Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, #1) in shelf indulgence

Sep 26, 2023 Torosa rated it liked it

I read so much fantasy that I think I’m a lot harsher about giving out five stars now - I think if you’ve been reading fantasy for awhile, you can just see all the tropes pulled from all the popular Books mushed into this one. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but because I’ve read so much fantasy, I could literally predict every next thing - even the magic system, I could’ve told you everything about it before I even read the book because it was just so… normal?

Okay, so this book has every trope unde ...more

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Dec 18, 2024 Jamila rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Okay, listen—if you’re into slow-burn fantasy romances with trials, magic, and all the drama, you need to read Powerless. Everyone’s been saying it’s giving The Hunger Games, and they’re not wrong, but with more magic, banter, and romantic tension to keep things spicy.

Paedyn and Kai: The Blueprint
Let’s talk about Paedyn and Kai because they’re basically the backbone of this book. Paedyn is that girl—always underestimated, always fighting just to survive because she doesn’t have powers in a ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Okay, listen—if you’re into slow-burn fantasy romances with trials, magic, and all the drama, you need to read Powerless. Everyone’s been saying it’s giving The Hunger Games, and they’re not wrong, but with more magic, banter, and romantic tension to keep things spicy.

Paedyn and Kai: The Blueprint
Let’s talk about Paedyn and Kai because they’re basically the backbone of this book. Paedyn is that girl—always underestimated, always fighting just to survive because she doesn’t have powers in a world that revolves around them. She’s scrappy, clever, and so easy to root for. Then there’s Kai, the cocky enforcer-to-be who’s got “bad boy with a soft heart” written all over him. At first, he’s all swagger and arrogance, but as the story goes on, you realize he’s way more complicated than that. His whole life has been about wearing masks to survive, thanks to his psycho dad.

Their romance? Whew. It’s slow burn done right. The way they get to know each other during the trials, building trust and a real friendship first, is so refreshing. Kai thought Paedyn was just some basic girl with weak powers, but he’s out here trying to figure her out like a Rubik’s Cube, and it’s so cute. That said, the whole “maybe it’s a love triangle” thing with Kai’s brother? Yeah, no. We all knew she was ending up with Kai from page one, so the hints of a triangle felt kind of pointless.

Drama, Action, and Hunger Games Vibes
This book brings the drama. Between the trials, betrayals, banter, and tension, I was fully invested. The trials themselves were chef’s kiss—you know the characters are going to survive because, duh, it’s book one, but the twists and obstacles kept it interesting. If you like The Hunger Games but want more magic and romance, you’ll eat this up.

But What’s the King’s Problem?
One thing I didn’t love? The king. He’s supposed to be this big bad villain, but like…what’s his problem? We get that he hates the resistance, but his cruelty felt so over-the-top without enough backstory to explain it. I’m hoping the sequel dives deeper into his motivations because right now, he’s just giving cartoon villain.

Final Thoughts
If you’re into fantasy, magic, slow-burn romance, and life-or-death drama, you’ll vibe with Powerless. It’s fun, it’s fast-paced, and it sets up the series really well. Sure, it’s not perfect, but the good definitely outweighs the meh. Grab this if you’re in the mood for something that’ll give you a bit of everything: action, romance, and just enough chaos to keep you hooked. ...more

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Jan 09, 2024 Meredith rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved this debut, was it giving a strong Hunger Games vibe with more fantasy...yes but I don't care because Kai is the smoothest prince on the planet.

The ending....are you kidding me. July cannot come soon enough ...more

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