If you wonder why I’m posting another glowing review, the answer is actually quite simple. I won’t post a review of a book on my website that I don’t really like, as I don’t think it’s fair on an author who’s put their heart and soul into creating it to have a negative view, and just because a novel is not my cup of tea, doesn’t mean it won’t be yours. Any that appear here are ones I rate highly and that I want to recommend, and I loved Powerless.
Sometimes, a book has that “I’ll just read one more chapter” effect, and this is one of them. I didn’t really know what to expect from Powerless, and it’s a testament to the storytelling that three quarters of the way through, I still had no idea how it would end, but needed to find out so had to keep reading. It’s a fast-paced, disturbing story (no spoilers) that opens the door on the dangers of being too trusting, of wanting to be loved too much, and is a salutary tale of “being careful what you wish for.”
I have to admit, there were occasions where I struggled slightly with the motivations of some of the characters, but I don’t mean that as a criticism of the writing by any means. In life, people don’t behave as they should, and sometimes act for the most personal and inexplicable of reasons, which leave me shouting “Whhyyy?” at the pages, but characters in books never seem wise enough to listen to me. I wanted to grab the sisters and shake them, make them see what was really happening, but that only happens if you care about the characters, and I did care here.
I don’t know how you’d categorize Powerless. It’s a thriller, it’s a coming of age tale, it’s YA but it also isn’t, if that makes any sense? What it is, is a novel you won’t regret reading.
I can’t wait for the next book by Vicky Ball.
From the pitch
Beth has it all: a grammar school education, a stay at home mother who dotes on her, a father who works hard on his own business, and a little sister who adores her. But when an older man takes an interest in her, the innocence she once had is slowly ripped away from her.
Seven years later, Abby, her younger sister, has her life turned upside down again on Christmas Eve when pink-haired, skinny Beth turns up out of the blue. Life starts to take a turn for the worse. Now a teenager herself, Abby barely recognises this stranger.
When Beth starts receiving threatening text messages and nightmares disturb her sleep, Abby knows it is not good news. But why won’t Beth talk about it? Why is she so powerless?
Available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1838345957/
Stay safe,
Kit