Book Review: Powerless by Lauren Roberts

 

Short Description 

Paedyn Gray has lived in Ilya her whole life, but the kingdom doesn't want her. She is an Ordinary, someone without powers, someone the powerful believe to be their ruin. She's spent her whole life running from the truth, trying to survive as best she can and as quietly as she can. However, everything changes when she encounters and robs the wrong person, the second prince, the enforcer tasked with killing Ordinary people like her. Kai is a monster, or at least that is what is believed. Molded by the king from a young age, he is the fear of every ordinary child who hides in the shadows. However, there is more to him than what meets the eye. His life changes entirely when he is robbed by a silver-haired thief in the middle of the slums. This isn't the last time they meet each other. They are both chosen to participate in the Purging Trials, where survival is almost impossible, even with an ability. They must overcome the trials and their frustratingly strong growing attraction to each other, all while Paedyn desperately tries to keep her secret and her life.

(Read the official synopsis on Amazon or Goodreads)

Review

First Thoughts 

I can't tell you how many people told me I'd love this book, and they were right. As always, I'm not sure what to expect when I start reading a very popular book, and I've often been left disappointed. However, Powerless didn't disappoint at all! It was a tidal wave of emotions, and I was happy to get swept away. 

Plot

Powerless is a treasure trove of grief, misery, discrimination, greed, and inexplicable attraction. We follow Paedyn as she struggles to survive, stealing to make it to the next sunrise. Right off the bat, I liked Paedyn a lot, and though she isn't the best thief I've read about, she's swift, and sometimes that's all that matters. Paedyn's life follows a similar schedule - steal, eat, sleep, and live. She tries her best to remain inconspicuous, but all that changes when she chooses to rob the wrong person.

Paedyn gets chosen to participate in the deadly Purging Trials. Her only desire is to survive, but even that seems impossible. I'm a huge fan of death-defying trials and action-packed battles so this was a fun read. I loved the different familial relationships that were portrayed throughout this book. From Paedyn's close grief-stricken relationship with her father to Kai and Kitt's complicated relationships with the king. It makes you evaluate the effect different upbringings can have on different people. I also loved the relationship between the three brothers Kitt, Kai, and Jax, they were willing to do anything for each other. 

The relationship between Kai and Paedyn was my favorite part of this story, and honestly, I think that it overshadowed the plot a little, but as I have said, I was obsessed with it so that didn't bother me. Their little quips back and forth, their confusion at their growing attraction, and the fact that they nearly always ended up with knives at each other's throats (literally) kept me feverishly turning pages. 

The trials themselves weren't that cleverly devised to me and I felt the characters truly made them exhilarating. Powerless expounds on the various prejudices that can accompany misinformation and hatred. The world-building wasn't as vast as some of the other fantasies I've read, but this is the first book in a series, so I can't fault it too much. The author has set the stage wonderfully, in my opinion, and I can't wait to see how her world will expand next. The abilities in this book were intriguing, though the Sights were a little creepy to me. You had your usual elemental abilities, but there were also unique ones, like the silencers or Kai's abilities. My favorite by far was Paedyn's "Psychic" ability. She was no Sherlock Holmes, but I was impressed by her nonetheless. And the ending! I wish I could say more, but I hardly had time to catch my breath with all the reveals that were taking place. I never would have guessed the book would end like that, but now I'm eager to get my hands on the next one.

Characters 

Paedyn - I liked Paedyn a lot. She was powerful in every way except the most obvious. Living on the streets in such heartbreaking conditions would make the bravest weep, yet she always tried her best to keep going. Paedyn is such a deep and compelling character. She has experienced horrors in her life that have shaped her into who she is: fierce and desperate to live. She carries so many burdens, and being chosen for the purging trials made me fear for her. She is also clever, witty, and yet the most caring friend you can ask for. I loved following her through this epic tale.

Kai - Possibly my favorite character, Kai is a cacophony of pain and emotions, yet his mask is iron-clad, and no one notices his true feelings. He is charming, flirty, witty, and confident. He should be since he is the strongest among the ability users I've seen till now. He's been training, honing his skills, and overcoming obstacles all his life. Despite being called a monstrous killer, he is kind, compassionate, and truly infatuated with a certain silver-haired thief from the slums. I loved reading how Paedyn and Kai interacted with and frustrated each other. Kai's relationships with his brothers were some of the most heart-warming I have read.

Kitt - I'm not sure what to make of Kitt just yet. On one hand, I love his kindness, compassion, humor, caring, and dedication to trying his best for his people. On the other hand, his constant need to appease his father can only lead to disastrous outcomes, and I'm not certain he can handle his emotions as well as Kai can. He's a lot more down-to-earth than I expected, and his love for his family is inspiring. I'm excited to discover more about his character in the next book. Also, I love that his nickname is Kitty (courtesy of Kai)!

Blair - Now, on to a character I loathe, Blair is selfish, heartless, and cruel. I don't know too much about her reasons for the way she acts, but maybe that will be revealed in the next book. The moment she was introduced I had my doubts about her, and my doubts turned into hatred soon after. I wonder if my opinion will change in the next book, it's happened before. Honestly, it will be shocking if it happens.

Adena - Adena is the sweetest and most talented seamstress ever. Living on the streets with Paedyn has led to the formation of an unbreakable bond between the two. She alone is trusted with Paedyn's deepest fears and secrets, and she bears them beautifully. She is always there for Paedyn and her skills are second to none.

What I Didn't Like

Firstly, I wasn't a huge fan of the trials themselves. For being regaled as death trials, they were a little unimpressive to me. Sure they were deadly, but it was only because the competitors were actively trying to kill each other. The actual trial was more like background noise compared to the personal vendettas they had for each other. If the competitors chose to be more civil, the trials wouldn't have seemed as deadly.

Secondly, the plot itself wasn't very unique. Lots of the themes discussed in the book have been done many times over. I still loved it, but you should keep in mind that there are a lot of cliché and sometimes cringe moments.

In Summation

I enjoyed reading Powerless a lot. There were a lot of sweet moments in this book coupled with the tense ones and I loved reading all of them. The romance was my favorite part, I guess we can call it enemies-to-lovers. I'm obsessed and can't wait to discover what's in store for Paedyn and Kai. If you love witty humor and flirtatious relationships, well you should pick this book up. If you prefer very fast-paced books, maybe this isn't for you, I thought the book was medium-paced at best. Also, if you prefer plot-heavy tales, Powerless may disappoint you a little. However, if you love fantasy stories that focus on emotions and romance, this is the book for you. If you love witty banter, then what are you waiting for? If you are a fan of the romantasy genre, you may have found your next read. I can't wait to pick up the next one.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐

Emoji Depiction: 🦠💰🗡️

If you haven't read my review of Moving is Murder by Nellie H. Steele, you can do so here.