Powerless by Lauren Roberts: BookTok’s Five Million Copy Phenomenon

I spent time tracking down what readers across the internet are saying about Powerless by Lauren Roberts. If you haven’t seen this book absolutely everywhere, you’re probably not on BookTok—because this thing became a phenomenon faster than you can say “self-published success story.”

Here’s what caught my attention: a 21-year-old wrote this as a passion project, it went viral on TikTok, hit the New York Times bestseller list for 19 weeks straight, sold over five million copies worldwide, and spawned a full series that readers cannot stop arguing about. When a debut novel generates that much heat, I need to know what’s fueling the fire.

So I did what I always do—dug through Goodreads reviews, Reddit threads, Amazon ratings, and BookTok discourse to separate the hype from the reality.

THE INTEL

• Title: Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy, #1)
• Author: Lauren Roberts
• Published: Originally self-published January 2023; Simon & Schuster edition November 2023
• Series: The Powerless Trilogy (actually 5 books: Powerless, Powerful, Reckless, Fearless, Fearful)
• Goodreads Rating: 4.03/5 from 128,000+ ratings
• Amazon Rating: 4.4/5 stars
• Audiobook: Available in standard narration AND a full-cast dramatized adaptation
• Genre: YA Fantasy Romance / Dystopian Romance
• Page Count: 496 pages

WHAT I FOUND

I researched this book across Goodreads, Reddit’s r/fantasyromance, Amazon reviews, and BookTok to understand why it became such a divisive sensation.

The Red Queen Comparisons Are Relentless

The most common criticism I found wasn’t about quality—it was about originality. Readers on Goodreads compiled literal lists of similarities to Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen and Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. One reviewer detailed over 20 parallels, from the kingdom name (Ilya vs. Illéa from The Selection) to the resistance movement structure to the blonde vs. dark-haired royal brothers dynamic.

But here’s what that same crowd admits: even knowing all the borrowed elements, many of them still enjoyed it. As one Reddit reviewer put it, “This book is trope-driven, not plot-driven or character-driven. It’s back-to-back tropes.” And for a certain type of reader, that’s exactly what they want.

Paedyn Gray: Divisive Protagonist Energy

The main character’s reception is split down the middle. Half the reviews call Paedyn a “badass” who relies on wit instead of powers. The other half calls her a “pick-me” Katniss knockoff who threatens to stab people every other page.

What both sides agree on: she’s powerless in a world where everyone else has magical abilities, forced to compete in deadly trials, and somehow still manages to captivate two royal brothers. The “no powers but all the attitude” angle resonated with readers who loved seeing a physically weaker protagonist outsmart her competition.

Prince Kai: The Morally Grey Debate

Kai Azer, the future Enforcer who hunts Ordinaries like Paedyn, is marketed as “morally grey.” Readers have opinions about this. Strong opinions.

Multiple Goodreads reviewers noted that the book tells you Kai is a brutal killer but never actually shows him doing anything monstrous. He spares children, he’s protective, he’s constantly flirting. One reviewer said, “He killed my sanity but nothing else.” The disconnect between what we’re told about him versus what we see him do frustrated readers looking for actual moral complexity.

That said, the “down bad prince” energy worked for a lot of readers. The banter, the longing stares, the “who did this to you” moments—if you’re here for romance tropes, Kai delivers them by the truckload.

The Full-Cast Audiobook Changed the Game

Simon & Schuster released a full-cast dramatized audiobook adaptation with 13 voice actors. This isn’t common for YA fantasy, and it shows Simon & Schuster believed in the commercial potential here. For readers who found the prose repetitive (“ocean eyes” appears roughly 10,000 times), the dramatized version adds production value that elevates the experience.

BookTok Made This a Juggernaut

Lauren Roberts built her entire fanbase on TikTok, posting her writing journey and engaging directly with readers. By the time traditional publishing picked it up, the book already had a built-in audience. TODAY covered her journey as an example of how social media changed publishing—she went from 18-year-old passion project to NYT bestseller in three years.

The discourse around this book is active. People are making TikToks, writing fan theories, debating character choices. Whether they loved it or hated it, they’re talking about it.

MY ANALYSIS

This book lives or dies on how much you care about originality. If you need fresh worldbuilding and innovative plot structures, you’ll be frustrated. If you want familiar fantasy romance comfort food with all your favorite tropes stacked high, you’ll have a good time.

The “enemies to lovers” label is misleading. Kai and Paedyn are into each other from page one. The actual enemies-to-lovers dynamic is between Paedyn and Kitt (Kai’s brother), but since Kitt doesn’t get a POV, that storyline stays secondary. The marketing doesn’t match the delivery.

Roberts knows her audience. The repetitive phrases, the constant banter, the trope-heavy scenes—these aren’t bugs, they’re features. She wrote a book designed to hit specific beats that resonate on BookTok, and it worked. Five million copies don’t lie.

The debut novel criticism is valid but incomplete. Yes, there are editing issues, pacing problems, and worldbuilding gaps. But Roberts was 20 years old when this came out, self-published it first, and built an empire anyway. The craft will improve; the marketing instincts are already sharp.

The series trajectory matters more than book one. With five books now available (Powerless, Powerful, Reckless, Fearless, Fearful), readers who bounced off the first book report that subsequent entries get better. This is a marathon series, not a standalone.

THE QUESTION NOBODY’S ASKING

Why did traditional publishers let a self-published TikTok phenomenon sit on the table long enough for it to become a sensation before signing it?

Roberts proved the market existed, built the audience herself, and then Simon & Schuster came calling. That’s the backwards model becoming the new standard—prove commercial viability first, get the deal second. It’s happening more and more, and it’s changing what kind of books get greenlit.

THE VERDICT

Read if: You love trope-heavy fantasy romance, you’re a fan of Red Queen or The Hunger Games and want more in that vein, or you’re curious about BookTok’s biggest success stories.

Skip if: You need original worldbuilding, you hate love triangles, or the phrase “ocean eyes” makes you want to throw a book across the room.

Start with the full-cast audiobook if: You want the most immersive experience and can forgive repetitive prose when multiple voice actors bring the characters to life.

Fair warning: This is book one of five. The ending is designed to make you immediately reach for book two. Budget accordingly.

THE COCKTAIL

For a book about a “Silver Savior” navigating royal intrigue, I’m pairing this with the Royal Silver cocktail from Absolut Drinks. The name alone is too perfect—silver for Paedyn’s nickname, royal for the brothers vying for her attention. Plus, it’s elegant enough for a palace ball but strong enough to survive deadly trials. Seems fitting.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Powerless is BookTok’s love child with traditional fantasy romance, and the internet has extremely loud opinions about it. The originality concerns are real, the tropes are relentless, and the commercial success is undeniable. Whether you love it or hate it apparently depends on whether you’re reading for innovation or comfort. The five million people who bought it seem pretty comfortable.

Got intel on books blowing up the algorithm? Send me your tips. I track the buzz, you reap the benefits. But if you send me another Colleen Hoover recommendation, we’re going to have words.

— The Cocktail Correspondent