Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, #1)

by Lauren Roberts

I spin her if only to give myself some time to think. I’d never thought about what my favorite color was before. It never seemed important.

"I'd never thought about what my favourite colour was before. It never seemed important." oh my god i'm breaking my own rules to full on say i am actually going to kill myself because i bet you can't guess where this is going

Not until I looked into a pair of sky-blue eyes and realized that perhaps falling was a peaceful thing.

"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've been rewatching game of thrones, and that scene where theon has the skin of his finger peeled off looks less painful than reading this

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.

"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." kill yourself, kai

“We were,” she states. “But you and your father aren’t, are you? Not after what he’s put you through.”

oh my god these conversations just go round and round in circles and tell me shit i already knew. it's like the author forgot she had already explained something, and instead of going back to check if she had, she just reiterates shit we already know.

“That I have.” I pause, taking her in. “You never cease to amaze me, Gray.” I smirk as I release her hand to flick the tip of her nose lightly.

i need these two to be split up. when they talk to each other, it's torture. kai should try bringing paedyn along to his next torture session and just have a chat with her. the person being tortured will give up their information immediately just to get away from them.

The illusion blows away in the soft breeze, sending tendrils of smoke into the morning sky. Leaving behind a bloody boy. My bloody brother. Jax.

DAMN ICE COLD. this is the only cool thing i have read so far. a character (ace) uses his power to make people hallucinate to make kai think he's about to stab ace, but is actually stabbing jax, his adoptive brother. that's kinda fucked up. i like. too bad it took me half of the book before finding one plot line i liked.

His eyes fly open, and then he’s gulping down air. I half laugh, half sob as I watch him blink, his hand flying to feel the smooth skin where my throwing star once was. He looks around, his brown eyes landing on me. His grin is weak, his voice hoarse but humming with humor. “Are you going to try to kill me again?”

ugh nevermind. kai found someone with a healer ability to emulate so now jax is not dead. so that didn't matter at all. i take back what i said about it being cool.

“As you all know, this year’s Purging Trials will be… unique.” She gestures to Kai, clearly indicating that he is the reason for this. Another test for their future Enforcer.

OH MY GOD WE KNOW. THE TRIALS ARE DIFFERENT. BECAUSE OF KAI. THE FUTURE ENFORCER. I'M BEGGING YOU. STOP.

There’s movement flickering across the crowd as the audience around us presses their pointer and middle fingers together, the symbol hovering over their hearts. A diamond. Ilya’s image of strength, power, and honor. They are paying their respects to the fallen.

oh god they even have the budget version of the three finger salute from hunger games

I am competing in games meant to flaunt the powers and strength of the Elites—the powers I don’t possess.

OH MY GOD YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMIND ME THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE POWERS

He was a liability, too dangerous to keep alive as my human punching bag. I knew he had no intention of telling me what I wanted to hear, and I had no intention of wasting my time.

kai your torture methods suck. i bet micah would've talked if you threatened to cut body parts off.

Then those ocean eyes tear from mine when she turns back to the target,

billie eilish ocean eyes

In a flash, he throws something into the air. I open my mouth expectantly, ready to savor the sweetness of the chocolate, only for it to land on my nose before bouncing off onto the floor.

paedyn, who was annoyed at the amount of food wastage, is happy to play a game of trying to catch food in her mouth where most of it gets wasted?

Of course he knows his servants by name.

HIM KNOWING HIS SERVANTS NAMES DOES NOT A SAINT MAKE.

“Let me be frank, Paedyn. You are not winning this.” I stiffen. “I’m sorry?” “I know that is what you want. To win the Purging Trials and have a better life for you and your seamstress friend.” He laughs, bitter and biting. “That reminds me. I should congratulate you for the little stunt you pulled with your dress at the ball. You certainly got what you wanted. Reminding the people of their Silver Savior.”

oh cool so the king is president snow

Since the Trials themselves aren’t the only things different this year, the second ball is being held in the gardens where the setting sun glints off goblets of champagne, casting everything in a dull gold.

ANOTHER BALL?????? i'm gonna....

“Will you forever be the prize I am aimlessly trying to win?” I inhale sharply, staring him down as I say, “Is that all I am to you? A trophy?”

nevermind. i want them to fuck just so they'll fucking stop talking

The rules of the game have changed a bit, so the first to capture the flag will win it.” He clears his throat before continuing, “There can only be one winner among you. The only question is who?”

oh my god it's even got the "putting them in teams and then telling them at the end only one can win"

“It’s not finished yet. I only have one more day until the final ball, and it needs to be absolutely perfect—”

THERE'S A /THIRD/ BALL? SO THERE'S ONE BETWEEN EVERY EVENT? (btw there was another trial event - they had to climb a mountain and then capture a flag - it sucked)

She scurries to the door and opens it hesitantly, revealing a tall, smiling figure. Kitt.

can she fuck one of these princes already

“I don’t know how to ride.”

REMEMBER THIS FOR MY NEXT NOTE

Without a saddle, Kitt helps me onto the horse before gracefully mounting himself. I don’t know where to put my hands, feeling suddenly awkward with my chest pressed against his back.

NO SHOT PAEDYN RIDES THIS HORSE BAREBACK IF SHE'S NEVER RIDDEN BEFORE. NO FUCKING SHOT. EVEN IF SHE'S HOLDING ON TO KITT

I spread out my arms and tilt my head up, loving the feel of rain pelting my skin.

"...loving the feel of rain pelting my skin." natasha bedingfield unwritten feel the rain on your skin

“Malakai.”

oh yeah Kai's real name is Malakai. i realise Malakai is an actual name, but the closeness to "malaka" is entertaining, because Kai is, in fact, a wanker

“Tell me,” he murmurs, “what do you want me to call you?” My eyes slowly meet his, confused by his question. “What do you want to call me?” “I want to call you mine.”

"tell me what you want me to call you?" "what do /you/ want to call me?" "i want to call you mine" AND THE CROWD WENT HOME!!!!!!

It’s a maze.

of course it's a maze. the ball shit felt very triwizard tournament-y. again, i realise jk rowling of all fucking people doesn't own mazes but still.

The path I’m standing in narrows as the hedges on either side of me press in. I’m about to be squashed.

oh my god the sides of the hedges are closing in on her. it's literally the triwizard tournament

I’m in a pissy mood.

you and me both, kai

I turn right down a path at random before skidding to a stop. There, at the end of this narrow path, is a sandy, open circle. The center. The victory. My victory.

okay, before when the king was explaining this, he said whoever reaches the centre of the maze first also has to kill the person they find there to win. i hope it's paedyn's friend from home who she brought with her as the cinna equivalent (aka her stylist)

I’m seeing things. I must be seeing things. I stagger forward, tripping into a run. I force myself to go faster, ignoring the protest of pain shooting up my foot. “Adena?” This can’t be right. This can’t be happening.

CALLED IT. THE PERSON IN THE MIDDLE WHO HAS TO BE KILLED IS HER SEAMSTRESS FRIEND. LOL.

With lips pulled into a soft smile, I hear her take a shuddering breath. Take her final breath. Leaving me shaking. Leaving me screaming. Leaving me sobbing. Leaving me.

honestly, author gets a point from me here provided this bitch is actually dead and it's not another jax situation

Powerless.

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