Lauren Roberts’ debut novel has taken over BookTok, as its slow-burn romance is driving readers crazy. This young-adult fantasy has many tropes to explore, but everybody’s favorite is the enemies-to-lovers. And believe us when we say that Prince Kai and Paedyn Gray are the perfect enemies who have YET to become lovers! Yes, we can share that much, after the release of the second book, “Reckless”, a few weeks ago, and anticipating the next book.
This is a spoiler-free attempt to summarize and explore some key points of the first book in the Powerless trilogy, as it is nearly impossible to include all; different POVs, a unique magic system, an elite society, main and side characters to die for.
Meet Paedyn Gray: the Ordinary girl with an extraordinary knack for survival. Ever since witnessing her father’s brutal murder at the hands of the King, Paedyn has been hiding in the Slums, relying solely on her wits and fighting skills. She's not just any Ordinary; she's a cunning thief and a trained fighter who passes as a Psychic to dodge the king’s death penalty for people like her. Her only confidante in this perilous masquerade is Adena, a fellow orphan with a knack for phasing through walls and a passion for sewing. Together, they've eked out an existence for five tough years, with Paedyn swiping coins, food, and fabric, and Adena turning those stolen scraps into something marvelous.
But Paedyn’s life takes a dramatic turn during a brawl in the slums. She heroically takes down a Silencer about to off a young man, earning her the moniker “Silver Savior” from the impressed crowd. However, the young man she saves turns out to be none other than Kai Azer, the King’s enforcer and Paedyn's sworn enemy. The plot thickens when fate—or maybe just bad luck—throws Paedyn and Kai together again during the dreaded Purging Trials. Paedyn sees the Trials as a chance to send a powerful message to the people of Ilya. She’s never been one to celebrate the Great Purging or honor the Elites, but she sure knows how to make an entrance and turn the spotlight into a weapon. Her main goal: to survive as an Ordinary among Ilya's most formidable Elites.
Both Paedyn and Kai carry deep scars from their pasts. Paedyn lost her parents and struggles for survival her whole life, while Kai grew up in a harsh environment with little parental love. Their shared pain and struggle to maintain their humanity amidst the brutality of their world create a compelling backdrop for their developing relationship.
The theme of identity is central to the story. Paedyn, Kai, and even Kitt Azer grapple with their roles and true selves. Paedyn hides her true identity to stay alive, Kai has become the king's unfeeling Enforcer, and Kitt, the future king, questions his role in his father’s oppressive regime. Their interactions force each to confront their inner conflicts and redefine themselves.
At the heart of “Powerless” is the stark divide between the powerful Elites and the oppressed Ordinaries. King Edric’s regime exploits this division to maintain control, with the Elites ruling the kingdom and seeking to eradicate the Ordinaries. This systemic oppression fuels the plot and the characters' motivations.
Paedyn’s participation in the Trials becomes a symbol of resistance. Through her defiance, bold speeches, and strategic alliances, she challenges the king’s authority and inspires others to rise against the Elites. Her actions during the Trials are pivotal in rallying support for the rebellion.
Paedyn Gray: Our resourceful heroine, who’s as skilled at blending in as she is at standing out. Known as the Silver Savior, she’s an Ordinary posing as a Psychic to survive in a world where her kind is hunted. Her father was a healer, and he taught her how to fight and observe the world closely to understand its secrets. The key to her survival is to convince everyone she is an Elite. She is loyal, cunning, and deceptive.
Malakai Azer: Known as Kai, he is the king’s ruthless future Enforcer and second son. He is a skilled fighter, and a complex character. Kai wields the rare ability to borrow others’ powers, making him a formidable, and dangerous individual. He’s tasked with eliminating Ordinaries but finds his mission complicated by his growing connection to Paedyn.
Kitt Azer: The heir to the throne and Kai’s older brother. Kitt can control fire and water, representing the people’s hope for a better future. Unlike his brother, Kitt is more reflective and begins to question his father’s brutal reign.
First things first, let’s explain the word-building.
The kingdom of Ilya is a richly detailed world shaped by the aftermath of the devastating Plague. This Plague gifted some survivors with extraordinary powers, creating a new social hierarchy where the Elites reign supreme. The Ordinaries, left powerless, are deemed a threat and systematically oppressed. The king’s decree to eliminate the Ordinaries, under the pretense that they carry a disease weakening the Elites, sets the stage for a society steeped in fear, control, and rebellion.
The magic system in “Powerless” is intricate, with powers classified into three main categories: Offensives, Defensives, and Mundanes. This hierarchy not only dictates the social structure but also the characters’ interactions and the plot’s progression.
Now, about those key points:
Paedyn and Adena share a unique bond, something very close to sisterhood. While Paedyn steals silk and food, Adena stitches and sells clothes she makes. We follow their lives in the Slums, under the oppression of the King, and notice that values as friendship bloom even in the most desperate of times. They are determined to survive, and protect each other no matter the cost, each one in her own way. Paedyn is a fighter, while Adena makes sure Paedyn is adequately clothed. The green vest Adena created for Paedyn is the very symbol of their bond. Their time in the Slums is a key point for both characters’ development.
A turning point that drives the entire plot is Kai’s rescue in the Slums. He is caught in a fight with a Silencer that nearly ends his life if not for Paedyn. Using merely her fighting skills, she takes the Silencer down. The Silencer’s power has no impact on her because she is an Ordinary. That incident makes her the Silver Savior, and people put her name on the list of the participants in the Purging Trials. Moreover, Kai’s feelings for her are triggered by her intervention in the fight. He believes himself unworthy of saving, but Paedyn did just that.
It is always admirable how people unite under an oppressive system. It is not strange that in Ilya, a rebel group is formed, including Ordinaries and Gifted people. Naturally, the King feels threatened by powers and people he cannot control, so it is not only the Ordinaries he is after but some Gifted too, like the Silencers. This group unites, despite their differences and danger of exposure, to fight for their freedom and the people who suffer in the Slums.
A climactic scene as it starts with the participants fighting their way through a magical maze, all desperate to find its center and win the Trials. But what awaits them in there is the most tragic ending. Beyond that, the rebels make their move and confront the King, right in the middle of the stadium. A raging battle breaks out and ends in bloodshed.
And some bonus material just for you, dear bookworms. Here is a detailed list with the powers categorized:
Brawny: incredible strength, both physically and mentally
Silencer : disabling other’s powers
Wielder: wielding other Elite’s powers that are close by
Elemental: controlling either one or more elements
Blazer: flame manipulation
Tele: moving objects using the mind
Flash: enhanced speed
Shape-shifter: the ability to shape-shift into any animal or human being
Volt: electricity manipulation
Shimmer: light manipulation
Blink: teleportation anywhere in sight
Crawler: the ability of wall scaling
Healer: quick healing
Shield: the ability to create force fields around something/someone
Shell: turning one’s skin to stone
Illusionist: illusion creation
Cloner: clone creation
Veil: invisibility
Amplifier: voice projection
Bluff: a lie detector
Enhancer: heightened senses
Hyper: enhanced senses
Phaser: moving through solid objects
Scholar: enhanced intellect
Sight: recording and projecting through the eyes
Transfer: transfer other abilities into an object
Psychic: read on people’s emotions
A romantasy that has the vibes of The Hunger Games, and The Red Queen, has naturally gained its place on TikTok’s bookshelf and many readers recommend it. Of course, there are people who feel a bit skeptical about the number of tropes explored or its resemblance to the two renown titles mentioned, but either way, this story does worth its hype. Roberts’ writing style and the spicy banter, have made Kai Azer one of the hottest love interests, climbing on top 5 book boyfriends! His “pretty Pae”, is also a relatable, strong female character, charming enough to be caught in the middle of a love triangle between two brothers. Pretty exciting, huh?
There is no spice in the book, nor explicit scenes. Lauren Roberts wanted to keep it young-adult, as she has announced herself. However, the banter and the tension between Paedyn and Kai is so thick it can be caught with a knife!
There is a love triangle between Paedyn, Prince Kai and Prince Kitt, the future King. It is very interesting how these different love interests are portrayed; too different in appearance, roles, and behavior. One dark and the other fair. Surely, each of the Azer’s brothers are a good catch.
No, “Powerful” is not part of the Powerless trilogy. It is a novella, published in 2024, following Adena, Paedyn’s best friend, while Paedyn is competing in the trials. There is an official guide to tandem-read with “Powerless”, that you may find interesting. Currently, “Powerless” and “Reckless” are out, and the third and final part of the trilogy, “Fearless,” is expected in 2025.
Powerless is a Young-Adult, Fantasy Romance story, or as it is used to calling it, a Romantasy. A forbidden romance is developed between the main character, Paedyn Gray, and the King’s Enforcer, Kai Azer.
Adena is what is called a Phaser. She can move through solid objects, like walls. It is a Mundane power.
Powerless is certainly a book that belongs on your shelf or your tbr list. Its book reviews prove it, and people’s excitement makes it one of the hottest romantasy stories of the year! The interesting characters, high stakes, world building, and magic system travel us in an entirely new world that feels so familiar at the same time. And, as Lauren Roberts writes in the dedication, this book is “For every girl who has ever felt powerless.” Relatable, right?
Hurry and find all the fantastic quotes spread out in the book, or just subscribe to crewfiction and gain access to anything that has to do with the Powerless trilogy; TikToks, fanart, music and more. The Powerless World, made by crewfiction with magic, awaits.
Nikki Sheryee insists that she’s “up to no good” whenever she’s in the company of books. Armed with a degree in English Language and Literature, she wields the power of words like a mischievous wizard. Her lifelong dream? To be the editor who sprinkles magic dust on manuscripts! To Nikki, a book is more alive than a caffeinated squirrel on roller skates. Readers nurture it, cuddle it, scold it, and occasionally challenge it to a duel! But in the end, a book does its own thing, pulling at our heartstrings and revealing our inner human-ness. Nikki’s favorite pastime? Well, it’s none other than the noble art of daydreaming! And she wears her daydreamer’s badge with pride, sharing this delightful delusion with the crème de la crème of her friends.
