Review: PAWN by Aimée Carter

Title: PAWN
Author: Aimée Carter
Published: November 26th, 2013
Series: The Blackcoat Rebellion #1
Genre: YA Dystopian
Pages: 346
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: e-ARC
Source: Netgalley
Rating: The Royal Library, Middle Shelf

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.

All Kitty Doe wanted was to become a IV. But, with a III freshly tattooed on the back of her neck, her hopes and dreams of living a better life are shattered. Until, that is, she's offered a deal to become a VII, and Kitty eagerly agrees. Yet, every deal comes with strings attached, and Kitty wakes to find that she has been Masked – now she looks exactly like Lila Hart, and is expected to act the part of an easily controlled puppet. Ordered to pretend she's Lila or suffer deadly consequences, Kitty does her best to play the Hart family's wicked political game in order to survive. With lies, secrets, and danger tucked into every corner, PAWN is a whirlwind of a story.

This was my first novel by Carter, and I can absolutely say that I will be looking into reading more of Carter's work in the future. From the easy to enjoy narration to the terrifying revelations, Carter kept me intrigued and eager for more. This genre has become a bit overdone, but PAWN brings something a bit different to YA dystopian literature. The Hart's are quite an intriguing yet twisted family, and the politics of this story are utterly fascinating. With all of the power struggles happening between the characters, there is never a dull moment, especially once Kitty begins to take action. Exciting, ominous, and unique, PAWN is thrilling from start to finish. 

Highlights: Carter's writing is enjoyable and the story is fast-paced. There were some revelations and plot twists that took me completely by surprise (especially Elsewhere, that was an unpleasant surprise). Even though Carter only gives readers a few glimpses into the world of her story, I still felt like I had a good grasp of what it was like. Characters were wonderfully developed, including Augusta, Knox, Greyson (adore him, he's a sweetheart), Celia, and Daxton. The ending ties up the loose ends, but still leaves off at an intriguing point.

Lowlights: The romance seemed almost like an afterthought. Benjy seems like a decent guy, but I felt like the inclusion of his character did nothing for the story. If he played more of a role in the story, I might have enjoyed his character and the romance a bit more.

Rating: The Royal Library, Middle Shelf (4 out of 5). PAWN is fantastic, worth owning, and has earned a spot in the royal library. I enjoyed this story very much, despite a few small issues, and would recommend PAWN to other readers.