Powerful

Why these tropes fit

Set in the Kingdom of Ilya, this companion to the Powerless trilogy follows Adena, an Ordinary from the slums of Loot, who is left behind when her best friend Paedyn is chosen for the deadly Purging Trials. Forced to fend for herself, Adena teams up with Mak, a mysterious low-level Elite whose shadowy past and secretive power mark him as an outsider. The pair embark on a time-bounded quest to see their loved ones before the Trials begin, a journey that tests their loyalty and romantic bond against a society divided by class and deadly selection. Romance develops slowly, in the series' established romantasy tradition, while the looming tournament and its near-certain death sentence drive the stakes.

Evidence from the source

• Quest: “the pair team up to see their loved ones before the Trials begin, the quest tests their loyalty, their love, and their lives…” source
• Strong Heroine: “Now alone in Loot, Adena must fend for herself.” source
• Slow Burn: “‘A thrilling fantasy with the most delicious slow-burn romance’ M.A. Kuzniar, bestselling author of Midnight in Everwood” source
• Hidden Identity: “Mak’s shadowy past and secretive power set him apart from the other low-level Elites of Loot.” source

Metadata source: Google Books. Quotes are used only to verify the tags.