Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1)Published November 26th 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Received Ebook from NetGalley
346 pages
"YOU CAN BE A VII. IF YOU GIVE UP 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." ~ Goodreads
Gripping and original, Pawn can be devoured quicker than you can say, "Kitty Doe strives to stay alive"(corny but true)!
The opening chapters of the book reveal that Pawn is going to be one heck of a read. Kitty Doe is a feisty, sarcastic, but level headed heroine that not only looks out for herself but also others. Her boyfriend Benjy, a sweetheart who thankfully gets to keep his role (yes, no evident love triangle here) is the number one person she looks out for. Hallelujah! A person who cares about how her actions will affect their better half, and does something about it. Kitty's transformation to Lila was interesting - the masking is futuristic but at the same time very believable in an unsettling way. Something that struck me was that each character was given a distinct personality and that made them quite memorable for me. Knox (Lila's fiance), Nina, Greyson (Lila's cousin), Celia (Lila's mother), Daxton (creeper - well, actually Lila's uncle) - even Tabs (Kitty's friend) filled out the story nicely.
Political intrigue was a major part of the plot: blackmail, murder, conspiracies, secrets, rebellion.... the Hart family has a lot going on. There was never a dull moment and each event was built on. The development of the dystopian society was impressive. I was deeply disturbed - in a good way I guess - by Elsewhere and the harshness of Kitty's futuristic world. I appreciated that Carter did not leave me hanging in the world building area, but instead allowed a broad view of what Kitty was facing. I wasn't left with an overload of questions and that helped me become fully immersed. At the same time, I feel the need to continue reading to find out what is going to happen and learn more about the Blackcoat rebellion.
I would highly recommend Pawn to dystopian, romance, and action lovers. It definitely will leave you wanting to grab the next in the series!
The opening chapters of the book reveal that Pawn is going to be one heck of a read. Kitty Doe is a feisty, sarcastic, but level headed heroine that not only looks out for herself but also others. Her boyfriend Benjy, a sweetheart who thankfully gets to keep his role (yes, no evident love triangle here) is the number one person she looks out for. Hallelujah! A person who cares about how her actions will affect their better half, and does something about it. Kitty's transformation to Lila was interesting - the masking is futuristic but at the same time very believable in an unsettling way. Something that struck me was that each character was given a distinct personality and that made them quite memorable for me. Knox (Lila's fiance), Nina, Greyson (Lila's cousin), Celia (Lila's mother), Daxton (creeper - well, actually Lila's uncle) - even Tabs (Kitty's friend) filled out the story nicely.
Political intrigue was a major part of the plot: blackmail, murder, conspiracies, secrets, rebellion.... the Hart family has a lot going on. There was never a dull moment and each event was built on. The development of the dystopian society was impressive. I was deeply disturbed - in a good way I guess - by Elsewhere and the harshness of Kitty's futuristic world. I appreciated that Carter did not leave me hanging in the world building area, but instead allowed a broad view of what Kitty was facing. I wasn't left with an overload of questions and that helped me become fully immersed. At the same time, I feel the need to continue reading to find out what is going to happen and learn more about the Blackcoat rebellion.
I would highly recommend Pawn to dystopian, romance, and action lovers. It definitely will leave you wanting to grab the next in the series!
Excerpt
"But when I play, I protect my pawns."
"Why?" I said, not entirely sure where this conversation was going. "If they're weak, then what's the point?"
"They may be weak when the game begins, but their potential is remarkable...if you protect your pawns and they reach the other side of the board, do you know what happens then?"
I shook my head, and she smiled.
"Your pawn becomes a queen." She touched my cheek, her fingers cold as ice. "Because they kept moving forward and triumphed against impossible odds, they become the most powerful piece in the game. Never forget that, all right? Never forget the potential one solitary pawn has to change the entire game."
