Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy) Hardcover – November 7, 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️No spice 🌶Tropes:#Tournament #ForbiddenRomance #DystopianSociety #Powers#SlowBurn#WittyBanter #ForcedProximity#EnemiestoLoversTwo very important things... 1. THIS IS A MUST READ! 2. I NEED RECKLESS ASAP!!This was so good. 6 ⭐️ isn't a thing? That's too bad! This deserves the exra ⭐️ I was here for the BANTER!!! 🔥 The writing, the story, the characters, the romance. It was sooo good, such a fun read that kept me completely immersed.There was no spice, but my poetic broken KAI 🥰 makes it all worth it. 🗡Pae🗡 is the definition of a BADASS. All 28 of her freckles 😮‍💨 There are plenty of twists and turns. That love triangle 🔺️ had me on the edge of my seat 🫣 and the ending shattered me!! @laurenrobertslibrary why do I feel like you're going to stomp on the remains with Reckless?✨️Did I mention Kai is a poetic god?✨️“If I am to be her enemy, I want it to be because she loathes herself for wanting me.”“It's like drowning in the ocean. Her eyes are the color of the Shallows Sea's deepest corner, a clear sky as it begins to drift into night, the subtle shade of a forget-me-not. And like the hottest flame, her eyes are blue and full of fire.”“She is the embodiment of a bad decision. The twin of danger and desire. The fine line between deadly and divine. And I can feel myself drowning.”“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.”“And I'll save your life again and again, aimlessly hoping you will allow me to stay in it.”“What do you want to call me?-I want to call you mine.”The strongest weapon a woman has at her disposal is that she is often underestimated.“Remind me to make you smile like that again, when you aren’t dying, and I have all the time in the world to memorize it.”“My soldiers don’t mean anything to me. They are expendable and easy to replace.” His chest heaves, his eyes locked with mine. “So, yes, Gray. You aren’t one of my soldiers.”“Oh, I’m not making you do anything, darling. You can leave me to bleed out if you must. Because I only want your hands all over me if you want them to be.”Walking on a sharp blade and hoping I don’t get cut. Playing with fire and hoping I don’t get burned. Swimming in a dangerous current and hoping I don’t drown. He is dangerous.She’s so stunning, yet so stubbornly oblivious to how the sunset behind dulls in comparison to the vibrance that is her.“Darling, I doubt that the sight of someone dying would affect me as much as you do alive and well.”I hadn’t realized he could look at me like that. Look at me like he cared.I don’t think I’ve ever spoken so softly, so soothingly to someone before. And what scares me even more is that I don’t think I ever will for anyone but her.Everything beautiful, everything bold, everything breathtaking—that is what I feel in her gaze.She is a vision, a nightmare, a dream. A grim reaper clad in black, come to steal my soul and my heart. I’ve never seen something so beautiful, so bold, so blatantly wrong for me. She is a devil. She is a deity. She is a man’s downfall in human form. She is my downfall.His eyes are mesmerizing, like melted steel, morning fog. They cut through me as though he is unafraid to see every part of me. His gaze feels right, familiar. And when his eyes lock with mine, I wonder why I ever bother looking at anyone else.I’ve never been looked at like it’s a privilege to be in my presence, an honor to hold my gaze, a gift to get a glimpse of me. Not until I met him.“I meant what I said. I can’t take my eyes off you. I can’t take my mind off you.”“Run, Paedyn. Because when I catch you, I will not miss. I will not falter. I will not make the mistake of feeling for you.” 💔

Lauren Roberts' Powerless is an enthralling romantasy set in a world divided by power—literally. The kingdom of Ilya is split between the Elites, who gained supernatural abilities after surviving a great plague, and the Ordinaries, who are powerless and hunted to extinction. Paedyn Gray, a clever street thief, has spent her life pretending to be an Elite, using quick thinking and deception to survive. But when she saves Prince Kai Azer’s life, she is thrust into the deadly Purging Trials, a competition designed to showcase the abilities she doesn’t have.Characters & Romance:Paedyn is a breath of fresh air in the realm of fantasy heroines—witty, sharp-tongued, and entirely reliant on her intelligence rather than magical gifts. Watching her navigate the trials with sheer grit was a highlight. Meanwhile, Kai is the morally conflicted prince with an undeniable charm, whose arc from executioner to protector is compelling. Their slow-burn romance, filled with tension, witty banter, and stolen glances, is one of the book’s strongest elements.“If I am to be her enemy, I want it to be because she loathes herself for wanting me.”Their chemistry is electrifying. From knife-to-throat scenes to moments of unexpected tenderness (like Kai braiding her hair and calling her “my pretty Pae”), every interaction deepens their connection. While the book is marketed as an enemies-to-lovers story, it leans more towards immediate attraction with Paedyn resisting the pull rather than outright hatred.Plot & Pacing:The story is fast-paced, and the tension escalates effectively, especially in the last 100 pages, making it impossible to put down. The Purging Trials introduce thrilling life-or-death stakes, though the pacing of each trial varies—some are drawn out while others are over too quickly. The world-building is intriguing but lacks depth in certain areas, sometimes relying too heavily on repetitive descriptions. However, as a debut novel, this is forgivable.Themes & Writing Style:Themes of power, survival, and identity are central. Roberts masterfully weaves romance with high-stakes action, making Powerless feel like a romcom wrapped in a dystopian fantasy. There’s humor, angst, and heartache in equal measure. While the writing is engaging, some aspects—like overused phrases and underdeveloped lore—could be polished in future installments.Final Thoughts:Despite its imperfections, Powerless delivers an addictive blend of romance and adventure. Fans of The Hunger Games, Red Queen, and Shatter Me will find familiar elements, but the dynamic between Paedyn and Kai keeps it fresh. The ending is a gut punch, setting up book two for what promises to be an angst-filled sequel.P.S. Kitt is an underrated gem, and I hope Paedyn’s actions don’t push him into villain territory. If Kai and Pae aren’t endgame, I will riot.Quotes:➴ "But im never sober around you, pae. Never not drunk on every detail that is you."‧➴ “What do you want to call me?” “I want to call you mine.”➴ "I was thinking, that you couldn't breathe. and as much as I like that dress on you, I figured you would look just as good in it with the laces undone."➴ "I meant what I said. I can't take my eyes off you. I can't take my mind off you."➴ “Oh, darling, as long as you still think I’m pretty, I don’t give a damn what I look like.”➴ “Every girl deserves something equally as pretty and deadly as they are."➴ “When his eyes lock with mine, I wonder why I ever bother looking at anyone else.”➴ “Remind me to to make you smile like that again, when you aren't dying, and I have all the time in the world to memorise it.”🖤Length: 528 Pages🖤Genre: Fantasy🖤Spice: 🌶️🖤Violence: 🔥🔥🖤Editing: Nothing that pulled me from the story🖤Series: The Powerless Trilogy🖤Ending: CliffhangerRating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

This book immediately captured my attention with the storytelling. Lauren's descriptions of the world and interactions between the characters were captivating. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading it. The romance build up between Pae and Kai was so good, though it is a slow burn if that bothers you. And with the ending of this book, I cannot wait to pick up the second!