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Ever finished a book and thought, "I need more of THIS right now"? That's what happens when you close 'Powerless' by Lauren Roberts. You want more enemies-to-lovers tension. More deadly trials. And definitely more princes who go from hunting you to falling for you instead.
Don't worry — we've got your next romantasy fix. Maybe you found 'Powerless' through BookTok recommendations. Or maybe you're already reading the whole Powerless series. Either way, these 16 books like 'Powerless' have those same action-packed fantasy romance vibes that you enjoyed.
And if you're busy, like most book lovers, check out the Headway app. While you wait for your next book or need a quick break between chapters, this app turns self-help books into 15-minute summaries.
Download Headway now, because it's perfect for when you want to learn something, but your next romance book is calling your name.
16 books seem like too much?
Read them in just a few hours and discover even more with Headway.
Try nowQuick answer: What are the best romantasy books to read after 'Powerless' in 2025?
Want more enemies-to-lovers tension and deadly trials? These five books have the same addictive vibes as Lauren Roberts' hit:
'Red Queen' by Victoria Aveyard — In this dystopian world, powers decide everything. Mare hides her dangerous abilities while dealing with royal politics.
'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros — Dragon riders, deadly academy trials, and enemies-to-lovers romance that'll keep you up all night.
'The Serpent and the Wings of Night' by Carissa Broadbent — A human girl enters a deadly vampire tournament. Her only ally is her mysterious rival.
'Heartless Hunter' by Kristen Ciccarelli — A witch hunter meets a secret witch after the revolution. Their love could mean death.
'Dance of Thieves' by Mary E. Pearson — A famous thief meets a young crime lord. This action-packed romance has lots of political intrigue.
Top 16 books similar to 'Powerless'
So you finished 'Powerless' and are looking at your bookshelf like, "What now?" That post-book hangover is real, especially after all those knife-to-throat scenes and political drama.
Good news! We found some fantastic books that'll scratch the same itch. Some have dragons. Others have vampire tournaments. A few will make you wonder why you like morally gray characters who could probably kill you. You know, the usual.
1. 'Red Queen' by Victoria Aveyard
Mare Barrow lives in a world split by blood. Silver-blooded people have powers and rule over the red-blooded people who serve them. When Mare finds out she has a deadly power, even though she has red blood, she enters the dangerous Silver world. She must deal with tricky politics while hiding who she really is.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
A dystopian society where powers decide your social class.
The main character hides her real abilities to stay alive.
Political intrigue and rebellion against Elite rulers.
Enemies-to-lovers romance with complex male characters.
2. 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros
Violet Sorrengail wanted to be a quiet scribe. But her mother makes her join the Basgiath War College to become a dragon rider. In this brutal school, students either bond with a dragon or die. Violet must survive the deadly trials, and Xaden Riorson, a powerful rider who wants to see her fail.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Deadly trials where failing means death.
Enemies-to-lovers romance between people from different sides.
Strong female lead forced into danger against her will.
New adult fantasy with intense romantic tension and secrets.
3. 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre kills a "wolf" while hunting. But that wolf was actually a faerie, meaning she'd violated an ancient treaty. She's dragged to the magical fae realm as punishment. And it's there that she learns that the creature she killed was a High Fae. Now, she must navigate the dangerous fae courts while finding out secrets that could destroy both worlds.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Fantasy romance with enemies-to-lovers and slow burn.
Female character thrust into a world where she doesn't fit.
Political intrigue and power struggles between groups.
Morally gray male love interests with complex relationships.
4. 'The Serpent and the Wings of Night' by Carissa Broadbent
Oraya is human but was adopted by the vampire king. She lives in a world made to kill her. To get the immortality she needs to survive, she enters the Kejari — a tournament held by the goddess of death. She must team up with Raihn, a rival who might save her. Or destroy her.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Life-or-death stakes from the start.
A character trying to survive among stronger beings.
Enemies-to-lovers romance.
Political betrayal in supernatural groups.
5. 'Dance of Thieves' by Mary E. Pearson
Kazi used to be a famous thief. She's trying to finish one last job when young leader Jase Ballenger captures her. The Ballengers rule their land outside the law. Jase just took over this dangerous family empire. As Kazi and Jase fight over power, they find their biggest problem might be falling for each other.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
A female character with a dangerous past.
Romance between people from opposing sides.
Family and territory politics.
Enemies-to-lovers trope.
6. 'Lightlark' by Alex Aster
Every hundred years, rulers from six cursed realms compete in the Centennial — a deadly game. The winner breaks their curse, while the losers face destruction. Isla Crown rules the Wildling realm, but she has a secret: she's powerless. To save her people, she must survive while hiding the truth from enemies who would destroy her.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
The main character hides her lack of powers to survive.
Deadly competition with huge stakes.
Political moves and alliances between groups.
Romance with multiple possible love interests.
7. 'Heartless Hunter' by Kristen Ciccarelli
After the witch revolution, Rune pretends to be a socialite and secretly helps witches escape. Then, witch hunter Gideon Sharpe shows up. Rune didn't plan to fall for the enemy, but now there's a romance that could destroy them both.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Female character living two lives to protect people.
Enemies-to-lovers with a hunter-and-hunted dynamic.
Post-revolution dystopian world with oppression.
Romance where love could mean death.
8. 'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins
In the dystopian nation of Panem, the Capitol requires each district to send two kids to the Hunger Games — a fight to the death broadcast on television. Katniss Everdeen volunteers to save her sister. She becomes a symbol of rebellion without meaning to. She must survive the arena and the political games that could destroy everything.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
A dystopian society with an oppressive government.
Deadly games made to entertain the ruling class.
The main character becomes a symbol of rebellion.
Political uprising against the power structure.
9. 'Divine Rivals' by Rebecca Ross
Iris and Roman are rival journalists fighting for the same job. When a war breaks out between the gods, they start exchanging anonymous letters. These letters reveal their deepest fears and dreams. As their letters turn into something more, they must handle their rivalry and the divine war tearing their world apart.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Enemies-to-lovers between rivals.
War and politics affect personal relationships.
Slow-burning romance from initial hate.
Strong female lead chasing her dreams.
16 books seem like too much?
Read them in just a few hours and discover even more with Headway.
Start now10. 'Once Upon a Broken Heart' by Stephanie Garber
Evangeline Fox will do anything to stop her true love from marrying someone else. Even if that means making a deal with the Prince of Hearts — the most wicked immortal Fate. She agrees to give him three kisses whenever he wants. But deals with Fates always cost something. Evangeline learns that happily ever after means surviving the Prince's dangerous games.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Female character who makes risky deals to protect someone.
Romance with a morally gray, powerful male.
Fantasy world with complex rules and politics.
Romance where love could be deadly.
11. 'Throne of Glass' by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena Sardothien is eighteen and an assassin who's in prison for life. The Crown Prince offers her freedom if she wins a tournament to become the King's Champion. She must fight other deadly competitors. But when bodies start showing up, Celaena realizes something evil is happening. The competition just got more dangerous.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Deadly competition with skilled fighters.
Female character with hidden powers and secrets.
Political intrigue in the royal court.
Complex romance with multiple love interests.
12. 'Spark of the Everflame' by Penn Cole
In a world ruled by the gods' cruel children called the Descended, Diem Bellator wants to escape her poor village. Her mother disappears suddenly. And then, Diem finds a dangerous secret about her past. This knowledge gives her a chance to enter the Descended royalty's dark world and solve her mother's mysteries.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Female character with hidden heritage and secrets.
Royal palace politics and betrayal.
A fantasy world where bloodlines and power matter most.
Enemies-to-lovers romance that makes survival harder.
13. 'Trial of the Sun Queen' by Nisha J. Tuli
Lor suffered for twelve years under the Aurora King. When she's suddenly freed and given to the rival Sun King, she must compete against nine others to be queen. If she wins his heart, she'll be free and get revenge. But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials, and the other competitors will do anything to get rid of her.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Competition where failure could mean death.
Female character in a world where she doesn't belong.
Political moves and deadly alliances between competitors.
Fantasy with complex power structures and royal politics.
14. 'Rebel Witch' by Kristen Ciccarelli
This duology conclusion continues after 'Heartless Hunter'. The conflict between witches and hunters gets worse, and Rune must navigate dangerous politics while protecting her identity and the people she promised to save. The romance between hunter and hunted gets stronger even as things get more deadly.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Enemies-to-lovers dynamic between hunter and hunted.
Political rebellion against a regime hunting specific people.
Female character balancing personal desires with duty.
Romance where love conflicts with survival and duty.
15. 'Glow of the Everflame' by Penn Cole
The second book in The Kindred's Curse Saga continues Diem's journey in the Descended world. She faces new enemies and more questions. Diem gets a power that could change everything, but keeping it might kill her. It doesn't help that war is coming, and enemies are everywhere.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
Female character with hidden powers in a hostile world.
Deadly political intrigue and power struggles.
Enemies-to-lovers romance that makes survival harder.
Fantasy world where magic and bloodlines decide everything.
16. 'The Crimson Moth' by Kristen Ciccarelli
On the night Rune's life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. After a devastating revolution, witches went from powerful rulers to outcasts hunted for their magic. Now, Rune must hide what she is.
By day, she pretends to be a shallow young socialite. By night, she becomes the Crimson Moth — a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent. Her plan? Court the handsome Gideon Sharpe, a notorious witch hunter loyal to the revolution. Someone she can't help but fall for.
But Gideon hates everything Rune represents. When he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune's merchant ships to smuggle witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles and pretends to court her right back. Soon, he realizes the woman beneath her beauty and superficial facade is someone intelligent and tender — his perfect match. Except she's the villain that he's been hunting.
Why it's like 'Powerless':
A girl hiding her true nature in a world that hunts her kind.
Enemies-to-lovers romance between hunter and hunted.
Post-revolution world where magic users are persecuted.
Double life with deadly consequences if discovered.
Read more books like 'Powerless' with Headway
You've got a lot of book recommendations. But between work, family, and having a life, when will you read 16 fantasy novels? That's where Headway steps in as your personal reading fairy godmother.
You probably loved 'Powerless' for how romance mixed with rebellion. Lauren Roberts also writes about fighting for what's right and not letting society define you. Headway gathers powerful insights like these from thousands of self-help books. And they're condensed into 5–15 minute summaries that you can read or listen to anywhere.
Whether you're commuting, waiting in line, or stealing minutes before bed, you can learn about confidence, relationships, and personal growth. It's real-life magic that helps you channel your inner Paedyn Gray. The app also has science fiction and fantasy book summaries for when you need a break from your current romantasy binge.
Download the Headway app now to see how daily learning can change your life, just like a good book can change your evening.
Frequently asked questions about books like 'Powerless' by Lauren Roberts
What is 'Powerless' about?
'Powerless' by Lauren Roberts is a New York Times bestselling romantasy book. It follows Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary living in the kingdom of Ilya. Only the Elites matter in this world, as they're the ones with powers from surviving the Plague.
Being powerless is actually a crime here. Paedyn pretends to be a Mundane (someone with weak psychic powers) so she won't be killed. But when she gets caught helping another Ordinary, she's thrown into the Purging Trials. It's a brutal competition where people fight to the death for entertainment.
We love how Lauren Roberts mixes dystopian elements like 'The Hunger Games' with the romance that made Sarah J. Maas famous. This first book starts a trilogy full of rebellion, power struggles, and romantic tension. It's no wonder BookTok can't stop talking about this love story!
What is romantasy?
Romantasy blends fantasy and romance. The love story is just as important as the magic and world-building. You can't have one without the other. The romance drives the plot forward, while the fantasy creates the world where it all happens. Think dragons, love triangles, magic, and makeout sessions woven together.
What is the recommended order for reading the Powerless series by Lauren Roberts?
Start with 'Powerless' (2023), then read 'Reckless' (2024), and finish with 'Fearless' (2025). There are also two novellas: 'Powerful' (2024) picks up after book one, and 'Fearful' (2025) starts after book three. You can skip the novellas if you want. They add extra perspectives, but aren't necessary to understand the main story.
Is 'Powerless' appropriate for 13-year-olds?
Due to its violent and romantic themes, this work is recommended for readers 16 and up. Some mature 13-year-olds might be okay with it. However, it's definitely not suitable for younger readers, such as 11-year-olds. Parents should check it out first to decide if it's right for their teen.
Is 'Fourth Wing' better than 'Powerless'?
'Fourth Wing' features more detailed world-building and a more mature writing style. But "better" depends on what you like. You might prefer 'Powerless' if you want morally gray characters and dystopian vibes. If you want epic fantasy with emotional depth, 'Fourth Wing' might be your pick. Both are BookTok favorites for good reasons.
What are the best enemies-to-lovers books like 'Powerless'?
The top picks include the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas, 'From Blood and Ash' by Jennifer Armentrout, and 'Fourth Wing' by Rebecca Yarros. All of these mix intense romance with high-stakes fantasy settings. They're huge on BookTok because they nail that tension between characters who start as enemies but can't fight their attraction.
What BookTok books are similar to 'Powerless'?
'Fourth Wing' and the 'Red Queen' series are the biggest BookTok hits, alongside 'Powerless'. They're all books with strong romantic plots set in fantasy worlds. BookTok loves them for their swoon-worthy romance, plot twists, and characters you can't help but root for — even when they make questionable choices.
Should I read 'Red Queen' or 'Powerless' first?
You can start with either option, since they're separate stories. Pick 'Powerless' if you want a newer romance trilogy with a dystopian twist and enemies-to-lovers romance. Choose 'Red Queen' if you wish for classic political intrigue and heroic character arcs. Both have power struggles, rebellion, and romance — just different flavors of each.
Is 'Powerless' worth the hype?
Most readers say yes. They love the fast-paced plot, morally complex characters, and slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance. It became a BookTok sensation for a reason. But if you're looking for pure fantasy without heavy romance, you might not love it as much. It's definitely a romance book where romance matters as much as fantasy.
What's the difference between YA fantasy and New Adult romantasy?
YA fantasy usually has teenage main characters dealing with coming-of-age stuff. The romance is often lighter or takes a backseat to the fantasy plot. New Adult romance features characters in their late teens to early twenties. The romance is more mature and central to the story. It often has darker themes and more intense romantic scenes. In romantasy, you can't separate the romance from fantasy — they're equally important.
