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PAWN: A Vesper Blood Tale
PAWN - A VESPERBLOOD TALE BOOK1
WINNER OF THE INDIE AUTHOR COLLECTIVE READERS' CHOICE AWARD IN FANTASY/SCI-FI OPEN DOOR ROMANCE
HIGH STAKES FANTASY SCI-FI ROMANCE
Pawn follows the story of a group of unlikely heroes on a journey to find the Vesper Bloods before the corrupted Khepri Larki.
But the troupe get more than they bargain for, when fate and destiny link them in ways they couldn’t ever imagine.
A worse Evil lurks in the shadows just biding time until they can re-emerge and take back the control that was once theirs.
***
The world of Ysarianth is a dangerous place to live, it always has been.
A millennia ago, when Man battled The Gods and won, a new race was created, The Arcanics, beings with the ability to control the elements. A thousand years on and only two of the three continents wield Arcana with the third pursuing the way of machines and technologies.
Ysarianth is still a dangerous place, Filled with cut throats, sell swords and continental factions, the political balance teetering on the edge of a knife and it only takes one person - Nenet, the infamous Magpie Assassin - to tip the scales and set off a chain of events that shifts the very bedrock of the world itself.
Nenet finds herself on the chilling streets of the Rimy City, the backdrop for a treaty signing for peace between the three continents of Ysarianth. Tasked with the elimination of the world leaders, save for one - Nyx Shad-Sin, Empress of Navaria and - though unknown to all but Nenet's ruler - Descendant of The First Arcanic.Sparks fly, friends and enemies are made and Gods set free in a story of devotion, bloodlust and unrequited love. Nenet must decide if she will stay in her indifference, The Grey or if she will stand with her companion and risk herself for their survival.
WINNER OF THE INDIE AUTHOR COLLECTIVE READERS' CHOICE AWARD IN FANTASY/SCI-FI OPEN DOOR ROMANCE
HIGH STAKES FANTASY SCI-FI ROMANCE
Pawn follows the story of a group of unlikely heroes on a journey to find the Vesper Bloods before the corrupted Khepri Larki.
But the troupe get more than they bargain for, when fate and destiny link them in ways they couldn’t ever imagine.
A worse Evil lurks in the shadows just biding time until they can re-emerge and take back the control that was once theirs.
***
The world of Ysarianth is a dangerous place to live, it always has been.
A millennia ago, when Man battled The Gods and won, a new race was created, The Arcanics, beings with the ability to control the elements. A thousand years on and only two of the three continents wield Arcana with the third pursuing the way of machines and technologies.
Ysarianth is still a dangerous place, Filled with cut throats, sell swords and continental factions, the political balance teetering on the edge of a knife and it only takes one person - Nenet, the infamous Magpie Assassin - to tip the scales and set off a chain of events that shifts the very bedrock of the world itself.
Nenet finds herself on the chilling streets of the Rimy City, the backdrop for a treaty signing for peace between the three continents of Ysarianth. Tasked with the elimination of the world leaders, save for one - Nyx Shad-Sin, Empress of Navaria and - though unknown to all but Nenet's ruler - Descendant of The First Arcanic.Sparks fly, friends and enemies are made and Gods set free in a story of devotion, bloodlust and unrequited love. Nenet must decide if she will stay in her indifference, The Grey or if she will stand with her companion and risk herself for their survival.
- GenresFantasy RomanceFantasy
655 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2025
14 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Carra Copland
5 books9 followersHey there!
I’m Carra Copland, AUTHOR of A Vesper Blood Tale Duet Series.
I live in Edinburgh - the gothic capital of Scotland - with my husband and my infant son, along with our two dogs.
When I’m not writing you’ll find me working my day job as Manager & Barista at a trendy café in the heart of Edinburghs Old Town.
And when I’m not doing either of those things I’m raising my 3 year old son and spending quality time with my husband.
Follow her on social media and review her books on Amazon, Goodreads, and Storygraph.
Instagram: @captaincarra_writes
Tiktok: @captaincarra_reads
Threads: @captaincarra91
Goodreads: Carra Copland
Storygraph: carra_copland_author
I’m Carra Copland, AUTHOR of A Vesper Blood Tale Duet Series.
I live in Edinburgh - the gothic capital of Scotland - with my husband and my infant son, along with our two dogs.
When I’m not writing you’ll find me working my day job as Manager & Barista at a trendy café in the heart of Edinburghs Old Town.
And when I’m not doing either of those things I’m raising my 3 year old son and spending quality time with my husband.
Follow her on social media and review her books on Amazon, Goodreads, and Storygraph.
Instagram: @captaincarra_writes
Tiktok: @captaincarra_reads
Threads: @captaincarra91
Goodreads: Carra Copland
Storygraph: carra_copland_author
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 13, 2025
This is going to be a long review so bear with me.
There are many reasons I could have given this book less stars ⭐️ and I’ll explain. But I chose not to. I’ll start with positives, why you should read this book.
Because it’s entertaining as f^^k albeit very very dark.
Our main character Nenete is an assassin and really good at it, she’s lived her life “in the grey” as she calls it, never truly thinking of the lives she has taken. Until she meets Nyx, one of the victims of a lost love (assassinated be Nenete) Nyx is an empress who has been captured by Nenete’s Lord boss.
He does unspeakable things to Nyx, which eventually force Nenete out of the “grey” to become the protector of “her lady”. And so begins a quest to find the vesper and stop the evil lord.
This story is really dark as I said, with scenes of sexual assault, rape, mysogyny and murder. And can be hard to read at times and I almost stopped a lot. I thought the book was going to be a bit of a sapphic romance, but unfortunately not and Nenete kinda queer bates Nyx then ditches her for a big c^^k, I was a huge bit disappointed at that and felt a bit baited (as a lesbian) I hope things change in book 2 🤞🏻 but not holding my breath.
The story is really well thought out and really entertaining and definitely worth reading and I’m looking forward to sliding into book 2 The Rook.
Why I didn’t give it 5 stars ⭐️ but was still lenient.
The author describes her life on insta, she’s an indie author, she works by day as a barista then at night is with her kid and husband. She dreams of becoming a f/t author. ✍🏻
She does not seem to have a copy editor or proofreader, opting to do all of this herself. I respect that’s pretty hard. This book is littered with spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors, every other page throughout the whole book. Which a copy editor/proofreader would have corrected.
Whilst it was distracting at first and I almost DNF. I persevered, highlighting each error in my kindle and I’m glad I did and I am basing my review solely on the story itself. Because I really enjoyed it.
I received an ARC of this book directly from the author for my honest review.
There are many reasons I could have given this book less stars ⭐️ and I’ll explain. But I chose not to. I’ll start with positives, why you should read this book.
Because it’s entertaining as f^^k albeit very very dark.
Our main character Nenete is an assassin and really good at it, she’s lived her life “in the grey” as she calls it, never truly thinking of the lives she has taken. Until she meets Nyx, one of the victims of a lost love (assassinated be Nenete) Nyx is an empress who has been captured by Nenete’s Lord boss.
He does unspeakable things to Nyx, which eventually force Nenete out of the “grey” to become the protector of “her lady”. And so begins a quest to find the vesper and stop the evil lord.
This story is really dark as I said, with scenes of sexual assault, rape, mysogyny and murder. And can be hard to read at times and I almost stopped a lot. I thought the book was going to be a bit of a sapphic romance, but unfortunately not and Nenete kinda queer bates Nyx then ditches her for a big c^^k, I was a huge bit disappointed at that and felt a bit baited (as a lesbian) I hope things change in book 2 🤞🏻 but not holding my breath.
The story is really well thought out and really entertaining and definitely worth reading and I’m looking forward to sliding into book 2 The Rook.
Why I didn’t give it 5 stars ⭐️ but was still lenient.
The author describes her life on insta, she’s an indie author, she works by day as a barista then at night is with her kid and husband. She dreams of becoming a f/t author. ✍🏻
She does not seem to have a copy editor or proofreader, opting to do all of this herself. I respect that’s pretty hard. This book is littered with spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors, every other page throughout the whole book. Which a copy editor/proofreader would have corrected.
Whilst it was distracting at first and I almost DNF. I persevered, highlighting each error in my kindle and I’m glad I did and I am basing my review solely on the story itself. Because I really enjoyed it.
I received an ARC of this book directly from the author for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2025
I really loved this book. Having never heard of this author I didn't know what to expect but the writing was excellent. The world of Ysarianth was magical and mysterious all at the same time. I could picture it easily.
This was a pretty thick read. However , it was a page turner , so I actually ate this book up rather quickly. Our FMC, Nenet, seemed unsure of herself in the beginning. I loved at the beginning of the book when Herd called her out and told her all the signs that gave her away. It was great though watching her eventually grow and discover who she really was.
This book has enchantment , but it also has suspense and mystery. I loved the characters: Nyx, Herd, and Rhidian. This was quite the motley crew of unexpected companions on this journey.
The writing was very descriptive which I enjoyed because I could picture the desert and the wastelands as they were traveling. Not to mention, the Vesper were very interesting. This book was very engaging. I loved how through the journey, you not only got to see Nenet grow , but everyone really discovered something about themselves.
This was a 4 out of 5 star read for me.
This was a pretty thick read. However , it was a page turner , so I actually ate this book up rather quickly. Our FMC, Nenet, seemed unsure of herself in the beginning. I loved at the beginning of the book when Herd called her out and told her all the signs that gave her away. It was great though watching her eventually grow and discover who she really was.
This book has enchantment , but it also has suspense and mystery. I loved the characters: Nyx, Herd, and Rhidian. This was quite the motley crew of unexpected companions on this journey.
The writing was very descriptive which I enjoyed because I could picture the desert and the wastelands as they were traveling. Not to mention, the Vesper were very interesting. This book was very engaging. I loved how through the journey, you not only got to see Nenet grow , but everyone really discovered something about themselves.
This was a 4 out of 5 star read for me.
January 6, 2025
At first, I wanted to dnf this as I thought the MFC wasn't going to grow. But I'm so glad I didn't.
I got this as a beta read. Once Nenet stops being a pawn to her master and sees the wrong in the world, you become addicted to her. The other characters are amazing. The world building lets you feel what the characters feel. Which is a sign of a great writer. When you can feel their passion in their writing, you can't put it down. This is Carra Copland.
I can't wait to see if the characters' self-sacrifice was worth it in the end. That's the gods keep their word.
I got this as a beta read. Once Nenet stops being a pawn to her master and sees the wrong in the world, you become addicted to her. The other characters are amazing. The world building lets you feel what the characters feel. Which is a sign of a great writer. When you can feel their passion in their writing, you can't put it down. This is Carra Copland.
I can't wait to see if the characters' self-sacrifice was worth it in the end. That's the gods keep their word.
February 18, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The realm of Ysarianth is brimming with enchantment and mysteries. The intricate and vivid world-building allows for a captivating exploration and makes it easy to get lost in its depths. The characters are well-developed, and their journeys weave an enchanting narrative throughout the story. I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a read!
May 11, 2025
Where to even begin this book kept me on my toes. I was so excited to get to experience the character growth and feel like I was part of the story. Not going to lie with the cliffhanger I didn’t get much sleep because I had to dive in to book two! @captaincarra_author you are amazing at what you do I can’t wait to finish Rook and see what else is in store for these characters!
May 18, 2025
This story had me so into the story I didn’t wanna put it down. The world of Ysarianth is like full of magic and politics. The characters were super unique. They all got their own thing going on, and I loved watching how they changed. Plot was fast, always something happening, and that cliffhanger. I totally recommend this book. Really enjoyed
May 20, 2025
I am speechless! This was so good! I can’t wrap my head a round this!
Characters 5/5!
And the story! You tought you don’t like some one and suddenly you do! Everything was so well written and the imagination you have to have to write like this! Love!
The spice was there too, i love good spice!
I have to read the second one now, cliffhanger makes me do it and im not even sorry about it because this is just so good!
Characters 5/5!
And the story! You tought you don’t like some one and suddenly you do! Everything was so well written and the imagination you have to have to write like this! Love!
The spice was there too, i love good spice!
I have to read the second one now, cliffhanger makes me do it and im not even sorry about it because this is just so good!
June 1, 2025
I got this as an arc read. When Nenet stops being a pawn to her master and sees the wrong in the world, you become extremely addicted to her. The other characters are just as amazing. This book is written to where you can feel what the characters feel. I can't wait to see if the self-sacrifice was worth it in the end.
May 6, 2025
Pawn is a fantasy novel full of intrigue, romance, and all round was just really really good!
- The world of Ysarianth is incredibly well crafted, believable and immerses you from the first
- Each main character is very unique and I loved that each one grows a lot, I’m excited to see how they all fare in any further books
- The plot was amazing, with detailed lore (the Vesper are very cool), great action, high stakes and a constantly engaging story where I was always excited and guessing about what could come next
- Also lastly, the ROMANCE omg it is STEAMY but also pretty touching, I got a little emotional near the end :0
So yeah! Im really anticipating the sequel now!!!
- The world of Ysarianth is incredibly well crafted, believable and immerses you from the first
- Each main character is very unique and I loved that each one grows a lot, I’m excited to see how they all fare in any further books
- The plot was amazing, with detailed lore (the Vesper are very cool), great action, high stakes and a constantly engaging story where I was always excited and guessing about what could come next
- Also lastly, the ROMANCE omg it is STEAMY but also pretty touching, I got a little emotional near the end :0
So yeah! Im really anticipating the sequel now!!!
January 27, 2025
Pawn takes readers into the perilous world of Ysarianth, a land where magic, politics, and deadly secrets collide. The world is built so richly and in such detail that it's both easy to immerse yourself in and fascinating to explore. Each character is incredibly complex, and their journeys add magical layers to the narrative. Every twist and turn in this book had me on the edge of my seat! If you love epic fantasy with intrigue, explosive action, and a dash of forbidden romance, you need to read Pawn!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews