So, here’s the question: was it worth the hype?
I had seen this book everywhere, and the beautiful cover never left my mind. I thought I’d try it to catch up on my reading goal. I then proceeded to binge it in three days, and the way it ended destroyed me. SOS.
It’s safe to say Powerless lived up to the hype in every way. This story was written like prose and filled with many heart-pounding scenes that captivated me until the end. When I find a book to devour, I DEVOUR it.
Powerless has every single thing you can imagine in a fantasy book. Enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, touch her and (XP), epic battles, and a dystopian world you can’t help getting lost in. Was it predictable at times? Sure. Did it keep me on my toes? EVERY. SINGLE. CHAPTER. Most of the time, I had no idea what would happen. The frustration I felt while reading this book is palpable.
Powerless takes on themes of Hunger Games, Throne of Glass, Divergent, and Once Upon A Broken Heart, but with its own twist of originality.
However, although Powerless is a story of survival and brutal rulers, gore and violence are abundant. I’m not a big fan of murder and death, and there was a lot in this book. The internal monologues were a bit disturbing at times, too. Many scenes were gruesomely depicted, to the point that I almost DNFED. Thankfully, most of those aspects were kept brief. Mild profanity was also used.
As for the romance, it was surprisingly clean for a “romantasy.” There was the occasional implication here and there, but they were vague at most. Even so, we see many scenes where the characters flirt, touch, and prompt various sexual insinuations, all of which become a bit much at times. There are no sex scenes or anything further than “hand on waist” and “kiss but not a kiss.” You get the steam but not the spice, I guess? But I just want a slightly warm blanket or no heat at all (okay, what am I even saying at this point?). The slightest touch and interactions were amplified through the characters’ thoughts, making me squirm and expecting things to take a dive for the worst.
But I suppose the so-called “steam” is expected in an enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance, especially between characters who constantly deny their infatuation with one another.
Pae and Kai’s relationship sometimes seemed rushed and depthless, but the author conveyed the beauty of their need for one another. Their connection’s emotional and relational aspects were executed wonderfully, and the banter is top-tier. I swear they made me laugh on every page.
Powerless was a thrilling read, and how it ended left me feeling bamboozled. Betrayed. Utterly SHOOK (seriously, Lauren, why must you break our hearts?). However, as much as I would like to continue with Reckless, I will not be doing so because of personal beliefs and convictions. The violence and potentially heightened romance have me setting aside this trilogy, though I thoroughly enjoyed Powerless.
This review is for all my Christian readers who may be tempted to divulge in this book! I hope it aided in your decision-making on whether or not to read Powerless.
!TRIGGER WARNINGS!
Mentions of suicide, murder, gore, violence, death, profanity, anxiety, panic attacks, torture, depictions of torture
Final Rating: 4/5 Stars
Recommended Age Group: 16+
Genres: romance, fantasy, young adult
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'” Romans 12:19 ESV
Julia Rose Books 