Love Pawn? Readers share 58 books like Pawn...

By Karen Lynch,

Here are 58 books that Pawn fans have personally recommended if you like Pawn. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Becoming Alpha

Chris Cannon Author Of Going Down in Flames

From my list on supernatural kick-butt girls who donā€™t take crap.

Why am I passionate about this?

Being a petite person, I canā€™t move furniture by myself or lift heavy boxes. Itā€™s freaking annoying. I dream of having a magic wand or some sort of power that would make me stronger. If there was a potion to turn me into a Buffy the Vampire Slayer, kick-butt type of girl Iā€™d drink it in a second. Since there is no such potion, I write and read books about supernatural girls who donā€™t take crap from anyone, especially the guys in their lives. 

Chris' book list on supernatural kick-butt girls who donā€™t take crap

Chris Cannon Why did Chris love this book?

Whenever Tessa touches someoneā€™s skin she hears their thoughts and experiences their emotions which makes having friends and dating difficult. When she finally meets the guy of her dreams, he bites her. Not in a fun, sexy way but in an Iā€™m about turn you into a werewolf kind of way. To keep her from going feral, sheā€™s forced to attend St. Ailbeaā€™s Academy aka werewolf school. I love academy books and this one has all the feels.  

By Aileen Erin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Becoming Alpha as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One stupid party. One stupid boy. One stupid kiss. And my life was virtually over.

Tessa McCaide has a unique talent for getting into trouble. Then again, it isnā€™t easy for a girl with visions to ignore what she sees. Luckily Tessa and her family are leaving California and moving halfway across the country, giving her the perfect opportunity to leave her reputation as ā€œFreaky Tessaā€ behind.

But Tessa doesnā€™t realize that kissing the wrong guy in her new Texas town could land her in far more trouble than she ever imagined. Like being forced to attend St. Ailbeā€™s Academy,ā€¦


Book cover of Year Two

Chris Cannon Author Of Going Down in Flames

From my list on supernatural kick-butt girls who donā€™t take crap.

Why am I passionate about this?

Being a petite person, I canā€™t move furniture by myself or lift heavy boxes. Itā€™s freaking annoying. I dream of having a magic wand or some sort of power that would make me stronger. If there was a potion to turn me into a Buffy the Vampire Slayer, kick-butt type of girl Iā€™d drink it in a second. Since there is no such potion, I write and read books about supernatural girls who donā€™t take crap from anyone, especially the guys in their lives. 

Chris' book list on supernatural kick-butt girls who donā€™t take crap

Chris Cannon Why did Chris love this book?

I love Academy series where the reader discovers the world along with the main character. At the Fallen Academy youā€™re either Demon Cursed or Angel Blessed. Of course, Brielle is a little of both, which shouldnā€™t be possible and confuses everyone and makes her life a mixture of heaven and hell. 

By Leia Stone,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Year Two as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

Family is everything to Brielle, so when she learns about an opportunity to free her mother from Demon City, she takes it. No matter how dangerous, Brielle will do anything to unite her family in Angel City. All is going according to plan, until her brother's awakening ceremony. What he isā€¦ it shocks everyone, and he's sent away until he can get his powers under control. Then Brielle loses someone precious to her and goes to great lengths to get them back, lengths Lincoln doesn't agree with. He thinks Brielle is too much of a risk taker, too wild, andā€¦


Book cover of Shadow Falls: The Beginning: Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn

Chris Cannon Author Of Going Down in Flames

From my list on supernatural kick-butt girls who donā€™t take crap.

Why am I passionate about this?

Being a petite person, I canā€™t move furniture by myself or lift heavy boxes. Itā€™s freaking annoying. I dream of having a magic wand or some sort of power that would make me stronger. If there was a potion to turn me into a Buffy the Vampire Slayer, kick-butt type of girl Iā€™d drink it in a second. Since there is no such potion, I write and read books about supernatural girls who donā€™t take crap from anyone, especially the guys in their lives. 

Chris' book list on supernatural kick-butt girls who donā€™t take crap

Chris Cannon Why did Chris love this book?

Kylie has always played by the rules. One bad decision sends her to Shadow Falls Camp, a place for troubled teams which isnā€™t what it seems. Kylie finds herself surrounded by vampires, werewolves, and shifters. Believing they exist is difficult enough, facing the fact that sheā€™s one of them is impossible. Especially when they canā€™t figure out what she is. 

By C.C. Hunter,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Shadow Falls as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Step into the world of Shadow Falls, a camp that helps teens tap into their special talents. Once you visit, you'll never forget it - and you'll never, ever be the same. One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls - a camp for troubled teens, but the kids at Shadow Falls are far from ordinary. They're supernatural-learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world. And from the moment Kylie Galen arrives this worldā€¦


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Book cover of Water Ghosts

Water Ghosts by Linda Collison,

15-year-old James McCafferty is about to board an old junk-rigged boat on a summer adventure therapy for problem teens. James' problem is he hears voices and sometimes sees people others don't see. He believes the boat to be possessed by malicious spirits intent on sinking the ship. Once at sea,ā€¦

Book cover of Hex Hall

Chris Cannon Author Of Going Down in Flames

From my list on supernatural kick-butt girls who donā€™t take crap.

Why am I passionate about this?

Being a petite person, I canā€™t move furniture by myself or lift heavy boxes. Itā€™s freaking annoying. I dream of having a magic wand or some sort of power that would make me stronger. If there was a potion to turn me into a Buffy the Vampire Slayer, kick-butt type of girl Iā€™d drink it in a second. Since there is no such potion, I write and read books about supernatural girls who donā€™t take crap from anyone, especially the guys in their lives. 

Chris' book list on supernatural kick-butt girls who donā€™t take crap

Chris Cannon Why did Chris love this book?

Sophie tries to hide the fact that sheā€™s a witch, but when one of her spells goes wrong she finds herself shipped off to reform school for witches and shifters. She didnā€™t grow up in this life which means she has a lot of catching up to do. She has no intention of letting the other mean girl witches tell her what to do. Too bad her roommate is suspected of killing off their classmates. 

By Rachel Hawkins,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Hex Hall as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the wake of a love spell gone horribly wrong, Sophie Mercer, a sixteen-year-old witch, is shipped off to Hecate Hall, a boarding school for witches, shapeshifters and faeries. The traumas of mortal high school are nothing compared to the goings on at "Freak High." It's bad enough that she has to deal with a trio of mean girls led by the glamorous Elodie, but it's even worse when she begins to fall for Elodie's gorgeous boyfriend, Archer Cross, and frankly terrifying that the trio are an extremely powerful coven of dark witches. But when Sophie begins to learn theā€¦


Book cover of Chaser

T.K. Eldridge Author Of Dead & Buried

From my list on mysteries to get your blood pumping.

Why am I passionate about this?

After spending nearly two decades working in technology and Intelligenceā€”working with law enforcement from all different agenciesā€”I developed an appreciation and understanding of the worst that humans can do to each other. My specialty was domestic counterterrorism and foreign policyā€”and I did everything from developing software for chem/bio work to White House briefings. I have studied profiling and analysis in academic and real world settings ā€“ I have two Masters degrees ā€“ Strategic Intelligence & Criminal Justice ā€“ from American Military University, both with a minor in Terrorism Studies. While the academic background is great, the real-life experiences are what taught me the most ā€“ and find their way into my stories.

T.K.'s book list on mysteries to get your blood pumping

T.K. Eldridge Why did T.K. love this book?

Jinx Ballou is a serious bada$$. Transgender, ex-cop, skilled bounty hunter ā€“ she learns to deal with unexpected notoriety and some people that really need their a$$es kicked. 

The story deals with some difficult topics with sensitivity, humor, and grace. 

Once I started reading, I couldnā€™t put the book down ā€“ it kept me captivated from beginning to end. 

Iā€™m already on the third book in the series and have enjoyed every minute of getting to know Jinx and her world.

By Dharma Kelleher,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Chaser as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A shocking murder. A suspect on the run. Can a maligned young bounty hunter finally bring the killer in?

Jinx Ballouā€™s career hangs by a thread. Outed as transgender and blackballed, the tough-as-nails bounty hunter is determined to prove herself. She convinces a desperate bail agent to hire her, but the fugitive sheā€™s assigned has already eluded some of the best in the business.

Jinx takes the job and uncovers a horrifying truth that calls everything into question. As the danger rises, Jinx pushes her skills, her body, and her luck to the limit to apprehend the fugitive murder suspectā€¦


Book cover of Ever the Hunted

Nichole Giles Author Of Water So Deep

From my list on YA fantasy you should have read ten years ago.

Why am I passionate about this?

Iā€™m an author of Young Adult Fantasy fiction. When my oldest was six, I started reading Harry Potter to him. It was such a bonding experience that we both cherish. We still talk about the stories, even though he's all grown up and lives away from me most of the time. The thing about fantasy is that stories set in worlds or with people that donā€™t actually exist make it easier for us to swallow deep meanings, storylines with which we can identify, and that crawl deep down into our souls and nest there. Itā€™s not just about escaping into a fantasy world, but about finding human experience in otherworldly situations and characters. 

Nichole's book list on YA fantasy you should have read ten years ago

Nichole Giles Why did Nichole love this book?

I have a deep love of history and all stories that feel historical, specifically when royalty is involved (call it my royal roots, if you will). This story is a little bit like royal history, only in a fantasy setting (which, letā€™s be honest, is part of the draw of history) with a strong, deep female heroine who is able to save herself, along with the boy who broke her heart, and her entire kingdom along with them. Whatā€™s not to love about that? 

By Erin Summerill,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ever the Hunted as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

In this epic fantasy adventure, a teen girl embarks on a quest to apprehend her fatherā€™s killer and finds magic, intrigue, and herself along the way.

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, a legendary bounty hunterā€”that is, until her father is murdered. The alleged killer is none other than Cohen Mackay, her fatherā€™s former apprentice. The only friend sheā€™s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. 

She must go on a dangerous quest in a world ofā€¦


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Book cover of A School for Unusual Girls

A School for Unusual Girls by Kathleen Baldwin,

A spy school for girls amidst Jane Austenā€™s high society.

Daughters of the Beau Monde who donā€™t fit London societyā€™s strict mold are banished to Stranje House, where the headmistress trains these unusually gifted girls to enter the dangerous world of spies in the Napoleonic wars. #1 NYT bestselling authorā€¦

Book cover of The Trial of Two

J.V. Hilliard Author Of The Last Keeper

From my list on fantasy that have unconventional elements.

Why am I passionate about this?

Before I was published, I played Dungeons and Dragons for years. I grew up on games involving fantasy, and though my career took me into government, it stayed my passion. Iā€™m well on my way to publishing the last two books in my four-part saga as well as venturing into Kindle Vella, and I canā€™t wait to see what is next for me in the realm of fantasy. When writing in the genre, itā€™s easy to fall into the same old tropes and utilize the same creatures. These five books are atypical in this age of overdone plots and monsters. I hope you find your next read among them.

J.V.'s book list on fantasy that have unconventional elements

J.V. Hilliard Why did J.V. love this book?

The Season of the Runer series is a great book for fans of The Witcher. It is unique in that it doesnā€™t focus on western European culture, but rather eastern European or middle-eastern or Eastern. Runers are humans who have committed a crime and been genetically altered. Theyā€™re bounty hunters, essentially. It follows Tzarik, a Runer, as he struggles with the will to go on. He meets Sybal, a diamond mine heiress and brand new Runer, and trains her to help him take down a necromancer. I enjoyed everything about this story, and Iā€™d recommend it to those wanting a darker fantasy.

By Abigail Linhardt,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Trial of Two as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

WRITER'S DIGEST AWARDS HONORABLE MENTION WINNER

The endless road and life of a monster-hunting Runer has gone stale for Tzarik and death is the only alternative. Tired of risking his life for the prejudiced people of Alā€™Myrah, itā€™s time to just let go. The only thing that stands in his way: A Runer cannot take his own life, breaking his oath to the dark magic that binds him to the hunt. When a warlord from the far east threatens her family, Sybal, a young diamond mine heiress with a lavish lifestyle, takes action to protect her family and estate. Butā€¦


Book cover of Foxhunt

Alina Leonova Author Of Wild Flowers, Electric Beasts

From my list on solarpunk that proves people can work together.

Why am I passionate about this?

I used to love dystopian books, but recently, Iā€™ve become increasingly interested in hopeful narratives. Iā€™ve been a climate activist in a couple of movements, and I care deeply about the world, but with all the challenges and negativity we are facing, itā€™s easy to fall into despair. Thatā€™s why I think stories that show cooperation, community, respect for nature and each other, working for a better world, and making it happen are so important. We need those stories to get inspired to act instead of thinking that weā€™re all doomed anyway. They are also healingā€”a refuge for a tormented mind.

Alina's book list on solarpunk that proves people can work together

Alina Leonova Why did Alina love this book?

My favorite part of the book was the world-building. The setting was a joy to explore, with lush, green cities, clean technology, forests, people living in small communities and relying on barter, and the whole solarpunk aesthetic.

The understanding of morality in this world is largely based on peopleā€™s interactions with nature and animals. Those who donā€™t treat the world with the respect it deserves have to face dire consequences from the Order of the Vengeful Wild, which was an interesting aspect of the book. The story itself was not bad, but didnā€™t make such an impression on me as the world it was set in.

By Rem Wigmore,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Foxhunt as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Orfeus the musician is searching for hope in the heart of danger...

In a lush future, plants have stripped most of the poison from the air and bounty hunters keep resource hoarders in check.

Orfeus only wants to be a travelling singer, famed and adored. She has her share of secrets, but sheā€™s no energy criminal, so why does a bounty hunter want her dead? Not just any bounty hunter but the Wolf, most fearsome of all the Order of the Vengeful Wild.

Orfeus will call in every favor she has to find out, seeking answers while clinging to herā€¦


Book cover of One for the Money

Randy Overbeck Author Of Scarlet at Crystal River

From my list on transport readers to a place and time.

Why am I passionate about this?

From when I first got lost in a bookā€”I think it was Herman Woukā€™s Winds of Warā€”I discovered I really loved stories which thrust me into their world. From favorites like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which I read to my kids, to Peter Benchleyā€™s Jaws, I loved getting lost in the snowy world of Narnia or out in the water in the small boat with Brody. When I read any new author, I notice how well they paint the scene and how skillfully they describe the what and where of their tale. Does the story capture the details, idiosyncrasies, and nuances of this place and time? If it does, Iā€™m in. 

Randy's book list on transport readers to a place and time

Randy Overbeck Why did Randy love this book?

I love listening to Evanovichā€™s hilarious tales of Stephanie Plumā€™s misadventures as a wannabe bail/bondsman. These books are my wifeā€™s and my favorite distraction on long road trips. While her mysteries may be thin, her characters are so real and her stories so crazy, I didnā€™t miss the whodunit. I included her in this August list because she captures the seedy side of Trenton, New Jersey, with amazing clarity, even while laughing at the place.

I picture myself riding in one of her carsā€”which she destroys regularlyā€”along with her friend, the former ho, LuLu, hair flowing in the stinky wind blowing off deserted warehouses, sleezy girl joints and questionable car repair shops. This is the first in a series that is now at 31.

By Janet Evanovich,

Why should I read it?

17 authors picked One for the Money as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Stephanie Plum is down on her luck. She's lost her job, her car's on the brink of repossession, and her apartment is fast becoming furniture-free.

Enter Cousin Vinnie, a low-life who runs a bail-bond company. If Stephanie can bring in vice cop turned outlaw Joe Morelli, she stands to pick up $10,000. But tracking down a cop wanted for murder isn't easy . . .

And when Benito Ramirez, a prize-fighter with more menace than mentality, wants to be her friend Stephanie soon knows what it's like to be pursued. Unfortunately the best person to protect her just happens toā€¦


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Book cover of Authentically Dead

Authentically Dead by Julie Kusma,

A hair-raising, side-splitting supernatural adventure!

In the idyllic town of Pine Port, Kelsey was on the cusp of realizing her dreams. In weeks, she'd clasp her high school diploma and beauty license. Or so she thought, until her life took a supernatural detour, far removed from the ordinary path she'dā€¦

Book cover of The Devil's Right Hand

T.J. Lockwood Author Of Violent Skies

From my list on featuring a memorable female protagonist.

Why am I passionate about this?

When I was little I used to seek out stories that featured strong female charactersā€”especially in genre fiction. This proved to be quite difficult, even as I enlisted my entire family to help in the search. Because of this, ensuring that each of my own works feature this is a must. I am an author, artist, and podcast host who focuses on understanding the importance of story elements. I am an active martial artist, have a degree in creative writing from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and often get mesmerized by the process of creating comics and music. I hope you enjoy these recommendations as much as I did.

T.J.'s book list on featuring a memorable female protagonist

T.J. Lockwood Why did T.J. love this book?

This is one of the first stories I ever read with a strong female protagonist at the helm. Dante Valentine is a bounty hunter, necromancer, and a no-nonsense kind of woman. She is stubborn, flawed, and her story is a classic answer to what happens when you make a literal deal with the devil. I appreciate that she is unapologetically human and blatantly admits to her faults as a person. She is honestā€”perhaps sometimes too much soā€”and perseveres when things go awry. If anything, I would say she is a stand-out not only as far as female protagonists are concerned, but protagonists in speculative fiction as well.

By Lilith Saintcrow,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Devil's Right Hand as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Dante Valentine, Necromancer and bounty hunter, just wants to be left alone. But the Devil has other ideas.

The Prince wants Dante. And he wants her now. And Dante and her lover, Japhrimel, have no choice but to answer the Prince's summons. And to fulfill a seemingly simple task: become the Devil's Right Hand, hunt down four demons that have escaped from Hell, and earn His gratitude.

It's a shame that nothing is ever easy when it comes to the Devil. Because of course, he doesn't tell Dante the whole truth: there is a rebellion brewing in Hell. And thereā€¦


Book cover of Becoming Alpha
Book cover of Year Two
Book cover of Shadow Falls: The Beginning: Born at Midnight and Awake at Dawn

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5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in bounty hunters, the supernatural, and fairies?

Bounty Hunters 26 books
The Supernatural 377 books
Fairies 154 books