Reviews with content warning for Confinement - Powerful

Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Powerful by Lauren Roberts

17 reviews

enchantingreads_rosyreviews's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I’m so unused to someone wanting me. Choosing me. Finding me worth the effort. Because I’m completely undeserving of it. Of her. If darkness is the absence of light, then that is what I am when she is not around. And I wonder how I’ve stumbled this long without her to guide me...
I’ve spent my whole life wishing to be wanted. And here he is, begging me to let him... He is my fantasy. This is my reality. With that realization, all hesitation vanishes. And I kiss him.

This novella gives us the POV of a supporting character from book 1 while big events were happening (you have to read book 1 first). Boy, oh boy, this was an emotional ride. Without spoilers, it’s strange to any time we move through an established timeline, but learn new things because we get to see a new POV. So, while many of the events in this novella weren’t new per se, witnessing the Trials, balls, etc. from Adena and Mak’s POVs was interesting. This is significantly more emotional than the last book (hence why there’s an emotional rating on this graphic) and it’s fast-paced because of the shorter format. But we still get swoon-y lines, colorful writing, lovable characters and we get to see some book 1 faves.

“I count the stars,” she says softly. “To help me sleep... I always wondered how something could shine so bright, even while being swallowed in darkness... I hope they know how admired they are up there,” she murmurs. “I mean, I count them before bed every night.”
I shake my head at the sight of her admiring something far duller than she. “I’m quite sure that even the stars are envious of you... Because one day—far from now—you will be up there beside them, outshining every single one." ...
"And will you be beside me up there?”
“If I should be so lucky.”
“Promise me,” she murmurs sternly. “I don’t want to be alone.”
I nod against her hair. “I promise, Dena.”

Okay, real talk. This book wrecked me. Without spoilers, let me say knowing the basic outline of events (since this book takes place during book 1’s timeline), does NOT make it easier to read. It just makes it more crushing.

I’ve never been much good with pain. Never needed to be. But I refuse to be ashamed of my softness. Gentleness is the strength that fragility lacks.

It would be one thing, if there was a reason behind it. But as I’m writing this, I’ve already finished Reckless, the next book in this series, & it doesn’t seem like Powerful was necessary to understand the series. Like, are new characters gonna prove important to this world? It doesn’t seem like it. So why hurt us like this, Lauren? Why?! 😭 Maybe it will pay off in book 3? I don’t know... but I still loved this book... it just hurts.

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madi_reads13's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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jennh96's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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kaitlynnnng's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This entire review contains spoilers. Then again, you shouldn’t be reading this if you haven’t read Powerless.

Ugh! I obviously went into this book knowing what would happen to Adena, and the ending still shattered my heart.

Adena and Mak’s love story felt insta-lovey, especially compared to Paedyn and Kai’s in the first book, but they are side characters and this is a .5 novella, so it’s understandable. I wish we could’ve gotten more vulnerable moments with them! They deserved to live their love story, even if it wasn’t for long.

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linaslittlelibrary's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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literarymary95's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Despite this novella not really adding much to the original book (Powerless) other than

how Adena ended up at the center of the final trial as the sacrifice

, it was still an interesting read and see how Adena's character influenced Paedyn's.

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kyras_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

SPOILERS AHEAD…

🖤

Well, this is one of those stories that you know exactly how it ends before you begin and while you’d think that would soften the blow… it doesn’t. It still hits like a brick. Listening to the inner monologue as she slipped away was one of the most gut-wrenching moments I’ve experienced in a book. And knowing all that she had to look forward to and all that she could have become was all the more devastating. She was so much more than Paedyn’s best friend. She was a smart and powerful girl who would have done amazing things if the world had been a little less cruel. And knowing he was there waiting for her, looking for her… and had to watch it unfold, tore me up even more.

I enjoyed this glimpse into her life and I am so glad we got a short story about her, even if it did break my heart all over again.

Favorite quotes:

“You make even the stars envious,” I repeat softly, leaning toward her. “Because one day—far from now—you will be up there beside them, outshining every single one.”

“If darkness is the absence of light, then that is what I am when she is not around. And I wonder how I’ve stumbled this long without her to guide me.”

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bujo_bellel's review against another edition

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emotional funny sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

*spoiler for Powerless*

I unfortunately couldn't fully enjoy it knowing what happens in the end T.T. I really enjoyed reading Adena's story and I loved how the author brings her to life in this book since we didn't have much time to get to know her in Powerless!! I really liked Mak and Adena's story, and I'm so sad that Adena did not have the chance to tell her about Mak!! I wonder if he will play a bigger part in the next book seeing as

He has the same power as Kai. I kind of hope that they don't meet each other early so that Kai doesn't kill him (or the other way)

I wonder how Mak will affect the characters in the next book and I am very interested to see how it plays out in the end :) Seeing as we didn't get much time with the characters, I couldn't really give the book higher than 3.5 stars, especially as I went through it knowing what will happen to Adena in the end because of Powerless :(

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pastorscratchy1reads's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

I already knew what was going to happen and I still was almost crying at the end.

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lakinglaze's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

I enjoyed getting to know Adena more and see how she was spending her time during the trails. The chapters around her death were heartbreaking and beautiful.

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