Yes, I’ve been reading a lot of romances across many sub-genres …I guess that’s just the mood I’ve been in lately. But this one kind of stretches across suspense, and a little bit of psychological thriller.

These first two books of a trilogy are steamy and a little haunting. Avery grew up privileged and had everything set in place for her future until her father ruined it all. With nowhere else to turn, she makes a deal with disreputable figures Damon Scott and (by extension) Gabriel Miller.

What follows is the unraveling of half-truths and lies, family secrets, and…oh yeah…a whole lot of highly sensual tension. Gabriel and Avery maneuver each other (and are themselves moved) like chess pieces – which, honestly is the whole point, right down to the titles of the books. But the plotting is done masterfully, as I felt that even as a reader I was being manipulated just like they were (and that wasn’t a bad thing).

Avery is also very interested in mythology, and the author deftly weaves those themes into her novel, particularly the stories of the Minotaur and Helen of Troy.

I know I am forgetting to mention what else I liked about the books, but really, just go see for yourself. And pick up the third one while you are at it, so you aren’t left on a cliffhanger like I was! My Goodreads review follows.

The Pawn and the Knight by Skye Warren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t even know where to start with this pair of books. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The base premise has been done before (auctioning virginity for money save the family home), but this story is so much more than that. Gabriel Miller is the type of character I love to find in a book. He is enigmatic, dangerous, and sensual. Avery is naïve but smart, which automatically makes her better than many other heroines in this type of novel. I particularly liked the references to mythology throughout the two books. The influence of chess in the story was fascinating to me. Not only does Avery realize that everything that happens to her is like a chess game, but the secrets and lies that are unraveled also move the larger story like a chess game. My only disappointment was that it was only two books of a trilogy, and I was left hanging (of course, I went and got the third so I can see how it all ends). This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release copy.

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