A review by kiwij96
Powerless by Lauren Roberts

challenging dark emotional tense 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? Yes

2.5

As a concept, this book seems like evrything I would be interested in. Howere, as a book, it was just,,,not. The characters were unbearable after maybe the 5th chapter (up until that point I would have been convinced that the title was "Sticky Buns" based on how often it was mentioned), where Kai just became a lovesick puppy and Paedyn became insufferable. Their only concersation really mentioned daggers to throats as if it was a personality trait. It just got so repetitive, I found myself just rolling my eyes anytime it was mentioned. The same with their "hidden feelings" for one another, it was just cringeworthy at best.

There was no real fantasy vibe about this story other than some people having powers, it was just juvenile, uncomfortable romance with repeated phrases. It had so many links to other YA/childrens books too: Hunger Games and Harry Potter being the main two. Along with similarlies between Ilya (Powerless' kingdom) and Ilyria (ACOTAR). It was too similar to other series I enjoyed to be enjoyable as its own work in my opinion. 
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