The Pawn (Endgame Book 1)

I have read several books by Skye Warren and my goodness is this one my favorite! Skye delivers on every aspect of dark. There is angst between the characters and a pull for control. There is a story line that is so well made that I felt like I was in their world being consumed by the amazing plot and story that Skye created for us. Avery is a young woman with a whole life ahead of her. She just graduated from high school and has everything an upper class girl could want, but then the bottom falls out. Avery's life changes in such a short amount of time. Everything she has ever known has been taken from her. She has to learn how to survive without the security of family, friends and most of all money. The only way she knows how to get things back to somewhat normal is going to the loan shark to make a deal with the devil that she cannot take back and it must be paid in full! Gabriel is rough around the edges. He has a dark persona and soul. He has brutally selfish tendencies. Gabriel has the ability to love and to be a decent guy, but he will never allow himself to do that. Gabriel needs to be seen as the alpha, a man that you do not mess with and if you do consequences will be had even if that means death. I loved this book from beginning to end. I went back and forth through out the whole book wanting Avery and Gabriel to fall in love and to live an HEA. Skye does not give us that in this book oh no. Instead she leaves us on the edge of our seats and wants us dying to find out what happens next. Oh boy did she do that for me. I ended the book not being able to breathe and finding myself gasping for air trying to understand and decipher what I had just read. My mind was boggled and my emotions were so worn and mingled that I needed a few days to recover. It takes a lot to make me cry when reading a book and even harder for me to have a book hangover, but Skye Warren accomplished both. If you as a reader are looking for a read that has two characters that are totally different and yet the same, constantly fighting for control of themselves and of each other, a fight to not fall in love or to be their real selves then this your book. Skye made these characters so complex and so amazingly developed. The story line is fantastic, one of the best I have ever read. Gabriel: "You play chess. Surely you know the many uses of a pawn." Avery: I flinch because I know exactly what I am to him. It's my role in this game: to fall when the time is right, to protect the king until I've run out of time. To sacrifice myself at the perfect turn. Ponder this quote and if it intrigues you like it did me pick this book up you will not regret it!

Okay, I'll start by saying right off the bat that this is only the first book of the series and it ends on a cliffhanger, so if you have an issue with this, you've been warned! This book follows Skye Warren's familiar pattern - the first book is free and tries to hook you in, with the next couple of books being (what I class for an ebook) expensive and probably able to be put into one book, but split into two more to make the reader commit to two additional purchases. I'm not griping too much about this though because with the first book being free, the price is more acceptable to me averaged out by 3. Anyway, I digress. The Pawn introduces us to Avery, a young socialite and town darling who has lived a luxurious lifestyle and been sheltered from the world's wicked ways. She's about to embark on the next chapter of her life, college, and is engaged to a senator's son who also has political hopes for his future. Then wham, bam, everything is gone. Her father is indicted for fraud and is one step away from prison. They lose everything except their house and when her father is beaten to the point he almost dies, Avery's remaining funds are depleted paying for his medical bills. Hoping for a loan, Avery visits The Den where she encounters Gabriel Miller, a powerful, possibly criminal man who also happens to be the one responsible for providing the evidence that led to her father's fall from high society. She's given an option to get money: auction off her virginity to the highest bidder in order to gain the necessary funds to help her father. If you've read any of Warren's books, this one follows her familiar pattern. A slightly darker, seedier take on romance where the heroine is mostly powerless and needs to embrace her situation and her sexuality. There's continuous hints of a deeper, darker secret in Avery and Gabriel's past which is only slightly chipped away at on the hope that the reader continues with the series. I found this book a decent length and an entertaining read for the most part. I took a star off because there were elements that I found got a bit repetitive by the end of the book, e.g. Avery's virginity, naivety, beauty, family secrets, her father hiding something, etc. I also really disliked the lead up and follow through of the auction itself. There was a lot of focus on how much Avery was degraded that rather than being 'dark', it started to become cringe-worthy and over the top. I didn't find it sexually dark, but more tasteless and unbelievable where this girl who has been sheltered is suddenly stripping off and being paraded around men she used to socialise with. I liked the main characters for the most part. Avery, although young and virginal, didn't annoy me too much as a character along these lines normally does. Gabriel is a strong, dark and silent type and while he was a bit of a prick, he played the moody, aloof anti-hero well. Some of the storyline didn't quite gel, especially with Avery's character. One minute she's innocent, then she's claiming to fight Gabriel to get her house back; she was innocent but then has feelings for him. I would have liked a bit more progression in the story to make this more believable, but for the most part, it was a good read if you don't over-analyse the plot too much. The book was enjoyable enough for me to justify purchasing the next one.

I have falling in love with this writer. I stumbled onto Skye Warren when I got a free book of, "The Prince." I realize now that I'm reading backwards to move ahead, but that's okay. At least it got me to a new author for myself that I love. I absolutely fell in love with this love story. I disagree with one of the reviewers that Avery is naive. I felt she was written strong, and very intelligent. I love to play chess, so that's an added bonus for me! Gabriel has so many layers to him that haven't fully been peeled away, but so far what I've read? Wow. Love this man. He's so smitten with Avery, it's obvious, though from her point of view it's not. I can't wait to see where this is going. I can't say enough about this book. It had intrigue. Substance. The characters were fully developed, and you just fall in love with their story. I can't wait to read "Knight." Just know in reading this wonderful book that there is a sequel. I'm fine with that. I was so glad to know there is more!!

Honestly, I’m not sure what to think of this book because I’d wanted to read it for a long while and was very excited when I finally picked it up. I had high expectations because the blurb sounded like a great push and pull between the hero and heroine. Well, my excitement didn’t last long because after a few pages in, I was already very disappointed. At this point, I should probably mention that I knew the characters from another book by this author (either from the Survival of the Richest Duet or Escort, I’m not sure anymore which one it was), which probably gave away too much as to why I wasn’t very captured by this book to begin with. Obviously, I already knew what was going to happen since the other book kind of spoiled it for me. But regardless, I was intrigued by the characters and curious enough that I wanted to know how their story unfolded. Sadly though, I was disappointed how this story, so full of potential, turned out so easy and almost carelessly written. Don’t get me wrong, the writing wasn’t bad but it seemed all just too easy and accommodating how the characters bent to the author’s will when the content was or could have been so much more heavy. I mean, who sells their virginity just like that?! It didn’t feel wrong or dirty, it didn’t feel like she struggled at all to do it, almost as if she was just selling an object. And the hero was a mystery as well. Why he did what he did, and why he cared so much, when on the other hand he told her to be careful around him and she thought of him as a monster. She was way too comfortable around any of the men in her situation and I had a problem with this. Actually, the heroine was one of the main reasons which ruined this story for me. I liked the concept of the story but not what the author made of it. Even the beginning where she just waltzed into this men’s club to offer herself up to get a loan from criminals was ridiculous. And how she confessed that she was a virgin might have been very ballsy but I somehow didn’t buy into her actions because they clashed with how I viewed her. She was young, naïve and innocent, not only because she was a virgin but also because she had been sheltered her whole life by her father. So this move from her felt very out of character. To make things worse, she was a very conflicted character, thinking of one thing and changing her mind in the next second. I believe that if she would have been forced to do what she had to do, because the men deemed her worthy to pay off her father’s debts, it would have given the story a lot more grip and I would have understood and liked it a hell of a lot better. This all might sound very harsh despite my 3 star rating. Well, this story was a mix between 2 and 3.5 stars for me and the reason why I took the 3 stars was that it was not all bad. There were likeable things to which I was drawn to and sometimes there was even enough depth for me to keep reading but OMG this woman most often annoyed the hell out of me. She always kept thinking of Gabriel as a monster, when all he did was help her. She had so much luck, she didn’t even know it. He was way too nice to be a bad guy anyway. It wasn’t a bad read but my interest wavered throughout the entire book. It could have been an amazing dark read and I wish the story was more heavily laced with darkness because it was too vanilla for me, especially with content like her auctioning off her virginity to a stranger. I don’t know if it was intended to be a dark read or not but it felt like an easy attempt that turned out vanilla and I like my books very dark. So maybe that was just my personal problem. I just think that maybe more force behind what she had to do would have heightened everything, and more aggressiveness and cruelness from his side would have made it a lot more compelling. Also more fear and aversion from her side would have helped the story, having more of a face-off between the characters. Everything seemed too easy for her, falling into her lap (apart from what her father did or how hard her situation with him was). The hero was too nice for this kind of story and I had a hard time picturing him as a monster or bad guy because he just never acted that way. Avery liked his looks, but thought what he did to her and how he used her body was disgusting, although this sounds worse than it really was because he was very gentle and never hurt her. I really don’t get where her problems were. Woman!! Make up your mind!! You care about him and feel save with him one second but are scared of him the next. What is it now?! I can’t lie that the ending makes me want to read the next book, though I’m not sure when that will be because although there were some good parts, I didn’t love the book as much as I anticipated.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Skye Warren's "The Pawn" is a captivating tale that seamlessly blends elements of romance, suspense, and intrigue. From the moment I delved into the pages of this novel, I was entranced by its gripping plot, multifaceted characters, and exquisite prose. One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its character development. The protagonist, Avery James, undergoes a profound transformation throughout the story, evolving from a sheltered and naive young woman into a resilient and empowered heroine. Similarly, Gabriel Miller, the enigmatic anti-hero, is a complex and compelling figure whose layers are slowly peeled back, revealing his vulnerabilities and motivations. Warren's writing style is both eloquent and evocative, drawing readers into the dark and seductive world of the Den with vivid descriptions and atmospheric imagery. Each scene is meticulously crafted, immersing the reader in a tantalizing blend of danger and desire. One particular aspect that stood out to me was the author's exploration of themes such as power, control, and redemption. The intricate dynamics between the characters and the moral dilemmas they face add depth and complexity to the narrative, leaving a lasting impression on the reader's psyche. Despite its dark and intense subject matter, "The Pawn" ultimately delivers a message of hope and resilience, reminding us that even in the face of adversity, love has the power to conquer all. In summary, "The Pawn" is a masterfully written novel that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Skye Warren has crafted a story that is as thought-provoking as it is enthralling, making it a must-read for fans of romance and suspense alike.

Overall Opinion: I haven’t read a trilogy in a while, because they have felt lacking in some way. I was sucked right into this one, and I really hope that the story continues to keep me engaged. There is a good amount of mystery surrounding the H and he is pretty hot! I do wish we got his POV though just to understand him a little more. I’m on to the next to hopefully get to the bottom of Gabriel...🤞🏻😉 **See goodreads.com/NMmomof4 for my full review with spoilers** Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Avery and Gabriel’s story. Avery’s world falls apart when her father is found guilty of crimes, his money isn’t taken away, and he is beaten to a semi-vegetative state. She is desperate and approaches a well known loan shark but ends up putting her virginity on auction instead, as it is her only left asset. Gabriel is the man that her father double crossed and even though she feels a pull to him, she is scared that she is just a ploy in his revenge scheme. There is some hot sexy times, some strategic moves made...and we get a cliffy for the next book. POV: This was told in Avery’s POV. Overall Pace of Story: Good. I breezed right through this one! It flowed well and I never skimmed. Instalove: No. No shared “ILYs” yet. H rating: 4 stars. Gabriel. I liked him. He is still mysterious and I’m not happy with the way he treated the h at the end — but I’m sure there is a bigger reason for his behavior that we’ll find out later. h rating: 4 stars. Avery. I felt bad for her situation, but I appreciated her strength. Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed Push/Pull: Yes Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story. There are some D/s dynamics going on, but pretty mild. Descriptive sex: Yes Safe sex: No OW/OM drama: Yes Sex scene with OW or OM: No Cheating: No Separation: No. Once they are “together” they stay together. Closure: This ends on a cliffy because it is part of a series. The next book, The Knight, is already available. How I got it: I got it for free on Amazon.

"Move into jeopardy. Be captured. So simple and yet so hard to do. Surrender." The Pawn is a darkly intoxicating story of a young woman who sells her body and her soul to the highest bidder in order to save the only surviving remnant of her former life and the man who comes to own her. A calculated game of wits and maneuvers ensues within these pages, a dark battle for control and surrender takes place. And in this dangerous game of give and take, of fear and lust, each move of the pawn and the king reveal bits of strategy, of secrets, of desire, of truth. "In chess we’re well matched. I still lost, sacrificing the game to get information that broke my heart. But when it comes to sex, he’s the far superior player. I’m a novice. I’m nothing." Like every Skye Warren book I've ever read, I couldn't put The Pawn down. Skye Warren knows how to create that razor sharp line between love and hate for her readers, taking them on a deliciously dark ride through pleasure and pain, often tangling the two so intricately, the reader is unsure which they're even feeling at any given moment. That's the same tumultuous journey Avery James is taken on with the man who buys her, the king who owns her. This book hurts so good in a way that only this author's books do. The sensuality in these pages is perfectly yet painfully laced with terror and heartbreak, with uncertainty and fear, that the reader, right along with these characters, is left consumed by everything they're made to feel. "It’s my role in this game: to fall when the time is right, to protect the king until I’ve run out of time. To sacrifice myself at the perfect turn." This author is brilliant. A uniquely smart writer, a captivating storyteller, there's no other way to describe Skye Warren than brilliant. Unsurprisingly, there's nothing straight forward about this storyline. It's intense, it's complex. It's completely unpredictable. This story of sex and lust is so exquisitely woven together with the game of chess, with the game of seduction, with the game of lies and deceit. It's a masterful, emotional labyrinth rife with pleasure, pain and heartbreak. The Pawn is a ruthless barrage of emotions you'll both love and hate to feel all at once. And this is just the beginning...

The book: • 314 Pages • Contemporary • Taboo • Cliff-Hanger • In A Series • First-Person Narrative • Her POV The romantic theme: • Enemies To Lovers • Outlaw Romance The read: • Intense Read • Dark Read • Page Turner • Touching • Twists & Turns • Sexy • Provocative Heat level: • 3 / 5 (Includes hot and explicit sex scenes, but not too often throughout the book) • MF scenes • Dirty Talk • Vanilla Sex Story ingredients: • Cat And Mouse Games • Instant Clash • Opposites Attract • Relationship Agreement • Mystery & Suspense He is... • Alpha Male • Bossy • Possessive • Emotionally Unavailable • Hot • Billionaire • Troubled Past She is... • Stunning • Sassy • Brainy • Strong • Virgin • Money Problems