Lauren Roberts’ Powerful revisits the world of Powerless, offering readers Adena’s perspective during the same timeline. While the novella attempts to expand on the fan-favorite character’s story, it ultimately struggles to leave a lasting impact, falling into many of the same pitfalls as the first book. Despite some emotional punches and intriguing developments, Powerful lacks the depth and development needed to stand on its own.

The story follows Adena, Paedyn’s fiercely loyal best friend, as she navigates the dangerous world of Loot after Paedyn is taken to the Purging Trials. Left to fend for herself, she crosses paths with Mak, a mysterious Elite with secrets of his own. Together, they form an uneasy partnership—and a budding romance—as they race against time to reunite with their loved ones before the Trials reach their devastating conclusion.

Lauren Roberts continues to excel at writing emotional scenes, and there’s no shortage of heartache in Powerful. If you’ve read Powerless, you already know where this novella is headed. The ending revisits the same heartbreaking climax of its predecessor, albeit from a new perspective. While this added layer offers some intrigue, it doesn’t elevate the story beyond what readers have already experienced. Instead, Powerful feels more like an attempt to fill in gaps rather than expand the narrative in meaningful ways.

Adena’s character should have been the heart of the novella, yet half of her personality seems to revolve around her love for Paedyn. While their bond is touching, it leaves little room for Adena to develop into a fully fleshed-out character, diminishing her potential as a standalone protagonist.

In contrast, Mak is a welcome addition to the series. His mix of danger and vulnerability provides a refreshing dynamic and hints at exciting possibilities for future installments. His character is one of the novella’s bright spots, leaving readers eager to see how he evolves in future stories.

However, the romance between Adena and Mak feels underdeveloped. Unlike the slow-burn chemistry between Paedyn and Kai in Powerless, this connection between Adena and Mak is rushed, with little space for the relationship to grow organically. The novella moves quickly through key emotional moments, leaving little room for the kind of slow buildup that could have made their bond more believable. As a result, the romance lacks the tension and depth needed to make it truly resonate, making it feel more like a plot device than a real connection.

This rushed pacing, unfortunately, doesn’t just affect the romance. It leaves the overall story feeling hurried, with major plot points passing by without much reflection. Deeper themes that could have elevated the story are left unexplored. Like Powerless, Powerful relies heavily on popular BookTok tropes, which may appeal to fans of quick, surface-level reads, but ultimately stifles the story’s potential for nuance. It feels more like a checklist of crowd-pleasing elements than a fully developed narrative that lingers in the reader’s mind.

Ultimately, Powerful offers a bittersweet glimpse into Adena’s world but fails to deliver the depth and character development she deserves. While the novella is a quick, emotional read with flashes of promise—especially in Mak’s character—it reads more like an extended scene for fans of Powerless than a story that stands on its own. 

–by Megan Brown