Today Marshmallow reviews Powerless by Lauren Roberts, first published in 2023.
Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like fantasy books about romance or fighting against injustice, or if you just want to read an interesting book about adventure, then this is the book for you.
Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Paedyn Gray is an Ordinary, even though she is definitely not ordinary. However, in Ilya, where there are only Elites, being an Ordinary is a crime. Many years ago, a deadly Plague swept the land. Many who survived were gifted powers; these made up the Elites. Elites pass on the status to their descendants, with Elite parents birthing Elite children with powers of their own. However, some who survived the Plague were not given powers. They and their children who are born without powers are Ordinaries. After another outbreak of a common illness, King Edric of Ilya decreed that Ordinaries were responsible and carrying some sort of disease, which is why they hadn’t been given powers. He claimed that Ordinaries suck away the power of Elites, stealing their gifts away. So all Ordinaries in Ilya were banished, killed, exiled to make Ilya stronger and the only, all-Elite kingdom. This was called the Purging, which is why Paedyn must be careful. Even now, Ordinaries and anyone caught helping them are killed or exiled to the desert (under the promise of mercy, of reaching an unreachable kingdom across it).
Paedyn’s mother died when she was young, so when Paedyn’s father, a Healer with magical healing powers, was killed, she fled her house and started living on the streets. Her father was stabbed through the chest, by the king himself, though she doesn’t know why. But before he died, he taught her how to survive by posing as a Psychic, a mundane magical ability that would keep her from being recognized as an Ordinary. On the streets, she is less traceable and lives with Adena, an Elite girl who loves sewing. Adena is a Phaser, meaning she can pass through objects and people (which is how she met Paedyn) if she wants. Adena sews clothes to sell using cloth and materials stolen by Paedyn.
One day, while looking for her next victim, Paedyn decides to rob a wealthy-looking Elite. She finds him intriguing and attractive but carries out the job anyways. Later, this man is attacked by a Silencer, a type of Elite whose power is to suppress the magic of other Elites and is persecuted in Ilya. Paedyn feels sorry for the stranger and saves him, which is quite easy for her since she is well trained in fighting and is not affected by the Silencer’s powers. Soon after, she learns that the stranger was Prince Kai Azer, future Enforcer for the king whose job is to eliminate all and any Ordinaries.
Paedyn is now dubbed the Silver Savior and is entered into the Sixth Purging Trials, a set of competitions designed in honor of the Purging to celebrate and show off the powers of the Elites. And while that’s certainly an issue given the fact that she has no powers, she is also starting to struggle with her growing attraction to Prince Kai (who is also competing). He also appears to reciprocate. But as it says on the book cover, she is hunted by him, the hunter. Now, Paedyn must fight battles on both fronts, the ones in the Trials and the one in her heart. Duh duh duh dun!!!
Marshmallow’s Review: I found Powerless to be a very interesting and intriguing book. I really enjoyed reading it, and I found the plot and the characters to be very well written and well developed. The reader definitely develops a sense of connection to the characters as the book goes on. I really liked how the author shows the perspectives of both of the main characters, Paedyn and Kai. Each chapter is narrated either by one of the two main characters which serves its purpose of showing the story from multiple views.
I think the author also did a very good job of creating a world that was foreign yet familiar at the same time. It is realistic and fantastic at the same time; the author gives the characters a sense of ability despite their challenges being unlike the ones that most people face today. The world discussed in this book is kind of dark, and genocide is a theme throughout: the Ordinaries are killed just because of the way they were born. But for readers who can handle more mature books, this is I think a very good book.
When I started to read Powerless, I had the sense that it would be similar to some other books that turned into intensely romance-oriented novels. And while the budding romantic relationship between Paedyn and Kai is a major part of the plot and the story, I was glad that it was not the only thing that was focused on throughout the book. The plot kept moving, and the romantic aspect stayed relevant all while keeping the focus on the trials the characters faced. There are a lot of scenes in which the two characters are in close contact and touch each other frequently; however, they do not ever actually start to have an official, romantic relationship. While this might seem confusing, let me explain. The two characters are attracted to each other, but they are both trying to stop themselves from falling in love with the other. They tantalize each other with touches, but there is no sexual activity. So in that aspect, it is not necessarily inappropriate for children.
Powerless is dramatic at times and comical at others. So in that sense, too, it is an entertaining read. However, I did find that there was a little bit too much violence for my taste, especially since the author includes very vivid descriptions of fighting, stabbing, gore, and blood. Moreover, I found the relationship between the two main characters to be a bit bizarre because of their desensitization to violence, though perhaps it makes sense; all the characters in the book seem to be somewhat desensitized to violence. and it is probably due to the harsh world they are living in, and in the case of many of the characters, due to the rough nature of their own upbringing. In any case, I feel personally that some descriptions of violent acts were a little too vivid, and that younger bunnies might be horrified or traumatized by the detailed descriptions. So I would recommend this book for bunnies over the age of fourteen.
I know that many readers are waiting for the sequel to this book to come out this summer. I myself am also excited because this book does end in a cliffhanger which made the ending quite unsatisfactory in my opinion. Overall, I think Powerless is a good book even though some parts are a little too graphic for me personally, and I am looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing the characters’ story continue to grow.
Marshmallow’s Rating: 95%.
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