Published: 2023
Series: Powerless Trilogy #1
Author: Lauren Roberts
Genres: YA Fantasy, Romance, Dystopian
Audience: Grade 9–Adult (Mature Middle School)
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Powerless
Content Warnings: Violence, survival themes, and systemic inequality.
Publisher’s Summary
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Readers’ Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2023)
She is the very thing he’s spent his whole life hunting. He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be. 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.
Full Review
When I read Powerless by Lauren Roberts, I kept thinking about how many students would connect with this story. The book takes place in a world where people are divided by whether or not they have powers; if you don’t, you’re considered weak and disposable. The main character, Paedyn Gray, is powerless and spends her life trying to survive by hiding who she really is.
What really stuck with me was the theme of not belonging—something very relatable to adolescents. Paedyn is constantly watching what she says and how she acts, a pressure that reminded me of students who feel they must “mask” parts of themselves to fit in or stay safe. From a counselor’s point of view, the themes of identity and survival really stand out. There’s also a strong “enemies-to-lovers” storyline that will pull in teen readers, but the emotional depth is what gives the book its strength.
The cover is dramatic and eye-catching, and I think many teens would grab it off the shelf based on that alone. I would recommend this to high school students and mature middle schoolers who enjoy fantasy and romance. It’s a book where students will not only enjoy the plot but also see pieces of themselves in the characters.
🎒 Classroom & Counseling Connections
- Social Studies (Social Systems): Discuss the “King’s Decree.” How do societies justify the banishment of specific groups? Compare the “Purging Trials” to historical examples of using spectacle to maintain power.
- Counseling (Identity & Fairness): Use Paedyn’s internal monologue to discuss the “pressure to perform.” Ask students: What parts of ourselves do we feel we have to hide to stay safe in certain environments?
- ELA (Archetypes): Analyze the “Enemies-to-Lovers” trope. How does the conflict between Paedyn (the hunted) and the Prince (the hunter) create narrative tension?
- Decision-Making: Have students engage in a “Purging Trials” scenario. If you had no magic, what intellectual or physical skills would you rely on to survive a high-pressure situation?
