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Dormant Forces: The Last Mortal Series
Farren the Nameless is the last living mortal in a world of magical creatures, and she has just made her first kill.
At age seventeen she has been sentenced to die for her crimes. But before her execution, those from her violent past arrive to rightfully claim her life as their own. The price of her escape is one too much to bear, but does she have the strength to pay it?
At age seventeen she has been sentenced to die for her crimes. But before her execution, those from her violent past arrive to rightfully claim her life as their own. The price of her escape is one too much to bear, but does she have the strength to pay it?
- GenresFantasy
Unknown Binding
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 31, 2022
i may edit this review after im done, but idk if that's how it works.
its taken me so long to read this and i haven't even gotten halfway. i think the writer being 15 or 16 writing this has a lot of potential.
she is very talented and i can sense that she is passionate through her writing however.. im simply not hooked story wise. that's not necessarily the writer's fault but i simply feel this story is deeply underdeveloped.
i have formed no emotional connections with the characters and i don't understand the pacing of the story nor the plot, i feel it has no structure.
and ive spotted a few typos.
ive read my fair share of books and have written and learned all about how to write a plot and develop characters so i have a lot of knowledge.
this is not to say the story is bad, i will of course continue to read it to see if the writer improves, and i know the first book is often never the best when they first publish which is okay.
i do think the writer will get better and im looking forward to reading her future books when that happens.
its taken me so long to read this and i haven't even gotten halfway. i think the writer being 15 or 16 writing this has a lot of potential.
she is very talented and i can sense that she is passionate through her writing however.. im simply not hooked story wise. that's not necessarily the writer's fault but i simply feel this story is deeply underdeveloped.
i have formed no emotional connections with the characters and i don't understand the pacing of the story nor the plot, i feel it has no structure.
and ive spotted a few typos.
ive read my fair share of books and have written and learned all about how to write a plot and develop characters so i have a lot of knowledge.
this is not to say the story is bad, i will of course continue to read it to see if the writer improves, and i know the first book is often never the best when they first publish which is okay.
i do think the writer will get better and im looking forward to reading her future books when that happens.
April 8, 2022
Honestly, it's a heavy read. For one it is very very description heavy and there are a few grammar areas that could be fixed. It is honestly a good first attempt at publishing but does read like an unedited manuscript. One big irk though is that Farren the Nameless clearly has a name.
May 31, 2022
Striking, empowering, emotional, and beautifully written. (4.5)
M.J. Powell has done a wonderful job creating her debut novel. Dormant Forces has a plot that never fails to keep you intrigued. The protagonist, Farren, is a strong, snarky, and troubled girl. She has a fire within her that terrifies those around her, but makes the reader want to root for her success.
The story starts with Farren chained and dragged before the Mathan king. We learn that she is the last of the human species, and that she has recently made her first kill. The first few chapters set the guidelines for a story with friendship, love, and betrayal. In the end, the story does not disappoint.
What makes my review 4.5 stars, is the frequent grammatical mistakes. Though, none of the mistakes were unreadable. I also found the POV’s of the characters to be a bit inconsistent. Sometimes you’ll think you’re reading from the perspective of one character, and suddenly it will give omniscience to another in the same chapter. It was a bit confusing at times, but didn’t take away from the story.
The story, world-building, character development, and plot were extremely well done. I loved this book and can’t wait to read more about Farren the Nameless’s journey!
Content warnings: gore, death, parental death, violence, dark themes
M.J. Powell has done a wonderful job creating her debut novel. Dormant Forces has a plot that never fails to keep you intrigued. The protagonist, Farren, is a strong, snarky, and troubled girl. She has a fire within her that terrifies those around her, but makes the reader want to root for her success.
The story starts with Farren chained and dragged before the Mathan king. We learn that she is the last of the human species, and that she has recently made her first kill. The first few chapters set the guidelines for a story with friendship, love, and betrayal. In the end, the story does not disappoint.
What makes my review 4.5 stars, is the frequent grammatical mistakes. Though, none of the mistakes were unreadable. I also found the POV’s of the characters to be a bit inconsistent. Sometimes you’ll think you’re reading from the perspective of one character, and suddenly it will give omniscience to another in the same chapter. It was a bit confusing at times, but didn’t take away from the story.
The story, world-building, character development, and plot were extremely well done. I loved this book and can’t wait to read more about Farren the Nameless’s journey!
Content warnings: gore, death, parental death, violence, dark themes
August 7, 2022
I wanted to love this book, but it wasn’t for me.
While the concept is good, I liked the writing style and the plot was rather interesting (whatever it was), there were many things I didn’t like.
First of all, I didn’t care about most of the characters. The MC was alright, but the love interest was just NO. He’s your typical brooding type who has a soft spot only for her, and the romance build up is, of course, enemies to lovers, as he gets to know her and starts caring for her despite himself. Oh, and have I mentioned that he is a lot older than her? While many people may like this type of character, I hate it.
Another thing to add to the “not for me” list was that everyone was constantly referred to as males and females. This annoyed me a lot and made me very uncomfortable.
Also, it’s been a while since I read a book without a single queer character, so I think it’s safe to say that it was simply too straight for me.
While I had some issues with it, and am not planning on continuing with series, I think that the following books have a lot of potential.
While the concept is good, I liked the writing style and the plot was rather interesting (whatever it was), there were many things I didn’t like.
First of all, I didn’t care about most of the characters. The MC was alright, but the love interest was just NO. He’s your typical brooding type who has a soft spot only for her, and the romance build up is, of course, enemies to lovers, as he gets to know her and starts caring for her despite himself. Oh, and have I mentioned that he is a lot older than her? While many people may like this type of character, I hate it.
Another thing to add to the “not for me” list was that everyone was constantly referred to as males and females. This annoyed me a lot and made me very uncomfortable.
Also, it’s been a while since I read a book without a single queer character, so I think it’s safe to say that it was simply too straight for me.
While I had some issues with it, and am not planning on continuing with series, I think that the following books have a lot of potential.
August 31, 2021
This has been a refreshing change in a world where there is a slew of YA fantasy all treading the same path. There are some places where you think you know the direction the characters are going in, and then the author (by all accounts a 16-year-old… wow!) really subverts expectation. The pace is fast, and the tale is tough to put down. The main character has a real arc, and the dialogue crackles with quick wit and movie like snappiness. I loved this book, and I can’t wait to get more in this series. I think the name MJ Powell may be mentioned in the same breath as Sara J Maas or Leigh Bardugo in the not too distant future. Bring on the Netflix adaptation.
July 22, 2021
I’m hooked
Ahhh I need more. All the characters are so amazing and I love them all so much and the world that was weaved was breathtaking.
Ahhh I need more. All the characters are so amazing and I love them all so much and the world that was weaved was breathtaking.
December 10, 2021
I was so excited for this book to come out and I can't wait for the sequel <3
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January 25, 2022
This is my favorite fantasy book. It took me a second to get into it but once I did I couldn’t put it down!! Best book everr can’t wait for the second book!
April 5, 2022
I guess writing's not for everyone lol
January 13, 2023
In 3 Words: Emotional, Abuse, Strength
Mood It's Good For: When you don't mind seeing the dark, realistic side of overcoming trauma
Fave Quote: You are alive and there is a reason you have lived this long, don't give up before you find it
Fave Scene: Theatre performance
Dormant Forces is a great fantasy debut, although it's a difficult read emotionally. The topics of abuse and mental health are handled very realistically and empathetically. Farren is an icon, fighting the demons of her past to take control of her own life. Her character growth in this book is amazing. Dormant Forces is full of plans, plans, and more plans. There were some great plot twists I didn't see coming, and the foundations are set very nicely for the rest of the series. There were some characters I felt I saw too little of (Ernold), and I hope they get their chance to shine in the next book
Mood It's Good For: When you don't mind seeing the dark, realistic side of overcoming trauma
Fave Quote: You are alive and there is a reason you have lived this long, don't give up before you find it
Fave Scene: Theatre performance
Dormant Forces is a great fantasy debut, although it's a difficult read emotionally. The topics of abuse and mental health are handled very realistically and empathetically. Farren is an icon, fighting the demons of her past to take control of her own life. Her character growth in this book is amazing. Dormant Forces is full of plans, plans, and more plans. There were some great plot twists I didn't see coming, and the foundations are set very nicely for the rest of the series. There were some characters I felt I saw too little of (Ernold), and I hope they get their chance to shine in the next book
March 5, 2022
I NEED more people to read this book Bc it NEEDS A FANDOM! I need to talk to someone about this book and them understand what I’m saying.
The last mortal was beautifully written, the world building was on point and I could easily immerse myself in it. The characters arcs and character building was fantastic, I really felt a connection to the characters (especially to Farren (my love <3))
As a 16 year old reading a fantastic book written by a 16 year old is inspiring and breathtaking and I cannot wait for the next book and future projects :)
The last mortal was beautifully written, the world building was on point and I could easily immerse myself in it. The characters arcs and character building was fantastic, I really felt a connection to the characters (especially to Farren (my love <3))
As a 16 year old reading a fantastic book written by a 16 year old is inspiring and breathtaking and I cannot wait for the next book and future projects :)
May 21, 2023
3,5/5
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews