Powerless
Author: Lauren Roberts
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 528
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★1/2
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 528
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★1/2
Hunted. Hunter.
Destined for each other.
Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya.
The Elites have possessed powers for decades, gifted to them by the Plague, while those born Ordinary are just that, banished from the kingdom of Ilya and shunned from society.
No one knows this better than Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary posing as a Psychic to blend in with the Elites. When she unsuspectingly saves one of Ilya’s princes, Kai Azer, she’s thrown into the Purging Trials, a brutal competition showcasing the Elites’ powers.
If the Trials and the opponents within them don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for will if he discovers what Paedyn is… completely Ordinary.
Destined for each other.
Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya.
The Elites have possessed powers for decades, gifted to them by the Plague, while those born Ordinary are just that, banished from the kingdom of Ilya and shunned from society.
No one knows this better than Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary posing as a Psychic to blend in with the Elites. When she unsuspectingly saves one of Ilya’s princes, Kai Azer, she’s thrown into the Purging Trials, a brutal competition showcasing the Elites’ powers.
If the Trials and the opponents within them don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for will if he discovers what Paedyn is… completely Ordinary.
My thoughts:
There’s no denying that Powerless by Lauren Roberts is an entertaining read. It’s fast-paced, dramatic, and filled with the kind of romantic tension that makes you want to keep turning the pages. It’s easy to see why this book has become such a popular title online, particularly among readers who enjoy high-stakes fantasy and slow-burning romance.
However, despite how readable it is, I really struggled to fully connect with this book for one major reason: it all feels overwhelmingly familiar.
As I read, many aspects of the story continually brought to mind famous YA dystopian and fantasy books, especially The Hunger Games and Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen. The central structure of the plot, the competitive atmosphere, and the overall tone felt so similar at times that it became difficult to view Powerless as its own distinct story.
The central concept, the structure of the story, and the atmosphere reminded me so strongly of The Hunger Games, that I found it difficult to stop comparing the two. And unfortunately, once those comparisons started, they never really went away. While Powerless has its own characters and romantic direction, the similarities are so noticeable that it distracted me from enjoying the book on its own merits.
Still, I found some parts enjoyable. The writing is accessible and easy to sink into, and Roberts clearly knows how to create tension and keep the stakes high. There are plenty of moments that feel cinematic and exciting, and the story has a very bingeable quality as the kind of book that would absolutely appeal to readers who love romantasy with competition, danger, and slow-building chemistry.
The romance is truly where Powerless shines the most. The dynamic between the characters adds a lot of energy to the plot, and there’s a strong ‘enemies-to-lovers’ trope that many readers will love. It’s fun, it’s intense, and it gives the story that addictive edge.
Ultimately though, while I didn’t dislike Powerless, I also didn’t feel blown away by it. It’s a book I can see being a great choice for readers newer to the genre, or for anyone looking for something dramatic and easy to sink their teeth into, but for me personally, it didn’t feel original enough to leave a lasting impression.
I read the book as part of a read-along with Tandem Collective. And overall, Powerless is enjoyable and undeniably readable, but the resemblance to other dystopian stories (particularly The Hunger Games) held it back for me. Despite this, for readers looking for a fast, romantic, high-stakes fantasy read with plenty of tension and drama, this may be worth picking up.
Overall reaction:
There’s no denying that Powerless by Lauren Roberts is an entertaining read. It’s fast-paced, dramatic, and filled with the kind of romantic tension that makes you want to keep turning the pages. It’s easy to see why this book has become such a popular title online, particularly among readers who enjoy high-stakes fantasy and slow-burning romance.
However, despite how readable it is, I really struggled to fully connect with this book for one major reason: it all feels overwhelmingly familiar.
As I read, many aspects of the story continually brought to mind famous YA dystopian and fantasy books, especially The Hunger Games and Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen. The central structure of the plot, the competitive atmosphere, and the overall tone felt so similar at times that it became difficult to view Powerless as its own distinct story.
The central concept, the structure of the story, and the atmosphere reminded me so strongly of The Hunger Games, that I found it difficult to stop comparing the two. And unfortunately, once those comparisons started, they never really went away. While Powerless has its own characters and romantic direction, the similarities are so noticeable that it distracted me from enjoying the book on its own merits.
Still, I found some parts enjoyable. The writing is accessible and easy to sink into, and Roberts clearly knows how to create tension and keep the stakes high. There are plenty of moments that feel cinematic and exciting, and the story has a very bingeable quality as the kind of book that would absolutely appeal to readers who love romantasy with competition, danger, and slow-building chemistry.
The romance is truly where Powerless shines the most. The dynamic between the characters adds a lot of energy to the plot, and there’s a strong ‘enemies-to-lovers’ trope that many readers will love. It’s fun, it’s intense, and it gives the story that addictive edge.
Ultimately though, while I didn’t dislike Powerless, I also didn’t feel blown away by it. It’s a book I can see being a great choice for readers newer to the genre, or for anyone looking for something dramatic and easy to sink their teeth into, but for me personally, it didn’t feel original enough to leave a lasting impression.
I read the book as part of a read-along with Tandem Collective. And overall, Powerless is enjoyable and undeniably readable, but the resemblance to other dystopian stories (particularly The Hunger Games) held it back for me. Despite this, for readers looking for a fast, romantic, high-stakes fantasy read with plenty of tension and drama, this may be worth picking up.
Overall reaction:
