I wasn’t expecting much from this book when I picked it up at a local bookshop cafe. I had finished the Book – Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries and had ordered book 2 and 3 of said series, so while waiting, I needed something to keep my reading momentum going. Powerless felt like a temporary read at first, something to fill the gap – but that was clearly not the case!
After a few pages in, I was reminded of The Hunger Games. The Slums, the tension, the unfair divide.
The first person narration pulled me in quick.
But what REALLY hooked me in was the tension between Pae and Kai – the kind of slow burn frustration that I love.
Strong feelings of both DENIAL and LOVE that had me gripping this book so much!
A divided World
In Ilya, there’s a divide between Elites and Ordinaries.
The “Plague” was a “sickness” that came about in Ilya which enhanced features of selected Ilyan’s, which gave them “Powers” – calling themselves Elite’s – while those who lived yet weren’t “blessed” with powers were labelled as Ordinaries.
In the past, Elite’s and ordinaries lived together peacefully – ’till a King had claimed that Ordinaries were a sickness to Elite’s and only wanted to keep Elite’s in Ilya.
Because of the king’s paranoia, Ordinaries were hunted.
For Ordinaries, It’s survival through hiding, lying and keeping your head down.
Pae and Her Strength
Pae was a force to be reckoned with.
After losing her father, she grew up in the slums with her new found Family – Adena.
Pae was an ordinary. No powers. No special status. Just instinct, intelligence and the ability to read danger quickly.
To survive in the Slums, she would thieve around for food while Adena would sell Fabric and make clothes.
One thing that did make me wonder was Pae’s gray hair. Though it wasn’t uncommon for Ordinaries to have colored hair too – but it made me wonder if this was anything significant. Though Pae’s life was anything but grand, she knew what she was doing and how to live it, despite everything about her feeling like someone fighting to live in a world built to crush her.
Kai and His Conflict
Kai was introduced in a way that stirred internal conflict in me.
I felt HE was the Main character and up ’till when he was asked to “take care” of a certain ordinary, I thought he’d be completely ruthless. But I was glad he showed a “human” side to him. Otherwise, I don’t know how I’d feel about a completely ruthless Male Main Character.
His power being “The only one” in all of Ilya felt… intentional – to which I later confirmed that it was.
Kai was brought up to be “ruthless” to be “unforgiving” and to be a “tool” for the kingdom – a tool to keep everything the King wants to be, so Kai has a pretty high count of deaths he’s responsible for.
But HE had hesitation. And that hesitation allowed me to see him differently.
His power, which allows him to wield all other powers, was feared by everyone – but the secret also lies in being around Ordinaries – where he is actually powerless (with the lack of power to wield from).
An irony to what he is and what he was made to be and do.
The Trials and the Pain That Comes With Them
Powerless covers the first full set of trials – dangerous, messy and brutal.
Built for the purpose of “killing” for entertainment, and an avenue to get rid of Ordinaries (somehow), the cliche still holds true though – that love blooms in adversary – and THAT is what allowed us to see how Pai and Kae truly bonded and how they “can” bond. Although, albeit – trauma bonding.
The relationship between Pae and Kai during the trials was one of my favorite parts. The trust. The care. The silent choices they made for each other. It felt heavy in the best way.
A Story About Oppression and Connection
This book was not just about powers.
It was about the weight of being powerless.
It was about survival and identity and the fear of being discovered.
Two people who should have been enemies.
Yet they collided in a way that felt tragic and beautiful.
Hunted. Hunter. Destined for each other – damn I love that.
The ending got me… almost heartbroken.
Final Thoughts
Powerless surprised me. I went in expecting a placeholder read. Instead, I got a story filled with tension, danger, raw emotions and a romance that pushed and pulled me in all the right ways.
The world is unfair.
The characters are flawed.
The stakes feel painfully real.
And mannn did I go into Reckless with urgency! (Yes I read Reckless IMMEDIATELY after finishing Powerless).