Fearless Book Review

In Lauren Robert's own words, this book series is forever my undoing. I relate to Paedyn and the message of these books so much. And of course, I'm just as obsessed with Kai as everyone else. I was honestly so afraid to read this book because I was so uncertain as to how everything was going to be resolved or if I was going to like the ending, but it completely exceeded my expectations. This book was such an emotional roller coaster, but the ending was surprisingly peaceful and absolutely perfect. It did so much justice to the characters and their journey.

The evolution of Kai and Pae's relationship over the course of the three books is just insane. At first they're enemies, then lovers, then back to enemies, then back to lovers, and in Fearless they are soon to be in-laws. But that being said, the yearning in this book is SO GOOD!!! They are both so obsessed with each other, but they have to keep their relationship a secret and struggle with thinking they have no future together, which literally broke my heart. I liked how in Reckless they hated each other but were forced to be together, but in Fearless they can’t be seen together but love each other. There is a line where Paedyn says "It is cruel not to be able to call him mine, after all we've endured," and I was like yes, cruel indeed. Also, I feel like it's always been so clear how in love Kai is with Paedyn because he is so poetic, but in this book, it showed how much Paedyn loves him too, more so than the other books I felt, which I loved.

This book had so many ups and downs, and I absolutely loved it. One minute I was giggling, and the next I was sobbing. So many things came back from Powerless and there were so many family secrets that I never would have guessed at. Looking back, there were so many clues, some of which I caught onto, others of which I didn’t. I love when you don’t expect something but then can go back and point out the foreshadowing afterwards, and Lauren did a great job with that.

I think the thing I love the most about this series in general is that it is just such a fun, true YA romantasy. It has literally all my favorite tropes and such fun, simple worldbuilding. Especially in Fearless, there are so many fun fantasy elements. You get to travel outside of Ilya and the map in the book is even expanded. I also loved how the idea of the Trials reappeared because I love anything with deadly challenges. All in all, everything about this book was exactly what I needed and I absolutely “ ate it up,” as my sister would say.

Now, let’s talk about the end without talking about the end. There were so many turns of events that I honestly didn’t even know how to feel anymore. As a prior Kitt hater, so much about him was revealed that I can’t even have a one-sided opinion of him anymore. The ending is definitely bittersweet like Lauren said, and had me absolutely sobbing. The last line before the epilogue was the absolute perfect way to end the story. If your an Adena lover (which how could you not be?), the ending, and the whole book really, is like a punch to the gut.

Everything comes back to those darn sticky buns.

-SPOILERS-

This book was so mind blowing, I don’t even know where to start.

I really liked the addition of Edric as the 3rd POV, especially since it was in third person. It added such a good leadup to all of the big reveals, as well as adding some depth and prior knowledge to Edric, Queen Iris, and Queen Myla’s characters. I guessed that Calum and Iris were having an affair based on the roses, and that Paedyn was the powerless baby (that was kind of obvious though lol), but somehow I didn’t put together that Callum was Paedyn’s real dad. I assumed it was the King. And then once I realized that I was like oh my goodness, Kitt and Paedyn are half siblings, which is very awkward seeing as how they have a tense relationship already and that they literally had just gotten married. Thank goodness Kai wasn’t actually related to either of them.

I was also actually so sad and shocked that the whole rebellion was a sham. I mean, that was a big sense of hope for Paedyn, and even that was something that the King took from her. Learning the whole rebellion take-over during the final trial was a plot to kill all the Ordinaries after it caused Paedyn so much pain made me so mad. Paedyn never had control of a single thing in her life, and even something she chose was just a part of a bigger game.

Also, Kitt and Kai not even being siblings is so insane to me. The first book really built up their strong brotherly bond, and even in Fearless, everything Kitt did he justified as being for him and Kai and their legacy. I know Kitt was dying of the Plaque before Kai stabbed him, but that was so cruel! The fact that Lauren included a scene earlier in the book that described Kitt and Kai's sparring routine and how it was calming for the both of them, and the to have Kai stab Kitt accidentally because he FORGOT TO DODGE?!? Hello? I did not cry when Kitt died (which I'll get into my feelings about later), but the fact that Kai did it, when they were everything to each other, was so heartbreaking. The bathtub scene!?! Now that's when I lost it.

Okay, now to get into my Kitt rant. At first, I genuinely liked Kitt. I was a bit confused as to why he would go after Paedyn romantically when he clearly could tell Kai had feelings for her, and also was mad that he just put up with the way Kai was being raised (I feel like an older brother would be more protective, or maybe that's just the older sister in me), but I thought he had a lot of potential to create change within the country. Then in Reckless, I thought he was just going insane and I joined the Kitt Hate Club with how he was treating Kai, how contradictory he was being, and then of course when said "You are to be my bride." After reading this book, I've decided that I don't hate Kitt as a person, I just hate some of the decisions he made. I think that he is such a complex character, that it is impossible to just feel one way about him.

What I don't understand is why Kitt did everything he did. I know that it all steamed by him being raised by his messed-up father, but there were so many other ways for him to be better than him. He wanted to be great, but why by creating more Elites? Why not in doing what he actually said he was doing and creating equality for the Ordinaries? He hated Paedyn for "stealing" Kai from him, but why did he need Kai for just himself? Isn't there enough love to go around? And also, I'm sorry, but him hating Paedyn for betraying him by "tricking" him into showing her the tunnels was so stupid because 1.) his dad literally orchestrated the entire thing, so he knew it was coming, 2.) it's not that deep, Paedyn is just trying to survive in a kingdom that wants her dead while trying to continue what her dad believed in, and 3.) he proceeded to do MUCH worse things to her, like literally try to KILL her in the Trials for her to become queen, even at the expense of Kai's life in some cases. In the end, he was still trying to please his father, even after the millions of red flags, and was driven by power and greatness like his dad. Also, why did he, the crown prince, take the Plaque? Sacrifice another Elite if you plan on killing off thousands anyway!

I also could not write this review without addressing Kai's "death." When I read that scene, I was honestly so confused and stunned, I had to re-read it. The first time I read it, it felt so off to me. I questioned why Kai would ever agree to such a thing, after so clearly stating that he would never fight Paedyn ever again, not even to train her for her Trials. Also, he was not nearly as poetic as he should have been, especially when he "died." I mean, he didn't even tell Paedyn he loved her. Then when he said "see" before he died, I literally wrote in my book "See you in the sky" to finish the sentence, but I just figured it was a cruel kind of parallel to Adena, since she is always just a thought away throughout the book, and not a clue. Anyways, then I read it again and even wrote a whole list about what was wrong with the scene. I was so mad because I didn't think the scene did Kai's death justice, but then he wasn't actually dead so it was fine. Then when Kitt said it was another Wielder disguised by an Illusionist I was like OH. MY. GOD. It's Mak. Then when Pae saw his body and found the stitching on his vest, I was sobbing my eyes out. I love Mak and am still in shock that he killed himself to be with Adena.

Lastly, Lenny and Blair?!? Stop right now. Absolutely disgusting. Lenny is one of my favorite characters, and I can’t believe he would swoop that low. Especially since he is Paedyn’s ONLY FRIEND? I friend that knows how much pain Blair caused Pae? He definitely saved Blair from the fire. And when he asked to be released from duty to go to Dor or Tando, when Paedyn sees Blair in Tando years later?! Horrifying.

All this ranting being said, this book is my literal everything. Kai and Paedyn's wedding was exactly as I would have envisioned it for them, and then the little 5 years later chapter was so precious. All in all, I am so sad that this series is over, and that I no longer get to read about my husband Kai, but I'm holding out for the novella! Also, Lauren confirmed a new series that will take place in the same realm as Powerless after the map expansion in Fearless, and I cannot wait for what she writes next!