Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Beztroska

Rating: 5/5 stars

The sequel to POWERLESS continues Paedyn and Kai’s story.

This entire series has me hooked, and I cannot WAIT for book three. I absolutely love the characters here (especially, once again, Kai, who is so nuanced and morally grey and absolutely perfect I can’t stand it), and really enjoyed the layers to their development and relationships here. This book was very different from POWERLESS but I was still thoroughly entertained the entire time.

I did predict the ending, but I still screamed anyway, and there was a jaw dropping plot reveal towards the middle that I am still struggling to wrap my brain around (seriously, people, I need answers). I can’t recommend this series enough for YA fantasy fans!

CW: Violence/blood/death/grief; mentions of child death; torture; death of parent

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beckyremillard's review against another edition

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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

4.75

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kaitlynnnng's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I didn’t love this book as much as I loved the first book, but it was still very enjoyable!

Per usual, Kai had be giggling and kicking my feet. I love that man!

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holliepao's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

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carlyjoann's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

This book felt different and repetitive after the first book. I understand if the author wanted to build the relationship between the FMC and MMC but it got repetitive quickly when there were other ways to build that relationship and keep the story moving. Even with the relationship being the main focus I didn’t feel a ton of more building between them than what we got originally in the first book. There was some character growth from them but nothing that needed a whole book as the focus.
I wanted more storyline and world building and that’s on me for having those as my expectations of this book.

The ending was just confusing to me. I can see if the author is just trying to keep Paedyn and Kai apart to have drama but it just left me saying “What?” Also Calum is alive and is the advisor to Kitt? I just feel like I missed things and the end had me lost.

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bmceleney's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Don’t think the storyline/plot was as strong in this book but the character arc and development definitely was. The characters are just so well written and loveable in their own way. I just wish there had been some references to powerful.

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byhilderbrand's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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

4.25

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coffiend's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

Of all the stories that could have been told after the way book 1 ended, this has got to be one of the most boring.

It made the world feel smaller, like the only consequence of a long-built rebellion trying to make a stand against a tyrant king is that now one girl is going to be in some nebulous form of trouble. Maybe she'll be sentenced to death, maybe she'll fall in love. Read along as she crosses some indeterminate length of desert to find out! (Spoiler: it's love)

There's very little (if any) character growth and nothing really changes in the grand scheme of things until the end, and even that felt underwhelming.

It feels like the next book could start with a 1-page conversation between Kitt, Kai, and Pae, and everything will be cleared up.

This book made me retroactively like Powerless... less.

Also, making out in a sewage drain will never be hot.

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