Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Blood-soaked romantic fantasy lacks originality.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 37 parent reviews
Parents say that this book is a captivating fantasy adventure, often compared to the Hunger Games, featuring strong character development and engaging plots that resonate with young readers. While some reviews caution about the presence of violence and mature themes, many parents find it appropriate for tweens who can handle such content and appreciate the positive messages about bravery and moral values throughout the story.
- fantasy adventure
- character development
- appropriate for tweens
- strong female lead
- engaging plot
Summarized with AI
Based on 178 kid reviews
Kids say the book has received mixed reviews, with some praising its strong female lead and engaging plot, while others criticize it for themes of incest and unoriginality, likening it too closely to popular series like The Hunger Games. Many readers appreciate the romantic elements and action, deeming it appropriate for mature young teens despite instances of violence and mild swearing.
- strong female lead
- romance elements
- mixed originality
- violent themes
- appropriate for teens
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In POWERLESS, Paedyn has been living on the streets of Loot, a slum of Ilya, since she was 13 and knows how to steal and take care of herself. When her latest victim, a handsome stranger with way too much cash on him, gets ambushed and nearly killed by men with dangerous magic, she steps in and settles things with her fists. It's a huge mistake, she soon finds out. Not only has she saved Prince Kai, the king's dangerous Enforcer, but now she's known to everyone in Loot and voted as their representative in the annual Purging Trials. When she arrives at the castle to compete, she has two things on her mind: she wants desperately to survive, and no one must find out that she's a non-magical Ordinary because only those with magic abilities in Ilya are allowed to live.
Is It Any Good?
While this story works okay as a star-crossed romance, it falls flat as a fantasy, borrowing too much from popular tales and going for gore over substance. What works is that Kai and Paedyn are opposites, that they are in impossible situations together, and forced to come together under duress in some dramatic scenes. It follows the formula well and entertains. But speaking of formula, these Purging Trials are way too much like the Hunger Games -- right down to the resistance element waiting in the wings. And the last trial is the last task in the Triwizard Tournament from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: the mazes move and everything. The biggest difference is that when people die in these trials, it's not for any reason other than entertainment for the crowd or one of the contestants got so mad at another contestant they decided to kill them, and oh well. There's some gravitas missing there. Also missing sometimes: a sense of what's in the scene beyond the mooning main characters. During one trial in the woods, Kai and Paedyn fall asleep next to each other after nursing each other's injuries. Well done on the romance front, but hello? They are in front of a campfire with bloodthirsty contestants out in the woods somewhere that could sneak up at any moment. And neither one of them thought to keep watch. Here's hoping that in upcoming installments the author shows more vigilance and originality in her fantasy elements.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about all the blood spilled in Powerless. If you know many characters can be magically healed, does it make it seem less violent? Kai reminds readers often that he's trained to kill as his job and is desensitized to violence. Does it make the violence seem less to you as well? Or is it ever too much?
Could they have had the Purging Trials without deaths, even though bloodshed and death seem to be what the crowd wants? What other books have you read with arena-style fighting and deadly contests? Who usually prevails?
Paedyn often shows courage, especially since she's the only one fighting without magical powers. She also often acts out of rage and revenge. Is she a character you'll continue to root for in the rest of the series?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : November 7, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 528
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : January 22, 2026
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