Her curse made her a pawn—her choices will make her a queen.
 
When the uninvited sorceress arrives at the royal christening, her curse sets destiny into motion. But not even Malei, the exiled sister of the king, can truly foresee how her spell will shape the life of the infant princess.
 
Sixteen years later, a rain-soaked girl arrives at Malei’s mountain stronghold, seeking vengeance for the family she believes murdered. The witch sees more than anger in her eyes; she sees potential. Trained in the arts of strategy, combat, and command, the girl known only as Pawn learns what it means to wield both power and restraint. Yet the greatest test will not come from the sword, but from the truth behind her past.
 
In a world where magic, loyalty, and ambition intertwine, one young woman must decide whether she will remain a pawn in another’s game; or rise to become a queen in her own right.
 
A compelling re-imagining of the Sleeping Beauty story, Pawn’s Gambit explores destiny, free will, and the choices that define who we become.
 
Recommended for fans of: Mercedes Lackey, Robin McKinley, Patricia C. Wrede
 
4800 Words
 
Content Advisory – Pawn’s Gambit
 
Genre(s): Fantasy • Fairy-Tale Retelling • Coming-of-Age
 
Age Guidance: 13+ – manipulation, threat of violence, and emotionally intense themes
 
Content Ratings (Wolf Paw Scale: 0–5)
Language: [no paws] — none
Sexual Content: [no paws] — none
Violence: 🐾🐾 — threat, implied stabbing, and tense confrontations
Dark Themes: 🐾🐾🐾 — manipulation, family betrayal, magical coercion, moral dilemmas
 
This story features strong emotional tension, psychological manipulation, and a morally complex fairy-tale twist. Themes of autonomy, power, and destiny are central.