Lauren Roberts is a New York Times best-selling author. She is known for her Trilogy and novellas. The Powerless Trilogy is a young adult fantasy series first published in 2023. The books are shown from a dual point of view, following the main characters, Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer. The book focuses on forbidden love between characters while competing annually in the Purging Trials organized by the kingdom, Ilya, to determine the “Elite.” Coming from completely different worlds, Kai and Paedyn must decide whether love is worth risking everything they’ve ever known.
Powerless (Book 1 – Nov 2023): Introduces Paedyn Gray, an “Ordinary” faking her status in the kingdom of Ilya, a kingdom known for only allowing the powerful. Paedyn falls for the enforcer, Prince Kai, who is to kill all “Ordinaries.” Powerful a powerless story (novella #1- April 2024): follows Adena, Payden’s best friend, and her perspective of Paedyn’s story while also following her love story with Mak. Reckless (Book 2 -April 2024): Continues the story of Paedyn and Kai following the event of the purging trials. Kai and Paedyn’s relationship is highlighted in this book. Fearless (Book 3) April 2025- follows Paedyn and Kai fighting on doing what is right for their kingdom, but also what is right for what they are feeling for one another. Fearful a powerless story (novella #2- September 2025) explores the tragic, intimate relationship between Mara, who is a personification of Death, and the Crown Prince Kitt Azer.
The covers of each book are designed with a dark aesthetic that reflects the story’s high-stakes, dystopian nature, while incorporating “Easter eggs” from the plot, such as the flowers on the covers being different colors. The covers often hint at key scenes or upcoming plot elements, such as hidden objects or thematic imagery that represent what happens in that book.
“Each cover is so on brand with the contents of the book. There are also special editions which I own that I find gorgeous,” said senior Olivia Turner. “They are definitely one of my most gorgeous books.”
Powerless starts off with Payden Gray’s perspective on how her life is living in the slums. We meet her best friend, Adena, and understand that they grew up together after the death of Payden’s father. Throughout the books, we see that Payden and Adena’s friendship is deeper than surface level because they have been through so much. We also see Payden fighting for her morals and what she believes is better for the kingdom. She eventually falls in love with Prince Kai Azer. Payden has to decide if loving him is worth giving up her plans she saw for the kingdom.
“Paedyn Gray is my favorite character. It is honestly so inspiring to see her devotion to the people she loves and her ability to remain confident even when the odds are stacked against her,” said Turner.
Following Payden, the book shows Kai’s Azer perspective and how life living in a palace is not as great as it is deemed to be. Kai is second to his brother Kitt on the throne. Kai was raised to be the Enforcer of the kingdom by his father, the King, who protects the kingdom from all threats. We see Kai’s battle with hating what he does, but also thinking he has no other choice because that is what he was born to do. Kai falls in love with Payden and realizes that loving Payden goes against everything he was born to do for his kingdom.
“My favorite was the first book, Powerless,” said senior Ava Saunders. “I loved Kai because he’s charming, and I hated the king.”
Later in the series, starting with the book Reckless, we see Kitt Azer’s point of view. Kitt was born to be the future king of Ilya. In Reckless Kitt tries to find peace with the betrayal he felt over the events that happened in book one, Powerless.
“I think my least favorite character is Kitt, specifically at the end of book two, I feel like the way he started acting was not only annoying but also out of character,” said Turner. “Kitt’s dad is my least favorite character, but that is a given to all who read the book. He is hateful and a liar, and he tears down everyone he comes into contact with like it is nothing.”
Personally, my favorite book of the series is the first book, Powerless, because of its overall plot line, and it truly starts the whole series on what it is about. The action in the book, the love story scene between Kai and Paedyn, and the fact that there are real problems in their relationship, they did not have to deal with until book two, Reckless. This book highlighted their relationship growing and the trials they have been completing, and when it came to the other books, this one tops them all.
Although I believe the book is beautifully written, there are some writing flaws I did not like in Roberts. She tried to make each character seem redeemable. I believe some characters are meant to be hated and have tragic stories. She added chapters from outside characters’ points of view, like Kitt and the King, Kai and Kitt’s father, that I deem as boring or unnecessary to the plot. They came at the most random times and didn’t fit into the storyline.
Roberts has been accused of plagiarizing the Red Queen books that came out in 2018, with the Powerless series that came out in 2023, with proof of both books having a lot of similarities. Although the book is protected by copyright and is actively licensed, readers who have read both series believe Roberts should get sued and does not deserve the praise her books have been getting.
“Despite how much I enjoy and like the books, I really have to separate it from Red Queen, The Hunger Games, Shatter Me, [and more] to really appreciate Powerless to the fullest, as someone who has read all these books, the similarities between Powerless and Red Queen are hard to ignore,” said Turner. “They follow a strong main character, a love triangle between brothers, a “Hunger Games” like trial. Some of my favorite scenes from Shatter Me were copy and pasted into Powerless, and it honestly frustrated me so much. Although Powerless is a masterpiece in its own way, it’s hard to ignore that Powerless wasn’t done by one singular author but a collage of numerous fantasy books compacted into a singular book.”
The series is to be adapted into a show with Amazon MGM on Prime Video. The leader on this project is Daphne Ferraro, also known from his hit show on Prime Video, Maxton Hall. The project is currently in its early stages of development and has no official release date.
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