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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
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
And boy am I happy I read this! Adena is probably one of my favorite FMCs that I've read about. She's literally me (but much more optimistic)! She's bubbly! Sweet! Fragile! Curly hair. And she talks a lot. Her dynamic with Makoto reminds me a lot of my dynamic with a few of my male friends so it was so endearing to read about them (Adena and Makoto). Although, I will say their feeling for each other came very quickly to me, I wasn't too convinced of their romance until the later half of the book, and even now I still feel like their romance happened extremely quickly which negated a lot of the emotional impact for me, but it's a novella so I guess I can't fault it too much on that front. I'm not too big on tropes but this is most definitely a grump x sunshine if I've ever seen one (he could be a little too grumpy at times for me).
I think this book was extremely needed cuz although we all know what happens to Adena, I think this book gives what happened to her more emotional impact than it did in Powerless. In "Powerless", Adena is rarely in the novel which in my opinion hinders the emotional impact of her death because we don't really get to see much of her or her friendship with Paedyn. In this book, at least we get more insight into Adena and her personality so in my opinion makes her death more impactful for the reader. I actually shed a tear when reading about her death (something I didn't do when I read it in "Powerless").
My main qualm with the book is that some major questions that I wanted answered still weren't answered. We still don't know the exact reason why the king targeted Adena in the first place. Also, a pressing question I have is how the elites' powers are determined?
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cursing, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
mayareads4fun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Torture, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Blood
boba_nbooks'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? It's complicated
4.5
Powerful added so much context to Powerless, and I absolutely loved it. Even though I knew how this novella was going to end, it still devastated me.
This novella follows Adena--the best friend of the female main character from Powerless, Paedyn. We get a small peek into Adena's life before she meets Paedyn and then follow her journey as Paedyn is going through the trials. When Adena is left alone, she meets a mysterious man named Mak who is also desperate to see someone before the trials. Together they team up to try to sneak into the palace and save their loved ones. In the meantime, Adena and Mak find out that they have more in common than they originally thought.
This is a great companion novel to Powerless. I'm dying to see what happens next in Reckless.
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Grief, and Abandonment
Minor: Cursing, Violence, and Death of parent
proudtobeabookaholic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While waiting for "Reckless" I took the opportunity to visit the kingdom of Ilya again, and it was lovely to be back! We get to know Adena a bit better and her enthusiasm over clothes, fabric and sowing is contagious. Mak, the mysterious man she meets, is her opposite in so many ways; they are really a grumpy/sunshine couple! It's fun to see how they get to know each other, and how Adena influences Mak to change.
[Spoilers ahead if you haven't read "Powerless"]
After "Powerless" we know that Adena doesn't get a happy ending, but yikes, it still hurts to read about it. I certainly hope we get to see a lot more of Mak in "Reckless"!
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
hayleythegoose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse and Torture
emilywemily6'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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Torture, Violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Ableism
bloomingbookworm's review against another edition
3.25
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent