Powerless
Book by Lauren Roberts
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 3/5
Synopsis:
Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya—the exceptional, the empowered, the Elites.
The powers these Elites have possessed for decades were graciously gifted to them by the Plague, though not all were fortunate enough to both survive the sickness and reap the reward. Those born Ordinary are just that—ordinary. And when the king decreed that all Ordinaries be banished in order to preserve his Elite society, lacking an ability suddenly became a crime—making Paedyn Gray a felon by fate and a thief by necessity.
Surviving in the slums as an Ordinary is no simple task, and Paedyn knows this better than most. Having been trained by her father to be overly observant since she was a child, Paedyn poses as a Psychic in the crowded city, blending in with the Elites as best she can in order to stay alive and out of trouble. Easier said than done.
When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilyas princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials. The brutal competition exists to showcase the Elites’ powers—the very thing Paedyn lacks. If the Trials and the opponents within them don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for certainly will if he discovers what she is—completely Ordinary.
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Review:
The first thing I have to say about this book is that I had to keep reminding myself that I had to finish it; it truly didn't have the addicting factor I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but I just didn't get hooked on it at any point of the story besides the room scene where Kai is having nightmares and Paeydn comes in.
Now on to things I did like. I loved the setting. It was easy to understand between the slums and the actual Ilya kingdom. I felt I could keep track of the places. That is a whole star for me because some books are so confusing when it comes to locations, and it gets annoying. I liked that it had very similar Hunger Games vibes, and this one had magical powers, which made it even more interesting! I'm a big Hunger Games fan, the main trilogy was the one who truly got me into reading.
I liked Paedyn as a character; she is stubborn, strong, and always stands out. Sometimes the back and forth between Kai was a bit annoying and felt never ending, but I enjoyed seeing her struggle with her feelings for him and her reality. I truly missed the fact that this book is spice-free. I was looking forward to it on several occasions, even though I knew it wasn't going to happen😩. I don't know much of the other books, but I hope they do have spice in them; I need it, and the characters need it too.
KAI OMG, amazing; he is everything a MMC should be and more. His loyalty, trauma, and wit make him a very strong character and lover for Pae. I like that even though he is royalty, he has had it rough; he is able to understand true pain and knows how scarring the kingdom can be. I love how he is constantly protecting Pae and Kitt; when he interacts with them, he shows a side of himself that is so easy to fall for.
“I blame her for it. Blame her for cracking my carefully crafted mask, shattering it to pieces when she is around.”
He is a wounded man who finally met a woman who he can let his inner child come out; he can be himself, playful and loving with her. She can see right through his mask, someone finally sees him for who he is, not just as the enforcer.
The relationship Adeana and Paedyn have is so wonderful given the circumstances they are in. They are the true soulmates in this story, and I was so hurt when she was taken away so soon. I would have loved to see more of her and Pae together, enjoying the pleasures of being in the castle and not having to worry about food for a while. I wanted to see her working in the castle and making more of what she loved. Such a bright soul.
- I'm now reading powerful and I couldn't be happier to have more of Adeana review next week! I have a lot to say 💜
Kitt Vs Kai
I don't know, this whole situation is weird; both of them fell for her, but they allowed this weird three-way relationship to happen. The fact that there are no conversations between them about Pae in this regard bothers me. It just feels like eventually they will be fighting over her, and I would hate that because they only have each other, and I don't want her to be a reason for them to quarrel over. But maybe if they had, the book would've been a bit more interesting.
My favorite part of the book
The scene when Pae comes into Kai's room because she hears him struggling—wow, such an intimate scene! Their sleeping together and just sharing a bed seems like the truest form of love between them, and I'm here for it!!
Both of them were vulnerable, no masks, just yearning for each other, wanting to make sure the other was safe.
She is breathing deeply, sleepy soundly. She is a mess of tangles limbs and scattered hair.
A messy masterpiece.
I count the faint freckles dusting her nose.
Once. Twice.
Twenty-eight.
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I liked the trials they were put in; they were cool scenarios and truly made them all show their true colors and abilities. I'm still shocked no one noticed by then that Paedyn was an ordinary. The ending was so fun; the maze was an interesting way to get them to compete, and the idea of them having to stumble on each other and fight was awesome. Never did I thought It was Adeana at the end and much less the annoying Blair winning either....
The resistance came into the story like a storm; in a blink of an eye, it was all fucked, and Paedyn's demise started. She was now betraying the two men she cared for; now they hate her and want her dead. When she finally killed the King, I felt so much relief but also worried about this all being part of his plan to get his sons to hate ordinaries even more after realizing they don't mess with the abilities of the elites.
I have faith that the sight that saw what happened is going to be able to show the awful thing the king said and that he was the true villain in this story and not Paedyn. Maybe this will make her a hero; she will be able to redeem herself; maybe she will be able to have a happy ending at last.
Kitt is now his father, filled with hatred and rage, and sent the strongest man, his enforcer, to find the women who murdered his only parent left, the king. How is Kai going to handle this situation?
In conclusion
This book had a great story, but it wasn't addicting; there were slow-ish parts and then a whole lot of craziness at the end. I'm excited to find out more about what happens and for sure will be reading the rest of the books!
Fav Quotes
“I'd never thought about what my favorite color was before. It never seemed important.
Not until I looked into a pair of ocean blue eyes and realized that perhaps drowning was a beautiful thing.
Not until I looked into a pair of fiery blue eyes and realized that perhaps burning was a painless thing.
Not until I looked into a pair of sky blue eyes and realized that perhaps falling was a peaceful thing.
I'd never thought about what my favorite color was before because I hadn't seen one that was worthy of the title. Until now, that is.
"Blue," I say, my voice low.”
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“And I’ll save your life again and again, aimlessly hoping you will allow me to stay in it.”
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“My pretty Pae, what have you done to me?”
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“I don’t give a damn if you forget who I am in title, so long as you remember who I am to you.”
