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Review
Thomas J. Devens gives an absolutely tantalising glimpse into the world of his Vermin of the Old Empire series in The Pawn, a captivating interactive short story that packs a surprisingly big punch.
With this 14.5K words short story, Devens proves that a skilled author doesn't need hundreds of pages to deliver world building, character work, atmosphere and emotional impact of the highest quality.
I was immediately captivated by the protagonist's strong voice and the all-consuming looming sense of dread, which kept me on my toes the entire way through. Even though I have read my fair share of grimdark stories, this experience felt even more ominous because of the 'choice' aspect in the interactive game; the stakes felt higher, and I was terrified of the fate of the protagonist, in the best way possible.
Devens' exceptionally bold storytelling skills deeply impressed me here, and I will definitely be checking out more of his works now. If you like your stories dark, dangerous and hauntingly mesmerising, then I can't recommend The Pawn highly enough!
