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kinsportch's review
adventurous
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
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Murder, Blood, Body horror, Classism, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Genocide
Minor: Animal death and Alcohol
graceev's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Violence, Murder, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Child death and Physical abuse
callistag1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Maybe I didn't enjoy this book because I had such high hopes for it, seeing that almost every BookTuber and BookTok account I follow has raved about it. But really, there was a lot about this book I didn't like.
The plot was okay. After a plague wipes through the kingdom of Ilya, most of the surivivors are left with powers and are known as Elites. The few who didn't get powers are known as Ordinaries, and the ones who receive powers that are "too dangerous" are called Fatals. Basically, the king is a dick and decides Fatals should die because they can't be controlled, and Ordinaries should die because they apparently are diseased and make the Elites sick by weakening their powers. The fact that everyone is okay with mass genocide because they want to be able to move shit with their mind or control fire or morph into animals baffles me.
Paedyn, our main character, is an Ordinary who passes herself off as a Psychic in order to not be nerfed on sight. She's literally out here just trying not to die and I respect that. When she shows a bit of human decency and accidentally saves the 2nd born son of the king, Prince Kai, she is voted by the slums she lives in to participate in Purging Trials (a.k.a. PG13 Hunger Games basically because people die but it's not a necessity to win) and now she has to fake it til she makes it. Add in rebellion and some romance and a hint (?) of a love triangle but not really, and that's the book.
Now, the plot had potentially, but there were just a couple things about the book I couldn't get into. One being a nitpicky thing that pissed me off so badly that I removed a full star for it: the author's outrageous use of the word "laugh" or "laughing" or an iteration of the word. I've never read two characters laugh more than I've read Paedyn and Kai laugh. Once the word or an iteration of it was used four times on one page, and it was used almost every page they were together. It felt like when Roberts didn't know how to have them react, she'd just convey that they laughed in one way or another, usually with "laugh" or "huff out a laugh." Is it a small thing? Sure. Still pissed me off though.
Another problem I had was with Kitt as a character, specifically with his relationship with Kai and their father. While it is stated that the king was nicer to Kitt than he ever was to Kai, Kitt knows that Kai was strait up tortured by their father to make him enforcer, and is just... okay with it? Or tries to play peace maker but still seems to love their father as if "well he was nice to me" makes it okay to just ignore the fact that his father is an abuser. Considering how the book makes Kitt and Kai seem to be close, you would think Kitt would not have his head up his dad's ass. Also, he said some out of pocket stuff about "sacrifices of the Ordinaries are necessary" and that had me wondering how I was supposed to care about him at all because even later on he didn't really seem to care that much, so he was probably set up to become the next villain since the king is killed near the end of the book. (I will say I liked that scene. There was only two mentions of laughter instead of a dozen!)
Also, there were just a few things that felt a bit cliche and fan-fiction like, and I feel a bit upset because everyone acted like this was going to be that book when it fell kind of flat.
Overall, the plot isn't bad, but there were things like what I mentioned before that just wasn't it for me. Will I continue the series? Maybe. I have it on my to-read list, but if so, it will be on the lower end of my tbr because there are other books I am much more interested in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Torture, Death, Violence, Murder, Grief, and Genocide
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lizzysk555's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Gore, and Medical content
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic and Alcohol
candyjay19's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Hunger Games meets a world within a magical dictatorship.
This book had me in a choke hold and I couldn't look away. I loved the danger, chemistry and intrigue that made me keep reading, the connection between the main characters is undeniable although made me feel perturbed all the way through in anticipation.
I cannot wait for the next book, I honestly cant imagine what will happen next but its giving huntsman and snow...
The only thing that kept taking me out of it was the author trying very hard to get some poetic writing in there. Also at the start where everyone thinks 'interesting' after they notice something about someone, I didn't need it so many times, you could already tell those people noticed those things by their reactions or the callbacks later on, rather than making it immersive for you to realise and be in awe it was as though the author was saying 'here, look he noticed that thing, are you paying attention?'.
This book had me in a choke hold and I couldn't look away. I loved the danger, chemistry and intrigue that made me keep reading, the connection between the main characters is undeniable although made me feel perturbed all the way through in anticipation.
I cannot wait for the next book, I honestly cant imagine what will happen next but its giving huntsman and snow...
The only thing that kept taking me out of it was the author trying very hard to get some poetic writing in there. Also at the start where everyone thinks 'interesting' after they notice something about someone, I didn't need it so many times, you could already tell those people noticed those things by their reactions or the callbacks later on, rather than making it immersive for you to realise and be in awe it was as though the author was saying 'here, look he noticed that thing, are you paying attention?'.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
bethy_joy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Gore, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, War, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual harassment, Torture, Mental illness, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Panic attacks/disorders
butterflymilkweed's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As an avid reader, I thoroughly enjoyed delving into "Powerless" by Lauren Roberts. “Powerless” is a gripping read that seamlessly blends the adrenaline-fueled intensity of "The Hunger Games" with the intricate world-building and strong female protagonist reminiscent of "Throne of Glass." Set in a dystopian society where power is everything, Roberts crafts a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Similar to "The Hunger Games," "Powerless" thrusts readers into a high-stakes arena where survival is the ultimate goal. However, what sets this novel apart is its unique spin on the genre. Roberts intricately weaves together themes of power, oppression, and resilience, creating a world that feels both familiar and refreshingly original.
Fans of "Throne of Glass" will appreciate the complex characters and dynamic relationships that drive the story forward. From the fierce female protagonist to the compelling supporting cast, each character brings depth and nuance to the narrative.
While "Powerless" undoubtedly draws inspiration from these beloved series, it stands tall on its own merits. I eagerly anticipate further exploration of Ilya's world in the upcoming installments of the trilogy. Roberts has crafted a universe brimming with intrigue and danger, and I found myself completely immersed in its intricacies. With each page turn, I became more invested in the fate of the characters and the unraveling of the plot and I'm eager to see how the characters evolve. "Powerless" lays a solid foundation for what promises to be an enthralling trilogy and I eagerly await the next chapter in this thrilling saga. With its heart-pounding action and thought-provoking themes, "Powerless" earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Violence, Death, Death of parent, and Gore
bookishholly's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I read this book for the London Girl's Book Club as our May 2024 Fantasy pick.
To be honest, I had not been drawn to this book so far and likely wouldn't have picked it up without the Book Club's influence.
I really did want to love this book as it has a lot of elements that I really enjoy. I like court intrigue, magical abilities, a tournament. But all of it just fell a little flat in my opinion. I genuinely believe this book would have benefited significantly if it was 150 pages shorter. The banter and flirting between the MCs became so repetitive that I was tempted to skim read, what started as fun dialogue quickly became somewhat exhausting and I just wanted it to be over with.
Usually the sort of things that happened in this book would have made me cry, and the fact that they didn't think proves my thoughts that the characters and their friendships/relationships were not as fleshed out as they could have been. I also found most of the plot twists to be predictable (other than one that did surprise me a little bit, I will admit).
Following contains spoiler
I will also note that it didn't sit well with me that two of the main character described as having dark skin were the ones used to cause the white characters pain by witnessing their deaths/near deaths.
Overall, I would recommend this book to someone who may not have read much fantasy though I would be hesitant to have this be someone's first experience of the genre as it may put them off exploring further. If that has happened to you, I promise you there are other fantasy books that are likely going to impress you more!
To be honest, I had not been drawn to this book so far and likely wouldn't have picked it up without the Book Club's influence.
I really did want to love this book as it has a lot of elements that I really enjoy. I like court intrigue, magical abilities, a tournament. But all of it just fell a little flat in my opinion. I genuinely believe this book would have benefited significantly if it was 150 pages shorter. The banter and flirting between the MCs became so repetitive that I was tempted to skim read, what started as fun dialogue quickly became somewhat exhausting and I just wanted it to be over with.
Usually the sort of things that happened in this book would have made me cry, and the fact that they didn't think proves my thoughts that the characters and their friendships/relationships were not as fleshed out as they could have been. I also found most of the plot twists to be predictable (other than one that did surprise me a little bit, I will admit).
Following contains spoiler
Overall, I would recommend this book to someone who may not have read much fantasy though I would be hesitant to have this be someone's first experience of the genre as it may put them off exploring further. If that has happened to you, I promise you there are other fantasy books that are likely going to impress you more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Murder, Torture, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Misogyny and Death of parent
izzyreads13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There are not enough good things to say about this book, so for simplicity I’ll sum it up for everyone interested in my review!
➸ MMC who’s the embodiment of a man written by a women, everything he says about halfway through the book when he comes to terms with his feelings for the FMC are heartwarming and almost poetic, “Her. I only want to be deserving of her”.
➸ Interesting world building, while it’s definitely not the most out there world, the author does a good job at throwing parts of the lore around through out the book when needed, making everything easy to understand while also not feeling like you’re constantly getting information thrown at you left and right. Information comes up when it’s needed.
➸ interesting characters. While some are definitely more loveable then others, all of the characters are written with enough depth and background to at least make you build some sort of connection with them, good or bad
➸ our FMC is strong and despite what I thought at a few points of the book, does not need to and or always rely on our MMC to save her. There are of course a few instances when he does but there are enough scenes throughout the book that reinforce the fact that she can stand her own ground without his assistance which I definitely enjoyed.
The story is a little hard to get into at first, I found myself picking the book up at least once every day for about 50 pages at a time but by the halfway mark I definitely felt more inclined to read more and more each time and by the last 100 pages not only was I devastated but satisfied. Devastated that it was over, yet satisfied as to how the book came together at the end. I’m eagerly awaiting the second book in a few months, but the rest of my review will just be some things I noted and felt while reading the book.
➸ definitely a slow burn. While the banter is continuous throughout the book from start to finish, it takes a while to get to a point where the characters verbalize those feelings to one another and by the end of it, only Kai does, our MMC (definitely a “he fell harder” situation). That doesn’t stop the tension between characters however, if anything it elevates it and I loved feeling the love through the words written on the page.
➸ I loved paedyns character as a whole, but through out a lot of the beginning of the book there’s numbers mentions of her deceased father and while it does subside a bit throughout the book, it was definitely very hard to get through for a while and almost made me eye-roll at his mention every time something bad happened. But like I did mention, this does subside mid book and does come back into play at the end.
Overall I truly did enjoy this book, I cried, squealed and everything else you could imagine while getting through this book, it was a fantastic read through and through and I know I’ll be sad when the trilogy ends, even though it has just started. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy and however many novellas Lauren decides to release alongside it in the future. I recommend this read to anyone who loves tension, banter, slow burn, and tropes such as “he fell harder” and the “who did this to you” trope! And please be aware that they are not joking when they market this book as a YA romantasy, because that’s really what it is. If you’re expecting some high end romance that’s more sophisticated, you won’t find it here, but the romance is definitely satisfying, heartfelt and beautifully written. I’d say it’s definitely one you at least have to pick up and try. Happy reading!
➸ MMC who’s the embodiment of a man written by a women, everything he says about halfway through the book when he comes to terms with his feelings for the FMC are heartwarming and almost poetic, “Her. I only want to be deserving of her”.
➸ Interesting world building, while it’s definitely not the most out there world, the author does a good job at throwing parts of the lore around through out the book when needed, making everything easy to understand while also not feeling like you’re constantly getting information thrown at you left and right. Information comes up when it’s needed.
➸ interesting characters. While some are definitely more loveable then others, all of the characters are written with enough depth and background to at least make you build some sort of connection with them, good or bad
➸ our FMC is strong and despite what I thought at a few points of the book, does not need to and or always rely on our MMC to save her. There are of course a few instances when he does but there are enough scenes throughout the book that reinforce the fact that she can stand her own ground without his assistance which I definitely enjoyed.
The story is a little hard to get into at first, I found myself picking the book up at least once every day for about 50 pages at a time but by the halfway mark I definitely felt more inclined to read more and more each time and by the last 100 pages not only was I devastated but satisfied. Devastated that it was over, yet satisfied as to how the book came together at the end. I’m eagerly awaiting the second book in a few months, but the rest of my review will just be some things I noted and felt while reading the book.
➸ definitely a slow burn. While the banter is continuous throughout the book from start to finish, it takes a while to get to a point where the characters verbalize those feelings to one another and by the end of it, only Kai does, our MMC (definitely a “he fell harder” situation). That doesn’t stop the tension between characters however, if anything it elevates it and I loved feeling the love through the words written on the page.
➸ I loved paedyns character as a whole, but through out a lot of the beginning of the book there’s numbers mentions of her deceased father and while it does subside a bit throughout the book, it was definitely very hard to get through for a while and almost made me eye-roll at his mention every time something bad happened. But like I did mention, this does subside mid book and does come back into play at the end.
Overall I truly did enjoy this book, I cried, squealed and everything else you could imagine while getting through this book, it was a fantastic read through and through and I know I’ll be sad when the trilogy ends, even though it has just started. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy and however many novellas Lauren decides to release alongside it in the future. I recommend this read to anyone who loves tension, banter, slow burn, and tropes such as “he fell harder” and the “who did this to you” trope! And please be aware that they are not joking when they market this book as a YA romantasy, because that’s really what it is. If you’re expecting some high end romance that’s more sophisticated, you won’t find it here, but the romance is definitely satisfying, heartfelt and beautifully written. I’d say it’s definitely one you at least have to pick up and try. Happy reading!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Classism, Alcohol, Death, Blood, and Grief
bluebelle_reads's review against another edition
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Torture