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laurenevlyn's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed Powerless. It was an extremely fast paced book and at times made me forget I was even reading. The characters were funny and the found family thing it has going is working well. On the other hand, the world-building was absolutely nonexistent. I got halfway through the book before learning even basic facts about this superhero society. Also I easily predicted all but one of the plot twists that occurred throughout the book. Although Powerless is not nearly the height of literature, I still had a good time reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Torture, Violence, Death, and Confinement
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Grief and War
dragoneyes451's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Meh, I would have liked this more if I had read it when it first came out. They are supposed to be 18-19 year olds, but this book feels very high school teen.
aprilk's review against another edition
5.0
I have been itching to read a superhero book, so I was stoked to have Powerless on hand to dive into. I have read a couple of books by Tracy before and loved her world building, so I just knew I would love this story as well. I was so right! I read this book in one day. I was so into it I just did not want to put it down! It is a fast and super fun read and I really enjoyed the characters. The heroine Kenna is spunky, smart, and has a hilarious inner dialogue. I love that although she is powerless she refuses to be helpless. I knew Kenna was in trouble as soon as Draven came into the picture. I mean who wouldn't fall for tall, dark, and dreamy that gives you chocolate! He's every girls dream, the bad boy with a good heart * insert dreamy sigh here *. Their chemistry and witty banter had me all swoony and giddy, smiling behind the pages. I also really like the book's overall message too that not every hero is good and not every villain is bad. Everyone is capable of choosing who they are and what their actions will say about them. Powerless is the first book in a new series that I can't wait to continue! That ending has me so anxious to get my hands on the next book!
oobloobmoob's review against another edition
2.0
this book gave me uninvited, divergent, my hero academia, renegades and red queen vibes. it was like any other ya book where the teen female mc is super special and her love interest is hot and brooding.
the superhero concept could have cool but it was weak and didn’t seem very fleshed out. i was left with loads of questions by the end of the book and not many answers. Questions like ‘how is it decided if someone is a villain or a hero?’, ‘what happens if a hero is born into a family of ordinaries?’, ‘why does a child who has one hero parent and one villain parent have two powers?’, and some others i’m not bothered to write down. there are quite a few holes and things that go unexplained for my liking. Like genuinely, how do ordinaries not know about superpowers?? Does the president know or are they just kept in the dark? Does everyone who has powers keep some kind of oath that stops them from spilling the beans and what if an ordinary stumbles across someone using their powers??? Is it like the mist from the percy jackson books that disguises their powers or something?? Please explain!! None of this makes sense!!
Apart from the general confusion caused by a lack of explanations, this book took place over a week. Normally i would have no problem with that but in this case, how are their feelings for each other so strong after like three days. This is a problem i tend to have with ya/teen books in general so i’m kinda used to it but the romance just moves wayyyyyyy too quickly imo.
will i read the second one? idk
the superhero concept could have cool but it was weak and didn’t seem very fleshed out. i was left with loads of questions by the end of the book and not many answers. Questions like ‘how is it decided if someone is a villain or a hero?’, ‘what happens if a hero is born into a family of ordinaries?’, ‘why does a child who has one hero parent and one villain parent have two powers?’, and some others i’m not bothered to write down. there are quite a few holes and things that go unexplained for my liking. Like genuinely, how do ordinaries not know about superpowers?? Does the president know or are they just kept in the dark? Does everyone who has powers keep some kind of oath that stops them from spilling the beans and what if an ordinary stumbles across someone using their powers??? Is it like the mist from the percy jackson books that disguises their powers or something?? Please explain!! None of this makes sense!!
Apart from the general confusion caused by a lack of explanations, this book took place over a week. Normally i would have no problem with that but in this case, how are their feelings for each other so strong after like three days. This is a problem i tend to have with ya/teen books in general so i’m kinda used to it but the romance just moves wayyyyyyy too quickly imo.
will i read the second one? idk
karenu's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
livy22's review against another edition
1.0
Sad to say that I DNF'd after about 30 pages. The protagonist's attitude had already managed to annoy me to no end, and all of the characters were bland. This was one of those rare instances where I just knew I wasn't going to like this book.
bookcub's review against another edition
4.0
If you have ever read anything by Tera Lynn Childs and liked it, you should read Powerless. I thought it is a solid add on to her other novels and a great collaboration. I kept forgetting two authors wrote this novel.
My favorite part about this book is the mythology behind the superheroes and villains. The rivalry and dishonesty between the two sides isn’t that original. The “good guys” are actually bad guys isn’t particularly new nor inventive. But it is a good take on it. I’m interested to know more mythology.
As for the characters, I expected more girls on the team. And in the book. Also characters of color. I feel like there should be more diversity for such a modern book in this day and age. But they are a cute team. Kenna is hysterical, she’s scrappy and relentless. And all the characters have great chemistry and their journey becoming a team felt very honest and slightly dysfunctional. It is adorable.
This is a standard YA novel about superheroes, nothing mind blowing or original. A little intense near the end, and I am definitely reading the next book. I recommend this book to anyone who likes superhero novels and enjoys a good YA novel. 4 stars out of 5 in my opinion.
My favorite part about this book is the mythology behind the superheroes and villains. The rivalry and dishonesty between the two sides isn’t that original. The “good guys” are actually bad guys isn’t particularly new nor inventive. But it is a good take on it. I’m interested to know more mythology.
As for the characters, I expected more girls on the team. And in the book. Also characters of color. I feel like there should be more diversity for such a modern book in this day and age. But they are a cute team. Kenna is hysterical, she’s scrappy and relentless. And all the characters have great chemistry and their journey becoming a team felt very honest and slightly dysfunctional. It is adorable.
This is a standard YA novel about superheroes, nothing mind blowing or original. A little intense near the end, and I am definitely reading the next book. I recommend this book to anyone who likes superhero novels and enjoys a good YA novel. 4 stars out of 5 in my opinion.
nnancy25's review against another edition
4.0
I so did not expect this book in more ways than one. Powerless is the story of an ordinary girl in a world full of heroes and villains. This, amongst other subjects throughout the novel, make for pretty common themes, however this book holds its own. I am a huge fan of both Marvel and DC, so I am not new to the superhero world but I don’t think I’ve read many, if at all, novels about superheroes and villains and I’m glad this was my first. Kenna, our main protagonist, is the ordinary girl who lives surrounded by individuals with superpowers. To Kenna, these heroes are the protectors of the ordinary humans like her, and have a great responsibility to use their powers wisely.
For my full review, check it out here:
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2016/06/book-review-powerless-by-tera-lynn.html
For my full review, check it out here:
http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2016/06/book-review-powerless-by-tera-lynn.html
_aly_kate's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5