The Crown's Game
Juvenile Fiction
Balzer + Bray
May 17, 2016
Hardcover
416
"Gorgeous and richly imagined."—Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes series "Teeming with hidden magic and fiery romance."—Sabaa Tahir, New York Times bestselling author of An Ember in the Ashes Perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and Red Queen, The Crown’s Game is a thrilling and atmospheric historical fantasy set in Imperial Russia about two teenagers who must compete for the right to become the Imperial Enchanter—or die in the process—from debut author Evelyn Skye. Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air. They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side. And so he initiates the Crown’s Game, an ancient duel of magical skill—the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death. Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for the chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has? For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her. And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love . . . or be killed himself. As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear . . . the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.
WrensReads Review:
I just don’t even know what to say.
This book blew my mind.
My word.
This was absolutely amazing. This is set in Russia, which is just enchanting in itself with this time period, and it is filled with magic. It was literally Anastasia mixed with The Night Circus. I did not go into this book expecting to absolutely fall in love with it. I thought maybe this was going to be a three star but I am not even happy just given it five stars.
So our two magicians, Vika Andreyeva and Nikolai Karimov, are put against each other to the death. They are the only two magicians, which is rare because “the pool” where Russia’s magic is usually only goes to one person. So when it, for some reason, goes to two, the throne throws “The Crown’s Game”.
The Crown’s Game is done in secret basically. The two magicians aren’t even suppose to know who the other is, and their mentors are taken away from “the playing board” so they can’t have an impact on any of the plays either. And when I say “the playing board,” I just mean the whole city. The Tsar chooses the winner and the winner gets to be the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The loser gets death (seems fair).
THE MAGIC IS AMAZING
“Imagine, and it shall be.
There are no limits.”
And it didn’t have any limits! From transforming an outfit into a beautiful dress to rainbow waters to island making to weather changing to JUST AMAZINGNESS. Like the magic in this had my jaw dropped to the floor. It was absolutely breath-taking.
And the characters? I have never been so involved with such an intense love triangle in my whole life.
Like I am not even mad about the genericness of a love triangle, it was so wonderfully written and I was so tangled up with it. I can’t even see how all my loves will end up happy. And I need them to all be happy.
I mean yeah, a pretty girl drops into town and all the boys swoon is a little annoying, but you know what? Don’t even care. Still loved it. Can’t get enough.
And I am absolutely in love with Prince Pasha Romanov. 100%. No questions.
The relationships outside of the romantic relationships were so well developed too! I just don’t have anything negative to say about this whole book. I am so unbelievably anxious for book two because the cliff I am hanging off of is about to fall apart.
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