Publishing date: 10.10.2024
Thank you to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

I adore underdog stories. They get me going. Cheering for someone who realistically can't win is so exciting. This is one of those stories. Except this is a battle of wits.

Imagine that you can win whatever you want as long as you reinvent the wheel, but a board game. That is essentially what the story is. Present it to the king, impress him, and he will grant your wish. If you don't, you die. High stakes.

I found their fighting back and forth about the game to be really tense and interesting. Except ... The inner monologue and the dumbed down version of the king being all "me me me" was a little boring. Just a tad. The main character clearly knows he is smart and flaunts it to the readers while acting humble for the king. The king is all about being king and being stubborn about it. That is his whole character. If he kept his composure and was less of a "unicorn" so to speak, I might have given it more credit. It is only a battle of wits if both participants use their brain.

Final ranking and star rating?
3 stars, B tier. This was entertaining. I read it in a single sitting and was consumed with it all the way through. Knowing it was only 24 pages helped with my focus of course. This is an easily recommended book, anyone can appreciate these kinds of works.

The Pawn against the King is a gripping tale of wit, courage, and high-stakes intellect. When a humble carpenter faces the King’s deadly contest, he must present his game as the ultimate simulation of battle—or pay with his life. This book brilliantly explores the clash between genius and authority, and I loved the clever twists and the tense mental duel. It’s a story that kept me hooked, rooting for the underdog in every turn of the game!

Now, this is a showdown for the ages! The Pawn against the King pits a humble carpenter against a ruthless ruler, and it’s all riding on one brilliant game. Imagine risking your life on a board game pitch—wild, right? This book is packed with mind games, high stakes, and a serious underdog vibe that’s impossible not to root for. If you love a story where brains take on brute power, this one’s a must-read! ♟️👑