I absolutely loved this book. It started off in a bizarre way that caught my attention and I did not know what to expect. I honestly cannot wait for the next book. I am sad I couldn’t continue reading right now! This book had some romance, some drama, and some thrills. Everything you would hope for in a romantasy novel. I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC!

there will be more i promise" @A.E. Asavi how dare you stop there ?
When is the next book ready ?

4.4/⭐
1/🌶️
Netgalley
Enemy to lovers?
Plot twists
Dragons
Potential war
.
What i loved:
-The book is captivating
i kept reading not being able to put the book down
I wanted to know the next part and the next and the next

-worldbuilding
Although not all is very clear yet you slowly see together with thea how this world works and its history

- the plot twist
Although i didn't think i would trust them again after what happened i loved the plot twist, well i was angry at the character responsible but in this case it's a good thing

What i didn't love:
-the end
How dare you end a book this way?????.

-the sisters
We don't know anything about them anymore i would of loved to at least know something

-the way thea came to the world


Lovely book Would totally recommend but be prepared to wait for the next book now

A. E. Asavi’s The False Pawn weaves together fantasy, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance in a rich, immersive world where deception and danger lurk at every turn. With a compelling protagonist and a plot brimming with court machinations and mystery, this book promises a captivating journey for fans of "romantasy" who enjoy a blend of romance and world-building, with a dash of dragons for good measure.

The story follows Anthea Clark, a relatable heroine who, at 30, feels disillusioned and overwhelmed by the pressures of everyday life. This grounding in reality makes her an instantly sympathetic character, especially when her life is abruptly upended by a stranger who seems to know her all too well. Without warning, Anthea is swept away into a foreign world filled with powerful Elven politics, where humans are seen as inferior and trust is a dangerous gamble. From the moment she arrives, the stakes are high, and Anthea is forced to quickly adapt to survive the cutthroat environment.

One of the novel’s strengths is its intricate political landscape. Asavi skillfully sets the stage with court politics that are both treacherous and complex, ensuring that Anthea’s every move must be calculated to avoid falling prey to dangerous schemes. The two Elven princes who capture her add layers of intrigue—enigmatic and powerful, they remain central to the political games being played. Their intentions are unclear, creating a tension that keeps the reader guessing about who can be trusted.

The slow-burn romance aspect is well-executed, allowing the chemistry between Anthea and the princes to develop naturally amid the intrigue. There’s just enough “spice” to keep fans of romance satisfied, but the novel remains plot-forward, making sure the romance complements rather than overshadows the political drama. This balance between the romantic tension and the central plot of survival and deception helps elevate the novel, giving it more depth than a typical romantic fantasy.

Anthea is a compelling protagonist, not only because she’s thrust into a world so different from her own but because she must summon her intelligence and resilience to navigate it. She’s neither a damsel in distress nor a flawless heroine; her internal struggles, combined with her sharp wit, make her journey through this new world feel authentic and engaging.

The fantasy elements, particularly the inclusion of dragons and other magical creatures, add a layer of excitement to the novel’s world-building. While these elements are not the primary focus, they serve to deepen the sense of wonder and danger that pervades the narrative. Asavi teases enough about the larger world’s lore to make readers curious for more without overwhelming them with too much information at once.

If there’s a minor critique, it’s that the novel sometimes leans heavily on familiar tropes within the fantasy and romance genres. The "ordinary woman swept into a foreign world" setup, along with the enigmatic princes and court intrigue, will feel familiar to fans of the genre. However, Asavi injects enough fresh energy and character development into these elements to make them feel more personal and engaging.

The pacing is mostly steady, though the middle sections of the book could have benefited from more action or sharper twists to maintain momentum. The buildup of the romance is effective, but the political intrigue sometimes slows down as the novel shifts focus to developing relationships and emotional stakes. However, for readers who enjoy slow-burn narratives that gradually ramp up the tension, this pacing will likely be a welcome feature.

Final Thoughts:
The False Pawn is a well-crafted mix of fantasy, political intrigue, and slow-burn romance that will appeal to fans of plot-driven "romantasy" with a strong heroine at its core. A. E. Asavi has created a world filled with deception and danger, where Anthea Clark must rely on her cunning to survive—and protect her heart. While the novel plays with familiar tropes, it does so in a way that feels fresh, and the rich court politics, along with the promise of dragons, make for an engaging read. Fans of slow-burn romances with a twist of intrigue and adventure will find much to enjoy here.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC!

I'm a huge fan of fantasy, and this book had a bunch of tropes that I enjoy which is what initially intrigued me. I felt there was a lack of ...something in this book though. It felt like to me the author would make time pass by quickly when they wanted to move the plot along. That aside, I still did enjoy it! I would read the next in this series, too.

Read via Netgalley
The story was very slow to start, as is common for longer fantasy series while the world is being built.
“You are in a world where magic is life” yet we don’t see much of magic being used, its source, who has it and what impact it has on the power structure of the world - apart from a powerful group who has used power and dragons as a threat to everyone else.
There are enough interwoven threads in the story to be engaging and I will read the next in the series when it comes out. I have some theories about the storyline and I want to see how it pans out.

Spoiler:


There is misinformed consent here, as in she gave consent based on misinformation. I love that when she found out, she kicked him to the curb so quickly you could hear him bounce and she kept that misinformation in mind while encountering others.

Great read, very intriguing plot and well written, will definitely be reading the next :)

i rated this book 4/5 stars.

Elves, magic, and spice—check.

The False Pawn has a storyline that is engaging, and Asavi’s writing style effectively draws you into her world. The novel is rich with politics, subterfuge, class divides, and the classic struggle between good and evil, accompanied by violence. The characters are well-developed; while I didn’t like all of them, that’s part of the appeal. The FMC can be grating at times, but the story improves as it progresses.

I was a bit disappointed that dragons don’t make an appearance, though the twist regarding their absence was intriguing. Be aware that the book ends on a cliffhanger, so you'll be eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

It’s got fantasy, mystery, deception, betrayal, and a bit of spice. The book was really great! I think the author really did an amazing job and I truly cannot wait to see what comes from them next!

A fantastic read from cover to cover! A.E. Asavi has penned an impeccable fantasy novel. So good I could hardly put it down.

I was hooked by the book right away, getting sucked into the plot. As I read further I fell in love with Anthea and Endreth.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Frankly, I have nothing nice to say about this book, so I'm going to keep it as simple and short as I can. The book follows Anthea Clark, who gets handed a rock in the first chapter and is teleported to a Different World where magic exists, and is full of elves. However the elves are super racist and the only way for Anthea, a human, to fit in is to act as a sexy slave (awful, awful sentence to write out) so the other elven courts don't find out her secret and beat the shit out of her for it. I guess.

The entire novel is a poor excuse for trying to navigate fantasy politics. Which it fails at utterly. Also, every single thing is taken verbatim from another more popular fantasy novel. I won't name them, you can guess. There's nothing original or interesting here, and it was not worth the time I spent reading it. I had no idea this was going to be a slave fantasy because nowhere in the description is that stated. In fact, the description is so vague I wonder why I picked up the ARC at all.

The writing itself is fine, but not enticing. There was just no fun to be had at all in this experience, and the "spice" was not earned. Also there are like 100 men and all of them have vaguely similar names. The Queen of Elves and a random footsoldier have extremely similar names, to where I didn't realize they were two different people.

"Fyrlion" = random footsoldier
"Fyralin" = QUEEN OF ELVES

Also "Endreth" and "Endrion" my god please come up with something else

If you change nothing else, change these names. I hated when George R. R. Martin did it, hated it here, too. Marika Melina Maliketh Melania lookin'. I would have fully DNF'd if this wasn't for a review, so like, a .5 star rating from me.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have dnfed it half way through I just couldn’t stand it any longer. On paper it had everything I love: fantasy, romance and mystery, but that’s only in the surface. If you dig deeper you’ll the deeply unlikable heroine, nonsensical plot ridden with cliches to drown in. The writing was ill-done, the lacklustre description and boring dialogues that could have been forgiving if the characters were truly captivating or the plot truly fascinating, but alas.

I was fortunate to get an arc . I was excited by the premise and the cover is gorgeous but, I couldnt get into it.

I didn't know how the author blended together a modern world with fantasy but they did. I'm pleasantly surprised at the world building is really great. Anthea Clark is a great character she's a match for her male counterparts. I love her fire and spunk! They're too many elements that could be spoiled and i won't do that to my fellow readers. Suffice to say I want the next book now. Until next time Happy Reading!

I want to thank A. E. Asavi for this ARC via Netgalley.

Brief summary: The False Pawn follows Anthea, a normal girl working a morally questionable PR job. That changes when she is abruptly whisked away to a fantasy realm with elves and magic. With only her wits and a unique immunity to magic she must navigate the politics of the different elven courts in this new world and do what she must to survive.

Thoughts: I saw lots of potential with this book. The premise was unique and centered more on the politics between the different elven courts with some elements of romance. I did feel that we got to know the FMC pretty well and I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how she would get out of the situation she was in. Unfortunately, the pacing felt very slow until about 40% when it started to pick up a bit. This book has some dark themes since humans are second class citizens in the elven courts so read with care. Overall I think if you like politics and mystery in a darker fantasy setting this could be for you, I just wouldn’t recommend if you are looking for a true romantasy because the romance is truly secondary.

II started reading this book feeling like it had potential, and I got engrossed in the story rather easily with how her writing style and what goes on. Overall, I love the premise of the story of a human falling into another realm and becomes a useful pawn in Elven politics. I would love to read the second book whenever it is available to read! I am interested in seeing where it will go.

The story follows Anthea, a 30 year old human working in a PR firm... until one day she, drunkenly, wrestles with a prophecy-crazed man in the street and moments later finds herself in the bed of an Elven Prince, from a different realm. How did she end up there, I hear you say? Maybe we will find out in the 2nd book. Oh also, the Elven Prince quickly finds out she's immune to magic, otherwise I'm pretty sure the book would've ended there and she would've been dead due to his spell casting. Thank goodness she's immune to it, phew.

From here on out, Anthea has to survive in this new world through an array of challenges: imprisonment, torture, harassment, being deceived and lied to, manipulated, and even having to play the part of a human sex slave in order to prevent suspicion from other Elves and their courts. Anthea is told, time and time again, to obey the royalty of the court and the Elves who are deemed a higher being than her own race, and to "learn [her] place" as a human. I find this does get a bit repetitive in the book, where the same conversation happens over and over, and both parties are just as stubborn as each other. So she is not going to concede. She is not going to back down. She is NOT going to lose hope of somehow returning home; of returning to her sisters she misses so dearly. She is going to stand her ground and demand to be treated with respect and dignity; as an EQUAL. Let's say it doesn't make her life easy. There are harsh consequences for those who don't comply, and Anthea learns that the hard way.

During her time in the Crimson Court in which she first finds herself in, the Elven Princes' carry out a duty to protect her from harm (despite inflicting harm on her themselves, the hypocrites), to determine how she is immune to magic (and why), and to train and task her in dangerous quests that could leave her dead if she isn't careful. Anthea doesn't really get many questions out of the Princes' of what the heck this is all about until later on in the story, which got me a little impatient when all I want is for someone to answer her simple questions. Throughout the book, the Elves drop nuggets of information and answers, in which (only sometimes) are mixed with lies and twists that are later on revealed as just that. She soon discovers she is useful to the Elves, but in what way? Why are they so interested in her immunity to magic? How would that even benefit them? These questions will be answered eventually.

I found the characters interesting yet the Elven men are mostly controlling and deceitful towards the FMC, and there is some repetitive back and forth arguments between them like I said, regarding how she should behave, speak, and respect those "above" her and to know her place in the world.. I have read reviews that say the FMC isn't all that likeable, but I think she's a realistic character. I'd be wanting to stand my ground if a bunch of ridiculously handsome men told me to obey them. Well, they should at least pay me first.

There is some slight romance in this book, though more of a hint of it than anything, and there definitely is a couple of spicy scenes. This doesn't play a big role in the plot, but politics does play a crucial part in it. There is a reason as to why the growing bond between herself and an Elven man is a bit confusing, and it will become obvious over time. I'm hoping there'll be romance in the second book, but not all books need romance, and I am happy enough to just reading the rest of the tale. Also, Andrea eventually becomes forgiving toward those who have horrendously harmed her, but it definitely takes a while for anyone to earn back her trust after they just shatter it so many times.

I was hoping for more of an adrenaline rush at the end of this book, but it only spiked a little. The ending, I find, isn't too exciting, and I wouldn't consider it as a cliff hanger, but rather a "the adventure will be continued...".

Overall, I recommend it if you like handsome Elves manhandling you and tell you what to do, and saying it's for your own good when really, is it? Is it for your own good? Or are these Elves just misogynistic and racist towards humans? I'd say the latter. They can and do get sweet though. Don't be fooled, some do have hearts.

I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book freely! I enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to the next book!

This book had so many things I love in a fantasy, but my god the events that took place made me so angry! I loved the fiery FMC but my heart continuously broke for her because of all she was put through. Every other character was the WORST and they put her through hell for their own selfish desires. There were many times that I almost put the book down because it was so. damn. frustrating. Poor Anthea. I hoped to enjoy this more. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The novel starts with a lot of promise but struggles in several key areas. The pacing feels uneven, especially in the first half, which might leave readers feeling disconnected. The main character, who initially appears strong and capable, comes off as unlikable and inconsistent. Her transition into the new world lacks the cleverness and skill one might expect, leading to a series of poor decisions and an overall lack of connection with the plot. A romance that feels forced and unconvincing compounds this, partly because of the male characters often overshadowing her. Although the world-building and fantasy elements are intriguing, with rich courts and landscapes, the execution falters with noticeable plot gaps and editing issues. The book ends on a cliffhanger, which might appeal to some, but leaves the narrative feeling incomplete. Despite its potential, the story suffers from a lack of coherence and depth, making it a mixed read that may not satisfy fans of intricate fantasy adventures.

Most of the book I felt like the pacing was a little off. I also felt as though we were supposed to dislike the main character. She just seems to be a little rough around the edges.

The second half of the book is much better than the first. I really feel like when the edits were done that there wasn’t a reread, because we jump, and I feel like things are missing that would help pull me in. I personally didn’t feel like the characters didn’t have much of a connection which caused the romance scenes to be lack luster for me.

Does the whole book need to go back through an edit? Yes. Is there potential 100%

This book was a little slow to get into and hard to get attached to the characters. The beginning 40% of the book was so slow and I feel like there was no plot but once you got past that, the characters & storyline developed better. I am excited to read the next book because I loved the last 20%.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc!

While a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book would have been helpful, I found myself enjoying the adventure that Anthea and her new found friends found themselves on. Warning, it ends on a slight but not overwhelming cliffhanger so keep that in mind when flying through the pages like I did.

Anyone looking for a fantasy adventure that isn’t overly complex will greatly enjoy this book.