Book Review: First Passage

Reviewed by Alexandria Ducksworth

A fast-paced, action-packed dystopia that fulfills the premise’s high expectations

First Passage by Morgan Fitzgerald-Lorah is a dystopian fantasy set in a world where magic and technology co-exist, yet the use of magic comes with grave consequences. 

Nathan Clouse, a young man with unique magical abilities, has struggled to escape a traumatic past. His father had become an abusive drunk after his wife was sent to a mental institution. The best thing Nathan could do for himself was escape. 

Now living with the Preduals, Nathan makes a decent living working short side hustles for the black market. However, his world is turned upside down when two agents attack him.

Nathan is forced into hiding again, relying on new friendships and confronting his past. As he grapples with the threat of losing everything, First Passage explores powerful themes of betrayal, survival, and the conflict between embracing one’s identity and the dangers of societal rejection. Fitzgerald-Lorah has created a rich world with this magical, technological atmosphere. Readers are going to love the novel’s fast-paced plot, complex characters, and high-stakes drama.

The advancement of technology has allowed society to thrive, but magic remains an unknown and dangerous force, feared by the public and repressed by those who possess it. Everything belonging to the magical side resides in the black market. This uneasy coexistence shapes the world’s harsh, dystopian landscape, where anyone with magic must hide their abilities or face persecution. For Nathan, it’s a daily experience. He walks around with mysterious powers and people who are trying to take him down for it. 

The whole “magic vs technology” mirrors the “dreams vs. logic” theme. For example, Mark, one of Nathan’s newly-found companions expresses his dream to become a car designer, and his mother quickly shoots down the idea for a profession more “useful” to society. Nathan dreams of becoming an inventor with his magic. But with the way things are currently in his world, he has to keep his interest on the down-low. What is possible from imagination versus what has already been done plays a big role in this book, and it’s all the better for it.

Fitzgerald-Lorah’s action sequences read like a Marvel script. The action swings by so fast you feel like you’ve been thrown or punched! Her writing style is fun and seriously engaging, and Nathan’s mysterious past creates a sense of genuine anticipation on the reader’s part. 

First Passage is a short read and you won’t want to miss a word. Readers are going to love Nathan’s journey, especially because of the well-imagined side characters who go with him and the world’s immersive lore. The book carries tons of potential for sequels too. One thing’s for certain in the end: Morgan Fitzgerald-Lorah holds the magic for great storytelling.

Thank you for reading Alexandria Ducksworth’s book review of First Passage (The Path-Forgers Chronicles) by Morgan Fitzgerald-Lorah! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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