Poisoned Pawns

by Ashlynn Author

Four friends, three drinks, two boys, and one murder.

A simple text changes everything. Everyone is a suspect.

Trust is broken. Friendships are tested. Lies are told.

Hate turns into love, but is it all part of the game? No one is safe.

I've turned their college experience that should have been filled with laughter, football games, and partying into my twisted game of survival.

Buckle up for a rollercoaster ride of what ifs, where every move counts, and in this dangerous game, the next checkmate may cost them everything.

I'm back, and I plan to ruin them one at a time.

xoxo-Checkmate B*tches

Poisoned Pawns is book 1 of the The Gamemakers Trilogy. A dark murder mystery romance where four guys who hate one another are obsessed with one girl but can they all stay alive long enough to get her. Please see the author’s website for the content warning. This book is intended for readers 18 +.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Why Choose, Mystery

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2025

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dark & twisty story was an enjoyable read. With YA characters, it dives into manipulation, power, and betrayal with lingering & dark secrets. I do suggest reading the trigger warnings, as Ashlynn delivered them all. Personally, the TW drew me in but read at your own risk 😈.

This dangerous game of cat-and-mouse between the characters in this story & “checkmate” had me turning the pages nonstop. As a fan of the show Pretty Little Liars, that made the story that much more enjoyable to me as checkmate definitely gave “A” vibes.. (if you know, you know)…

Solid read, definitely looking forward to the rest of this series, as we were left with a cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more. This was my first read by this author but won’t be my last! I enjoyed the writing style as she continuously built suspense & keeps you guessing. Recommend for psychological thriller fans with a whole-lotta spice!

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before you partake do read the trigger warnings, just saying 👈🏻

From the first page we are tossed into the mix of the story, led down one path and up another. There are twists galore, who amongst them hasn’t k!lled before, is a better question than which one is a k!ller 🤷🏻‍♀️ Ivy seems to be the centre pin of secrets, some she’s unwilling to share, a few she will to aid their joint efforts. However, are the others as interwoven into the lies and betrayals? Can the pawns outwit the other players? What is the end game? Who will win? Honestly, I am sat here with a face like a goldfish 😲 Hence, why I am also not giving anything away.

The writing just has you in a stranglehold from the start, her visuals are just as good. The angst and intrigue this book has on you means you can’t put it down. The are a lot of spicy scenes, a fair amount of m^rd3r, various circumstances one would not wish to find themselves in and it ends on a cliffhanger 😱 How many pawns will have been knocked off the board by book 2?

[Susete Kunkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, you will most likely enjoy this read, just be prepare for extra spice + darker twists and turns.

This read was so darn addicting I couldn't drop it, I wanted to figure out what was going on. I love that we have multiple POVs so we get to connect with some of the characters a little deeper.

If you are like me and easily forget names it can feel intimidating to memorize all the characters/names, I did thought of writing it all down in a paper 🤣, but I think I got the hang of it pretty quickly.

Now I have a beef with Ash because I need book 2 now, especially after the way she ends book 1 😭😭 .

[Teresa Juckett (Love Dark Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely fan-freakin-tastic from start to that cliffhanger ending I was guessing on who was behind all this, but now I have to wait to get more clues in the next book. Ivy and her friend's are keeping secrets, big secrets, that can't get out, but someone has found out about them, and is using them against Ivy and her friend's by playing a deadly game, but there seems to be a new player on the board who wants to throw his hat in the ring, and all he wants his her...Ivy and is willing to do what it takes to get her. This book will leave you guessing as to who's behind it, and there is plenty to guess from. There are triggers all through the book, so if you need a trigger warning you might want to skip this book.

[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one has a lot of character / moving parts and I did find myself at the beginning having to go back and try and remember who certain characters were and how they were all linked. I considered writing myself a little who’s who guide.

I did total get the pretty little liars vibe from it and a few times I expected to see the text signed as A instead of checkmate.

I might be a bad person but I’m only really bothered about Ivy saving Silas and Desmond.

I really hope that book 2 doesn’t take too long to come out as I really need to know what is going on.

It does have a shopping list of triggers so I would recommend checking them before reading.

[Miranda Orton · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:
Man, this book gets RIGHT INTO IT. I was hooked right from the first chapter. Tons of dirty smut, good plot, murder mystery, and obsession.. I enjoyed this book a lot! I devoured this book in such little time, it was super addicting! Can’t wait for the 2nd book to come out 🫣
If you like Pretty Little Liars with a bit of Saw, you’ll love this book!

[Nini · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
I got an arc, but my rating/review are my own!

step-brother and best friend's brother??? freaking delicious🫣🥵🥵
is book 2 going to have more games??🥵👀 because I need thoseeee

and it was really that guy???

quotes:
••
𝖄𝖊𝖘, 𝖏𝖚𝖘𝖙 𝖑𝖎𝖐𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙, 𝖞𝖔𝖚'𝖗𝖊 𝖘𝖚𝖈𝖍 𝖆 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉, 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖞 𝖇𝖔𝖞. 𝕬𝖗𝖊𝖓'𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚?"
"𝕿𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖎𝖙, 𝕻𝖎𝖊𝖗𝖈𝖊. 𝕷𝖊𝖙 𝖒𝖊 𝖍𝖊𝖆𝖗 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖈𝖍𝖔𝖐𝖊 𝖔𝖓 𝖒𝖞 𝖈𝖔𝖈𝖐"
"𝕱𝖚𝖈𝖐 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖞 𝖇𝖔𝖞, 𝖞𝖔𝖚'𝖗𝖊 𝖌𝖔𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖒𝖊 𝖈𝖚𝖒."
"𝕸𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖎𝖙 𝖍𝖚𝖗𝖙, 𝖕𝖎𝖊𝖗𝖈𝖊"

"𝖄𝖔𝖚'𝖗𝖊 𝖆𝖑𝖜𝖆𝖞𝖘 𝖘𝖔 𝖋𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝕯. 𝕱𝖚𝖈𝖐"
"𝕵𝖊𝖘𝖚𝖘 𝕮𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖙 𝖕𝖗𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖞 𝖇𝖔𝖞. 𝖄𝖔𝖚 𝖋𝖊𝖊𝖑 𝖘𝖔 𝖋𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉"
"𝕿𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖋𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖆𝖘𝖘 𝖎𝖘 𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖋𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓. 𝕴 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖚𝖕. 𝕴 𝖜𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖎𝖋 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖈𝖆𝖓 𝖙𝖆𝖐𝖊 𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖈𝖔𝖈𝖐 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖒𝖊"
"𝕯𝖔𝖊𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖓 𝖞𝖔𝖚 𝖔𝖓, 𝕻𝖎𝖊𝖗𝖈𝖊? 𝕿𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖐𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖆𝖇𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖈𝖔𝖈𝖐 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖘𝖔𝖒𝖊𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖊𝖑𝖘𝖊'𝖘 𝖕𝖔𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖊?"
"𝕱𝖚𝖈𝖐 𝖞𝖊𝖘"
••
"𝓖𝓸𝓭, 𝓘 𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓽𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱"
"𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓬𝓱 𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽. 𝓛𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝓼"
"𝓜𝓶𝓶, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓰𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓪 𝓹𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓹𝓸𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓸𝓬𝓴 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝓮? 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓭𝓼, 𝓘𝓿𝔂. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓴𝓼,
𝓢𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓪 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓰𝓲𝓻𝓵. 𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓸 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓮𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝓮. 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷'𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓬𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓬𝓾𝓷𝓽. 𝓢𝓲𝓽 𝓸𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓸𝓬𝓴 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓮 𝓶𝓮, 𝓟𝓸𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓷. 𝓢𝓸 𝓰𝓸𝓭𝓭𝓪𝓶𝓷 𝓽𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽, 𝓘𝓿𝔂. 𝓕𝓾𝓬𝓴. 𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓬𝓾𝓷𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓵𝓮𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓸𝓬𝓴 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝔂."
"𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓼𝓸 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷 𝓰 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭, 𝓢𝓲. 𝓗𝓸𝓵𝔂 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓽,"
"𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽, 𝓟𝓸𝓲𝓼𝓸𝓷. 𝓖𝓸𝓭𝓭𝓪𝓶𝓷, 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓹𝓾𝓼𝓼𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓼𝓸𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓭. 𝓣𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓬𝓾𝓷𝓽, 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝔂,"
••

tropes:
☆🍁dark romance
☆🍁why choose
☆🍁⚔️ crossing👀
☆🍁secret stalker
☆🍁suspense
☆🍁college setting

[Emmy Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts: if I had to describe this book in one sentence it would be a thriller/horror novel where the fmc fucks every guy around her. This feels like more of a horror or psychological thriller than a murder mystery because it’s just a personal going around killing people, it’s a game, there are some people going around manipulating this group of rich privileged sorority/fraternity kids, and making them do terrible things. And the worse thing is they have absolutely no idea what they are doing until it’s done, and there’s not just one person trying to control the game. I really liked this plot though, it was intense (with quite a lot of triggers) and you never know what’s going to happen next. I was on my toes and shell shocked the entire time. But I feel like the MCs are quite stupid, like for a murder mystery novel, because their decisions are so stupid and you’ll get it if you read it. And the relationships between these characters are also terrible like they don’t communicate ever, they basically FCK and run despite having strong feelings for each other that they continuously deny. But what I do like is that this book really blurs the line of a typical protagonist in a mystery, she makes terrible decision and does some horrifying things, the only person who didn’t is Silas and my gosh I felt so bad for him. I don’t like the characters but I would keep reading this series purely to see how it turns out. I give this 3.5/5, because the plot really carried.

[Alexis Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read for me. I was super intrigued from the start and couldn’t get enough. I loved the mystery behind the entire thing and wondering who’s doing it. The spice was off the charts spicy and I loved it so much. I enjoyed seeing the darkness in some characters and what they did with it. The ending was definitely a surprise and had me wanting more

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a thrilling read. It gave me Pretty Little Liars and I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes. All the secrets, lies and games had me anxiously waiting to see what would happen next. I was so engrossed I didn’t even realize it was ending and the way it ended my god I need the second book now.

[Melissa Keifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eeekkkk what can I say about this book beside I absolutely LOVED it!!!!! I LOVE Check-Mate but who the heck is he ♟️♟️ And the why choose with a dash of MM and the murder mystery and the mile long trigger warning list made my day so definitely check that out before you dive into this beautiful beast

[Doina Catana · Rating 3 out of 5]

See I really REALLY hated every SINGLE CHARACTER in this book. I equally hated the plot- it felt super rushed and some things came out of nowhere.
Butttt
This book would’ve been otherwise a 1 ⭐️ if it wasn’t for the last 50 pages.
All I’m going to say is the plot…
😩 I need the next book to be released because that CLIFFHANGER left me on edge.
And so I give 3 stars ⭐️

[Earth Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust No One
Ashlynn grabs ahold of your soul from the first sentence and wraps it up in the story little by little and holds onto it until long after you read the very last word in this book. And at the end I'm yelling no no no. If you like your stories Dark with heavy triggers you are going to want to read this book. What exactly did Ivy do that is haunting her? Every one in this little group has a secret and have done things that they keep hidden. It seems they are all game pieces in the game one way or another. Many twists that lead you down different paths. Lots of very spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️ scenes. Murder Mystery and possessive obsession. This is my first book by Ashlynn and now I want to lock myself in my room and devour every book she has ever written. Yes she is that good. Looking forward to book 2. Please hurry. LoL XOXO Checkmate, B*tches!

[🖤 alyssa 🩶 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Too much is happening at once. I feel like I don’t have time to even catch my breath before the next tragedy strikes.”


Oh my goodness, where do I even start with Poisoned Pawns… This was a read that had my jaw dropping basically every single chapter, if not multiple times in one chapter from the twists and turns that kept happening, and all of the little details that were being teased too 😦 The plot was so interesting, it had me in a vice grip right from the beginning! Not to mention that the secrets, darkness, suspense, and mystery is built up & written really well, with such hot spice mixed in, oh my word 🥵

Ivy, Silas, Desmond, Pierce, Millie, Everly, and Katie (phew—there’s a lot of them! And who knows, maybe there’s more 😆) sure go through it, and this book gets very dark at some points, but the pitch black sank right into me 🖤 Each of them has such an aura of mystery—and smoking hotness🔥—to them and there is so many hints dropped and things teased at, it will literally make you want to rip out your hair because you just want answers that badly 😩 They are all playing the game slightly different from one another even though they’re a group, which I found very intriguing, and each one is going through their own differing struggles in their personal lives and mentally, which really added depth to each of the characters! Speaking of which, I loved Ivy’s personality and character so much, she absolutely deserves the nickname Spitfire 🔥 I want to know everything about her and it is going to killlllllll me having to wait to get more answers!! And the men… oh the men… They are each different in so many ways and handle things differently, and I loved getting to see all the different ways Ivy was being treated by each mmc. And who knows who else 😉 Sometimes she was even being treated veeeery good by more than one of them 🫣

The way that this ended… it might honestly have me pacing and chomping off my nails in anticipation of the next book coming out! 🤍 This was extremely dark and could be potentially triggering to others at times, but the plot completely hooked me. To this very moment actually, because I am ✨still✨ trying to process that ending and what happened, and all the answers that were kept locked away, painfully just out of reach 🔒🥺

Make sure to check the menu before diving into this deliciously dark and spicy appetizer to this series 🔥🖤 I can’t wait to see what happens next!!

[MissAllieReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

”It’s been three years since I've made my presence known. They thought I was dead, but they were wrong.”

⚠️ Before reading please read the trigger warnings.
Please please read them because it gets dark and I had to step back and take a breather. ⚠️


Four friends, three drinks, two boys, and one m*rder.

When Ivy’s friend, Katie, is m*rdered after a party they must figure out the mystery surrounding her d*ath.


After Katie’s d*ath, the three friends, Ivy, Millie, and Everly both get unknown messages from mystery man, known as Checkmate. They must play the game or be the game!

They all have bl**d on their hands… Each one of them are hiding secrets but secrets can never be hidden for long..

”Checkmate is back b*tches, and I'm coming for all of you-one little chess piece in this game of survival at a time.
XOXO-Checkmate B*tches.”

Who’s this checkmate? What happens when there’s another another m*rder, known as the Game maker. This murder mystery will have you second guessing and take you on a wild ride of life and d*ath. Are you ready to play?

”Hurting others brings me joy. Watching them suffer makes my heart skip a beat, but ruining them gives me life in this dark world. All I want is her. She is my obsession.”

Poisoned Pawns is a dark Romance with a m*rder mystery, masked men/anonymous men, Gamemaker, and a game of life or death. Imagine Pretty Little Liars, meets Sorority Row, meets Saw!


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my first time reading a book from Ashlynn and it did not disappoint! My mind was blown right out of the water with this one! This was my first time really reading a very dark dark romance and there were times I needed to step back for a breather but the way she wrote it enticed me to keep reading!

I fell in love with all the characters mostly Ivy and had a soft spot for Silas. I’ve never been in his situation before but I felt for him and experience mental health.

The characters I didn’t like was Oliver he made my bl**d boil.. Let’s not forget checkmate who I disliked.

The gamemaker I think I know who he is but again I’m unsure but if I do, either way he interest me into finding out his identity. We will see in book 2 and I look forward to finding what happens that ending is k*lling!


Thank you to Ashlynn for the chance to read and review this e-arc in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

[JackaayReadsallday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good golly, Miss Molly, I have absolutely no words! I know that when I’m dealing with any book from Ashlynn that three things are always true.
*Friendly reminder to always check the cw/TW before reading a dark romance.

#1- I should not expect to think I know where the story is going… Because I’m usually mistaken. I thought I knew who Checkmate was… But I was wrong… I don’t usually get things like that wrong in a suspenseful/thriller book or movie.

#2- The book is going to test my boundaries and triggers something fierce. She does and I’m never mad at it, sometimes confused and baffled after though.

#3- The spice of all kinds she writes is phenomenal and is matched by almost no one.

I absolutely adore that Ashlynn has taken the time to weave so many of her stories together. The amount of Easter eggs that go into each of her stories is astonishing once you start to put all the pieces together. (I totally feel like that meme on social media of the conspiracy theory guy standing in front of the board with all the string connecting)

I know that once I get to finish this trilogy, I’m going to be extremely surprised and excited for everything that’s going to unravel but good Lord is the waiting difficult in between these books. I don’t know if I love or if I hate more than half of the characters Because all of the strings haven’t connected yet and I am not OK.

Just like every other book of Ashlynn‘s that I’ve read, I am probably going to be in a book hangover for the next couple weeks… But I just keep coming back for more because Ashlynn has her hooks so deep into my soul with her writing… So now I have to sit here and twiddle my thumbs until book 2…

[Erin Stapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashlynn what are you doing to me? I know you warned us at the beginning of the book, especially that we wouldn't be getting all the answers, but now I'm hooked. This was one heck of a rollercoaster ride with new twists and turns that just when you see it coming, you find out you're wrong. From start to finish, not only was this book fantastic, but I felt like I was in one big cliffhanger. By far the best murder mystery book mixed with spicy because we can’t forget that, that I have read. I am floored by her work on this story and can't wait for book 2.

Blurb:
Four friends, three drinks, two boys, and one murder.

A simple text changes everything. Everyone is a suspect.

Trust is broken. Friendships are tested. Lies are told.

Hate turns into love, but is it all part of the game? No one is safe.

I've turned their college experience that should have been filled with laughter, football games, and partying into my twisted game of survival.

Buckle up for a rollercoaster ride of what ifs, where every move counts, and in this dangerous game, the next checkmate may cost them everything.

I'm back, and I plan to ruin them one at a time.

xoxo-Checkmate B*tches

Poisoned Pawns is book 1 of the The Gamemakers Trilogy. A dark murder mystery romance where four guys who hate one another are obsessed with one girl but can they all stay alive long enough to get her. Please see the author’s website for the content warning. This book is intended for readers 18 +.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️: 3.75
🌶️: 4


Anonymous meets pretty little liars. Absolutely love the storyline. I always like how bad ass Ashlynn makes her female characters. I didn’t realize that this story was connected to most of her other stories which was a nice surprise. If you’re looking for spice, this definitely has allll the nasty and dark spice you could want. At times it was a bit distracting for me but I do love me some spice. I felt like there was a lot going on. Especially with ivy. She was smutting it around town when she knew all the stuff that was going down with checkmate lol The story line is what kept me mostly interested and the way the book ended on a cliff hanger made me want to find out more. Not only do you want to know what’s gonna happen but you also want to know the backstory of how it all started. I can’t wait to find out what happens next and what new games will be played in book 2! Who is checkmate??


Favorite quotes:

“You said you wanted to play, Pretty Boy. Game on!”

“Time to think like a predator instead of falling victim.”

“Good, now use his face and make yourself cum again. And don’t take your eyes off mine!”

“Checkmate is back bitches, and I’m coming for all of you-one little chess piece in this game of survival at a time.  XOXO-Checkmate B*tches.”

“Ride my seat and show me how good it makes you feel.”

“Stretch me out. Let me feel those bars.”

[Diana Martins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Game ON!

A Dark YA Why-Choose with M/M – Part 1 of a Duet

I'm still processing what I just read… Just WOW.

This is a heavy, twisted, steamy read. The content warnings list could probably rival (and maybe beat) my grocery list. Every chapter left me saying, “What the hell just happened?” followed closely by “What now?”

The plot thickens as more secrets unravel—everyone’s hiding something. I’m still not sure if I actually like any of the characters. Some of the kinks? Excellent. Others? W.O.W.—and not in a good way. There’s so much darkness. These characters go from tender, beautiful moments to deeply twisted acts in seconds. And then they try to justify it with, “I had no choice.” Newsflash: you do—at least own your actions!

That said, it’s impossible to stop reading. Just when I thought I had someone figured out, BAM—another twist proved me wrong.

One thing that really made me grind my teeth? The way they suddenly decide it’s the perfect time to unwind after some of the heaviest scenes. Like—really? It’s not like they’ve forgotten anything or they’ve shouldn’t even be thinking about fixing things. Nothing. At. All. Duh!

And that cliffhanger? It made me want to pull my hair out!

[Tara]

Alright, buckle up, because "Poisoned Pawns" just dropped, and it's a total game-changer. This story kicks off with a seemingly chill college scene that gets absolutely flipped on its head by one text. Suddenly, a squad of friends is caught in this wild, high-stakes game they never signed up for. The way this book builds suspense is next-level, with secrets popping out of nowhere and twists you'd never see coming. Seriously, trying to figure out who's playing whom is half the fun.
The author absolutely crushes it with the whole dangerous vibe. You're right there with the characters, trying to piece together the clues, and just when you think you've got a handle on things, boom—another curveball. It's the kind of read that grabs you and doesn't let go, dragging you deeper into a crazy world of lies and hidden motives.
This isn't your grandma's cozy mystery; it's got an edge that pulls you in deep. The blend of heart-pounding suspense and intense connections makes for one seriously addictive read. If you're into stories where every move could be the last and the stakes are through the roof, then clear your schedule, because you're about to get hooked.

[Crystal Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not even sure where to start. I would saw definitely check all TWs before you start this book if you have any, just to be safe. This book is dark and twisted. I loved the movies Saw, so those aspects relating to it were definitely a hit for me. Buckle up and get ready for a wild and crazy ride.

This book you follow a group of friends: Ivy, Silas, Desmond, Millie, Everly, and Katie. With mentions of a couple of others: Pierce, Oliver, and Kellen. They have a past that has come to the surface and “Checkmate” wants to play.

Who can you trust? Everyone has secrets they are hiding. My anxiety was all over the place. I felt like I was watching the scenario play out, but had no clue what was going on and constantly trying to figure out who was who and what was going to happen next.

And then the spicy scenes that were mixed in 🔥🔥 they were hot and on fire. I am not sure who I want Ivy to be with. Can they all just be on big relationship?

This book was full of twists, turns, mystery, blood, murder, darkness, spice, and so many secrets. And that cliffhanger!!!!!! I need the next book now please.

4⭐️
4🌶️

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚✨ Poisoned Pawns by Ashlynn Author
⭐️4/5 | 🌶️2/5

Thank you Ashlynn Author for this wild, unhinged ride—I’m still reeling. This was my first read from her, and it definitely won’t be my last.

This dark & twisty psychological thriller is not for the faint of heart. Think: betrayal, manipulation, obsession, and secrets buried under secrets. I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings first, but honestly, those are what drew me in. Read at your own risk 😈

If you loved Pretty Little Liars or Cruel Intentions, you’ll vibe with this. “Checkmate” gave such strong “A” energy—IYKYK—and the game between the characters had me second-guessing everyone. The cliffhanger ending?? I’m unwell.

Ivy completely stole my heart and I had such a soft spot for Silas (protect him at all costs). Meanwhile, Oliver made my blood boil and don’t even get me started on Checkmate. The Gamemaker has me spiraling with theories and I can’t wait to find out the truth in book 2 👀

Dark romance lovers, psychological thriller fans, and anyone who enjoys a little chaos with their spice—Poisoned Pawns belongs on your TBR.

[Lorena Garcia -- Brittany's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy!!

It was liking reading a book right out of a SAW movie. Talk about non-stop action. I don't think I took a pause once I started this beauty. It was like a guessing game, wondering and guessing all at once. You didn't know what to expect and when to expect it. It was like a freight train heading right into you.

A man playing chess with a bunch of college students, we don't even know if he's a student himself or a man that likes to prey on college kids, but he sure picked a bunch of good friends and decided that he was going to play a little game with them and see if they passed or failed and then he would grant them a punishment if they didn't go through the task he assigned them with. Why he choose this group is beyond me!

I was totally engrossed in this horror/sexy book. It had so many good "times" with the mfc with several men, but in the end ... was she the cause of everyone's demise?

Oh boy, talk about an exhilarating read with a lot of triggers so please make sure you read all the triggers before starting! I am all for triggers so I enjoyed this gem quite a lot and can't wait to continue this journey and see where it lead us!

[Toxic · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, with Ashlynn, you’re thrust from the first page into absolute fucking carnage and I’m here for it 😂

We have our FMC, Ivy, who must be shit hot because she’s got all the boys going crazy about her. She holds secrets and lies and things that should never be spoken of. It’s made worse when she and her friends are forced back into games they don’t want to play.

Silas, her step brother she has such a love/hate relationship with, protects her with all of his might, until he’s caught up in the games.

Desmond and Pierce, the two have strong feelings for Ivy and each other, and enjoy sharing her. Can they protect her from the games that’s being played?

Also Ivy is wild for burying her step brother alive in her friends coffin then going for breakfast with another guy 💀💀

The games are brutal, and graphic and have you desperate to get onto the next chapter. Ashlynn has such a way with her words that have you laughing one minute, and grimacing the next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Touch her and perish/stalker/games/graphic
Stabbing your friends masked boyfriend in the woods
Cliffhanger

[Maresha Braswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this arc copy to review.

Poisoned Pawns wasn’t just a story—it was a gut punch wrapped in secrets and silence. It hurt in the best way possible. Page after page, I felt the weight of every betrayal, every choice that cost someone their peace, their trust… sometimes even their life.

This book made me feel exposed—like I was watching someone unravel from the inside while pretending to hold it all together. The main character’s journey was heavy: manipulated, lied to, used like a pawn in a game they never even agreed to play. And yet somehow, they kept fighting.

The writing? Sharp. Emotional. Relentless.
The twists? Brutal.
The heartbreak? Real.

I kept asking myself: How do you survive when the people you love are the ones pulling the strings?
And when the truth finally came out—it didn’t feel like relief. It felt like ruin.

If you’ve ever trusted the wrong person, been gaslit, or had to piece yourself back together from the damage someone else caused—this book will speak to your soul.

[Kilee Goode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poisoned Pawns by Ashlynn is a dark, addictive thriller that will have your jaw on the floor immediately!

The tension is relentless. Every character feels like a suspect, every friendship is laced with secrets, and every chapter adds another layer of deception. Ashlynn does an incredible job of blurring the lines between love and hate, truth and lies, making it impossible to know who’s playing the game and who’s already lost.

The chess metaphor woven throughout the story is brilliant—every move matters, and the stakes grow higher with each turn. Just when you think you’ve figured things out, the story flips the board and leaves you questioning everything. The twists are sharp, the pacing is fast, and the psychological mind games are deliciously cruel.

If you love thrillers packed with suspense, betrayal, and jaw-dropping twists, Poisoned Pawns is a must-read. Buckle up—this book is a wild, unforgettable ride, and Ashlynn proves she’s not afraid to checkmate her readers right along with her characters.

[ellesbooklife · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MAHH LANTAAAA
OKAY.

“Be careful who you trust. Not everyone is your friend. This is just the beginning. XOXOCheckmate B*tch*s”

The thrill I got at this first text 🤭
As a huge PLL girly, I literally pictured that scene after Allison’s funeral and heard “Hands of Time” playing in my head (IYKYK)😏

It definitely set the tone for this story, on a much darker, hotter level though! CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS, there are many 😉

Lots of characters to remember, I admit I wrote down names after going back cause I wanted to be sure I had all the info. With all the secrets and lies and games, you’ll definitely need to play close attention to the details and omg I was soooo here for it!!! So if you like the murder mystery vibes, this is absolutely your vibe 🤭

I’m obsessed with the characters, and the guys? 👌🏽😮‍💨

And the mm action…. OBSESSED 👏🏽

And as usual for an Ashlynn book… THE FREAKING CLIFFHANGER 😭😩

This type of book needs answers and closure asap 🤣🤣

I’ll definitely be re reading before book 2 though cause I definitely feel like some of the clues, we will need all we can get to carry over 👀👀👀👀👀

[MAYRA ARMENTA · Rating 5 out of 5]

What did I just read?! Saying this book was unhinged feels like an understatement—I devoured it from start to finish. The plot is packed with so many twists, turns, loops, and jaw-dropping drops that I could barely keep my thoughts straight… in the best way possible.

This is such a gripping whodunit, with incredibly well-written, distinct characters whose dynamics felt authentic and electric. The villains? Deliciously despicable. From page one, this book had its claws in me and never let go.

Ashlynn has a true gift for crafting immersive, mysterious worlds. I especially loved the surprise cameos from characters in her other books—it made the story feel even richer. She’s such a talented storyteller, and honestly, I’ll read anything she writes.

I’m already counting down the days until I can dive into the next installment of this series. I highly recommend this one.
Rating: 10 out of 5—so freaking good!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

🧩♟️𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨♟️🧩

𝕻𝖔𝖎𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖉 𝕻𝖆𝖜𝖓𝖘 |

4⭐️

ɴᴏᴡ ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴠɪʙᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ:
♟️Why Choose
🪦Dark Romance
🔥Pretty Little Liars x Sorority Row x SAW
♟️College Age
🪦MM
🔥Suspense

There is a lot to this book. A lot of moving parts, a lot of characters, and a lot of twists and turns. Sit down, shut up, and secure your seat belt: you’re about to embark on a wild ride. Triggers galore, if you are easily triggered probably check the warnings before proceeding.

We follow a group of friends who have serious secrets and events that have taken place in the past that they don’t want revealed. Mystery, madness, darkness, and murder. What more could you want from the perfect dark romance book. There are so many secrets and so many twists and turns I feel like I needed a murder board and to connect everything I knew with string to help with the mystery.

Who can you trust in a game full of secrets and lies? After all, it’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of The Gamemakers Trilogy
🖤Pretty Little Liars meets Sorority Row meets Saw
🖤Why Choose
🖤MM/MF/MMF
🖤Dark Romance
🖤Murder Mystery
🖤Suspense
🖤Stalking/Obsession

Murder, mystery and madness intertwine in this gripping tale. A group of friends, each harboring dark secrets from one another, find themselves compelled to follow the commands of an unknown entity in a desperate bid for self-preservation. At the center of it all is the untamed Ivy, a woman who captivates the obsession of several men- some who are players in the game, while others lurk behind the scenes.

This dark and suspenseful romance kept me on the edge of my seat with its multitude of twists and turns. So many characters, hidden secrets and unanswered questions make it a thrilling read!

Be aware that the trigger warning list is extensive, but this story is perfect for those who enjoy secrets, lies, and unhinged characters amongst the violence.