows as a person and matures.
A very cosy book, well until the epilogue. 😕
I appreciate how much Tallah grows as a person and matures.
A very cosy book, well until the epilogue. 😕
May 29, 2024
Tala has reconnected with her younger brothers and sisters and it's the sweetest thing! I can't get over the ending... I'd be annoyed at the abruptness of it all if I didn't have the next book already. OMG! What's going to happen to Tala?!?
January 8, 2024
Fantasy progression story. Not a lot happens in it. Would never recommend it to someone unless they wanted a slower fantasy read. It is easy to put it down and still get the day to day stuff done :)
June 18, 2024
Still pretty decent :)
July 2, 2024
Still fun! And I'm glad that Tala did end up learning better manners over the course of the series! She (and other people) says, "that's fair" way too much, though.
August 26, 2024
That Ending Though!
September 7, 2024
A favorite series.
November 18, 2024
Good stuff
On my second reread and enjoyed every moment of the story. It ends on a cliffhanger but no worries the next book is Available.
On my second reread and enjoyed every moment of the story. It ends on a cliffhanger but no worries the next book is Available.
July 25, 2025
burning
I am flying through these. Very ‘easy’ to read, even as the narrative dives into esoteric concepts of magic.
On to the next.
I am flying through these. Very ‘easy’ to read, even as the narrative dives into esoteric concepts of magic.
On to the next.
September 1, 2025
Crazy ending
This book is touching as Tala has the opportunity to clear the air with her family. And her progress continues apace.
This book is touching as Tala has the opportunity to clear the air with her family. And her progress continues apace.
November 3, 2025
Great conclusion to the first major story arc and even better setup for the next.
January 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ i really liked the reconnection with family moment
November 14, 2023
Our heroine Tala continues to grow in power as a mage. However, her challenges also grow, both to her power and to her character. She must face her family, especially her mother and father, who sent her away to mage college in order to get out from under crushing debt.
Tala has resented them and hated them since then and she doesn't want to face them or her family. She has 13 siblings whom she feels guilty about as well for not communicating nor staying in touch for four years.
She doesn't want to go home again. But she has to, in order to grow. What will she do?
Tala has resented them and hated them since then and she doesn't want to face them or her family. She has 13 siblings whom she feels guilty about as well for not communicating nor staying in touch for four years.
She doesn't want to go home again. But she has to, in order to grow. What will she do?
September 20, 2024
This series continues to progress the story along but focuses more heavily on FMCs family relationships as opposed to the progression of her magic. Her magic does continue to progress in the background but we learn more about her siblings and how she ended up going to mage school. She heavily sells the idea her family sold her but it sounds like she made that choice preemptively and then cut her family completely off.
FMC is willing to rebuild her relationship with her siblings but has a more challenging time reconnecting with her parents. I think in this instance in particular it highlights how young and immature she still is because she isn’t taking any ownership of her decisions but I can understand where the hurt comes from.
It is interesting to get a fuller understanding of our FMC and with her starting to work through these issues maybe she and her traveling buddy will have a chance at a relationship.
FMC is willing to rebuild her relationship with her siblings but has a more challenging time reconnecting with her parents. I think in this instance in particular it highlights how young and immature she still is because she isn’t taking any ownership of her decisions but I can understand where the hurt comes from.
It is interesting to get a fuller understanding of our FMC and with her starting to work through these issues maybe she and her traveling buddy will have a chance at a relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
I liked it for the most part, and I'm glad to see we're starting a new arc.
I was a big fan of the final section. The family reunion was fairly well done and I think expanding the pool of PoVs into Tala's larger social circle is a good thing as we continue forward.
Definitely still some things to work through with said family, and things like Tala just casually breaking her own bones so she can heal them. That's not normal.
But I have some concerns, two big ones.
1) Alat. Alat was . . . fine in this book. But I am very worried about how well I will hold up against an entire series of this neverending back and forth dialog between Tala and Alat on every, single, thing. I think like 1/3 of this book is them just talking. It's not that interesting and it means Tala can almost never be alone in any scene ever again. It gives me big Dross vibes from Cradle. And I hated Dross. He was so problematic to the structure of that series once he was introduced.
2) Too many powers. Tala is getting a little out of control with how many tools she has at her disposal. Gravity magic, passive gravity magic, Flow, Terry, blood stones, high-speed regeneration, durability, strength, a super-unique, experimental-but-somehow-completely-non-problematic living computer in her head that can exposit everything and even directly tells the audience when the protagonist is going through character growth. And now this dissolution breath that is being set up to make Tala more effective against things stronger than her? I don't like that at all. Even if it was shown there are counters to it, it seems like way more upside than downside. Breadth over depth is kind of humanity's thing in this universe, but just from a storytelling perspective it seems like it'll become really unwieldy and hard to balance.
There's a lot of talk about things always having tradeoffs, but most of Tala's abilities have none. She used to have trade-offs in the form of her magic rings being a precious resource. But that problem has been mostly obviated. And even new powers are coming in with essentially zero problems. The breath is effectively infinite because so many seeds were harvested.
Some more minor stuff: We never saw the growing chambers, even though Tala had plenty of time to investigate. Also, it was kind of weird how . . . un-introduced the parents were. I know the point is that Tala doesn't want to interact with them, but they're still present and I have no mental image of them physically or of their personalities.
I was a big fan of the final section. The family reunion was fairly well done and I think expanding the pool of PoVs into Tala's larger social circle is a good thing as we continue forward.
Definitely still some things to work through with said family, and things like Tala just casually breaking her own bones so she can heal them. That's not normal.
But I have some concerns, two big ones.
1) Alat. Alat was . . . fine in this book. But I am very worried about how well I will hold up against an entire series of this neverending back and forth dialog between Tala and Alat on every, single, thing. I think like 1/3 of this book is them just talking. It's not that interesting and it means Tala can almost never be alone in any scene ever again. It gives me big Dross vibes from Cradle. And I hated Dross. He was so problematic to the structure of that series once he was introduced.
2) Too many powers. Tala is getting a little out of control with how many tools she has at her disposal. Gravity magic, passive gravity magic, Flow, Terry, blood stones, high-speed regeneration, durability, strength, a super-unique, experimental-but-somehow-completely-non-problematic living computer in her head that can exposit everything and even directly tells the audience when the protagonist is going through character growth. And now this dissolution breath that is being set up to make Tala more effective against things stronger than her? I don't like that at all. Even if it was shown there are counters to it, it seems like way more upside than downside. Breadth over depth is kind of humanity's thing in this universe, but just from a storytelling perspective it seems like it'll become really unwieldy and hard to balance.
There's a lot of talk about things always having tradeoffs, but most of Tala's abilities have none. She used to have trade-offs in the form of her magic rings being a precious resource. But that problem has been mostly obviated. And even new powers are coming in with essentially zero problems. The breath is effectively infinite because so many seeds were harvested.
Some more minor stuff: We never saw the growing chambers, even though Tala had plenty of time to investigate. Also, it was kind of weird how . . . un-introduced the parents were. I know the point is that Tala doesn't want to interact with them, but they're still present and I have no mental image of them physically or of their personalities.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews