§Synopsis
01"Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya—the exceptional, the empowered, the Elites. The powers these Elites have possessed for decades were graciously gifted to them by the Plague, though not all were fortunate enough to both survive the sickness and reap the reward. Those born Ordinary are just that—ordinary. And when the king decreed that all Ordinaries be banished to preserve his Elite society, lacking an ability suddenly became a crime—making Paedyn Gray a felon by fate and a thief by necessity.
Surviving in the slums as an Ordinary is no simple task, and Paedyn knows this better than most. Having been trained by her father to be keenly observant since she was a child, Paedyn poses as a Psychic in the crowded city, blending in with the Elites as best she can to stay alive and out of trouble…easier said than done.
When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilya’s princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials. The brutal competition exists to showcase the Elites’ powers—the very thing Paedyn lacks. If the Trials and the opponents within them don’t kill her, the prince she’s fighting feelings for certainly will if he discovers what she is…completely Ordinary."-- Provided by Amazon
§Our take
This is a book you judge by whether familiar ingredients still work for you. Kirkus found it heavily derivative of The Hunger Games, without that book's heart or internal logic. A library reviewer listed the same similarity as the selling point, and plenty of readers clearly agree. The trials give it a clear rhythm, and two narrators let it swing between romance and violence.
The tonal whiplash is the real fault line. The book sets persecution and atrocity beside banter and flirtation, and Kirkus found that jarring. Publishers Weekly saw a capable trilogy opener, though it noted heavy description that slows things down. The author started writing at 18, self-published, built an audience on BookTok and landed at Simon & Schuster. That origin story is part of the book's identity.
§Themes
- Faking power
- Paedyn bluffs her way through a society that prizes abilities she doesn't have.
- Class and persecution
- Ordinaries are banished, and simply lacking a power is a crime. Publishers Weekly thought the book handles inequality unevenly.
- Romance across the divide
- Her feelings for the prince are dangerous, because he'd turn on her if he learned what she is.
- Spectacle as politics
- The Trials exist to show off Elite power, and the violence is the point.
§How it was received
The trade press was cool to hostile, while a library reviewer loved it. Readers turned it into a BookTok event anyway, and it was a 2023 Goodreads Choice nominee for YA Fantasy.
§Read it if
- You like survival-tournament fantasy and want a fresh run at the formula
- You want steamy romance alternating with gory action
- You enjoy dual narrators and a fast hook
§Skip it if
- You're tired of Hunger Games-style frames and familiar tropes
- Sudden shifts from atrocity to flirtation pull you out of a story
§Before you start
- Reading experience
- At about 538 pages it's a long read, but the tournament structure keeps it episodic, though some descriptive passages slow things down.
- Reading order
- Book 1. Reckless is book two. Start here.
- Content notes
- Gory violence; Genocide, child abuse and sadism, per Kirkus; Steamy romantic encounters; Ableist language, flagged by Kirkus.
§Common questions
- Is Powerless part of a series?
- Yes, it's book 1. Reckless is book two, so expect an open ending.
- Is Powerless like The Hunger Games?
- Kirkus thought so and counted it against the book. Library reviewers recommend it to fans of survival-competition fantasy.
- Is Powerless YA, and is it spicy?
- Kirkus files it under young adult. Publishers Weekly describes gory violence and steamy romance, so it's a heavy mix for that shelf.
§If you liked this
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins — The obvious comparison. Kirkus holds it against Powerless, while a library review offers it as a readalike.
- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard — A library review recommends it for readers who want magic-infused, competition-driven fantasy like this.
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