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Pawns of Salistya
Knowledge finds those who are meant to see.
I am the most powerful mage in Fyriane, sent by my sister, the Queen of Salistya, to take over the Kingdom of Arlom.
For one year, I have bided my time, hiding my lethal powers and waiting for the moment to strike, content to play the seemingly dutiful queen as I learn the Arlom ways.
Until the Royal Forum changes everything.
Fresh faces bring more questions than answers, including a man that I am undeniably drawn to. With all of Fyriane’s leaders coming together and the pressure from my sister intensifying, I can’t trust anyone. They’re all out for themselves.
But I will find the answers I need, one way or another.
As I discover the truths of Fyriane, a bigger picture starts to take shape. A picture that has me questioning everything.
Yet I must act. I am here now. I refuse to cower.
I refuse to be a pawn.
I am the most powerful mage in Fyriane, sent by my sister, the Queen of Salistya, to take over the Kingdom of Arlom.
For one year, I have bided my time, hiding my lethal powers and waiting for the moment to strike, content to play the seemingly dutiful queen as I learn the Arlom ways.
Until the Royal Forum changes everything.
Fresh faces bring more questions than answers, including a man that I am undeniably drawn to. With all of Fyriane’s leaders coming together and the pressure from my sister intensifying, I can’t trust anyone. They’re all out for themselves.
But I will find the answers I need, one way or another.
As I discover the truths of Fyriane, a bigger picture starts to take shape. A picture that has me questioning everything.
Yet I must act. I am here now. I refuse to cower.
I refuse to be a pawn.
- GenresFantasy
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2026
12 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
H.J. Bogue
2 books15 followersHannah has been obsessed with fantasy and romance books for as long as she can remember. In her early twenties, Hannah was camping on the sunshine coast in beautiful British Columbia when she turned to her friend and said, ‘I would love to write a book, I feel there is so much going on in my head and there are stories that need to be told.’ Fast forward a handful of years, Hannah resides in her hometown of Perth, WA, with her partner, and fur babies Walter, Loki and Ridley. She finally watered the seed she planted all those years ago, and her imagination bloomed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 1, 2024
Buckle up, you’re in for a wild ride: this isn’t your typical romantasy book. There’s political power struggles, battles of wills, fated prophecy and more… with open door spice.
I loved the realism of the characters in terms of complexity. Valare has some self development through the book which is encouraging to see. She’s also realistic in the fact that she’s battling her job (royalty, assassin) with her personal struggles (anxiety, anti-confrontation). The tertiary characters have some interesting traits as well.
I would recommend keeping the list of characters and their connections on hand — thankfully there’s a few pages at the front with pronunciations and relationships which I had to consult a bit to make sure I wasn’t mixing anything up.
There’s a lot of world building and thought that’s gone into the creation of the Doms of Fyriane. Each of the kingdoms/queendoms have unique affinities that go into the policial power struggles and (potential) alliances.
The book ends on a cliffhanger (obvs since it’s book 1 in a series) and I’m anxiously awaiting the next release.
I loved the realism of the characters in terms of complexity. Valare has some self development through the book which is encouraging to see. She’s also realistic in the fact that she’s battling her job (royalty, assassin) with her personal struggles (anxiety, anti-confrontation). The tertiary characters have some interesting traits as well.
I would recommend keeping the list of characters and their connections on hand — thankfully there’s a few pages at the front with pronunciations and relationships which I had to consult a bit to make sure I wasn’t mixing anything up.
There’s a lot of world building and thought that’s gone into the creation of the Doms of Fyriane. Each of the kingdoms/queendoms have unique affinities that go into the policial power struggles and (potential) alliances.
The book ends on a cliffhanger (obvs since it’s book 1 in a series) and I’m anxiously awaiting the next release.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a solid read, I enjoyed the world and the magic. The lies, the secrets and the unreliable narrative? So good! Few plots I saw coming but was still an enjoyable read, with many lovers but only one is the real deal... 👀
PS the twist at the end? Too good, did not see that coming and the fact that the character had two names? And was never fully talked about or described, made so much sense 🤣
Totally has bridge kingdom and the serpent and the wolf vibes, so if you love those books I would 100% agree with picking this book and series up! 🫶🏻
PS the twist at the end? Too good, did not see that coming and the fact that the character had two names? And was never fully talked about or described, made so much sense 🤣
Totally has bridge kingdom and the serpent and the wolf vibes, so if you love those books I would 100% agree with picking this book and series up! 🫶🏻
January 31, 2026
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of this book. Pawns of Salistya had everything I want in a romantasy book:
Political intrigue
Fated mates
Romance
Hidden identities
Prophecies
Plot twists
A huge cliffhanger
Found family
I loved the political intrigue and learning about the different kingdoms. I also enjoyed watching Valare grow in her confidence as well as realizing what she will and will not put up with in a relationship. I hope her growth continues in Decoys of Arlom. The ending was so sad because I actually really liked Eliasson. Looking forward to book 2!
Political intrigue
Fated mates
Romance
Hidden identities
Prophecies
Plot twists
A huge cliffhanger
Found family
I loved the political intrigue and learning about the different kingdoms. I also enjoyed watching Valare grow in her confidence as well as realizing what she will and will not put up with in a relationship. I hope her growth continues in Decoys of Arlom. The ending was so sad because I actually really liked Eliasson. Looking forward to book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2024
Valare is a woman with several problems in her life. As sister to the Queen of Salystya she's been forced to marry the enemy King of Arlom, and as a trained, magic-whielding assassin for her brutal queendom she's been tasked with unaliving said King. But Valare is hampered in this at every turn. First of all, King Elliasson is no enemy (and damn good in bed), while her secret lover fumes and gets in the way. Then a huge, royal trade gathering brings together all four nations in her world, forcing her to play the good wife before a host of scheming, bickering rulers, all the while keeping her bloodthirsty sister at bay, and her identity (and magic) a secret.
This debut by a new author brings us a story that is very interestingly positioned, almost between genres. The world is a fantasy with gods-given magic, fantastic beasts and beings, and ancient prophesies. But the characters and the romantic dilemmas read as you'd expect to see in a contemporary setting; multiple romantic love interests, and tense family dynamics. Even the characters' dialogue and reactions tend to skew more modern'ish than is typically found in fantasy. If you enjoy reading contemporary and want to 'dip your toes' into fantasy, this is the book for you.
Lastly, this book is also very much a *first in a series* book. Not everything is resolved. In fact, more questions are opened and mysteries alluded to than are resolved. We know what the FMC knows, and despite her "privileged position" Valare is uncovering secrets upon secrets as she journeys along. This book is barely scratching the surface of what is *clearly* a much broader fantasy universe. If you could hang in with Throne of Glass, and gave it a chance to grow and develop, you can hang here too. Read it, give it a shot, and stay tuned for more.
Word of Caution: An early chapter clearly depicts (on page) what I classify as an instance of rough consensual, devolving into semi-DV behavior of a partner within a toxic relationship which I found jarring. It leaves the FMC with lots of recurring "it's your fault" gaslighting-type thoughts. However, the aftermath of this moment is pivotal to the FMCs emotional journey, to realizing that this is not a situation where she wants to be in.
This debut by a new author brings us a story that is very interestingly positioned, almost between genres. The world is a fantasy with gods-given magic, fantastic beasts and beings, and ancient prophesies. But the characters and the romantic dilemmas read as you'd expect to see in a contemporary setting; multiple romantic love interests, and tense family dynamics. Even the characters' dialogue and reactions tend to skew more modern'ish than is typically found in fantasy. If you enjoy reading contemporary and want to 'dip your toes' into fantasy, this is the book for you.
Lastly, this book is also very much a *first in a series* book. Not everything is resolved. In fact, more questions are opened and mysteries alluded to than are resolved. We know what the FMC knows, and despite her "privileged position" Valare is uncovering secrets upon secrets as she journeys along. This book is barely scratching the surface of what is *clearly* a much broader fantasy universe. If you could hang in with Throne of Glass, and gave it a chance to grow and develop, you can hang here too. Read it, give it a shot, and stay tuned for more.
Word of Caution: An early chapter clearly depicts (on page) what I classify as an instance of rough consensual, devolving into semi-DV behavior of a partner within a toxic relationship which I found jarring. It leaves the FMC with lots of recurring "it's your fault" gaslighting-type thoughts. However, the aftermath of this moment is pivotal to the FMCs emotional journey, to realizing that this is not a situation where she wants to be in.
October 11, 2024
*I received an ARC of this book, the review and all the thoughts are my own.
*This review does not contain any spoilers
*Please read the content warnings of this book and take them very seriously.
Pairing - MF
Genre- Fantasy Romance (Open Door)
HEA/HFN - No. Cliffhanger (with the next book announced)
POV - Single First Person
Series - Yes. Book 1 of The Queendom Series
*Warning*
This book has cheating trope but the reason for that clear in the first few chapters. She is an assassin who married the king (arranged) with the intent of regicide. And this is a fantasy series where we only get one person's POV. So, there might be more to the story than meets the eye. ;)
*Review*
I never thought I would read a story with a cheating trope and love it. But here we are.
Political intrigue, arranged marriage, fated mates, magic, an FMC who is the strongest mage anyone knows, side characters who you love to hate and hate to love, amusingly exasperated characters, best friends, found family. This book has it all. And the reason I have put the cheating trope front and centre is because, I was confused whether this could be counted as that given the circumstances.
The FMC and MMC are both strong and likeable characters. It takes a little while to warm up to the MMC because our FMC (the POV person in the book) is skeptical yet drawn to him (hello, fated mate trope), even though he immediately comes off as a flirty but kind and caring individual.
The end left me with more questions than answers, which is to be expected from the first book that sets up the bigger conflict of the series.
P.S. I follow the Montessori method, so my reviews are based on completion without ratings. If I didn’t like a book, I probably wouldn’t finish it and hence won’t review it.
*This review does not contain any spoilers
*Please read the content warnings of this book and take them very seriously.
Pairing - MF
Genre- Fantasy Romance (Open Door)
HEA/HFN - No. Cliffhanger (with the next book announced)
POV - Single First Person
Series - Yes. Book 1 of The Queendom Series
*Warning*
This book has cheating trope but the reason for that clear in the first few chapters. She is an assassin who married the king (arranged) with the intent of regicide. And this is a fantasy series where we only get one person's POV. So, there might be more to the story than meets the eye. ;)
*Review*
I never thought I would read a story with a cheating trope and love it. But here we are.
Political intrigue, arranged marriage, fated mates, magic, an FMC who is the strongest mage anyone knows, side characters who you love to hate and hate to love, amusingly exasperated characters, best friends, found family. This book has it all. And the reason I have put the cheating trope front and centre is because, I was confused whether this could be counted as that given the circumstances.
The FMC and MMC are both strong and likeable characters. It takes a little while to warm up to the MMC because our FMC (the POV person in the book) is skeptical yet drawn to him (hello, fated mate trope), even though he immediately comes off as a flirty but kind and caring individual.
The end left me with more questions than answers, which is to be expected from the first book that sets up the bigger conflict of the series.
P.S. I follow the Montessori method, so my reviews are based on completion without ratings. If I didn’t like a book, I probably wouldn’t finish it and hence won’t review it.
December 17, 2024
Just finished this book and I was not expecting the twists:
Ok, let me start of by saying that I adore Valare. She's so real: her emotions, her fears, and her desires. I enjoyed the complex relationships she had to wade through. The fierce loyalty she has for those closest to her and her unwillingness to be vicious when she doesn't need to be.
She’s capable of so many things that could ruin her enemies, but yet holds great restraint especially for someone with the amount of power she wields: She's a very likeable character. That showed her true strength and her kindness.
Without giving anything away, the romance was 👌👌 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😍😍👌👌👌
As well as the world building, the side characters, and the political intrigue was all exciting. I love fantasy with policies/royalty, so this book was so fun to read.
Eagerly waiting for book 2. I cannot wait.
Ok, let me start of by saying that I adore Valare. She's so real: her emotions, her fears, and her desires. I enjoyed the complex relationships she had to wade through. The fierce loyalty she has for those closest to her and her unwillingness to be vicious when she doesn't need to be.
She’s capable of so many things that could ruin her enemies, but yet holds great restraint especially for someone with the amount of power she wields: She's a very likeable character. That showed her true strength and her kindness.
Without giving anything away, the romance was 👌👌 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😍😍👌👌👌
As well as the world building, the side characters, and the political intrigue was all exciting. I love fantasy with policies/royalty, so this book was so fun to read.
Eagerly waiting for book 2. I cannot wait.
January 18, 2025
fresh fantasy world
I loved this fresh take on Romantasy. Yes, there’s politics, soul mates, a chosen one, and a prophecy—but the book presents all of these elements, and more, with a twist. Great if you want to sink your teeth into some unique world building and like plot with a side of spice.
I loved this fresh take on Romantasy. Yes, there’s politics, soul mates, a chosen one, and a prophecy—but the book presents all of these elements, and more, with a twist. Great if you want to sink your teeth into some unique world building and like plot with a side of spice.
October 14, 2025
What a book and what an ending!!! 😱😱 can’t leave me hanging 🤣🤣
February 18, 2026
This was an interesting read. The worldbuilding is unique and intriguing, even if it was sometimes confusing. We're clearly not meant to know everything yet and this is the start of the journey. I liked the political undercurrent of lies, secrets, betrayals, and shifting power. The twist at the end genuinely surprised me, and I appreciated that the story feels like it’s only scratching the surface of a much larger fantasy universe. There’s a sense that bigger truths are waiting to be uncovered, and that keeps me curious.
Some writing style choices didn’t quite work for me personally, but I could see how they might appeal to other readers. There's a heavy reliance on telling rather than showing. I often felt like I was being told who characters were instead of getting to experience their personalities through their actions and dialogue. Along similar lines, the dialogue itself felt VERY modern, which pulled me out of the fantasy setting. It felt jarringly contemporary in a world that otherwise wanted to feel fantasy. It typically doesn't bother me, but this feels VERY contemporary. I think some readers will enjoy that tone, but it wasn’t really my preference.
The main character was also a bit difficult for me to fully understand. She’s written as both extremely submissive and very defiant, sometimes almost back-to-back, which made her feel inconsistent rather than complex. I could see what the author was aiming for, especially with how her past relationships shaped her tolerance for toxic behavior, but the execution didn’t always make her emotional arc feel as clear or as satisfying as I wanted it to be. She seems to fluctuate in ways that confused me more than intrigued me.
As a note, there is an intimate scene early on that I personally found uncomfortable and unnecessary in its level of detail. I understand that it’s meant to highlight a toxic dynamic and contribute to the main character's emotional journey, and I appreciate what the author was trying to explore there. For me, though, it felt jarring and wasn’t handled in a way that added much to the story.
Overall, this just wasn’t quite a match for me stylistically, but I can see the appeal, especially for readers who enjoy contemporary-feeling fantasy and slow reveals of political intrigue. I’m willing to try the next book to see how the world and the characters continue to develop, even if this one didn’t fully click for me.
Thanks so much to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Some writing style choices didn’t quite work for me personally, but I could see how they might appeal to other readers. There's a heavy reliance on telling rather than showing. I often felt like I was being told who characters were instead of getting to experience their personalities through their actions and dialogue. Along similar lines, the dialogue itself felt VERY modern, which pulled me out of the fantasy setting. It felt jarringly contemporary in a world that otherwise wanted to feel fantasy. It typically doesn't bother me, but this feels VERY contemporary. I think some readers will enjoy that tone, but it wasn’t really my preference.
The main character was also a bit difficult for me to fully understand. She’s written as both extremely submissive and very defiant, sometimes almost back-to-back, which made her feel inconsistent rather than complex. I could see what the author was aiming for, especially with how her past relationships shaped her tolerance for toxic behavior, but the execution didn’t always make her emotional arc feel as clear or as satisfying as I wanted it to be. She seems to fluctuate in ways that confused me more than intrigued me.
As a note, there is an intimate scene early on that I personally found uncomfortable and unnecessary in its level of detail. I understand that it’s meant to highlight a toxic dynamic and contribute to the main character's emotional journey, and I appreciate what the author was trying to explore there. For me, though, it felt jarring and wasn’t handled in a way that added much to the story.
Overall, this just wasn’t quite a match for me stylistically, but I can see the appeal, especially for readers who enjoy contemporary-feeling fantasy and slow reveals of political intrigue. I’m willing to try the next book to see how the world and the characters continue to develop, even if this one didn’t fully click for me.
Thanks so much to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
February 9, 2026
Amazing book 1, ends on a cliff hanger 😬 Have book 2 ready to binge! These characters are easy to fall in love with. Banter is great. Dialogue is contemporary and hilarious. Love the magic.
My heart is torn and idk what is about to happen!!!!
My heart is torn and idk what is about to happen!!!!
February 10, 2026
Starting a new fantasy series always makes me a little nervous, especially when it’s hard to top some of the big ones. But this one was absolutely worth it. The story seemed fresh and enjoyable (I’ve only been deep in this genre for a few years, so there’s still plenty for me to discover!).
I really loved HJ Bogue’s writing style. It was engaging without feeling heavy, and so easy to get lost in. Side note: I may never fully adjust to names of people and places (especially when they sound a little too similar 😅), but once I got past that, I was fully hooked and I smashed through it in no time.
Overall an absolute banger of a book and I can’t wait to start book two: Decoys of Arlom.
I really loved HJ Bogue’s writing style. It was engaging without feeling heavy, and so easy to get lost in. Side note: I may never fully adjust to names of people and places (especially when they sound a little too similar 😅), but once I got past that, I was fully hooked and I smashed through it in no time.
Overall an absolute banger of a book and I can’t wait to start book two: Decoys of Arlom.
August 28, 2024
Characters that grow on you
The book is clearly fantasy genre because there is magic, mystery and a prophecy. But for me personally its main subject is finding your way through intrigue, divided loyalties, finding love and your purpose in life.
The pace of the story is perfect, but there are a lot of developments, mostly political . That is necessary for the story but makes it not a page turner for me. The main and secondary characters are relatable but not always likable from the start. You have to get to know them better and witness their struggles to get to like them.
The book clearly has an open end, and until now the saga has been very promising, so I am looking forward to reading the next book of this series.
The book is clearly fantasy genre because there is magic, mystery and a prophecy. But for me personally its main subject is finding your way through intrigue, divided loyalties, finding love and your purpose in life.
The pace of the story is perfect, but there are a lot of developments, mostly political . That is necessary for the story but makes it not a page turner for me. The main and secondary characters are relatable but not always likable from the start. You have to get to know them better and witness their struggles to get to like them.
The book clearly has an open end, and until now the saga has been very promising, so I am looking forward to reading the next book of this series.
September 20, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I had a little trouble distinguishing the different doms and the island at first, but after a few chapters I got the hang of it. I would have liked a little more clarification on the magic and the gods, but maybe that will come in future volumes. There were a few plot twists I didn’t see coming (I love that!) and the book ended on just enough of a cliffhanger to make me eager for the sequel, not enough to make me feel dissatisfied. Overall, very creative with characters I grew to love. Can’t wait for the next one! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 21, 2024
It had good plot, but there were a couple things that made me not like the book as much. Mostly the fact that it felt like many things mentioned in the book were unnecessary, many names being too similar (Slaviya vs Salistya vs Solista took me a while), and the excessive amount of telling over showing (stop telling me that this character is stubborn, especially before we even hear them speak. Show their stubbornness in their speech and don't mention that they're stubborn at all, or at least not until they're done with the convo)
August 8, 2024
I received a ARC copy of Pawns of Salistya, and wow I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story was refreshing for me, I enjoyed the way everything came together and how the FMC and her group all worked so well together. I decided to take notes as I was reading and they’re a hot mess.🤣 there was a couple times I just went WHAT THE F- as a twist happened, the entire time reading this I wanted MORE. And now I just have to patiently wait, especially after that ending. 😭
October 12, 2024
4 🌟
Quite a different concept going on and takes a little bit to get into what’s happening but once I got into it it was great.
Good sub plots to keep you intrigued and wonder where the story is going, will be very interesting to see book 2 what happens after that cliff hanger and more about the world and what happens with the King & Queen of Arlom and the infinite bound 🫶🏽
ARC read ❤️
Quite a different concept going on and takes a little bit to get into what’s happening but once I got into it it was great.
Good sub plots to keep you intrigued and wonder where the story is going, will be very interesting to see book 2 what happens after that cliff hanger and more about the world and what happens with the King & Queen of Arlom and the infinite bound 🫶🏽
ARC read ❤️
September 24, 2024
This was a really enjoyable read! At first I was a bit confused trying to wrap my head around it but then I got really into it. Loved the FMC she was so badass! Fyrianen was such a unique and interesting world I can’t wait to see where this will go next.
I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2024
Valare is a protagonist with the rare ability to pull off being powerful and vulnerable at the same time.
Snappy dialogue kept me up way past my bedtime to finish.
Unique world building and mysterious lore with an ending that left me wanting the next installment now please.
Snappy dialogue kept me up way past my bedtime to finish.
Unique world building and mysterious lore with an ending that left me wanting the next installment now please.
February 26, 2026
A charming introduction to the world of Fyriane, its heroine is full of zest and fire. The world is created with such care and love, making it effortless to get sucked in. So very many characters to root for make Pawns of Salistya an enticing read, and have me eager for the next installment.
November 5, 2025
If you enjoy political intrigue, character based plot, powerful FMC who is strong and witty but not arrogant and unlikeable, a hot love interest and a fantasy book with modern day terminology to give you a fresh twist, this is the book for you!!!!! Can’t wait for book 2 after that epilogue!!!!
October 9, 2024
Pawns of Salistya is the first book in HJ Bogue's The Queendom series and introduces Valare, the most powerful mage in Fyriane.
Valare is a trained assassin who has been forced by her sister, the Queen of Salystya, to marry the King of Arlom with the intent of ending his life. This becomes anything but straightforward for Valare as she grows to care for the King, has to deal with a jealous lover and also play dutiful wife while hosting the Kings and Queens of the other three Doms during The Royal Forum. On top of all of this she needs to hide her magic and who she really is from most of those around her.
The worldbuilding is strong and the amount of thought and detail that has gone into the formation of each of the four Doms and the continent of Fyriane is unmistakable. A map of the continent is included at the beginning of the book for those who like a visual representation.
Also included at the beginning of the book is a list of characters (including pronunciations), the Queendom or Kingdom they belong to, their role and their relationship to others. As there is a large number of characters introduced throughout the story this guide comes in handy to keep everything clear.
The characters are well written, fully developed and while they are not always likeable, they are relatable with their doubts, struggles and triumphs. By the end of the book you may even grow to love some of the characters despite trying your best not to.
A perfectly paced story with intrigue, political power struggles, scheming and subplots that will keep you guessing, this debut novel had me captivated from the first chapter. As with most books that are first in a series, you won't find all the answers you're looking for her as more things are raised than are resolved. Instead of finding it frustrating, the author has done this in a way that this and the cliffhanger ending leave you wanting more.
Snappy dialogue, fierce main characters, strong worldbuilding, battles of wills, prophecies and God-given magic, Pawns of Salistya is an excellent introduction to the world of fantasy of you're looking for something to get you started in the genre. That's not to say that this isn't for avid fantasy fans - this is definitely one that you will enjoy too.
Valare is a trained assassin who has been forced by her sister, the Queen of Salystya, to marry the King of Arlom with the intent of ending his life. This becomes anything but straightforward for Valare as she grows to care for the King, has to deal with a jealous lover and also play dutiful wife while hosting the Kings and Queens of the other three Doms during The Royal Forum. On top of all of this she needs to hide her magic and who she really is from most of those around her.
The worldbuilding is strong and the amount of thought and detail that has gone into the formation of each of the four Doms and the continent of Fyriane is unmistakable. A map of the continent is included at the beginning of the book for those who like a visual representation.
Also included at the beginning of the book is a list of characters (including pronunciations), the Queendom or Kingdom they belong to, their role and their relationship to others. As there is a large number of characters introduced throughout the story this guide comes in handy to keep everything clear.
The characters are well written, fully developed and while they are not always likeable, they are relatable with their doubts, struggles and triumphs. By the end of the book you may even grow to love some of the characters despite trying your best not to.
A perfectly paced story with intrigue, political power struggles, scheming and subplots that will keep you guessing, this debut novel had me captivated from the first chapter. As with most books that are first in a series, you won't find all the answers you're looking for her as more things are raised than are resolved. Instead of finding it frustrating, the author has done this in a way that this and the cliffhanger ending leave you wanting more.
Snappy dialogue, fierce main characters, strong worldbuilding, battles of wills, prophecies and God-given magic, Pawns of Salistya is an excellent introduction to the world of fantasy of you're looking for something to get you started in the genre. That's not to say that this isn't for avid fantasy fans - this is definitely one that you will enjoy too.
March 8, 2026
One of my favourite tropes in fantasy is the hidden agenda trope, and every other person in the book had one. Some were openly shown to the reader right from the start, like Valare's mission to get rid of Eliasson, while others still remain a secret. Not everything is the way it seems, and I had fun trying to decipher everyone's motives throughout the book.
I like that the characters came across as morally grey, who would go to any extent to get what they wanted. It could be something noble like protecting their kingdom or as diabolical as destroying others for power. Things weren't that simple, and my opinions about them kept changing.
The book was well written with a great plotline. The world-building was interesting with political intrigue, power struggles and changing dynamics between the characters. There's still a lot more to be uncovered in terms of the other kingdoms, especially how their magic works, and the threats from tidal beasts. The flashbacks were also helpful to understand what occurred in the past and how it is shaping the future.
Another thing I liked about the book was the found-family trope. Valare is gradually learning where her loyalties lie and that choosing to do the right thing can be difficult. I was glad when she broke up with her toxic boyfriend; their interactions were very difficult to read about and hit a little close to home.
And while Sir's identity became obvious to me quite early on, I liked how it was revealed towards the end.
I'm not a fan of insta-romance or fated mates, so I wasn't very keen on Valare and Xylan's sudden feelings towards each other. However, they work well together in other aspects and maybe the relationship will gradually build into something more substantial. The spicy scenes between Valare and the others, not including the degrading one with Sir, were pretty hot!
The ending was chaotic, in a good way, and shocking. It ended on a cliffhanger. I do have a theory about what occurred, and I can't wait to read the sequel to see if I'm right.
I recommend the book to fantasy readers who enjoy powerful yet reluctant heroines who are discovering their true potential, lies, betrayal, secrets unraveling, and spicy romance.
I like that the characters came across as morally grey, who would go to any extent to get what they wanted. It could be something noble like protecting their kingdom or as diabolical as destroying others for power. Things weren't that simple, and my opinions about them kept changing.
The book was well written with a great plotline. The world-building was interesting with political intrigue, power struggles and changing dynamics between the characters. There's still a lot more to be uncovered in terms of the other kingdoms, especially how their magic works, and the threats from tidal beasts. The flashbacks were also helpful to understand what occurred in the past and how it is shaping the future.
Another thing I liked about the book was the found-family trope. Valare is gradually learning where her loyalties lie and that choosing to do the right thing can be difficult. I was glad when she broke up with her toxic boyfriend; their interactions were very difficult to read about and hit a little close to home.
And while Sir's identity became obvious to me quite early on, I liked how it was revealed towards the end.
I'm not a fan of insta-romance or fated mates, so I wasn't very keen on Valare and Xylan's sudden feelings towards each other. However, they work well together in other aspects and maybe the relationship will gradually build into something more substantial. The spicy scenes between Valare and the others, not including the degrading one with Sir, were pretty hot!
The ending was chaotic, in a good way, and shocking. It ended on a cliffhanger. I do have a theory about what occurred, and I can't wait to read the sequel to see if I'm right.
I recommend the book to fantasy readers who enjoy powerful yet reluctant heroines who are discovering their true potential, lies, betrayal, secrets unraveling, and spicy romance.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Queen Valare contains extensive magical power and abilities, but she still feels powerless in her life. Due to her sister’s machinations, she was forced to marry the King of the neighboring Dom, Eliasson, despite her being in love with another man. Furthermore, her sister expects her to assassinate her husband and take over the Dom. As the pressure builds around the Royal Forum, Valare has to decide whether she’s truly willing to be her sister’s pawn, or if she’s going to act in accordance with her heart.
Valare was initially difficult for me to like, but she quickly grew on me. Her Salistyan culture is extremely toxic against women, as well as severely domineering. While she has taken efforts to extract herself from her past, she can’t completely ignore her cultural grooming, and expects herself to be in control at all times. As she’s been trained to have the emotional intelligence of a brick, she struggles to evaluate her feelings, and determine for herself what is emotional manipulation and grooming versus true, valid criticism. The tension between what she knows is right and what she’s expected to do continues to build as more and more twists and turns develop.
A thoroughly twisty read with fully developed, complicated characters that will continue to surprise you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Valare was initially difficult for me to like, but she quickly grew on me. Her Salistyan culture is extremely toxic against women, as well as severely domineering. While she has taken efforts to extract herself from her past, she can’t completely ignore her cultural grooming, and expects herself to be in control at all times. As she’s been trained to have the emotional intelligence of a brick, she struggles to evaluate her feelings, and determine for herself what is emotional manipulation and grooming versus true, valid criticism. The tension between what she knows is right and what she’s expected to do continues to build as more and more twists and turns develop.
A thoroughly twisty read with fully developed, complicated characters that will continue to surprise you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this book♥️♥️♥️ This isn't just a story, it's a meticulously crafted game of chess where every move could mean life or death. The political intrigue is top. The author has a gift for making every conversation feel loaded with subtext and every alliance feel precarious. The plot is excellent, it has everything: secrets, betrayal, a fierce heroine, a love story or two 😁.
Our FMC, Valare, is resilient, intelligent, and deeply human. Watching her evolve from a "pawn" into a player who demands her own agency was incredibly satisfying to read. The MMC is mysterious due to the overall secrets and plot twists, and we’re also seeing him only from Valare’s POV, but he comes off as flirty, although kind and caring. Loved his POV at the end of the book.
There are many characters to root for, one in particular that I loved, I was thinking to myself ‘I hope you won’t turn him evil in book 2’, but then last chapter happened, and told myself ‘oh, never mind ☹’...well he didn’t turn evil, that’s for sure.
The pacing is flawless, balancing quiet character moments with explosive plot twists.
Our FMC, Valare, is resilient, intelligent, and deeply human. Watching her evolve from a "pawn" into a player who demands her own agency was incredibly satisfying to read. The MMC is mysterious due to the overall secrets and plot twists, and we’re also seeing him only from Valare’s POV, but he comes off as flirty, although kind and caring. Loved his POV at the end of the book.
There are many characters to root for, one in particular that I loved, I was thinking to myself ‘I hope you won’t turn him evil in book 2’, but then last chapter happened, and told myself ‘oh, never mind ☹’...well he didn’t turn evil, that’s for sure.
The pacing is flawless, balancing quiet character moments with explosive plot twists.
February 1, 2026
No spoiler review:
This book is incredible! I haven't read an epic fantasy in a long time and I really enjoyed how much the story focused on the relationships between the different kingdoms and queendoms. You genuinely couldn't trust anyone. I am a sucker for elemental magic and so this is right up my alley. If you are a fan of Elise Kova, you will love this book.
While this book had great spice, funny scenes, and lovable side characters, there were many aspects that were dark and even sad. I related to much to Valare who had a bad relationship with someone when she was young. There's an entire scene involving the 'he doesn't know my favorite flower' concept. It hurt to read it on page (it was in flashbacks mostly) but I think so many women will read that and be like YUP. There are some awesome action scenes that I enjoyed because I love elemental magic in a battle. There were things that surprised me that kept me guessing on where the plot would go. As soon as I finished this book I had to pick up book 1.
This book is incredible! I haven't read an epic fantasy in a long time and I really enjoyed how much the story focused on the relationships between the different kingdoms and queendoms. You genuinely couldn't trust anyone. I am a sucker for elemental magic and so this is right up my alley. If you are a fan of Elise Kova, you will love this book.
While this book had great spice, funny scenes, and lovable side characters, there were many aspects that were dark and even sad. I related to much to Valare who had a bad relationship with someone when she was young. There's an entire scene involving the 'he doesn't know my favorite flower' concept. It hurt to read it on page (it was in flashbacks mostly) but I think so many women will read that and be like YUP. There are some awesome action scenes that I enjoyed because I love elemental magic in a battle. There were things that surprised me that kept me guessing on where the plot would go. As soon as I finished this book I had to pick up book 1.
Review of advance copy
I was drawn to this book from its pretty cover and after reading the synopsis I knew it was going to be something I would enjoy. This author included a map of the country and a glossary which I adore because it helps me to picture things much better in the story. Some of the names were a bit similar in spelling which made it a bit confusing at first. The FMC is a very relatable character with her fears, desires, and all that she struggles with though-out the book. I enjoyed watching her growth and would love to see more of it in the next book. The FMC and her group worked really good together and I think the author gave each one a fun personality that fit really well into the story.
This book is such a fun romantasy to read. It was fast paced and kept you interested from the political schemes, romance, magic, soul mates, and the prophecy. It is a story that draws you in and keeps you hooked with the fun twist. I love the world building that has been set up it'll be fun to see where it goes. That ending has me needing the next book ASAP.
This book is such a fun romantasy to read. It was fast paced and kept you interested from the political schemes, romance, magic, soul mates, and the prophecy. It is a story that draws you in and keeps you hooked with the fun twist. I love the world building that has been set up it'll be fun to see where it goes. That ending has me needing the next book ASAP.
February 27, 2026
A mission, a husband, a lover, and an undeniable attraction to a mysterious man.
She is the most powerful mage in the continent and is sent by her sister to take over another Kingdom. A mission she did not ask for. A mission she did not want, but had to fulfill or die. Everything was in order .... until the Royal Forum changed everything. New faces, more questions than answers, and uncovered truths.
I was given a copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this book!! From the beginning to end was an exquisite read and left me with my mouth wide open by the end. That end was completely UNNECESSARY!!! I am heartbroken. I am thankful that I could start immediately Book 2. The story is detailed, complicated but easy to follow, the characters are varied but you can feel through the pages how unique and special each of them are. They do not feel superficial. I can tell a lot of care was put into creating them. The world descriptions, the scenery, the problem over problems, even the complexity was carefully made. I found no plot holes, just more intrigue to keep reading to understand what was going on. HJ Bogue did a magnific work with this book.
She is the most powerful mage in the continent and is sent by her sister to take over another Kingdom. A mission she did not ask for. A mission she did not want, but had to fulfill or die. Everything was in order .... until the Royal Forum changed everything. New faces, more questions than answers, and uncovered truths.
I was given a copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved this book!! From the beginning to end was an exquisite read and left me with my mouth wide open by the end. That end was completely UNNECESSARY!!! I am heartbroken. I am thankful that I could start immediately Book 2. The story is detailed, complicated but easy to follow, the characters are varied but you can feel through the pages how unique and special each of them are. They do not feel superficial. I can tell a lot of care was put into creating them. The world descriptions, the scenery, the problem over problems, even the complexity was carefully made. I found no plot holes, just more intrigue to keep reading to understand what was going on. HJ Bogue did a magnific work with this book.
February 25, 2026
Arc review.
I absolutely inhaled this book, and am so grateful I got the arc to book 2 because I immediately had to pick it up following the ending of this book.
This story follows Valere, the most powerful mage in Fyriane, forced into a marriage to the King of Arlom by the Queen of Salistya, her sister with her own agenda in mind.
Valare, trapped, playing the dutiful queen biding her time, hiding her lethal powers and waiting for the opportune moment.
Until everything changes come the Royal Forum.
Following a trail of puzzle pieces leading to more questions than answers, it dawns on her that she has been a pawn in a game she didn’t even know she was playing.
Packed with magic, political intrigue, interesting characters, found family, tension & angst, secrets & betrayal.
Will the prophecy come to fruition?
I was immediately pulled into this world and found myself instantly connecting to the characters, with a lot of enjoyable dynamics across different character relationships.
I really enjoyed the plot line and character development, along with the slow burn and relationship dynamics between Valere and Xylon.
I absolutely ate this books up and loved every minute. I cannot wait for book 2!
I absolutely inhaled this book, and am so grateful I got the arc to book 2 because I immediately had to pick it up following the ending of this book.
This story follows Valere, the most powerful mage in Fyriane, forced into a marriage to the King of Arlom by the Queen of Salistya, her sister with her own agenda in mind.
Valare, trapped, playing the dutiful queen biding her time, hiding her lethal powers and waiting for the opportune moment.
Until everything changes come the Royal Forum.
Following a trail of puzzle pieces leading to more questions than answers, it dawns on her that she has been a pawn in a game she didn’t even know she was playing.
Packed with magic, political intrigue, interesting characters, found family, tension & angst, secrets & betrayal.
Will the prophecy come to fruition?
I was immediately pulled into this world and found myself instantly connecting to the characters, with a lot of enjoyable dynamics across different character relationships.
I really enjoyed the plot line and character development, along with the slow burn and relationship dynamics between Valere and Xylon.
I absolutely ate this books up and loved every minute. I cannot wait for book 2!
September 7, 2024
ARC REVIEW
Valare has a mission to accomplish. Her sister who is also her Queen sends her to marry the king of an other kingdom and then kill him.
Throughout the whole book we can see how she struggles with that order. This is a part that I liked, she looks more like an ordinary woman rather than an assassin. She doesn't want to do it but she has to. Her husband is a good king and man, and he loves her.
In the romantic part of the book we have some interesting love interests. There's a king who even though she is married he doesn't hesitate to flirt with her.
Also we have someone else who claims her and to be honest I didn't like him from the beginning. He was possessive, and arrogant.
It was an interesting book and I'm curious about what'll happen in the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Valare has a mission to accomplish. Her sister who is also her Queen sends her to marry the king of an other kingdom and then kill him.
Throughout the whole book we can see how she struggles with that order. This is a part that I liked, she looks more like an ordinary woman rather than an assassin. She doesn't want to do it but she has to. Her husband is a good king and man, and he loves her.
In the romantic part of the book we have some interesting love interests. There's a king who even though she is married he doesn't hesitate to flirt with her.
Also we have someone else who claims her and to be honest I didn't like him from the beginning. He was possessive, and arrogant.
It was an interesting book and I'm curious about what'll happen in the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 5, 2025
Exciting debut from Aussie author H. J. Bogue. It's a refreshing mix of contemporary voice and an imaginative fantasy world where power, identity, magic, and politics are woven tightly together, and each turn of the page brings fresh intrigue. The FMC is not a simple pawn, despite her title; she is a formidable mage sent by her sister, the queen, to infiltrate the kingdom. An assassin disguised as a bride-the premise alone is compelling, but Bogue's writing also gives us well drawn, emotionally complex characters who are constantly blurring lines between friend and foe. The bigger themes revolve around identity and claiming one's destiny. As the first novel in a new series there are of course some things nicely posed for future resolution and a cliff hanger ending. I'm expecting good things from the sequel.
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