Powerless by Lauren Roberts: Spicy Chapters, Reviews & Free Download
Story Summary
Powerless by Lauren Roberts is the first book in The Powerless Trilogy, a fantasy romance set in the divided world of Ilya — where people are defined by power or the lack of it.
Paedyn Gray, a cunning young woman without abilities, survives by pretending to be one of the Elites — those gifted with supernatural powers. Living on the fringes of the kingdom, she survives through wit, disguise, and deception. Her secret life shatters when she saves the crown prince, Kai, during an attack — revealing herself to him and setting off a dangerous chain of events.
Soon, Paedyn is thrust into the deadly Purging Trials, where the powerless rarely survive. As she fights to stay alive, her connection with Kai deepens from suspicion to something far more dangerous — a forbidden love that could destroy them both.
Powerless combines action, romance, and rebellion, delivering an addictive enemies-to-lovers fantasy full of tension and high stakes.
Main Characters
Paedyn Gray
Age: 19
Ethnicity: Ilyan (human)
Hair Color: Silver-blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Identity: Psychic pretender / thief
Sharp, fearless, and used to lying her way through life — Paedyn’s greatest power is surviving in a world designed to kill her.
Kai
Age: 21
Ethnicity: Ilyan (Elite)
Hair Color: Dark brown
Eye Color: Gold
Identity: Crown Prince of Ilya
Disciplined, guarded, and duty-bound — Kai lives by control, until Paedyn makes him question everything he’s been taught.
Every Spicy Chapter – Breakdown & Highlights
Binge Smut with Visuals on SHORTBREAD
Love Powerless? Watch smut brought to life on Shortbread, just like TV shows.
Lauren Roberts weaves tension and heat throughout Powerless, balancing emotional vulnerability with slow-burn attraction. The romance builds gradually through danger, competition, and undeniable chemistry.
Chapter 27 – The Kiss in the Arena
After a brutal round in the Trials, Paedyn and Kai find themselves alone in the shadows of the training grounds. The exhaustion and adrenaline finally crack their restraint. Kai steps close, their rivalry forgotten for one heartbeat as he kisses her — fierce and desperate.
“He kissed me like he hated himself for wanting to.”
Chapter 34 – The Campfire Scene
After barely escaping an ambush, Paedyn and Kai huddle close by the fire. Their playful teasing turns into something more relaxed, and when he tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she stays put. The kiss that comes next is slow, filled with warmth and a bit of hesitation.
“The world went still, his hand on my cheek like I was something worth keeping.”
Chapter 38 – The Night in the Tent
Things heat up when Kai and Paedyn finally stop acting like their bond doesn’t mean anything. The moment hints at what's happening without showing everything, but it clearly shows their connection — trust that’s built in quiet moments and shared breaths.
“His touch was careful, reverent, like he was afraid I’d vanish.”
Chapter 41 – The Morning After
They wake tangled together before the storm of betrayal and chaos returns. The peace doesn’t last, but the memory lingers between them — the line between love and survival now permanently blurred.
“He smiled, soft and tired, and for the first time, I let myself believe he meant it.”
Goodreads Reader Reactions
Powerless has become a viral hit in the romantasy community, holding an average 4.3-star rating on Goodreads. Readers praise its blend of tension, worldbuilding, and emotion — calling it “a mix of The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing, but with a sharper edge.”
Positive Reactions:
“Paedyn is fierce, clever, and so real. I loved her inner strength.”
“Kai is the perfect brooding prince — the kind you want to hate but can’t.”
“The spice is slow-burn perfection. The tension kept me hooked.”
Critical Reactions:
“The worldbuilding takes time to click, but the romance more than makes up for it.”
“It ends on a cliffhanger — and now I desperately need book two.”
Overall:
Readers call it “an emotional, high-stakes enemies-to-lovers fantasy that burns slow but hits hard.”
“It’s about finding power in the one thing you were never supposed to have — choice.”
Related Books – The Powerless Trilogy
Binge Smut with Visuals on SHORTBREAD
Love Powerless? Watch smut brought to life on Shortbread, just like TV shows.
Lauren Roberts has confirmed that Powerless is the first installment in a planned trilogy that follows Paedyn and Kai through war, rebellion, and love.
1️⃣ Powerless (2023)
Paedyn hides her lack of power, finds love where she shouldn’t, and starts a revolution she can’t control.
2️⃣ Reckless (2025, upcoming)
The second book in the trilogy — set to release in 2025 — will pick up after the devastating events of Powerless.
(A third book is planned, completing the trilogy, though its title has not been announced.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the book Powerless about?
A powerless thief, Paedyn Gray, pretends to be an Elite in a kingdom ruled by the gifted. When she’s thrown into deadly Trials alongside Prince Kai, survival turns into something much more complicated — love.
Q: What is the second book in the Powerless series?
Reckless, set to release in 2025.
Q: What is the first book in the Powerless series?
Powerless is the first book.
Q: When did Powerless book come out?
It was released on June 27, 2023.
Q: What type of book is Powerless?
It’s a romantasy — a fantasy romance with strong dystopian and enemies-to-lovers elements.
Q: When is the next Powerless book coming out?
Reckless is expected to release in 2025.