An Instant New York Times Bestseller - Unveiling a World of Elites, Ordinary Heroes, and a Slow-Burn Romance that Captivates till the Last Page! Plus, Exclusive Sneak Peek of 'Reckless,' the Highly Anticipated Sequel to the trilogy.
Author: Lauren Roberts
Series: Powerless, Book 1
Release Date: January, 30th 2023
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 0.5
Official Description:
powerless lauren roberts
Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya . . . The exceptional. The Elites. The Elites have possessed powers for decades, gifted to them by the Plague, while those born Ordinary are just that, banished from the kingdom and shunned from society.
No one knows this better than Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary posing as an Elite. When she unsuspectingly saves one of Ilya’s princes, Kai Azer, she’s thrown into the Purging Trials, a brutal competition to showcase her ‘Elite’ powers.
If the Trials and the opponents don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for will if he discovers what Paedyn really is . . . completely Ordinary.
Warning : This article might contain spoilers !!
#1: First thoughts
Booktok has struck again. There was a moment where I simply couldn't avoid seeing any reviews and recommendations for the first book of Lauren Roberts' trilogy "Powerless". As it is dubbed as Young Adult, I was hesitant at first. Often I tend to not like the writing style, the characters are portrayed sometimes in quite an immature way (which is ok - YA is meant for younger audiences) and obviously there is little to no spice.
The hype was so large though that I decided to give it a go... AND I am not disappointed.
I devoured the book in one sitting and am eagerly anticipating the release of the sequel in July 2024.
I noticed comparisons between 'Powerless' and bestsellers like 'The Hunger Games' from various reviewers, sellers, and even the author. I thought that was a shame because the constant need to market books by comparing them takes away the uniqueness of a story. And that is what we are readers are ultimately looking for. We don't want to see just a copy, we want to delve into new worlds and we want to be swept away by intriguing characters and unique stories. I must admit, however, that there were striking similarities between "Powerless" and "The Hunger Games", most notably the element of having to compete in a trial in order to survive. Another similar element was the public being able to watch the trial and vote for their favourite candidates. If a candidate has the favour of the public they might receive certain things that can help them in the trial. So yes, there are definite similarities and I wouldn’t be surprised if the author took this inspiration from “The Hunger Games”. While this might seem a bit “lazy” on the part of the author, thankfully the rest of the plot is different enough.
As we delve into the book, the story follows our FMC Pae, short for Paedyn, who is an "Ordinary" without powers, surviving in the slums with her friend Adena by thieving and blending in with the Elite society as a Psychic. "Ordinary" is not to describe her character but it is status given to people within the Kingdom of Ilya who have survived the "Plague" that dominated their world years ago and who have come out with no powers whatsoever. Contrary to that we have the Elite society, people who have developed magical abilities (or super powers) as an after-effect of the Plague. Ordinaries are considered a danger to the Elite as they are supposedly weakening their abilities and therefore hunted and killed by the Kingdom's Enforcer.
Conversely, Kai, the king's Enforcer, has the ability to sense and absorb others' powers. Their paths cross in a market encounter that sets off a chain of events leading to unexpected alliances and dangerous trials. Paedyn's journey from saving a Prince, aka Kai, to being thrown into the perilous Purging Trials is filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.
What I loved most about this book is how it challenges the idea that power equals strength. Paedyn's journey proves that courage and determination can be just as powerful as magical abilities.
#2: Characters & Romance
The relationship between Kai and Paedyn in "Powerless" is a complex interplay of attraction, banter, and evolving dynamics that transition from potential lovers to reluctant enemies. I would describe it as a reverse enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
Paedyn, an Ordinary without powers, crosses paths with Kai, the King's enforcer tasked with hunting and killing Ordinaries. Their initial encounter sparks immediate attraction, leading to a flirtatious exchange where Paedyn uses her charm to relieve Kai of his coins. However, their relationship takes a significant turn when Paedyn unknowingly saves the Prince during an altercation, realizing later that she rescued the son of her nemesis.
Kai is clearly struggling with his identity as the Enforcer. Despite his role as a ruthless killer for the Kingdom, he displays moments of mercy and rebellion by protecting those he cares about, including Paedyn. I really enjoyed his portrayal as he wasn't just this typical mysterious and broody MMC. We actually saw a lot of his vulnerable side. His complex character development showcases a blend of duty, conflicting emotions, and a subtle rebellion against his assigned role. The banter between Kai and Paedyn sets the tone for their relationship, moving from attraction to possible lovers and eventually evolving into reluctant enemies. Kai's genuine feelings for Paedyn are evident through his actions and challenges towards her.
Meanwhile, Kitt's unexpected interest in Paedyn was quite surprising. As Kai's brother and the heir to the throne, Kitt defies expectations by showing vulnerability and genuine care for both Kai and Paedyn. The unspoken competition between the brothers for Paedyn's affection is intriguing without turning into a full-on rivalry. Paedyn's involvement with the rebel group leads to a dramatic confrontation where loyalties are tested, alliances shift, and truths come to light. The chapter concludes with a gripping moment of betrayal, revenge, and heartbreak, setting the stage for an intense sequel.
I have conflicting feelings about Kitt. On one hand I understand his attraction to Pae but at the same time I find it confusing that he is trying to court someone who his brother clearly likes... I am also worried about his character development in the future sequel. He felt isolated and overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility as the future heir to the throne and seemed to desperately crave a meaningful connection to someone other than his family who would be interested in this point of view. So when he realised Paedyn's betrayal, I became worried how this will affect his character. I worry that he will isolate himself even more, shut off his emotions and that he will unfortunately be consumed by his hurt and need for vengeance.
On the other hand, Kai, who has always somewhat questioned the prejudice towards "Ordinaries" and who wasn't the biggest fan of his father anyway, will certainly feel even more conflicted in his position as Enforcer. I believe, however, that his feelings for her Paedyn will overpower his sense of duty and so I can only assume that Kai and Kitt feel find themselves on opposite sides in the sequel.
There was no spice at all in this book but the tension between Paedyn and Kai was palpable. So I will still give it a 0.5 rating on my spice level just because I think that we will experience some more spicy and steamy moments in future books.
#3: Final Thoughts on the Fantasy Romance 'Powerless'
I think it's clear that I completely devoured this book. It was a nice surprise and I can't wait to see where the story takes us. Personally I feel that certain details in the Purging Trial could have been changed . I was missing those unique elements that would have set the book apart. Unfortunately the Purging Trial was too close to "The Hunger Games" and so my attention was more focused on comparing these books instead of just enjoying the suspense and action of the competition.
Nevertheless the banter between Paedyn and Kai was excellent and I really enjoyed the overall character evolution. It's a must-read for those who love fantasy romance, action, and intricate character dynamics.
If you liked this fantasy romance book review of "Powerless" or have any questions or comments, let me know !
powerless lauren roberts
Disclaimer: I have added an affiliate link for your convenience so you can directly purchase the book if you are intrigued. This also means that I will receive a small commission. This does not affect inclusion in my reviews or the overall rating of the book.
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