Katsoulas debuts with an encouraging parable centered on a classic matchup of the powerful and the upstart, in this case a creative battle of chess between a king and his subject. When the King, the “Ruler of everything” and “nature’s Commander,” issues a challenge for his people to devise “the most perfect strategy game,” a poor, unknown subject steps up to the plate—and presents a chess set, determined to astound his ruler and grasp the prize: guaranteed wealth beyond his imaginings. So begins an epic metaphorical battle, as the subject, referred to as an “unimportant black pawn,” instructs his monarch on the game’s rules—and tries to convince the “Great Conqueror” that chess is worthy of his favor.

Beyond an innovative take on chess showdowns, The Pawn Against the King registers the dynamics at play between the powerful and those who are perceived as weak. As the pawn carefully manipulates his ruler into falling for the game, he also measures careful steps to his own victory, plotting his moves and weighing his words until he emerges as not just a brilliant game maker but also a surprisingly worthy opponent for “the absolute Monarch.” Katsoulas crafts the subtleties of that battle with brevity, though astute readers will read between the lines and grasp the larger themes at play here.

Katsoulas’s stereotypical portrayal of a selfish, spoiled monarch—with little regard for the people he’s charged with protecting—takes away somewhat from the novel’s impact, though the twist at the end is satisfying. Hidden in the folds of the book’s rallying cry against complete power are wise snippets of battle advice with parallels drawn to everyday life, as in the pawn’s explanation that life, much like battles, is unpredictable, and “Sometimes, we’ll need to deviate and fight unorthodoxly.” Fans of thoughtful tales with tempered moral themes will appreciate this compact call to boldness and innovation.

Takeaway: A game of chess represents larger themes on battle, life, and power.

Comparable Titles: Bob Burg and John David Mann’s The Go-Giver, Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble’s How Stella Saved the Farm.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: B