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Poisoned Pawn: Lost Sovereigns - Book 1
"A thrilling debut of a new romantasy series that will leave fans as thirsty as the Blodlyst-afflicted for the next installment." — BookLife / Publishers Weekly
**2026 BookFest First Place 3x: Fantasy - Action & Adventure, LGBTQ+ - Fantasy, Women's - Fantasy**
**2026 Best Fantasy Action/Adventure Indies Today Awards**
**7th Annual Author Shout Book Awards Top Pick Winner**
**2025 Royal Dragonfly Book Award Winner*
**Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist 2026**
In a tale of loyalty, love, and betrayal, survival is a choice.
After the gods shattered her world, Æri must hunt humans across the treacherous volcanic boglands to appease her queen's vampiric appetite-or face the ominous threat of her realm's destruction. Her mission, however, takes a disastrous turn when her aircraft crashes. Waylaid by Venator huntsmen, she is hauled off into enemy territory.
Now a prisoner in a brutal realm, she's forced to serve in gruesome gladiatorial games for the king's twisted amusement. Each fight chips away at her chances of ever returning home. Through all of this, Æri's heart is her greatest battleground. She wrestles with her burgeoning feelings for her captor, Rione, the king's lethal yet enigmatic right hand. Torn between freedom, love, and unraveling the mystery behind her queen's deadly cravings, Æri stands at a crossroads that will define the fate of all the realms.
**2026 BookFest First Place 3x: Fantasy - Action & Adventure, LGBTQ+ - Fantasy, Women's - Fantasy**
**2026 Best Fantasy Action/Adventure Indies Today Awards**
**7th Annual Author Shout Book Awards Top Pick Winner**
**2025 Royal Dragonfly Book Award Winner*
**Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist 2026**
In a tale of loyalty, love, and betrayal, survival is a choice.
After the gods shattered her world, Æri must hunt humans across the treacherous volcanic boglands to appease her queen's vampiric appetite-or face the ominous threat of her realm's destruction. Her mission, however, takes a disastrous turn when her aircraft crashes. Waylaid by Venator huntsmen, she is hauled off into enemy territory.
Now a prisoner in a brutal realm, she's forced to serve in gruesome gladiatorial games for the king's twisted amusement. Each fight chips away at her chances of ever returning home. Through all of this, Æri's heart is her greatest battleground. She wrestles with her burgeoning feelings for her captor, Rione, the king's lethal yet enigmatic right hand. Torn between freedom, love, and unraveling the mystery behind her queen's deadly cravings, Æri stands at a crossroads that will define the fate of all the realms.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2025
About the author
K. L. Vincent
3 books57 followersK. L. Vincent is an award-winning author originally from California with a degree in theater design and anthropology from UCLA. She later received a master’s degree in anthropology and occupational therapy in the UK. Following her passion for history, people, and travel, she dabbled in archaeology and spent a summer exploring Scotland while volunteering on a dig at the Ness of Brodgar.
She is an active Globe Soup member and continues to pen stories whenever possible. As a neurodivergent writer, she infuses her work with a focus on resilience and identity. Both she and her identical twin collaborate and bounce stories off one another even though they live in different countries. Outside of writing, she practices as an occupational therapist and teaches English. She lives in France with her partner, baby girl, and orange furball.
She is an active Globe Soup member and continues to pen stories whenever possible. As a neurodivergent writer, she infuses her work with a focus on resilience and identity. Both she and her identical twin collaborate and bounce stories off one another even though they live in different countries. Outside of writing, she practices as an occupational therapist and teaches English. She lives in France with her partner, baby girl, and orange furball.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 22, 2026
Ein absoluter Romantasy-Geheimtipp: Steampunk, queere Repräsentation und packender Survival-Kampf.
Im deutschsprachigen Raum ist Poisoned Pawn noch ein echter Insidertipp. Wer sich jedoch abseits der ausgetretenen Pfade wagt, wird mit einer außergewöhnlichen Geschichte belohnt – allein der Name der Protagonistin, Æri, ist absolut großartig! 😇 (vielleicht bin ich auch nur zu leicht zu begeistern 😅)
Worum geht es?
Æri muss Menschen jagen, um die Blodlyst ihrer Königin und Schwester zu stillen, bis ein Fluggerätabsturz sie ins feindliche Gebiet der Venator-Jäger bringt. Als Gefangene in Gladiatorenkämpfen muss sie nicht nur überleben, sondern ringt auch mit ihren Gefühlen für Rione - der tödlichen rechten Hand des Königs.
Das begeistert:
• Die Welt: Eine faszinierende Steampunk-Mischung aus Technologie, Magie, Fae und vampirischen Kreaturen.
• Starke Repräsentation: Æri ist queer (Pan-/Bisexualität) und ihr Arm ist amputiert - ich liebe ihre authentische unaufgeregte Darstellung, auch wenn ich manchmal an ihren Entscheidungen sehr zweifeln musste 😅
• Echtes Enemies-to-Lovers: Ein langsamer, hochemotionaler Slow Burn mit spürbarer Chemie. Mein Highlight ist hier definitiv Rione 😍
• Tiefe & Tempo: Nach einem ruhigen Start entwickelt das Buch einen echten Suchtfaktor aus Politik, Gefahr und Herz
Fazit
Ein atmosphärischer, inklusiver und fesselnder Reihenauftakt für alle Fans von düsterer Fantasy mit Tiefgang. Absolute Leseempfehlung!!!!
Im deutschsprachigen Raum ist Poisoned Pawn noch ein echter Insidertipp. Wer sich jedoch abseits der ausgetretenen Pfade wagt, wird mit einer außergewöhnlichen Geschichte belohnt – allein der Name der Protagonistin, Æri, ist absolut großartig! 😇 (vielleicht bin ich auch nur zu leicht zu begeistern 😅)
Worum geht es?
Æri muss Menschen jagen, um die Blodlyst ihrer Königin und Schwester zu stillen, bis ein Fluggerätabsturz sie ins feindliche Gebiet der Venator-Jäger bringt. Als Gefangene in Gladiatorenkämpfen muss sie nicht nur überleben, sondern ringt auch mit ihren Gefühlen für Rione - der tödlichen rechten Hand des Königs.
Das begeistert:
• Die Welt: Eine faszinierende Steampunk-Mischung aus Technologie, Magie, Fae und vampirischen Kreaturen.
• Starke Repräsentation: Æri ist queer (Pan-/Bisexualität) und ihr Arm ist amputiert - ich liebe ihre authentische unaufgeregte Darstellung, auch wenn ich manchmal an ihren Entscheidungen sehr zweifeln musste 😅
• Echtes Enemies-to-Lovers: Ein langsamer, hochemotionaler Slow Burn mit spürbarer Chemie. Mein Highlight ist hier definitiv Rione 😍
• Tiefe & Tempo: Nach einem ruhigen Start entwickelt das Buch einen echten Suchtfaktor aus Politik, Gefahr und Herz
Fazit
Ein atmosphärischer, inklusiver und fesselnder Reihenauftakt für alle Fans von düsterer Fantasy mit Tiefgang. Absolute Leseempfehlung!!!!
April 11, 2025
5/5 Stars - A Gripping, Inclusive, Unique Read
This ARC completely drew me in with its incredible world building and fresh blend of genres. The story follows a fierce female lead who gets captured by a hunting group while she herself is hunting humans to feed her Queen! The mix of vampires, fae, magic, advanced technology, art, and science felt both inventive and immersive. What really stood out was the inclusive representation: LGBTQIA+ characters, individuals with disabilities, and nuanced portrayals of strength in all forms. I loved the strong women leaders, the slow burn romance, and the intense yearning between the two main characters. If you’re into smart, atmospheric sci-fi/fantasy with heart, this one’s a must-read. Highly recommend!
This ARC completely drew me in with its incredible world building and fresh blend of genres. The story follows a fierce female lead who gets captured by a hunting group while she herself is hunting humans to feed her Queen! The mix of vampires, fae, magic, advanced technology, art, and science felt both inventive and immersive. What really stood out was the inclusive representation: LGBTQIA+ characters, individuals with disabilities, and nuanced portrayals of strength in all forms. I loved the strong women leaders, the slow burn romance, and the intense yearning between the two main characters. If you’re into smart, atmospheric sci-fi/fantasy with heart, this one’s a must-read. Highly recommend!
June 21, 2025
This is a fast paced post apocalyptic fantasy filled with court intrigue, mystery, secrets, and morally grey characters. If you enjoy political intrigue, unique magic, curses, and characters you’re not sure you can trust...this one’s for you.
The gods basically destroy the world, and our FMC has to hunt humans to satiate her queens vampiric appetite. On one of her hunts her aircraft crashes and she becomes a prisoner in a different realm. Our story takes off from there and is filled with twists and turns that will keep the pages turning.
Read this if you enjoy:
• gladiator style games
• Political intrigue
• Hidden identity
• Found family (slow burn)
• Enemies-to-allies
The gods basically destroy the world, and our FMC has to hunt humans to satiate her queens vampiric appetite. On one of her hunts her aircraft crashes and she becomes a prisoner in a different realm. Our story takes off from there and is filled with twists and turns that will keep the pages turning.
Read this if you enjoy:
• gladiator style games
• Political intrigue
• Hidden identity
• Found family (slow burn)
• Enemies-to-allies
Did Not Finish
June 14, 2025Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, a DNF at 55%. I'm very disappointed to have done so, but I reached my limit.
The pros: There are so many pros, it's what really kills me that I won't be finishing. The prose is overall very good - at times it gets a little clunky, but usually it's very vivid and detailed without being overbearing. The worldbuilding is fascinating from what I saw of it, with Fíronbec and Særenfell's differing cultures, the Split, all of it. The characters are interesting and fun to read, I really liked Æri and the Narkrye, and I loved Brynja. I loved the Blodlyst. It was my absolute favorite part of the book, and it was the one thing that made me think maybe I'd push forward anyway, though (obviously) I ultimately decided not to.
The cons: I will admit, part of this is on me. I somehow missed (or maybe forgot) the enemies-to-lovers hinted at in the summary. I am usually not a fan of enemies-to-lovers, though sometimes it wins me over. From what I saw of the budding relationship between Æri and Rione, this did not look like it was shaping out to be one such case. The rest of my issues, I think, are more warranted. The first one was the fatphobia. There's a character - a one-off character, as far as I could tell - literally named Lord Porcius who is so fat that he can balance a plate on his stomach, and said plate is piled so high that the characters comment that he may go throw up later from gorging himself. Not much later there is a second character who is less egregious, but the narration repeatedly describes his stomach as jiggling around while he walks and so on. For a book that has a lot of (as far as I can tell) pretty good disability representation, as well as queer representation, it felt incredibly jarring and incredibly mean to apparently have the line be fat people. It's 2025, are we really still doing this? That all brought me to the edge, but I held on - again, I really, really loved the Blodlyst!!! But, yeah, what finally kicked me over the edge was the master/slave dynamic, which was not hinted at in the summary, and I really think it should've been. Even if it isn't being used for overtly sexual purposes, I really think that's the kind of thing that needs to be indicated. Combining that with the enemies-to-lovers dynamic just really ruined everything for me, which was a major disappointment, because I was really enjoying it! I was having a good time! Unfortunately, that just crossed the line for me. If it had been indicated sooner, I wouldn't have picked it up in the first place.
Also, for my final point, I've discovered that the author 1. rated her own book (five stars, of course), 2. has liked positive reviews, and 3. responded to at least one negative review, which also puts a bad taste in my mouth because authors should not be looking at reviews of their own books, and certainly not interacting with them.
So, yeah. I hate to DNF an ARC because that feels kind of against the point, but I couldn't force myself to continue when I had a feeling this would just devolve further. If you are not bothered by the cons I listed, then I really would recommend taking a look, because I do think it is well-written and interesting aside from those points.
Unfortunately, a DNF at 55%. I'm very disappointed to have done so, but I reached my limit.
The pros: There are so many pros, it's what really kills me that I won't be finishing. The prose is overall very good - at times it gets a little clunky, but usually it's very vivid and detailed without being overbearing. The worldbuilding is fascinating from what I saw of it, with Fíronbec and Særenfell's differing cultures, the Split, all of it. The characters are interesting and fun to read, I really liked Æri and the Narkrye, and I loved Brynja. I loved the Blodlyst. It was my absolute favorite part of the book, and it was the one thing that made me think maybe I'd push forward anyway, though (obviously) I ultimately decided not to.
The cons: I will admit, part of this is on me. I somehow missed (or maybe forgot) the enemies-to-lovers hinted at in the summary. I am usually not a fan of enemies-to-lovers, though sometimes it wins me over. From what I saw of the budding relationship between Æri and Rione, this did not look like it was shaping out to be one such case. The rest of my issues, I think, are more warranted. The first one was the fatphobia. There's a character - a one-off character, as far as I could tell - literally named Lord Porcius who is so fat that he can balance a plate on his stomach, and said plate is piled so high that the characters comment that he may go throw up later from gorging himself. Not much later there is a second character who is less egregious, but the narration repeatedly describes his stomach as jiggling around while he walks and so on. For a book that has a lot of (as far as I can tell) pretty good disability representation, as well as queer representation, it felt incredibly jarring and incredibly mean to apparently have the line be fat people. It's 2025, are we really still doing this? That all brought me to the edge, but I held on - again, I really, really loved the Blodlyst!!! But, yeah, what finally kicked me over the edge was the master/slave dynamic, which was not hinted at in the summary, and I really think it should've been. Even if it isn't being used for overtly sexual purposes, I really think that's the kind of thing that needs to be indicated. Combining that with the enemies-to-lovers dynamic just really ruined everything for me, which was a major disappointment, because I was really enjoying it! I was having a good time! Unfortunately, that just crossed the line for me. If it had been indicated sooner, I wouldn't have picked it up in the first place.
Also, for my final point, I've discovered that the author 1. rated her own book (five stars, of course), 2. has liked positive reviews, and 3. responded to at least one negative review, which also puts a bad taste in my mouth because authors should not be looking at reviews of their own books, and certainly not interacting with them.
So, yeah. I hate to DNF an ARC because that feels kind of against the point, but I couldn't force myself to continue when I had a feeling this would just devolve further. If you are not bothered by the cons I listed, then I really would recommend taking a look, because I do think it is well-written and interesting aside from those points.
August 7, 2026
The premise of this sounded great but ultimately failed to deliver. I think the work would greatly have benefited from a strong developmental edit. There are a choices made for the characterizations and world that at times were contradictory or felt like they were included in name only without care for how those choices would interact with other parts of the world, leading to surface level development. I don’t think I could tell you what the book is about at its core (themes, commentary, etc), just plot points which led to a hollow reading experience.
Our fmc gets kidnapped by a neighboring nation and is forced to compete in trials that will end in a slave auction with the “winner” going on to compete in gladiatorial games. However the seeming brutality of circumstances don’t translate to the character interactions. We’re told slavery is bad (obviously) but it’s used more of a shortcut for brutality in name only which both undercuts the world the author is trying to create while also tokenizing the real world history it’s borrowing from. The fmc is cordial with her captors and speaks to the king multiple times. She had more of a ‘prized hostage’ treatment. Similarly, late in the book, there’s a scene during the gladiatorial fights where two unnamed disabled characters are made to fight. One without arms and one without legs while the crowd jeers. It again felt like a tokenizing way with little care to the disabled bodies to say the king and kingdom are bad and the fmc and mmc are good because they recognize how disgusting it is. I didn’t feel like there was care or understanding used when writing this moment.
The limb difference disability rep (our fmc has a bionic arm) again felt very surface level. The disability didn’t seem to effect the way she moved through the world or how others treated her despite us being told the place she’s kidnapped is ableist (re gladiatorial fight and she gets called cripple a couple times). When her bionic arm is removed, there are no hiccups during the trials or training which again just didn’t seem realistic for someone that has had this arm, presumably for hundreds of years. No forgetting it wasn’t there or being slightly off balance. Which invoked a like “handi-capable” or like “my disability doesn’t define me” kind of characterization, which made the disability decision more like a prop than an integral part of her character.
Other smaller things, our fmc is over 1000 years old yet still reads as very young, both in her maneuvering in the world and thoughts about the mmc which gave ‘ew cooties’ vibes a couple times. The world building that was present often happened in info dumps or odd q&a moments with characters.
I listened to this as an ALC. I don’t think the narration performance was particularly well done. I can’t tell if it’s the narration or the writing but the cadence is odd. Maybe a combination since there seem to be a lot of short, direct sentences and that leads to the narration performance feeling a bit monotonous. The editing and sound mixing is also inconsistent. Occasionally it sounds like the audio drops in volume or the sound mix changes which was very distracting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ALC.
Our fmc gets kidnapped by a neighboring nation and is forced to compete in trials that will end in a slave auction with the “winner” going on to compete in gladiatorial games. However the seeming brutality of circumstances don’t translate to the character interactions. We’re told slavery is bad (obviously) but it’s used more of a shortcut for brutality in name only which both undercuts the world the author is trying to create while also tokenizing the real world history it’s borrowing from. The fmc is cordial with her captors and speaks to the king multiple times. She had more of a ‘prized hostage’ treatment. Similarly, late in the book, there’s a scene during the gladiatorial fights where two unnamed disabled characters are made to fight. One without arms and one without legs while the crowd jeers. It again felt like a tokenizing way with little care to the disabled bodies to say the king and kingdom are bad and the fmc and mmc are good because they recognize how disgusting it is. I didn’t feel like there was care or understanding used when writing this moment.
The limb difference disability rep (our fmc has a bionic arm) again felt very surface level. The disability didn’t seem to effect the way she moved through the world or how others treated her despite us being told the place she’s kidnapped is ableist (re gladiatorial fight and she gets called cripple a couple times). When her bionic arm is removed, there are no hiccups during the trials or training which again just didn’t seem realistic for someone that has had this arm, presumably for hundreds of years. No forgetting it wasn’t there or being slightly off balance. Which invoked a like “handi-capable” or like “my disability doesn’t define me” kind of characterization, which made the disability decision more like a prop than an integral part of her character.
Other smaller things, our fmc is over 1000 years old yet still reads as very young, both in her maneuvering in the world and thoughts about the mmc which gave ‘ew cooties’ vibes a couple times. The world building that was present often happened in info dumps or odd q&a moments with characters.
I listened to this as an ALC. I don’t think the narration performance was particularly well done. I can’t tell if it’s the narration or the writing but the cadence is odd. Maybe a combination since there seem to be a lot of short, direct sentences and that leads to the narration performance feeling a bit monotonous. The editing and sound mixing is also inconsistent. Occasionally it sounds like the audio drops in volume or the sound mix changes which was very distracting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ALC.
September 25, 2026
⚔️ Tropes:
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🔥 True Slow Burn
⚔️ Gladiator Trials
👑 Hidden Royalty
🏰 Political/Court Intrigue
⛓️ Captive FMC
💘 Forbidden/Complicated Romance
🌋 Broken Kingdoms + Epic World-Building
🦾 Disabled FMC Representation
🌈 LGBTQIA+ Rep
🎧 Narrators: Charlotte Wickham & Benji Weaver
📚 Book 1 of the Lost Sovereigns series
This was such an interesting mix of romantasy, survival, politics, technology, and darker fantasy elements. Æri is thrown into enemy territory and forced into brutal gladiator-style trials while also trying to figure out exactly who she can trust, especially when feelings for Rione start complicating everything. 👀
I really enjoyed how different the world felt. There’s a LOT happening between the shattered realms, vampiric elements, advanced technology, court politics, and the mystery surrounding Æri’s queen, but it made this feel different from a lot of the romantasy I’ve been reading lately. And when they say slow burn, they mean SLOW burn. 😂 Æri + Rione definitely make you work for it.
⭐️ 4 stars for a strong first book with unique world-building, representation, high stakes, and plenty left unanswered going into book two.
✨ “In a tale of loyalty, love, and betrayal, survival is a choice.”
Thank you to K. L. Vincent, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing the ALC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🔥 True Slow Burn
⚔️ Gladiator Trials
👑 Hidden Royalty
🏰 Political/Court Intrigue
⛓️ Captive FMC
💘 Forbidden/Complicated Romance
🌋 Broken Kingdoms + Epic World-Building
🦾 Disabled FMC Representation
🌈 LGBTQIA+ Rep
🎧 Narrators: Charlotte Wickham & Benji Weaver
📚 Book 1 of the Lost Sovereigns series
This was such an interesting mix of romantasy, survival, politics, technology, and darker fantasy elements. Æri is thrown into enemy territory and forced into brutal gladiator-style trials while also trying to figure out exactly who she can trust, especially when feelings for Rione start complicating everything. 👀
I really enjoyed how different the world felt. There’s a LOT happening between the shattered realms, vampiric elements, advanced technology, court politics, and the mystery surrounding Æri’s queen, but it made this feel different from a lot of the romantasy I’ve been reading lately. And when they say slow burn, they mean SLOW burn. 😂 Æri + Rione definitely make you work for it.
⭐️ 4 stars for a strong first book with unique world-building, representation, high stakes, and plenty left unanswered going into book two.
✨ “In a tale of loyalty, love, and betrayal, survival is a choice.”
Thank you to K. L. Vincent, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing the ALC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
August 23, 2026
In a world shattered by Gods, some of the population stops aging for no apparent reason. After this split, a blood illness spreads in Særenfell — the realm of women — but it's more like a curse than an illness, because whoever is affected by it falls prey to a thirst that can only be satiated by men's blood, and it consumes their mind piece by piece.
The Queen of Særenfell is affected by this illness, and her twin sister, Æri, has the duty to hunt for her. But during a hunt, she is captured and forced to fight in an arena for the pleasure of the Fironian King in order to gain her freedom.
This is an epic fantasy with a slow slow slow-burn romance subplot. I love when characters take their time to get to know each other and fall in love quietly 🩷
What I really appreciated about this book was the writing style. The way Vincent describes places, daily routines, and action made me envision the situations and what surrounded the characters without effort.
From the beginning, I was immediately into the story. It gave me a sense of peace, even when the situation isn't the best for Æri. I totally enjoyed staying in that world.
It's a rich fantasy— you can find political intrigue, steampunk vibes, fights, love, an animal companion 🥹 and pansexual representation 🏳️🌈 in it.
The second one in the series will be released on 23 September. So give it a chance.
The Queen of Særenfell is affected by this illness, and her twin sister, Æri, has the duty to hunt for her. But during a hunt, she is captured and forced to fight in an arena for the pleasure of the Fironian King in order to gain her freedom.
This is an epic fantasy with a slow slow slow-burn romance subplot. I love when characters take their time to get to know each other and fall in love quietly 🩷
What I really appreciated about this book was the writing style. The way Vincent describes places, daily routines, and action made me envision the situations and what surrounded the characters without effort.
From the beginning, I was immediately into the story. It gave me a sense of peace, even when the situation isn't the best for Æri. I totally enjoyed staying in that world.
It's a rich fantasy— you can find political intrigue, steampunk vibes, fights, love, an animal companion 🥹 and pansexual representation 🏳️🌈 in it.
The second one in the series will be released on 23 September. So give it a chance.
June 29, 2026
I can‘t believe I waited this long to crack this one open. Just in time for the ARC release.. and gearing up for book 2 to release in September! This was addictive, lots of action, loved the characters, and damn good writing. So enjoyable. Can’t wait to sink my teeth into the next installment! Dang!
May 14, 2025
What an amazing debut!! If you’re eager for a fantasy/romance/sci-fi/female-empowered adventure, look no further.
The world is richly developed and it was easy to be swept away into its different lands. You can tell the author cares deeply about her characters - their inner selves and complex relationships with one other. I love that two (twin) sisters are at the core of the story and provide such strong motivations. Representation of people with disabilities and lgbtqia+ folks was also great to see. The slow burn romance is captivating and will make you yearning for the next installment!!
The world is richly developed and it was easy to be swept away into its different lands. You can tell the author cares deeply about her characters - their inner selves and complex relationships with one other. I love that two (twin) sisters are at the core of the story and provide such strong motivations. Representation of people with disabilities and lgbtqia+ folks was also great to see. The slow burn romance is captivating and will make you yearning for the next installment!!
May 15, 2025
I started following the author on bookstagram and oh my goodness, this book deserves more hype!
The beginning reads like a crime movie, which starts at the end then you get the flashback to what lead up to the moment. We then get to follow various pov as the story unfolds.
This is a very well built world, it is complex, but very easy to read and follow!
Æri is the MFC and she is amazing! She has struggles, has a missing arm, a bird companion, and struggles with her new circumstance, and the slow burn is burning!!! There are also some very good banter moments!
NGL this was a little slow at first for me, but it picks up quick and by 70% I stayed up to finish it! 😅 This is not a book you want to miss. I cannot wait for the sequel!!!
The beginning reads like a crime movie, which starts at the end then you get the flashback to what lead up to the moment. We then get to follow various pov as the story unfolds.
This is a very well built world, it is complex, but very easy to read and follow!
Æri is the MFC and she is amazing! She has struggles, has a missing arm, a bird companion, and struggles with her new circumstance, and the slow burn is burning!!! There are also some very good banter moments!
NGL this was a little slow at first for me, but it picks up quick and by 70% I stayed up to finish it! 😅 This is not a book you want to miss. I cannot wait for the sequel!!!
March 19, 2025
Survival isn’t just about strength—it’s about choices. After the gods shattered her world, Æri is forced to hunt humans to appease her queen’s vampiric appetite. But when she’s captured by Venator huntsmen, she’s thrown into brutal gladiatorial games. As she fights for her life, she’s torn between freedom, forbidden love, and unraveling the dark secrets behind her queen’s hunger.
From the start, I was captivated by the phenomenal world-building. Fironbec and SÆrenfell are vividly distinct, and I loved experiencing their contrasts. The Venators and Rione’s household staff were standouts, adding depth to the story. I also loved the representation—LGBTQIA+ characters and individuals with physical differences are woven in seamlessly. As a physical therapist with many friends and family in the LGBTQIA+ community, I truly appreciate seeing thoughtful inclusion like this.
My biggest critique? The slow burn is real. While I enjoyed the tension between Æri and Rione, I wanted a little more development in their relationship. There were also a couple of key scenes I wish we had experienced firsthand rather than in retrospect. The book isn’t overly long, so those moments could have been included without dragging the pacing.
That said, Poisoned Pawn is an emotional, high-stakes fantasy with intricate world-building and compelling characters. I can’t wait for its release in June! Huge thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC—I’m so excited for more readers to experience this story!
From the start, I was captivated by the phenomenal world-building. Fironbec and SÆrenfell are vividly distinct, and I loved experiencing their contrasts. The Venators and Rione’s household staff were standouts, adding depth to the story. I also loved the representation—LGBTQIA+ characters and individuals with physical differences are woven in seamlessly. As a physical therapist with many friends and family in the LGBTQIA+ community, I truly appreciate seeing thoughtful inclusion like this.
My biggest critique? The slow burn is real. While I enjoyed the tension between Æri and Rione, I wanted a little more development in their relationship. There were also a couple of key scenes I wish we had experienced firsthand rather than in retrospect. The book isn’t overly long, so those moments could have been included without dragging the pacing.
That said, Poisoned Pawn is an emotional, high-stakes fantasy with intricate world-building and compelling characters. I can’t wait for its release in June! Huge thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC—I’m so excited for more readers to experience this story!
May 11, 2025
A book about love, loyalty, betrayal and ultimately survival. It takes strength, endurance and self-determination to survive.
Æri has to hunt humans to sustain her Queen and the court suffering from Blydlyst. On one of her hunting quests her aircraft crashes and she is captured by a huntsman Rione - the hunter became the hunted. Æri becomes a prisoner who has to fight gladiator style games all for the amusement of the sadistic King. Æri is torn between her need for survival, searching for a cure for her Queen, and her growing attraction to Rione.
This is a slow burn book which focuses on plot development, the intrinsic character building and world building. The author put a lot of effort into world building which is essential in fantasy books. The diverse characters, inclusion of technology and different body abilities were done effortlessly. This enables the reader to immerse into the different realms.
It was challenging to visualise the FMC and MMC as the writing lacked describing the characters in sufficient physical details. This can make it challenging for the reader to connect with characters.
The storyline and world building are golden! I’m looking forward to the adventures in the up coming books.
Note: This is an honest ARC review. It was an honour to be chosen by the author to read the book.
Æri has to hunt humans to sustain her Queen and the court suffering from Blydlyst. On one of her hunting quests her aircraft crashes and she is captured by a huntsman Rione - the hunter became the hunted. Æri becomes a prisoner who has to fight gladiator style games all for the amusement of the sadistic King. Æri is torn between her need for survival, searching for a cure for her Queen, and her growing attraction to Rione.
This is a slow burn book which focuses on plot development, the intrinsic character building and world building. The author put a lot of effort into world building which is essential in fantasy books. The diverse characters, inclusion of technology and different body abilities were done effortlessly. This enables the reader to immerse into the different realms.
It was challenging to visualise the FMC and MMC as the writing lacked describing the characters in sufficient physical details. This can make it challenging for the reader to connect with characters.
The storyline and world building are golden! I’m looking forward to the adventures in the up coming books.
Note: This is an honest ARC review. It was an honour to be chosen by the author to read the book.
April 30, 2025
I was lucky enough to get an ARC for this!
The world building is amazing and creative—I haven’t spent time in a world like this yet! And I read a lot of fantasy :) I always love a strong fmc and Aeri is exactly that. She’s smart and I feel the author does a great job of realistically portraying how Aeri would behave and doesn’t over-explain to the reader, which I appreciated! I loooove a great animal sidekick and the way technology was woven into the story was super creative and added to the overall story—it was done very thoughtfully. I am VERY excited to see what happens in the next book!!!!! Especially for certain 😉 plot lines—aka the slow burn if you know what I mean!
The world building is amazing and creative—I haven’t spent time in a world like this yet! And I read a lot of fantasy :) I always love a strong fmc and Aeri is exactly that. She’s smart and I feel the author does a great job of realistically portraying how Aeri would behave and doesn’t over-explain to the reader, which I appreciated! I loooove a great animal sidekick and the way technology was woven into the story was super creative and added to the overall story—it was done very thoughtfully. I am VERY excited to see what happens in the next book!!!!! Especially for certain 😉 plot lines—aka the slow burn if you know what I mean!
September 1, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Poisoned Pawn fell short at every corner forme and I came in with rather high hopes based on the reviews and gorgeous cover.
This book follows Æri as she is thrust into a competition to save herself from slavery, and the dark world she and her friends sink into when things get worse and worse.
I enjoyed there being disability rep (Æri is a prosthesis user) as a member of the disabled community. I don’t identify as a prosthesis user so I won’t comment on how well this was done. However, I appreciate that KL never made it feel like a gimmick/box ticking exercise.
Unfortunately, I found Poisoned Pawn extremely forgettable and, perhaps worse, painfully predictable. There are books I dislike but remember in vivid detail for years afterwards; this was not one of them. Parts of PP seemed to evaporate from my brain approximately three pages after I read them.
I did what I usually do after finishing a book I’m lukewarm on and perused a few other reviews, partly to see what the general consensus was and partly to determine whether I was simply being unusually grumpy. Several reviewers flagged the same issues I had, but one mentioned that Æri is a hunter working for a vampire queen. And I genuinely had a moment of: she’s a what? If that tells you anything about how memorable or well-developed that particular plotline was, I had completely forgotten it existed. Not forgotten a minor side character’s surname or the political history of Kingdom Number Four — forgotten the FMC’s actual occupation.
That is particularly unusual for me because I’m generally very good at remembering plots. I can usually tell you the broad strokes of a book months, sometimes years, after reading it. So if I’m already forgetting significant chunks of the story while I am actively in the process of reading it, something has gone rather wrong. My brain apparently took one look at certain plot points and decided they did not require long-term storage.
More frustratingly, for a story in which so much of the plot revolves around kidnapping, human trafficking, enslavement, and Æri being sold against her will, Vincent makes surprisingly little effort to make either Æri or the reader feel the full weight of any of it. These are enormous, horrifying circumstances, yet they often seem to land with all the emotional force of someone informing Æri that her train has been delayed by fifteen minutes.
Æri herself appears to accept her fate almost immediately, which made it very difficult for me to become invested in what was happening to her. I don’t need every heroine to be kicking down doors, biting captors, and delivering stirring speeches about freedom, but I do need some sense that she has an internal response to the fact that her autonomy has been violently stripped from her. Instead, she learns that she is going to be sold and the overall energy is remarkably close to: “Oh, damn. Anyways…”
And that passivity became one of my biggest problems with the book. I have very little interest in following a protagonist who seems to be carried through her own story like an unusually sentient piece of luggage. Terrible things happen around Æri and to Æri, but too rarely did I feel that she was actively engaging with, resisting, processing, or meaningfully reacting to them. When the subject matter is this dark, that emotional distance doesn’t make the story feel restrained; it makes it feel strangely weightless.
Similarly the stakes were really really lacking. At one point a character nearly dies trying to save Æri and there was a beat of really good emotion. Except the character turns up alive and nothing scrapes close to that emotional beat again.
I received an ALC of this book and KL accepts that the quality of the audiobook isn’t up to her par. This will act as my review of the plot and writing, I will reread when the reworked audiobook is passed on to arc reviewers. If the quality goes into orbit, I will say.
But unfortunately I feel like a narrator who knows what they’re doing isn’t going to help PP the way this book needs.
Poisoned Pawn fell short at every corner forme and I came in with rather high hopes based on the reviews and gorgeous cover.
This book follows Æri as she is thrust into a competition to save herself from slavery, and the dark world she and her friends sink into when things get worse and worse.
I enjoyed there being disability rep (Æri is a prosthesis user) as a member of the disabled community. I don’t identify as a prosthesis user so I won’t comment on how well this was done. However, I appreciate that KL never made it feel like a gimmick/box ticking exercise.
Unfortunately, I found Poisoned Pawn extremely forgettable and, perhaps worse, painfully predictable. There are books I dislike but remember in vivid detail for years afterwards; this was not one of them. Parts of PP seemed to evaporate from my brain approximately three pages after I read them.
I did what I usually do after finishing a book I’m lukewarm on and perused a few other reviews, partly to see what the general consensus was and partly to determine whether I was simply being unusually grumpy. Several reviewers flagged the same issues I had, but one mentioned that Æri is a hunter working for a vampire queen. And I genuinely had a moment of: she’s a what? If that tells you anything about how memorable or well-developed that particular plotline was, I had completely forgotten it existed. Not forgotten a minor side character’s surname or the political history of Kingdom Number Four — forgotten the FMC’s actual occupation.
That is particularly unusual for me because I’m generally very good at remembering plots. I can usually tell you the broad strokes of a book months, sometimes years, after reading it. So if I’m already forgetting significant chunks of the story while I am actively in the process of reading it, something has gone rather wrong. My brain apparently took one look at certain plot points and decided they did not require long-term storage.
More frustratingly, for a story in which so much of the plot revolves around kidnapping, human trafficking, enslavement, and Æri being sold against her will, Vincent makes surprisingly little effort to make either Æri or the reader feel the full weight of any of it. These are enormous, horrifying circumstances, yet they often seem to land with all the emotional force of someone informing Æri that her train has been delayed by fifteen minutes.
Æri herself appears to accept her fate almost immediately, which made it very difficult for me to become invested in what was happening to her. I don’t need every heroine to be kicking down doors, biting captors, and delivering stirring speeches about freedom, but I do need some sense that she has an internal response to the fact that her autonomy has been violently stripped from her. Instead, she learns that she is going to be sold and the overall energy is remarkably close to: “Oh, damn. Anyways…”
And that passivity became one of my biggest problems with the book. I have very little interest in following a protagonist who seems to be carried through her own story like an unusually sentient piece of luggage. Terrible things happen around Æri and to Æri, but too rarely did I feel that she was actively engaging with, resisting, processing, or meaningfully reacting to them. When the subject matter is this dark, that emotional distance doesn’t make the story feel restrained; it makes it feel strangely weightless.
Similarly the stakes were really really lacking. At one point a character nearly dies trying to save Æri and there was a beat of really good emotion. Except the character turns up alive and nothing scrapes close to that emotional beat again.
I received an ALC of this book and KL accepts that the quality of the audiobook isn’t up to her par. This will act as my review of the plot and writing, I will reread when the reworked audiobook is passed on to arc reviewers. If the quality goes into orbit, I will say.
But unfortunately I feel like a narrator who knows what they’re doing isn’t going to help PP the way this book needs.
August 10, 2026
★★★★☆ 4/5 Stars
Song of the Deities was a strong continuation of the series and one that felt much bigger in scope than the first book. The world expands, the mythology gets deeper, the stakes continue growing, and apparently getting a few answers only means being rewarded with seventeen new reasons to be suspicious of everyone. Rude, but effective. 🖤
What worked best for me was the emotional fallout from everything these characters have already been through. Nobody is magically reset just because we started a new book. Injuries, grief, complicated relationships, responsibilities, trust issues, and questionable life decisions are all very much still along for the ride.
Æri and Rione remained the emotional heart of the story for me. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop beyond the earlier slow burn while still allowing them to remain individual characters with their own fears, responsibilities, and problems. Their quieter, more vulnerable moments were some of my favorites because the emotional connection felt earned rather than rushed.
I also loved getting to see more of the world and mythology. The different cultures, histories, beliefs, creatures, political systems, and mysteries surrounding the deities made the series feel much larger without making the original storyline feel unimportant. Several of the additional POVs also gave characters meaningful room to grow, especially when they were forced into circumstances that challenged who they had previously been.
There are some genuinely emotional and uncomfortable character arcs here too. The book gave me grief, anxiety, frustration, tenderness, suspicion, and more than one moment where I was mentally yelling at someone to PLEASE MAKE A BETTER DECISION. So yes, I was invested.
The main thing keeping this from five stars for me was pacing. There are a lot of characters, POVs, mysteries, political conflicts, relationship developments, and pieces of mythology moving at once. I enjoyed most of them individually, but occasionally switching between so many storylines interrupted the momentum of scenes I wanted to stay with longer.
There were also places where the worldbuilding became dense enough that I needed a second to mentally reorganize all the names, places, history, and mythology. I love complicated fantasy worlds, so I would not want the complexity removed, but slightly tighter pacing and a little less repetition in certain internal thoughts would have made the story even stronger for me.
For this to have reached five stars, I mainly needed some streamlining through the middle and a little more breathing room around the biggest emotional moments. Some scenes deserved another beat to really hurt me properly before the story moved on. Apparently I have standards for my fictional emotional damage.
Overall, though, I really enjoyed Song of the Deities. It expanded the world, deepened the relationships, gave several characters noticeable growth, and made the larger mystery even more intriguing. Most importantly, I finished it wanting the next book. Which is deeply inconvenient considering I now have significantly more questions than when I started. 🖤📚
ARC Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Receiving a complimentary copy never influences my rating or opinions. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and, as always, unbiased, unfiltered, and unapologetically honest.
-Mz. Sassy K
Sassyreviews.com
Song of the Deities was a strong continuation of the series and one that felt much bigger in scope than the first book. The world expands, the mythology gets deeper, the stakes continue growing, and apparently getting a few answers only means being rewarded with seventeen new reasons to be suspicious of everyone. Rude, but effective. 🖤
What worked best for me was the emotional fallout from everything these characters have already been through. Nobody is magically reset just because we started a new book. Injuries, grief, complicated relationships, responsibilities, trust issues, and questionable life decisions are all very much still along for the ride.
Æri and Rione remained the emotional heart of the story for me. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop beyond the earlier slow burn while still allowing them to remain individual characters with their own fears, responsibilities, and problems. Their quieter, more vulnerable moments were some of my favorites because the emotional connection felt earned rather than rushed.
I also loved getting to see more of the world and mythology. The different cultures, histories, beliefs, creatures, political systems, and mysteries surrounding the deities made the series feel much larger without making the original storyline feel unimportant. Several of the additional POVs also gave characters meaningful room to grow, especially when they were forced into circumstances that challenged who they had previously been.
There are some genuinely emotional and uncomfortable character arcs here too. The book gave me grief, anxiety, frustration, tenderness, suspicion, and more than one moment where I was mentally yelling at someone to PLEASE MAKE A BETTER DECISION. So yes, I was invested.
The main thing keeping this from five stars for me was pacing. There are a lot of characters, POVs, mysteries, political conflicts, relationship developments, and pieces of mythology moving at once. I enjoyed most of them individually, but occasionally switching between so many storylines interrupted the momentum of scenes I wanted to stay with longer.
There were also places where the worldbuilding became dense enough that I needed a second to mentally reorganize all the names, places, history, and mythology. I love complicated fantasy worlds, so I would not want the complexity removed, but slightly tighter pacing and a little less repetition in certain internal thoughts would have made the story even stronger for me.
For this to have reached five stars, I mainly needed some streamlining through the middle and a little more breathing room around the biggest emotional moments. Some scenes deserved another beat to really hurt me properly before the story moved on. Apparently I have standards for my fictional emotional damage.
Overall, though, I really enjoyed Song of the Deities. It expanded the world, deepened the relationships, gave several characters noticeable growth, and made the larger mystery even more intriguing. Most importantly, I finished it wanting the next book. Which is deeply inconvenient considering I now have significantly more questions than when I started. 🖤📚
ARC Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Receiving a complimentary copy never influences my rating or opinions. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and, as always, unbiased, unfiltered, and unapologetically honest.
-Mz. Sassy K
Sassyreviews.com
July 12, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and The Bluestocking Trio for providing an eARC of Poisoned Pawn in exchange for this honest review!
Release Date: June 21 2025
Ratin: 2.5/5 ⭐️
Vibes:
• Scifi/Fantasy
• Vampire women
• LGBTQ representation
• Disabled MCs
• Slavery
• Gladiator fighting
First 10%: Girl that is royalty from Woman Island is captured and enslaved by guys from Man Land.
Husband: So did you give it one star?
Me: No, it's not that I hate it... I just didn't care.
---
What I Liked:
The world was filled with potentially interesting things to explore. We really only saw 2 of the 6 "realms" in this story, with promises of 2 more realms in the next book. These realms are separated by cooled lava regions called The Bogs and are filled with weird Bog Beasts. No further information regarding why these creatures exist, though potentially created by a "Dark God".
What I Didn't:
A lot of things.
The inconsistencies of technological advancements. Fíronbec does not have much access at all to metals, which would typically mean extreme limitations on electronic development... and yet they have tracker chips that they can put in every slave. Then the ability to make solar panels and batteries and/or generators? Oh and are advanced enough to enact biological warfare.
Then back in Særenfell, they have complex aircrafts and the ability to make bionic prosthetics.. but cannot figure out how to safely harvest blood without bleeding people dry? Or even, I don't know, just use iron supplements and find willing blood donors? It just seemed like they did not try very hard at all to find a solution and instead said "oh well, let's just hunt men and cut them up."
I will not ever be a supporter of master/slave romantic storylines. So all the Æri / Rione interactions just left a gross taste in my mouth. "Marry me and then you won't be a slave anymore". I think Æri said it best, all her options involved her still being bound in some way when Rione is the reason she was abducted. That said, the "romance" is not really notable at all.
---
As a debut, this is neither a must-follow series nor something to immediately write-off. I could see myself following up on her writing in the future with a different series to see if maybe that would hold my attention better.
Release Date: June 21 2025
Ratin: 2.5/5 ⭐️
Vibes:
• Scifi/Fantasy
• Vampire women
• LGBTQ representation
• Disabled MCs
• Slavery
• Gladiator fighting
First 10%: Girl that is royalty from Woman Island is captured and enslaved by guys from Man Land.
Husband: So did you give it one star?
Me: No, it's not that I hate it... I just didn't care.
---
What I Liked:
The world was filled with potentially interesting things to explore. We really only saw 2 of the 6 "realms" in this story, with promises of 2 more realms in the next book. These realms are separated by cooled lava regions called The Bogs and are filled with weird Bog Beasts. No further information regarding why these creatures exist, though potentially created by a "Dark God".
What I Didn't:
A lot of things.
The inconsistencies of technological advancements. Fíronbec does not have much access at all to metals, which would typically mean extreme limitations on electronic development... and yet they have tracker chips that they can put in every slave. Then the ability to make solar panels and batteries and/or generators? Oh and are advanced enough to enact biological warfare.
Then back in Særenfell, they have complex aircrafts and the ability to make bionic prosthetics.. but cannot figure out how to safely harvest blood without bleeding people dry? Or even, I don't know, just use iron supplements and find willing blood donors? It just seemed like they did not try very hard at all to find a solution and instead said "oh well, let's just hunt men and cut them up."
I will not ever be a supporter of master/slave romantic storylines. So all the Æri / Rione interactions just left a gross taste in my mouth. "Marry me and then you won't be a slave anymore". I think Æri said it best, all her options involved her still being bound in some way when Rione is the reason she was abducted. That said, the "romance" is not really notable at all.
---
As a debut, this is neither a must-follow series nor something to immediately write-off. I could see myself following up on her writing in the future with a different series to see if maybe that would hold my attention better.
April 23, 2025
ARC REVIEW. Thanks to NetGalley! (Slight Spoilers ahead)
I absolutely loved this book and I truly can't wait for the continuation.
My highlight was the incredibly vile portrayal of King Remus. He has that rancid sweetness that only just so hides his true nature. He's truly a dangerous man, very smart and cunning and seemingly always 2 steps ahead. Probably the best villain I have read in a couple of years.
Special shout out for great representation of LGBTQ characters by making them appear. No explanation or excuse needed. Same goes for characters that are not described as if they were straight from a Victoria's Secret runway. We have characters that are either average or below average looking without this meaning they are evil or unlikable.
Of course, I also enjoyed Aeri and Rione, the main characters but still... this villain. Thinking about him makes me shiver and feel unwell.
Aeri's trauma and strength are mixed so well. Often times characters like her are too sassy and overcome their fear a bit too easy. Not Aeri. She is still growing and learning. But again, also not falling into the trap of making a mistake over and over and over again before she learns.
Rione was the hardest for me to get behind. I was afraid he'd be too much of the dark and brooding cliché but somehow... it worked.
I loved the foreshadowing of Remus' blood illness but never would I have expected it to be such a counter to the Bloodlyst. Can't wait to learn more about those two things.
Also, I'm afraid that Remus is probably still alive because evil like him never gets defeated easily, I do hope Signe is still alive as well (ok, actually sure she is, but scared for the other Narkyryes) - I need her to meet Aeri again and I need it to go over well, despite Aeri's marriage to Rione.
I absolutely loved this book and I truly can't wait for the continuation.
My highlight was the incredibly vile portrayal of King Remus. He has that rancid sweetness that only just so hides his true nature. He's truly a dangerous man, very smart and cunning and seemingly always 2 steps ahead. Probably the best villain I have read in a couple of years.
Special shout out for great representation of LGBTQ characters by making them appear. No explanation or excuse needed. Same goes for characters that are not described as if they were straight from a Victoria's Secret runway. We have characters that are either average or below average looking without this meaning they are evil or unlikable.
Of course, I also enjoyed Aeri and Rione, the main characters but still... this villain. Thinking about him makes me shiver and feel unwell.
Aeri's trauma and strength are mixed so well. Often times characters like her are too sassy and overcome their fear a bit too easy. Not Aeri. She is still growing and learning. But again, also not falling into the trap of making a mistake over and over and over again before she learns.
Rione was the hardest for me to get behind. I was afraid he'd be too much of the dark and brooding cliché but somehow... it worked.
I loved the foreshadowing of Remus' blood illness but never would I have expected it to be such a counter to the Bloodlyst. Can't wait to learn more about those two things.
Also, I'm afraid that Remus is probably still alive because evil like him never gets defeated easily, I do hope Signe is still alive as well (ok, actually sure she is, but scared for the other Narkyryes) - I need her to meet Aeri again and I need it to go over well, despite Aeri's marriage to Rione.
July 1, 2025
A steampunk-inspired fantasy with queer and disabled rep, Poisoned Pawn brings something a bit different to the romance-fantasy table. It’s an unusual mix – post-apocalyptic landscapes, high-stakes trials, weird bog creatures, vampiric curses, and tech that’s not quite magic – and I really enjoyed how these elements were woven together. There’s solar-powered gear, different fae species, and even a character with a prosthetic, all treated as an everyday part of the world.
The romance is very slow burn – to the point I honestly forgot I was reading a romance for a while – but the fantasy and sci-fi elements are strong enough that it still held my attention. Æri, our heroine, is brilliant: physically capable, emotionally complex, and always thinking several steps ahead. Rione is trickier to pin down, an enemy turned uneasy ally, though the whole ‘captor x captive’ thing is far more nuanced than it sounds. There’s been some discourse around the slave/master dynamic, but it never really plays out that way – certainly not in tone or behaviour.
The pacing dips a little occasionally, but the worldbuilding and villains are fascinating enough to pull it through. It’s not a typical fantasy romance – think slower, more morally grey, with a slightly gritty dystopian edge – but it’s compelling in its own way. I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Bluestocking Trio for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.
The romance is very slow burn – to the point I honestly forgot I was reading a romance for a while – but the fantasy and sci-fi elements are strong enough that it still held my attention. Æri, our heroine, is brilliant: physically capable, emotionally complex, and always thinking several steps ahead. Rione is trickier to pin down, an enemy turned uneasy ally, though the whole ‘captor x captive’ thing is far more nuanced than it sounds. There’s been some discourse around the slave/master dynamic, but it never really plays out that way – certainly not in tone or behaviour.
The pacing dips a little occasionally, but the worldbuilding and villains are fascinating enough to pull it through. It’s not a typical fantasy romance – think slower, more morally grey, with a slightly gritty dystopian edge – but it’s compelling in its own way. I’ll definitely be continuing the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Bluestocking Trio for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.
February 21, 2026
This dark fantasy delivers an intense and emotionally charged story of survival, loyalty, and impossible choices. From the opening pages, the stakes are clear. Æri’s world has already been shattered by divine forces, and her role in sustaining her queen’s vampiric hunger places her in moral conflict long before her capture.
The volcanic boglands and fractured realms create a vivid and dangerous backdrop, giving the story a raw and unforgiving atmosphere. When Æri’s mission ends in a crash and she is taken prisoner by Venator huntsmen, the narrative shifts into a brutal struggle for survival. The gladiatorial arena sequences add urgency and tension, reinforcing how precarious her future has become.
What gives the novel its emotional depth is Æri’s internal battle. Her growing feelings for Rione, the king’s formidable and enigmatic right hand, complicate everything. The tension between captor and captive adds complexity without overshadowing the larger political and supernatural conflicts at play. Loyalty to her queen, the mystery of the queen’s deadly cravings, and the pull of unexpected love force Æri into choices that feel both personal and world altering.
Blending high stakes action with romance and layered world building, this story will appeal to readers who enjoy morally complex heroines, dangerous alliances, and fantasy realms where survival demands both strength and sacrifice.
The volcanic boglands and fractured realms create a vivid and dangerous backdrop, giving the story a raw and unforgiving atmosphere. When Æri’s mission ends in a crash and she is taken prisoner by Venator huntsmen, the narrative shifts into a brutal struggle for survival. The gladiatorial arena sequences add urgency and tension, reinforcing how precarious her future has become.
What gives the novel its emotional depth is Æri’s internal battle. Her growing feelings for Rione, the king’s formidable and enigmatic right hand, complicate everything. The tension between captor and captive adds complexity without overshadowing the larger political and supernatural conflicts at play. Loyalty to her queen, the mystery of the queen’s deadly cravings, and the pull of unexpected love force Æri into choices that feel both personal and world altering.
Blending high stakes action with romance and layered world building, this story will appeal to readers who enjoy morally complex heroines, dangerous alliances, and fantasy realms where survival demands both strength and sacrifice.
April 5, 2025
Loved it!
Poisoned Pawn by KL Vincent is a masterclass in genre-blending. As the first book in what promises to be a compelling series, it delivers a richly layered story that fuses dystopian grit with the emotional depth of romance, the thrill of mystery, and the pulse-pounding energy of adventure.
From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Vincent's worldbuilding is immersive without being overwhelming, revealing just enough of the broken world to keep you intrigued while letting the characters truly drive the narrative. And what characters they are! Each one—from the fierce and vulnerable protagonist to the enigmatic supporting cast—feels fully realized, with distinct voices, motives, and arcs. I found myself genuinely invested in their fates.
The romance is beautifully woven into the storyline—not forced or overly saccharine, but raw, real, and earned. Meanwhile, the mystery keeps you guessing, and just when you think you have it figured out, Vincent throws in a twist that makes you question everything.
What impressed me most was the pacing. It never drags. The tension ebbs and flows perfectly, giving readers moments to breathe before plunging them into the next high-stakes scene. And the writing? Absolutely stellar. Vincent has a way with words that balances elegance and grit, making every page a pleasure to read.
Poisoned Pawn by KL Vincent is a masterclass in genre-blending. As the first book in what promises to be a compelling series, it delivers a richly layered story that fuses dystopian grit with the emotional depth of romance, the thrill of mystery, and the pulse-pounding energy of adventure.
From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Vincent's worldbuilding is immersive without being overwhelming, revealing just enough of the broken world to keep you intrigued while letting the characters truly drive the narrative. And what characters they are! Each one—from the fierce and vulnerable protagonist to the enigmatic supporting cast—feels fully realized, with distinct voices, motives, and arcs. I found myself genuinely invested in their fates.
The romance is beautifully woven into the storyline—not forced or overly saccharine, but raw, real, and earned. Meanwhile, the mystery keeps you guessing, and just when you think you have it figured out, Vincent throws in a twist that makes you question everything.
What impressed me most was the pacing. It never drags. The tension ebbs and flows perfectly, giving readers moments to breathe before plunging them into the next high-stakes scene. And the writing? Absolutely stellar. Vincent has a way with words that balances elegance and grit, making every page a pleasure to read.
June 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was excited to read this book when I saw that the main character was a hunter for a vampire queen and that she was working towards freeing the queen from vampirism.
That ended up being so little of the book, which was so disappointing. The main character entered the kidnapping arc so quickly, before the reader gets a sense of her country and her duty to the queen.
Then we get into basically the plot of the Hunger Games, which felt like nothing new, and I simply did not care about the characters enough to get invested in the action. Because the pacing was too fast, I never got to caring about the characters enough to like the story. It was a trudge just getting through.
I also struggled with all the terminology that was not explained. I found myself wishing for a glossary to refer to or at the very least, more explanations of the various cultures and terminology. As it was, I felt thrown into a world that I never fully understood.
The writing was well-done, and I think had pacing and characters not been an issue, I would like the way this author writes.
I was excited to read this book when I saw that the main character was a hunter for a vampire queen and that she was working towards freeing the queen from vampirism.
That ended up being so little of the book, which was so disappointing. The main character entered the kidnapping arc so quickly, before the reader gets a sense of her country and her duty to the queen.
Then we get into basically the plot of the Hunger Games, which felt like nothing new, and I simply did not care about the characters enough to get invested in the action. Because the pacing was too fast, I never got to caring about the characters enough to like the story. It was a trudge just getting through.
I also struggled with all the terminology that was not explained. I found myself wishing for a glossary to refer to or at the very least, more explanations of the various cultures and terminology. As it was, I felt thrown into a world that I never fully understood.
The writing was well-done, and I think had pacing and characters not been an issue, I would like the way this author writes.
September 14, 2026
I went into this one semi-blind. I had already read the prequel, The Last Griffin. It took me a few chapters to ease into this but soon became absorbed. I really liked our FMC Æri, her love and protection she has for her those around her and her strength and ability to overcome difficulties. I enjoyed seeing the range of diversity in the characters and the disability representation. The adaptations and technologies to enable Æri to have a prosthetic limb were really interesting to read about. There are a number of strong female characters that influence the story which I also loved. I would thave liked a bit more on the life and history of Særenfell and the other realms, especially from early on after the split, but I'm excited to read further in the series in the hope of learning more. The enemies to lovers storyline had me wondering if there was a tiny bit of Stockholm Syndrome involved with Æri being a 'slave' to Rione. It also had me feeling sad for signe and her previous relationship with Æri before Æri is taken. I'm looking forward to seeing how this will play out if they are reunited, especially after what Æri has agreed to with Rione.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
Thank you to The Bluestocking Trio for the ARC of Poisoned Pawn. Here are my thoughts!
In this war-torn world, Aeri must hunt for humans to help her queenly sister satiate her need for blood. On her most recent mission, she ends up captured and must compete in a complex tournament to try to ensure the best future possible for herself. Worse yet, she begins having some tricky feelings for her captor Rione. Will she try to escape and help her sister, or will Rione steal her heart?
I am trying to read some indie authors, and this was one on the top of my list! I love a tournament style fantasy novel. Being immersed in a new series with an intricate world is my favourite. I loved the start of the novel; it was very high stakes and loved the introduction to the world. I also enjoyed meeting the other fighters who were captured and seeing those fights take place. After that the novel got a little tricky to follow. The transition to high fantasy type politics and world building felt a little messy. Things slowed down with a few very exciting scenes.
Overall, the novel left me wanting a little bit more. I loved the respect that was provided to the main character dealing with a disability. It was written well, but I wanted to know more about the world and more about this disease of vampirism. I think there is a huge opportunity for expansion in the next books in the series so definitely worth checking it out!
In this war-torn world, Aeri must hunt for humans to help her queenly sister satiate her need for blood. On her most recent mission, she ends up captured and must compete in a complex tournament to try to ensure the best future possible for herself. Worse yet, she begins having some tricky feelings for her captor Rione. Will she try to escape and help her sister, or will Rione steal her heart?
I am trying to read some indie authors, and this was one on the top of my list! I love a tournament style fantasy novel. Being immersed in a new series with an intricate world is my favourite. I loved the start of the novel; it was very high stakes and loved the introduction to the world. I also enjoyed meeting the other fighters who were captured and seeing those fights take place. After that the novel got a little tricky to follow. The transition to high fantasy type politics and world building felt a little messy. Things slowed down with a few very exciting scenes.
Overall, the novel left me wanting a little bit more. I loved the respect that was provided to the main character dealing with a disability. It was written well, but I wanted to know more about the world and more about this disease of vampirism. I think there is a huge opportunity for expansion in the next books in the series so definitely worth checking it out!
June 11, 2025
The writing is ... not good. The author tries so very hard and uses so many words in a way that feels stiff and unnatural, and the plotting is a mess of Hunger Games, and floating islands, Rome, bionic arms and magic metals. Miners in a bog use mining helmets and pickaxes because ... how else would you know they were miners? If the main character didn't have her arm taken away from her and given back I'd never have known she was handicapped for all the attention the book gave it.
It feels like someone is checking off boxes on a list: Handicapped, brutal fight to the death -- only on one dies because the good guys can't kill -- vampires, dwarves, elves, giants, misuse of the word "vomitorium," all the usual suspects and more. Honestly, if someone said this was AI, I'd probably believe them. There's fatphobia for no reason, a woman whose hair "sprung from her head," and herbs harvested on a mountain being called "mountain herbs."
It feels like someone is checking off boxes on a list: Handicapped, brutal fight to the death -- only on one dies because the good guys can't kill -- vampires, dwarves, elves, giants, misuse of the word "vomitorium," all the usual suspects and more. Honestly, if someone said this was AI, I'd probably believe them. There's fatphobia for no reason, a woman whose hair "sprung from her head," and herbs harvested on a mountain being called "mountain herbs."
June 5, 2026
I would like to express my gratitude to the author, K. L. Vincent, for providing me with a copy of your book and for including me in your Street Team for Book Two. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It presented a refreshing departure from a "typical" fantasy narrative, delving into themes of political intrigue, survival, and conflicting loyalties. I particularly appreciated the dynamic portrayal of the female protagonist, Æri, as she navigates the difficult balance between her desires and her obligations. Her journey leads her to the arena, where she encounters the male protagonist, Rione, who wishes for Æri's freedom and her reunion with her sister, yet is conflicted by the sacrifices required to achieve this. If you appreciate stories set in fractured worlds, featuring intricate and perilous political systems, dark fantasy elements, and morally complex characters, I believe you will find this book to be a captivating read.
September 14, 2026
Wow this book completely surprised me! It is such a unique fantasy world, unlike anything I have read before!
Firstly it has a very interesting mix of old world fantasy with more modern technology. It also has an interesting take on vampirism…a disease they call Blodlyst.
That’s where our FMC Æri comes in. Her sister Queen Brynja has this Blodlyst, along with others, and she is trying to find a cure.
While hunting in the Bogs, she gets captured by Rione and taken to another realm ruled by the horrible King Remus. Here she is thrown into some gladiator style games to fight for her survival.
Things are not what they seem though, and there is a VERY slow burn thing happening with Æri and Rione! There are so many twists and truths that come out!
This book definitely has a men vs women vibe, great disability and LGBTQ+ reps, and characters you totally fall in love with. I can’t wait to read the next book and see what happens next!
Firstly it has a very interesting mix of old world fantasy with more modern technology. It also has an interesting take on vampirism…a disease they call Blodlyst.
That’s where our FMC Æri comes in. Her sister Queen Brynja has this Blodlyst, along with others, and she is trying to find a cure.
While hunting in the Bogs, she gets captured by Rione and taken to another realm ruled by the horrible King Remus. Here she is thrown into some gladiator style games to fight for her survival.
Things are not what they seem though, and there is a VERY slow burn thing happening with Æri and Rione! There are so many twists and truths that come out!
This book definitely has a men vs women vibe, great disability and LGBTQ+ reps, and characters you totally fall in love with. I can’t wait to read the next book and see what happens next!
June 5, 2025
Poisoned Pawn exceeded all my expectations.
The Steampunk inspired world is incredibly interesting. The world is inhabitated by different creatures - fae, giants, even vampire like creatures. The blend of fantasy and technology is really fun.
The protagonist, Æri, is queer and disabled. While she isn't given a specific label, she is attracted to both men and women. She is also an amputee, and the depiction of that really stood out to me positively.
This book also gives us a true enemies-to-lovers storyline! As well as an actual Slow Burn, which is just fantastic. Rione and Æri have some real chemistry, and I loved the progress of their relationship.
I have to say that the beginning is a little slow, but once it picked up I devoured it. So if you are looking for a Steampunk story that is inclusive, with incredible worldbuilding and great characters, definitely consider picking this up.
Meanwhile I will be waiting impatiently for book 2.
Thank you to Netgalley and The Bluestocking Trio for the e-arc!
The Steampunk inspired world is incredibly interesting. The world is inhabitated by different creatures - fae, giants, even vampire like creatures. The blend of fantasy and technology is really fun.
The protagonist, Æri, is queer and disabled. While she isn't given a specific label, she is attracted to both men and women. She is also an amputee, and the depiction of that really stood out to me positively.
This book also gives us a true enemies-to-lovers storyline! As well as an actual Slow Burn, which is just fantastic. Rione and Æri have some real chemistry, and I loved the progress of their relationship.
I have to say that the beginning is a little slow, but once it picked up I devoured it. So if you are looking for a Steampunk story that is inclusive, with incredible worldbuilding and great characters, definitely consider picking this up.
Meanwhile I will be waiting impatiently for book 2.
Thank you to Netgalley and The Bluestocking Trio for the e-arc!
September 25, 2026
I received an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley. I’m leaving my thoughts voluntarily.
The beginning of this book had me very intrigued by the mysterious illness that is infecting the people. I had a bit of trouble wrapping my head around the world in which these characters live. I’m thinking it was supposed to be somewhat post-apocalyptic, but I think I would have liked a bit more world building. The plot of the book was pretty standard for a romantic fantasy. I just found that it didn’t capture my attention as much as I had hoped.
I listened to the audiobook which was decent. The narration did at times sound a bit choppy, but that may have just been the result of the writing style. I did like that some chapters focus on different characters. Overall, this was a fairly interesting read with diverse characters and a cliffhanger ending.
The beginning of this book had me very intrigued by the mysterious illness that is infecting the people. I had a bit of trouble wrapping my head around the world in which these characters live. I’m thinking it was supposed to be somewhat post-apocalyptic, but I think I would have liked a bit more world building. The plot of the book was pretty standard for a romantic fantasy. I just found that it didn’t capture my attention as much as I had hoped.
I listened to the audiobook which was decent. The narration did at times sound a bit choppy, but that may have just been the result of the writing style. I did like that some chapters focus on different characters. Overall, this was a fairly interesting read with diverse characters and a cliffhanger ending.
Read
April 13, 2026I find the story incredibly intriguing and unique. It’s hard to find a new story/plot that I haven’t read before. I do agree there’s a lot going on. Vampires, bionic arm, different worlds/realms, etc. After reading a good amount of the book, I realized it’s not a genre I like personally (mainly because I get lost very easily with complex stories, so that’s on me) and because I don’t usually read this type, I’m not going to rate it. Just wouldn’t be fair giving it a certain score because I was trying something new. Just personal preference, nothing against the author or book itself. So happy to see so many others loving it cause this author is literally the nicest. I’m excited to see what other books she comes out with in the future!
June 20, 2025
Congratulations on your enchanting debut! If you’re in search of a captivating blend of romance and fantasy, look no further—this book is the perfect choice for you! The story is remarkably creative, weaving together intricate plots and well-developed characters that draw you in from the very first page. You'll find yourself completely immersed in a magical world that feels both enchanting and alive. Don't miss out on this delightful read!
**Cover:** ✨✨✨✨ ✨
**Romance:** ❤️❤️❤️
**Emotions:** 🎲🎲🎲
**FMC:** 🩷🩷🩷🩷
**MMC:** 💙💙💙💙
**Plotline:** ⚖️⚖️⚖️
**Pacing:** ⏳⏳⏳⏳
**Character Development:** 👍👍👍 👍
**World Building:** 🌍🌏🌍🌍
**aPages:** 379
**Overall Star Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
**Cover:** ✨✨✨✨ ✨
**Romance:** ❤️❤️❤️
**Emotions:** 🎲🎲🎲
**FMC:** 🩷🩷🩷🩷
**MMC:** 💙💙💙💙
**Plotline:** ⚖️⚖️⚖️
**Pacing:** ⏳⏳⏳⏳
**Character Development:** 👍👍👍 👍
**World Building:** 🌍🌏🌍🌍
**aPages:** 379
**Overall Star Rating:** ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐
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