Reckless SPOILER Review

Book: Reckless

(Powerless Trilogy)

Author: Lauren Roberts

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Reckless is book 2 in the currently unfinished Powerless Trilogy by Lauren Roberts, and it was a wild ride. We're going to unpack this together, but first I just want to mention that this is NOT a spoiler free review. I have so many feelings about this book that I'm really not sure how to make a review right now without spoilers. As the second book in a series, it WILL contain spoilers for Powerless, book 1, as well as this book. You have been warned...

Reckless picks up a few days after where Powerless left off, which I felt was an interesting power-play by the author. We don't see the slow descent into madness for Kitt, we jump right into him being a completely different character then we last saw, which is entirely more terrifying. We skip past Paedyn's days being alone and nursing her wounds, both external and internal, and how that time alone is affecting her. The next time we see Kai, he is hardened, more so than before, with masks back up in full force after the betrayal and "loss" of his brother. We jump right back into the action, but these are not the characters we left behind.

It's been a week since I finished this book, and it took me so long to write this review because in all honesty, I am still trying to process everything. This book emotionally DEVESTATED me, and I'm still not fully over it if I'm being honest, but I'm finally ready to sit down and spill my feeling out onto the page. (Much like Kitt with his letters, now that I think about it)

Firstly, I would like to talk about the trauma representation in this book, because it was EVERYTHING! I absolutely loved seeing these three badass characters struggling with all the trauma they've endured. It doesn't make them any less badass, it shows how strong they are that they've been through so much an endured. Seeing Paedyn break down after everything she's been through was justified, and the way that it was handled was absolutely perfect. It showed the waves that hit you out of nowhere, the paralyzing feeling that overtakes you, the feeling of drowning and not knhowing how to get out of it and back to the person you were before, until you finally realize that you can't be that person anymore, but maybe that can be okay too. It was beautiful and heartbreaking, and so poetic in natural Lauren Robert's fashion.

Kitt, Kitt, Kitt.

I'm still not really sure where to stand with you, sir. I'm still so, so afraid that he's going to turn into the next Maven (IYKYK) and I am not emotionally ready for that, so I will be praying to any and all higher powers that will listen that this is not the direction that Lauren is taking this series in. Kitt said he didn't want to be the "Mad King" and wanted to find his old self again. But I can't get over the similarities, and the fact that Lauren herself said that she was a fan of Red Queen back in the day.

Pae and Kai! (insert fangirl squeal here)

I was so impressed with the way their relationship developed in this book. I admit, even though I expected it, I was sad to see them essentially starting the slow burn over from scratch, but it was so worth it. I loved seeing them learn to trust eachother again, despite knowing that they were supposed tgo be enemies. Seeing the way the protected eachother and looked after eachother. And the poppy feild! One of the cutest literary moments I've read in a long time. This is one of the reasons I love YA so much. Sometimes it's nice to appreciate a cute, sappy moment without the more following it.

Granted, alot of people may say that a majority of this book was just filler, and it would be hard to disagree with. But in all fairness, I think that this book was significant. I think that Paedyn and Kai needed time to themselves to reconnect, just as I think Kitt needed time alone to figure out his own feelings. If Kai had caught Paedyn and brought her back to the palace immediately, it would take an incredibly different direction than it likely will now. Both Kai and Kitt are way more forgiving towards Paedyn now, just as she is towards them. Everything that occured in this book, was essential to getting us to whered we are now leading into book 3. It wouldn't be believable if it had happened any faster, or in any other way.

Calum...

I'm so confused. How, and why is Kitt working with him. He must know that this was the resistance leader holding his father hostage at the third trial, right? And if so, why would he be working with him and taking his advice on how to lead his kingdom?

But if he doesn't know, then how did Calum get out of the third trial without being discovered, and how is he so close with Kitt? Was he actually one of the King's Fatals then and Paedyn just didn't know? And I have questions about the ending involving Calum, but I'll address those in a minute.

The ending... (let the sobbing commence)

Rereading some of the parts leading up to the ending with Kitt, it becomes so obvious what was going to happen, that I'm mad I didn't see it sooner. One thing I loved was Paedyn seeing the outline of the box in Kitt's pocket, a clear callback to book one when during the interviews Paedyn correctly guesses that one of the audience members was recently engaged by seeing the outline of the ring box in his pocket. However, this time around she was so sure she was about to be sentenced to death that it didn't register.

Kai's final chapter was one of the most heartbreakingly poetic things I've ever read. My poor, sweet boy had better get a happy ending or I will RIOT! As I'm sure you can imagine, this is the reason I have been so distraught and why it took so long to be able to even write this review.

Why did Calum suggest the proposal to Kitt? Was this a part of the Resistance's plans all along? Is that why Lenny has been calling Paedyn "Princess" since day one? I need ANSWERS!

And what happened to the other Resistance members? Where they all killed when Kai and Paedyn were kidnapped?

Fearless, the third and final book in the Powerless Trilogy, releases on April 8, 2025!

Thanks for checking out my review! See you guys next time!