You know that feeling when a book takes over your entire personality? That’s basically what happened when Lauren Roberts dropped Powerless. It’s everywhere. TikTok is obsessed. Your local bookstore probably has a shrine to it. But honestly, if you’re just getting into the powerless book series in order, things are getting a little confusing because of how the novellas and the main sequels are hitting the shelves. It isn't just a straight 1, 2, 3 anymore.
We’re dealing with the trials of Ilya, a kingdom where the "Elites" have powers and the "Ordinaries" are... well, hunted. It’s brutal. It’s got that Hunger Games meets The Selection vibe but with way more sexual tension and banter that actually lands. If you're looking for the definitive way to binge these books without ruining the timeline, you've gotta be careful about when you slide into the spin-offs.
The Correct Reading Order for the Powerless Series
Most people think you just grab whatever has the prettiest cover first. Don't do that. You’ll spoil the emotional weight of the main plot.
First off, you start with Powerless. This is the foundation. We meet Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary masquerading as an Elite, and Kai Azer, the Prince and Enforcer who is literally tasked with killing people like her. It’s a slow burn. It’s painful. It’s great.
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After you finish that emotional wreck of a debut, you have a choice. You can go straight to the sequel, Reckless, or you can take a detour.
Powerful is a novella that technically takes place alongside the events of the first book. It follows Adena—Paedyn’s best friend—and a new character named Paedyn’s brother? No, it’s Paedyn's friend's story. It’s shorter, but it carries a massive punch. If you want the full emotional experience before the stakes get higher in the second main book, read Powerful after Powerless.
Then, you hit Reckless. This is where the world expands beyond the city of Ilya. The banter remains top-tier, but the environment gets much grittier.
Finally, we’re looking toward Fearless, which is the third main installment. This is the projected conclusion of the main trilogy. There has been a lot of chatter about whether Roberts will expand the universe further, but for now, the core journey of Kai and Paedyn is a three-act structure.
Why Publication Order Usually Wins
Some readers love a chronological deep dive. They want to read Powerful at the same time as Powerless because the timelines overlap. Honestly? That sounds like a headache.
Reading them in the order they were released is the move here. Lauren Roberts wrote them with the assumption that you already know the "vibe" of the world from the first book. If you start with the novella, the world-building might feel a bit thin because it relies on the heavy lifting done in the main novel.
- Powerless (Book 1)
- Powerful (Novella / Book 1.5)
- Reckless (Book 2)
- Fearless (Book 3 - Coming Summer 2025)
What Makes Ilya So Addictive?
It’s the tropes. Let’s be real.
We’ve got the "He’s the hunter, she’s the prey" dynamic. We’ve got the "only one bed" (kind of). We’ve got the "I’m going to kill you, but also I’m obsessed with you" energy that Romantasy readers live for.
But it’s more than just the romance. The magic system in Ilya is fascinating because it’s based on the idea of the "Plague." The survivors became Elites with various abilities—some can control shadows, some have super-strength, some can manipulate emotions. The Ordinaries are those who didn't get powers, and they are blamed for the disease's persistence. It’s a classic socio-political allegory wrapped in a high-stakes competition called the Purging Trials.
Roberts excels at writing dialogue that feels modern but fits the high-fantasy setting. Kai Azer isn't just a brooding prince; he’s actually funny. His internal conflict—being loyal to a father he fears while falling for a girl he should execute—is the engine that keeps the pages turning.
Addressing the Common Misconceptions
One thing people get wrong about the powerless book series in order is the age rating. This is definitely Young Adult (YA) transitioning into "New Adult." While it’s heavy on the romance, the spice level is lower than something like A Court of Thorns and Roses in the first book, though it ramps up significantly in Reckless.
Another mix-up involves the "special editions." There are about a dozen different covers for these books. You’ve got the Barnes & Noble exclusives, the Waterstones editions with the sprayed edges, and the indie bookstore variants. They all contain the same story, but some have bonus chapters from Kai’s perspective. If you can find those, get them. Kai’s POV changes the entire tone of certain scenes in Powerless.
The Evolution of Kai and Paedyn
In the first book, Paedyn is a thief. She’s scrappy. She’s surviving. By the time we get into the meat of the series, her identity is shattered. She has to decide if she’s a symbol of rebellion or just a girl trying not to die.
Kai undergoes a similar shift. He starts as the "Future Enforcer," a tool of the crown. He’s cold because he has to be. But as the series progresses, his loyalty to the crown starts to crumble. Watching a character unlearn their upbringing is one of the most satisfying arcs in fantasy, and Roberts handles it with a lot of nuance.
How to Prepare for Fearless
Since Fearless is the big finale we’re all waiting for, the best thing you can do is annotate your copies. Serious. The foreshadowing in Powerless regarding Kai’s brother, Kitt, is massive. Kitt is a polarizing character. Some people feel for him; others see him as the ultimate obstacle. His trajectory in the final book is probably going to be the thing that breaks the fandom in half.
Final Reading Checklist
If you're standing in a bookstore right now and trying to remember what to grab, keep it simple. Grab the white cover (Powerless) first. If they have the little slim paperback (Powerful), grab that too for your "intermission" read.
Don't skip the novella. A lot of people think novellas are optional. In this series, Powerful provides essential context for the emotional stakes of the rebellion that bubbles up in Reckless. You’ll appreciate the side characters way more if you give them their 200 pages of spotlight.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the Bonus Content: If you have the standard trade paperback, look for the "Bonus Scenes" online or in the collector's editions. The scene where Kai first realizes Paedyn is an Ordinary is a game-changer.
- Follow the Author: Lauren Roberts is incredibly active on social media. She often shares "character playlists" and aesthetic boards that help flesh out the world of Ilya between releases.
- Pre-order Fearless: Given the popularity of the series, the first print runs of the final book will likely have the limited-edition sprayed edges. If you want a matching set, get your pre-order in at least three months before the Summer 2025 release date.
- Re-read the Trials: Before the final book drops, go back and look at the specific powers mentioned in the first book's Purging Trials. There are subtle hints about how certain powers can be neutralized—which will likely be a huge plot point in the finale.