I didn't expect Powerless to become one of my top 2023 reads but it did. It hooked me from the first page and I didn't want to put it down.

Powerless is set in a society where those with power are so terrified of those without that they want to eliminate them. Everyone's power manifests differently and there are a series of trials where those with power compete using their powers. The trials are brutal and we get to see the nastier side of some of the characters. There are moments that had me screaming.

Enter Paedyn who has no power but has been taught to read people in a way that she can claim some psychic powers. And Kaz, the royal tasked with wiping out those without power.

I loved their chemistry. I have come to accept I'm a big fan of an enemies to lovers plot, but so often they're "sort of rivals" rather than sworn enemies. Not here. Kaz and Paedyn truly, deeply loathe each other. I loved the flirting, the banter, the horror they both have as they realise there might be feelings despite their deep hatred.

The ending of this book left me reeling. I cannot wait to get my hands on book two.

I loved this book and cannot wait for the sequel.

This was a great debut and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is by far my favourite read of 2023 so fOncece I got into the flow I found it so difficult to put down. I was a bit iffy with the connection to the Red Queen series but my curiosity got the better of me and I'm so thankful for it.

The plot certainhad itsit's own spin on things and I like the idea that there was actually a problem and that it was put into people's minds by someone in Power.

Paedyn was very much like Katniss personality-wise which is where the similarities with The Hunger Games begin but sometimes I felt she was a little flat. Usually when she was wearing her pretty dresses but I feel like this might have been done purposefully to show her discomfort in this situation.

Kai is the typical MMC for this genre of book but I did take to him pretty much straight away which is unusal so there is that.

I would like to see more differences between Kai and Kitts's upbringing as I do think this will make things a little more interesting.

Cant wait for book 2

2.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2023/08/31/powerless-by-lauren-roberts/
My Five Word TL:DR Review : This didn’t work for me

I will start this review by stating upfront I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book. Also, there are plenty of glowing reviews out there (although I would mention that a number of the 5* ratings seem to be by people who haven’t yet read the book – to quote Kai “interesting”! I find this perplexing because to be fair I rarely request YA books these days but with all the favourable ratings I was practically seduced into requesting a copy.) Anyway, moving swiftly on, this is a debut and I feel like this author has a lot of promise, but, I did have issues.

Instead of describing the plot I’m going to cut and paste the description:

‘She is the very thing he’s spent his whole life hunting.
He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be.

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.

Okay, my feelings reading this.

The writing shows a lot of promise in many ways. However, this book is way too long for the actual story it delivers. There is a lot of repetition and unnecessary bloating, the dialogue doesn’t really ring true and the plot and characters rely far too much on tropes. On top of this, the story borrows very heavily from The Hunger Games (to such an extent that I initially thought it was maybe fanfic – perhaps it is?).

The characters. I actually liked Pae in many ways. She’s a survivor, she stands up for herself and shows a lot of pluck. Kai, obviously the brooding, dark haired prince who is drawn to her as much as she is drawn to him (even though she has no love for the royalty and every reason in fact to actively dislike them) – well, he’s the mind candy of the piece but he didn’t have enough substance for me. I felt like I was told he was a monster, a killer shaped by his father, the King, but I didn’t feel like there was anything menacing about him. His half brother Kitt was quite interesting in that he has had a different upbringing being the heir. He feels more naive in many ways and also comes across as a little frustrated with his lot in life. I did find his devotion to his father a little unbelievable to be honest, especially given the love he has for his brother Kai who, let’s not mince words,.is treated very poorly by both parents.

The world building is a little weak for my personal tastes – which is also a surprise given the page count because there should be plenty of time for the history, culture, etc, to come across. I felt like this element of the story was very flimsy. To give a very brief outline about this setting. Years ago a plague occurred, following which certain characters who survived had powers ranging from shapeshifting, disappearing, conjuring fire, causing hallucinations, etc. Some of the survivors are much stronger than many of the others who gained powers and they’re known as the Elite. The mundanes make up the rest of the population and have powers that are so weak as to be almost insignificant. Those without powers are known as ‘ordinary’, they are believed to be diseased and on that basis any ‘ordinaries’ found are sentenced to death. What is the purpose of the purge trials? I could understand if ‘ordinary’ people were made to complete but it seems to be more a showcase for the elites. Why would the ‘mundanes’ submit to trials that ultimately lead to death just for the aggrandisement of the powerful? Given the competitiveness and the lack of any real motivation or reward why would the elites want to enter? They can also die? Why would you want to have your son or daughter join in? It just doesn’t ring true for me. This is the type of detail that when lacking frustrates me very much. There would definitely be resentment. And, I think, a lot more backstabbing and politics between the elite and the royals. But, that’s a personal preference on my part after all.

Now, to the romance. I would applaud the author for taking the time for the two main characters (Kai and Pae) to get to know each other. And, for readers who enjoy the enemy to possible lovers trope this will undoubtedly work well. There are plenty of scenes between the two, both as they try one upmanship on each other and make lots of threats with knives, etc. But. Firstly, why the love triangle? Why throw Kitt into the mix when it’s as plain as the nose on your face to everyone with even half an ounce of sense that the two only have eyes for each other? Secondly, dear god, is anyone in this story actually aware of ‘personal space’. The number of times that they accidentally, or purposefully, stumbled into each other resulting in hands on chests, waists, backs, hips, was just unbelievable, and, again, it doesn’t ring true especially as the two supposedly didn’t like each other, it was a bit cringey, it didn’t come across as sexy or scream chemistry to me. Thirdly, why is ‘smirking’ such a big thing in so many stories where there’s romance involved. I just feel like the work ‘smirk’ is greatly overused and I’ve always felt it was a bit of a mean thing to do – if you smirk at someone it feels condescending doesn’t it? And there is a lot of ‘smirking’ going on here. Okay, that’s a very small thing but once something like that gets stuck in your mind you can’t help noticing the repetition. Anyway, in spite of the niggles, I will say that Pae and Kai’s relationship is interesting and where the story ends leaves a lot of potential for the next story.

I don’t want to be overly negative about this one. It has a lot of positively glowing reviews and I think on this occasion it’s more of an ‘it’s me not you’ scenario, and also a case of going into the read with too high expectations, so if you’ve been fancying picking this one up then I certainly wouldn’t discourage you from doing so.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

This is a great book!
It reminded me of the Hunger Games, but is completely different!
We have an oppressive system, and those without magic are being hunted and killed by the king's men.
Paedyn Gray has no magic, but she has skill, and she manages to evade the hunters -- until she inadvertently saves somebody's life, thus suddenly being in the limelight.
Now she has to fight for her life on a whole new level!
She makes friends along the way, even falls in love, but she can*t escape her fate -- or can she?
The world building is fantastic, as are the characters. I enjoyed every minute of it, although it took me so long to read it. If only I had known it was available in audio weeks ago, I would have finished much sooner!

I can hardly wait for the sequel!
I will now listen to the audio book version of Powerless #1, which I just bought (funny, it will only be published in November on audible US. but I could have bought it a month ago here in Germany) I do hope there will be audio versions of the sequels, too.

This book!!! A new urban fantasy series, think Throne of Glass, The Hunger games etc, different but similar themes.

And it’s so good. I cannot wait for the next book, I devoured this one, it’s the start of what I imagine will be a fantastic series!

Absolutely love this book.

It was everything Throne of Glass should have been and more.

Hunger games style read with loads of tension; friendship, love, betrayl, hate. Its all rammed in there and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!

I've not read the hunger games... but I've heard lots about it and I totally am feeling those vibes.. especially from the title alone!! Without a doubt the best book I've read this year.. damn maybe ever tbh!!! I was hooked!!

The writing alone was out of this world, the descriptions, the storytelling, the romance and the pacing of the book was amazing! I loved that it was dual pov too, between the male and female main character... well it was sizzling chapter by chapter. The build up was intense.

Okay so we know there is a lot of heat between the main characters.. but let's just give a shout out to the secondary characters because they were also amazing.

Yeah just yeah gimme the second book already... I will totally admit to running to IG to message the author to totally crush over the book and then also I ran [in the internet world ofc.] To amazon to find the paperback copy.. order it and then see there will be a second book so yeah I pre-ordered that too!!!

All the bloody stars!!!!

"Powerless" by Lauren Roberts is an electrifying urban fantasy that sparks with creativity and tension from its opening pages. Set in a world where supernatural abilities are the norm, the novel follows the journey of a protagonist stripped of their powers, navigating a society that values strength above all else.

Roberts weaves a complex and immersive world where the dynamics of power and vulnerability are explored in depth. The protagonist's struggle to find their place in a world they once dominated creates a compelling character arc that resonates with readers on both emotional and intellectual levels.

The author's prose is sharp and engaging, propelling the narrative forward with a mix of action, intrigue, and introspection. The exploration of identity, self-worth, and the meaning of true strength adds layers of depth to the story, making it more than just a fantastical adventure.

"Powerless" deftly examines the intersection of power, society, and individuality, inviting readers to question the value they place on external abilities versus internal qualities. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery and personal growth is relatable and inspiring, making the novel a thought-provoking read.

Lauren Roberts masterfully combines fantastical elements with thought-provoking themes, resulting in a novel that is as entertaining as it is intellectually stimulating. "Powerless" is a must-read for fans of urban fantasy who appreciate a story that challenges conventions and dives into the complexities of human nature.

thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for this arc.

4 stars.

SOOOOO yes i am going to need the second book in my grubby little hands VERY soon bc pls what was this 😭😭😭 like this was so good, especially the tension!! *chef's kiss*

this story has a kind of hunger games vibe, in the way that it's also about contestants who have to battle to the death to win the "trials". the winner gets a good sum of money. some other elements also reminded me a little too strongly of thg, but nothing i can't overlook. but just know; it was clear where the inspiration was drawn from.

one small piece of criticism i do have, is that some phrases/actions were repeated too often, to the point it annoyed me little. but that's all, really.

anyways, again, the tension between the mc and the mmc was delicious. i would give this book four stars for that alone. i will take no judgment, i am just a girl after all. 😌

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this story. This book is one hell of a rollercoaster and to be honest is up there as one of the best books i've read this year. highly recommend!

I was hooked from the start; reading this definitely gave me Hunger Games vibes with slow burn romance.

I loved the characters and was please that there was plenty of strong female characters in this book.

Really looking forward to reading the second book.

When I saw the blurb for this book I was so excited to read it, so thank you to Simon and Schuster UK Children's and NetGalley for my wish copy,

3.5/5

This book is a mix of The Hunger Games/Defy the Night and is a great introduction for teens wanting to explore young adult fantasy. It was a bit of a roller coaster for me. I started off really enjoying it, but by the end I didn't know what characters I actually liked? There was a lot that wasn't explained in enough depth, making it difficult to understand the connection between the characters. For example, I didn't always understand the relationship between Kai and Kitt? I'd have loved to have learnt more about their relationship as brothers and why Kitt never appeared to support his brother emotionally. I'm hoping the author explores this more in future books!

The romance! I spent the majority of the book screaming at the angst because I always wanted a little bit more from the characters! Hopefully we will see this in the next book!

Powerless takes place in the kingdom of Illya where The Plague raged and killed thousands, separating the kingdom into The Elites who have magical powers and the Ordinary who are powerless, often banished or killed on detection unless they manage to avoid it by faking Elite powers like Paedyn Gray. Paedyn's secret is safe until she unknowingly saves the life of Prince Kai and finds herself nominated for the Purging Trials.

I don't mind our main character Paedyn. She's cunning, smart and funny, but I think she has room to develop more. We know she's powerless but surely she's got to have some other weakness. I would've liked to have seen the darker side of Kai more. We're constantly told that he is a monster and a killer but the first time we see him with a chance to prove this, his first target is a child who he of course lets go. Kitt however! I love how he's not like every other YA next heir to the throne who is supposed to be cold and calculating. He longs to be a successful king like his father, but at the same time he wants to be able to live his own life.

However, the tension between Paedyn and Kai's brother Kitt though. I want more of them two. I loved Paedyn and Kai together but in my opinion, I feel like Paedyn and Kitt could serve the enemies to lovers trope much more. Like her using him to get information, the betrayal? I need more! Book two better give me them. Don't get me wrong, I do like Paedyn and Kai together but I felt like their 'enemies to lovers' story was more insta-attraction with tons of flirty banter. They are constantly flirting, like what actually makes them enemies, aside from her being an ordinary and him being an elite? I was wanting more angst between them.

As much as I enjoyed the book, there is a lot of similarities to The Hunger Games and Red Queen. I would've loved to have seen more of the world building as well including the backstory of how everything broke out. Additionally, why is everyone so strong? Surely the elites would have some form of weakness due to their powers? It would prove that they're not all gods.

While the book is fast paced and easy to follow, there is a lot of repeated phrases and full of figurative language and metaphors. I understand that this is Lauren Robert's first book but there is a few things to improve on which I'm sure we will see within in the second book. Here's to hoping that she breaks away from the copy and paste of other ya fantasy plots for the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I don't think that there is anything in particular that is new or special about Powerless

This is without a doubt a rip-off of The Hunger Games but that's not to say that it's not enjoyable. At the moment there are very few books that are keeping my attention and somehow, Powerless did just that.

There are a quite a few holes in the plot but as a debut, I don't think there are too many things to complain about.

This is book 1 of a trilogy - I think this is going to be fairly popular, mainly thanks to teenage girls who are singing the praises of this all over TikTok without having read the book - but I'm not sure that I'll bother with the following books.

I will however keep an eye on the author for the future as I think she's got a lot of potential.

Although this book is addictive and readable, overall I found it derivative. The conflict between the protagonists is exciting but are let down by the pacing and plot, both of which make the romance feel rushed and obvious. The focus on the romance detracts from the plot, which feels like an amalgamation of other similar books and is not sufficiently interesting. The style undercuts the emotion, the constant repetition of the characters’ conflicts about the romance with overly flowery language not feeling earned.

I was really excited about Powerless, and while I was sufficiently invested in the story to want to read the sequel, there were a few things that didn't quite work for me.

The premise of the plot had very much a hunger games type of feel to it - deadly trials, and the two main characters patching each other up during one of the trials was a bit of a déjà-vu moment, for sure. However, I struggled to see why the Elites would put their lives on the line for this, seeing as they all were comfortably at the top of society in the world created by Roberts. Even suspending my misgivings over the trials at the heart of the plot, there were other elements that gave me this feeling of re-reading something a bit too well-worn - the trial in the shifting maze was very much reminiscent of the Triwizard tournament finale.

Giving this a rating of 3 stars because I did overall enjoy it. This will appeal to YA readers who like a twist on the chosen one trope and enjoy enemies to lovers, royalty and win-or-die trials.

This is such an entriguing storyline. Very easy to read and follow.

I love the characters - Paedyn representing strong females in this after everything her character has experienced.

The slow-burn romance between Paedyn and Kai made me smile everytime the pair were on the page!!!

Full of twists, drama, intensity and action.

Highly recommend!

There are high-stakes and plenty of romance in this fantasy novel with Hunger Games vibes.

In a world ruled by Elites with magical powers, Ordinaries are banished or killed on detection unless, like Paedyn Gray, they manage to avoid detection by faking Elite powers. Paedyn's secret is safe until she unwittingly saves the life of Prince Kai and finds herself nominated for the Purging Trials. Can she keep her secret on the biggest and deadliest stage in the kingdom, while fighting growing feelings for a prince who will kill her if he discovers who she really is?

I loved the world building in Powerless and really enjoyed how varied the different Elite powers were. There's lots of interesting backstory and history to unpack, and plenty more to explore in book two.

There was also great banter and plenty of tension. I really enjoyed the way Paedyn and Kai's relationship evolved - the stolen moments between them were my favourite parts of this novel.

But oh, that ending! I am so desperate to find out what happens next!

Fantasy romance novel, mostly very good and certainly engaging.

Paedyn lives in a world where the Elites have powers and those without, the Ordinaries, are hunted down. She survives in the slums but gets involved in the Trials, a Hunger Games type event. Kai is the prince being trained to be the king’s enforcer, also involved in the Trials. The plot works well as far as the action is concerned but the romance angle is overlong in my opinion. The characters are well-developed and generally likeable. Ending on a cliffhanger, this volume is the start of a trilogy. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.