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Leah Ackerman #1
Dark Pawn
What if you discovered magic…
…the night your father murdered your mother?
Would you seek revenge?
Leah Ackerman had everything a fifteen-year-old could wish for. A home in the suburbs of Chicago with a loving family, friends she partied with, and a bright future ahead of her. But everything changed that gut-wrenching night.
Now, there's only one thing she wants.
The truth.
It lies in her mother’s past. One with mysterious ties to a secret society of demon hunting mystics. Can she trust them to teach her what she needs to know, or will she just become another pawn in their game?
Uncovering this truth leads Leah to the edge of the rabbit hole.
Is she ready to take the leap?
You'll love this gritty tale, because good and evil clash into shades of gray, and survival comes at a cost.
Get it now.
…the night your father murdered your mother?
Would you seek revenge?
Leah Ackerman had everything a fifteen-year-old could wish for. A home in the suburbs of Chicago with a loving family, friends she partied with, and a bright future ahead of her. But everything changed that gut-wrenching night.
Now, there's only one thing she wants.
The truth.
It lies in her mother’s past. One with mysterious ties to a secret society of demon hunting mystics. Can she trust them to teach her what she needs to know, or will she just become another pawn in their game?
Uncovering this truth leads Leah to the edge of the rabbit hole.
Is she ready to take the leap?
You'll love this gritty tale, because good and evil clash into shades of gray, and survival comes at a cost.
Get it now.
264 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2022
78 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
A.B. Cohen
12 books20 followersA.B. Cohen is an emerging author that loves to freak out his readers with his dark stories in the realms of Urban Fantasy, Thrillers and Horror. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, today he lives in Berkeley, California. Along with his passion for writing, he also loves dancing, soccer, and traveling.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 12, 2024
As I reached the end, I think to myself “Roll Credits.”
Dark Pawn feels like the beginning of a Young Superhero Franchise, and I am here for it. When the the stakes are high, it is palpable and when there is a moment of respite you are able to come down from that adrenaline rush for just enough time to prepare for the next action sequence.
Noting that the age of the protagonist is of a teenager, the authors are able to keep that in mind, there is no doubt the actions and thoughts are that of a teen. Hoping that we get to see more of that teenage attitude in the next book, despite the demon issues they may face, it is nice to see that there is still a moment for the protagonist to still be a teenager, as it was sprinkled here and there throughout the book.
Highly recommend 4/5
Dark Pawn feels like the beginning of a Young Superhero Franchise, and I am here for it. When the the stakes are high, it is palpable and when there is a moment of respite you are able to come down from that adrenaline rush for just enough time to prepare for the next action sequence.
Noting that the age of the protagonist is of a teenager, the authors are able to keep that in mind, there is no doubt the actions and thoughts are that of a teen. Hoping that we get to see more of that teenage attitude in the next book, despite the demon issues they may face, it is nice to see that there is still a moment for the protagonist to still be a teenager, as it was sprinkled here and there throughout the book.
Highly recommend 4/5
January 24, 2023
Dark Pawn is a well written, fast paced, hugely enjoyable urban fantasy. Leah Ackerman, its 15 year old protagonist, loses both her parents to a demon – and then very quickly gets drawn into a centuries old battle between the forces of light and the forces of hell. Can she learn how to use her newly discovered powers before the demons come for her? Or will her rage and her grief tempt her into using the darker side of her abilities, putting both herself and her fellow warriors in mortal danger?
Leah is a strong, sassy, no-nonsense heroine, and yet her weaknesses, and her struggles to overcome them, are well depicted and tie neatly into the developing plot. Other characters are distinctive and well drawn, although a few of Leah’s fellow teenagers are less vividly realised – I’d hope to see them develop in subsequent books. Their dialogue, and that of the demons, also often verges on the clichéd, which can sometimes detract from the immediacy of the story.
The action of this book is relentless, real edge-of-the-seat stuff, and very powerfully described. While the subject matter is far from original, the authors have managed to put a novel slant on the magic employed by the characters, tying it into the Jewish mystical system of the Kabbalah with economical explanation but obvious depth. The structure of chess is also used to great effect, and I look forward to seeing how these ideas are developed as Leah’s journey continues.
While Dark Pawn is very well edited, I’d have liked to have seen just one more editorial pass made to tighten up a few minor problems of pacing and plot. All in all, however, this is a gripping, atmospheric and genuinely scary story, with a well rounded and relatable protagonist, plenty of unexpected quirks, and a satisfying conclusion to what promises to be an increasingly exciting series. We award Dark Pawn a strong 4.5 stars.
Leah is a strong, sassy, no-nonsense heroine, and yet her weaknesses, and her struggles to overcome them, are well depicted and tie neatly into the developing plot. Other characters are distinctive and well drawn, although a few of Leah’s fellow teenagers are less vividly realised – I’d hope to see them develop in subsequent books. Their dialogue, and that of the demons, also often verges on the clichéd, which can sometimes detract from the immediacy of the story.
The action of this book is relentless, real edge-of-the-seat stuff, and very powerfully described. While the subject matter is far from original, the authors have managed to put a novel slant on the magic employed by the characters, tying it into the Jewish mystical system of the Kabbalah with economical explanation but obvious depth. The structure of chess is also used to great effect, and I look forward to seeing how these ideas are developed as Leah’s journey continues.
While Dark Pawn is very well edited, I’d have liked to have seen just one more editorial pass made to tighten up a few minor problems of pacing and plot. All in all, however, this is a gripping, atmospheric and genuinely scary story, with a well rounded and relatable protagonist, plenty of unexpected quirks, and a satisfying conclusion to what promises to be an increasingly exciting series. We award Dark Pawn a strong 4.5 stars.
January 31, 2023
Dark Pawn is a well written, fast paced, hugely enjoyable urban fantasy. Leah Ackerman, its 15 year old protagonist, loses both her parents to a demon – and then very quickly gets drawn into a centuries old battle between the forces of light and the forces of hell. Can she learn how to use her newly discovered powers before the demons come for her? Or will her rage and her grief tempt her into using the darker side of her abilities, putting both herself and her fellow warriors in mortal danger?
Leah is a strong, sassy, no-nonsense heroine, and yet her weaknesses, and her struggles to overcome them, are well depicted and tie neatly into the developing plot. Other characters are distinctive and well drawn, although a few of Leah’s fellow teenagers are less vividly realised – I’d hope to see them develop in subsequent books. Their dialogue, and that of the demons, also often verges on the clichéd, which can sometimes detract from the immediacy of the story.
The action of this book is relentless, real edge-of-the-seat stuff, and very powerfully described. While the subject matter is far from original, the authors have managed to put a novel slant on the magic employed by the characters, tying it into the Jewish mystical system of the Kabbalah with economical explanation but obvious depth. The structure of chess is also used to great effect, and I look forward to seeing how these ideas are developed as Leah’s journey continues.
While Dark Pawn is very well edited, I’d have liked to have seen just one more editorial pass made to tighten up a few minor problems of pacing and plot. All in all, however, this is a gripping, atmospheric and genuinely scary story, with a well rounded and relatable protagonist, plenty of unexpected quirks, and a satisfying conclusion to what promises to be an increasingly exciting series.
Leah is a strong, sassy, no-nonsense heroine, and yet her weaknesses, and her struggles to overcome them, are well depicted and tie neatly into the developing plot. Other characters are distinctive and well drawn, although a few of Leah’s fellow teenagers are less vividly realised – I’d hope to see them develop in subsequent books. Their dialogue, and that of the demons, also often verges on the clichéd, which can sometimes detract from the immediacy of the story.
The action of this book is relentless, real edge-of-the-seat stuff, and very powerfully described. While the subject matter is far from original, the authors have managed to put a novel slant on the magic employed by the characters, tying it into the Jewish mystical system of the Kabbalah with economical explanation but obvious depth. The structure of chess is also used to great effect, and I look forward to seeing how these ideas are developed as Leah’s journey continues.
While Dark Pawn is very well edited, I’d have liked to have seen just one more editorial pass made to tighten up a few minor problems of pacing and plot. All in all, however, this is a gripping, atmospheric and genuinely scary story, with a well rounded and relatable protagonist, plenty of unexpected quirks, and a satisfying conclusion to what promises to be an increasingly exciting series.
May 27, 2024
Leah Ackerman is the typical 15 year old teenager. She is sometimes bratty, smart-mouthed and a know-it-all. She wants to go to a party, but her parents say no because of a danger that they are trying to protect her from experiencing. However, she is not given a concrete reason why, just that their "no" is because it is too dangerous. Not only does she break the of not going to the party, she breaks the rule of never using a Ouija board. She quickly learns that actions have consequences. Leah finds out that she has powers and that there truly are evil forces out there and those evil forces want her.
The drama, suspense and constant action will keep you engaged until the end. Along the way, you will see her grow emotionally, make some good friends, meet and uncle she didn't have, and see her learn about her parents and why she was never told anything about their past. This tale will draw you in quickly and have you turning the pages quickly to learn all the answers. A well-written, engrossing read with the hint that there is much more to come. Enjoy.
The drama, suspense and constant action will keep you engaged until the end. Along the way, you will see her grow emotionally, make some good friends, meet and uncle she didn't have, and see her learn about her parents and why she was never told anything about their past. This tale will draw you in quickly and have you turning the pages quickly to learn all the answers. A well-written, engrossing read with the hint that there is much more to come. Enjoy.
December 23, 2025
What is going on?
After her mother told her no, Leah snuck out and went to a party anyway. When she came home, she found her father had killed her mother. When her father comes at her, Leah blacks out, only to wake up in a motel room with her uncle. Unfortunately, he really won’t give her a lot of information on what happened. However, he does give her a choice—either she can go to her grandparents, or he will take her somewhere where she will get her answers and training. This story is excellently written. Even though I normally don’t read stories about teenagers, this one pulled me in and kept my interest. We’re right there with Leah as she learns about her mother’s past, demons and all the other things that go bump in the night. We feel her terror, her excitement when she manages to learn a new skill, and her pain at her loss. A great story and I can’t wait to read the next part.
I received an advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.
After her mother told her no, Leah snuck out and went to a party anyway. When she came home, she found her father had killed her mother. When her father comes at her, Leah blacks out, only to wake up in a motel room with her uncle. Unfortunately, he really won’t give her a lot of information on what happened. However, he does give her a choice—either she can go to her grandparents, or he will take her somewhere where she will get her answers and training. This story is excellently written. Even though I normally don’t read stories about teenagers, this one pulled me in and kept my interest. We’re right there with Leah as she learns about her mother’s past, demons and all the other things that go bump in the night. We feel her terror, her excitement when she manages to learn a new skill, and her pain at her loss. A great story and I can’t wait to read the next part.
I received an advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.
May 1, 2024
Leah is a pretty thought out character. The challenges she begins to go through during the story as she discovers who and what she is in this universe are painful but necessary for her development into a strong FMC. it gives way to powerful motivation that I see leading through the rest of the series as the story develops through new installments. A solid foundation is key when starting a series and that is what I read here.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 27, 2024
This is the 1st book of Leah Ackerman. This is a new type of magic and gifts. The characters have to do with a lot of teenagers, family secrets, spirits, magic, and a new academy. There is so much to explain how much I enjoy this book, but I also don't want to give away anything that is happening either. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 19, 2023
Help me read more books
Ok, not a bad tale. It's interesting, and I'm likely to read more in the series. The story is relatively well done, though parts of it seemed rushed, as if the author was trying hard to compress the story to make it fit in the required space, but otherwise, I liked it.
Ok, not a bad tale. It's interesting, and I'm likely to read more in the series. The story is relatively well done, though parts of it seemed rushed, as if the author was trying hard to compress the story to make it fit in the required space, but otherwise, I liked it.
July 12, 2023
It was interesting to see some of the Jewish faith elements come into a story about fighting demons. There were a lot of great visual representations of what was happening on the page as well as well developed characters and plot points. It was a quick read that told a convincing story. I am interested to see where these authors take it and what they will do in the next book as well as in the series overall.
May 2, 2024
We have action, susence, mystery and so much more. What will happen when Leah's father kills her mother? What will happen when she starts digging in to the mystical? The old fight is still going on between light and dark. How will Leah handle the demons and the war?.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 28, 2024
This was the first time reading authors Cohen and Rindfleisch. I thought Dark Pawn was a great start to the series. It had elements of Judaism which was interesting as this is a paranormal book. I really enjoyed the way the authors use the game of chess as a magic system. I feel there is a lot to uncover but Dark Pawn reels you into this intense ride that you never want to end.
June 19, 2023
Have tissues ready...
...or maybe you're tougher than me. Story basics, teen girl goes from arguing with parents to fighting demons. I loved the story, even though Leah could be a brat at times. Can't wait to read the second book in the series.
...or maybe you're tougher than me. Story basics, teen girl goes from arguing with parents to fighting demons. I loved the story, even though Leah could be a brat at times. Can't wait to read the second book in the series.
November 5, 2024
Couldn’t put this one down. Once I got the lay of the land I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Leah is a strong FMC and it is great to see her strength grow along with her powers.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 4, 2023
Dark pawn
Never read anything like this. Very dramatic writing and keeps you glued to the page. Can't wait to get started on the next book. You both have done great. Thank you.
Never read anything like this. Very dramatic writing and keeps you glued to the page. Can't wait to get started on the next book. You both have done great. Thank you.
December 7, 2022
Incredibly gripping! Quick read. Can't wait for the next one!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews