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Night of the Dark Fae #1
Pawn: An Epic Fantasy Trilogy
Maeve of Carn is a warrior of warriors, but she’s no hero.Born with superhuman strength she sells her abilities to mercenaries and warlords in exchange for wealth. Until the night of the full moon. . . In the midst of a raid, led by the warlord she just might be falling in love with, Maeve is taken by the King of the Fae. After leaving her to rot in the dungeon of the damned he offers her a deal. Freedom.If she finds a divine relic rumored to have the power to break all curses. Left with no other choice, Maeve sets off on a perilous quest, guided by the Scholar. As she braves one death defying situation after the other, she comes face to face with her own humanity and discovers what it means to let go of self-serving quests and become noble.
302 pages, Paperback
Published January 31, 2020
147 people are currently reading
1228 people want to read
About the author
Angela J. Ford
53 books1,058 followersAngela J. Ford is a bestselling fantasy romance author who writes high-stakes epic fantasy and swoon-worthy fantasy romance novels filled with atmospheric worlds, diverse characters, and satisfying happily ever afters. Her stories feature fast-paced plots, rich descriptions, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and enchanting magic, often with a musical twist. With over 30 published books, Angela's imaginative storytelling has captured the hearts of fantasy romance readers worldwide. As an avid reader herself, Angela can often be found with her nose in a book.
Visit her website (angelajford.com) for signed hardcovers, exclusive book boxes and luxe bookish candles.
Visit her website (angelajford.com) for signed hardcovers, exclusive book boxes and luxe bookish candles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 3, 2020
I know the whole fae genre can feel a bit overdone these days . . . but Angela's take on the fae is so fun, so unique, so chilling!!! I loved this book and cannot wait for book 2.
September 15, 2020
Maeve of Carn
This is my first book by Angela Ford and it was nothing short of freaking amazing. This is such a phenomal story. Maeve of Carn is a tortured warrior, knowing almost nothing of her past, she reminds me a bit of a Amazon, teamed up with other warriors just living for the battle and coin. Maeves life takes a horrible turn when she is captured by the Fae and thrown in their dungeon. She strikes a deal, more like she has no choice, and she's off on this hellafied quest with goblins, celestials, a grumpy ass seer (maybe), who knows far more than she's letting on, orcs, mages, dragons, dark fae, to help break a curse from a prophecy that could unleash pretty much hell on earth. This story is so so so good. I wish I could give this a billion stars. I love Maeve, she's just so broken, her powers have been collared and she has a long road ahead as she continues on this mission for the Fae with two brothers, who have their own power and secrets as she tries to find out who she is and what happened to her people. I'm obviously off to read the next book and thankfully the third will be out very soon. This review barely scratches the surface and I wish I could put into better words just how much I loved this and how brilliant this is. I'm excited to have found this author and will be buying everything she's written. SO FREAKING GOOD!!!
This is my first book by Angela Ford and it was nothing short of freaking amazing. This is such a phenomal story. Maeve of Carn is a tortured warrior, knowing almost nothing of her past, she reminds me a bit of a Amazon, teamed up with other warriors just living for the battle and coin. Maeves life takes a horrible turn when she is captured by the Fae and thrown in their dungeon. She strikes a deal, more like she has no choice, and she's off on this hellafied quest with goblins, celestials, a grumpy ass seer (maybe), who knows far more than she's letting on, orcs, mages, dragons, dark fae, to help break a curse from a prophecy that could unleash pretty much hell on earth. This story is so so so good. I wish I could give this a billion stars. I love Maeve, she's just so broken, her powers have been collared and she has a long road ahead as she continues on this mission for the Fae with two brothers, who have their own power and secrets as she tries to find out who she is and what happened to her people. I'm obviously off to read the next book and thankfully the third will be out very soon. This review barely scratches the surface and I wish I could put into better words just how much I loved this and how brilliant this is. I'm excited to have found this author and will be buying everything she's written. SO FREAKING GOOD!!!
February 7, 2023
Overall 3.5
Looking forward to continuing on with this series. It was a good start to the series.
Looking forward to continuing on with this series. It was a good start to the series.
May 27, 2020
Maeve of Carn is a mercenary. Born with superhuman abilities, she's used her strength to gain wealth from noble men and warlords. Until one full moon, she's taken by a Dark Fae and imprisoned. Then they offer her freedom; but first she will have to reunite the 7 shards of a relic that is said to break the curse of the Dark Fae. Without much of a choice, Maeve sets off on an epic quest with a scholar as her guide.
This was a really fascinating world. I liked the overall story, but I was confused by a lot of what happened to Maeve. There's so much information she's seemed to have lost about who she is or was and I didn't get enough to truly understand her.
The quest aspect of this was fun and I enjoyed getting to know the other characters. I wasn't completely sure of the relationship between Maeve and Cassian. At times it seemed romantic and other it didn't.
Overall, I'm interested in the lore of the world enough to continue, but I hope there's more answers about Maeve and Carn in the next one because I'm still confused about that aspect.
This was a really fascinating world. I liked the overall story, but I was confused by a lot of what happened to Maeve. There's so much information she's seemed to have lost about who she is or was and I didn't get enough to truly understand her.
The quest aspect of this was fun and I enjoyed getting to know the other characters. I wasn't completely sure of the relationship between Maeve and Cassian. At times it seemed romantic and other it didn't.
Overall, I'm interested in the lore of the world enough to continue, but I hope there's more answers about Maeve and Carn in the next one because I'm still confused about that aspect.
January 21, 2021
I have no feelings for this book, at all.
The characters are flat, and I don’t actually like any of them except the master, and we haven’t seen much of him, just enough to know he’s a super evil bad guy *love sick sigh*
I love the idea for this story, warrior queen, dangerous quest for magical artifices, supreme bad guys, dragons! It sound epic, however the reality was not.
Did not finish at 44%.
The characters are flat, and I don’t actually like any of them except the master, and we haven’t seen much of him, just enough to know he’s a super evil bad guy *love sick sigh*
I love the idea for this story, warrior queen, dangerous quest for magical artifices, supreme bad guys, dragons! It sound epic, however the reality was not.
Did not finish at 44%.
July 10, 2020
I was completely drawn by this STUNNING cover, I knew I had to read it right away. I am glad that my cover instincts were matched by a glorious action-packed story!
Pawn follows the story of Maeve, an unmatched warrior with amazing skills. After-all, she is the last descendant of Carn, a powerful species that has been wiped out. After being captured by the Dark Fae due to her twisted dark soul, Maeve struggles with guilt, ashamed of her past of selling her strength as a mercenary for all types of wrong and deadly deeds. She is then forced into the dark fae's command, which she must obey in order to regain her full strength and freedom.
"Your power is mine, and until I see fit, you will wear the collar. If you think you can blindside me, betray me, and escape, think again."
This is definitely a DARK fantasy, which is EXACTLY what I have been looking for. It portrays very well suffering and anguish throughout Maeve's redemption arc. The world building is excellent, with all types of wicked and magical creatures that we crave for (dragons, faes, goblins, orcs...). It also has some romance and chemistry, however slow-burn, which I hope is picked up in book two (you all know how I am a sucker for chemistry). I only hope to see Maeve's strength returned to see the world tremble at her feet. I can't wait to pick up book 2 and be immersed in battle galore!
I recommend this book if you enjoy a darker, bitter and intense fantasy. As well as action packed battle scenes, all types of evil magical creatures and a strong female warrior.
Pawn follows the story of Maeve, an unmatched warrior with amazing skills. After-all, she is the last descendant of Carn, a powerful species that has been wiped out. After being captured by the Dark Fae due to her twisted dark soul, Maeve struggles with guilt, ashamed of her past of selling her strength as a mercenary for all types of wrong and deadly deeds. She is then forced into the dark fae's command, which she must obey in order to regain her full strength and freedom.
"Your power is mine, and until I see fit, you will wear the collar. If you think you can blindside me, betray me, and escape, think again."
This is definitely a DARK fantasy, which is EXACTLY what I have been looking for. It portrays very well suffering and anguish throughout Maeve's redemption arc. The world building is excellent, with all types of wicked and magical creatures that we crave for (dragons, faes, goblins, orcs...). It also has some romance and chemistry, however slow-burn, which I hope is picked up in book two (you all know how I am a sucker for chemistry). I only hope to see Maeve's strength returned to see the world tremble at her feet. I can't wait to pick up book 2 and be immersed in battle galore!
I recommend this book if you enjoy a darker, bitter and intense fantasy. As well as action packed battle scenes, all types of evil magical creatures and a strong female warrior.
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March 13, 2020
All the ratings for this book are high but this just didn't do it for me.
The plot is full of action and the world building interesting but none of the characters had any personality. All the conversations in the book were Maeve asking a questions and no one really giving an answer.
The plot is full of action and the world building interesting but none of the characters had any personality. All the conversations in the book were Maeve asking a questions and no one really giving an answer.
February 1, 2020
In this the first book in a brand new series from Angela J Ford we get to meet Maeve, a mercenary warrior, who is quite ruthless and does anything for money. She works for a war-lord called Caspian and is the last of the people of Carn, her destroyed homeland. When we meet Maeve she is imprisoned in the dungeon of the damned, by the dark fae who managed to capture her after a raid gone wrong. Now she is collared so her strength and powers are diminished drastically, and she is a slave to the fae. Mithrun the evil King, and his partner the dragon Queen, live in darkness below the earth as the fae have been cursed and can only walk on earth on the night of the full moon, so they are seeking a way to break their curse. They are following a prophecy which talks of the seven shards of Erinyes which once collected and assembled together had the power to break curses and they are using Maeve as their pawn above ground. This is a story of adventure where our poor courageous heroine is sent out with a scholar to aid her on her quest; however, Sandrine keeps Maeve completely in the dark and only lets her know bits and pieces as they travel along. They encounter many dangers as they cross the sea of sorrow, and later the sea of eels, and in the mountains of Draconbane, as they battle for their lives against banshees, goblins, orcs and much more. Maeve knew that she had been captured by the fae because of her past evil deeds against innocent people, and she vowed to turn over a new leaf and try to become heroic and noble hoping the Divine will help her escape the collar which enslaved her and escape from the clutches of the evil dark fae. This is a story of love and loss, uncertainty and fear and a striving to become a better person. I love our heroine and I am looking forward to continuing on her search for more pieces of the lost shard, hoping she manages to escape the horrors which were waiting for her if she is taken prisoner once again!
October 27, 2020
I have finished this one, and it isn’t bad at all, (and is available as audiobook!) – it just is as far away from being my cup of tea as a book can be. I don’t like romance in my fantasy, and I don’t like a focus on emotions of any sort.
So parts like this – exactly what other readers might enjoy – just have me sigh and drop my shoulders and hope to get on with it…
So while the plot was interesting enough and I enjoyed the world building, the characters stayed a bit plain with emotions painted on, instead of them just feeling like a natural part of the story. Big changes to their whole being take place in a matter of paragraphs, which adds to them not feeling like “real people” to me. Being really unsure about their own emotional state also didn’t help to win me over – me being a very pragmatic kind of person:
For those who are looking for an epic fantasy with a big world mixed with some romance and a rather easy read, this might be absolutely perfect though!
So parts like this – exactly what other readers might enjoy – just have me sigh and drop my shoulders and hope to get on with it…
He Smelled like the sea, wild and free, eager to go wherever it wished, do whatever it wanted. Like freedom. If she kissed him, would he taste like salt and sunshine? What hold did he have on her? What madness? For she was giving in at just his touch, at the unexpected gentleness of his words. A desperate desire thrummed through her body to have more of his warmth, to envelop herself in him and forget about the quest, the fae, and the potential of dragons.
“Yes,” she whispered.
His fingers undid the laces of her sheath, baring her upper chest down to where her breastplate covered her breasts and stomach. A lump settled in her throat as his fingers brushed against the swirls that decorated her collarbone.
“They are beautiful,” he breathed a light in his eyes, lost in awe.
So while the plot was interesting enough and I enjoyed the world building, the characters stayed a bit plain with emotions painted on, instead of them just feeling like a natural part of the story. Big changes to their whole being take place in a matter of paragraphs, which adds to them not feeling like “real people” to me. Being really unsure about their own emotional state also didn’t help to win me over – me being a very pragmatic kind of person:
The past year she’d warred with her feelings, and although she was still unsure whether it was brotherly love or romantic love, it didn’t matter. She needed to help him.
For those who are looking for an epic fantasy with a big world mixed with some romance and a rather easy read, this might be absolutely perfect though!
January 13, 2021
Thank you the author and Feather and Dove Book Tours for providing me with a free digital copy of this book for exchange for an honest review.
Pawn by Angela J. Ford follows Maeve of Carn, a warrior with superhuman strength. As a warrior she worked for many clients selling her abilities for fame and wealth. However, everything went wrong during a raid and was captured by the Dark Fae. After spending time in a dungeon, Maeve is recruited by the Master to complete a nearly impossible quest over the next 7 months. Pawn follows her quest and the decisions she must make along the way.
This book was very entertaining read and seems like a very interesting world. I really enjoyed following the beginning of Maeve's journey and learning about both the human and fae world. There are so many different creatures and strong world building skills from Ford. I really liked the idea of the quest she is on - to find the seven shards of an ancient relic that will break the curses on many of the creatures - including the fae. I enjoyed how some of the chapters were in different POV, it helped add some depth into the story and add a little bit more mystery. I also really enjoyed Ford's storytelling. I found her to be a very good at building the world and the ways in which she unfolded the plot.
However, as there were many things told within this book, a lot of questions and confusions arise. Maeve acts slightly as a narrator of the world as she asks questions that you as a reader will also have but a lot of those questions don't always get answers and often lead to more questions. Maeve and her homeland of Carn are not super developed. I felt like I didn't know much about Maeve besides the fact that she has super strength and is the sole survivor of her land. We were able to learn a little bit of her background through very brief flashbacks, but not enough for me to feel like I know her as a character. Most of the other characters we see, including her quest partner - Sandrine the Scholar, there is a lack of information about them and they feel slightly questionable. I feel like this could be rectified through the next two novels.
Overall, this was a really good start to a new series. The questioning and lack of answers make me want to read the next novels. The novel is full of cliffhangers and a very interesting world to explore
Pawn by Angela J. Ford follows Maeve of Carn, a warrior with superhuman strength. As a warrior she worked for many clients selling her abilities for fame and wealth. However, everything went wrong during a raid and was captured by the Dark Fae. After spending time in a dungeon, Maeve is recruited by the Master to complete a nearly impossible quest over the next 7 months. Pawn follows her quest and the decisions she must make along the way.
This book was very entertaining read and seems like a very interesting world. I really enjoyed following the beginning of Maeve's journey and learning about both the human and fae world. There are so many different creatures and strong world building skills from Ford. I really liked the idea of the quest she is on - to find the seven shards of an ancient relic that will break the curses on many of the creatures - including the fae. I enjoyed how some of the chapters were in different POV, it helped add some depth into the story and add a little bit more mystery. I also really enjoyed Ford's storytelling. I found her to be a very good at building the world and the ways in which she unfolded the plot.
However, as there were many things told within this book, a lot of questions and confusions arise. Maeve acts slightly as a narrator of the world as she asks questions that you as a reader will also have but a lot of those questions don't always get answers and often lead to more questions. Maeve and her homeland of Carn are not super developed. I felt like I didn't know much about Maeve besides the fact that she has super strength and is the sole survivor of her land. We were able to learn a little bit of her background through very brief flashbacks, but not enough for me to feel like I know her as a character. Most of the other characters we see, including her quest partner - Sandrine the Scholar, there is a lack of information about them and they feel slightly questionable. I feel like this could be rectified through the next two novels.
Overall, this was a really good start to a new series. The questioning and lack of answers make me want to read the next novels. The novel is full of cliffhangers and a very interesting world to explore
March 28, 2021
'Pawn' follows Maeve of Carn, a warrior born with superhuman strength, who is captured by the Dark Fae and forced on a quest to find the missing shards of a devine relic - rumoured to have the ability to break all curses.
Led by a mysterious scholar and with strange events afoot, Maeve must uncover secrets about her past and discover a way to defeat the Dark Fae's plan.. before it is too late.
-
I found myself really enjoying the story, and honestly flew through it during my reading sprints with my friend! The Dark Fae were truly a frightening species to read about, but I was really curious to discover their motives! 👀
There were so many moments where I was shocked by the turn of events, and I felt so conflicted about Maeve in the beginning! She's not your typical do-good heroine and will do anything to win her freedom back no matter the means or the way. It was really interesting to see her character evolve through out her quest and her interactions with the other characters — and I'm looking forward to finding out more about her past in the rest of the series~
If you enjoy high fantasy with epic fight scenes then 'Pawn' is definitely the book for you!
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
— I was provided with an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Led by a mysterious scholar and with strange events afoot, Maeve must uncover secrets about her past and discover a way to defeat the Dark Fae's plan.. before it is too late.
-
I found myself really enjoying the story, and honestly flew through it during my reading sprints with my friend! The Dark Fae were truly a frightening species to read about, but I was really curious to discover their motives! 👀
There were so many moments where I was shocked by the turn of events, and I felt so conflicted about Maeve in the beginning! She's not your typical do-good heroine and will do anything to win her freedom back no matter the means or the way. It was really interesting to see her character evolve through out her quest and her interactions with the other characters — and I'm looking forward to finding out more about her past in the rest of the series~
If you enjoy high fantasy with epic fight scenes then 'Pawn' is definitely the book for you!
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
— I was provided with an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2023
DNF @ 69%
This started out really strong but began to peter out afterwards.
The author has an abundance of creativity and evokes such rich storytelling, really depicting the characters thoughts and emotions. The worldbuilding is sensational!
I was really confused about Maeve and Caspian's relationship, and what aggravated me the most was Maeve's constant internal war with her feelings, the constant questions. Her personality seemed to be filled with bloodlust, even though she 'tries' to be a better person. Caspian felt very one dimensional, so much so that I was not surprised that
To me Maeve tries to be a pale version of Aelin, but with more bloodlust and no other substance. The pacing started strong aswell but then moved to quick, problems and conflicts were solved too easily.
That being said though, I can see the parts where readers fell in love with the story, and for anyone interested in epic fantasy that incorporates a different spin of the Fae, will really enjoy this read. I loved Ford's creativity and her writing language so will definitely try other novels she has written.
This started out really strong but began to peter out afterwards.
The author has an abundance of creativity and evokes such rich storytelling, really depicting the characters thoughts and emotions. The worldbuilding is sensational!
I was really confused about Maeve and Caspian's relationship, and what aggravated me the most was Maeve's constant internal war with her feelings, the constant questions. Her personality seemed to be filled with bloodlust, even though she 'tries' to be a better person. Caspian felt very one dimensional, so much so that I was not surprised that
To me Maeve tries to be a pale version of Aelin, but with more bloodlust and no other substance. The pacing started strong aswell but then moved to quick, problems and conflicts were solved too easily.
That being said though, I can see the parts where readers fell in love with the story, and for anyone interested in epic fantasy that incorporates a different spin of the Fae, will really enjoy this read. I loved Ford's creativity and her writing language so will definitely try other novels she has written.
January 8, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5
Overall a quick, fun, magical read.
PAWN is a an epic fantasy adventure full of mystery, magic, romance and action. Maeve is set out to achieve a seemingly impossible task. But with the forced help of the Scholar and a few others, she may just do it. There are characters full of secrecy, sheltered hearts, and mischief. Maeve is also forced to deal with some major self-discovery along the way. (Which can be frustrating at times.) There is plenty of action in this book and is very quick paced. Although some of the answers I had about Maeve were not answered, it leaves me ready to see where the adventure goes in book 2. I’d recommend this book to those who want a quick, adventurous read filled with magic.
Overall a quick, fun, magical read.
PAWN is a an epic fantasy adventure full of mystery, magic, romance and action. Maeve is set out to achieve a seemingly impossible task. But with the forced help of the Scholar and a few others, she may just do it. There are characters full of secrecy, sheltered hearts, and mischief. Maeve is also forced to deal with some major self-discovery along the way. (Which can be frustrating at times.) There is plenty of action in this book and is very quick paced. Although some of the answers I had about Maeve were not answered, it leaves me ready to see where the adventure goes in book 2. I’d recommend this book to those who want a quick, adventurous read filled with magic.
December 28, 2020
Maeve is a troubled and complex warrior who has behaved selfishly and thoughtlessly. Then that very darkness gets her imprisoned by the dark fae and she begins to question everything. Sent on a quest she meets interesting friends and foe, but which are which? There is magic, intrigue and all manner of mythical creature. This story got better and better the more I read. I have just ordered book 2 and 3, can’t wait to read them!
June 29, 2020
I always debate my right to review a book when I didn't actually read the whole thing but I read 50% of this which I feel gives me enough insight into the characters and plot to have an opinion. An opinion which is not positive, hence the DNF.
The premise of this book was exciting: warrior queen of a queendom that no longer exists, Maeve of Carn is now a mercenary with very little in the way of upstanding moral integrity. She sells her skills to whoever is willing to pay for them and doesn't really think about the whys of what she's being asked to do. That all changes when she is kidnapped by the Fae and forced to undergo a perilous quest in order to regain her freedom.
On the surface, this has a lot of elements I really love. Warrior queen? Hell yes. Perilous quest in dangerous fantasy lands? Sign me up.
In actuality, this book was not great. There was a lot of telling but not showing, especially regarding the character arc of Maeve. As mentioned, she starts off as a pretty morally compromised character but almost immediately after basically a single conversation she is transformed and is suddenly horrified by everything she has done. The characterisation of her evilness is very heavy-handed and then her transformation is equally as abrupt.
"Maeve considered unsheathing her sword and striking the frail woman dead on the spot, then running as fast and as far as she could before the Master and the jailers caught up with her. With a sigh, she dismissed the thought. She was determined to turn over a new leaf. No more killing..." (p.21)
I found a lot of the characters over-dramatic. The love interest pops up out of nowhere and is then along for the ride and seems a bit self-rightoeus. He used to be like Maeve - aka a bad person - until essentially he found God which...meh. There's some degree of Maeve finding the Divine too and as a justification for becoming a good person that always seems a little shallow to me.
"Caspian's fist slammed into the table, making the mugs jump and resettle on the wooden surface. The noise was lost in the din of the tavern. "Maeve, this quest, this task - it goes against the Divine, the laws of nature, everything. You must escape."" (p.95)
Calm down mate, if she could have escaped she probably already would have done so by now.
Sandrine is also annoying as hell. The mysterious guide (The Scholar) who is helping to lead Maeve on her quest, she is patronising and not really all that helpful. She's also just unnecessarily rude.
"Sandrine glowered. "Less talk, girl. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I will tell you what you need to know when you need to know it, and not a moment before. Useless chattering will change nothing. You forget, I am much older, and I have been in the service of the fae for a ling time. I know what power knowledge has, and I do not intend to share what I know with the likes of you."" (p.122)
Wow Sandrine, please, tell Maeve how you really feel.
The actual object of the quest that Maeve is on is...underwhelming.
"the reconstructed artefact will have the power to break all curses simultaneously." (p.49)
In the context of the story it makes more sense, in that the Fae have been cursed to be trapped within their realm and if they get the object they will be free which would have terrible consequences but...the description is really just not that exciting.
I also didn't get on well with the writing style and there were too many commas, although as I read on I adjusted to this and barely noticed it towards the end of my reading experience.
This book has lots of good reviews and I'm glad other people had such a good reading experience, but I really did not get along with this book for more than one reason. Maybe it gets better towards the end but 50% is enough for me to know this book is not for me.
The premise of this book was exciting: warrior queen of a queendom that no longer exists, Maeve of Carn is now a mercenary with very little in the way of upstanding moral integrity. She sells her skills to whoever is willing to pay for them and doesn't really think about the whys of what she's being asked to do. That all changes when she is kidnapped by the Fae and forced to undergo a perilous quest in order to regain her freedom.
On the surface, this has a lot of elements I really love. Warrior queen? Hell yes. Perilous quest in dangerous fantasy lands? Sign me up.
In actuality, this book was not great. There was a lot of telling but not showing, especially regarding the character arc of Maeve. As mentioned, she starts off as a pretty morally compromised character but almost immediately after basically a single conversation she is transformed and is suddenly horrified by everything she has done. The characterisation of her evilness is very heavy-handed and then her transformation is equally as abrupt.
"Maeve considered unsheathing her sword and striking the frail woman dead on the spot, then running as fast and as far as she could before the Master and the jailers caught up with her. With a sigh, she dismissed the thought. She was determined to turn over a new leaf. No more killing..." (p.21)
I found a lot of the characters over-dramatic. The love interest pops up out of nowhere and is then along for the ride and seems a bit self-rightoeus. He used to be like Maeve - aka a bad person - until essentially he found God which...meh. There's some degree of Maeve finding the Divine too and as a justification for becoming a good person that always seems a little shallow to me.
"Caspian's fist slammed into the table, making the mugs jump and resettle on the wooden surface. The noise was lost in the din of the tavern. "Maeve, this quest, this task - it goes against the Divine, the laws of nature, everything. You must escape."" (p.95)
Calm down mate, if she could have escaped she probably already would have done so by now.
Sandrine is also annoying as hell. The mysterious guide (The Scholar) who is helping to lead Maeve on her quest, she is patronising and not really all that helpful. She's also just unnecessarily rude.
"Sandrine glowered. "Less talk, girl. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I will tell you what you need to know when you need to know it, and not a moment before. Useless chattering will change nothing. You forget, I am much older, and I have been in the service of the fae for a ling time. I know what power knowledge has, and I do not intend to share what I know with the likes of you."" (p.122)
Wow Sandrine, please, tell Maeve how you really feel.
The actual object of the quest that Maeve is on is...underwhelming.
"the reconstructed artefact will have the power to break all curses simultaneously." (p.49)
In the context of the story it makes more sense, in that the Fae have been cursed to be trapped within their realm and if they get the object they will be free which would have terrible consequences but...the description is really just not that exciting.
I also didn't get on well with the writing style and there were too many commas, although as I read on I adjusted to this and barely noticed it towards the end of my reading experience.
This book has lots of good reviews and I'm glad other people had such a good reading experience, but I really did not get along with this book for more than one reason. Maybe it gets better towards the end but 50% is enough for me to know this book is not for me.
March 16, 2021
4.5 Actual Rating
I love Maeve of Carn! She is a fierce warrior who is the epitome of a strong female.
This story moved very quickly with plenty of twists & turns. The world building is great. The characters are vast in variety and each has their own unique personality. Some you will love others you will hate.
What I love most about this book is that I had no clue what was going to happen, it will definitely keep you guessing.
I love Maeve of Carn! She is a fierce warrior who is the epitome of a strong female.
This story moved very quickly with plenty of twists & turns. The world building is great. The characters are vast in variety and each has their own unique personality. Some you will love others you will hate.
What I love most about this book is that I had no clue what was going to happen, it will definitely keep you guessing.
April 19, 2021
Made it to chapter 16, quite slow, and has too much of a religious overtone for my liking. What I read was written grammatically correct. But story could not keep my interest especially when referring to the Divine as all light and righteous. Hence the religious overtones.
October 18, 2020
Ms. Ford has a great talent for vivid descriptions; she paints beautiful pictures with words. She is a master world-builder and deeply develops her characters so the reader is immediately drawn into the story and feels involved in it.
Maeve, daughter of the King of Carn, was very young when forced to flee with her mother when the city was completely destroyed and all of the people were killed. Endowed with super powers and well-trained with a sword, she became a ruthless mercenary, working for a warlord at causes both noble and not so much. She was captured by the dark fae and imprisoned underground, because the dark fae are cursed; they cannot survive in sunlight and can only roam the surface on the night of the full moon. They need a pawn to affect the Prophecy of Erinyes, to collect the seven broken and scattered shards of a crown, which, when reassembled, will break all curses and set them free to take over the world. Maeve is offered a chance to free herself by accompanying Sandrine, a scholar, and her fire mage grandsons to find the shards. She is forced to wear a collar which limits her powers and keeps her in check. This adventure has them travelling through dangerous lands and seas, battling outlaws and monsters, and sometimes each other, because everyone has secrets and their own agenda, and wants to use Maeve in their own way. Maeve does not have many memories of her birth city and is tormented by disjointed visions of that life, and wrestling with whether she really wants to turn her life away from her checkered history. This story contains a lot of action, twists and turns, hints of love interests, soul searching, double dealing and even some humorous moments. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I am eager to read the next book in the series.
Maeve, daughter of the King of Carn, was very young when forced to flee with her mother when the city was completely destroyed and all of the people were killed. Endowed with super powers and well-trained with a sword, she became a ruthless mercenary, working for a warlord at causes both noble and not so much. She was captured by the dark fae and imprisoned underground, because the dark fae are cursed; they cannot survive in sunlight and can only roam the surface on the night of the full moon. They need a pawn to affect the Prophecy of Erinyes, to collect the seven broken and scattered shards of a crown, which, when reassembled, will break all curses and set them free to take over the world. Maeve is offered a chance to free herself by accompanying Sandrine, a scholar, and her fire mage grandsons to find the shards. She is forced to wear a collar which limits her powers and keeps her in check. This adventure has them travelling through dangerous lands and seas, battling outlaws and monsters, and sometimes each other, because everyone has secrets and their own agenda, and wants to use Maeve in their own way. Maeve does not have many memories of her birth city and is tormented by disjointed visions of that life, and wrestling with whether she really wants to turn her life away from her checkered history. This story contains a lot of action, twists and turns, hints of love interests, soul searching, double dealing and even some humorous moments. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I am eager to read the next book in the series.
November 19, 2022
3.8 out of 4 stars
Maeve is coerced by the dark fae to complete a quest of epic proportions. She must recover seven shards in seven months. These shards will make up a crown that will break all curses including the one that only allows the fae to go above once a month during a full moon and the curse that keeps Maeve indebted to the fae. In return, Maeve gets her freedom. But things are never that simple. Maeve has a dark history that is trying to surface, as she wrestles with her faith in the Divine.
What I liked
It's a solid fantasy story with all the things you would expect, a hero's journey, magic, a curse, a prophecy, and some dark secrets that have yet to be revealed. It had a few unexpected additions that I won't give away. When the Goblin Queen came on the scene it really piqued my interest. She is a dragon that takes human form, which I found interesting and I would have liked to hear more about her history and her abilities. She seemed like a very interesting character. The additions were sufficiently diverting enough for me to want to read the next book.
What I didn't like
The second half was much stronger than the first half. I had to read a hundred pages in to finally get to something unexpected. The characters felt one-dimensional in the beginning and finally fleshed out in the second half of the book. Worldbuilding is not intricate, which for me was a negative, but some readers might be ok with that. The settings are what you would expect in a typical fantasy, a sea with terrors, a pub, a wizard's tower. The most interesting setting was Draconbane which was home to dragons.
Overall
I am interested in seeing where this goes next. I think if the first half of the book is finessed a bit more that would make it a great book. That being said, it is definitely worth picking up.
Maeve is coerced by the dark fae to complete a quest of epic proportions. She must recover seven shards in seven months. These shards will make up a crown that will break all curses including the one that only allows the fae to go above once a month during a full moon and the curse that keeps Maeve indebted to the fae. In return, Maeve gets her freedom. But things are never that simple. Maeve has a dark history that is trying to surface, as she wrestles with her faith in the Divine.
What I liked
It's a solid fantasy story with all the things you would expect, a hero's journey, magic, a curse, a prophecy, and some dark secrets that have yet to be revealed. It had a few unexpected additions that I won't give away. When the Goblin Queen came on the scene it really piqued my interest. She is a dragon that takes human form, which I found interesting and I would have liked to hear more about her history and her abilities. She seemed like a very interesting character. The additions were sufficiently diverting enough for me to want to read the next book.
What I didn't like
The second half was much stronger than the first half. I had to read a hundred pages in to finally get to something unexpected. The characters felt one-dimensional in the beginning and finally fleshed out in the second half of the book. Worldbuilding is not intricate, which for me was a negative, but some readers might be ok with that. The settings are what you would expect in a typical fantasy, a sea with terrors, a pub, a wizard's tower. The most interesting setting was Draconbane which was home to dragons.
Overall
I am interested in seeing where this goes next. I think if the first half of the book is finessed a bit more that would make it a great book. That being said, it is definitely worth picking up.
July 26, 2020
Pawn by Angela J. Ford was such a wild ride! It has a great world-building, though definitely on the dark side, and a heroine who is thrust into a quest by the Fae thanks to their holding over her her own freedom. Much of the story is full of action but also intrigue, since Maeve's companion, Sandrine the Scholar, is not so forthcoming with the knowledge she has.
As for the narrator, she certainly did a great job differentiating the voices of all the characters (and there are many since there are a couple of chapters that are even from a different POV) and bringing this story to life. However, I think there's room for improvement, especially with some slighter nuances, such as whispers, or when displaying certain emotions.
This book definitely packs a punch and has something to appeal to many: from magic/sorcery to sword skills and battles, from intrigue and a prophecy to hints of romance, lovers of Fantasy will definitely enjoy this new series.
Content: since the world is dark and the heroine has made a living with her sword skills, the violence levels in this book are bound to be high. I know for some this won't bother them, but for me, the descriptions were at times too strong (or even visceral). Also, it must be noted that there's a couple of times where, when describing female characters, the word "breasts" is mentioned, and one of those times going into even further detail (since said character is wearing very thin clothing, leaving nothing to the imagination). ~ 4 stars
As for the narrator, she certainly did a great job differentiating the voices of all the characters (and there are many since there are a couple of chapters that are even from a different POV) and bringing this story to life. However, I think there's room for improvement, especially with some slighter nuances, such as whispers, or when displaying certain emotions.
This book definitely packs a punch and has something to appeal to many: from magic/sorcery to sword skills and battles, from intrigue and a prophecy to hints of romance, lovers of Fantasy will definitely enjoy this new series.
Content: since the world is dark and the heroine has made a living with her sword skills, the violence levels in this book are bound to be high. I know for some this won't bother them, but for me, the descriptions were at times too strong (or even visceral). Also, it must be noted that there's a couple of times where, when describing female characters, the word "breasts" is mentioned, and one of those times going into even further detail (since said character is wearing very thin clothing, leaving nothing to the imagination). ~ 4 stars
February 13, 2020
I was very fortunate to get a Review copy of Pawn from the author. What really drew me in was the book cover and isn't it spectacular. I wanted to know about this female character.
The story is about Maeve of Carn and she is the last Carnite, her home was destroyed when she was a child but she doesn't remember much but later in the book some memories comes back and that makes her question her way of life. She is a mercenary warrior for hire and didn't care about anyone else except getting money and the thrill for battle. She works for a Warlord Caspian whom she has a close relationship with and sometimes she wanted more but something always stayed in the way because Caspian had secrets of his own. One night while they were on a mission Maeve gets captures by the dark fae and is kept prisoner by them and is tortured until The Master gives her a job to collect the 7 shards of the Divine that the prophecy talks about and she may get her freedom. She teams up with a scholar Sardine who may know more than she let's on. And that is where the adventure begins some secrets are revealed and Maeve gains new allies in the brothers Inmer & Imgur plus a little surprise or are the brothers enemies in disguise. Draconbane sets things into motion for what will come in the second book and I can't wait.
The story is about Maeve of Carn and she is the last Carnite, her home was destroyed when she was a child but she doesn't remember much but later in the book some memories comes back and that makes her question her way of life. She is a mercenary warrior for hire and didn't care about anyone else except getting money and the thrill for battle. She works for a Warlord Caspian whom she has a close relationship with and sometimes she wanted more but something always stayed in the way because Caspian had secrets of his own. One night while they were on a mission Maeve gets captures by the dark fae and is kept prisoner by them and is tortured until The Master gives her a job to collect the 7 shards of the Divine that the prophecy talks about and she may get her freedom. She teams up with a scholar Sardine who may know more than she let's on. And that is where the adventure begins some secrets are revealed and Maeve gains new allies in the brothers Inmer & Imgur plus a little surprise or are the brothers enemies in disguise. Draconbane sets things into motion for what will come in the second book and I can't wait.
November 16, 2020
3.5/5 Pawn was a really interesting read. I'll start off by saying that I liked a lot of what I read here. Maeve is a refreshingly morally grey character, equal parts ruthless and loyal, dark and light. She's determined to do whatever it takes to gain her freedom from the Fae who hold her captive, and her relentlessness as she grapples with her own culpability in her actions and her willingness to do whatever it took to reach her goal made her a rewardingly complex character. I loved all of the fantasy elements of this novel--the fae, the goblins, the dragons--all of it was really interesting to read about. I also really enjoyed how Caspian brought out a gentler side of Maeve, even though what happened with them broke my heart. My only issue was that this book has the reader really playing catch up. We watch events unfold from Maeve's POV as it happens, and that results in a little bit of info dumping regarding how Maeve got to where she was. I really felt like I was missing out not having that context play out in a narrative style as it happened, and felt like there was no real development of Caspian and Maeve's relationship, which I really wanted to see. But Pawn is a delightfully action-packed fantasy about a girl forced to do the bidding of the evil creatures that hold her captive, and her determination to be no mere Pawn, but the source of their destruction.
February 15, 2020
Maeve of Carn is definitely super but she is NO hero. She’s a woman with a troubled past and in a load of trouble. Maeve is selfish, stubborn, strong-willed, determined, and her very character traits are what got her in the predicament she’s in. At the mercy of the dangerous, wicked, abusive, controlling, manipulating fae, Maeve launches off on a quest to do their dirty work in order to earn the thing she desires most: freedom.
Maeve has to undergo major self growth. She struggles with identity and self worth since she has no recollection of her past. She also has to deal with inner demons: is killing for coin wrong? Is thieving and pillaging for sport the result of a seared moral conscious?
As she wrestled with who she is and who she desires to be, Maeve is surrounded by a host of characters—all who are using her with their own motives. With much mystery, many secrets, and characters trying to manifest their own desires, Pawn is an amazing tale of a woman, who is a pawn of the fae and will go on a journey to discover who she is and is she willing to change.
I highly recommend this read and I’m excited for the rest of this series!
Maeve has to undergo major self growth. She struggles with identity and self worth since she has no recollection of her past. She also has to deal with inner demons: is killing for coin wrong? Is thieving and pillaging for sport the result of a seared moral conscious?
As she wrestled with who she is and who she desires to be, Maeve is surrounded by a host of characters—all who are using her with their own motives. With much mystery, many secrets, and characters trying to manifest their own desires, Pawn is an amazing tale of a woman, who is a pawn of the fae and will go on a journey to discover who she is and is she willing to change.
I highly recommend this read and I’m excited for the rest of this series!
May 11, 2020
The cover was the first thing that caught my attention. It’s a beauty and it illustrates so much that could happen in the book!!
Maeve of Carn is a mighty warrior. She has superhuman strength and she uses her skills for hire. She cares nothing more, just to collect coin and survive another day. Until one day she is captured by dark Fae and kept as their slave. This is when the Prophecy of Erinyes comes out! Maeve must go on a mission with a scholar named Sardine. Along the journey she finds a old friend and perhaps two foes or will they become her friends as well? This was a fun ride!! I absolutely loved the world building. So unique yet attainable to envision myself. From Fae, to dragons, and goblins this was a intense book!! I found it very hard to put the book on pause. I enjoyed every minute of it and I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Raquel Beattie did a fabulous job!! She was the perfect voice for Maeve and she truly brought the story alive for me. The descriptions, narrating other characters. Just perfect!!
Maeve of Carn is a mighty warrior. She has superhuman strength and she uses her skills for hire. She cares nothing more, just to collect coin and survive another day. Until one day she is captured by dark Fae and kept as their slave. This is when the Prophecy of Erinyes comes out! Maeve must go on a mission with a scholar named Sardine. Along the journey she finds a old friend and perhaps two foes or will they become her friends as well? This was a fun ride!! I absolutely loved the world building. So unique yet attainable to envision myself. From Fae, to dragons, and goblins this was a intense book!! I found it very hard to put the book on pause. I enjoyed every minute of it and I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Raquel Beattie did a fabulous job!! She was the perfect voice for Maeve and she truly brought the story alive for me. The descriptions, narrating other characters. Just perfect!!
May 16, 2020
Maeve is a bit like Wonder Woman
This book was amazing. I listened to the whole book in 2.5 days. I didn't want to stop listening. The characters each have distinct personalities. The plot flows along well. There is a lot of action. I'd recommend this book to those looking for a Fae fantasy book with magic and dragons. The main character, Maeve is not exactly a good person but she isn't evil either. She dresses like Wonder Woman and she is strong like Wonder Woman. She is also confident. I look forward to the next book.
Maeve has come to realize that the bad predicament that she has found herself in is of her own making. The Fae don't have any control over those who don’t harm innocents. Even with that knowledge, she is not yet ready to change. She is desperate for her freedom from the Fae. This book has twists and turns. The characters have secrets. We learn some of those secrets in this first book.
The narrator did a great job. Her voice fluctuates and is appealing to the ear. It is easy to differentiate among the characters that she is portraying.
This book was amazing. I listened to the whole book in 2.5 days. I didn't want to stop listening. The characters each have distinct personalities. The plot flows along well. There is a lot of action. I'd recommend this book to those looking for a Fae fantasy book with magic and dragons. The main character, Maeve is not exactly a good person but she isn't evil either. She dresses like Wonder Woman and she is strong like Wonder Woman. She is also confident. I look forward to the next book.
Maeve has come to realize that the bad predicament that she has found herself in is of her own making. The Fae don't have any control over those who don’t harm innocents. Even with that knowledge, she is not yet ready to change. She is desperate for her freedom from the Fae. This book has twists and turns. The characters have secrets. We learn some of those secrets in this first book.
The narrator did a great job. Her voice fluctuates and is appealing to the ear. It is easy to differentiate among the characters that she is portraying.
December 10, 2020
This book had some big positives. The MC seems to have an interesting back story. I like the pairing of Maeve and Sandrine in the book, their relationship has lots of potential. The action from the 75% mark was great and there was genuine intruige and tension when Maeve, Caspian, Sandrine and the pirate brothers were all together.
However it was a little derivative, with names like 'The Sea of Sorrows' and 'Dungeon of the Damned.' The characters were a little plain and not very developed. The fetch-quest plot has been done before so it was a bit of a labor to get through. However as I said, the action towards the end was intriguing and showed enough potential for me to want to read the rest of the series.
However it was a little derivative, with names like 'The Sea of Sorrows' and 'Dungeon of the Damned.' The characters were a little plain and not very developed. The fetch-quest plot has been done before so it was a bit of a labor to get through. However as I said, the action towards the end was intriguing and showed enough potential for me to want to read the rest of the series.
July 14, 2023
Maeve has been captured by the Master of the Fae. If she doesn't want to die in his dungeons, she has to accept a definitely dangerous and morally dubious quest: to find the seven lost shards.
I really enjoyed this epic fantasy. My favorite aspect of it was Ford's writing style. Her prose is clear and descriptive, transitioning between introspective and action sequences with ease.
The only thing that didn't work for me was Caspian's character. He just fell flat, and I didn't feel like he had any chemistry with Maeve, who was otherwise such a well-rounded and compelling heroine.
My favorite character was the Master. He's a great antagonist--sinister and commanding--and all his scenes were extremely gripping.
I really enjoyed this epic fantasy. My favorite aspect of it was Ford's writing style. Her prose is clear and descriptive, transitioning between introspective and action sequences with ease.
The only thing that didn't work for me was Caspian's character. He just fell flat, and I didn't feel like he had any chemistry with Maeve, who was otherwise such a well-rounded and compelling heroine.
My favorite character was the Master. He's a great antagonist--sinister and commanding--and all his scenes were extremely gripping.
March 2, 2020
Honestly, I had no idea what this book was going to be about. I just love Angela J. Ford, so I had to read it. I was imagining that it was going to be some sort of pro-fae warrior book lmao. I should read blurbs.
ANYWAY- It wasn't that, it was much much more than that. I was instantly swept into Maeve's personality and can't wait to see her kick some ass in the upcoming books. This story (in true Angela fashion) has many moving parts, with the readers gaining more knowledge than the characters.
I am excited to see how all that we discover in this book will affect the quest that Maeve is on, and if she will make it out alive. 100% already on my list for best book of 2020.
ANYWAY- It wasn't that, it was much much more than that. I was instantly swept into Maeve's personality and can't wait to see her kick some ass in the upcoming books. This story (in true Angela fashion) has many moving parts, with the readers gaining more knowledge than the characters.
I am excited to see how all that we discover in this book will affect the quest that Maeve is on, and if she will make it out alive. 100% already on my list for best book of 2020.
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