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lizzye33's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A bit about me and my feelings:
I don't know how I feel about this book. I liked it more than I feared I might not, but not as much as I hoped. I was on the fence before trying this one again, but I got so many pleas to try it because I was sure to love it that I ignored my walls and went on anyway.
It was hard for me not to notice similarities between other stories I have read, which inspired this one and often had an effect that pulled me out of the book to remember another. I didn't love that. In many ways, it was a close retelling of the Hunger Games. I don't like the Hunger Games. One big reason I was not keen on starting.
My friend tried to get me into Fourth Wing, which I have been told this book is also like. I would not know because I quit before the quarter mark not interested in the characters, invested in the plot, or caring for their ample cussing on most pages, which made me wary of the content warnings this book would offer. It's very clean in terms of their relationship but does not offer so much comfort in terms of violence, gore, and death. I don't mind that in small packages, but this was a lot for me.
Dystopian seldom sits well with me, and though I have tried to dip my toe into many, I dislike that I am often with minority opinions when popular content comes around, making me wish I enjoyed it more than my character allows me to connect with when I am just too different than one who can connect and relate to the characters actions, words, and ways of being when I find that I am too far removed from compromise. However, I greatly respect the world-building and principles the writing exposes and brilliantly sheds light on the dark. I have even greater respect for the authors; I cannot read dystopian books looking for escapism and reading for pleasure. I did not originally know it was in this case. That is a big reason I had some trouble with this read.
Aside from the Hunger Games undertone, let me make a comparison for a moment to another beloved series I felt it was a little too close to. Shatter Me.
Shatter Me vs. Powerless MMCs:
Arron Warner: A tall blond man who has a domineering reputation, the son of a man who hopes his legacy will be remembered for his steel-coated heart and dominance across and against a nation where equality does not exist because of his ruthlessness and has trained his son to be a leader and an example of his control and firm hand against anyone who would dare defy him and the ways of the world he has made, thus making a boy who knows the pain of his father's wrath, a fighter, but one with a secret past into the life of the girl he eventually comes to know to be his true love, despite the torment, the memories, bad dreams, and they fight for their growing love, then as a team for justice, even if it seems they are against the odds. He also has the ability to reflect or take on others' abilities and knows how to fight.
Kai Azer: A tall, dark-haired man who has a domineering reputation, the son of a man who hopes his legacy will be remembered for his steel-coated heart and dominance across and against a nation where equality does not exist because of his ruthlessness and has trained his son to be a leader and an example of his control and firm hand against anyone who would dare defy him and the ways of the world he has made, thus making a boy who knows the pain of his father's wrath, a fighter, but one with a secret past into the life of the girl he eventually comes to know to be his true love, despite the torment, the memories, bad dreams, and they fight for their growing love, then as a team for justice, even if it seems they are against the odds. He also has the ability to reflect or take on other's abilities and knows how to fight. Sound similar yet familiar?
I don't know, but it hit me the wrong way, and I could not unsee it for the first half of the story. Everyone loves both men, and I feel like they are sometimes the same person in different dystopian tales.
Anyway, Pros & Cons:
Pros: I love the aesthetics so much! We get some fighting training, balls, and the perfect backdrop for beautiful nights and playful days while danger looms over the air, which is ideal for fantasy.
I love the author's way with words so much! I have always wanted to be a storyteller, and now I wish I had it in me to write as eloquently as Lauren does. The way she expresses the character's thoughts, descriptions, and especially the way Kai sees Pae is so beautiful. I wanted to get swept away; if the wind did in those moments, it would be a blissful end.
Many of my favorite things were slipped into this book as a hopeless romantic who loves enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and so much of what this book included in sweet, dangerous, and intimate moments without being too much for many audiences. I love their connection, and Kai is my favorite.
The balls were lovely to imagine, though I was sad they were often cut short at my favorite moments for a stale change in the air.
The quotes are beautiful, and I definitely believe my fellow readers when they recommend this book because of their favorite parts.
Especially if you are a dystopian fan, this is a book where no embellishments need to be made to intrigue and draw someone in with what they can expect from the love this book receives justly and even goes beyond the expectations for many. Even for a long book, the plot's pace was good and well-balanced.
Cons:
As I have said like a broken record too often now, I don't enjoy dystopian books, despite the diversity of many I have read, mostly at the suggestions by friends who have that look in their eyes of pure joy and love while talking about them, I can't help but try and pick up the pieces of what brings them those sometimes rare looks in their eyes with their hearts on their sleeves.
I want so badly to like this book more than I have. The ending and plot twists I somehow saw coming. It's almost like I knew they were coming before they did, like a movie you have not seen in years and can no longer quote, but it remains familiar until you remember just before or after it happens.
It also reminded me of a book I adored called A Thousand Heartbeats. I read it when I was about 18 and fell in love with it. Maybe because it was a standalone, perhaps I have aged a little more to take in the same preferences in the exactness of what I once did and don't remember shifting from, but this was different for me.
I may have seen too many stories I did not love embedded into this one and fractals of some that I did, like the Folk of the Air. Maybe it was simply that I listened to the audiobook instead of reading at the normal pace with an ambiance instead of a voice that rings with a story that I wanted to run through faster because of my experience with content I can't seem to get through fast enough, sadly not because I am devouring it as if relieving memories and adventures I wished were mine, but with triggers with various characters too familiar to want to spend more time with than need be.
But in that moment between the bloody chapters that makes me stamped with resistance from reading what is written very well is the blooming romance with Kai, who I love the character building for the most, and the romance he brings to life with the gorgeous and nearly touchable hallucinations he gifts us with.
Yet, though I loved the words and stolen moments, it felt like reading a letter from someone I had never met but wished I might have or to have lived such moments and known such love, but only have that letter or journal of a memory not belonging to me, but disconnected from, from a two demonetized world where I cannot become apart of a world I feel I would not be written in somehow, or see it except for rare moments in a flash of light as a movie, and then just as fast turns to words again.
I found it challenging to get through this book with too many triggers. I was unprepared for it and went unadvertised. Somehow I also was not told it would be set against the backdrop of superpowers and political resistance in cruel intents outside of personal trials and a race where the prize is your life and heartbreak, and a splash of unplanned yet unmarred betrayls. I love romance, but it sometimes feels like watching a show you are too far into quit but finding it hard to want to carry on and eventually only watch for a character who carries it. It's not the plot anymore.
The other thing is Payden. I want to love her. Perhaps we could even be friends if the circumstances worked themselves out well. But I don't understand people's love and relatability to someone who is so stubborn, says things, and does things, even aside from the thievery and trying to stay alive and play a part. I get her background and relate to her feelings a little, but not Pae. When she only asked, "why are you doing this?" every single time Kai did anything nice or normal, it was kind of frustrating and seemed to break the moment to me.
For a very cool FMC, I always get frustrated when they are too stubborn to treat others and even sometimes themselves with respect without pretending or being forced to do so outside of their roles to play. At least she was passionate about the cause that had a deep root in her life, but though I knew she would have that Katness Everdine story and secret veil protecting her from losing her life in the story because of that, it was hard to justify the sweet moments with the amount of darker ones.
Summary and Recommendations:
I definitely think if you love The Hunger Games and need something to read, perhaps with a romance with flirty banter (which was not always my cup of tea with my preference on what that sounds like but balanced out with his perspective), high-stakes missions, the darker side of the stories you may know, and a connection that outweighs the worst parts of themselves, then this may definitely be for you.
This may not be for you if you are wary of the Hunger Games.
Fragments of this book were for me, but most were not. I have particular connections to many of the symbolism found within the book. The detail, when it does not bother you, like many of the things that did not sit right with me, but all of it light and dark, comes off the page and feels like a true and honest book that makes you so excited to get to the next book and feel so excited that there is more to the story—more of them.
I am so happy this book and its author are getting the recognition they deserve!!! Though this is not quite for me, and though I may need another chance to grant myself the gift of reliving my favorite moments and coming to love them with more time, I have deep respect for it.
I hope it will be your favorite for those who need it. I hope it reaches you like a hug.
I don't know how I feel about this book. I liked it more than I feared I might not, but not as much as I hoped. I was on the fence before trying this one again, but I got so many pleas to try it because I was sure to love it that I ignored my walls and went on anyway.
It was hard for me not to notice similarities between other stories I have read, which inspired this one and often had an effect that pulled me out of the book to remember another. I didn't love that. In many ways, it was a close retelling of the Hunger Games. I don't like the Hunger Games. One big reason I was not keen on starting.
My friend tried to get me into Fourth Wing, which I have been told this book is also like. I would not know because I quit before the quarter mark not interested in the characters, invested in the plot, or caring for their ample cussing on most pages, which made me wary of the content warnings this book would offer. It's very clean in terms of their relationship but does not offer so much comfort in terms of violence, gore, and death. I don't mind that in small packages, but this was a lot for me.
Dystopian seldom sits well with me, and though I have tried to dip my toe into many, I dislike that I am often with minority opinions when popular content comes around, making me wish I enjoyed it more than my character allows me to connect with when I am just too different than one who can connect and relate to the characters actions, words, and ways of being when I find that I am too far removed from compromise. However, I greatly respect the world-building and principles the writing exposes and brilliantly sheds light on the dark. I have even greater respect for the authors; I cannot read dystopian books looking for escapism and reading for pleasure. I did not originally know it was in this case. That is a big reason I had some trouble with this read.
Aside from the Hunger Games undertone, let me make a comparison for a moment to another beloved series I felt it was a little too close to. Shatter Me.
Shatter Me vs. Powerless MMCs:
Arron Warner: A tall blond man who has a domineering reputation, the son of a man who hopes his legacy will be remembered for his steel-coated heart and dominance across and against a nation where equality does not exist because of his ruthlessness and has trained his son to be a leader and an example of his control and firm hand against anyone who would dare defy him and the ways of the world he has made, thus making a boy who knows the pain of his father's wrath, a fighter, but one with a secret past into the life of the girl he eventually comes to know to be his true love, despite the torment, the memories, bad dreams, and they fight for their growing love, then as a team for justice, even if it seems they are against the odds. He also has the ability to reflect or take on others' abilities and knows how to fight.
Kai Azer: A tall, dark-haired man who has a domineering reputation, the son of a man who hopes his legacy will be remembered for his steel-coated heart and dominance across and against a nation where equality does not exist because of his ruthlessness and has trained his son to be a leader and an example of his control and firm hand against anyone who would dare defy him and the ways of the world he has made, thus making a boy who knows the pain of his father's wrath, a fighter, but one with a secret past into the life of the girl he eventually comes to know to be his true love, despite the torment, the memories, bad dreams, and they fight for their growing love, then as a team for justice, even if it seems they are against the odds. He also has the ability to reflect or take on other's abilities and knows how to fight. Sound similar yet familiar?
I don't know, but it hit me the wrong way, and I could not unsee it for the first half of the story. Everyone loves both men, and I feel like they are sometimes the same person in different dystopian tales.
Anyway, Pros & Cons:
Pros: I love the aesthetics so much! We get some fighting training, balls, and the perfect backdrop for beautiful nights and playful days while danger looms over the air, which is ideal for fantasy.
I love the author's way with words so much! I have always wanted to be a storyteller, and now I wish I had it in me to write as eloquently as Lauren does. The way she expresses the character's thoughts, descriptions, and especially the way Kai sees Pae is so beautiful. I wanted to get swept away; if the wind did in those moments, it would be a blissful end.
Many of my favorite things were slipped into this book as a hopeless romantic who loves enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and so much of what this book included in sweet, dangerous, and intimate moments without being too much for many audiences. I love their connection, and Kai is my favorite.
The balls were lovely to imagine, though I was sad they were often cut short at my favorite moments for a stale change in the air.
The quotes are beautiful, and I definitely believe my fellow readers when they recommend this book because of their favorite parts.
Especially if you are a dystopian fan, this is a book where no embellishments need to be made to intrigue and draw someone in with what they can expect from the love this book receives justly and even goes beyond the expectations for many. Even for a long book, the plot's pace was good and well-balanced.
Cons:
As I have said like a broken record too often now, I don't enjoy dystopian books, despite the diversity of many I have read, mostly at the suggestions by friends who have that look in their eyes of pure joy and love while talking about them, I can't help but try and pick up the pieces of what brings them those sometimes rare looks in their eyes with their hearts on their sleeves.
I want so badly to like this book more than I have. The ending and plot twists I somehow saw coming. It's almost like I knew they were coming before they did, like a movie you have not seen in years and can no longer quote, but it remains familiar until you remember just before or after it happens.
It also reminded me of a book I adored called A Thousand Heartbeats. I read it when I was about 18 and fell in love with it. Maybe because it was a standalone, perhaps I have aged a little more to take in the same preferences in the exactness of what I once did and don't remember shifting from, but this was different for me.
I may have seen too many stories I did not love embedded into this one and fractals of some that I did, like the Folk of the Air. Maybe it was simply that I listened to the audiobook instead of reading at the normal pace with an ambiance instead of a voice that rings with a story that I wanted to run through faster because of my experience with content I can't seem to get through fast enough, sadly not because I am devouring it as if relieving memories and adventures I wished were mine, but with triggers with various characters too familiar to want to spend more time with than need be.
But in that moment between the bloody chapters that makes me stamped with resistance from reading what is written very well is the blooming romance with Kai, who I love the character building for the most, and the romance he brings to life with the gorgeous and nearly touchable hallucinations he gifts us with.
Yet, though I loved the words and stolen moments, it felt like reading a letter from someone I had never met but wished I might have or to have lived such moments and known such love, but only have that letter or journal of a memory not belonging to me, but disconnected from, from a two demonetized world where I cannot become apart of a world I feel I would not be written in somehow, or see it except for rare moments in a flash of light as a movie, and then just as fast turns to words again.
I found it challenging to get through this book with too many triggers. I was unprepared for it and went unadvertised. Somehow I also was not told it would be set against the backdrop of superpowers and political resistance in cruel intents outside of personal trials and a race where the prize is your life and heartbreak, and a splash of unplanned yet unmarred betrayls. I love romance, but it sometimes feels like watching a show you are too far into quit but finding it hard to want to carry on and eventually only watch for a character who carries it. It's not the plot anymore.
The other thing is Payden. I want to love her. Perhaps we could even be friends if the circumstances worked themselves out well. But I don't understand people's love and relatability to someone who is so stubborn, says things, and does things, even aside from the thievery and trying to stay alive and play a part. I get her background and relate to her feelings a little, but not Pae. When she only asked, "why are you doing this?" every single time Kai did anything nice or normal, it was kind of frustrating and seemed to break the moment to me.
For a very cool FMC, I always get frustrated when they are too stubborn to treat others and even sometimes themselves with respect without pretending or being forced to do so outside of their roles to play. At least she was passionate about the cause that had a deep root in her life, but though I knew she would have that Katness Everdine story and secret veil protecting her from losing her life in the story because of that, it was hard to justify the sweet moments with the amount of darker ones.
Summary and Recommendations:
I definitely think if you love The Hunger Games and need something to read, perhaps with a romance with flirty banter (which was not always my cup of tea with my preference on what that sounds like but balanced out with his perspective), high-stakes missions, the darker side of the stories you may know, and a connection that outweighs the worst parts of themselves, then this may definitely be for you.
This may not be for you if you are wary of the Hunger Games.
Fragments of this book were for me, but most were not. I have particular connections to many of the symbolism found within the book. The detail, when it does not bother you, like many of the things that did not sit right with me, but all of it light and dark, comes off the page and feels like a true and honest book that makes you so excited to get to the next book and feel so excited that there is more to the story—more of them.
I am so happy this book and its author are getting the recognition they deserve!!! Though this is not quite for me, and though I may need another chance to grant myself the gift of reliving my favorite moments and coming to love them with more time, I have deep respect for it.
I hope it will be your favorite for those who need it. I hope it reaches you like a hug.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
mayasophie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
natraf_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A YA Romatasy that felt like a classic 2010s dystopian love triangle.. LOVE. Middle school me would’ve made this book my new obsession because adult me is in LOVE!!!
The banter!!!! The enemies to friends /wanna be lovers ?!
The trials!!!! The love triangle!!!! The fucked up king with horrible genocidal views!!!!
Everything. This book had me in so deep. Buying the second book asap.
The banter!!!! The enemies to friends /wanna be lovers ?!
The trials!!!! The love triangle!!!! The fucked up king with horrible genocidal views!!!!
Everything. This book had me in so deep. Buying the second book asap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Genocide, and Torture
liaantje's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I am broken, I am crying, I don't know what happened. The last 30 pages just, everything imploded
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
liv2000's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
callistag1's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Maybe I didn't enjoy this book because I had such high hopes for it, seeing that almost every BookTuber and BookTok account I follow has raved about it. But really, there was a lot about this book I didn't like.
The plot was okay. After a plague wipes through the kingdom of Ilya, most of the surivivors are left with powers and are known as Elites. The few who didn't get powers are known as Ordinaries, and the ones who receive powers that are "too dangerous" are called Fatals. Basically, the king is a dick and decides Fatals should die because they can't be controlled, and Ordinaries should die because they apparently are diseased and make the Elites sick by weakening their powers. The fact that everyone is okay with mass genocide because they want to be able to move shit with their mind or control fire or morph into animals baffles me.
Paedyn, our main character, is an Ordinary who passes herself off as a Psychic in order to not be nerfed on sight. She's literally out here just trying not to die and I respect that. When she shows a bit of human decency and accidentally saves the 2nd born son of the king, Prince Kai, she is voted by the slums she lives in to participate in Purging Trials (a.k.a. PG13 Hunger Games basically because people die but it's not a necessity to win) and now she has to fake it til she makes it. Add in rebellion and some romance and a hint (?) of a love triangle but not really, and that's the book.
Now, the plot had potentially, but there were just a couple things about the book I couldn't get into. One being a nitpicky thing that pissed me off so badly that I removed a full star for it: the author's outrageous use of the word "laugh" or "laughing" or an iteration of the word. I've never read two characters laugh more than I've read Paedyn and Kai laugh. Once the word or an iteration of it was used four times on one page, and it was used almost every page they were together. It felt like when Roberts didn't know how to have them react, she'd just convey that they laughed in one way or another, usually with "laugh" or "huff out a laugh." Is it a small thing? Sure. Still pissed me off though.
Another problem I had was with Kitt as a character, specifically with his relationship with Kai and their father. While it is stated that the king was nicer to Kitt than he ever was to Kai, Kitt knows that Kai was strait up tortured by their father to make him enforcer, and is just... okay with it? Or tries to play peace maker but still seems to love their father as if "well he was nice to me" makes it okay to just ignore the fact that his father is an abuser. Considering how the book makes Kitt and Kai seem to be close, you would think Kitt would not have his head up his dad's ass. Also, he said some out of pocket stuff about "sacrifices of the Ordinaries are necessary" and that had me wondering how I was supposed to care about him at all because even later on he didn't really seem to care that much, so he was probably set up to become the next villain since the king is killed near the end of the book. (I will say I liked that scene. There was only two mentions of laughter instead of a dozen!)
Also, there were just a few things that felt a bit cliche and fan-fiction like, and I feel a bit upset because everyone acted like this was going to be that book when it fell kind of flat.
Overall, the plot isn't bad, but there were things like what I mentioned before that just wasn't it for me. Will I continue the series? Maybe. I have it on my to-read list, but if so, it will be on the lower end of my tbr because there are other books I am much more interested in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, and Pandemic/Epidemic
izzyreads13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There are not enough good things to say about this book, so for simplicity I’ll sum it up for everyone interested in my review!
➸ MMC who’s the embodiment of a man written by a women, everything he says about halfway through the book when he comes to terms with his feelings for the FMC are heartwarming and almost poetic, “Her. I only want to be deserving of her”.
➸ Interesting world building, while it’s definitely not the most out there world, the author does a good job at throwing parts of the lore around through out the book when needed, making everything easy to understand while also not feeling like you’re constantly getting information thrown at you left and right. Information comes up when it’s needed.
➸ interesting characters. While some are definitely more loveable then others, all of the characters are written with enough depth and background to at least make you build some sort of connection with them, good or bad
➸ our FMC is strong and despite what I thought at a few points of the book, does not need to and or always rely on our MMC to save her. There are of course a few instances when he does but there are enough scenes throughout the book that reinforce the fact that she can stand her own ground without his assistance which I definitely enjoyed.
The story is a little hard to get into at first, I found myself picking the book up at least once every day for about 50 pages at a time but by the halfway mark I definitely felt more inclined to read more and more each time and by the last 100 pages not only was I devastated but satisfied. Devastated that it was over, yet satisfied as to how the book came together at the end. I’m eagerly awaiting the second book in a few months, but the rest of my review will just be some things I noted and felt while reading the book.
➸ definitely a slow burn. While the banter is continuous throughout the book from start to finish, it takes a while to get to a point where the characters verbalize those feelings to one another and by the end of it, only Kai does, our MMC (definitely a “he fell harder” situation). That doesn’t stop the tension between characters however, if anything it elevates it and I loved feeling the love through the words written on the page.
➸ I loved paedyns character as a whole, but through out a lot of the beginning of the book there’s numbers mentions of her deceased father and while it does subside a bit throughout the book, it was definitely very hard to get through for a while and almost made me eye-roll at his mention every time something bad happened. But like I did mention, this does subside mid book and does come back into play at the end.
Overall I truly did enjoy this book, I cried, squealed and everything else you could imagine while getting through this book, it was a fantastic read through and through and I know I’ll be sad when the trilogy ends, even though it has just started. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy and however many novellas Lauren decides to release alongside it in the future. I recommend this read to anyone who loves tension, banter, slow burn, and tropes such as “he fell harder” and the “who did this to you” trope! And please be aware that they are not joking when they market this book as a YA romantasy, because that’s really what it is. If you’re expecting some high end romance that’s more sophisticated, you won’t find it here, but the romance is definitely satisfying, heartfelt and beautifully written. I’d say it’s definitely one you at least have to pick up and try. Happy reading!
➸ MMC who’s the embodiment of a man written by a women, everything he says about halfway through the book when he comes to terms with his feelings for the FMC are heartwarming and almost poetic, “Her. I only want to be deserving of her”.
➸ Interesting world building, while it’s definitely not the most out there world, the author does a good job at throwing parts of the lore around through out the book when needed, making everything easy to understand while also not feeling like you’re constantly getting information thrown at you left and right. Information comes up when it’s needed.
➸ interesting characters. While some are definitely more loveable then others, all of the characters are written with enough depth and background to at least make you build some sort of connection with them, good or bad
➸ our FMC is strong and despite what I thought at a few points of the book, does not need to and or always rely on our MMC to save her. There are of course a few instances when he does but there are enough scenes throughout the book that reinforce the fact that she can stand her own ground without his assistance which I definitely enjoyed.
The story is a little hard to get into at first, I found myself picking the book up at least once every day for about 50 pages at a time but by the halfway mark I definitely felt more inclined to read more and more each time and by the last 100 pages not only was I devastated but satisfied. Devastated that it was over, yet satisfied as to how the book came together at the end. I’m eagerly awaiting the second book in a few months, but the rest of my review will just be some things I noted and felt while reading the book.
➸ definitely a slow burn. While the banter is continuous throughout the book from start to finish, it takes a while to get to a point where the characters verbalize those feelings to one another and by the end of it, only Kai does, our MMC (definitely a “he fell harder” situation). That doesn’t stop the tension between characters however, if anything it elevates it and I loved feeling the love through the words written on the page.
➸ I loved paedyns character as a whole, but through out a lot of the beginning of the book there’s numbers mentions of her deceased father and while it does subside a bit throughout the book, it was definitely very hard to get through for a while and almost made me eye-roll at his mention every time something bad happened. But like I did mention, this does subside mid book and does come back into play at the end.
Overall I truly did enjoy this book, I cried, squealed and everything else you could imagine while getting through this book, it was a fantastic read through and through and I know I’ll be sad when the trilogy ends, even though it has just started. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy and however many novellas Lauren decides to release alongside it in the future. I recommend this read to anyone who loves tension, banter, slow burn, and tropes such as “he fell harder” and the “who did this to you” trope! And please be aware that they are not joking when they market this book as a YA romantasy, because that’s really what it is. If you’re expecting some high end romance that’s more sophisticated, you won’t find it here, but the romance is definitely satisfying, heartfelt and beautifully written. I’d say it’s definitely one you at least have to pick up and try. Happy reading!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Death, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
saretta02's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Death, Torture, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
memoirsofabooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i get the hype, i loved this. perfect blend of magic, fantasy, romance & tragedy.
i loved the influence from the hunger games and goblet of fire with the trials. the issues of classism and racism. the TENSION was tantalisingly amazing!! i CANNOT wait until july for the second book!!!!
i loved the influence from the hunger games and goblet of fire with the trials. the issues of classism and racism. the TENSION was tantalisingly amazing!! i CANNOT wait until july for the second book!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Torture, Vomit, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
vj_thompson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Why did I put this book off so long?
I bought this as soon as I found Lauren Roberts on TikTok but never read it. Powerless has made an appearance on monthly TBRs, but again I didn’t read it. I haven’t gotten into fantasy romances before because of the length. What finally made me want to read was Sara Carrolli ❤️
This book has tension, goooood banter, forbidden love (in a way), and deception. It was a great first fantasy romance. Very much reminded me of the trials from the Hunger Games but also a movie with a similar plot of someone born to kill the very thing he ends up growing closer to. I can’t remember the name of the movie for the life of me. Can’t wait for the remainder of the series. I have some theories!
I bought this as soon as I found Lauren Roberts on TikTok but never read it. Powerless has made an appearance on monthly TBRs, but again I didn’t read it. I haven’t gotten into fantasy romances before because of the length. What finally made me want to read was Sara Carrolli ❤️
This book has tension, goooood banter, forbidden love (in a way), and deception. It was a great first fantasy romance. Very much reminded me of the trials from the Hunger Games but also a movie with a similar plot of someone born to kill the very thing he ends up growing closer to. I can’t remember the name of the movie for the life of me. Can’t wait for the remainder of the series. I have some theories!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Torture, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent