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Quick answer: If you loved the Powerless trilogy, read Lauren Roberts's Reckless, then Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Cruel Prince and The Serpent and the Wings of Night. All have enemies-to-lovers romance, deadly contests and magical worlds.
Lauren Roberts's Powerless follows Paedyn Gray, a pickpocket without powers in a kingdom where magic rules, who becomes entangled with a dangerous Elite soldier in a deadly trial. It is fast, romantic and full of tension. The books below offer similar young adult fantasy with tough heroines, forbidden attraction and high stakes.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reckless | Lauren Roberts | Teen | the sequel |
| Fourth Wing | Rebecca Yarros | Adult | deadly training |
| A Court of Thorns and Roses | Sarah J. Maas | Adult | fae romance |
| The Cruel Prince | Holly Black | Teen | faerie courts |
| The Serpent and the Wings of Night | Carissa Broadbent | Adult | deadly tournaments |
| Red Queen | Victoria Aveyard | Teen | class and power |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | Teen | Grishaverse |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | Teen | deadly games |
| The Selection | Kiera Cass | Teen | royal competitions |
| Caraval | Stephanie Garber | Teen | magical games |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | Teen | heists and crews |
| Kingdom of the Wicked | Kerri Maniscalco | Teen | dark romance |
| An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir | Teen | resistance and romance |
| Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross | Teen | letters and war |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Teen | assassin fantasy |
1. Reckless by Lauren Roberts
The second book in the Powerless series continues Paedyn and Kai's story. Fans of the first book will want it next.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Violet Sorrengail must survive a brutal war college for dragon riders. Fast, romantic and addictive.
Best for: deadly training.
3. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre kills a wolf and is taken to a faerie land by a powerful fae lord. A retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Best for: fae romance.
4. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude is a mortal girl in the faerie court who plots to gain power. Sharp and twisty.
Best for: faerie courts.
5. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
A human girl raised by a vampire lord enters a deadly tournament. Dark, romantic and fast.
Best for: deadly tournaments.
6. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Mare, a Red-blooded girl, finds she has a power that Silvers fear. Fast and full of betrayals.
Best for: class and power.
7. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina discovers she can summon light in a world at war. Rich Russian-inspired world.
Best for: Grishaverse.
8. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers for a televised fight to the death. The model for many survival romances.
Best for: deadly games.
9. The Selection by Kiera Cass
Thirty-five girls compete for the prince's hand. Light and romantic.
Best for: royal competitions.
10. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Scarlett enters a mysterious game to save her sister. Dreamy and twisty.
Best for: magical games.
11. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
A crew of outcasts plans an impossible heist. Clever and fast.
Best for: heists and crews.
12. Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
A young witch investigates her twin's murder and makes a dangerous deal with a demon prince. Dark and romantic.
Best for: dark romance.
13. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
A soldier and a slave are caught in a brutal empire. Intense and fast.
Best for: resistance and romance.
14. Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Two rival journalists write letters while a war between gods rages. Sweet and bookish.
Best for: letters and war.
15. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
An assassin competes to be the king's champion. A fast and growing series.
Best for: assassin fantasy.
How to Choose
If you want to keep going with Roberts's world, read Reckless next. For deadly contests, pick Fourth Wing, The Serpent and the Wings of Night or The Hunger Games. For faerie politics, try A Court of Thorns and Roses or The Cruel Prince. For quicker or lighter reads, choose The Selection or Caraval. For heist adventures, Six of Crows is a great option. Check ages, as some of these are written for adults and are quite spicy. If you like a series with an obvious next step, read Reckless before you move on to another author's trilogy. Fans often keep a reading list of romantasy series ordered by spice level and age, which is useful if you share books with younger readers.
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, a pickpocket with no magic, pretends to have powers while competing in the Purging Trials alongside the Elite soldier Kai.
How many books are in the series?
The trilogy includes Powerless, Reckless and Fearless.
Is Powerless YA or adult?
It is marketed for young adults, with mature themes.
Is it spicy?
It has romance but is milder than adult romantasy.
Is there a movie?
A film adaptation has been announced; check current listings.
Which series is closest?
Fourth Wing and The Hunger Games.
Who wrote Powerless?
Lauren Roberts, who became popular on BookTok.
Is Powerless similar to The Hunger Games?
Both feature a deadly contest and a heroine who hides a secret, though the tone is more romantic.
Do I need to read the books in order?
Yes. Powerless, Reckless and Fearless tell one continuous story.
Is there fan art or a community?
Yes, the series has a very active online fan community.
Are these books good for reluctant readers?
Yes. Powerless, The Hunger Games and The Selection all use short chapters and quick plots, which keep teens turning pages.