A review by dramagirl2003
Powerful by Lauren Roberts

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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