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savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A novella set during the same timeline as POWERLESS, this is the story of Adena’s experiences during the trials.
This is a short and fast read (I read it mostly in one sitting), and adds a lot of color, depth, and context to the POWERLESS universe and characters. Overall, it definitely didn’t grab me quite the way POWERLESS did, but I LOVED Mak, and the story was definitely super emotional. I’m hopeful that some of the events and characters here will tie into the rest of the trilogy, but I’m glad I read this either way.
CW: Violence/blood/death/grief; child abuse; sexual harassment
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, and Sexual harassment
graceev's review
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Domestic abuse
karydiazc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
We were given an instalove once more, where the characters go from "I don't like you" to "you are now the love of my life" in such a short time, and even if it wasn't such a short time in the timeline of the book, it was quite fast for us readers.
Shure, we saw them warm up to each other, but the jump from warming up to love was so fast I didn't even felt conected to Mak as a character.
Anyway, I think Mak's power is an interesting twist for the future of the books and, if done properly, it can make the story a lot better. Unfortunately I won't find out since I won't keep reading this series. I don't think I'm the target audience for this books.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Grief, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Kidnapping and Injury/Injury detail
findmereading's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Torture and Violence
sammymilfort's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Sexual harassment
izzyreads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Due to the short nature of the book, there’s not a lot this book focuses on besides her relationship with Mak which is this books only “set back” to me, as I’d hope to see more interactions with Paedyn but I understand why that maybe couldn’t be possible. Despite that however I did enjoy the mentions of all the other characters from the first book.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and piece of the story, I loved their dynamic, how different it was from the first books dynamics, how they progressed with one another and grew. The only reason I don’t rate this higher is simply because of the fact that it’s short (which is a given) so some things that I may have personally liked to see more of, didn’t occur. But the story itself was beautiful and well written as was powerless and if you’re a lover of the grumpy x sunshine trope I HIGHLY recommend this book to you.
Happy reading!
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
alexlynx's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse
j_day's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
dramagirl2003's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
any spoilers we already knew from Powerless are not hidden in this review
i was worried this book wouldn't live up to Powerless, but it was just as good in a different way! i finished it in a day! the banter is 👨🏻🍳👌🏻, and the tension really be tensioning
you know what you're getting yourself into by reading Powerful, but that ending still hurts!
i ache for all the time they will never get together. all the kisses they will never share. all the memories they will never make. all stolen by a wicked act of cruelty
oh, a little side note just for a laugh in the midst of a somber moment, right as adena and mak had their first kiss, my mum called me down for tea. I almost screamed at her. in fact I actually did, but only in surprise cause I was so focused on the book
thoughts while reading
p25: oh what the heck is mak upto??
p33: and mak is a
p48: AND THIS IS THE QUALITY LAUREN ROBERTS SWOONWORTHY QUOTES WE LOVED IN POWERLESS
p50: adena smiling constantly is so me
p64: AHH! AND HERE WAS ME THINKING NOTHING COULD LIVE UP TO POWERLESS
p74: mak's only just met this girl and already he cares enough to go hunt down those roughnuts 🥺
p84: AHH THE TENSION
p111: HE'S
p131: oop typo!
p133: i'm sorry kitt but you really have no chance with paedyn, not while kai's around. they have too much chemistry
p134: if only 💔
p145: oh God that's tragic. isn't it always with a grumpy character
p179: AHHH IT'S THE STAR SPEECH ✨🫶🏻💗
p184: that's why he calls her honey? oh be still my combusting heart 💗💥
p185: oh come on, we were so close!!
p189: THANK YOU
p190: he's saving his smiles for her 🥰
p205: oh shoot, don't tell me this is when the king locks her up until the trial!!
p210: aww he got her a gift too! this is definitely a rival for adena's gifts!
p224: my heart is aching in trepidation 🥺 the only thing worse would be if
p243: DON'T YOU DO IT MAK!! DON'T YOU DARE
p245: leave it to lauren to write such a traumatic ending but right on the last page write something so meaningful that it stops our anger in it's tracks
quotes
There is not a single cynical thought to deny the fact that she may be the most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. She's intimidatingly peaceful — a contradiction in itself. And I almost want to despise her for it. Because I fear there is a chance that I may begin to enjoy her
"See the world however you'd like, but at least watch your step while you do it."
I raise a palm in mock surrender. "Fine. I'm surprised you could stop smiling long enough to tell me off."
"There," he says blandly, stepping back to admire his work. "No chance of you bloodying my fabric now."
"Might look more realistic that way," I offer with a tilt of my head. "Have you seen how stained most Imperial uniforms are?"
"Dammit, Adena," he huffs. "Maybe mention that before I heroically tend to your wound."
What a pathetic attempt at nonchalance. As if I don't admire the shine of each ringlet, or the way they cling to each other in an intertwining hug. As if I can stop myself from staring at the column of her neck when she pulls that curly hair into a messy knot, the forgotten strands like swirling ink down her back.
As if I can stop myself from admiring how easily a laugh parts her soft lips. The way the sun warms her skin, as though she was meant to be cloaked in light. It's how joy bubbles out of her in the form of clapping hands and endearing rambles. It's the way my thoughts never cease to wander towards her, my heart falling senselessly after.
And I fear that I've admired every inch of her.
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment
it's slow burn, so no further than passionate kissing