Powerless

Hi Friends,
Today I’m sharing my November TBR and talking about the books I plan to read this month. I’m actually doing my TBR a little differently. I got this idea from Rachel Cerys, a BookTuber who uses prompts to pick her TBR. To make it more fun and challenging, she also uses a spinner wheel with added challenges. Some options on the spinner include picking two prompts and choosing one, selecting two books for one prompt, or combining two prompts. There’s also “add a spin” and “standard,” where I simply pick a prompt. I hope that makes sense! If it’s unclear, I’d definitely recommend checking out one of Rachel Cerys TBR videos.

I planned to do only seven spins, but throughout the game, I landed on “add a spin” four times, so I ended up with 11 spins/prompts.

Standard: A Book You’ve Been Putting Off

There are two books I’ve really been putting off, but one I definitely didn’t want to read. So, I chose Two Twisted Crowns, the sequel to One Dark Window and the conclusion to the duology.
Related Post: One Dark Window | Book Review

Combine 2 Prompts: An Illustrated Cover / Book You Wanted to Read Last Year

This was an easy choice. I’ve wanted to read Kiss Her Once for Me since it was released in 2022. It’s a holiday fake-dating queer romance that sounds fantastic.

1 Prompt, 2 Books: Two or More Authors / A Holiday Romance

For this, I chose A Holly Jolly Ever After, which I meant to read last year but didn’t get around to. This is the companion novel to A Merry Little Meet Cute, which I enjoyed. My second pick was Three Holidays and a Wedding, a festive story about two very different women who meet on a plane and share secrets during some scary turbulence.
Related Post: A Merry Little Meet Cute | Book Review

Choose 2, Pick 1: Owned for More Than a Year / Published This Year

I had my husband choose which prompt to pick, and he went with “Published This Year” because he’s been wanting me to read Bride by Ali Hazelwood. I’m nervous about this one since I’ve heard mixed things.

Combine 2 Prompts: Under 300 Pages / Red or Green on the Cover

This was another easy choice since I have so many holiday books on my list. I chose It’s a Fabulous Life, a queer reimagining of It’s A Wonderful Life. Need I say more?

Standard: A Book with a Family Relationship

For this prompt, I picked a mystery thriller, You Must Remember This by Kat Rosenfield. I tried reading it last year but couldn’t get into it. I’m hoping to finish it this time.

Standard: One-Word Title

I realized I don’t own many books with one-word titles, but I do have Hunted by Meagan Spooner. I’ve wanted to read this Beauty and the Beast retelling for years—it seems like the perfect winter read.

1 Prompt, 2 Books: Most Recent Purchases

I wasn’t too upset about picking two books here since it means I get to read some of my newer purchases. I chose The Nightmare Before Kissmas, a Nightmare Before Christmas-inspired M/M holiday romance, and The Stars Are Dying, a romantasy I know nothing about.

Standard: Published in the Current Month

Of course, I had to pick another holiday romance for this prompt! I chose The Christmas Wish, where the main character is stuck in a time loop, reliving Christmas Day over and over.

Combine 2 Prompts: A Gifted Book / A Book Over 400 Pages

I decided it was time to finish the Twilight saga and read Breaking Dawn. This book is over 700 pages, easily fitting the “over 400 pages” prompt, and it’s part of the Twilight white edition box set I received as a gift last Christmas.
Related Post: Twilight | Book Review

Choose 2, Pick 1: A Book About a Holiday / Author You’re Thankful For

I was torn between these prompts because both fit the season well. I ultimately chose “Author You’re Thankful For” and picked Elsie Silver. This is my first year reading her books, and I’ve quickly become a fan. I’ll be reading Powerless, the third book in the Chestnut Springs series.
Related Post: Flawless | Book Review

There you have my very ambitious November TBR! Here’s hoping I get to all or at least half of these books. Let me know in the comments what’s on your TBR for the month, and don’t forget to hit the follow button so you never miss a post!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

About The Book
In the kingdom of Ilya, only empowered Elites are allowed to stay, while the powerless Ordinaries face exile. Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary posing as a Psychic, is thrust into the deadly Purging Trials after saving the prince. To survive, she must conceal her lack of powers while navigating the Trials and her growing feelings for the prince.
Buy The Book: https://amzn.to/459LXhv

My Rating

This book starts off a fantasy series on a solid note with its strong plot, but it may not captivate every reader. I appreciate Roberts’ efforts in crafting the world and characters, which is typical for a fantasy series debut. However, I personally felt that the pacing fell short, and I found myself craving a faster-paced story with more excitement and action.

One of the book’s strong points is its magic system, which gives off a YA fantasy vibe reminiscent of popular series like “Divergent” or “The Hunger Games.” The main character, Paedyn, stands out as a powerful female lead, confidently strong-willed thanks to her background of survival. And then there’s Kai, the male lead, who strikes a likable balance between toughness and kindness, making for some really engaging interactions between them.

The story mainly revolves around Paedyn and Kai, so the side characters don’t really play a significant role in the plot. However, I found Kitt, Kai’s brother and the future king, to be intriguing. Even though he’s not a major character, I enjoyed the moments between him and Kai, as well as the scene with Paedyn and him. I’m looking forward to learning more about him as the series progresses.

As for Paedyn and Kai’s romance, it follows the classic rivals-to-lovers theme, and I thought it was executed quite well. Nevertheless, I can understand if some readers find it a bit slow-paced, especially if they prefer their romantic plots to move along more quickly. As someone who openly dislikes slow-burn romance, this one really got on my nerves. However, I have to give credit where it’s due—the banter between Kai and Paedyn was spot on. Still, it didn’t quite make up for the overly drawn-out slow burn.

“If I am to be her enemy, I want it to be because she loathes herself for wanting me.”

For me, the plot falls short of delivering any groundbreaking revelations, which left me feeling disconnected from the story’s twists and turns. While I wasn’t deeply attached to the characters, the ending did stir up a mix of emotions, making me curious about where the series is headed next.

The author’s writing style heavily leans into the YA genre, which isn’t something I love, as I’ve been gravitating towards more adult fantasies these days. Additionally, the book’s length feels excessive, lacking consistent engagement throughout its 400 pages. I feel that if it had been a bit shorter, I might have enjoyed the story more.

Overall, the book didn’t hold my attention from start to finish, which is something I always hope for, especially in a fantasy series. However, its solid foundation and intriguing characters still give me enough reason to keep going with the series. I’m curious to see where the characters will go from here and how the story will unfold.

Share your thoughts on this book in the comments below! Don’t forget to hit the follow button so you never miss a post. Also, you can listen to the audiobook of ‘Powerless’ on Everand and get a free trial of the subscription service by using my link (click here).