3.5 / 5

Powerless by Lauren Roberts initially won me over due to its interesting premise and the world it created, but in the end, it didn't manage to captivate me as much as I expected. The story unfolds in a society where the "Empowered" possess special powers and are at the top of the social pyramid, while the "Powerless," like the protagonist, live oppressed and under constant threat. Despite the fact that the plot has its intense moments and the necessary suspense, I strongly felt that it reminded me of The Hunger Games. More specifically, the structure of the oppressed society, the division between classes, and the basic storyline of the heroine who is initially reluctant but becomes a symbol of resistance are elements that have been told many times before. This doesn't mean the book is bad; it just didn't offer me something original or new. Roberts' writing is clear, simple, and pleasant, with a satisfactory pace that makes the book easy to read. The romance between the protagonists adds emotional depth to the story, though it's not extremely intense.

One of Powerless's strong points is how it combines the classic elements of YA dystopian fantasy: the conflict between the "Empowered" and the "Powerless," the forbidden love, the secrets gradually revealed, and the heroine's internal conflicts. However, I can't say I felt a deep connection with the story or the characters. Except for Kai, of course. Although I can say the protagonist was very good, dynamic, and didn't give up, which I truly admire in literary characters.

On the other hand, Powerless is a read aimed at those who love dystopian YA novels with strong doses of romance and action. It's ideal for those looking for a quick, enjoyable book with magical elements, betrayal, and adverse conditions. Although it didn't personally excite me, I understand why it has found its audience and why many readers have loved it. The cover is also fantastic, so I would definitely choose it if I saw it in front of me. If you want an easy read with familiar elements, Powerless might be a good choice, especially if you like stories with antiheroes, oppressed heroes, and uprisings against the system.

Personally, I would read the next ones to see how the story would develop.

• Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
• Tropes: enemies to death, survival games, who did this to you? chemistry, tension, intrigue, scheming
• Pages: 708
• Series: Powerless #1
• Spice: 0/5

Favorite Excerpt
“«And I will save your life many more times, hoping in vain that you will let me be part of it.” - Ah Kai Azer

There are the Elites and there are the mortals, and then there is Payden, who is in a category of her own, pretending to have powers while she has no luck at all.
But how will a mortal save a highness Elite and how will she find herself fighting for her life in survival games where besides guts, you also need powers?
Does our mortal have hope to survive the games and above all, does she have hope to survive Kai Azer?

A complete fantasy book with simple and understandable world-building suitable for readers who are coming into contact with the genre for the first time. The story builds slowly and gradually without bombarding you with over-information and verbosity. And maybe the world is not rich and doesn't have everything, but the description is very vivid and takes you on a journey.

Lauren Roberts' writing is poetic - lyrical and leaves its own mark that will make you shiver at many points.

Kai Azer is one of the most beloved and talked-about book boyfriends and rightfully so, as his lines are fire and he's a tease with whom you'll fangirl a lot and melt. On the other hand, Payden is a dynamic and fearless girl, but Kai can easily annoy her and get her out of her clothes (unfortunately for all of us, only metaphorically). The chemistry and tension between them are incredible and unparalleled, and I often find myself wondering if I'll find something similar in books again.

I recommend it to readers looking for something lighter in fantasy and who place a lot of emphasis on characters and their chemistry.

Three stars because they have hyped it too much and you expect to read an incredible story while it is just good.

️ 3.5/5
Our story takes place in a world divided in two where, after a great catastrophe, there are the Elites who have different powers and the Ordinary who were born without powers. The social gap is very pronounced, finding the former in high society and the palace next to the king, while the latter are forced to live in hiding with nothing and trying to survive because the king wants to exterminate them. Every 3 years, the Purging Trials take place where young Elites compete to the death for power and authority. Paedyn, born Ordinary and an exceptional thief, accidentally finds herself in the Trials and will fight to survive there as well. Kai (aka spicy book boyfriend) is the prince and future Enforcer of the king. Kai is born to hunt and exterminate the Ordinary while Paedyn runs from him. However, a fateful clash will put both of them in the Trials, and what will happen when everything doesn't go as it should?
Now let me share my thoughts. I enjoyed the book and I won't hide that I've already gotten the novella and pre-ordered the second book. But I can't say it was what I expected, i.e., 5⭐️. It reminded me a lot of The Hunger Games but without the glamour and the wow factor they had. I also believe that most characters were annoying and somewhat shallow apart from Kai. The Trials were not what I expected; I found them simple. But the author's writing made the book good! I acknowledge that it had me hooked on every page, and I wanted to see what would happen. So I'm looking forward to the next one and hope it will be nicer and more unique because it has potential!