Pawn (Fae Games, #1)

by Karen Lynch

[kimbacaffeinate]

Narrated by Caitlin Kelly, this urban fantasy introduces us to Jesse James. A recently graduated eighteen-year-old with a sprite for a brother and bounty hunters for parents. When her parents don’t return from meeting a contact, Jesse searches for them but quickly realizes to do that, she must join the family business.

Woot! I loved the world building as Lynch introduced us to an alternate New York and the Fae Games series. In this urban telling, the veils between fairy world and our world collapsed. When that happened the fairies and other creatures decide not to hide anymore and most live among us and travel back and forth without incident. However, some cause problems and when that happens bounty hunters capture the creature. Once tagged they are exiled to the fairy world.

I loved Jesse. She may not have field experience, but she is book smart & quick on her feet. When she runs into trouble with the fairy guard and Lukas, their leader. Oh my!

The characters were well-developed and their voices felt authentic. From bounty hunters to the annoying agents, I was all in.

You’ll enjoy mystery, a dash of romance, twists, coffee with Violet, Jesse’s bestie and intense moments with Lukas. The bounty hunts were fascinating as was a thread about a unique line of females. I want to know more!

At first I wasn’t sure if this was Young Adult as Caitlin Kelly’s voice for Jesse seemed too young at first, but it’s not and I came to love Kelly’s voice for all the characters, even Finn the Sprite. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer