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A review by orchestra_pit
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I wanted to DNF this so bad, but I did wait like 4 months for it on Libby and I was determined to not have wasted my time. But damn this book tested me.
For one, it is so damn long. Literally fifteen hours for what. I feel like the editor should have been harsher, because there was a lot of unnecessary shit that could have and should have been cut.
There was so many things in the worldbuilding things that made no sense. Like wtf were the trials for. Some of the contents were excited to be chosen, but then it seems like halfway through we are told that it is a torture akin to the hunger games. Also why do the trials exist? How the hell is having elites fight and kill each other in the arenas contributing to the overarching goal to eradicate the ordinaries? Make ordinaries fight each other or smth. It does not make sense.
The writing left something to be desired for sure. The beginning felt like a bad example of tell not show. The first scene that Kai and Kitt are in they have the most unnatural and stunted diologue that literally only exists to tell you that they have cool powers, they are half brothers, Kitt is in line for the throne, Kai is in line to be his enforcer, and they have a witty and hilarious sibling relationship.
And the romance. So incredibly tropey. At times, it felt like the author had a check list of booktok tropes that she just checked as she went through the novel. Also the books want you to think this is enemies to lovers so bad. It’s really not.
The banter too was unbearable at some points. It was kinda giving that annoying couple in your class that picks fake fights every period. Really obnoxious. Had me cringing and grimacing multiple times. Downright unbearable.
I will not be reading the rest of the trilogy. A decision I am making for the sake of my own sanity.
For one, it is so damn long. Literally fifteen hours for what. I feel like the editor should have been harsher, because there was a lot of unnecessary shit that could have and should have been cut.
There was so many things in the worldbuilding things that made no sense. Like wtf were the trials for. Some of the contents were excited to be chosen, but then it seems like halfway through we are told that it is a torture akin to the hunger games. Also why do the trials exist? How the hell is having elites fight and kill each other in the arenas contributing to the overarching goal to eradicate the ordinaries? Make ordinaries fight each other or smth. It does not make sense.
The writing left something to be desired for sure. The beginning felt like a bad example of tell not show. The first scene that Kai and Kitt are in they have the most unnatural and stunted diologue that literally only exists to tell you that they have cool powers, they are half brothers, Kitt is in line for the throne, Kai is in line to be his enforcer, and they have a witty and hilarious sibling relationship.
And the romance. So incredibly tropey. At times, it felt like the author had a check list of booktok tropes that she just checked as she went through the novel. Also the books want you to think this is enemies to lovers so bad. It’s really not.
The banter too was unbearable at some points. It was kinda giving that annoying couple in your class that picks fake fights every period. Really obnoxious. Had me cringing and grimacing multiple times. Downright unbearable.
I will not be reading the rest of the trilogy. A decision I am making for the sake of my own sanity.