Fearless

Fearless follows the shocking events of the previous book, Reckless. When royal assassin Kai Azer and rebel traitor Paedyn Grey return to the kingdom of Ilya, their plans of debuting as a couple are ruined when King Kitt – Kai’s half-brother – makes a shocking announcement. To unite the Elites and Ordinaries and prevent more conflict and bloodshed, Kitt will marry Paedyn.   

The Elites revolt at the news, unwilling to accept an Ordinary queen. To prove her capabilities, Kitt instructs Paedyn to complete a series of three trials, where Paedyn must perform a series of increasingly difficult tasks, such as retrieving an ancient artifact and negotiating a peace treaty. Paedyn is determined to succeed, knowing their union would bring peace to the realm and uplift her long-suppressed people. However, despite her resolve to marry Kitt, Paedyn’s heart remains with Kai. Likewise, despite wishing to protect his brother, Kai’s heart remains with Paedyn. Once again, forbidden feelings threaten to return, forcing the ultimate choice between old duty and new love.     

Paedyn is a fighter, determined to uplift her people, even if it means risking her life in the trials. Her bravery is evident as she navigates numerous challenges, such as traversing a series of caves, fending off bandits, and crossing violent seas, all in pursuit of her noble goal. However, readers may be frustrated by her lack of resolve. Despite her engagement and the dire need of her people, Paedyn is unwilling to let go of her on-again, off-again romance with Kai, even though pursuing her fiancé’s brother constantly threatens to undermine her goals. On an emotional level, readers will sympathize with Paedyn’s struggles to let go of her first love, especially considering the complete lack of attraction she feels for Kitt. However, when considering the greater good, Paedyn’s choices seem selfish and irresponsible because she prioritizes her personal feelings over the survival of her people.    

Kai is tormented and pulled in two different directions. He finally understands the importance of the Ordinary cause, yet he is unable to let go of his feelings for Paedyn. However, despite his pain and jealousy, Kai helps Paedyn in any way he can, such as protesting her participation in Kitt’s deadly trials. Readers will appreciate that Kai has finally broken free of his father’s influence and become a fighter for good. However, readers may also be frustrated that, just like Paedyn, Kai is unwilling to commit to the cause completely, and he still pursues their romantic relationship, even if it means hurting his brother and jeopardizing the peace of the realm.  

While Paedyn and Kai’s romance is the heart of the book, keeping the reader emotionally invested in the story, it is not the main focus. Fearless’ focus is divided between the danger of Kitt’s trials and intricate court politics, which are full of plot twists, betrayals, and lies. The trials test Paedyn’s physical strength while the court tests her mental strength. While not quite living up to the heights of the first book in the Powerless series, Fearless far surpasses the second book in the series, Reckless. The stakes are once again elevated, and almost every scene feels important and consequential.   

Fearless is told from the dual points of view of Paedyn and Kai. While Paedyn pushes the plot along, contributing to the most important events of the story, Kai falls into a more supportive role, reacting to Paedyn rather than instigating any major events. Both rehash the conflict of the previous two books — the struggle between duty and love.  Unfortunately, Paedyn and Kai are never really forced to make a hard choice or sacrifice because Kitt is removed from consideration, allowing Paedyn and Kai to bypass what could have been a compelling moral dilemma. Overall, the series ends on a positive, crowd-pleasing note — the villain is defeated, the Ordinaries are uplifted, and Kai and Paedyn get married.   

Sexual Content    

• In a shocking plot twist, Paedyn is revealed to share a mother with Kitt, making them half-siblings. While they never become physically involved, they do spend the majority of the book engaged. Kitt and Kai are half-brothers on their father’s side, so while Paedyn and Kitt share blood, Kai and Paedyn do not.  
• Despite Paedyn’s engagement, Kai and Paedyn are unable to stay away from each other. They share a steamy kiss. As Kai describes, “This kiss is greedy and aching. This kiss is made up of every moment I wasn’t able to touch her, every moment I wanted her but willed myself not to. Her lips are as soft as the skin beneath my roaming hands.” 
• Before swearing off their relationship for good (which does not last long), the story implies that Kai and Paedyn have intercourse. As Paedyn describes, “His mouth crashes into mine. I melt against him, letting this wave of wanting consume me… I’m quickly pulled onto his lap, one hand in my hair and the other gripping my hip… My mouth parts for him, our tongues meeting greedily… The loosened corset has a strap falling from my shoulder. Holding his gaze, I slip the other off my arm—an invitation. His chest heaves as I reach for his tunic and the trail of buttons down its center. One by one, I pull them free, revealing a sliver of skin beneath… the dress slips from my skin, leaving only the rain to clothe me.” The chapter ends as soon as Paedyn takes off her dress, and the next chapter begins the following morning, with the couple lying in bed. The steamy scene lasts three pages.  
• Kai’s inner monologue frequently emphasizes his attraction to Paedyn, but more complimentary than graphic. For example, he thinks, “those beautiful blue eyes” or “that stunning smile she wears.” Paedyn thinks about Kai in a similar way, describing his appearance as “black hair curling over his brow, eyes bright, and dimples that I curse beneath my breath. But above all, love.” 

Violence    

• After learning that his mother died while giving birth to Paedyn, Kitt accuses Paedyn of murder. To prevent Kitt from murdering Paedyn in retaliation, Kai murders Kitt. Paedyn describes their duel. “The Enforcer thrusts that stoker toward the king… The iron stoker protrudes from his chest… Kai rushes to his brother, voice choked. ‘No! You were supposed to dodge, Kitt!’” Paedyn watches “blood seep from Kitt’s touch… His wide green eyes lift.” The heartbreaking scene lasts three pages.  
• In the first book of the series, a contestant named Blair kills Paedyn’s best friend, Adena. In revenge, Paedyn disfigures Blair. As Paedyn describes, “She screams when I force her face into the hungry wall of fire. The side of Blair’s pretty face bubbles and burns within the heat… The stench of fried flesh fills the air, accompanied only by the screams of Adena’s killer.” Blair is left with permanent burn scars on her face.  
• Paedyn has a dream about Adena dying. “Suddenly, it’s Adena dying before me all over again. And all over again, I cannot save her.” 
• During the final trial, Paedyn must fight an Elite who is using his superpowers to pose as Kai. Paedyn is not aware of the switch and believes she is fighting the real Kai. Over five pages, the tense fight unfolds, ending in the fake Kai’s death. “The dagger’s tip meets his chest…I try to pull my hands from the blade, but he lifts his free one, clamping it around mine… The blade sinks farther, springing bright blood from the deepening wound… And then the blade is buried to its hilt.”  

Drugs and Alcohol    

• To escape the pressure of her situation, Paedyn gets drunk at a ball. As Kai observes, “She waves her glass at me, sloshing champagne over the brim of it.” Kai requests that she stop drinking.  
• To prevent Kai from interfering in the final trial, Kitt drugs his brother.   

Language   

• Profanity is used often. Profanity includes damn, hell, ass, shit, and bitch. For example, accusing Kitt of mirroring their father, Kai says, “This is the type of shit our father” would do.
• God is referenced to emphasize the scale of someone’s power. For example, Paedyn privately thinks, “Elite powers do not make you a god.”   

Supernatural   

• The Elites have superhuman abilities. For example, an Elite with fire powers lights a room on fire.  

Spiritual Content    

• None   

by Kerry Lum