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A Game of Pawns
Trapped in a realm of constant death and revival, Xander’s only chance for escape is to become like those he’s surrounded murderers.
Xander has always struggled to accept change, but when a maniac with an honest-to-goodness sword singles him out and threatens his life, change will be the least of his worries.
Saved by an assassin, Xander learns that he’s a pawn in a game of life, death, and revival. To win, Xander must learn to form alliances he must one day break, dive headlong into fights with people possessing strange powers, and try to resist falling for the girl that just tried to kill him.
If he’s ever to return home, he’ll have to face the other players in battles to the death, but is he really willing to take a life to save his own?
-A lighter-toned Hunger Games with magic
-Perfect for readers who enjoy witty, action-packed urban fantasy with a lighter touch.
Start reading A Game of Pawns today! Welcome to the game.
Xander has always struggled to accept change, but when a maniac with an honest-to-goodness sword singles him out and threatens his life, change will be the least of his worries.
Saved by an assassin, Xander learns that he’s a pawn in a game of life, death, and revival. To win, Xander must learn to form alliances he must one day break, dive headlong into fights with people possessing strange powers, and try to resist falling for the girl that just tried to kill him.
If he’s ever to return home, he’ll have to face the other players in battles to the death, but is he really willing to take a life to save his own?
-A lighter-toned Hunger Games with magic
-Perfect for readers who enjoy witty, action-packed urban fantasy with a lighter touch.
Start reading A Game of Pawns today! Welcome to the game.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2025
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 9, 2025
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed A Game of Pawns. The story’s premise is simple, but it’s executed with clarity and heart. The main character, Xander, feels deeply relatable—his sense of humor, pop culture references, and general aimlessness mirror that of many young adults trying to find direction. I often found myself looking forward to returning to the story. The twist, when it arrived, was both completely unexpected and perfectly logical in hindsight—a truly satisfying reveal.
Steven Boers captures the tone and rhythm of youth incredibly well. Xander’s voice feels authentic, and it’s easy to see that many of his quirks and hobbies stem from the author’s own experiences. While Xander’s reaction to the story’s central event feels a bit muted, the relationships between the characters more than make up for it. Their banter, teamwork, and clashing personalities make for a fun, dynamic cast. Fans of anime and video games will recognize familiar archetypes—Xander has shades of Link, Saris feels a bit like Kakashi—but they’re different enough to stand as their own characters.
The story blends elements of Fate/Stay Night and The Hunger Games, but with a lighter, more playful tone. The logic follows anime-style storytelling, where emotional beats and symbolic moments sometimes outweigh strict realism. Once you accept that rhythm, the plot flows smoothly and becomes genuinely engaging. It’s fast-paced, creative, and self-aware without becoming parody.
Most of the dialogue and prose is straightforward and accessible, which fits the story’s tone perfectly. Where the book really shines, though, is in the witty back-and-forth exchanges. The humor and casual camaraderie between characters add levity and make conversations feel natural. Boers has a knack for capturing that “friends geeking out under pressure” energy that makes genre fiction so much fun.
The worldbuilding is built around video game and anime logic—bold, fast-moving, and imaginative. You can feel the story’s influences (it proudly wears them on its sleeve), but the result is more homage than imitation. The interplay between the two worlds in the story isn’t always crystal clear, leading to a few “wait, how does that work?” moments, but it’s easy to forgive when everything else is this entertaining. Like How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s part of its charm.
A Game of Pawns is a light, engaging adventure with a strong dose of anime and gaming spirit. It’s clever, fun, and surprisingly heartfelt. Steven Boers manages to balance humor, action, and mystery while crafting a story that feels nostalgic yet fresh. I went in expecting a casual read—and came out genuinely invested.
Steven Boers captures the tone and rhythm of youth incredibly well. Xander’s voice feels authentic, and it’s easy to see that many of his quirks and hobbies stem from the author’s own experiences. While Xander’s reaction to the story’s central event feels a bit muted, the relationships between the characters more than make up for it. Their banter, teamwork, and clashing personalities make for a fun, dynamic cast. Fans of anime and video games will recognize familiar archetypes—Xander has shades of Link, Saris feels a bit like Kakashi—but they’re different enough to stand as their own characters.
The story blends elements of Fate/Stay Night and The Hunger Games, but with a lighter, more playful tone. The logic follows anime-style storytelling, where emotional beats and symbolic moments sometimes outweigh strict realism. Once you accept that rhythm, the plot flows smoothly and becomes genuinely engaging. It’s fast-paced, creative, and self-aware without becoming parody.
Most of the dialogue and prose is straightforward and accessible, which fits the story’s tone perfectly. Where the book really shines, though, is in the witty back-and-forth exchanges. The humor and casual camaraderie between characters add levity and make conversations feel natural. Boers has a knack for capturing that “friends geeking out under pressure” energy that makes genre fiction so much fun.
The worldbuilding is built around video game and anime logic—bold, fast-moving, and imaginative. You can feel the story’s influences (it proudly wears them on its sleeve), but the result is more homage than imitation. The interplay between the two worlds in the story isn’t always crystal clear, leading to a few “wait, how does that work?” moments, but it’s easy to forgive when everything else is this entertaining. Like How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s part of its charm.
A Game of Pawns is a light, engaging adventure with a strong dose of anime and gaming spirit. It’s clever, fun, and surprisingly heartfelt. Steven Boers manages to balance humor, action, and mystery while crafting a story that feels nostalgic yet fresh. I went in expecting a casual read—and came out genuinely invested.
September 9, 2025
I received this book as an ARC. I want to thank Steven for the kind gift.
To begin with, I didn't really think about what I was getting into. I had no expectations to speak of because it isn't the kind of book I usually read. Having said that, I enjoyed the story quite a lot.
We follow a young man who is going through his life aimlessly. It’s written in first-person, which isn’t for everyone, but it’s right up my alley. The premise and characterisation are believable, and it gives the protagonist, Xander, a background. It really helps to round out his character, so that he isn’t two-dimensional. His passion for old video games is an ongoing theme, along with being around his friends. That is until he is phased out of everyday existence by a mysterious entity and into the game arena (which is his hometown sans people… read the book for a detailed explanation!).
There, he meets an older man, Saris, who is a seasoned game player. The two become allies, helping to train him to survive the game. Xander finds out that to escape the game, you have to win it by becoming the last person standing (and, for added difficulty, you have to do it three times). There are many twists and turns along the way.
Overall, the story goes by pretty quickly. There aren’t any passages or chapters that feel grating or slow. Sometimes, things get repeated, but not to a level where it becomes irritating. There is plenty of action to go with the quieter times in between. It all culminates in an exciting finale. It left me wanting to see what happens next. Luckily, there is a book 2!
No explanation is provided for why the game is happening. Let’s forget about the whys and wherefores. The story is shrouded in mystery, which I’m sure will be uncovered in later books. There are rules and mechanics within the “game,” and it pans out interestingly. Also, I found the characters as they were introduced to be engaging, and I liked their interactions. It seemed very natural.
The author mentions the story is like The Hunger Games. While true, I would call it Highlander by way of Sword Art Online! The fact that people can’t see him or the other combatants reminds me of Shadowhunters too (where the ‘mundanes’ can’t see the magic around them).
Recommended!
To begin with, I didn't really think about what I was getting into. I had no expectations to speak of because it isn't the kind of book I usually read. Having said that, I enjoyed the story quite a lot.
We follow a young man who is going through his life aimlessly. It’s written in first-person, which isn’t for everyone, but it’s right up my alley. The premise and characterisation are believable, and it gives the protagonist, Xander, a background. It really helps to round out his character, so that he isn’t two-dimensional. His passion for old video games is an ongoing theme, along with being around his friends. That is until he is phased out of everyday existence by a mysterious entity and into the game arena (which is his hometown sans people… read the book for a detailed explanation!).
There, he meets an older man, Saris, who is a seasoned game player. The two become allies, helping to train him to survive the game. Xander finds out that to escape the game, you have to win it by becoming the last person standing (and, for added difficulty, you have to do it three times). There are many twists and turns along the way.
Overall, the story goes by pretty quickly. There aren’t any passages or chapters that feel grating or slow. Sometimes, things get repeated, but not to a level where it becomes irritating. There is plenty of action to go with the quieter times in between. It all culminates in an exciting finale. It left me wanting to see what happens next. Luckily, there is a book 2!
No explanation is provided for why the game is happening. Let’s forget about the whys and wherefores. The story is shrouded in mystery, which I’m sure will be uncovered in later books. There are rules and mechanics within the “game,” and it pans out interestingly. Also, I found the characters as they were introduced to be engaging, and I liked their interactions. It seemed very natural.
The author mentions the story is like The Hunger Games. While true, I would call it Highlander by way of Sword Art Online! The fact that people can’t see him or the other combatants reminds me of Shadowhunters too (where the ‘mundanes’ can’t see the magic around them).
Recommended!
September 9, 2025
Great read!
Can't wait for book 2. This was a fast paced action packed story, and worth every minute of time spent reading.
Can't wait for book 2. This was a fast paced action packed story, and worth every minute of time spent reading.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews