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The Pawns
“A brisk, enjoyable supernatural tale of black magic and powerful spells.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This is a scorcher of a story...and while it explores themes of magic, revenge, and survival, it brims with realism and humanity.” —The Book Commentary
“A suspenseful urban horror sequel with magic, devilry, and inspired surprises.” —Booklife
A psychologist uses witchcraft to treat an abused boy, and finds himself in a race with the Devil—literally—when his magic inadvertently exposes his patient to a demon.
Travis is a witch practicing psychotherapy in modern day Bucharest. He’s devised an orb that siphons human trauma to replenish his power. The sphere induces patients to share deep secrets, much like hypnosis, and repressed pain is extracted without any harm done. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work.
The doctor cannot resist testing his magic on two patients who will not share themselves otherwise. His technique seems to work until it turns wicked. Although nothing in the spell invites it, a demon hijacks everything.
Forced to stand against the evil that powers him, Travis must face long-held delusions about his virtue, his origin, and his hope of redemption, even as supernatural forces terrorize those already exposed to his magic.
“This is a scorcher of a story...and while it explores themes of magic, revenge, and survival, it brims with realism and humanity.” —The Book Commentary
“A suspenseful urban horror sequel with magic, devilry, and inspired surprises.” —Booklife
A psychologist uses witchcraft to treat an abused boy, and finds himself in a race with the Devil—literally—when his magic inadvertently exposes his patient to a demon.
Travis is a witch practicing psychotherapy in modern day Bucharest. He’s devised an orb that siphons human trauma to replenish his power. The sphere induces patients to share deep secrets, much like hypnosis, and repressed pain is extracted without any harm done. At least that’s how it’s supposed to work.
The doctor cannot resist testing his magic on two patients who will not share themselves otherwise. His technique seems to work until it turns wicked. Although nothing in the spell invites it, a demon hijacks everything.
Forced to stand against the evil that powers him, Travis must face long-held delusions about his virtue, his origin, and his hope of redemption, even as supernatural forces terrorize those already exposed to his magic.
- GenresHorrorParanormalFantasy
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2022
5 people are currently reading
696 people want to read
About the author
Ron Gabriel
4 books19 followersRon Gabriel is a magazine industry veteran who writes supernatural fiction. He grew up in northern New England where he loved exploring old graveyards and places rumored to be haunted. He has a BA in Journalism from the University of Maine, and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York, and is an active member of the Horror Writers Association.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 21, 2022
Having not read the first book in this series, I went into this book blind. A coven of witches wants to extend their family with disastrous consequences. A powerful witch wants to increase his power without hurting mortals and a young witch is in training. The story was good and kept me reading late into the night. Not much horror but it was not really needed. Think of Twighlight but instead of vampires we have witches. Will definitely read the first book as I want to know more about Travis and how this feud began.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 10, 2022
The Pawns is the second instalment of The Bucharest Witches Saga. The Pawns picks up four years after the events of book one – The Banished, which was about a group of mortals living in Vermont, USA and a coven of witches from Bucharest in Romania. Travis (the main protagonist) belongs to a long line of esteemed witches in an ancient coven – the coven relies on ritual killings, disguised as accidents, to sustain itself, but Travis believes he is of a higher order than the other witches in the coven because his magic doesn’t kill. To replenish depleted power, he feeds on human fear alone.
Over a Century after Travis’s parents are killed by the witch council after experimenting with the advanced magic that feeds off of mortal fear and the reanimation of dead people, Travis moves to the sleepy town of Sussex in Vermont to put his parents’ magic, (that he has honed with the help of fellow excommunicated witch, Sorinah Patrascu) to the test. Travis plans to wreak havoc in Vermont to draw enough power to seek revenge against the witch council who murdered his parents, but a scheming council member will do anything to stop him with disastrous consequences for the neighbouring mortals and specifically for a clique of college coeds.
Four years on, the mortals have moved on with their lives, that is until Rachel begins to have nightmares about her missing friend, Sophia. Rachel and her ex-boyfriend, James follow clues from her reoccurring nightmares and end up finding the body of their friend and classmate who went missing without a trace four years ago. Travis, now a psychologist, uses his magic to develop an experimental therapy that will extract trauma from his mortal patients’ psyches and uses the energy from those traumas to provide fuel for witches, a win-win for witches and mortals, at least in theory. When the experiment goes wrong, Travis struggles to figure out where his treatment went off course – meanwhile he falls victim to a plot launched by an old enemy seeking revenge. Travis is lured from Romania back to Vermont, where most of the events took place in book one and the mortals once again become ‘The Pawns’ in a battle between the witches.
Although this isn’t my usual genre, I found I really enjoyed this book. Not realising this was book two and not having first read book one, I thought I’d struggle to get into the book, but I didn’t – it would be better to The Banished first, having read some of its reviews, but it isn’t strictly necessary. As you proceed through the story, you are filled in on what happened four years ago and how it has affected everyone – the story then segways nicely into present-day events, twisting a complex tale of good and bad and the shades of grey between the two. The Pawns was enjoyably fast-paced and dread-inducing with a constant sense of foreboding and extremely atmospheric. The ending leaves the door firmly ajar for further instalments and I can easily see this becoming the next supernatural horror series on many ‘to be read’ lists.
My thanks to the author and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Members Titles for my advance copy to review via Netgalley. This book is out 13th May 2022!
Over a Century after Travis’s parents are killed by the witch council after experimenting with the advanced magic that feeds off of mortal fear and the reanimation of dead people, Travis moves to the sleepy town of Sussex in Vermont to put his parents’ magic, (that he has honed with the help of fellow excommunicated witch, Sorinah Patrascu) to the test. Travis plans to wreak havoc in Vermont to draw enough power to seek revenge against the witch council who murdered his parents, but a scheming council member will do anything to stop him with disastrous consequences for the neighbouring mortals and specifically for a clique of college coeds.
Four years on, the mortals have moved on with their lives, that is until Rachel begins to have nightmares about her missing friend, Sophia. Rachel and her ex-boyfriend, James follow clues from her reoccurring nightmares and end up finding the body of their friend and classmate who went missing without a trace four years ago. Travis, now a psychologist, uses his magic to develop an experimental therapy that will extract trauma from his mortal patients’ psyches and uses the energy from those traumas to provide fuel for witches, a win-win for witches and mortals, at least in theory. When the experiment goes wrong, Travis struggles to figure out where his treatment went off course – meanwhile he falls victim to a plot launched by an old enemy seeking revenge. Travis is lured from Romania back to Vermont, where most of the events took place in book one and the mortals once again become ‘The Pawns’ in a battle between the witches.
Although this isn’t my usual genre, I found I really enjoyed this book. Not realising this was book two and not having first read book one, I thought I’d struggle to get into the book, but I didn’t – it would be better to The Banished first, having read some of its reviews, but it isn’t strictly necessary. As you proceed through the story, you are filled in on what happened four years ago and how it has affected everyone – the story then segways nicely into present-day events, twisting a complex tale of good and bad and the shades of grey between the two. The Pawns was enjoyably fast-paced and dread-inducing with a constant sense of foreboding and extremely atmospheric. The ending leaves the door firmly ajar for further instalments and I can easily see this becoming the next supernatural horror series on many ‘to be read’ lists.
My thanks to the author and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Members Titles for my advance copy to review via Netgalley. This book is out 13th May 2022!
February 18, 2022
A Chilling and Thought-Provoking Novel
The Pawns is the second installment in the “Bucharest Witches” series about a coven of witches in Bucharest, Romania and a group of mortals in Burlington, Vermont who are unwittingly ensnared in a battle between two of the witches. The Pawns takes place after the events of the first book (“The Banished”) and reintroduces many of the characters from the first novel. I highly recommend reading The Banished first, but the story in The Pawns stands on its own and can be enjoyed even if you haven’t read The Banished.
Without giving too much away, the primary character in The Pawns is Travis, a powerful witch living in present-day Bucharest, Romania. Travis is a member of a coven of witches who survive by feeding from the energy generated by mortals, often killing the mortals in the process. Travis, a trained psychologist, uses his magic to develop an experimental therapy that extracts past traumas from his mortal patients’ psyches and uses the energy from those traumas to provide fuel for witches — a win-win for witches and mortals, at least in theory. Travis’ well-intentioned experiment goes awry, with devastating results. As Travis struggles to figure out where his treatment went wrong and how it can be corrected, he falls victim to a plot launched by another witch seeking revenge against Travis for a past grievance. Travis’ adversary lures him to Burlington, Vermont, where most of the events in The Banished took place. That is where a group of unsuspecting mortals become the titular “pawns” in the battle between Travis and his adversary.
The Pawns is one of those rare books that is instantly captivating, transporting the reader to a world where magic (both good and bad) exists all around us. It is extremely well written and advances the story at a brisk but steady pace. The book also effectively creates an atmosphere of dread and foreboding and includes several jaw-dropping twists that made it hard for me to put the book down.
The Pawns is also notable for its realistic dialogue and its thoughtful portrayal of each major character. I particularly love how the book describes the mortals’ reaction to the sinister forces that controlled them and their struggle to make sense out of behavior that was utterly inexplicable. I was equally impressed with The Pawns’ character development. There are no cliches here. The Pawns’ characters are complex and nuanced. The Pawns recognizes that few people (or witches) are all good or bad. While there is never any doubt that Travis is the protagonist of the story, he is far from perfect. The antagonist is equally well developed and raises some very valid objections to Travis’ experimental treatment and the harm he caused, albeit unintentionally.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Pawns and recommend it without hesitation. I also agree with another reviewer who thought The Pawns (as well as The Banished) would make a great movie or min-series. Netflix, are you listening?
The Pawns is the second installment in the “Bucharest Witches” series about a coven of witches in Bucharest, Romania and a group of mortals in Burlington, Vermont who are unwittingly ensnared in a battle between two of the witches. The Pawns takes place after the events of the first book (“The Banished”) and reintroduces many of the characters from the first novel. I highly recommend reading The Banished first, but the story in The Pawns stands on its own and can be enjoyed even if you haven’t read The Banished.
Without giving too much away, the primary character in The Pawns is Travis, a powerful witch living in present-day Bucharest, Romania. Travis is a member of a coven of witches who survive by feeding from the energy generated by mortals, often killing the mortals in the process. Travis, a trained psychologist, uses his magic to develop an experimental therapy that extracts past traumas from his mortal patients’ psyches and uses the energy from those traumas to provide fuel for witches — a win-win for witches and mortals, at least in theory. Travis’ well-intentioned experiment goes awry, with devastating results. As Travis struggles to figure out where his treatment went wrong and how it can be corrected, he falls victim to a plot launched by another witch seeking revenge against Travis for a past grievance. Travis’ adversary lures him to Burlington, Vermont, where most of the events in The Banished took place. That is where a group of unsuspecting mortals become the titular “pawns” in the battle between Travis and his adversary.
The Pawns is one of those rare books that is instantly captivating, transporting the reader to a world where magic (both good and bad) exists all around us. It is extremely well written and advances the story at a brisk but steady pace. The book also effectively creates an atmosphere of dread and foreboding and includes several jaw-dropping twists that made it hard for me to put the book down.
The Pawns is also notable for its realistic dialogue and its thoughtful portrayal of each major character. I particularly love how the book describes the mortals’ reaction to the sinister forces that controlled them and their struggle to make sense out of behavior that was utterly inexplicable. I was equally impressed with The Pawns’ character development. There are no cliches here. The Pawns’ characters are complex and nuanced. The Pawns recognizes that few people (or witches) are all good or bad. While there is never any doubt that Travis is the protagonist of the story, he is far from perfect. The antagonist is equally well developed and raises some very valid objections to Travis’ experimental treatment and the harm he caused, albeit unintentionally.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Pawns and recommend it without hesitation. I also agree with another reviewer who thought The Pawns (as well as The Banished) would make a great movie or min-series. Netflix, are you listening?
May 5, 2022
The Pawns is the second installment of The Bucharest Witches saga. The first book was The Banished which was about a group of mortals living in Vermont and a coven of powerful witches from Romania. I thoroughly enjoyed The Banished and eagerly awaited the release of book 2. The Pawns picks up 4 years after the events on book 1. The mortals have moved on with their lives without further interference from the witches until Rachel begins having nightmares about her missing friend Sophia. Little does she suspect that her dreams are the result of a cunning witch. Meanwhile, Travis (the main character from book 1) has become a psychologist and is married and expecting a baby. Travis is continuing to try to perfect the ancestral magic of his parents by perfecting a way to refuel a witch’s energy without killing a mortal. Travis is using his job as a psychologist to experiment on his patients. His goal is that patients can talk about their mental health pain while he is able to feed off of their pain. It should be a harmless exchange and mutually beneficial for each side. However, things do not turn out the way that Travis has planned. Travis also discovers that a new threat has arisen with the mortals in Vermont and he wants to help. Will Travis be able to save the mortals while also elevating the coven’s magic or will something more sinister emerge from the dark?
Overall, I enjoyed The Pawns. I enjoyed seeing how Travis continues to try to perfect his ancestral magic without killing humans. I liked that the same mortals from book 1 were being used as pawns to help the witches on their mission. I also like the darker elements at play here (I will not reveal more about this for fear of spoilers) and the exploration of the very fine line between good and evil. There is also the concept of who is the real pawns who are being moved toward the ultimate goal of everyone involved.
I do recommend reading The Banished before reading The Pawns.
Overall, I enjoyed The Pawns. I enjoyed seeing how Travis continues to try to perfect his ancestral magic without killing humans. I liked that the same mortals from book 1 were being used as pawns to help the witches on their mission. I also like the darker elements at play here (I will not reveal more about this for fear of spoilers) and the exploration of the very fine line between good and evil. There is also the concept of who is the real pawns who are being moved toward the ultimate goal of everyone involved.
I do recommend reading The Banished before reading The Pawns.
May 10, 2022
After reading The Banished, I was keen to read the second instalment in the series.
The Pawns, was amazing. Super fast paced, with incredible attention to detail and so many unexpected twists and turns. The story stands on its own, but has even more impact if you’ve read the first book. I actually found myself going back to it to refresh my memory on Travis’s early life and the legends of the Bucharest Witches.
The character development was inspired and it was crazy engaging to see the story playing out between Bucharest and the bucolic New England countryside.
It played like a movie in my mind. And unlike a lot of supernatural stories, this is a psychological thriller where even the most evil characters have an element of relatability about them.
Looking forward to the next instalment.
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May 18, 2022This contemporary urban horror novel is a gem that will be perfect for readers itching for a book along the lines of The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson, and Intercepts by T.J. Payne. It will leave you waiting eagerly for the next installment of the series.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2022/05/13/book-...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2022/05/13/book-...
July 30, 2022
The full review for The Pawns, by Ron Gabriel can be found Here.
October 17, 2022
13 reviews and 4.54 average. Come on! That's better than most Pulitzer winners. In a nutshell, this is a very meh YA novel that had some moments but was in no way as compelling as the 13 reviewers before me have purported. In its defense, I did not read book #1, which I'm sure developed the characters of Rachael and James, among others. I read it because the book club I'm in voted on it, and I aligned.
The sample should be enough to convince any inveterate reader that my opinion is more realistic than all the inflated 5 star reviews out there.
The sample should be enough to convince any inveterate reader that my opinion is more realistic than all the inflated 5 star reviews out there.
June 14, 2022
A deeply complex and disturbing look at witches and witchcraft, that will leave one wondering if there ever was such a thing as " white " magic or if it has always been a satanic practice despite the beliefs or intent of any of the individuals involved. And, can even unwitting participation or involvement doom one to the Devil's playground for all eternity? Is there any way back from such a misstep? This book will leave the reader pondering long after the sun has set and perhaps a bit wary of closing their eyes?
May 26, 2022
Gabriel takes us further into his creepy, sexy, spooky and sometimes hilarious world with The Pawns, the sequel to The Banished. The Bucharest Witches are back in the US and pity you if you end up on their radar. Some full body chills, sharp dialog, unique characters and epic witch battles combine to make this a great read. Fun to read an author who is growing with each new release and can't wait to see where he takes us from here.
June 14, 2022
A deep and complex study of witches and witchcraft that leaves the reader mulling if there can be or ever was "white witchcraft" despite the intent and practices of the witches and their true intent. A truly frightening story of the truly well meaning witches who through misdirection and simple lack of comprehension sent many unwittingly to the Devil's playground. A book to be pondered and keep you awake well into the night
April 8, 2022
#ThePawns is a well written story that goes back and forth between USA and Romania, mortals and witches. I had some difficulty getting through it, but only because I had. It read book#1 first. I would recommend that the reader take in “The Banished: The Bucharest Witches #1” first in order to get the most out of this book. Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.
June 5, 2022
Fantastic thriller!
Fantastic thriller, even better than the first book. It was hard to pull away from reading it. Can’t wait to learn what’s next in the next chapter of this trilogy.
Fantastic thriller, even better than the first book. It was hard to pull away from reading it. Can’t wait to learn what’s next in the next chapter of this trilogy.
June 17, 2022
Travis, a witch practising psychotherapy in Romania has created an orb that uses human trauma to fuel his own power. The orb persuades his patients to share deep secrets and allows repressed pain to be released without any harm to them.
When Travis tests his magic on two unwilling to share patients, the techniques take an evil turn when a demon takes over everything. Travis is forced to face against the evil that powers him, while facing his origin and his hopes of redeeming himself.
Read the full review here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.com/2022/...
When Travis tests his magic on two unwilling to share patients, the techniques take an evil turn when a demon takes over everything. Travis is forced to face against the evil that powers him, while facing his origin and his hopes of redeeming himself.
Read the full review here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.com/2022/...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews