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Powerless
624 pages
A breathless, high-stakes romantasy where deadly trials and knife-to-the-throat banter fuel an addictive enemies-to-lovers burn.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into an arena where the greatest danger isn't the physical combat, but the magnetic pull of a forbidden romance. It is a propulsive, adrenaline-fueled experience built on the beloved tropes of deadly tournaments and hidden identities, delivering exactly the kind of breathless tension romantasy readers crave. The atmosphere is thick with danger and deception, balanced by sharp, knife-to-the-throat banter that crackles with chemistry. The prose is accessible and cinematic, prioritizing fast-paced action and lingering, swoony moments over dense world-building. It is designed for readers who want to be swept up in a high-stakes game of survival, where every stolen glance feels just as lethal as a drawn blade, culminating in an addictive, heart-pounding ride.
- Mood
- adrenaline-fueled
- swoony
- dangerous
- high-stakes
- Tone
- dramatic
- bantery
- tense
- earnest
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- hidden identity · forbidden romance · survival against the odds · enemies to lovers · corrupt systems
- The writing
- Accessible and fast-paced, the writing leans heavily into sharp dialogue, breathless action, and lingering moments of romantic tension.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from desperate, guarded survival to a dizzying, high-stakes romance fraught with the constant threat of betrayal.
- Who it's for
- Readers who devour YA romantasy for the deadly tournaments, knife-to-the-throat banter, and intense enemies-to-lovers angst.
Content notes
- violence
- death
- class oppression
- blood
About the book
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 in order 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 overly observant since she was a child, Paedyn poses as a Psychic in the crowded city, blending in with the Elites as best she can in order to stay alive and out of trouble. Easier said than done.
When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilyas 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.
Description from Open Library.
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