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soph22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I have a complicated relationship with this book. I’d heard before reading that it was a bit of a love or hate kinda book, and I’ll be honest, the first 250 pages I really didn’t think I’d get along with it: the writing in first person felt a bit clunky, the action seemed off, but I kept going because the flirty banter between two characters was absolutely top notch. Something switched at the hallway mark, and I suddenly really started enjoying it. The maritime became more dynamic, the storytelling clearer, and the plot swept me away.
Overall, I don’t t think it was a flawless book, but it did entertain me. It had its issues, and I’m pretty sure it’s similar to Hunger Games (although I’ve never read it - 😲), but I will be continuing the series!
Overall, I don’t t think it was a flawless book, but it did entertain me. It had its issues, and I’m pretty sure it’s similar to Hunger Games (although I’ve never read it - 😲), but I will be continuing the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
eyeleash's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Torture
cnannery19's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-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
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
backitupmoony's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Torture, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol
sweetteaandfiction's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
Powerless by @laurenrobertslibrary pulls inspiration from all those dystopian fantasies that got me through college and the epic fantasies that followed me into adulthood without losing its unique voice.
Now, sometimes (basically all the time) five star reads for me are five stars because I love them. The story pulls me in to the world. I live amongst the pages for a little while.
PROS:
🗡️Hunger Game vibes
🩸Divergent vibes
🗡️TOG vibes
🩸Unique Magic System
🗡️Found Family
🩸Star Crossed Loves
🗡️Hiding in plain sight
🩸Blood Sport
🗡️Hunter becoming the hunted
🩸Are you not entertained?!?!?
🗡️Heartbreak
🩸Revenge
CONS:
🗡️It is VERY much a YA novel. Not in a bad way. It is a story about kids fighting in an arena. There are bigger themes, but this is made for consumption by a younger audience.
🩸The King
🗡️Elitism
🩸Caste System
🗡️Rampant and Unchecked Poverty
🩸Fear of the Other
🗡️Abuse of Power
🩸The King’s Hilter-ish Vibes
🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️ out of 5 girl’s on the run
Now, sometimes (basically all the time) five star reads for me are five stars because I love them. The story pulls me in to the world. I live amongst the pages for a little while.
PROS:
🗡️Hunger Game vibes
🩸Divergent vibes
🗡️TOG vibes
🩸Unique Magic System
🗡️Found Family
🩸Star Crossed Loves
🗡️Hiding in plain sight
🩸Blood Sport
🗡️Hunter becoming the hunted
🩸Are you not entertained?!?!?
🗡️Heartbreak
🩸Revenge
CONS:
🗡️It is VERY much a YA novel. Not in a bad way. It is a story about kids fighting in an arena. There are bigger themes, but this is made for consumption by a younger audience.
🩸The King
🗡️Elitism
🩸Caste System
🗡️Rampant and Unchecked Poverty
🩸Fear of the Other
🗡️Abuse of Power
🩸The King’s Hilter-ish Vibes
🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️ out of 5 girl’s on the run
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
pagebypaigebks's review against another edition
4.0
“And I’ll save your life again and again, aimlessly hoping you will allow me to stay in it.”
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: violence, death, gore, torture, grief, panic attacks
This book is romantasy in full force! The world-building was intriguing and immediately transported me into a dark and dangerous kingdom. The idea of a trial involving subjects from different areas of the kingdom reminded me of The Hunger Games and the intensity of the trials did not disappoint. There was a lot of action and interesting fight scenes that were nicely balanced with slower character developing scenes. I liked how we followed Paedyn, one of the few magicless people in this world where magic is everything. That said, the magical powers of each of the main and side characters were intriguing to learn about and seemed to fit their personalities perfectly. I enjoyed how Paedyn and Kai each grew and developed throughout this first book. I only wish that we got to see their relationships with the side characters develop more. Before reading this book I had heard a lot about the great enemies-to-lovers romance and it did not disappoint! It was one of the few romantasies I've read lately where the main characters are actually enemies in terms of politics and worldviews. The banter and tension were great and the slow-burn romance was paced perfectly. We're left with an intense cliffhanger ending so I am very intrigued to see what will happen next and to explore other parts of the kingdom. I recommend Powerless to fans of The Hunger Games and the enemies-to-lovers trope!
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: violence, death, gore, torture, grief, panic attacks
This book is romantasy in full force! The world-building was intriguing and immediately transported me into a dark and dangerous kingdom. The idea of a trial involving subjects from different areas of the kingdom reminded me of The Hunger Games and the intensity of the trials did not disappoint. There was a lot of action and interesting fight scenes that were nicely balanced with slower character developing scenes. I liked how we followed Paedyn, one of the few magicless people in this world where magic is everything. That said, the magical powers of each of the main and side characters were intriguing to learn about and seemed to fit their personalities perfectly. I enjoyed how Paedyn and Kai each grew and developed throughout this first book. I only wish that we got to see their relationships with the side characters develop more. Before reading this book I had heard a lot about the great enemies-to-lovers romance and it did not disappoint! It was one of the few romantasies I've read lately where the main characters are actually enemies in terms of politics and worldviews. The banter and tension were great and the slow-burn romance was paced perfectly. We're left with an intense cliffhanger ending so I am very intrigued to see what will happen next and to explore other parts of the kingdom. I recommend Powerless to fans of The Hunger Games and the enemies-to-lovers trope!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, and Grief
lilbookishdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
moonylovesstars's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
ladybug12793's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
4.25
Enthralling.
I love a good deadly trials book. The plot twists were somewhat obvious, but the book was still very entertaining. I didn’t want to set it down.
0 🌶️
One of my favorite quotes I’ve read:
I love a good deadly trials book. The plot twists were somewhat obvious, but the book was still very entertaining. I didn’t want to set it down.
0 🌶️
One of my favorite quotes I’ve read:
“I’d never thought about what my favorite color was before. It never seemed important. Not until I looked into a pair of ocean-blue eyes and realized that perhaps drowning was a beautiful thing. Not until I looked into a pair of fiery blue eyes and realized that perhaps burning was a painless thing. Not until I looked into a pair of sky-blue eyes and realized that perhaps falling was a peaceful thing. I’d never thought about what my favorite color was before because I hadn’t seen one that was worthy of the title. Until now, that is.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, and Death of parent
Minor: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
courtnetto's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m really enjoying reading fantasy books and envisioning the worlds and the scenes in my head as I read.
This book follows Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer. Paedyn is an “Ordinary” who claims to have Psychic powers, but she is called upon to take part in the purging trials. Paedyn is unsure how this happened but says that her sole plan is to survive, however, little does she know that the King knows that she is an ordinary as they were responsible for the death of Paedyn’s father. Paedyn makes it to the third and final trial but doesn’t win as they brutally placed her bestfriend in the maze to be killed in order for the trial to be won - but Paedyn being the devoted bestfriend she is could not bring herself to kill her own bestfriend, the bestfriend who she brought there because of her skills as a seamstress. Sadly, Paedyn’s bestfriend is unfortunately killed by a fellow contestant much to Paedyn’s upset.
This in turn causes her to run away as it breaks her heart to see her bestfriend laid lifeless with a branch through her chest - but also because of the Resistance coming in to the Bowl due to her own doing.
Only when she is running away, she encounters the King himself who is now going out to kill Paedyn like they did her father. Except, Paedyn comes out on top and she kills the King, which of course breaks the hearts of Kitt and Kai who she had developed close bonds with. During this time, the King tells her that he was not the one who killed her father, but that is was in fact the prince she is close to (Kai).
After realising what she had done, she ran again and never looked back…
I really loved the character of Kai and I feel for him so much after what Paedyn had done to him, but not only him, but also what she did to Kitt by betraying him in order to let the Resistance in to the Bowl while the last trial was ongoing.
It only dropped a star because it took me a bit of time to get into the book itself. It took me even longer to finish the book - clearly I’ve dropped off the reading train recently🙈🤣
This book follows Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer. Paedyn is an “Ordinary” who claims to have Psychic powers, but she is called upon to take part in the purging trials. Paedyn is unsure how this happened but says that her sole plan is to survive, however, little does she know that the King knows that she is an ordinary as they were responsible for the death of Paedyn’s father. Paedyn makes it to the third and final trial but doesn’t win as they brutally placed her bestfriend in the maze to be killed in order for the trial to be won - but Paedyn being the devoted bestfriend she is could not bring herself to kill her own bestfriend, the bestfriend who she brought there because of her skills as a seamstress. Sadly, Paedyn’s bestfriend is unfortunately killed by a fellow contestant much to Paedyn’s upset.
This in turn causes her to run away as it breaks her heart to see her bestfriend laid lifeless with a branch through her chest - but also because of the Resistance coming in to the Bowl due to her own doing.
Only when she is running away, she encounters the King himself who is now going out to kill Paedyn like they did her father. Except, Paedyn comes out on top and she kills the King, which of course breaks the hearts of Kitt and Kai who she had developed close bonds with. During this time, the King tells her that he was not the one who killed her father, but that is was in fact the prince she is close to (Kai).
After realising what she had done, she ran again and never looked back…
I really loved the character of Kai and I feel for him so much after what Paedyn had done to him, but not only him, but also what she did to Kitt by betraying him in order to let the Resistance in to the Bowl while the last trial was ongoing.
It only dropped a star because it took me a bit of time to get into the book itself. It took me even longer to finish the book - clearly I’ve dropped off the reading train recently🙈🤣
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder