Reckless by Lauren Roberts

My Rating - 3 out of 5 stars

Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Genre - Fantasy
Publishing year - 2024
Language - English
ISBN - 978-1-3985-3012-6
Pages - 388

Book Review - 

Reckless by Lauren Roberts is the second installment in the Powerless trilogy, and after finishing it, I have quite a few thoughts—some exciting, others not as much.

Having read Powerless, I was already invested in the kingdom of Ilya, where society is split between the Elites—those blessed with powers—and the Ordinaries, who live in constant fear and are often overlooked. 

Our protagonist, Paedyn Gray, is an Ordinary masquerading as a psychic, a lie she must maintain for survival. Her involvement in the deadly trials—designed to pit Elites against one another—was gripping in the first book, especially her tense encounters with Kai Azer, the king’s enforcer and son.

Reckless picks up immediately after Paedyn kills the king and escapes, now a fugitive. With Kitt assuming the throne and Kai assigned to capture her, the stakes are higher, but oddly, the plot felt slower. 

While we delve deeper into Paedyn and Kai’s relationship—filled with longing, slow-burn tension, and betrayal—I could not help but feel the romantic subplot began to overpower the world-building and central conflict that initially drew me in.

This book heavily leans into emotions and intimacy. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, I was hoping for a richer exploration of the power dynamics, moral dilemmas, and rebellious undercurrents introduced in the first book. 

Unfortunately, those threads take a back seat. Even Kitt’s arc, which had so much potential, is barely explored, and I hope he gets the development he deserves in the final book.

That said, I did enjoy reconnecting with the characters, especially witnessing Kai’s inner conflict and loyalty being tested. But compared to Powerless, Reckless felt somewhat repetitive and stretched. It lacked the twists and tension that made the first book unputdownable.

Will I read the third and final book? Yes—but probably not right away. I need a break from the emotional heaviness, and I hope the concluding part brings more substance and resolution.

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