Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Powerful by Lauren Roberts

10 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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savvyrosereads's review against another edition

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emotional funny sad fast-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

Rating: 4/5 stars

A novella set during the same timeline as POWERLESS, this is the story of Adena’s experiences during the trials.

This is a short and fast read (I read it mostly in one sitting), and adds a lot of color, depth, and context to the POWERLESS universe and characters. Overall, it definitely didn’t grab me quite the way POWERLESS did, but I LOVED Mak, and the story was definitely super emotional. I’m hopeful that some of the events and characters here will tie into the rest of the trilogy, but I’m glad I read this either way.

CW: Violence/blood/death/grief; child abuse; sexual harassment

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graceev's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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karydiazc's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

2.75

This book was sad, but we all knew that before we started reading it, and altough it was supposed to be that way, it felt very bland to me.

We were given an instalove once more, where the characters go from "I don't like you" to "you are now the love of my life" in such a short time, and even if it wasn't such a short time in the timeline of the book, it was quite fast for us readers.
Shure, we saw them warm up to each other, but the jump from warming up to love was so fast I didn't even felt conected to Mak as a character.

Anyway, I think Mak's power is an interesting twist for the future of the books and, if done properly, it can make the story a lot better. Unfortunately I won't find out since I won't keep reading this series. I don't think I'm the target audience for this books.

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findmereading's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-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

4.25

Content Warnings

sammymilfort's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

izzyreads13's review against another edition

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dark emotional lighthearted sad tense 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

4.25

I loved powerless and was very excited to get into powerful. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the dynamic between Adena and Mak, as it was very different tot he relationships we see in Powerless. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. There’s a lot of funny banter between the two of them and it’s engaging and makes you want to proceed with the story. Since it is a Novela, their relationship does progress rather quickly, but it never doesn’t make sense, it manages to speed up and get to where it needs to be without sacrificing a lot of relationship building between the two of them. I also do personally relate a lot to Adena so I loved seeing her perspective and her story and this book did give me all the more reason to love her.

Due to the short nature of the book, there’s not a lot this book focuses on besides her relationship with Mak which is this books only “set back” to me, as I’d hope to see more interactions with Paedyn but I understand why that maybe couldn’t be possible. Despite that however I did enjoy the mentions of all the other characters from the first book.

Kai, Kitt and the king

all make appearances and we get to see how they each interact with Adena and her thoughts on each of them. I

Overall, I did enjoy this book and piece of the story, I loved their dynamic, how different it was from the first books dynamics, how they progressed with one another and grew. The only reason I don’t rate this higher is simply because of the fact that it’s short (which is a given) so some things that I may have personally liked to see more of, didn’t occur. But the story itself was beautiful and well written as was powerless and if you’re a lover of the grumpy x sunshine trope I HIGHLY recommend this book to you.

Happy reading!

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alexlynx's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

j_day's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

dramagirl2003's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

⚠️spoilers for Powerless and Powerful⚠️
any spoilers we already knew from Powerless are not hidden in this review

i was worried this book wouldn't live up to Powerless, but it was just as good in a different way! i finished it in a day! the banter is 👨🏻‍🍳👌🏻, and the tension really be tensioning
you know what you're getting yourself into by reading Powerful, but that ending still hurts!

i ache for all the time they will never get together. all the kisses they will never share. all the memories they will never make. all stolen by a wicked act of cruelty

oh, a little side note just for a laugh in the midst of a somber moment, right as adena and mak had their first kiss, my mum called me down for tea. I almost screamed at her. in fact I actually did, but only in surprise cause I was so focused on the book

thoughts while reading

p14: adena is a phaser?? HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS??
p25: oh what the heck is mak upto??
p33: and mak is a

phaser too

?? this is a match made in heaven
p48: AND THIS IS THE QUALITY LAUREN ROBERTS SWOONWORTHY QUOTES WE LOVED IN POWERLESS
p50: adena smiling constantly is so me
p64: AHH! AND HERE WAS ME THINKING NOTHING COULD LIVE UP TO POWERLESS
p74: mak's only just met this girl and already he cares enough to go hunt down those roughnuts 🥺
p84: AHH THE TENSION
p111: HE'S

A WIELDER

?? OH DAMN
p131: oop typo!
p133: i'm sorry kitt but you really have no chance with paedyn, not while kai's around. they have too much chemistry
p134: if only 💔
p145: oh God that's tragic. isn't it always with a grumpy character
p179: AHHH IT'S THE STAR SPEECH ✨🫶🏻💗
p184: that's why he calls her honey? oh be still my combusting heart 💗💥
p185: oh come on, we were so close!!
p189: THANK YOU
p190: he's saving his smiles for her 🥰
p205: oh shoot, don't tell me this is when the king locks her up until the trial!!
p210: aww he got her a gift too! this is definitely a rival for adena's gifts!
p224: my heart is aching in trepidation 🥺 the only thing worse would be if

mak is killed off too!!

p243: DON'T YOU DO IT MAK!! DON'T YOU DARE

KILL YOURSELF OFF TOO!!

p245: leave it to lauren to write such a traumatic ending but right on the last page write something so meaningful that it stops our anger in it's tracks

quotes

There is not a single cynical thought to deny the fact that she may be the most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. She's intimidatingly peaceful — a contradiction in itself. And I almost want to despise her for it. Because I fear there is a chance that I may begin to enjoy her

"See the world however you'd like, but at least watch your step while you do it."

I raise a palm in mock surrender. "Fine. I'm surprised you could stop smiling long enough to tell me off."

"There," he says blandly, stepping back to admire his work. "No chance of you bloodying my fabric now."
"Might look more realistic that way," I offer with a tilt of my head. "Have you seen how stained most Imperial uniforms are?"
"Dammit, Adena," he huffs. "Maybe mention that before I heroically tend to your wound."

What a pathetic attempt at nonchalance. As if I don't admire the shine of each ringlet, or the way they cling to each other in an intertwining hug. As if I can stop myself from staring at the column of her neck when she pulls that curly hair into a messy knot, the forgotten strands like swirling ink down her back.
As if I can stop myself from admiring how easily a laugh parts her soft lips. The way the sun warms her skin, as though she was meant to be cloaked in light. It's how joy bubbles out of her in the form of clapping hands and endearing rambles. It's the way my thoughts never cease to wander towards her, my heart falling senselessly after.
And I fear that I've admired every inch of her.

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