Powerless takes place in the kingdom of Illya where The Plague raged and killed thousands, separating the kingdom into The Elites who have magical powers and the Ordinary who are powerless, often banished or killed on detection unless they manage to avoid it by faking Elite powers like Paedyn Gray. Paedyn's secret is safe until she unknowingly saves the life of Prince Kai and finds herself nominated for the Purging Trials.

I don't mind our main character Paedyn. She's cunning, smart and funny, but I think she has room to develop more. We know she's powerless but surely she's got to have some other weakness. I would've liked to have seen the darker side of Kai more. We're constantly told that he is a monster and a killer but the first time we see him with a chance to prove this, his first target is a child who he of course lets go. Kitt however! I love how he's not like every other YA next heir to the throne who is supposed to be cold and calculating. He longs to be a successful king like his father, but at the same time he wants to be able to live his own life.

However, the tension between Paedyn and Kai's brother Kitt though. I want more of them two. I loved Paedyn and Kai together but in my opinion, I feel like Paedyn and Kitt could serve the enemies to lovers trope much more. Like her using him to get information, the betrayal? I need more! Book two better give me them. Don't get me wrong, I do like Paedyn and Kai together but I felt like their 'enemies to lovers' story was more insta-attraction with tons of flirty banter. They are constantly flirting, like what actually makes them enemies, aside from her being an ordinary and him being an elite? I was wanting more angst between them.

As much as I enjoyed the book, there is a lot of similarities to The Hunger Games and Red Queen. I would've loved to have seen more of the world building as well including the backstory of how everything broke out. Additionally, why is everyone so strong? Surely the elites would have some form of weakness due to their powers? It would prove that they're not all gods.

While the book is fast paced and easy to follow, there is a lot of repeated phrases and full of figurative language and metaphors. I understand that this is Lauren Robert's first book but there is a few things to improve on which I'm sure we will see within in the second book. Here's to hoping that she breaks away from the copy and paste of other ya fantasy plots for the second book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a honest review.