Book Review: Fearful (The Powerless Trilogy #3.5) by Lauren Roberts

Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 224 pages
Author: Lauren Roberts
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: September 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Set during the time of Fearless, a mysterious figure arrives in the kingdom of Ilya to witness the fight for the throne and the price it costs those sworn to defend the land in this beautiful and heart-wrenching story in the #1 New York Times bestselling Powerless trilogy.

Love too grand, it kills.

Mara never intended to set foot in Ilya again. But when the king makes a life-altering decision, her interest is piqued, and Death is determined to understand Kitt Azer’s mind if he is destined to join her in the Mors.

Spending time with the king while observing the castle’s inhabitants reminds Mara that there is more to life than just death. There is love. But even the purest of intentions spur revenge and the pursuit of power. And fate will have its way with all of them—to live, to rule, to love, and most certainly, to die…

Thank you Simon Teen for the gifted copy and Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I was going to give this three stars and move on with my life. I don’t think it added to the trilogy, it’s just sad, and honestly boring.

And then the ending??? Well that just made me rage like I haven’t at a book in a long time. I hate open ended moments that could lead to spin offs of series THAT DON’T NEED IT. Oh my gosh just let the MC’s be happy and move on.

Having this from the POV of death made little sense to me. Once again, not adding anything to the story and opening up more questions rather than giving me any answers.

This came off as a money grab with another unnecessary novella and has soured my feelings to the original trilogy (of which I love).

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Novella
  • Language: low
  • Romance: flirting (?)
  • Violence: mild

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: August 2025

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON. But also, here are all the books I read in August! I’m still on track to hit 400, just need to stay focused.

  • [ARC/ALC] For the Record by Emma Lord
  • [ARC] The Legacy of Ophelia (The Curse of Ophelia #5) by Nicole Platania
  • The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam (Hart and Mercy #3) by Megan Bannen
  • In the Veins of Drowning (The Siren Mage #1) by Kalie Cassidy
  • The Americana Playbook by Cathryn Carter
  • [Novella] Devotion of the Heart by Nichole Van
  • Problematic Summer Romance (Not in Love #2) by Ali Hazelwood
  • Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
  • [ARC] You & Me, For Real by Hayley Elliot
  • [ARC] A Sea View Christmas (On Devonshire Shores #3.5) by Julie Klassen
  • The Jasad Crown (The Scorched Throne #2) by Sara Hashem
  • Isles of the Emberdark (Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson
  • A Promise So Bold and Broken (Compelling Fates Saga #2) by Sophia St. Germain
  • Glorious Rivals (The Grandest Game #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  • A Summer Without You by Caitlin Moss
  • Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #3) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
  • Between These Broken Hearts (These Hollow Vows #4) by Lexi Ryan
  • Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer
  • Deadwood (Secrets of the Serpentine #1) by Karley Brenna
  • Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2) by Olivia Rose Darling
  • A Beguiled Gentleman (The Bradley Brothers #1) by Audra Wells
  • Immortal Consequences (The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1) by I.V. Marie
  • One More Made Up Love Song (Midnight Rush #2) by Jenny Proctor
  • [ARC/ALC] Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson
  • [ARC/ALC] If Looks Could Kill by Julie Berry
  • The Blonde Who Came in From the Cold (Blonde Identity #2) by Ally Carter
  • [ARC] Darkness Births the Stars by Sarah Lee Wohn
  • [ARC/ALC] Wild Reverence (Letters of Enchantment #0) by Rebecca Ross
  • [ARC] Stuck With You (Cal’s Garage #1) by Stacy Williams
  • The Dragon Wakes with Thunder (The Night Ends with Fire #2) by K.X. Song
  • Love is a War Song by Danica Nava
  • A Love Most Fatal (Morelli Family #1) by Kath Richards
  • [Novella] A Churn in the Virtual Society (Into the Churn #3.5) by Hayley Reese Chow
  • [ARC] What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: June 2025

How is it already June???

Another month in the 30’s which has been kind of nice. I’ve slowed down a bit this summer and I’m spending time watching shows and being out in the sun.

Happy reading y’all!

  • [ARC] Seas the Dating Coach (Wilks Beach #1) by Laura Langa
  • [ARC/ALC] The Blood Phoenix (Fall of the Dragons #2) by Amber Chen
  • I’ll Paint You a Sunset Someday by Bex Alexander
  • [Graphic Novel] We Could Be Magic by Marissa Meyer
  • The Glittering Edge (The Idlewood Duology #1) by Alyssa Villaire
  • [ARC/ALC] Total Dreamboat by Katelyn Doyle
  • [ARC] Roots of Darkness (The Ashen #2.5) by Demi Winters
  • Love Unwritten (Lakefront Billionaires #2) by Lauren Asher
  • [Reread] Dark Shores (Dark Shores #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • Truly Medley Deeply (Sweet as Sugar Maple #5) by Kate Watson
  • [Reread] Dark Skies (Dark Shores #2) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • [ALC] A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry
  • I’ll Pretend You’re Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan
  • On the Slopes of Tahoe (Love Along the Way #2) by J.A. Forde
  • Never Thought I’d End Up Here by Ann Liang
  • [ARC] Seashells and Other Souvenirs by Rachel Lawrence
  • Daisy Haites: The Great Undoing (Magnolia Parks Universe #5) by Jessa Hastings
  • [ALC] A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
  • [ARC] Arcana Academy (Arcana Academy #1) by Elise Kova
  • My Fault (Culpables #1) by Mercedes Ron)
  • One Final Turn (Electra McDonnell #5) by Ashley Weaver
  • The Night Prince (Wolf King #2) by Lauren Palphreyman
  • The Love Playbook (Boys of Ann Arbor U #1) by Gracie Graham
  • Driving Maisie Crazy (Men of the Isles #2) by Deborah M. Hathaway
  • The Robin on the Oak Throne (The Oak and the Holly Cycle #2) by K.A. Linde
  • [ARC] Roads of Resistance (Falcon Point Historical #2) by A.L. Sowards
  • [ARC/ALC] Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods
  • We Were Liars (We Were Liars #1) by E. Lockhart
  • Salvacion by Sandra Proudman
  • [Reread] Tarnished Empire (Dark Shores #0.5) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • [ARC] Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter
  • [ALC] Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: May 2025

May was a rough one y’all. Almost gave a book one star and had THREE two star books which is generally underheard of for me. Two were new to me authors so at least I tried some new authors??

Some of these reviews are already out and others will be out in the future!

  • Broken Souls and Bones (Stonegate #1) by LJ Andrews
  • [ARC] The Enemy’s Daughter by Melissa Poett
  • What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon
  • To Steal from Thieves (Thieves & Kings #1) by M.K. Lobb
  • Watch Me (Shatter Me: The New Republic #1) by Tahereh Mafi
  • The Things We Water by Mariana Zapata
  • [ARC/ALC] Cruel is the Light (Cruel is the Light #1) by Sophie Clark
  • Silver Elite (Silver Elite #1) by Dani Francis
  • As You Ice It (Appies #7) by Emma St. Clair
  • [ALC] Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli
  • Even if It Hurts (Huntley Square #1) by Molly Barlowe
  • [ARC/ALC] The Knight and the Moth (The Stonewater Kingdom #1) by Rachel Gillig
  • [ARC/ALC] Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy #1) by Mimi Matthews
  • [Short Story] The Six Deaths of the Saint (Into Shadow #3) by Alix E. Harrow
  • The Geographer’s Guide to Romance (Love’s Academic #2) by India Holton
  • The Long Way Home (Magnolia Parks Universe #3) by Jessa Hastings
  • A Curse Carved in Bone (Saga of the Unfated #2) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • The Q by Beth Brower
  • [ARC] The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone
  • A Guarded Heart by Heidi Kimball
  • All We Lost Was Everything by Heidi Kimball
  • Enchanted Kingdom (Enchanted Kingdom #1) by Tricia Wentworth
  • [ARC/ALC] The Beautiful Maddening by Shea Ernshaw
  • Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley
  • Rewind it Back (Windy City #5) by Liz Tomforde
  • Love Sick by Deidra Duncan
  • Caught Stealing (Southern Sports Sweethearts #1) by M.J. Padgett
  • [ARC/ALC] A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
  • Can’t Get Enough (Skyland #3) by Kennedy Ryan
  • [ARC] The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater
  • [ARC] Call of the Loon by K. Sinko
  • The Floating World (The Floating World #1) by Axie Oh
  • It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan

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