Scan barcode
A review by hereiskyra
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? No
5.0
SO MANY SPOILERS AHEAD ‼️
This book took me by surprise in so many ways. I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance because I fell in love with these characters and this world.
Something I’ve really learned to appreciate about the romantasy genre, and this book in particular, is that there isn’t necessarily a lot of complicated world building and hyper-complex magic systems. This was easy to follow and such a good balance of elements.
Paedyn was a great FMC. She’s strong, cunning, quick-witted and she doesn’t take sh*t from anyone. She’s lives in a kingdom where magical powers are the ticket to survival. Unfortunately for her, she doesn’t have any and from a young age had to create a facade to hide that from the world around her in order to survive.
Our MMC, Kai, is a prince, a future enforcer for the kingdom his father rules. His job has been to take out the ordinaries, the non-magical, and to help banish those who keep them a secret. But, he also has a secret in that he doesn’t always take them out. We see a crack in his tough exterior from the first situation we find him in and continue to see glimpses of his heart over time.
These two could not be any different yet somehow feel drawn to one another. My godddd the slow burn in this story is BRUTAL but when they finally have a tiny moment, it is perfect.
This book was had some great Hunger Games/Divergent vibes and it was amazing. I love a good “force them to fight to the death” storyline because let’s be honest, is it really a good story without some bloodshed?
There were so many great side characters in this as well. Kitt, who was really more than a side character and whose future I have a LOT of theories about (some pretty bleak ones), sort of confused me. I loved his humor and he seemed genuinely good. But something about him doesn’t feel quite right. He was taking over his fathers role leading the kingdom when we left off so I imagine he’ll be an even bigger character moving forward.
Jax, who I thought was about to break my heart, was a little underdeveloped as a character to me but I’m hoping we get a little more of him and his dynamic with his found family.
Adena, who did kind of break my heart, was such a sweet character and it made me so sad to see her go so early on and in such a gut-wrenching way. Paedyn doesn’t have a family and that was her person so now she will have to learn to survive without her. And of course, Adenas novella will undoubtedly shatter our hearts all over again.
The ending was nothing yet everything I expected it to be and I am still reeling from it. I can’t wait to sit down and flush out my theories and let this book absolutely consume my thoughts for the next week of my life.
I need Reckless like… yesterday. 💔
Spice Level: 0.25 🌶️ lol
Tropes:
Slow-burn
Forbidden
Rivals to Lovers? Kind of?
Favorite quotes:
“If I kiss you - really kiss you, like how I’ve wanted to, how I’ve waited to - should I expect a dagger at my throat?”
“He says my name like it’s sacred, like it’s an oath he’s swearing.”
“Remind me to to make you smile like that again, when you aren't dying, and I have all the time in the world to memorise it.”
“She is the embodiment of a bad decision. The twin of danger and desire. The fine line between deadly and divine. And I can feel myself drowning.”
“Men would likely go extinct without women to coddle them.”
“Remind me to make you smile like that again, when you aren’t dying, and I have all the time in the world to memorize it.”
“When his eyes lock with mine, I wonder why I ever bother looking at anyone else.”
“What do you want to call me?” “I want to call you mine.”
“Every girl deserves something equally as pretty and deadly as they are.”
“I was lonely in a way that I imagine the stars to be, observed by everyone yet too far to truly be seen.”
“I never wanted this. Never wanted to be what I am today. But monsters are made, not born. And I had no choice in the matter. I have no choice in the matter.”
“I’ve never been looked at like it’s a privilege to be in my presence, an honor to
hold my gaze, a gift to get a glimpse of me. Not until I met him.”
“Terrified of what she is doing to me. She is a vision, a nightmare, a dream. A grim reaper clad in black, come to steal my soul and my heart.”
“The strongest weapon a woman has at her disposal is that she is often underestimated.”
“He’s looking at me like one would a painting—drinking in every detail, delighting in its originality, deeming it a work of art.”
“Adena’s smile could rival the sun over the Scorches desert.”
This book took me by surprise in so many ways. I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance because I fell in love with these characters and this world.
Something I’ve really learned to appreciate about the romantasy genre, and this book in particular, is that there isn’t necessarily a lot of complicated world building and hyper-complex magic systems. This was easy to follow and such a good balance of elements.
Paedyn was a great FMC. She’s strong, cunning, quick-witted and she doesn’t take sh*t from anyone. She’s lives in a kingdom where magical powers are the ticket to survival. Unfortunately for her, she doesn’t have any and from a young age had to create a facade to hide that from the world around her in order to survive.
Our MMC, Kai, is a prince, a future enforcer for the kingdom his father rules. His job has been to take out the ordinaries, the non-magical, and to help banish those who keep them a secret. But, he also has a secret in that he doesn’t always take them out. We see a crack in his tough exterior from the first situation we find him in and continue to see glimpses of his heart over time.
These two could not be any different yet somehow feel drawn to one another. My godddd the slow burn in this story is BRUTAL but when they finally have a tiny moment, it is perfect.
This book was had some great Hunger Games/Divergent vibes and it was amazing. I love a good “force them to fight to the death” storyline because let’s be honest, is it really a good story without some bloodshed?
There were so many great side characters in this as well. Kitt, who was really more than a side character and whose future I have a LOT of theories about (some pretty bleak ones), sort of confused me. I loved his humor and he seemed genuinely good. But something about him doesn’t feel quite right. He was taking over his fathers role leading the kingdom when we left off so I imagine he’ll be an even bigger character moving forward.
Jax, who I thought was about to break my heart, was a little underdeveloped as a character to me but I’m hoping we get a little more of him and his dynamic with his found family.
Adena, who did kind of break my heart, was such a sweet character and it made me so sad to see her go so early on and in such a gut-wrenching way. Paedyn doesn’t have a family and that was her person so now she will have to learn to survive without her. And of course, Adenas novella will undoubtedly shatter our hearts all over again.
The ending was nothing yet everything I expected it to be and I am still reeling from it. I can’t wait to sit down and flush out my theories and let this book absolutely consume my thoughts for the next week of my life.
I need Reckless like… yesterday. 💔
Spice Level: 0.25 🌶️ lol
Tropes:
Slow-burn
Forbidden
Rivals to Lovers? Kind of?
Favorite quotes:
“If I kiss you - really kiss you, like how I’ve wanted to, how I’ve waited to - should I expect a dagger at my throat?”
“He says my name like it’s sacred, like it’s an oath he’s swearing.”
“Remind me to to make you smile like that again, when you aren't dying, and I have all the time in the world to memorise it.”
“She is the embodiment of a bad decision. The twin of danger and desire. The fine line between deadly and divine. And I can feel myself drowning.”
“Men would likely go extinct without women to coddle them.”
“Remind me to make you smile like that again, when you aren’t dying, and I have all the time in the world to memorize it.”
“When his eyes lock with mine, I wonder why I ever bother looking at anyone else.”
“What do you want to call me?” “I want to call you mine.”
“Every girl deserves something equally as pretty and deadly as they are.”
“I was lonely in a way that I imagine the stars to be, observed by everyone yet too far to truly be seen.”
“I never wanted this. Never wanted to be what I am today. But monsters are made, not born. And I had no choice in the matter. I have no choice in the matter.”
“I’ve never been looked at like it’s a privilege to be in my presence, an honor to
hold my gaze, a gift to get a glimpse of me. Not until I met him.”
“Terrified of what she is doing to me. She is a vision, a nightmare, a dream. A grim reaper clad in black, come to steal my soul and my heart.”
“The strongest weapon a woman has at her disposal is that she is often underestimated.”
“He’s looking at me like one would a painting—drinking in every detail, delighting in its originality, deeming it a work of art.”
“Adena’s smile could rival the sun over the Scorches desert.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent