✨ ARC Review ✨
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

Just wrapped up this ARC and I have some thoughts! It had its moments, and there’s definitely more to unpack. Stay tuned for my full review coming soon!

The False Pawn starts with a promising premise—a woman from our world is pulled into a fantasy realm where humans are treated as second-class citizens, and political intrigue lurks in every shadow. It’s a concept with rich potential, especially for readers who enjoy court politics, mysterious new worlds, and stories that blur the lines between power, identity, and belonging.The FMC was strong willed, but the fact that she was so naive made it hard to believe that she is a 30 years old.

That said, I had mixed feelings about the book overall. While the world itself is imaginative, and the dynamics of human subjugation in a foreign magical hierarchy raise interesting questions, I often found myself uncomfortable during character interactions. There were moments that seemed meant to build tension or intimacy, but instead left me feeling disconnected or unsure how I was meant to respond. The emotional tone sometimes felt off, particularly in the way characters communicated.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc and sorry for the late review. Beautifully written with world building, slow burn with a touch of spicy. I was captivated by the story and binged it in a weekend since I couldn’t put it down.

The False Pawn by A. E. Asavi is a clever and engaging fantasy that caught me off guard in the best way. One of the standout aspects for me was the protagonist—not another 18-to-21-year-old Chosen One with the fate of the world on their shoulders, but a more seasoned, world-worn main character whose life experience adds depth and realism to the story. It was genuinely refreshing to follow someone who’s not figuring out life for the first time, but who’s already made choices, lived through consequences, and brings that maturity to their decisions.

The plot moves at a steady pace, filled with political intrigue, morally gray choices, and twists that kept me turning pages late into the night. Asavi has a sharp sense of worldbuilding, and while some parts felt a bit dense or overly detailed, they contributed to a setting that feels lived-in and authentic.

If I had one minor gripe, it’s that a few side characters felt underdeveloped compared to the MC, but that’s a small issue in an otherwise compelling story. Overall, The False Pawn is a strong entry into the genre and a great pick for readers who want something a bit more mature—without sacrificing any of the magic, danger, or excitement.

The False Pawn is an intriguing adult portal fantasy, weaving together political intrigue, rich worldbuilding, and a heroine who refuses to play by anyone’s rules.

The story follows Anthea Clark, a 30-year-old PR strategist who’s unexpectedly transported to a realm ruled by elves, where humans are second class citizens and magic is a currency of power and control. Her sudden appearance, in addition to her unusual immunity to magic, makes her a pawn in the eyes of many, but Anthea has no intention of staying one.

A.E. Asavi delivers a refreshingly mature protagonist who brings real world savvy and emotional intelligence into a fantasy setting. Anthea’s voice is smart, grounded, and relatable, making her an anchor in a world full of shifting alliances and shadowy agendas.

The slow burn tension between Anthea and Eldrian; an Elven prince with secrets of his own, is nuanced and satisfyingly complex. Their relationship is built on sharp dialogue, mistrust, and undeniable chemistry, all unfolding at a pace that feels earned.

The worldbuilding is immersive without being overwhelming, filled with political drama, ancient history, and just enough magic to keep the stakes high.

Overall, The False Pawn is a thoughtful and engaging fantasy debut, perfect for readers who enjoy intelligent heroines, court politics, and slow-burn romance with emotional weight.

The writing style and pacing were my favourite aspects of this book! We had a FM who was feisty and two male leads who give off TOG relationships (broody prince and a commander).

This book contains enemies to lovers, prophecies, politics, dragons and travel through realms.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really, really, REALLY wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't. The story sounds so intriguing from the synopsis and I love that the FMC is 30, but I found the characters and story to fall very flat and have no impact. Some reviewers are totally enamored by this book, unfortunately I'm just not one of them!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This book pulled me in multiple directions and serves as a strong world-building foundation for the series. It’s packed with lore, character introductions, and unexpected twists.

Anthea lives with her two sisters, acting as a surrogate mother after their parents’ death. She works a job that pays the bills but brings little fulfillment. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I definitely didn’t anticipate her night out at a club ending with her falling through a portal into an elf-controlled world. Once there, she’s imprisoned, forced into servitude (or pretending to be—it’s a bit murky and skirts the edge of Stockholm syndrome), kidnapped, tortured, betrayed, and then, somehow, revered? This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster.

At its core, the story revolves around a prophecy and intricate court politics. Humans exist in this world but as a subjugated race, serving the magic-wielding elves. Anthea is quickly discovered to be immune to magic, making her a valuable asset—so they waste no time putting her to work. As for romance? Well… sort of. She’s essentially everyone’s captive, which raises questions about how much of her agency is truly her own. But if you can look past that, the book offers plenty of alluring elves who could be potential love interests.

Since this is just the first book, much of the plot is dedicated to laying the groundwork for what’s to come. For those that are seasoned fantasy readers, this is a typical world-building first book. I anticipate the plot will continue to twist and turn and the world expand as the series continues. The author succeeded in making me root for Anthea, our unlikely heroine. I’m curious to see what chaos awaits her in the next installment.

The False Pawn by A.E. Asavi is a captivating fantasy with a rich, immersive world and a plot full of twists. The characters are well-developed, especially the protagonist, whose journey is filled with intrigue and complex choices. The pacing is steady, though there are moments where the story could have been tightened up. The writing is engaging, making it an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. A solid 4 stars—gripping, with enough depth to leave you wanting more.

This story follows a man from our contemporary world who is unexpectedly pulled into a realm where magic reigns supreme. However, the enigmatic fae he encounters are both fascinated and unsettled by him, as he possesses a rare and inexplicable resistance to their spells. All he desires is to find a way back to his own world and the life he left behind, but the fae are far more interested in studying—and exploiting—his unique immunity for their own mysterious purposes.

This book won’t be for everyone—it’s dark, unflinching, and often uncomfortable. The characters are deeply flawed, morally ambiguous, and at times downright unlikable. The story doesn’t shy away from heavy themes, including violence, manipulation, and the psychological toll of being trapped in a world where you’re seen as little more than a tool. That said, I found myself completely engrossed by the intricate world-building and the tension-filled plot.

Story was missing too many details to be enjoyed.
While the MFC was okay, all the men were insufferable. I was going to rage quit pretty early on due to that.
Plus, the plot was too repetitive, making it hard to continue.
There was just too much that didn’t make sense and that made it too difficult to enjoy this book.

This was a great romantasy debut!! Although it was a little light on the romance, despite their being multiple potential MMCs (but not in reverse harem way which was sad). I think the romance will pick up more in the following book and this one more so focused on world building and our MFC figuring out what the heck is happening, This was definitely more adult and darker than a lot of the romantasies I've been reading, there's torture and big mistreatment of our heroine. The similarities to ACOTAR are also huge and you can see she was heavily inspired by SJM, but that's not a bad thing, I think Asavi'a world and story was still unique and I'm really curious where it's going to go next!

Always love a book where the main character is whisked away to another land far away from the rea world......speaks to me in away.....
loved the concept and plot of the story. awesome job

The False Pawn by A.E. Asavi blends fantasy, mystery, and romance into a captivating tale of political intrigue. Anthea Clark, a woman feeling overwhelmed by life, is suddenly thrust into a dangerous new world of Elven princes, court politics, and a brewing war. With humans considered second-class, Anthea must rely on her wits to navigate the perilous landscape and protect herself—and her heart—amidst the slow-burn romance and shifting alliances. For fans of plot-driven romantasy, this novel offers an engaging mix of suspense, deception, and fantasy with a hint of spice.

Thank you to NetGalley & A.E Asavi for giving me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In theory, The False Pawn ticked all of my boxes: romance, fantasy, political intrigue, foreign land etc, however, I believe it was missing some key elements to make it un-put-downable.

The overall premise of The False Pawn had promise. I felt as though the characters could've been better developed- specifically Anthea, the FMC. I admire that she is a strong-willed and stubborn character, but this made her naivety VERY annoying.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
A very slow burn book that took me a while to get into. Honestly the first time I picked it up was months ago and could not make it past the first few chapters but glad I tried again a d finished it. Not sure I would continue with the series however.

Honestly, the book got me when it said it had dragons and "a bit of spice." I mean, any spice is fine but DRAGONS??? I was sold and I love a good fantasy/mystery book. This got me good and I really enjoyed the book a lot. I originally picked it because of the title and was reeled in after reading the description and after reading it I was satiated.

4.5 stars. Really enjoyed the journey and looking forward to the next book. I think I would have liked a little more world building, but overall enjoyed it.

I absolutely LOVED this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves romance and fantasy. This book absolutely had me in awe. First she was in real life hating her job and then was put into a fantasy world. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!