Powerless by Lauren Roberts

The Setup: In the kingdom of Ilya, a deadly plague swept through the population long ago. Those who survived were gifted with extraordinary abilities and became known as the Elites . The unlucky few born since—the Ordinaries—are deemed powerless and dangerous. The king has decreed that all Ordinaries be banished or executed .

The Protagonist: Paedyn Gray is an 18-year-old Ordinary who has spent her entire life hiding in plain sight . Orphaned and living in the slums, she survives as a thief by posing as a Psychic, using her sharp wit and keen observation skills to fake the abilities she doesn't have .

The Inciting Incident: Paedyn's life changes forever when she unknowingly saves the life of Prince Kai Azer, the kingdom's ruthless Enforcer-in-training who is responsible for hunting down and killing Ordinaries like her . Her act of bravery makes her a public hero—"the Silver Savior"—and she is thrust into the spotlight as a contestant in the Purging Trials, a brutal, deadly competition designed to showcase the power of the Elites .

The Conflict: Paedyn must now compete against Ilya's most powerful Elites in a series of life-or-death challenges, all while hiding the fact that she has no powers at all . To survive, she must rely on her wits, her training, and her ability to deceive. To make matters infinitely more complicated, the intense, high-stakes environment forces her ever closer to Prince Kai, the very person who would kill her if he ever discovered her secret .

Key Themes & Tropes: This is a fast-paced romantic fantasy filled with enemies-to-lovers tension, deadly competition (drawing comparisons to The Hunger Games and Red Queen), and a shocking ending that will leave readers desperate for the sequel