Powerless

This is by far the BEST book I’ve read in 2023. I tried so hard to read it slowly because I wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible but still ended up finishing it within two days. Lauren is an incredible author and managed to put everything I love in a fantasy into this book. I was a little skeptical going into it because she described it as Red Queen mixed with The Hunger Games. I’m not a huge Red Queen fan but adore The Hunger Games so I decided to give it a shot and I’m happy I did!

The entire plot is written extremely well and I never felt like it was dragging. I was so happy with the dual POV and loved getting to see inside both MC heads.

The slow burn romance is perfect. There’s knife to throat scenes, ballroom scenes, tending to wound scenes and so much more!! Somehow Lauren managed to put in all the tropes without it feeling like she was shoving them down your throat. I think the trial scenes were my favorite parts of the whole book.

The ending though!! Seriously it was so sad to watch everything play out. It was easy to call what was going to happen but it was still heartbreaking to watch all those relationships crumble because of her decisions. I really need book two NOW!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to review!

When I tell you I was hooked, I was completely hooked. For a debut novel, this was so captivating and I enjoyed every second of it. Think Hunger Games but with a magical twist.

'She is the embodiment of a bad decision. The twin of danger and desire. The fine lone between deadly and divine. And I can feel myself drowning'

Synopsis
The Kingdom is ruled by 'Elites', those with great magical power. Those without power are classed as 'Ordinary', hunted to be killed or banished to preserve the Kingdom's Elite society.

Paedyn is just that, an Ordinary, but she was taught from a young age to act like she had power to escape death. She lives on the streets in the slums, surviving through being a thief.

It was through being a thief she meets the Kingdom's future Enforcer, Kai, who is also a Prince. Saving his life meant she got noticed however, meaning the people of the slums want to see her compete in the Purging Trials.

Up against Elites, Pae fights her way through the Trials, striking up a friendship with the future king, Kitt, and a simmering romance with Kai. But what they don't know is that she is Ordinary, and if they ever found out.. they would have to kill her..

'Where he is the Prince, the future Enforcer, the son of the man I hate, I am a Slummer, an Ordinary, the embodiment of the thing he has been taught to hate'.

Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoy books with trials, and this one hit the mark. It's very 'Hunger Games'-esque, with a strong FMC who is fighting to survive.

I was fully invested in the plot, the characters, the trials, fight scenes and the romance brewing between Kai and Pae, I also enjoyed the dual POVs between the two.

I can't wait for the next book, the ending has me wanting more and to see how this all plays out!

'She's a flame, and I'm going to get burned. An ocean and I'm going to drown'.

Thank you to NetGalley for this wishlist copy!

A plague - magic. A kingdom. Beautifully written fantasy and sure to be a hit of 2023!

Thanks NetGalley and publishers for the arc.

This absolutely blew me away. I’m obsessed with a capital O! It’s got action, romance and politics galore and the characters are a dangerous bunch. Paedyn is the unlikely heroine, a homeless young woman without powers in a land where that’s a death sentence, she built a life in the slums with her best friend - the only one who knows her secret. I was hooked on Paedyn’s fiery, stubborn and vicious personality and all the complexities of her situation. She has a need for revenge against the one man who’s almost impossible to touch though the story focuses more so on the deadly trials and her relationships with Princes Kai and Kitt. The flirting and chemistry between Kai and Paedyn was delicious and there were times when I was sure I’d spontaneously combust. They’re the Romeo and Juliet of Ilya, locked in a power struggle and thoroughly overwhelmed by each other. I couldn’t get enough. We don’t see much of the other characters but I enjoyed what we did see. There’s a good mix of sweet and charming characters to have a soft spot for and the violent, dangerous ones that make up the villains - of which there are several throughout. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, especially after an incredibly dramatic and incendiary ending!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Paedyn is an Ordinary. In the kingdom of Ilya where the Elites have power and Ordinary are killed on sight, she must keep her identity a secret. But when she saves the life of a price of the kingdom, she is thrust into a deathly game—the Trials. She'll compete against other Elites in three trials where they are supposed to stab each other in the back. But Kai, the prince she saved, makes her feel something, and she's also getting closer to his brother Kitt, the heir to the throne. But when she learns of the Resistance, a group made up of Ordinary and Elites who don't believe in the king's spiel, she needs to understand what she stands for and if she's willing to betray the people she's starting to care for.

I haven't read such an intriguing YA in a while. I kept turning page after page, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review!

I adored this book - such a refreshing new fantasy and the world building was just perfect. I loved that it wasn’t too detailed and in depth - it was intricate but simple. The storyline was solid and the whole ‘trial’ plot was enticing and fast paced.

In this book you’ll find:

🖤 Enemies to lovers
🩶 Love triangle (don’t normally like this trope but actually loved it here)
🖤 Slow burn romance
🩶 Trials (think Hunger Games)
🖤 Strong FMC with traumatic history
🩶 Secrets and historical character links
🖤 Morally grey male characters
🩶 Royalty
🖤 Politics
🩶 Balls - love the glamour and the dresses!
🖤 Action! It’s full of action and death 💀

Overall this was a perfect fantasy romance for me - I can’t wait for the next book!

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schhuster UK publishers for the opportunity to review this book.
A fabulous gripping emotional roller coaster. What's not to love. I highly recommend this book .

I really enjoyed this book. It was gripping, the world-building was great, the characters were fantastic and I loved the characters. Would definitely recommend!