Check & Mate

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Ali Hazelwood: Check & Mate (Hardcover, 2023, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers)

library binding, 368 pages

Published Nov. 7, 2023 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers.

ISBN:
978-0-593-69844-0
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3 stars (1 review)

Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.

Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist....

As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it …

2 editions

Reconciling and growing

3 stars

2.7 stars

I received this book for free, this does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review

“I don't think you understand.” He holds my eyes. I think his throat moves. “I want to play chess with you, Mallory.”

Told all from Mallory's point-of-view, Check & Mate is the story of a girl who's father took advantage of her amazing chess skills, left her and her family wrecked, then a chance comes back up for Mallory to fulfill her dreams, and little bit of falling in love along the way. After getting a glimpse of Mallory following along to who Nolan “Kingkiller” Sawyer is, a young “bad boy” dominating the chess world, the story jumps two years to Mallory being eighteen and Nolan twenty. When her bestfriend Easton begs her to join her team in a charity chess tournament, Mallory ends up winning it …