"Powerless" presents an intriguing premise that draws readers in with its gladiator-style challenges and tests. As someone who enjoys this type of storyline, I was excited to dive into the world Roberts created. The first half of the book sets up a nice foundation, but unfortunately, it lacks the depth needed to fully engage me.

While I appreciate YA literature, the romance elements felt overly simplistic and repetitive. The dialogue often revolved around flirtation that became tiresome quickly. For instance, exchanges like “Oh, you’re such a flirt” followed by predictable responses turned what could have been charming banter into a monotonous cycle that interrupted the pacing of the story. These long lags between action scenes meant for romance building left me wanting more substance.

I found myself waiting for the next bit of actual plot development to break through the routine dialogue, which ultimately detracted from my enjoyment. While there are moments of potential in "Powerless," I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series as I prefer stories with greater complexity and character depth.