Review: Lauren Roberts’ debut novel blew me away!

“Powerless” follows Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary born without the powers possessed by the Elites that rule the kingdom of Ilya. Left with no choice, Paedyn poses as a Psychic to blend in to survive in the slums and avoid banishment. When she unsuspectingly saves one of Ilya’s princes, however, she is thrown into the spotlight as a competitor in the Purging Trials—a brutal competition showcasing the Elites’ abilities. Her survival is entirely dependent on the lie she has spent her whole life living, but her growing feelings for the prince threaten to destroy all her carefully laid plans. 

I absolutely flew through this book! Enemies to lovers, forbidden love, forced proximity, knife to the throat… the story was definitely written around common tropes and the plot resembles the likes of “Red Queen” and “The Hunger Games”, but it really worked for me because I grew deeply attached the characters. I was fully invested in Paedyn and Kai’s development as a couple and as individual characters. I particularly enjoyed alternating between their points-of-view because Roberts does such a great job capturing their irresistible chemistry and respective internal struggles.

I also took a liking to Roberts’ world-building. While simple, I was not left wanting. The kingdom of Ilya’s political structure, the system of magic in relation to the Elites, the Purging Trials, the rebellion headed by the Ordinaries, and the different environments the characters navigate fascinated me and have so much potential for expansion in upcoming novels in the series. 

The atmosphere Roberts creates with the high stakes her characters must grapple with and the action packed plot make for an impressive debut. Fair warning, the ending of this book is a punch to the gut and scream inducing. I most definitely will be getting my hands on “Reckless” upon its publication in July!