Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

ROGUE’S PAWN is a sexy mix of romance and ALICE IN WONDERLAND that somehow managed to feel both too long and too short. Readers who make it past the flawed opening scenes will find a sexy, dangerous portrayal of fairy that is worth the read.

The opening chapters of ROGUE’S PAWN seemed amateurish and too much in Jennifer’s head, though later plot points explained away some of the relentless chatter. As an introduction, however, the early writing style stretched on to the point where I almost gave up. Then the transition to fairy, the banquet and bargains, and the story swept me away. Amidst the spectacle and magic, however, Kennedy always makes it clear that the threats of fairy are real. Rogue in particular maintains a dark, dangerous attraction throughout. ROGUE’S PAWN has a very “through the looking glass” feel, and I liked how the extremes of danger, sex, and silliness balanced out. A potent mix of imagination and chemistry, I loved the middle of this book. Jennifer’s scientific approach to magic and her relationship with the servants were particularly interesting. Kennedy develops supporting characters alongside the hero and heroine, and I was as invested in the Brownies and Darling as I was in the main plot lines.

Perhaps this attachment contributed to my disappointment in the ending. Though Kennedy does a great job building anticipation, ROGUE’S PAWN ended with a rush that resolved few of the tantalizing threads she had established. Rogue did not get enough page time, Darling is left hanging, the threat of Titania still felt undefined. This ending did not even feel like a “series starting cliffhanger”, but more like an arbitrary cut off. I’m interested in reading more about these characters, and hope the series becomes better paced as it grows.

Sexual Content:
Explicit sex scenes