[leogemini03]

Kirkus Reviews shared their opinions about Force of Chaos:

Quote:

Five teens are chosen to protect their town from an alien vendetta in this story set in the world of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

Trini Kwan has carefully cultivated her studious, ?quiet Asian girl? persona at school, hiding her frustration when students take advantage of her hard work, underestimate her, or bully her friend Billy. Despite years of martial arts training with Nai Nai, her grandmother, she hides her true strength. Then her school?s Homecoming game is attacked by Goldar, a furry blue monster with gold armor, and the Putties, his clay minions. Even as most kids flee, Billy, football captain Jason, popular new cheerleader Kimberly, and Trini?s former best friend, Zack, rush to help two trapped students?and Trini joins them. The five teens are chosen by ?galactic warrior scholar? Zordon to become the Power Rangers; Trini is named the Yellow Ranger. Ma adds new dimensions to the original story through the inclusion of Chinese mythology and explorations of racial stereotyping and Trini?s struggle with an inner voice that tells her to hide her true self. While the tone of the writing and the treatment of intriguing themes?strong women, power and responsibility, friendship, and self-control?skew young and lack complexity, the slow-burn romance is believable and grounded in a rebuilt friendship. Trini is of Chinese Taiwanese and Korean Chinese descent, Zack is Black, and other main characters read white.

A lightly developed read that may appeal to avid fans of the long-running franchise.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-r...angers-book-1/

[DreamSword]

>slow-burn romance

That description does not inspire confidence in me. But, I'll still give it a shot.

[leogemini03]

The new book is out now, in both hardcover and e-book editions.

You can buy here: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/...9781419757761/

The author also expressed some opinions on an article for Polygon:

Quote:

"Trini Kwan, the Yellow Ranger, was important to me because she was one of the first Asian American superheroes I saw on TV," Ma told Polygon via email. "As a Chinese American superhero-loving fangirl, it was powerful for me to see this representation in a kids' TV show. Knowing that Power Ranger fans were watching and connecting to Trini as she kicked Putty butt as part of a superhero team committed to protecting the universe made me feel seen."

https://www.polygon.com/books/598298...force-of-chaos

[DreamSword]

I read all of "Force of Chaos" in one sitting today, and unless you're keen on a story that turns the Yellow Ranger into a Mary Sue that literally every aspect of the story hinges on, I would not recommend it. It most certainly wasn't for me.

[Frontier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamSword

I read all of "Force of Chaos" in one sitting today, and unless you're keen on a story that turns the Yellow Ranger into a Mary Sue that literally every aspect of the story hinges on, I would not recommend it. It most certainly wasn't for me.

There were parts I liked but trying to give Rita a sympathetic backstory and tie her to Chinese mythology felt like a bit much.

Also Jason never once actually says "It's Morphin' Time."

[leogemini03]

A second Power Rangers novel by Diana Ma, told from Trini's point of view, is in the works.

It will be a multiverse story, inspired by Shattered Grid.

[DreamSword]

No thanks.

[Frontier]

Haven't we had enough Multiverse stories?

[leogemini03]

Book two is titled Shatter the Universe, releases March 31, 2026.

Quote:

From the world of Hasbro?s Power Rangers entertainment franchise comes another action-packed, original YA novel from the point of view of Trini Kwan, the Yellow Ranger.

Rita Repulsa and her henchmen have been defeated. Trini, Billy, Zack, Jason, and Kimberly have become fast friends and have embraced their roles as the Power Rangers. And Trini and Zack have started dating. Everything is perfect.

That is, until alternate reality versions of the Power Rangers appear in Angel Grove with one purpose: to break up Trini and Zack.

It turns out that there aren?t a whole lot of universes where Trini and Zack get together. But in one of those other universes, alternate Trini makes a choice that has resounding consequences for the entire Morphin Grid. Now, a slew of alternate-reality Power Rangers are trying to stop this Trini from making an even more disastrous choice?one that involves her budding romance with Zack.

Trini?s options don?t look great?give up Zack or potentially cause the destruction of the Morphin Grid. Will Trini and her friends be able to come up with a third option?one that no other universe has been able to find?

Pre-order link: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/...9781419775833/

[Frontier]

So the multiverse hinges on Trini and Zack's romance...okay...