Pawn

By Aimée Carter

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Dec 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781743647899

Aimée Carter

Aimée Carter was born in 1986 and raised in Michigan, where she currently resides. She started writing fan fiction at eleven, began her first original story four years later, and hasn’t stopped writing since. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys seeing movies, playing with her puppies, and wrestling with the puzzles in the paper each morning.

Reviews for Pawn

[tldegray-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5/5 stars. The economy collapsed. People were desperate and dying. Then the Hart family stepped in and created a new societal order, one that would be fair to us all. Families could have one child, if they had a second child they'd be fined and if they could not pay that fine the child would be sent to an orphanage to be raised as a "Doe." When you come of age, you are tested to measure your worth to society, and you are branded with your level. Anything below a IV will be a difficult hand-to-mouth existence of menial labor; the only people given a VII are the Harts themselves.

This is the Washington DC Kitty Doe lives in. This is the world where because of her dyslexia Kitty couldn't finish the test in time and was branded a III and scheduled to be sent to Denver to perform sewer maintenance. And this is the world where she decides a life as a prostitute in DC near her friend is better than being sent far away. But things go wrong for Kitty when she's given an offer by one of the Harts, come work for him and be branded a VII or experience what happens to people who society thinks are worthless.

When Kitty wakes up she doesn't look like herself anymore. She's been "masked," changed entirely to look like the dead Lila Hart. It's her job to pretend to be Lila and make speeches that toe the party line. Too soon Kitty realizes she has no choices anymore, because her choices are behave or watch more of her friends die.

This book has twists and turns that I didn't expect. I never ceased to be upset by the ruthlessness of the Harts. Kitty's doing the best she can in a bad, bad place. I'm looking forward to see what happens next.

(Provided by publisher)

[wrightja2000 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was ok with this book until the final quarter... Why didn't they get rid of Dawson while he was incapacitated? I get that the characters just couldn't commit murder when it came down to it but why couldn't they take him off to their secret bunker and lock him up or even expose him and try him as a traitor. The grandma is dead, killed by Kitty in defense of Benjy (so why does Kitty feel so guilty- she didn't have much choice). I do not understand why Celia didn't just take her place as prime minister. Instead she had to go focus on being the head of the rebels because that's such an easier way of exacting change in the government, rather than as an acknowledged leader of the current government. So many things happened just so there would be a reason for more books. It reminded me of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" meets "Hunger Games".

This could have been an ok three star stand alone book- but even then there were other plot holes and confusing character motivations.

[emma_manolis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read and thoroughly enjoyed The Goddess Test trilogy, so I had hopes that I would enjoy Pawn despite not being all that interested in the synopsis. It took me quite awhile to get into the story but once I was into it I had difficulty putting it down. Talk about a disturbing view for the future!

I also found myself incredibly irritated with the main character Kitty. She didn't seem to be the sharpest tool in the shed and her thought process annoyed me to no end. It's rare that I root against the main character and I found myself occasionally doing that throughout my read.

While this did end up being a book that I enjoyed I doubt that I'll want to sit through more time with Kitty.

[mrnattania · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pretty awesome ,fast paced and unforgiving quite surprised and really excited to get into the text of the series. Very Dystopian/ Red Queen

[jadedog13 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Are you more than the number on the back of your neck?
- from the back cover

First let me say that I did enjoy this book. I was very interested in the ranking system based on some sort of intelligence test. Basically everyone takes a test at 17 (supposedly an equal chance for everyone, but we know it never is). The score determines your rank and you get a tattoo on the back of your neck (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, or VII). Only the ruling family (the Harts) has VIIs. The Vs and Vis are the wealthy ranks. The Is are basically useless and sent to Elsewhere. The IIs & IIIs are the lower classes. Kitty is hoping for a average IV, but since she is dyslexic and can't read, she ends up unable to finish the test and gets a III. Her future is bleak, apparently bleak enough that she is willing to sell herself to the highest bidder at a virgin auction. Bought by the prime minister (Daxton Hart), she is drugged and given a complete makeover so that she can impersonate a member of the Hart family.

I found Kitty completely annoying. She was so demanding and bratty at times and at others completely unwilling to speak up. When Kitty did something, I wasn't sure if she was being brave or just acting rashly. The romantic (or possible romantic) leads were also less than impressive. I found Benjy completely uninteresting and Greyson didn't have much of an impact either. Knox was an interesting character who maybe could be a love interest and Daxton and Augusta make great villains. There was so much backstabbing and twists and turns, it was hard to figure out which side everyone was on. I enjoyed that part at least. I was actually rooting for Kitty to end up with Knox (though I never was sure if he was being honest with her). But it's hard to blame him when she is so reckless sometimes. I wouldn't tell her my secrets either.

Overall, I liked the book. I have already started the sequel (Captive). So far, Kitty is even more annoying and bratty in the sequel. :(

Recommended to:
Fans of dystopian fiction. But, if you are looking for a strong character like Katniss (Hunger Games) or Tris (Divergent), look elsewhere. If you don't mind a wishy-washy and annoying main character, the rest of the story is pretty good.

[readinggrrl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I didn't know what to expect with this book, but it was surprisingly addictive. Much like the society in the Divergent series by Veronica Roth at the age of 17 all citizens must go through a testing process that will rank them. Conspiracies abound in this novel and you really have a hard time figuring out who Kitty can trust and who she can't. Its a chess game to stay alive and Kitty is a pawn, can she make it to the end of the game or will she be killed before it ends?

[leahlo89 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best YA books I've read. The plot twists kept my jaw on the floor the entire time.... And that ending!! Cannot wait until book 2. I NEED ANSWERS!!!

[taleofnight · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was really looking forward to this book because the whole caste system is very intriguing to me. I really enjoyed the world this is set in. It's actually pretty terrifying once I continued reading and discovered all the terrible things that is happening to the people, thank to the royal family. While I did enjoy the story, it was one of those books where it didn't completely enchant me.

[teamdewey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Started out slow, but built up enough to where I look forward to reading the next.

[vanyadrum · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

NOTE: I received the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! Aimee Carter has made a grandiose entrance into the dystopian genre! I liked her Goddess series well enough, but they were nothing like Pawn. This one is just incredibly new and fresh and entirely well done.

Pawn made me turn the pages lithely, being incapable to wait till the end arrived. I totally fell in love with the concept of the story and the characters. Especially Knox.

To be honest, I wasn't really expecting to like it all that much. Why? Well, some dystopians aren't realistic at all. But that's not true for Pawn.

From page one I was absorbed into this new post-catastrophe world, where people were classified in ranks depending on the results on a test they have to take at a certain age (16 or 17). If they ranked as a 1, they end up Elsewhere (and you wouldn't believe where that is). If they ranked as 2 they were used to do the worst jobs in society. 3's were okay. Everyone's dream was to rank 4 or above. But you had to be really smart to have a chance at such a rank.

Kitty Doe was smart. But she had dyslexia. She couldn't read, and her smarts were left unappreciated. Which is how she ended up in a brothel, where her virginity was auctioned. You may not believe it, but this was the turning point in this novel. Because Kitty was bought by the person who changed her life forever.

She wasn't Kitty anymore afterwards. Not really. Because she was allowed to see her world for what it really was - a place where one family manipulated everyone's life. A place where no one's life was valued. A place where one misstep could land you ... Elsewhere. A place of deceit, treachery and lack of hope.

Yet, it seemed to be in Kitty's hands that she change that world. She knew secrets that no one else was aware of. She was now an insider where people were rarely invited. She was also a danger to those in power, and she could be made to cooperate.

Because even in this horrible world, she had loved ones. Benji - her boyfriend, was the only person she could be blackmailed with. Being good at heart, smart in brains and incapable of bad decisions, Benji was the person who gave Kitty hope for a life without misery.

Knox on the other hand, was a leader, a traitor, a beautiful guy with a heart clothed in secrets. It's pointless to say that he won me over the moment Kitty met him. He was the bad boy (sort of), but he was following a good cause. And he pushed her buttons in the most thrilling way. Even she couldn't really see it.

The main point of this novel was that even a person without importance could make a difference when put in the right condition. Just like a pawn, when reaches the opposite side of the chessboard can turn into the most powerful chess piece.

In conclusion I'd like to say that no lover of dystopian novels will be left disappointed with Pawn.

[newskepticx · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

YA Dystopia is rather hit or miss for me. There has to be a good balance of action and introspection. I don't like love triangles. I love good world-building that pays attention to history and human behaviour. I am weary of the TSTL protagonist who seems to be trying to herself killed in a dangerous world. There's also a little dash of pure arbitrariness, and sometimes I'm not exactly sure why I don't exactly like a book.

Pawn straddles the line for me. I don't exactly dislike the book, but in contrast with Champion by Marie Lu that I finished reading before, it fell a little flat. Mostly, I think that successful dystopias are not only about the plots and worldbuilding but about the ideas about humanity that they put forth. It's a Reaping is foreign but I can understand the power of Katniss' sacrifice. It's why major disease outbreak is not something I'm familiar with but Georgia and Shaun Mason's feelings towards their parents are. So, while I liked Kitty, Benjy and Brandon a lot, many of the other characters including (ROT13 spoiler: Yvyn Uneg) fell flat which wasn't helped by the rapid paced action sequences and plot twists.

That being said, I enjoyed the concept of Pawn. Carter's writing has improved immensely since Goddess Test which I never finished. She's found her voice. I think if I read the second book I might like it a bit more, especially now that the family secrets have mostly been uncovered and I imagine that the series might pivot back towards the society at large and other characters.

[janarose1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Kitty is labeled as a III she knows her life is over. Destined to be a sanitation worker, to be deprived of fruit and other luxuries she runs away to a brothel, hoping to bide time until her boyfriend can be tested and labeled. When the ruling family notices her uniquely colored eyes, they quickly take her and surgically transform her into Lila, the Prime Minister's niece. Forced to take Lila's place, Kitty must learn to live a lie.Overall, I thought this was an interesting society with equally interesting characters. The book was fast paced and well written. I think teenagers and young adults will love this book. I can't wait to read the sequel. Highly recommended.

[yahalomi65 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

r you love or hate them by the end of it you did understand their motivations.Three bombs are dropped on government buildings, in DC. It was believed to be the work of the Blackcoat Rebellion, a group that is actively opposing the governments policies. They all gathered in the impenetrable in-house safe room, where Kitty meets Grayson, Daxton's only son, which left after his eldest son and his wife died in car accident. Grayson is the only family member who doesn't know that Lila is dead.Benjy receives a VI in his testing, and assigned as Knox's assistant to his protection, and also to use as leverage against her, if needed.Celia, who missed her daughter and hates her cruel family wants scheme a crazy plan to kill Daxton. Celia will inject herself a drug that will render her unconscious to distract Daxton's guards and meanwhile, Kitty is to inject Daxton a chemical that will stop his heart immediately.Kitty stabbed Daxton with a syringe, but she lose her resolve and only half of the drug is injected. When Daxton lose his consciousness and she found that, he has a V's ridge below the VII on his neckWhich mean...... . another twist....Kitty runs away before she's caught. Celia is very ill, but expected to recover, but Daxton is in coma.When Celia recovers, she is furious that Kitty didn't kill Daxton. and decide to kill Grayson instead, to retaliate against Daxton for her own daughter.When Kitty gives her first public speech as Lila it is a huge success....the reaction of the people warm her and only strengthens her motivation toward contributing to a change.Here Knox tells her that Celia and Grayson are missing.....now Augusta had taken a full control....and here come more and more surprises....Well I can't tell you everything... you''ll have to read it all by yourselves.....AND YES I DO RECOMMEND THIS BOOK !!!!

[thelostentwife · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There is quite a bit of buzz surrounding Aimee Carter's newest book, Pawn. I first became acquainted with Carter through her Goddess series, and I remember being pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. You know, sometimes those fluffy, girly-type fantasy covers can make you take a book a little less seriously than you would like to. But there's nothing fluffy about Pawn's cover and it set the tone perfectly as I opened it to dive into the first paragraphs.Read the rest of this review at The Lost Entwife on Nov. 17, 2013.

[mvthebookbabe · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.Pawn was a big fat meh for me. I went into it with average expectations for a dystopian - I wasn't expected to be head over heels with it, but I kind of wanted to like it... the problem was that I just couldn't wrap my head around it.The numberings, the testings, the Harts and the population law with fines... none of that made sense to me. For one, the number system is ridiculous. Depending on how high you score on a test, you're given a number. That number dictates who you are, what you'll do and how smart you are. The testing process is legitly messed up, yet no one seems to think that it's wrong? Some numbers are passed down, faked, and others are just not worth anything. I's are automatically sent into a wasteland to die.Yet... everyone seems to think that this is okay. There's not even a murmur of discontentment anywhere. The Harts are in control. Why are they in control? We never get any plausible back story on them, nor do we really get a backstory on any of it... the believability level is zilch.Since I don't really wanna go on a rampage, I'll move on to the characters. I found Kitty to be a pretty flat character. I never understood what motivated her, or why she did what she did - I couldn't really get into her mind. I liked that the story started out with an existing relationship, but there's a slight chance that it'll continue on the same path, which I find to be sad.A lot of the twists to the plot were revealed early on, and I feel like the big surprise was saved up until the end for shock factor. And it did shock me, but not necessarily in a good way. My biggest problem with Pawn was without a doubt the unbelievable dystopian society. All in all, Pawn really wasn't for me. I didn't particularly enjoy it, but I didn't hate it either.

[bduke_15 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the first of a new dystopian series by the author of The Goddess Test books, which are very popular in my middle school library (I have not read them). It is a pretty formulaic dystopian that ticks all the boxes with an evil government, oppressed people, and teenagers trying to change the world and stay alive. However, there were many original ideas throughout and twists that surprised me. I found the characters interesting, although some of their decisions were ludicrous. The MC was incredibly naive and trusting when she obviously shouldn't have been considering what the ruling family had done to her. There was plenty of action and excitement, and I think the dystopian YA crowd will eat this up. I enjoyed it and read it quickly. I was extremely happy not to have a love triangle, although I'm not sure that will hold true for the rest of the series, I could see something possibly happening with one of the other characters. Don't look for closure at the end. There is a lot of violence and some of it was very disturbing and directed at important characters. At the beginning of the book the MC tried to solve her problems by turning to prostitution. Nothing happened, but it was quite uncomfortable to read. There was a little bit of cussing, but it was minimal. Some kissing. *I received this as an ARC from NetGalley. The book will be released on November 26, 2013.

[beckygandee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I started reading Pawn right after I read two incredibely good books, A Mad, Wicked Folly and Landry Park. I wasn't expecting another great story. I absolutely loved it! I never read anything like it, so I was intrigued with the life of Kitty Doe. I just can't even imagine having to go through what she did, especially in the short amount of time that everything happened. She had soooo much pressure on her, not only for her life but for Benjamin's too.I was definitely team Benjamin through most of the story, I don't why but I kinda was Team Knox by time I was finished. Something about him, I just really like. I still love and like Benjamin, just like Kitty and Knox's dynamic better. I'm hoping in the next book we see some more of that dynamic together. There was plenty of action, heartbreak, romance and even a surprise revealed. I didn't see it coming anyways. I'm so glad that this is the beginning of a series, can't wait to read the next one!

[destinyisntfree · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am amazed at how much I enjoyed this book. I really had no idea what to expect when I picked it, but I had so many good things about this author, I really wanted to have a chance to read and review this book

What would you do if you just found out your life's destiny was to clean up crap for the rest of your life? And then, what if someone presented you an opportunity to live a life that was far beyond your wildest dreams?

That is what happens to Kitty Kitty scored a III on her testing. What you don't realize right away and is just a subtle undertone is that Kitty has dyslexia, and this kept her from being able to do her best on the testing.

This absolutely thrilled me to no end. I have recently stated my concern about there not being enough characters in books geared toward young adults who have to overcome obstacles. So I was ecstatic to see that this main character had a disability and was able to still make a difference in the world.

I fell in love with Kitty and Benjy, and I despised Daxton from the beginning! Knox and Celia I had mixed feelings about, and I still don't know how I feel about them.

When I found out where and what Elsewhere really was, I was....appalled? Disgusted? Frightened? I am not sure what the right word is. But the reality for me was that, you know what, it could really happen that way if the world were overpopulated, and someone thought they could use that as a platform to advance themselves.

This author has painted a picture of a world that could feasibly be our future. It is ever more possible that it could really end up that way and then, where would we be? Would you want your fate decided by one family of people who controlled everything?

I am so glad I decided to read this one, though because I absolutely loved the story and cannot wait to see what more Aimee Carter has in store for us.

I am anxiously awaiting the next installment now and have added Aimee Carter to my "automatically buy what this person writes" list.

[autumnturner76 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Picked up this book at the beginning of last month, but it languished on my 'currently reading' list for awhile. I picked it up yesterday and went through it. Very quick read. Entertaining and all, but it is just a mash up of Divergent with a dash of Firefly, and an evil Old Lady Grantham thrown in.

I still can't decide if this is creative homage or blatant rip-off. I think I am leaning towards the latter. I might follow the series, if I get bored, but I certainly won't pay for it.

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun, quick, & engaging read set in a dystopian future. In Kitty's world, the country is ruled by an elite family and she believes that everyone has an equal chance in life - or at least an equal chance until they are ranked according to ability at the age of 17 and assigned a place in a rigid ranking system that determines profession, living standards, and life expectancy. Kitty is initially ranked a III, an low ranking assigning her to spend a lifetime cleaning sewers. Desperate to escape and be with her boyfriend Benjy, Kitty embarks on a path that leads her to the most elite family in the country - the Harts - and provides her with a chance to lead a life she never thought was within her grasp. Very engaging and entertaining, recommended for anyone who enjoys YA dystopian novels.

[littlebirdreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pawn is a great dystopian young adult novel. The new political system America takes on is daring. The protagonist is brave yet real and humanly flawed- I liked her straight away. The twists and turns that abound in this novel are great... I had a hard time predicting some, which is always good as an avid reader- I like to be surprised. The ending definitely left me anxious for the next book.

[mrnattania72 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pretty awesome ,fast paced and unforgiving quite surprised and really excited to get into the text of the series. Very Dystopian/ Red Queen

[punkfarie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At the age of seventeen, citizens of America have to take an aptitude test that determines their rank in life. The system is supposed to be to make things equal, people from a low ranked family have their chance to get a higher mark and live a better life.Kitty fully believes that. She sees the aptitude test as an opportunity that she can rise above her ranks as an Extra in a group home. That she can have a real life with her boyfriend Benjy.Until she bombs her test and gets a III.Being labeled a III ruins any kind of future she had planned with Benjy; she’ll have to move from DC to Denver to work in the sewers. She’ll have to leave everyone she knows.So instead of following the government’s orders, she runs and tries to sell herself into prostitution, so she can stay in the DC area and perhaps save enough to run away with Benjy.However, a mysterious stranger buys her for an outrageous amount. When she meets this stranger, it turns out to be Prime Minister Daxton Hart and he offers her what she thinks is the greatest deal ever, move up in ranks and never want for anything. She thinks it is to be his mistress, but boy was she wrong.Her new job is to become Lila Hart, the sweetheart of the Hart family and the face of the rebellion, which may or may not be the reason they need a replacement Lila in the first place. The Harts didn’t get the chance to control Lila the way they wanted and now they have the chance to end the rebellion against them, by controlling Kitty.But the Harts are also fighting against each other and while one side tries to control Kitty by threatening Benjy, the other sides tries to get her on their side by promising to protect him. She doesn’t know who the trust, almost everyone has an ulterior motive and there are so many secrets Kitty can barely keep them all straight. All she cares about is keeping Benjy safe and she’ll do whatever it takes.I blew through this book in a day, I couldn’t put it down. I was a fan of Ms. Carter after the Goddess Inheritance Trilogy and I’ve been waiting for this book and I am glad to say I wasn’t disappointed.It is action packed with a new twist and turn and secret on almost every chapter. It can be a bit much, one secret reveal after another, by the end of the book you feel like you have still don’t have all the answers and you have no idea who you can really trust. There are a lot of characters to keep straight and sometimes it gets confusing on who is who and what side they are actually on.There is a hint of a love triangle. Benjy, the boy Kitty loves and would do anything to protect and Knox, Lila’s fiancé that Kitty has to marry to keep up appearances. Honestly, though I did like Benjy, he is a bit bland and I’m almost rooting for Kitty to end up with Knox.I am so curious about so many things. The aptitude testing, how Kitty received the score that she did, what part Benjy will play in all this (his smarts have to come to some use!), what’s going on with Daxton?!I think this is a great first book to a new series and I need the next one out now!You can read this review and more at Punk's House of Books and also at FicCentral

[stacyatufi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When Kitty takes the test she has studied her whole life for she ends up with a III due to not being able to finish. (III is bad) She of course is devastated and forced to re-evaluate her life. She decided to take the path of a prostitute friend and sell her innocence to the highest bidder in hopes of a better life. In a shocking turn of events the highest bidder offers her the chance to become a VII, the highest rank that is possible, too bad he didn't tell her what price she would pay for that rank.There were a few spots where the storyline dragged a little, a few spots where I thought further explanation was needed and a character I won't name that really annoyed me and I had to work not to skip a part they were in. Besides that I really enjoyed PAWN. I couldn't imagine waking up in a brand new body but that is what Kitty does. She has been Masked into Lila Hart the Prime Minister's niece. She has to become Lila and stop a rebellion or those she loves will be murdered. Kitty ends up being pretty resilient. She has a lot of crap thrown at her and she always finds a way to bounce back. She has people in every corner trying to use her for their own agenda yet she finds a way to stay in the game. There isn't a love triangle but there is a bit of romance. There is Benjy, the boy who Kitty grew up with and loves. Then there is Knox, Lila's fiancé who is now Kitty's. Benjy is always in danger if she doesn't do what someone wants and Knox is a friend one min. and secretive the next. I am not sure what will happen in future books so it MIGHT turn into a love triangle but it isn't yet.I enjoyed the first book in this new dystopian series. The cast type system reminds me of a few other dystopian books but the whole masking process is nice and unique. I look forward to reading more.* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[kimfalconer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's an engaging read. I have a couple of questions to explore. Will review after discussion in the Escape Club!

On reflection . . .

Angelya, in her review, said, “The story started with a bit of a bang” and I agree. The opening paragraph was impressive. A real hook, line and sinker to me. 5 star start up!

The rest of the book never quite delivered what the intensity and immediacy of that first page did, but I agree, I was interested all the way through. There was no thought of putting the book down. It's well written and edited.

A bit of a showstopper for me though (there were a few) was meeting Lila. What in the world was a princess like her doing in that underground world? She was used to a 7 lifestyle. I just couldn't believe she was chilling in her bunk, waiting . . . If we found her on some remote resort in the Bahamas, then yes. The underground, no. And how that many ppl could have known she was there and not a one leaked it to their leader seemed a big leap for me. I just started losing the integrity of the plot at this point.

But I agree the premise is strong and even if the responses seemed a little skin deep at times, it also adds levity and humor. The book has much to offer. 3.5 out of 5 stars from me.

[jwitt33 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this dystopian society, you are tested when you turn 17 and are only as good as your number - anything below a IV and your life is going to be difficult, relegated to menial tasks and unable to progress above your station. The highest number you can get is a VII, but nobody but the uber-powerful Hart family ranks this high. When Kitty Doe tests at a level III, she's reeling, and when she is offered the chance to become a VII, she jumps at it without knowing exactly what she will have to do to earn it, which she will quickly regret. I really enjoyed this book and its unique story. The characters were likeable, and the world building was phenomenal, as is always the case with Ms. Carter's books. I liked this book enough that I'm looking forward to continuing with the series.4/5 stars.

[pabkins · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pawn takes the theme of testing in a dystopian world and uses it to create a caste system with 7 levels. At the age of 17 each person is tested and given a number from 1 to 6 that is tattooed on the back of their neck branding them for life. Yes, I know I said 7 levels but get this – only the family controlling the government can be the highest level of a 7. They are also the family that created this system. Supposedly, every one is to get an equal opportunity at this testing, but we all know how likely that is. Is anything ever really fair in this world let alone a dystopian one? Heck no, I say.

The main character Kitty, just finished her testing and scored a 3, which is below the average 4. This means she is assigned a job as a manual laborer, in the sewers of a city across the country. She will have to leave her boyfriend that she loves, and the orphanage she grew up in. Oddly enough it sounds like her childhood wasn’t bad. Which I found to be refreshing and unusual since often authors will give their YA characters overly tragic pasts to make them more interesting. Not so with Kitty. Her life is much like that of all other extra children born to 4s and below. They are taken from their parents and raised in group homes.

So, instead of working in the sewers, Kitty decides she’ll go to work in a pleasure house. But things don’t turn out as she plans when her first night there she is purchased by the Prime Minister and offered a chance she can’t refuse. To become a 7.

There is a tiny bit more information that is revealed about how the country now works but I’m sad to say not really much more than that. The bulk of the book focuses on Kitty fitting into the twisted governing family, after her appearance is altered to match the Prime Minister’s niece that died. Kitty is a survivor though and she will do whatever she thinks it will take to do so. Luckily she doesn’t lose site of herself and her humanity while she’s about it. She is definitely a strong character that the reader can get behind.

While I expected a lot of focus on society and world building, that is not what I got. Pawn was a character driven story and has more in common with an extreme family drama than it did a dystopian. I think that more is likely going to be explored in regards to the world building in the next book because I could definitely see the potential ground work that was laid. It’s just too interesting for us not to be show more. So I am seriously hoping there will be. Just knowing that anyone who scores a 1 is sent ‘Elsewhere’ as well as people that have reached the age of 60 or have broken the law, makes you wonder how or why the people as a whole would stand for that. I’m curious to know how things ended up this way.

Pawn was a good start to a new series and one that I think dystopian fans will enjoy but they should be prepared for a mostly character driven, family drama.

[emily_anne-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pawn was a thrilling read, and no where near your typical, old-hat dystopian. Aimee Carter managed to create a world that wasn’t a copy cat, and I could tell she put a lot of work into making the future society seem unique and complete. Be on the lookout for this novel.

It seems to me that a lot of dystopians have love triangles (Hunger Games, The Selection, Shatter Me etc.) so I was elated when I realized that Pawn did not have a bothersome triangle of love and angst. I am not even against love triangles, but they can become overwhelming. Agreed? Pawn’s awesome romance was a nice relief. Benjy was a sweet love interest, and I hope to see more of him and Kitty together in the next book. They seem to click in an awesome way... and I am glad Benjy is not the average, cliched “bad boy” I have grown wearisome of.

That said, the romance is not the front-and-center of Pawn. Nope. The plot mostly revolves around Kitty’s masquerade as the adored Lila. After Kitty basically fails an important test of ranking, she is offered a chance for a much higher ranking. Kitty soon awakes as Lila, the prime minister’s niece, who is a dead, and a formerly rebellious leader of the group against the rankings, and, ultimately, the society.

However, as Kitty masquerades as Lila, she finds more and more lies and political battles. She is told many things, but neither her nor the reader know what to believe. I loved this part of Pawn. There is so much uncertainty and excitement on the part of the reader as you wait for juicy things to be revealed! The world that Kitty endures seems very terrible at the beginning, and just worsens as you learn more. Especially as the minister’s family and other powerful figures are immersed into chaos and fight among themselves. It is hard to tell what a character really wants, and sometimes, your first impression of a character is very wrong indeed. I only have one little complaint... there is this reveal I saw coming, and I thought Kitty should have considered the possibility sooner. Does it ever bother you when you figure something out before the main character does?

Overall, Pawn is an intriguing story, and I have high expectations for the sequel! If the book sounds up your alley, most definitely pick the thrilling ride up and immerse yourself into a twisted dystopian world!

4/5 Stars

*I received this book from HarlequinTEEN in exchange for an honest review*

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: Fast paced, action-packed dystopian novel that is surprisingly very original. This is a stunning start to what is sure to be a great series.Opening Sentence: Risking my life to steal an orange was a stupid thing to do, but today of all days, I didn’t care about the consequences.Review:In this futuristic setting the United States has a new system. Seventy years ago our society started to crumble and there was not enough food to feed everyone and everything was chaos. Until Prime Minister Hart came up with a new system to restore balance. Now at the age of seventeen every young adult is given a test to decipher where they belong in society. It ranges from I-VII. If you get a one you are no use to society, so you are sent elsewhere along with all the elderly and those that can’t produce. No one really knows where elsewhere is or what happens there, but they know that it’s not somewhere they want to go. As for the rest, once you are assigned a number you are given a job that corresponds with your rank. The higher number you get, the better job and lifestyle you will be provided with. VII are solely given to the Hart family, they have run the country for years and plan to continue to run it for many more generations. The Hart’s run a brutal government that rewards those that thrive and severely punish anyone that steps out of line in anyway.Kitty Doe has just turned 17 and her test results were not what she was hoping. Being the second child of parents that couldn’t afford her, she was sent to live in a group home in DC until she came of age. Most of the kids there are lucky to test well enough to get a job since they have very little education and no money. Kitty has been in love with Benji for years now and she would do anything to spend the rest of her life with him. Unfortunately, she got a III on her test and she is now being sent to Denver on sewer duty. She knows that if she leaves she will never see Benji again, so she takes the only other option she has — prostitution.On her very first night she is bought by none other than Dayton Hart, the Prime Minister himself. He gives her an option she never dreamed possible — to become a VII. If Kitty agrees she will be Masked and become Lila Hart, the Prime Ministers niece, who was killed for her rebellious actions against the government. Kitty will be expected to undo everything Lila has done to stir up rebellion with the people, a cause that she happens to believe in. If she even thinks about disobeying the consequences will be deadly, not only for her, but everyone she cares about.Kitty has not been dealt the fairest hand in life. The reason she did so bad on her test was because she is dyslexic, not because she is stupid. She is a very likable character that is resourceful, caring, and loyal. She has to walk in someone else’s shoes for most of the book, but she stays to true to herself. She loves fiercely and is willing to give up anything for the people she cares about. When faced with hard decisions, she chooses to act instead of cower in the background. I admired Kitty and found her a great character with a strong voice.Pawn is an action packed dystopian novel that was surprisingly refreshing and original. The plot was intriguing, and it managed to throw twists at you throughout the whole book. From the first page you are set up on a fast paced journey that keeps you entertained and on the edge of your seat. The romance was sweet and light, with no love triangle. The great cast of characters was engaging and fun to get to know. I have read Carter’s Goddess series, and while I did enjoy them, I didn’t love them. But with Pawn, that is not an issue. This story is a stunning start to what is sure to be a fantastic series. Days after finishing the book, I am still thinking about it, and I honestly can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel. I would highly recommend this to fans of YA dystopian novels. Pawn will be sure to not disappoint.Notable Scene:He drummed his fingers against his elbow, and we stared at each other. I refused to be the first to look away.“Tell you what, Kitty,” he said, and he leaned in closer to me. “How would you like to be a VII?”I blinked, and for a second I was positive I’d misheard him. Only the Harts were granted VIIs. Not even the twelve Ministers of the Union were ranked so high.“I’m a III,” I said, as if that settled it, because it did.No one changed rank. No one. Everyone took the test, and everyone was marked accordingly. There was no special treatment, no taking it over again. Everyone had the same shot as everyone else. The only exceptions were the Harts, who didn’t take the test at all. “I’m already marked.”“Yes, I can see that.” Daxton straightened and adjusted his overcoat. “I will only offer this once, and I need your answer immediately. If you say yes, you will leave with me tonight, and your mark will be replaced.”“And if I say no?” I said.“I think we both know what happens then.” Daxton checked his gold watch. “My offer is good for the next thirty seconds.”FTC Advisory: Harlequin Teen provided me with a copy of Pawn. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[brittanyelsen-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

ust as I thought I was getting sick of the dystopian genre, BAM, Aimee Carter throws me a welcomed curveball. Pawn was a breath of creepy dystopian fresh air. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book! It has action, an unforgettable plot, exceptional world building and a creepy edge. It reminded me of the creepiness in the Chemical Garden by Lauren DeStefano.

I loved the creepiness factor of Kitty becoming Lila. The idea of being masked and becoming someone new is a scary idea. In a short period of time you are someone else, from a III to a VII and that makes a huge difference in this society. I welcomed and enjoyed all the twists and turns that this book had, it kept me intrigued from the first page to the last.

Since it is a YA novel, there is some romance involved but it does not overshadow the plot. I found my heart aching for Kitty when she has to make a ton of hard choices. Way too often characters in dystopian novels are forced to grow up too soon and have a lot of weight on their shoulders. She is very selfless in her actions and does very little whining. I appreciate that! Overall, I just can’t wait to see what choices Kitty will make in the next books!

I recommend this book to all dystopian fans, fans of the Chemical Garden Trilogy, or anyone looking for a novel that will suck them in!