ARC Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

Pawn

(The Blackcoat Rebellion #1)

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: November 26, 2013

Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian

Source: eARC from publisher via NetGalley

~Synopsis~

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.

~Review~

 It has been quite a while since I’ve read a dystopian novel and Pawn was the perfect book to remind me why I love the genre so much. It was intriguing, suspenseful and chalked full of action. I really enjoyed the character development and idea behind the plot.

I really liked Kitty and found her to be a very strong heroine. In the beginning, I found her a bit self-deprecating and maybe a little whiny but she really came around and showed how strong she is. Above all else, the people she loves are most important to her and she never wavers on that, even when it comes to her own life. She is being pulled from two different sides, each trying to use her for their cause. I liked that she wouldn’t be manipulated and she didn’t take kindly to threats.

Benjy is Kitty’s best friend and it is obvious he really loves her and would do anything for her. He has always protected Kitty and I admired that about him. Knox is Lila’s fiancé and I was definitely questioning his loyalties and motives at the beginning. However, I ended up really liking Knox and I loved the way he helped and protected Kitty. Considering his upbringing and status in society, he could’ve been a real douche but he seems to be a genuinely nice and caring guy. I’m super interested to see where Kitty’s relationship will go with him and if this will end up turning into a love triangle. I kind of hope it does because I’m rooting for Knox right now. Celia, Lila’s mother, is totally batshit crazy but I think she has good intentions in mind. She hates her family and she wants to see changes that will better benefit all members of society. Daxton, the Prime Minister and Lila’s uncle, is truly an evil dude. Lila’s death would only further fuel the rebellion and he knows it so he needs Kitty to help him diffuse it but he uses threats and bullying, which is the wrong way to convince her.

I really enjoyed the plot in this book and I was riveted to the end. I found it to be a bit slow in the beginning but that didn’t last long. Once Kitty is transformed into Lila, I felt like it really picked up and flowed at a much better pace. This was when Kitty’s true personality and character started to shine through and I could see the tough girl there. As she settles into Lila’s life, she learns a lot of things about the government and the system she has always known and believed in. I think these revelations fuel her desire to make her own choices with regards to the rebellion and not allow any one to use her as a “pawn” in their games. Despite what Lila was fighting for, Kitty actually understands what the people have to endure because she was not on the top of the food chain in her previous life. Becoming Lila has its risks but Kitty understands the good and the changes she can make with the rebellion.

This book had several plot twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and Aimee really kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, she took me by surprise and threw a curve ball right at me. I would have liked a little more world building because I felt it was lacking just a little bit. I found the character development to be well done but I would have liked to know a little more about society as a whole. Overall, a very successful start to a dystopian series that has a lot of potential and I can’t wait to see where the author takes it.

~IPOD Picks~

“Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem & Rihanna

“Brave” by Sara Bareilles

“If I Lose Myself” by One Repbulic

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

*An eARC was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.*