Dormant

by LeeAnn Elwood McLennan

At seven Olivia Woodson had already learned she was a supernormal, someone with super powers who must protect normals. When she witnesses her supernormal mother die fighting a supervillian, fear and guilt over not saving her mother drive Olivia to cut off all contact with her mother’s family subsequently rejecting her destiny as a supernormal. At fourteen, all she wants is to live her life as a teenager with her normal father. And maybe grow up to be an environmental lawyer or a photojournalist. However, destiny has funny way of boomeranging. When Olivia accompanies her boyfriend, Jack, on an errand and gets caught in the middle of a bank robbery, she must choose between using her dormant supernormal powers or watching the robbers kill her boyfriend. Olivia’s powers awaken, saving the day, but she tells herself this is the only time she’ll ever use them. Once used, her powers refuse to be contained, forcing Olivia to do what she dreads most – connect with the supernormal side of her family. Though Olivia rejected them seven years earlier, the Brighthalls agree to help her.

274 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2014

About the author

LeeAnn Elwood McLennan is the author of the Dormant Trilogy. Growing up in Fort Worth, Texas, she was always looking for any opportunity to read – under the covers in bed, in the car, and in class using the book hidden in the textbook trick. When her father introduced her to sci-fi/fantasy through a book of short stories from Astounding Stories, the possibilities in every word captivated her interest and her daydreams involved other worlds, magical powers and time travel.
Root is the second book in the Dormant trilogy. The final book, Emerge, will be out in 2018.
Though she graduated from Clemson University with a degree in English, LeeAnn has spent her career working in computer engineering related fields. LeeAnn lives in Portland, OR with her husband, Andy, and three cats (number of cats subject to change). Visit her at www.leeannmclennan.com, follow her on Facebook @lemwrites, and Twitter @atticusmcl.

Reviews

[Alison (Ali of Worducopia) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the short story first and couldn't wait to read the book. It totally lived up to my expectations and then some!

I don't read a ton of fantasy -- I tend to lean toward realistic fiction. The great thing about Dormant is that Olivia's feet-dragging return to her deceased mother's extended family, and the distance her secret ability creates from her regular life, has all the elements I look for in good realistic fiction. The addition of mind reading, traveling in stealth mode, and a Mongolian Death Worm lurking in the tunnels underneath the city doesn't take away from that. It adds to it.

I love a book that helps me read outside my usual genre, and Dormant is one of the best examples of this that I can think of. My only complaint is that I have to wait for Book 2 to find out what happens to Olivia, her cousins, and Ben Holloway.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though Olivia wants to reject her supernormal heritage, you won't be able to resist the urge to fall in love with this story. Dormant is a captivating adventure sure to entertain YA Urban Fantasy and Superhero fans.

[Debby Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of the TV show Heroes, the X-men comics and young readers new t the genre will delight in this fresh take on a "super-normal" (love that phrase McLennan coined!) teen coming to terms with her powers while also facing many of the typical teen situations. Lots of fun!

[Mikko Azul · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Olivia, having super powers meant prejudice, terror and death. It was something that must be avoided at all costs. After all, having super powers is what killed her mother. Suppressing her talent, Olivia tries to live a normal life until circumstances force her to access her power. Thrust into a position of outcast at school and at odds with her friends, Olivia tries to fit in with her new family of supernormals, many of whom despise her for having turned her back on them for the past seven years. When explosions rock the city of Portland, OR, Olivia is suspected. After all, she was there every time. It didn’t matter if she was using her devastating powers unconsciously, she couldn’t be trusted. As Olivia tries to balance her normal life with her dangerous new one, she has to face the most terrifying possibility of all: what if she really is causing the explosions? If she is, was she the one who cause the explosion that killed her own mother?Mikko Azul

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dormant is a story with an interesting beginning. A bank robbery goes very wrong and Olivia learns something about herself that she wished she’d kept buried in the past. It’s a great fantasy read, fast and furious. If you like your super heroes a little reluctant, you’ll love this book. I did.

[Sydney Culpepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting book that's great for fans of X-Men and the Pacific Northwest! This is an exhilarating story, filled to the brim with cool superpowers, family tension, romantic drama, and a captivating mystery. Olivia is a spunky heroine with a complicated life, and her voice is strong as we follow her though her life. The characters are all complex and well-developed, especially the various family relationships.

It perfectly weaves thrilling action with touching personal moments as we attempt to unravel the mysterious happenings in Portland, OR, which we simultaneously get a tour of as we read! The culture of this secret supernormal society is also really interesting to learn about and discover alongside Olivia. This book had me gasping and cheering and biting my nails, and I can't wait for the sequel!

[Kimberly]

started the book. didnt finish. set in portland which was great but the storyline was not so great.

[Kyla · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good YA book with 2 more books yet to come in the trilogy. Both boys and girls that like action will like it. I expect my 11 year old son will like it as it's a little along the lines of an Avenger type movie.

[Leah Wingard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it! Great coming of age story.

Makes me realize how We're each designed with "super" powers. We have the power to summons the best life if we dare to believe!