Powerless by Lauren Roberts
4-star review by Siclyana, 11th grade
Plot Summary
Pae Gray is ordinary in a world that favors the powerful — the Elites. Everyone else, including her, has to survive on the edges, careful not to be noticed, careful not to die. But when Pae accidentally saves Prince Kai, one of the most powerful Elites, her life flips upside down. She’s pulled into the Purging Trials, where only the gifted are supposed to survive, and she has nothing but her wits. Each step is dangerous, every interaction risky, and every secret could be her undoing. Meanwhile, Kai isn’t just a prince — he’s complicated, frustrating, and somehow, impossible to ignore. Pae has to navigate alliances, enemies, and the pull of feelings she shouldn’t have, all while hiding the truth about herself. The story is full of tension, twists, and moments that make your heart race, but it also slows down just enough to let you feel the weight of every choice and the risk of every step she takes.
Personal Review
I loved Powerless! Pae is so relatable — she’s just a normal girl in a world that’s built to crush people like her, but she’s clever, brave, and doesn’t give up. The way she navigates the trials and schemes of the Elites had me on edge the entire time. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I would survive in her place, and I kept rooting for her no matter what. The romance with Kai was slow but real. They clash, they argue, they frustrate each other, and it’s perfect because it doesn’t feel forced — it grows naturally, even when everything else is chaotic. The twists in the story kept me guessing constantly, and some moments honestly made my stomach drop. The world-building was also incredible — you can feel the danger, the rules, and the differences between the powerful and the powerless in every scene. Overall, this book had everything I love: romance, suspense, action, and a main character who’s actually someone I could picture myself rooting for. I couldn’t put it down, and I finished it thinking about the characters long after I closed the book.
Book Tags
YA fantasy, romance, adventure, survival, enemies-to-lovers, plot twists
Similar Reads
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, The Young Elites by Marie Lu, Legend by Marie Lu
Reckless by Lauren Roberts
4-star review by Anonymous, 7th grade
Plot Summary
In Reckless, the continuation of Powerless, Paedyn Gray is running away. After she kills the king of Ilya, she is a wanted criminal. She flies to the city of Dor, across the Scorches. Meanwhile, Kai, the Enforcer and her main love interest, is sent after her into the Scorches to attempt to capture her. He eventually succeeds, and their journey back to Ilya is full of tense scenes where they are trying to forget the fact that Paedyn will soon be executed. Eventually, they acknowledge their love for each other, with Kai choosing his duty and loyalty to his brother, King Kitt, over his love for Paedyn.
Personal Review
I think this book was really good. While I felt it wasn’t as good as the previous book, Powerless, Lauren Roberts gives this book a unique twist, with Kai trying to figure out his loyalties with Paedyn constantly with him. I really appreciated the bickering dialogue, and the tense escape scenes that left me on the edge of my seat. This book was very exciting.
Book Tags
Female protagonist, romance, fantasy, enemies to lovers
Similar Reads
Glass Sword, Nightbane, Catching Fire
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
5-star review by Anonymous, 8th grade
Plot Summary
Percy Jackson is a 12-year-old with dyslexia and ADHD who discovers he’s actually a demigod and the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. After his math teacher turns into a monster and his mom disappears, he heads to Camp Half-Blood for safety. He gets blamed for stealing Zeus’s master lightning bolt, which is a huge deal because gods aren't supposed to fight. Percy, along with his friends Annabeth Gomez, daughter of Athena and Grover Underwood, a satyr, goes on a quest across America to find the real thief, save his mom from the Underworld, and stop a war between the gods. Along the way, they fight monsters like Medusa and the Minotaur. It turns out Ares, the god of war, was tricked, and the bolt was actually stolen by Luke, a camper at camp working for the evil Titan Kronos. Percy returns the bolt and saves the day.
Personal Review
The Lightning Thief is one of my favorite books because it makes ancient Greek mythology feel super cool and modern. The way Rick Riordan mixes myths with modern-day America, like having Olympus on top of the Empire State Building, is inventive and hilarious. I really relate to Percy because he is a 12-year-old dealing with dyslexia and ADHD, but the book flips this by showing his challenges are actually demigod traits, which is really empowering. The story is fast paced and action packed, featuring monster battles that turn to dust and daring quests, so I never get bored. Percy’s snarky, conversational narration makes him charming and keeps the tone light, even when the stakes are high. Furthermore, the friendship between Percy, Annabeth, and Grover is solid; they work together as a great team, which is a big part of why I enjoy the series. It is a fun adventure that balances humor, relatable characters, and exciting, high-stakes action perfectly. It makes you feel like a magical adventure could happen to anyone.
Book Tags
funny, suspense, fantasy, Greek mythology
Similar Reads
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan