Lauren Roberts Announces New Novella 'Fearful' in 'Powerless' Series

Lauren Roberts, the bestselling author known for her 'Powerless' series, has revealed plans to publish a new companion novella titled 'Fearful' on September 2, 2023. This announcement comes just months after the release of 'Fearless', the finale of her original trilogy, which debuted in April of this year. The 'Powerless' series, which has garnered significant attention and acclaim, follows the tumultuous romance between a prince and an ordinary girl who conceals her true identity and powers.

In 'Fearless', a pivotal character named Kitt dies, leaving readers with unanswered questions. The upcoming novella 'Fearful' aims to address these queries by providing new perspectives through Kitt's voice and exploring his fears surrounding death and loss. 'It’s really cool for them to actually tell me, ‘We want to hear about Kitt’ or ‘We want to hear about this story,’' said Roberts, emphasizing her connection with her audience. This interactive approach has been a hallmark of Roberts' engagement with her readers, particularly through platforms like BookTok, where she first gained widespread popularity.

Roberts' journey as an author has been remarkable. Since her debut, her novels have broken records, with 'Fearless' achieving the highest sales for a young adult title at Simon & Schuster. Jonathan Karp, President and CEO of the publishing house, described Roberts as an 'extraordinary phenomenon,' noting the organic growth of her readership through word-of-mouth recommendations.

The cover of 'Fearful' promises to delight fans, featuring design elements that connect it to previous installments in the series while also hinting at themes and elements from 'Fearless'. Roberts explained that she considers her audience's feedback during the design process, ensuring that each cover resonates with her readers’ experiences and expectations.

While 'Fearful' serves as a conclusive addition to the 'Powerless' series, Roberts hinted at the possibility of a spin-off, suggesting that there is still more lore to explore within the universe she has created. 'But as for these characters and this story, this is the conclusion as of right now,' she stated, cautioning readers not to worry about unresolved plotlines.

As Roberts reflects on her growth as a writer since she began crafting the series at age 18, she acknowledges the bittersweet nature of concluding a significant chapter in her career. 'These books are a mosaic of who I was at each age,' she remarked, expressing excitement about applying the lessons learned from her journey to future projects.

In addition to her literary pursuits, 'Powerless' is set to be adapted into a television series by Prime Video, produced by Will Gluck’s Olive Bridge and Lyrical Media. The adaptation will follow the narrative of the first book, further expanding the reach of Roberts' captivating world.

With the publication of 'Fearful' on the horizon, fans of the 'Powerless' series can anticipate a richly woven narrative that not only concludes the journey of beloved characters but also opens doors to new adventures in the world Roberts has masterfully built.