Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

6 reviews

madi_oasis's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

If I wanted to enjoy a well-written and gripping novel about two star-crossed lovers trapped in a dystopian world that discriminates against a class of people, with a blood sport tournament thrown in as the main plot device… 

I would have read The Hunger Games.

There were some small passages and quotes that were well-written, but those were few and far between and were buried in a sea of heteronormative expectations, dubious consent, gender stereotypes, lazy writing (take a shot every time Paedyn scoffs or Kai has a muscle feather in his jaw, I’ll wait) and Mary Sue levels of character writing. A predictable story can be a nice read if there are characters worth reading about. I’m sorry to say that this book really highlights its title of “TikTok made me buy it”… because nothing else about this book would make me ever want to part with my money over it. I’m so thankful that libraries exist. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Mental illness, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Misogyny and Panic attacks/disorders

espurrr's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-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

3.75

The romance in this book is slow and delicious. Everything else could be better. The premise is a little jumbled and the book suffers from some odd pacing. I do really enjoy these characters and their interactions with each other and I'll be reading the next book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

notfastreader_14's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love this book. I don't like Kitt not even gonna lie. It had me sweating and everything. Kai is just...wonderful. The way he speaks about her and to her, you can just tell her is head over heels.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Suicide, Torture, Sexual harassment, and War

Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment

lkristin2018's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A dark fantasy, reminiscent of Hunger Games, but with magic.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Child death, Cursing, and Alcohol

Minor: Mental illness and Sexual content

bethy_joy's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

sebradley29's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic