Powerless Series by Lauren Roberts (Hardcover)

The Powerless series by Lauren Roberts is a YA fantasy romance set in the kingdom of Ilya, divided into powerful Elites and powerless Ordinaries, following thief Paedyn Gray who must pose as an Elite to survive deadly "Purging Trials" while hiding her secret and navigating a forbidden romance with Prince Kai, featuring deadly competitions, political intrigue, betrayal, and slow-burn romance reminiscent of The Hunger Games and The Red Queen. 

Core Premise:

• World: The Kingdom of Ilya, where a past Plague granted powers (Elites) to some, while others (Ordinaries) were banished as a crime.
• Protagonist: Paedyn Gray, an ordinary living as a thief in the slums, pretending to be a Psychic.
• Conflict: Paedyn saves Prince Kai and is forced into the Purging Trials, a brutal competition for Elites, where her lack of power means certain death if discovered. 

Key Elements:

• Enemies-to-Lovers: A slow-burn romance develops between Paedyn and Prince Kai, who is tasked with hunting her kind.
• Deadly Games: The Purging Trials are a central, dangerous event with cutthroat battles and high stakes.
• Themes: Forbidden love, deception, hidden strengths, betrayal, and survival in a class-divided society. 

The Series:

• Powerless (Book 1)
• Powerful (Companion novella)
• Reckless (Book 2)