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kobookshelf's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book - it definitely gripped me and I’ll be continuing the series. It’s definitely more YA. I really love Kai! Don’t love Pae as much. I also feel like both lacked growth throughout the book it was kind of just the same angst at every turn. But I enjoyed the plot and the characters nonetheless. Hoping there is more character development in the next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
nikimorr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Book Tok sold me on this book as it has many others. I love romantasy, but I am not normally interested in YA books. Adults far and wide said it’s worth it, and in many ways it is, but it is still very much YA in writing and story, often lacking in detail and maturity. However, the plot ends up making it worth it.
This story is set in a world where a disease (the Plague) led to some people getting powers/heightened senses, while others remained unchanged. It is told from multiple POVs - Paedyn is an “Ordinary,” homeless and living on the streets, barely surviving and hiding who she is (and her lack of power) while living in a world that has purged anyone that lacks powers. Kai is a Prince with the unique ability to use the powers of anyone around him, and who happens to hunt and kill those that are Ordinary. Their two worlds collide when they are thrown together for the Trials - a bloody set of tests on teenagers in honor of the purge that eradicated most of those that are Ordinary.
I almost fell disappointed. By the end of the first half of the book, I was struggling to want to pick it up. Although Paedyn and Kai had all the romantic tension and banter, I just was not sold on them as a couple or even as individuals. However, once the Trials actually started, I really began to enjoy the book. It is very reminiscent of The Hunger Games with youth fighting to the death for the entertainment of others. In many other ways, however, this book is unique, and I was drawn in to the plot, wanting to know what is next. I also began to cheer for Paedyn and Kai, buying into their romance more and more as they endured the Trials together. If you love forbidden romances and “touch her and die,” these tropes are heavy in this book.
Despite me initial disappointment, once the plot picked up, it is well worth the finish, and now I am excited to pick up the sequel.
I loved the ending, especially now that Kai is hunting Paedyn. Both have killed the other’s father, so you know there is a lot of conflict to come (although we all know that they will not be able to resist each other). There is so much potential to come!
This story is set in a world where a disease (the Plague) led to some people getting powers/heightened senses, while others remained unchanged. It is told from multiple POVs - Paedyn is an “Ordinary,” homeless and living on the streets, barely surviving and hiding who she is (and her lack of power) while living in a world that has purged anyone that lacks powers. Kai is a Prince with the unique ability to use the powers of anyone around him, and who happens to hunt and kill those that are Ordinary. Their two worlds collide when they are thrown together for the Trials - a bloody set of tests on teenagers in honor of the purge that eradicated most of those that are Ordinary.
I almost fell disappointed. By the end of the first half of the book, I was struggling to want to pick it up. Although Paedyn and Kai had all the romantic tension and banter, I just was not sold on them as a couple or even as individuals. However, once the Trials actually started, I really began to enjoy the book. It is very reminiscent of The Hunger Games with youth fighting to the death for the entertainment of others. In many other ways, however, this book is unique, and I was drawn in to the plot, wanting to know what is next. I also began to cheer for Paedyn and Kai, buying into their romance more and more as they endured the Trials together. If you love forbidden romances and “touch her and die,” these tropes are heavy in this book.
Despite me initial disappointment, once the plot picked up, it is well worth the finish, and now I am excited to pick up the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, and Police brutality
alex_lk's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
laurarmz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I had so much fun. Even tough this book clearly follows the YA and romantasy formula, it actually managed to bring it to life and do a great job at it (even when some quotes were worn-out). I loved the characters, I laughed so much at the dynamics and the chemistry, I am aching to see more of the romance even if I know where it’s headed. Such a good time, for real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
jehansen127's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Genuinely enjoyed this YA(maybe, fairly violent) romantsy novel. It was an enemies to lovers, slow burn, potential for love triangle, and a competition story.
I was fairly engaged, and the pacing was excellent until towards the end when I spent way too much time in the characters' heads thinking about how amazing the other characters were..
I liked the characters. They were complex and actually a little villainous, so if morally gray is not your color, this might not be the book for you.
The magic system was fascinating, and the way it was interwoven into the plot was genius.
I'll probably check out the sequel and novella
I was fairly engaged, and the pacing was excellent until towards the end when I spent way too much time in the characters' heads thinking about how amazing the other characters were..
I liked the characters. They were complex and actually a little villainous, so if morally gray is not your color, this might not be the book for you.
The magic system was fascinating, and the way it was interwoven into the plot was genius.
I'll probably check out the sequel and novella
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bookb1itch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Just like Twilight, I was sucked in by this book. There are several similarities : one girl, two boys:; forbidden relationships; slightly whingey narrator. This is what all the 12 yo girls are readinng, so I thought I needed to check it out. I can see its appeal - to them. I will buy the rest of the franchise, but might not bother reading them all. A couple of oft-repeated phrases became grating: "I stood to my feet" , "I huffed out a laugh". The actual writing is not brilliant, and the story is not highly original, but it is engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
themollylorian's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood
gwen_l98's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Vomit
mahi_nad's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4 stars.
She is the very thing he’s spent his whole life hunting.
He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be.
(Be wary of minor spoilers if you haven't read this yet)
REVIEW:
THIS.
THIS BOOK.
This has to be my new favourite fantasy book. There is no better feeling when you pick up a book you later can't put down, relentlessly turning through the pages, running alongside the characters, fighting, laughing, and crying with them. This book had me gripped and NEEDING to find satisfaction through the next book. The banter between Paedyn and Kai? Light, fun filled and had me SCREAMING "kiss already!!".
"If I am to be her enemy, I want it to be because she loathes herself for wanting me.”
Paedyn:
I rooted for her throughout the entire book. Incredibly witty, sharp-tongued and even sharper mind, this is the kind of female lead I love. I can see people comparing this to other series like Red Queen and Hunger games, since all the fmcs go through similar things, but I have to say, something about this book trumps the other two. Watching her prove everybody around her wrong was amazing. It gave me the kind of satisfaction that's incredibly hard to find.
Kai:
At first I thought he was an idiot because he couldn't sense Paedyn's power (obviously), but I quickly grew to love him. Once again, THE BANTER. The way I felt giddy inside like a little girl every time they fought. And he braids her hair? That has to be the cutest scene I've ever read. He was smitten with her from the very beginning -- for him, she was the first girl his eyes landed on when he walked in a room. I ALSO love how he fostered her strengths instead of trying to be the cliché overprotective boyfriend and force her to hide away herself.
The slow burn? Top tier. The way Roberts wrote this entire story was genuinely beautiful. I loved it till the very end, and this has to be the first series that made me ANXIOUS for the sequel.
--- Although, quick downside. What was with the editing? <i>Powerless</i> had one mistake too many when it came to grammar. Also, the amount of times eye colour was pointed out was definitely way too much. We got it, Roberts. Billie Eilish is probably crying through her "ocean eyes" right now.
BOTTOM LINE:
Amazing slow burn, quick and fun banter, but lots of grammar mistakes
AGE RATING:
12+
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol