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A review by katerzjoy
The False Pawn by A. E. Asavi
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Asavi's first book didn't hit the mark for me. I really wanted to like it because it had things I enjoy—fantasy, new worlds, and a strong main character.
At first, I wasn't sure if the author meant for readers to dislike the main character because she comes off as really angry and harsh for no good reason. When she enters this new world, I thought she’d shine with her cleverness and skills, but instead, she felt like a totally different person who wasn't even using her talents! Throughout the book, she often forgets about the unique abilities that could help her in the tricky world of court politics and instead makes some really bad choices.
The main character’s anger comes from seeing how badly everyone is treated, but it’s shown in a pretty straightforward way without much complexity. There’s a clear difference between being oppressed and having a voice. I found it confusing how she ended up falling for some of the characters, the ones who actively subjected her to harm and manipulated her. It bothered me that the male characters often took the spotlight, needing to come to her rescue instead of her being strong on her own. Honestly, I was hoping the main character would outsmart everyone and shake up the whole system.
I even started to wonder if the author was a man because the relationships felt off-balance, with her ignoring bad behavior from friends or romantic interests. The intimate scenes felt overly focused on just penetration and made me question if she really would enjoy those moments.
I won't give it a one-star rating because the world-building was interesting, with different courts and landscapes. The flow was good most of the time, too. But the plot was pretty weak, with noticeable gaps and plenty of grammar and spelling mistakes. There were repetitive storylines and thoughts. If the author had spent more time on the fantasy parts and less on the questionable relationships, it could have been a much better read. I see some potential for the series, but I don’t think I’ll be reading the next books anytime soon. By the end, I was just ready to be done with it.
Thank you A.E Asavi via NetGalley for providing the ARC to allow a honest and free review
At first, I wasn't sure if the author meant for readers to dislike the main character because she comes off as really angry and harsh for no good reason. When she enters this new world, I thought she’d shine with her cleverness and skills, but instead, she felt like a totally different person who wasn't even using her talents! Throughout the book, she often forgets about the unique abilities that could help her in the tricky world of court politics and instead makes some really bad choices.
The main character’s anger comes from seeing how badly everyone is treated, but it’s shown in a pretty straightforward way without much complexity. There’s a clear difference between being oppressed and having a voice. I found it confusing how she ended up falling for some of the characters, the ones who actively subjected her to harm and manipulated her. It bothered me that the male characters often took the spotlight, needing to come to her rescue instead of her being strong on her own. Honestly, I was hoping the main character would outsmart everyone and shake up the whole system.
I even started to wonder if the author was a man because the relationships felt off-balance, with her ignoring bad behavior from friends or romantic interests. The intimate scenes felt overly focused on just penetration and made me question if she really would enjoy those moments.
I won't give it a one-star rating because the world-building was interesting, with different courts and landscapes. The flow was good most of the time, too. But the plot was pretty weak, with noticeable gaps and plenty of grammar and spelling mistakes. There were repetitive storylines and thoughts. If the author had spent more time on the fantasy parts and less on the questionable relationships, it could have been a much better read. I see some potential for the series, but I don’t think I’ll be reading the next books anytime soon. By the end, I was just ready to be done with it.
Thank you A.E Asavi via NetGalley for providing the ARC to allow a honest and free review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Torture, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent