Powerless by Lauren Roberts: World of Magic and Intrigue

Powerless by Lauren Roberts (Book 1 in The Powerless Trilogy )

Simon & Schuster (November 7, 2023)

A character-driven story is ideal for someone new to the fantasy genre.

Powerless” by Lauren Roberts has become an instant TikTok sensation. Lauren Roberts shared her writing journey on TikTok, captivating readers’ attention with little snippets of the adventure. However, that is not surprising, as the book is remarkable, especially for a debut novel. The story narrates the journey of morally grey Prince Kai and Powerless Pae. Powerless is a classic romantic tale between two lovers from different worlds. Payden and Kai are enemies, unable to resist each other. Unfortunately, tragedies keep dividing them.

Table of Contents

Powerless Publisher 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 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 keenly observant since she was a child, Paedyn poses as a Psychic in the crowded city, blending in with the Elites as best she can to stay alive and out of trouble…easier said than done.

When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilya’s 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.

Powerless Review

As mentioned, Powerless is a classic fantasy romance with many familiar tropes and an intriguing but easy-to-follow magical system. Moreover, this book is perfect for someone new to fantasy. The story is simple and easy to follow. Furthermore, the world-building and magical system is uncomplicated.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a high fantasy story with complex world-building and high stakes, Powerless is not the book for you.

The plot in this fantasy romance is as important as the enchanting love story. However, it is a character-driven tale, with most of the plot centered around the main couple.

In the story, Pae and Kai start as enemies, and their relationship remains complicated throughout their adventure. The end conflict complicates their relationship even further. I’m intrigued to see how the story will unfold due to the circumstances.

Powerless is a captivating dual story with intense longing and angst within the romance plotline. With its intriguing narrative, this story will have you hooked from beginning to end.

Kai is trained from an early age to be the enforcer. In other words, he is the killer of the king.

Despite his label as vicious and cruel, he is not cold-blooded. Being an enforcer is something his father decided for him, and Kai accepted it.

On the other hand, his brother is protected and groomed to be the king. Interestingly, this also is not necessarily what he wants.

Powerless Review conclusion

So, we see two young men trying to grow up and accept their roles. Moreover, both are mesmerized by Payden, fierce but at the same time powerless Ordinary. Pae’s father taught her to pretend to be a seer. A mundane power, easily taught but enough to secure Paes’s survival.

Although the magical systems and world-building are not complex, the story is still engaging. The author, Roberts, drew inspiration from books like Hunger Games and Red Queen. Some reviewers have mentioned similarities. However, I can’t comment on that as I haven’t read either of those books.

Overall, the story is enjoyable, and the characters’ interactions, including their banter, are fun to read. The best part of the book is the slow-burn romance and tension between the characters. On the other hand, some parts of the story need more clarification. For example, the trials mentioned in the description above do not make sense. While reading, I had a feeling the only point of them was to create a romance between Kai and Paeyden. Nonetheless, I am excited about a second book.