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Pawn: A Fairy Tale
Fifteen-year-old Alice Lee is losing her mind. There’s no other way to explain the hallucinations that have haunted her since her sister, Evie, died: all of them are of Meer, a fantasy world as enchanting as Evie’s watercolor art. This world once served as Evie’s only refuge…until it corrupted into something more sinister.
When Alice learns that Meer may explain the strange circumstances of Evie’s death, her quest for the truth will take her to places where secrets are bought and bartered for and where ghosts run as rampant as nightmares.
As Alice journeys through the darkest parts of Evie’s imagination, she begins to question everything she thought she knew about her family and herself. Will her rigid life crack under the weight of her sister’s greatest dreams and worst fears? Or will her stubborn logic resign her to being a Pawn in someone else’s game?
When Alice learns that Meer may explain the strange circumstances of Evie’s death, her quest for the truth will take her to places where secrets are bought and bartered for and where ghosts run as rampant as nightmares.
As Alice journeys through the darkest parts of Evie’s imagination, she begins to question everything she thought she knew about her family and herself. Will her rigid life crack under the weight of her sister’s greatest dreams and worst fears? Or will her stubborn logic resign her to being a Pawn in someone else’s game?
- GenresFantasy
398 pages, Paperback
Published December 28, 2025
About the author
Calliope More
1 book15 followersCalliope More is a fantasy author from the Midwest, currently pursuing a degree in Creative Writing. Pawn: A Fairy Tale is her debut novel. She is passionate about weaving myth, magic, and fairy tales into her stories for young adults. When she is not wandering through distant worlds, she can be found on her Instagram @thewritermuse.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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December 30, 2025Pawn is the story I needed when I was fifteen years old, during a global pandemic and a wave of anti-Asian hate crimes. At the time, I was anxious, disoriented, and uncertain. So, I did the only thing I could think of to do. I ran away from reality. I immersed myself in stories of strange places and stranger magic.
I found myself revisiting one book in particular: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Like Alice, I felt lost. How did I navigate a world that had turned upside down?
Somewhere along the way, Carroll’s tale intertwined with the seed of a different story. This story centers Alice Lee, a girl who is Cantonese American, like I am. She struggles with cultural disconnection and grief while journeying through a fantastical world rife with secrets and nightmares.
As I worked on this story, I realized it is also about the danger of escapism—the possibility of falling for a reality that is not yours. Yet illusion can reveal truth in unexpected ways, too. While writing, I asked myself, more than once, “Is it worth being a dreamer in a world so hostile to imagination?”
The answer is—yes. In fact, there is nothing more important.
This feral fairy tale is the book of my heart, and I hope it touches your heart.
With endless gratitude,
Calliope
I found myself revisiting one book in particular: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Like Alice, I felt lost. How did I navigate a world that had turned upside down?
Somewhere along the way, Carroll’s tale intertwined with the seed of a different story. This story centers Alice Lee, a girl who is Cantonese American, like I am. She struggles with cultural disconnection and grief while journeying through a fantastical world rife with secrets and nightmares.
As I worked on this story, I realized it is also about the danger of escapism—the possibility of falling for a reality that is not yours. Yet illusion can reveal truth in unexpected ways, too. While writing, I asked myself, more than once, “Is it worth being a dreamer in a world so hostile to imagination?”
The answer is—yes. In fact, there is nothing more important.
This feral fairy tale is the book of my heart, and I hope it touches your heart.
With endless gratitude,
Calliope
October 16, 2025
I don’t even know where to begin… I beta read this book a while ago, and yet it’s still living rent-free in my mind. From the very first page, it had me completely hooked. I genuinely couldn’t stop reading. I finished it at 3 a.m. with tears running down my face.
Calliope has built something extraordinary here. The worldbuilding of Meer is breathtaking! It isn’t just a simple fantasy world; it’s more like a mirror for grief, imagination, and the fragile places our minds go when we’re trying to survive. It’s SO vivid and SO original.
And Alice!!! I saw so much of myself in her. Her struggle between logic and belief, between grief and hope, felt so familiar. I loved the way she rationalizes everything to keep from falling apart, the way she loves, the way she feels too much (but can’t show it). She’s such a great protagonist, not because she’s flawless but because she isn’t. She knows she’s imperfect, and she still tries her best. To me, trying with everything you have matters more than believing yourself superior.
(P.S. This book doesn’t have those dumb characters who make choices that make you want to pull your hair out. You’re reading about people who actually think things through!😭✋🏻)
The friendships in this book are something truly special. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers, but I cannot wait to talk about them freely. And the mental health representation? Absolutely stunning. It’s never forced or performative; it’s just there. Honest and human.
Calliope’s prose is PURE magic. Every sentence literally glows. Her writing has this quiet confidence. She’s one of those rare authors who can make heartbreak sound beautiful without ever losing its reality.
PAWN easily became my favorite read of the year. I still can’t believe I got to read it early. Calliope is insanely talented, and her name deserves to be on every bookshelf. I can already tell she’s going places.
If you’re looking for a story that will break your heart a little, stitch it back together, and make you believe in the power of imagination again— this is the one!!!!
Calliope has built something extraordinary here. The worldbuilding of Meer is breathtaking! It isn’t just a simple fantasy world; it’s more like a mirror for grief, imagination, and the fragile places our minds go when we’re trying to survive. It’s SO vivid and SO original.
And Alice!!! I saw so much of myself in her. Her struggle between logic and belief, between grief and hope, felt so familiar. I loved the way she rationalizes everything to keep from falling apart, the way she loves, the way she feels too much (but can’t show it). She’s such a great protagonist, not because she’s flawless but because she isn’t. She knows she’s imperfect, and she still tries her best. To me, trying with everything you have matters more than believing yourself superior.
(P.S. This book doesn’t have those dumb characters who make choices that make you want to pull your hair out. You’re reading about people who actually think things through!😭✋🏻)
The friendships in this book are something truly special. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers, but I cannot wait to talk about them freely. And the mental health representation? Absolutely stunning. It’s never forced or performative; it’s just there. Honest and human.
Calliope’s prose is PURE magic. Every sentence literally glows. Her writing has this quiet confidence. She’s one of those rare authors who can make heartbreak sound beautiful without ever losing its reality.
PAWN easily became my favorite read of the year. I still can’t believe I got to read it early. Calliope is insanely talented, and her name deserves to be on every bookshelf. I can already tell she’s going places.
If you’re looking for a story that will break your heart a little, stitch it back together, and make you believe in the power of imagination again— this is the one!!!!
October 15, 2025
I had the pleasure of beta reading this book, so while the final version definitely differed from the one I read, I know for sure that the core of it—the best part of this story—has stayed the same.
A refreshing fantastical story, this book definitely ranks in my mental list as one of the most unforgettable books I’ve read. Every chapter brought something new, and the characters were delightfully engaging. As a Cantonese-American, the representation resonates deeply in my heart, and the portrayal of it is so raw in such a good way. The book so vividly touches on grief and healing that when the story unfortunately ends, it lingers with you.
I can’t wait to get a copy for myself to see just how much it has improved!
A refreshing fantastical story, this book definitely ranks in my mental list as one of the most unforgettable books I’ve read. Every chapter brought something new, and the characters were delightfully engaging. As a Cantonese-American, the representation resonates deeply in my heart, and the portrayal of it is so raw in such a good way. The book so vividly touches on grief and healing that when the story unfortunately ends, it lingers with you.
I can’t wait to get a copy for myself to see just how much it has improved!
February 1, 2026
"I couldn’t stop caring. I understand what it’s like to torture yourself with what-ifs. Don’t do that, Alice. Promise me you’ll forgive yourself. Not for my sake, but for yours.”
This may be "a fairy tale," but don't let that fool you into thinking this is a kids' story! Pawn draws you with delicious whimsy into a vivid exploration of grief, expectations, identity, dreams, depression, the capricious tendency of life disregard all your plans, and what happens when everything goes wrong.
The worldbuilding puts a truly unique spin on Alice's Wonderland, and Meer is the perfect setting for the incredible characterization of the entire cast—Evie, Alice, and their mutual friends who are still reeling from Evie's untimely death. I felt like I was traveling across the strange and spectacular world of Meer with these very real people, going from a knitting sheep's general goods store to the face of the moon to the dizzying red palace, and every hand-crafted point in between, encountering all sorts of fantastical beings with greatly varying attitudes.
But central to the narrative, the dynamic between Alice and Evie kept me anchored. Rife with complications like subtle competition, personality conflicts, misunderstandings, unexpressed love, and so forth, their deeply realistic and multifaceted relationship kept me reading until the very end (the ending will rip your heart out while providing a surprisingly satisfying closure, by the way. I actually left my Greek tragedy lecture—quite fitting lol—to cry in the department bathroom). Along with their interconnected friendships, all the relationships are situated within the cultural context of families who arrived from abroad to chase the 'American Dream', adding yet another genuine layer to the already poignant narrative.
So if you're looking for a book that will stay with you for a long time, transport you to an intricate new fantasy world, and make you sob, check out Pawn.
This may be "a fairy tale," but don't let that fool you into thinking this is a kids' story! Pawn draws you with delicious whimsy into a vivid exploration of grief, expectations, identity, dreams, depression, the capricious tendency of life disregard all your plans, and what happens when everything goes wrong.
The worldbuilding puts a truly unique spin on Alice's Wonderland, and Meer is the perfect setting for the incredible characterization of the entire cast—Evie, Alice, and their mutual friends who are still reeling from Evie's untimely death. I felt like I was traveling across the strange and spectacular world of Meer with these very real people, going from a knitting sheep's general goods store to the face of the moon to the dizzying red palace, and every hand-crafted point in between, encountering all sorts of fantastical beings with greatly varying attitudes.
But central to the narrative, the dynamic between Alice and Evie kept me anchored. Rife with complications like subtle competition, personality conflicts, misunderstandings, unexpressed love, and so forth, their deeply realistic and multifaceted relationship kept me reading until the very end (the ending will rip your heart out while providing a surprisingly satisfying closure, by the way. I actually left my Greek tragedy lecture—quite fitting lol—to cry in the department bathroom). Along with their interconnected friendships, all the relationships are situated within the cultural context of families who arrived from abroad to chase the 'American Dream', adding yet another genuine layer to the already poignant narrative.
So if you're looking for a book that will stay with you for a long time, transport you to an intricate new fantasy world, and make you sob, check out Pawn.
January 10, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this read!! Calliope built a beautiful and heartbreaking world called Meer, which is unlike any of the fantasy worlds I’ve read. It is a representation of imagination, grief, and mental health. The complex sibling dynamic between Evie and Alice was beautiful to follow, and I often saw myself and my siblings through them. I also loved how Calliope explored the struggles and pressures that immigrant families face. The characters felt real and honest, which definitely drew me into the story more!
PAWN left me absolutely stunned. I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t put it down! Calliope’s writing is amazing and I can’t wait to see what she does next!
PAWN left me absolutely stunned. I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t put it down! Calliope’s writing is amazing and I can’t wait to see what she does next!
January 10, 2026
oh my god that ending...UGH I didn't expect to relate so hard to alice and her family it lwk made me tear up
also I'm obsessed with this world and its inhabitants!! the pins and needles inn scene lwk freaked me out, I love how complex all of evie's friends are (god mikayla my heart aches for you), and alice and evie...nothing gets me more than a complex sister dynamic. calliope more explores her themes with such subtlety and nuance, I loved the discussion on escapism and mental health but I never felt hit over the head with it. Overall, I adored this book, and I'm so excited to see what calliope writes next!!
also I'm obsessed with this world and its inhabitants!! the pins and needles inn scene lwk freaked me out, I love how complex all of evie's friends are (god mikayla my heart aches for you), and alice and evie...nothing gets me more than a complex sister dynamic. calliope more explores her themes with such subtlety and nuance, I loved the discussion on escapism and mental health but I never felt hit over the head with it. Overall, I adored this book, and I'm so excited to see what calliope writes next!!
March 2, 2026
SUCH an incredible debut! Calliope’s gift for world-building is one to be admired: I ADORED the lengths she went to, to build this incredible story, and all of its characters and descriptions are just so real and beautiful. I’m a sucker for complex family relationships and Alice & Evie’s were no disappointment… they broke and healed my heart so many times over the course of this book.
just… wow.
just… wow.
October 15, 2025
So excited to read Pawn: A Fairy Tale!! Calliope More’s work is truly amazing and I can’t wait to get my hands on her first novel!!!
October 16, 2025
it is such a lovely privilege to have a peek inside Calliope’s head…I was one of Pawn’s lucky beta readers and I absolutely adored it! Can’t wait to see it published 🫶
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews