Feathered Quill Book Reviews

 #Bookreview of Mate: A Novel in Twenty Games

By: Robert Castle

Publisher: Spuyten Duyvil Publishing

Publication Date: May 7, 2025

ISBN: 978-1963908497

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: July 14, 2025

Couple Bill Pillsbury and Cynthia Larkin go through the normal stages of a relationship from dating to having children in Mate: A Novel in Twenty Games by Robert Castle. In this fictional work, Castle sets up his novel to read like a game of chess for every move each of his players, Pillsbury and Larkin, do in response to what is presented to them. They start off in their dating phase, and eventually work through marriage, having children and life beyond children and each step is a move played in the game of hypermodern chess.

The first thing worth noting was how uniquely presented this novel was to Robert Castle’s readers. The entire concept of dating to having a family was intricately written out for readers to follow along as if they were playing a true game of chess. Each step in Pillsbury and Larkin’s relationship was expertly played out as individual chess moves and chess fan readers will eagerly turn the pages to see how each match turned out between both Bill and Cynthia.

Having said that, it was a bit confusing to follow at times because Castle set out to present each possible move either Bill or Cynthia could have done toward each other. What that means is that you had to continue reading to see what the true exchange was between this couple in order to learn who might have won each match. Chess fans will relish in reading this novel because the author wrote each reaction between Bill and Cynthia as a chess move trying to win the match overall because in Castle’s eyes, “chess is war reduced to a game; marriage is chess; marriage is war.”

Robert Castle has written a few novels throughout the years, while also publishing journal articles on the theme of movies. He has also written many plays, and has performed in New York City, Philadelphia, and Great Britain.

Quill says: Mate: A Novel in Twenty Games by Robert Castle is one fictional satire book that will attract readers in both the satire and chess categories especially. Readers who are looking for something different will greatly enjoy this book due to its unique presentation.

For more information about Mate: A Novel in Twenty Games, please visit the publisher's website at: spuytenduyvil.net/Mate.html