Powerless is a fantasy and romance book that is the first in a trilogy. It is told through the eyes of the two main characters Kai, one of the princes of Ilya, and Paedyn, a thief from the town of Loot. They come from very different backgrounds and when the trials occur in Ilya they are forced to compete against each other forcing them both to make tough choices. I like how you are able to hear the perspective of both the main characters in this book. My favorite characters in this book are Paedyn and Adena.
One competition, twenty-three killers, warriors and thieves including Celaena Sardothien. Celaena is an 18-year-old assassin who lives in a land without magic and a king who rules with a high hand. Celaena is summoned to the castle not to kill royalty but to compete for her freedom. If she wins, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Celaena becomes tangled in the evil that dwells inside the castle of glass. Her fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival as her competitors start dying one by one.
Celaena Sardothien is one of the most feared assassins in the kingdom—or at least she was, before betrayal landed her in the brutal salt mines of Endovier. After surviving a year of backbreaking labor, she’s offered a deal: compete in a deadly tournament to become the King’s Champion, and she’ll win her freedom. It’s not exactly a fair trade—serving the king she despises—but it’s better than dying in a mine. As Celaena trains for the competition under Captain Chaol Westfall’s watchful eye, she begins to uncover something sinister happening within the palace walls.
The city of Ilvernath has a tragic curse, and an even more horrific history. Every 20 years when the Blood Moon rises, the 7 families of Ilvernath must send their children to compete for high magick. High magick is the world’s most treacherous and powerful resource, thought to be long gone. However, this year’s tournament is very different from the ones of the past. It is now brought under international attention due to the publication of an unknown book. This book tells of all the families’ strengths, weaknesses and the story of the curse.
Oraya is a human adopted by a vampire king who competes in the Kejari, a legendary tournament, with Raihn, an unexpected ally. She enters the deathmatch to win a wish from a goddess, which would grant her power. Oraya and Raihn form an unexpected bond during the Kejari, causing Oraya to question her beliefs and her hope for the future. Oraya must decide whether her new feelings are worth the future she’s been working toward her whole life.
