Review: Pawn's Gambit

Pawn's Gambit Pawn's Gambit by Rob J. Hayes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an eARC of this book from the author.

This book is (not) a sequel to Never Die, but was set in the same world and continues with the awesomeness that started in the (not) first book in the (not) series. See my review of the (not) first book.

Whether its a sequel or not, this book had just as many stars for me as the (maybe) first. We do see some of the names pop up from the earlier book, including the main character of this one, the Art of War.

Yuu is, or was, the Art of War, but avoids wearing her trademark mask in order to conceal her identity. She's wanted for the murder of the Steel Prince. She didn't murder him but feels responsible for his death, but at any rate she is trying to exist outside of the shadow of her fame by low stakes gambling. Low stakes in comparison to the level she'd played at before, as the chief war advisor to the Steel Prince.

Seems that the gods aren't done with her just yet, nor are they finished with the Art of War.

Natsuko is the Goddess of Missed Opportunities and Lost Things, and she has chosen Yuu as her Champion in the Heavenly Crucible. Every one hundred years, the Gods hold this contest and the winner will become the tianjun, or Emperor of Gods.

"No plan is solid enough to withstand both the cunning of one's enemy and the ineptitude of one's allies."


This book continues to explore the blend of Asian mythology and grimdark humor that was introduced in the related but certainly not introductory book in the Mortal Techniques not-series. Whether it's a sequel or not, it maintains the same air of character and worldbuilding flavor that we saw in Never Die, and I am certainly looking forward to the third book in the not-series that is due for release later this year.


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