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Powerful: A Powerless Story Kindle Edition


#1 New York Times Bestseller

Set during the time of the New York Times bestseller Powerless, fan favorite Adena gets a story all her own in this captivating novella as she attempts to survive on the streets of Lootā€¦and falls for a mysteriousā€”and dangerousā€”Elite.

Adena and Paedyn have always been inseparable. Fate brought them together when they were young, but friendship ensured they would always protect each other and the home they built in the slums of Loot. But now Paedynā€”an Ordinaryā€”has been selected for the Purging Trials, which means almost certain death.

Now alone in Loot, Adena must fend for herself. After attempting to steal, sheā€™s rescued by a mysterious man from the market. Makā€™s shadowy past and secretive power set him apart from the other low-level Elites of Loot. And as the pair team up to see their loved ones before the Trials, the quest tests their loyalty, their love, and their lives.

This novella also includes a special extended teaser to Recklessā€”the exciting sequel to Powerless!

Get to know this book


From the Publisher

powerless/powerful/reckless
lauren roberts 2

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

When Lauren Roberts isnā€™t writing about fantasy worlds and bantering love interests, she can likely be found burrowed in bed reading about them. Lauren has lived in Michigan her whole life, making her very familiar with potholes, snow, and various lake activities. She has the hobbies of both a grandmother and a child, i.e., knitting, laser tag, hammocking, word searches, and coloring. Sheā€™s the author of Powerless, and she hopes to have the privilege of writing pretty words for the rest of her life. If you enjoy ranting, reading, and writing, Lauren can be found on both TikTok and Instagram @LaurenRobertsLibrary for your entertainment.

Excerpt. Ā© Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1: Makoto

CHAPTER 1 Makoto
Her name is on a list of the dead.

I squint in the stinging sunlight, scrutinizing every name inked onto the banner. Hers sits among the eight others, likely overlooked beneath the princeā€™s crowning the top. But despite being on the list, our future Enforcer will easily evade the death awaiting the other contestants. Because these Trials were made for Elites like him. Not Elites like her.

My eyes skim over the list once again, recognizing no other names. Iā€™ve never been one to keep up with what Elites manage to wrangle enough relevance to make it into the Trials.

A shoulder collides with mine, followed by several other limbs pushing against me. Loot is swimming with sticky bodies and echoing shouts of celebration, further adding to the list of reasons why I would rather be anywhere else but the slums of Ilya. Itā€™s a struggle to push my way through the crowded street, every inch of it crawling with ignorance incarnate. Every inch cheering for each contestant they chose to represent Loot.

I push through the crowd, ignoring their celebrations.

They have done nothing more than send Mundanes and Defensive Elites to their deaths.

And she is one of them.

But it should be me. Me who dies brutally. Dies alone. Dies at all.

Chants in honor of the sixth ever Purging Trials ring in my ears, each word a reminder of what Iā€™ve doneā€”nothing.

Iā€™ve spent my whole life huddling in her shadow, hiding from life itself. And now she has been chosen simply because she did nothing of the sort. The people knew her, loved the street magic she performed as a Veil. And yet, they sentence her to death under the guise of honor.

She is a Defensive. Therefore, she is dead.

And I need to find her.

My hands are still streaked with coal dust, leathers clinging to my sweaty body as though Iā€™m still hammering steel over a scalding fire. I had worked through the night and was continuing still when the commotion managed to drag me from the shop.

I should have gone to see her last night. Should have been there when she found out.

And now Iā€™m shoving through a sea of people, attempting to find her before itā€™s too late. I scan the packed street, catching sight of a coach rumbling toward the end of it. It screeches to a halt, the horses nearly as impatient as the drivers eager to escape the slums.

I sure as hell know how that feels.

Iā€™m shoved forward when the congested crowd begins flocking toward the coach, crowding it as though theyā€™re offering free rides out of this shithole. Begrudgingly, I allow myself to be swept forward, managing to catch a glimpse of her climbing inside.

An Imperial ushers her up the step, and in typical Hera fashion, she shyly thanks him as though heā€™s not escorting her to her doom. Her sleek black hair is the last thing I see before sheā€™s swallowed by the four walls, sitting in the belly of the coach.

The world seems to quiet, slow its spinning with each shaky breath I manage.

I didnā€™t get to say goodbye.

My thumb finds the scar cutting crookedly through my lips, tracing it like I had the day my life truly became a secret. A familiar numbness begins to bleed over my body, bathing every bit of me in bitterness.

Iā€™m about to turn away, unable to watch her be paraded toward her death.

Thatā€™s when a flash of silver catches my eye.

I peer over the dozens of heads dotting the street, watch her walk toward the coach with hair that tells me all I need to know.

So, this is the famous Silver Savior.

Word of her saving Prince Kai managed to reach even my earsā€”evidence of how significant sheā€™s become among the slums. Perhaps Iā€™m a skeptic, or simply the only logical person living in the vicinity, but Iā€™m not entirely convinced by her battle with a Silencer. A battle that the future Enforcer himself couldnā€™t win.

And I know exactly what itā€™s like to be in Kaiā€™s shoes.

Iā€™m watching her climb into the coach when a hopping figure captures my attention. Dark curls bounce with each attempt to see over the crowd. Her hands are raised, waving haphazardly at the Silver Savior. Sheā€™s shouting something that looks quite heartfelt, likely a wasted goodbye that will never be heard.

I lean over a pair of young women who are chanting terribly off-key to the rest of the street. Squinting, I struggle to scan the girlā€™s face with how persistently sheā€™s bouncing. Something about her seems faintly familiar, as though this isnā€™t the first time Iā€™ve been graced by the presence of her perpetual perkiness.

I roll my eyes when recognition rams into me.

Oh, I know exactly who this is. In fact, I believe she even made it onto my ever-growing list of reasons to never leave my shop.

I was buying supplies from a merchant who was just as eager to take my money as I was to retreat back into my glorified shed. It was with a bundle of leather tucked beneath my arm and a severe lack of pep in my step that I heard the most absurdly bubbly sales pitch.

And thatā€™s when I saw her, curly hair bouncing with each energetic bob of her head. A plethora of clothing piled around her while she described what is commonly known as a blue shirt with about a dozen more words than necessary.

I may have said a thing or two, though the details of our conversation were hardly interesting enough for me to waste time recalling now.

That was several weeks ago now, but there is no mistaking that the girl currently waving a crazed set of hands down the street is the same seamstress who sells on the corner of an alley.

And sheā€™s a Phaser. I know that much about her. Well, that, and her astounding ability to never tire of talking.

I watch her blow kisses to the Silver Savior, so many that I brace myself to witness her faint. But she does nothing of the sort, leaving me to continue watching the endearing embodiment of her affections for this girl.

There is no mistaking the sincerity in each flailing wave and shouted sentiment. This seamstress knows the Silver Savior, and quite personally by the looks of it. Likely enough to do just about anything for her.

My mind races recklessly, scheming. A horribly impulsive plan begins to form, one that should likely never leave the confines of my mind, let alone be executed at all.

But this just might work.

That is typically what one thinks right before everything goes to shit.

Then again, one might argue that things couldnā€™t possibly get any shittier.

Product details

  • ASIN ā€ : ā€Ž B0CRS5PN3P
  • Publisher ā€ : ā€Ž Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (April 30, 2024)
  • Publication date ā€ : ā€Ž April 30, 2024
  • Language ā€ : ā€Ž English
  • File size ā€ : ā€Ž 4758 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ā€ : ā€Ž Enabled
  • Screen Reader ā€ : ā€Ž Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ā€ : ā€Ž Enabled
  • X-Ray ā€ : ā€Ž Enabled
  • Word Wise ā€ : ā€Ž Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ā€ : ā€Ž On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ā€ : ā€Ž 252 pages
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Lauren Roberts
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When Lauren isnā€™t writing about fantasy worlds and bantering love interests, she can likely be found burrowed in bed reading about them. Lauren has lived in Michigan her whole life, making her very familiar with potholes, snow, and various lake activities. She has the

hobbies of both a grandmother and a child, i.e., knitting, laser tag, hammocking, word searches, and coloring. Powerless is her debut novel, and she hopes to have the privilege of writing pretty words for the rest of her life. If you enjoy ranting, reading, and writing, Lauren can be found on both TikTok and Instagram @Laurens1ibrary for your entertainment.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
3,949 global ratings

Customers say

Customers say the author creates a story in their mind with the details and heartbreaking storyline. They also appreciate the awesome imagery and loveable characters.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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16 customers mention "Storyline"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the storyline to be very emotional, with a twisty love story. They also appreciate the solid side story and the dynamic between the characters.

"Lots of awesome imagery. Banner between characters. Twisted almost love story. Betrayal. Heartbreak. Violence. Lots of violence...." Read more

"Powerful by Lauren Roberts is good, but heartbreaking. I didnā€™t like knowing what was going to happen and grumpy/sunshine is my least favorite trope." Read more

"This was so beautifully heartbreaking...." Read more

"...Itā€™s a cute little book and it will break your heart! Loved it!" Read more

9 customers mention "Characters"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters cute, beautiful, and pure of heart. They also describe the book as cozy and romantic.

"Lots of awesome imagery. Banner between characters. Twisted almost love story. Betrayal. Heartbreak. Violence. Lots of violence...." Read more

"Adena is the literal sunshine! She is sweet and so pure of heart. I just loved everything about her!..." Read more

"...felt a bit too quick in the beginning but ended up being such a cute love story...." Read more

"...Itā€™s a cute little book and it will break your heart! Loved it!" Read more

3 customers mention "Imagery"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the imagery in the book awesome.

"Lots of awesome imagery. Banner between characters. Twisted almost love story. Betrayal. Heartbreak. Violence. Lots of violence...." Read more

"...not want to finish the book because I knew what was coming but it was so beautiful" Read more

"...The authors use of imagery and description made me never want to put the book down...." Read more

Fantastic! Must read series!
5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic! Must read series!
Adena, Pae's best friend, takes center stage as she navigates survival after Paedyn is selected for the deadly Purging Trials. Left to fend for herself, Adena's life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Mak, a mysterious and dangerous Elite with a secretive past.Their journey to reunite with their loved ones before the Trials is filled with danger and hidden passion, testing their loyalty, love, and resilience. This is a fantastic companion novel and is so gripping from the very first page. The relationship between Mak and Adena is so beautifully written, and I'm left broken and angry at how short their love is. I bawled my eyes out, even knowing what to expect in the end.š“¢š“®š“® š”‚š“øš“¾ š“²š“· š“½š“±š“® š“¼š“½š“Ŗš“»š“¼.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
Lots of awesome imagery. Banner between characters. Twisted almost love story. Betrayal. Heartbreak. Violence. Lots of violence.
Overall amazing book. Reminds me of hunger games movies.
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2024
I loved this story almost more than I loved powerless. This book gave you all the feels and some important background information that I think is going to be useful to know for the next book.
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2024
Adena is the literal sunshine! She is sweet and so pure of heart. I just loved everything about her!
Powerful is a quick novella that follows along with Powerless, showing what happens to Adena once Paedyn is gone for the Purging Trials. Adena meets Mak and they come up with a plan to get into the castle. Mak is grumpy and sarcastic, but he doesnā€™t kill Adenaā€™s sunshiny dementor. These two have the sweetest banter!
This book made me want to giggle, swoon, cry and throw it across the room! So many emotions in so little time, truly this book is on The Assassinā€™s Blade level for me with all the rawest of emotions.

Mak and Adena will forever have a piece of my heart.

Favorite quotes: ā€œSelf-serving.ā€ ā€œPaired with the occasional self-loathing.ā€

ā€œAnd I know that Iā€™m the fighter, and youā€™re the lover.ā€

ā€œBut youā€¦ youā€™re the embodiment of everything I am not. And yet, here I am, crawling back to you as though Iā€™ve left a piece of myself behind.ā€

ā€œYou are the sweetest thing I have never tasted.ā€ ā€œAnd I doubt Iā€™ve craved anything more.ā€

ā€œI think youā€™re my little piece of perfection.ā€

ā€œSee you in the sky.ā€

āœØGrumpy x Sunshine
āœØForced Proximity
āœØSlow Burn
āœØDual POV
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2024
Powerful by Lauren Roberts is good, but heartbreaking. I didnā€™t like knowing what was going to happen and grumpy/sunshine is my least favorite trope.
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024
This was so beautifully heartbreaking. It was much more emotional to read the events that had unfolded at the end of Powerless in Adena and Makā€™s POVs. šŸ˜­šŸ˜­
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2024
Welp I just had my heart stomped on againā€¦ I knew I shouldnā€™t have read this book but at the same time I love this series, so I knew I had to eventually. This love story felt a bit too quick in the beginning but ended up being such a cute love story. But of course in the end, my heart got broken even more, now that I got to read more about Adena. And now that I started to root for Mak and her love story even if I knew how things would end. Iā€™m praying that we get to see more from Mak in the next book(s) because now Iā€™d really love to hear more from him after this tragedy. Iā€™m so mad at Lauren for making me experience this soul crushing ending again, but I also love how connected Iā€™ve become to these characters and this story. Now time to go cry some more.. lol
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2024
I usually donā€™t like novella books but this book was amazing. Itā€™s a cute little book and it will break your heart! Loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2024
Adena, Pae's best friend, takes center stage as she navigates survival after Paedyn is selected for the deadly Purging Trials. Left to fend for herself, Adena's life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Mak, a mysterious and dangerous Elite with a secretive past.

Their journey to reunite with their loved ones before the Trials is filled with danger and hidden passion, testing their loyalty, love, and resilience. This is a fantastic companion novel and is so gripping from the very first page. The relationship between Mak and Adena is so beautifully written, and I'm left broken and angry at how short their love is. I bawled my eyes out, even knowing what to expect in the end.

š“¢š“®š“® š”‚š“øš“¾ š“²š“· š“½š“±š“® š“¼š“½š“Ŗš“»š“¼.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! Must read series!
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2024
Adena, Pae's best friend, takes center stage as she navigates survival after Paedyn is selected for the deadly Purging Trials. Left to fend for herself, Adena's life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Mak, a mysterious and dangerous Elite with a secretive past.

Their journey to reunite with their loved ones before the Trials is filled with danger and hidden passion, testing their loyalty, love, and resilience. This is a fantastic companion novel and is so gripping from the very first page. The relationship between Mak and Adena is so beautifully written, and I'm left broken and angry at how short their love is. I bawled my eyes out, even knowing what to expect in the end.

š“¢š“®š“® š”‚š“øš“¾ š“²š“· š“½š“±š“® š“¼š“½š“Ŗš“»š“¼.
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Top reviews from other countries

Dana
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
Reviewed in Canada on May 11, 2024
ā€œš˜šš˜©š˜¦ š˜“š˜®š˜¦š˜­š˜­š˜“ š˜°š˜§ š˜©š˜°š˜Æš˜¦š˜ŗ, š˜°š˜§ š˜©š˜¢š˜±š˜±š˜Ŗš˜Æš˜¦š˜“š˜“ š˜Ŗš˜Æš˜¤š˜¢š˜³š˜Æš˜¢š˜µš˜¦. š˜ˆš˜Æš˜„ š˜Ŗš˜µ'š˜“ š˜¦š˜Æš˜µš˜Ŗš˜³š˜¦š˜­š˜ŗ š˜µš˜°š˜° š˜„š˜Ŗš˜“š˜µš˜³š˜¢š˜¤š˜µš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø.ā€

Oh my this book!! I loved Adena in Powerless - she is pure sunshine and happiness - an innocence that everyone should have on their lives. This book just brings it so much more forward; her outlook, her positivity, and her almost child like nature - Adena is the internal optimist.

And then you meet Makoto! He is the grumpy to her sunshine, the smiles only for her, the perfect cliche of a couple.

ā€œš˜šš˜©š˜¦ š˜Ŗš˜“ š˜¢š˜Æ š˜Ŗš˜Æš˜µš˜°š˜¹š˜Ŗš˜¤š˜¢š˜µš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø š˜“š˜°š˜³š˜µ š˜°š˜§ š˜¦š˜¹š˜©š˜¢š˜¶š˜“š˜µš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø, š˜­š˜Ŗš˜¬š˜¦ š˜³š˜¶š˜Æš˜Æš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø š˜¶š˜Æš˜µš˜Ŗš˜­ š˜ŗš˜°š˜¶'š˜·š˜¦ š˜­š˜°š˜“š˜µ š˜ŗš˜°š˜¶š˜³ š˜£š˜³š˜¦š˜¢š˜µš˜© š˜£š˜¶š˜µ š˜¦š˜Æš˜«š˜°š˜ŗš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø š˜µš˜©š˜¦ š˜§š˜¦š˜¦š˜­š˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø š˜¢š˜­š˜­ š˜µš˜©š˜¦ š˜øš˜©š˜Ŗš˜­š˜¦. š˜ˆš˜Æš˜„ š˜ š˜§š˜¦š˜¦š˜­ š˜¢š˜“ š˜µš˜©š˜°š˜¶š˜Øš˜© š˜'š˜·š˜¦ š˜£š˜¦š˜¦š˜Æ š˜“š˜±š˜³š˜Ŗš˜Æš˜µš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø š˜§š˜°š˜³ š˜„š˜¢š˜ŗš˜“.
š˜Œš˜·š˜¦š˜Æ š˜øš˜°š˜³š˜“š˜¦, š˜ š˜§š˜¦š˜¢š˜³ š˜µš˜©š˜¢š˜µ š˜ š˜¢š˜®, š˜Ŗš˜Æ š˜§š˜¢š˜¤š˜µ, š˜£š˜¦š˜Øš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Æš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø š˜µš˜° š˜¦š˜Æš˜«š˜°š˜ŗ š˜©š˜¦š˜³.
š˜žš˜©š˜¢š˜µ š˜¢ š˜µš˜¦š˜³š˜³š˜Ŗš˜§š˜ŗš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø š˜³š˜¦š˜¢š˜­š˜Ŗš˜»š˜¢š˜µš˜Ŗš˜°š˜Æ, š˜µš˜° š˜¢š˜„š˜®š˜Ŗš˜µ š˜°š˜Æš˜¦'š˜“ š˜¢š˜„š˜®š˜Ŗš˜³š˜¢š˜µš˜Ŗš˜°š˜Æ š˜§š˜°š˜³ š˜¢š˜Æš˜°š˜µš˜©š˜¦š˜³.ā€

You know going into this book what the ending will be; but you want to know the why - and you still donā€™t get to know a good enough reason for it happening (although I donā€™t think any reason would have been good enough for that ending)! But the budding love story that got cut short too quickly, Makotoā€™s history and everything he goes through, reliving what Pae went through - UGH! Itā€™s just so unfair!

"š˜ š˜°š˜¶ š˜®š˜¢š˜¬š˜¦ š˜¦š˜·š˜¦š˜Æ š˜µš˜©š˜¦ š˜“š˜µš˜¢š˜³š˜“ š˜¦š˜Æš˜·š˜Ŗš˜°š˜¶š˜“," š˜ š˜³š˜¦š˜±š˜¦š˜¢š˜µ š˜“š˜°š˜§š˜µš˜­š˜ŗ, š˜­š˜¦š˜¢š˜Æš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø š˜µš˜°š˜øš˜¢š˜³š˜„ š˜©š˜¦š˜³. "š˜‰š˜¦š˜¤š˜¢š˜¶š˜“š˜¦ š˜°š˜Æš˜¦ š˜„š˜¢š˜ŗā€”š˜§š˜¢š˜³ š˜§š˜³š˜°š˜® š˜Æš˜°š˜øā€” š˜ŗš˜°š˜¶ š˜øš˜Ŗš˜­š˜­ š˜£š˜¦ ļæ½ļ潚˜± š˜µš˜©š˜¦š˜³š˜¦ š˜£š˜¦š˜“š˜Ŗš˜„š˜¦ š˜µš˜©š˜¦š˜®, š˜°š˜¶š˜µš˜“š˜©š˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Ø š˜¦š˜·š˜¦š˜³š˜ŗ š˜“š˜Ŗš˜Æš˜Øš˜­š˜¦ š˜°š˜Æš˜¦."

I am excited for Mak in the next book and how he will help Pae; I mean we donā€™t know thatā€¦ but we know he will help her right??

ā€œš‘«š’†š’‚š’•š’‰ š’Šš’” š’ˆš’†š’š’•š’š’† š’Šš’ š’‚ š’˜š’‚š’š š’š’Šļæ½ļæ½ļ潚’† š’š’†š’—š’†š’“ š’˜š’‚š’”.ā€
Aleinn
5.0 out of 5 stars Adena and Mak šŸ˜­
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2024
I'm sobbing rn but its such a good book
Urvashi kaushik
5.0 out of 5 stars BeautifulšŸ¤
Reviewed in India on July 7, 2024
I canā€™t wait to read it!! The book came in excellent condition with great packaging! Thank you amazon!!šŸ’•
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Urvashi kaushik
5.0 out of 5 stars BeautifulšŸ¤
Reviewed in India on July 7, 2024
I canā€™t wait to read it!! The book came in excellent condition with great packaging! Thank you amazon!!šŸ’•
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Tikiribooks
5.0 out of 5 stars When you know it'll hurt but you still go for it...
Reviewed in France on June 24, 2024
Lauren Roberts knows how to give a slowburn, an addictive tension, a beautiful writing even when we already know how it's gonna end.
It was perfect. I fell hard for Adena and Mak. šŸ„ŗšŸ˜­
EstƩe
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZINGG!!
Reviewed in the Netherlands on June 17, 2024
ughh i sobbbed!!! loveeeee lauren roberts her books and this story was just so cute!!!! i loved it!

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