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Quick answer: If you finished Powerless, try Reckless, Red Queen, The Selection, The Hunger Games, Throne of Glass and Divine Rivals. They share powerless heroines, deadly competitions and slow-burn romance.
Lauren Roberts's 2023 novel follows Paedyn Gray, a girl without powers in a kingdom ruled by those who have them, and Kai, the prince who enforces the rules. It is a fast, romantic fantasy with trials and secrets. Teens who love it want more fantasy with competitions, forbidden love and strong heroines. These 15 books deliver that, at ages 13 and up.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reckless | Lauren Roberts | 14+ | the direct sequel |
| Red Queen | Victoria Aveyard | 13+ | readers who like class conflict |
| The Selection | Kiera Cass | 13+ | readers who want romance |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | 12+ | readers who want survival |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | 14+ | readers who like competitions |
| Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross | 14+ | readers who like letters |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | 14+ | readers who like faerie courts |
| Serpent & Dove | Shelby Mahurin | 14+ | enemies-to-lovers fans |
| An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir | 14+ | readers who like high stakes |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | 14+ | readers who want epic fantasy |
| Caraval | Stephanie Garber | 13+ | readers who like atmosphere |
| Legend | Marie Lu | 13+ | readers who like cat-and-mouse |
| Children of Blood and Bone | Tomi Adeyemi | 13+ | readers who want a bold epic |
| Cinder | Marissa Meyer | 13+ | readers who like fairy tales |
| Graceling | Kristin Cashore | 14+ | readers who like independent heroines |
1. Reckless by Lauren Roberts
The sequel to Powerless, with higher stakes and more danger. Read it next if you have not.
Best for: the direct sequel.
2. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Mare, a Red girl with a Silver power, is forced into a deadly royal court. Fast and twisty.
Best for: readers who like class conflict.
3. The Selection by Kiera Cass
America Singer enters a competition to marry a prince. Romantic, with a hint of dystopia.
Best for: readers who want romance.
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers for a televised fight to the death. Tense and fast.
Best for: readers who want survival.
5. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena, an assassin, competes to become the king's champion. Action and romance.
Best for: readers who like competitions.
6. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Two rival journalists write letters to each other during a war of gods. Warm and bookish.
Best for: readers who like letters.
7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude, a human girl in Faerie, wants a place at court. Intrigue and enemies-to-lovers romance.
Best for: readers who like faerie courts.
8. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
A witch and a witch hunter are forced to marry. Fun, steamy and fast.
Best for: enemies-to-lovers fans.
9. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Laia and Elias live on opposite sides of a brutal empire. Dark and intense.
Best for: readers who like high stakes.
10. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina discovers a power that could free her land. Russian-inspired fantasy.
Best for: readers who want epic fantasy.
11. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Scarlett enters a magical game to save her sister. Dreamy and twisty.
Best for: readers who like atmosphere.
12. Legend by Marie Lu
June, a prodigy soldier, hunts Day, the country's most wanted criminal. Fast, with dual narrators.
Best for: readers who like cat-and-mouse.
13. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie fights to bring magic back to the land of Orïsha. West African myth and a fierce heroine.
Best for: readers who want a bold epic.
14. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder, a cyborg mechanic, is drawn into royal plots. A sci-fi Cinderella.
Best for: readers who like fairy tales.
15. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa has a deadly Grace and works for a king until she meets a prince. Strong heroine and quiet romance.
Best for: readers who like independent heroines.
How to Choose
For the sequel, read Reckless. For power struggles and classes, try Red Queen or The Hunger Games. For romance, read The Selection or Divine Rivals. A simple plan is to pick a competition-style book, a court-intrigue book and a lighter romance. These books contain violence and some romance, and ages 14 and up are the best fit. If you like audiobooks, long fantasy romances are good for commutes, and the dual-narrator format in some of these keeps the pace lively. For a lighter palate cleanser between heavy books, try Cinder or Caraval. Content notes: most of these include peril and some violence; Serpent & Dove and An Ember in the Ashes are darker. If you are choosing for a younger teen, begin with Cinder, Caraval or The Selection, and save the grittier ones for later.
Related: What Age Is Powerless by Lauren Roberts Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Powerless about?
Paedyn Gray, who has no powers, hides her secret while joining a deadly competition.
Is Powerless YA?
Yes, it is aimed at ages 14 and up, though adults read it too.
Is there a series?
Yes. The Powerless trilogy includes Reckless and a third book.
Is it spicy?
It has romantic tension and a few mild scenes but is not explicit.
Is Powerless like The Hunger Games?
It shares competition and class themes, but it leans more on romance and magic.
Who is the intended reader?
Mostly teens and young adults, though many adults enjoy it.
How long is the Powerless series?
It is a trilogy, so you can read the whole story in three books.