Lovin' los libros

 

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave..."

 

Wow! This book completely took me by surprise! I was in no way prepared for all the secrets and twists and turns that Carter constructed! This is definitely making my list of favorite dystopian novels. I felt the world building was solid- detailed, but not SO detailed that I found myself bored. In fact, Pawn's pacing is very fluid and fast moving. I didn't want to put it down!

 

Every year at the age of 17, a test is administered to discover what ranking you will be in society. II's and III's are considered lower caste while IV', V's, and VI's have more opportunities. VII's are reserved only for the ruling family, which currently is the Hart family. We begin the novel with our protagonist Kitty. Kitty is a girl who, after having grown up in a group home, has received her ranking in society and it's not a very good one. She has been deemed a III, which means her opportunities are few and far between. She has been assigned to sewer maintenance and is being relocated to Denver. I felt bad for Kitty because she is very bright and intelligent, but has never been able to learn to read. Her test results have consigned her to a fate that she never wanted and she refuses to bring anyone down with her. Her boyfriend, Benjy, is due to take his test soon and she knows he will do extremely well on it. He doesn't want her to leave and even suggests the two run away together. Yet, Kitty knows that Benjy is destined for greatness and she won't take that opportunity of a better life away from him. I admired her for that choice because it couldn't have been an easy one. Kitty knows her only option at this point is to meet up with a woman named Tabs and help her work the clubs (as a prostitute). Luckily, fate intervenes in the form of Daxton Hart, the Prime Minister, and offers her a chance at a new life as a VII.

 

Kitty ultimately knows that going with Hart could lead to disastrous results, but what 17 year old girl wouldn't choose to change their status and potentially live a better life? Granted, there are always strings attached and Kitty must now step into a new role and fill someone else's shoes. It's not just her life on the line- the Harts rule by fear and they aren't afraid to send troublemakers to a place where they will never be heard from again. Daxton 'masks' Kitty, which means he completely alters her appearance to look like his dead niece, Lila.

 

If it is one thing Kitty has learned by the end of this novel is that no one can truly be trusted, save for her boyfriend Benjy. Everyone has an agenda and will do and say whatever is necessary in order to further that agenda. Kitty is a pretty tough girl, but like most teenagers, is pretty egocentric. There is a rebellion that wants to get rid of the ranking system and go back to a more democratic society like so long ago and it turns out Lila had been a part of that. Now, Kitty as Lila, must step forward and make a decision as to whether she will extend her voice to help change a seriously flawed system. However, Kitty is hesitant- she is too afraid to step out of line for fear her loved ones will be harmed by Daxton and his witch of a mother, Augusta.

 

I did find myself really liking Knox though. I wasn't sure where Carter was going to take his storyline, but it didn't take the love triangle route. While he also harbored his own secrets, I think he genuinely cared about Kitty and wanted to help this poor girl out. He is engaged to Lila Hart, the girl Kitty has now become. I felt a bit of chemistry between Kitty and Knox, and while I prefer him to Benjy, I don't know what Carter plans to do with these two.

 

Again- this was such a fabulous, engaging read and it is definitely worth picking up, especially if you are looking for a new take on dystopian.