Aimée Carter

Desperate to escape a life of marginalization and misery, Kitty Doe joins the most powerful family in the country, a choice that requires her to assume the identity of the Prime Minister's niece and stop a rebellion that ended her predecessor's life. Original.

Pawn

Monicap

Wow, what a great book.

First off, I just need to address the premise: because it feels very contrived, doesn't it? The reason it feels like that is because it's been done before. At least twice. And this premise is only really good once, you know?

That being said, I thought this book was the best-executed version of that premise, out of the three that I've read. 

This book had great pacing; I've been totally in it for the past five hours straight, it never let me up. 

We start off with a bang, out main character, the amazing Kitty Doe, stealing an orange from the market in the hopes that at least she'll be killed instead of spending the rest of her life as a lowly III. We meet her boyfriend, the adorable Benjy, prey soon as well.
--I interrupt your regular programming to talk about Benjy-- Once, I read a book. I can not for he life of me remember what the book was called or what it was about, but at the beginning, the girl already had a boyfriend and was professing her love him, and I said "Alright. Why am I supposed to like him?" AND THE AUTHOR NEVER GAVE ME ANY OTHER REASON TO LIKE HIM. At that point, I said to myself, "If I ever again come across a book where the main character is already in love with somebody, I WILL NOT LOVE HIM." Suffice to say, that has no worked out for me. --return to your regular programming--
So, we've met the Amazing Kitty and the Adorable Benji and stuff important to the plot happens and then Kitty goes off and decided to be a prostitute (view spoiler)[ and a couple people die, and I was really disappointed by that. I felt those characters could have been better utilized, rather than being killed off before I was given a chance to give a shit whether they died or not.  (hide spoiler)] The plot really gets kicking then when Kitty is transformed into Lila and we meets the Harts. Personally, I feel that EVERY SINGLE ONE of these characters were so well portrayed and so well developed and so witty and so perfect. 
Except for this one bit in the middle of he book in which Knox and Celia randomly weren't here. 
Anyways, LOVED ALL OF THEM. I mean Daxton and Augusta were obviously bad people but there were so well utilized. 
Speaking of Daxton, what the heck was Elsewhere even for? Like, I mean I get why the author created it but it was just... oh, it didn't really make sense. I mean, I get the principle behind it. Carter used it not only to help explain the governmental system, but also to make our villain, Daxton, seem really inhuman, and while it worked I just found the whole thing to be WAY too over-the-top.

Regardless of the contrived premise and dubious worldbuilding, I felt that this book was extraordinarily well-executed and full of well-developed characters, so I will be looking forward to the next one.

Escaping a life of marginalization and misery, Kitty Doe joins the most powerful family in the country, a choice that requires her to assume the identity of the Prime Minister's niece and stop a rebellion that ended her predecessor's life.

Briar's Reviews

Eons ago I read The Goddess Test series by Aimee Carter. It was a delightful read I picked up in my teens and I loved it. When this book came out, I bought it at a local bookstore and then just didn't read it. It sat on my bookshelf for years (sadly, almost a decade) and I finally decided... it was time.

This book was a delight for me to read! It's fast paced, easy to read, and very intriguing for the entire story/plot behind it all. We've definitely read a lot of book where there are different levels in society, the lower the number the worse off they are, but this one just hit me the right way. It has a lot of YA tropes, but do I care? Nope! Give me the potential love triangle, a potential enemies to lovers, and lots of hidden lore. I AM ALL IN BABY.

If you're looking for some Oscar-like story with a lot of drama and depth, this isn't really the book for you. This book is a YA dystopian with all the drama of the early 2010s. It's still an absolute delight to read, but remember what book you are reading. 

Overall, I adored this book and I am definitely grabbing the rest of the books in the series (hopefully not another decade between each one).

Four out of five stars.

Krystyna 

This book was a good read. I am definitely going to be reading the sequel when it is released. If you're a fan of The Hunger Games and/or Divergent I would really recommend giving this book a read.

Elizabeth Neill

I don't know about this series. I liked the book ok but I don't know if I will go on with the series. If I don't it wont be right now

The first move is hers… The Blackcoat Rebellion Book 1 Author of The Goddess Test novels A single test determined her entire future…until she was given a way out Kitty Doe had one chance to prove she could be worthwhile to society. Instead, she walked out of her ranking test as a complete failure, with a permanent "III" tattooed on the back of her neck. At seventeen, she's facing a lifetime of cleaning sewers…and being separated from Benjy, the boy she's loved for as long as she can remember. So when Kitty is offered a chance to escape her fate, it seems like an easy choice. If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family—a VII—she will be famous. And for the first time, she will matter. There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed…and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only just beginning to understand. "Carter has created an engaging heroine to root for in Kitty and a page-turner full of twists and turns." —Booklist "The actions and plot twists will keep readers satisfied and waiting for more in the series." —School Library Journal

Steysha

Ella Zegarra

I've received an ARC of this in exchange of a honest review

Publicado en: El Extraño Gato del Cuento

Hace unos días Aimee dijo en su cuenta de Twitter que había escrito este libro antes de que todo el boom por las distopías estallara. Buena estrategia la de ella, publicó el libro en un muy buen momento.

Me alegra no haber leído la sinopsis antes de empezar mi lectura, le que quita bastante el misterio. Así que si pueden evitarlo, no lean la sinopsis, se mezclaran más con la historia, aunque estarán un poquito confundidos en las primeras páginas, pero créanme, vale la pena.

Pawn me gustó bastante, si bien es una distopia, el tiempo que hay entre ahora y el futuro que nos trae Carter son solo setenta y un años, comparado con otras historias es bastante corto. Meterte con el libro es simple, y leer es sumamente rápido, por lo que puedes estar en la página veinte y sin darte cuenta faltarte solo un capítulo para terminar el libro.

Es bastante interesante leer sobre los rangos, mientras más inteligente eres, tus expectativas de vida no solo son más altas, sino también tienes privilegios que un II o III no tendrán nunca. Ahora, lo que en teoría parece algo justo mientras vas leyendo te darás cuenta lo enrevesado que está. Que la nueva política no es tan equitativa y justa como se pensaba.

Un punto negativo es el inicio de todo esto, Kitty obtiene un III, así que el trabajo que le dan es uno de menor importancia, la cosa es ésta, con un poco de paciencia todo se habría solucionado, pero acá la muchacha hace algo estúpido y toma otra decisión sin base para terminar donde termina, obviamente que si eso no hubiera pasado no tendríamos historia, pero de todas maneras no logré conectar con esa parte de la historia. Además que muchas de las decisiones supuestamente fueron tomados por el amor que ella siente, pero lo único que consigue con ellas es lastimar y lastimar al objeto de su atención.

Tenía ciertas dudas con Pawn, los libros anteriores de Aimee Carter fueron entretenidos pero demasiados lights para mi gusto. Superó considerablemente todas mis expectativas, intrigante, político y sobre todo hasta ahora no hay triángulo amoroso.

Reseña completa (quejas y comentarios):El Extraño Gato del Cuento

You can be a VII if you give everything. For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country. If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter. There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed...and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand. 'Filled with diversely drawn characters, this will appeal to those who enjoy classic tales set in modern times.' Booklist on THE GODDESS TEST

Cindy Lee

Pawn was quite a interesting story and I have conflicted thoughts on it. One part of me enjoyed the book very much but the other part questions almost everything that Kitty does and how the society is.

Kitty Doe failed the one test that mattered in her life and received a III. She was below average and was about to live the rest of her miserable life until someone offered to give her a VII. She accepted the offer, naturally. We are then going into the revengeful lives of the Harts, who are all dead bent on killing each other for power. 

One thing that bothered me was the society. We weren't really given much historical background on how the way things are came to be. I also didn't understand the kind of person Lila Hart is. She's quite the rude and snotty person. Kitty's relationship with Benjy didn't convince me either. I know that Benjy was the nicest person to her at the orphanage but I don't really see anything about Benjy worth swooning or appreciating.

The good thing was the plot and the premise. I really like this idea of this test to determine your rank for life. It's quite intriguing and I love reading about the different people's lives. The plot was also nicely paced and there were definitely lots of action going on. The ending was story-changing. I imagine that now the powers have been shifted and Kitty must deal with the next problem in Captive.

Pawn is a refreshing dystopian novel. It's got quite a different feel to it and it's going okay so far despite the few problems I have with it. I would recommend it to dystopian fans for sure.

Rating: C

ashley hopkins

Justine Rose

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads
.


  
    "Have you ever played chess, Kitty?"
I eyed her. What did a board game have to do with this? "Not really."
"You and I should play sometime. I think you would like it," she said. "It's a game of strategy, mostly. The strong pieces are in the back row, while the weak pieces – the pawns – are all up front, ready to take the brunt of the attack. Because of their limited movement and vulnerability, most people underestimate them and only use them to protect the more powerful pieces. But when I play, I protect my pawns."
  


I found the entire concept of this book interesting. I've read my fair share of dystopian books and I'm always looking for something that makes them unique. For me, it's often the characters. In this case, I really did like the characters – Kitty particularly – but the concept was what sucked me in. The idea that a test that you take when you're seventeen years old can determine your entire future is intriguing. Flawed in the way that dystopian societies tend to be, but intriguing all the same. The book started off with a bang and had enough secrets, lies and twists to keep me interested for the duration. 

Kitty was strong and determined and a lot smarter than her aptitude test made her out to be. I couldn't help but wonder throughout the book what her true score would have been had she been able to finish the test. I guess I'll probably never know. But it's interesting to think about regardless. In addition to being strong, determined and intelligent, Kitty was protective of those she cared about. In the form of true heroine, she was willing to risk herself for those she loved and for the bigger cause at hand. 

This book had a bit of a love triangle, but not in the traditional sense. Kitty's heart belonged to Benjy. It always had. Once she was Masked as Lila Hart, however, she found herself with the complication of a fiancé, Knox. I adored Benjy. He was sweet and caring in the way that childhood sweethearts are. He was a good guy and I hoped they would find each other again. But, I liked Knox, too. Sure he had his faults, but all in all, he was a nice guy. Kitty and Knox did have a mutual appreciation for each other and sometimes it seemed there could be more than that. But, first love dies hard. For both of them. Their partnership and friendship worked, too. They had an interesting dynamic. 

The romance was such a tiny piece of this book. It was a motivator for characters' actions, but otherwise it didn't play much of a part. There were so many intriguing characters in this book and so much more to learn about each and every one of them. The Harts are one screwed up family. The hunger for power and control was unreal. So were the manipulations, secrets and lies. 

The only struggle I had with this book was that the world building wasn't quite as detailed as I wanted it to be. Regardless of what type of book I'm reading, I want to feel like I'm fully immersed. I want to feel like I'm there. It could be because this book was set in the DC area, which is where I live, but I never really felt like I was someplace else. This book certainly had the creepy factor of a dystopian covered, but the lack of detail about the world itself kept me from feeling fully engaged. 

I really did enjoy the book. It sucked me in from the beginning and kept me surprised along the way. It was a very good start to a series I look forward to continuing. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. All quotes come from the review copy and may differ from the final version.

Elad Schulman

That was really entertaining. Although it wasn't the best crafted plot, there were a few plot twists that i really was NOT expecting. Kitty was an interesting character, although her name made it extremely hard for me to take her seriously. Benjy was adorable, and so was Knox. This book had a good idea, and it was portrayed well, while still keeping the dystopia theme.

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

This was one of my anticipated new releases this year, because I loved Aimee Carter's The Goddess Test series, but unfortunately, the first book in her new The Blackcoat Rebellion series fell flat for me. I'm a huge fan of dystopian books, and I had expected something unique and exciting, but while the concept was intriguing, Pawn couldn't hold my interest, and the characters grated on my nerves more often than not.

I didn't hate the book, but I didn't really enjoy it either. Mostly because of Kitty, the heroine. She should have been perceived as a survivor in her new world, someone tough, determined to live, and courageous. But to me, she was weak and annoying. Every decision she made was with hesitation, and sure, maybe she need to make rational decisions to keep herself alive, but it was tiring to see her never fighting for herself. It was always, "I have to keep myself alive" so she does nothing because she doesn't want to jeopardize her life. She becomes a pawn, and even worse, a pushover. She was always second-guessing herself and saying how she has no choice but to do others' bidding, except near the end, when she finally makes bigger and tougher choices.

In Kitty's world, at seventeen, you receive a number tattooed onto yourself, and that number determines everything about you–your job, your life, your quality of living–and the higher your number is, the better off you are. The numbers range from I to VII. The Ones ending up being killed, and only the Hart family, the leaders of this new world, are Sevens. On Kitty's seventeenth birthday, she receives a III and a job in the sewers, and is devastated. If she'd gotten a VI, she could have lived a relatively normal life, but with a III she has to leave her home and boyfriend, Benjy.

Kitty doesn't want the life of a III, so she goes with a prostitute to be auctioned off. At this point, I wasn't sure why Kitty wanted to join that kind of life, and I honestly had no idea what was going on. Pretty much the only thing I liked about the book were the twists and surprises Aimee Carter has up her sleeve. So instead of being auctioned off, Kitty meets with Daxton Hart, the prime minister, a man who has nearly all the control in her country. She has a choice of either death or becoming a VII, so of course she chooses to become a VII.

What Kitty unknowingly agreed to was becoming Daxton Hart's neice, Lila, who was killed recently. Kitty is Masked and is surgically transformed into Lila, and has to learn how to be Lila if she wants to keep living. Kitty enters this world of death, corruption, murder and chaos, and has to do Daxton's bidding to stay alive. Kitty's new life involves speeches to give, rebellions, and family problems. And the Hart family has serious problems. They're so manipulative, always plotting someone's and/or each other's murders, and while all of this should have been intriguing, I wasn't interested at all. I didn't like the main character, so I couldn't connect with her, and the story was too convoluted to enjoy.

The romance was also very weak. Even though Kitty has a boyfriend, their relationship wasn't fleshed out well enough. They loved each other, and yet didn't seem to belong with each other. I'm not sure if Aimee Carter did this on purpose, but either way, I didn't car for the romance. If you're looking for a romance book, or even something like her Goddess Test series, look elsewhere. Pawn mainly focuses on the dystopian aspect of the story, and it's mostly politics at that.

The villain was at least mildly interesting, since Kitty's never sure who the villain actually is. There's so much backstabbing that there's no one she can trust. Even I couldn't tell who was the good guy or the bad guy. If you're more into this kind of story, with political agendas and corruption and secrets that eventually get someone killed, then Pawn might be for you. But for me, it just didn't click.

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

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