YA Romantasy Reads: Lightlark & Powerless
As a children’s librarian, I’ve always been drawn to young adult literature. Keeping up with new releases was part of the job, but also something I genuinely loved. After stepping away from the library for a few years to focus on nonprofit work, reading took a backseat. I missed it more than I expected, and now, returning to both the library and the creation of Layfette, I’ve found my way back to something I’ve always loved.
With so many books to choose from, I started where I first fell in love with reading: Young Adult Fantasy.
I browsed the YA shelves and picked up Powerless by Lauren Roberts, the first in a series published in 2023. Set in the kingdom of Ilya, the story follows a society divided between powerful “Elites” and powerless “Ordinaries.” Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary, survives by pretending to be psychic. When she unexpectedly saves one of the princes, she is thrown into the Purging Trials, a deadly competition designed to test the kingdom’s strongest Elites. As she fights to survive, she becomes entangled in complicated relationships with the very people she should fear most.
Around the same time, my daughter gave me Lightlark by Alex Aster (published in 2022), knowing my love for YA fantasy. The novel follows Isla, a young ruler who must compete in the Centennial, a gathering of leaders from cursed realms. Each arrives hoping to break the curse that binds their people. As Isla navigates shifting alliances, secrets, and danger, she forms connections with two other rulers—Oro of the Sunlings and Grim of Nightshade.
There are clear similarities between these two novels. Both fall into the “romantasy” category, blending high-stakes fantasy with romance. Each features a strong, determined female protagonist who has been shaped by their family or caregivers to survive. Both Paedyn and Isla are trained to fight and navigate environments where survival depends on both physical danger and outwitting those around them. Trust is fragile, alliances are uncertain, and the line between enemy and ally is never quite clear.
Where they differ is in how their stories unfold. Powerless leans into a fast-paced, competition-driven structure, with clear stakes and a strong focus on survival within a rigid social system. The tension builds through action and confrontation. Lightlark, by contrast, is more atmospheric and layered. Its world unfolds through mystery, secrets, and shifting motivations. The Centennial feels less like a structured battle and more like a puzzle, with hidden agendas and twists shaping the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading each book and would continue reading both series…if only there weren’t so many other books on my TBR. For readers who enjoy YA with romance, rivalry, and sharp banter, both of these novels are well worth picking up. They each bring their own pace and style to the genre, but share the same pull of high stakes, complex characters, and relationships that sit somewhere between trust and challenge.
