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dumb_b_whoreads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Lauren Robert’s sticks to her guns with her Powerless novella, by creating another story that is driven by a romance trope.
The short story takes place at the same time as Paedyn’s journey in Powerless. We follow Paedyn’s perky best friend, Adena, and the brooding blacksmith Makoto as they keep each other company in Loot while the Trials occur. Depending on the order a reader may choose to start this series, it can be fuelled with heavy emotions for those that finished the Powerless novel.
The writing quality has vastly improved in numerous ways since the debut novel. However, the story leads with the central focus being on establishing and maintaining the Grumpy/Sunshine trope. While some romance readers may find this trope-driven story to be their exact cup of tea, the limitation of plot, world or character building may affect a reader who has no care for this romance trope, myself included.
One key take away from this novella, is that while the story doesn’t do much to help broaden the world building or introduce a new background conflict, it may have introduced us to a new (potentially powerful) character that could feature in future books in this series, that if so, may make this novella worth reading to get a head start on getting to know this character.
For lovers of the novel Powerless, this offers a quick, sweet, but deeply emotional read to keep you fed until the sequel, Reckless is released in July 2024.
The short story takes place at the same time as Paedyn’s journey in Powerless. We follow Paedyn’s perky best friend, Adena, and the brooding blacksmith Makoto as they keep each other company in Loot while the Trials occur. Depending on the order a reader may choose to start this series, it can be fuelled with heavy emotions for those that finished the Powerless novel.
The writing quality has vastly improved in numerous ways since the debut novel. However, the story leads with the central focus being on establishing and maintaining the Grumpy/Sunshine trope. While some romance readers may find this trope-driven story to be their exact cup of tea, the limitation of plot, world or character building may affect a reader who has no care for this romance trope, myself included.
One key take away from this novella, is that while the story doesn’t do much to help broaden the world building or introduce a new background conflict, it may have introduced us to a new (potentially powerful) character that could feature in future books in this series, that if so, may make this novella worth reading to get a head start on getting to know this character.
For lovers of the novel Powerless, this offers a quick, sweet, but deeply emotional read to keep you fed until the sequel, Reckless is released in July 2024.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Blood
thevanessa's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
Its very wattpad, and not in a good way. Written very juvenile and has no layers to it. Wasn’t needed to be a separate novella, could’ve just splashed the first book with her story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
hayleythegoose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
amp18's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Oh Adena. Oh Lauren Roberts, how dare you give me more characters to love and make their lives impossible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
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
5.0
This novella was incredible and I loved it! I loved Adena is Powerless so seeing her side of things while Pae was doing the trials was interesting! I also loved Makoto and I loved that the book was multi pov!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse and Torture
emilywemily6's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I genuinely liked reading this novella, but not as much as Powerless. I didn’t connect with the characters as well, and it took a bit longer than I expected to get behind their relationship; opposites attract is kind of hard to write well in such a short story in my opinion. But I was thoroughly invested and devastated by the ending. The author has some beautiful writing that is still easy to understand and feel. I wish there was less focus on the romance and more plot though- I would have loved to see the interaction between Adena and the king, or to hear more about the common people and their opinion of the Trials. If Mak isn’t reintroduced later in the series I’ll riot. This was his rebel origin story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Torture, Violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Ableism
bloomingbookworm's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent
ammah's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gore
kyleethecatlady's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
🥲
It’s tough when you know what’s gonna happen in a book because of another book in the series because the entire time I was reading, I was just waiting for it to happen.
And MAK 😭
It’s tough when you know what’s gonna happen in a book because of another book in the series because the entire time I was reading, I was just waiting for it to happen.
And MAK 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief
mariahlynnpeck's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-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
This book was somewhat hard to read knowing how it would end but it did not disappoint. It truly captures the kind of person Adena was, it made how Paedyn felt losing her harder knowing more about her. The whole book there was like little foreshadowing to what happens which made it sadder knowing her outcome. Knowing Mak lived though makes me wonder if he’ll help Paedyn in book 2, which I think he will.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child abuse