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 32 parent reviews
Parents say the book is generally well-received, with many praising its strong female lead and engaging plot, likening it to popular titles like the Hunger Games while pointing out its clean romantic elements and lack of explicit content. However, some reviewers noted concerns about violence and swearing, suggesting it may be more suited for mature readers aged 12 and up rather than younger ones.
- strong female lead
- engaging plot
- clean romance
- mature content
- suitable age 12+
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 163 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a captivating blend of romance and fantasy, with a strong focus on character development and emotional journeys, although it bears some similarities to other popular series. Many reviews highlight the absence of explicit content, the prominent violence, and the tension-filled relationships, while some readers express concern over its repetitiveness and violence; nevertheless, it remains a highly recommended read for young adults.
- enthralling characters
- appealing romance
- notable violence
- YA fantasy
- minimal explicit content
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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