Powerless by Lauren Roberts: The Complete 20-Question Quiz
Test your knowledge of Lauren Roberts's Powerless with this 20-question quiz. It covers the full story, from Adena and Paedyn's first meeting in the prologue to the devastating final Trial. Questions are grouped by type: plot and sequence, character motivation, theme and symbol, and synthesis. The complete answer key with explanations appears after the questions. Good luck!
If you need a refresher, check the book overview or the ending explained. For deeper discussion, see the questions and answers.
Plot and Sequence (Questions 1–8)
1. In the prologue, how do Adena and Paedyn first meet?
A) Paedyn saves Adena from an Imperial chase.
B) Adena phases through Paedyn while fleeing, causing an Imperial to trip.
C) They are both caught stealing sticky buns.
D) Paedyn buys a blue shirt from Adena's stall.
2. What is Makoto's original plan when he approaches Adena in Chapter 2?
A) To ask her to sew a dress for the ball.
B) To use her Phaser ability to sneak into the castle and rescue Hera.
C) To hire her as a seamstress for the Trials.
D) To learn how to sew so he can make his own uniform.
3. What does Adena discover about Makoto's true power in Chapter 9?
A) He is a Burner.
B) He is a Sight.
C) He is a Wielder, not a Phaser.
D) He is a Mundane.
4. What happens to Hera during the first Trial?
A) She wins the Trial.
B) She is stabbed to death.
C) She escapes with Makoto.
D) She is saved by Paedyn.
5. What gift does Adena give Makoto in Chapter 15?
A) A silver needle.
B) A handmade weapons belt with holsters for his knives.
C) A blue shirt.
D) A sticky bun.
6. What is the king's decree for the final Trial?
A) Contestants must survive for one hour.
B) The first to reach the center must kill the person waiting there.
C) Contestants must find a hidden key.
D) The last one standing wins.
7. How does Adena die in the final Trial?
A) She is killed by Paedyn.
B) A branch pierces her chest.
C) She is shot by an Imperial.
D) She dies from her broken fingers.
8. What message does Makoto find embroidered on the vest Adena made for him?
A) “Keep practicing!”
B) “See you in the sky.”
C) “For my honey.”
D) “Count the stars.”
Character Motivation (Questions 9–13)
9. Why does Makoto risk everything to save Hera from the Trials?
A) She is his sister.
B) She saved his life when they ran away together.
C) He owes her money.
D) She is the only other Wielder.
10. Why does Adena agree to help Makoto make the Imperial uniform?
A) He pays her well.
B) He promises to help her see Paedyn and provides food and supplies.
C) She wants to learn blacksmithing.
D) She is forced by the king.
11. Why does Makoto lie to Adena about being a Phaser?
A) He is ashamed of his power.
B) He needs her to believe he can phase so she will help him.
C) He wants to protect her from the truth.
D) He is testing her loyalty.
12. After learning Makoto's secret, why does Adena continue to meet him?
(Short answer)
13. Why does the king have Adena imprisoned and placed in the final Trial?
A) She stole from the castle.
B) She is a threat because of her connection to Paedyn.
C) He wants to use her as the criminal to be killed.
D) She refused to sew for the queen.
Theme and Symbol (Questions 14–17)
14. What does the sticky bun most consistently symbolize throughout the novel?
A) Wealth and luxury.
B) Comfort, friendship, and small joys.
C) The Trials' brutality.
D) Makoto's guilt.
15. What does the silver needle that Makoto carves for Adena represent?
(Short answer)
16. What does the recurring motif of counting stars represent?
A) The characters' love of astronomy.
B) Hope, connection, and the afterlife.
C) The passing of time in the Trials.
D) The king's control over the sky.
17. What is the significance of the message “See you in the sky” on the vest?
(Short answer)
Synthesis (Questions 18–20)
18. How do both Adena and Makoto demonstrate the theme of sacrifice?
(Short answer)
19. Compare the relationship between Adena and Paedyn with that between Adena and Makoto.
(Short answer)
20. What is the dramatic effect of the twist that Adena is the criminal in the final Trial?
A) It shows the king's cruelty and the randomness of his victims.
B) It proves that Adena was always a criminal.
C) It makes Paedyn the hero of the story.
D) It reveals that Makoto planned the whole thing.
Answer Key
1. B – In the prologue, Adena phases through Paedyn while fleeing an Imperial, causing the Imperial to trip. They then share a sticky bun and become partners.
2. B – Makoto reveals in Chapter 9 that he needed Adena's Phaser power to sneak into the castle and rescue Hera. He had planned to use her ability to get close enough to wield it.
3. C – Adena learns that Makoto is a Wielder, the same power as Prince Kai, not a Phaser as he had claimed.
4. B – In Chapter 13, the king informs Adena that Hera was stabbed to death in the first Trial.
5. B – In Chapter 15, Adena gives Makoto a handmade weapons belt with holsters for his knives, made from white leather matching his mask.
6. B – The king announces that contestants must be first to reach the center of the maze and kill the person waiting there.
7. B – In Chapter 22, a branch pierces Adena's chest as Paedyn reaches her, killing her.
8. B – Makoto finds the embroidered message “See you in the sky” on the vest, which he later reads while grieving.
9. B – Makoto explains that Hera saved his life when they ran away together at ages fourteen and twelve. He feels he owes her.
10. B – Makoto offers Adena food, supplies, and a chance to see Paedyn, which convinces her to help.
11. B – Makoto lies about being a Phaser because he needs Adena to believe he can phase so she will help him get into the castle; his true power as a Wielder would have scared her away.
12. Adena continues to meet Makoto because she cares for him and wants to help him despite his deception. She also feels a deep connection and believes he is not as unworthy as he thinks.
13. C – The king uses Adena as the criminal in the final Trial, likely because of her connection to Paedyn or as a cruel twist to raise the stakes. The evidence shows she is imprisoned without explanation and then placed in the arena.
14. B – The sticky bun appears as a comfort food shared between Adena and Paedyn, and later between Adena and Makoto, symbolizing small joys and connection.
15. The silver needle represents Makoto's love and craftsmanship, as well as his hope for a future with Adena. It is a gift he never gets to give her, symbolizing their unfulfilled love.
16. B – Counting stars is a shared ritual between Adena and Makoto, representing hope, connection, and the promise of meeting again in the afterlife.
17. The message “See you in the sky” signifies Adena's promise to watch over Makoto from the afterlife, and his belief that she will be waiting for him. It is a farewell that offers comfort and hope.
18. Both Adena and Makoto are willing to sacrifice themselves for loved ones. Makoto risks his life to save Hera, and Adena sacrifices her safety to help Paedyn and later to protect Makoto. Adena's death in the final Trial is the ultimate sacrifice, as she dies for Paedyn's victory.
19. Adena and Paedyn share a deep, platonic friendship built on years of survival and mutual support. Adena and Makoto's relationship is romantic, marked by secrecy, vulnerability, and emotional growth. Both relationships are central to Adena's identity, but the romantic one is cut short by tragedy.
20. A – The twist reveals the king's cruelty and the arbitrary nature of his victims. Adena is innocent, yet she is thrown into the arena to die, highlighting the injustice of the Trials and the king's power.
For more insights, explore the ending explained or revisit the full book guide.