The Crown's Game
Young Adult Fiction
Balzer + Bray
May 16, 2017
Hardcover
432
The gorgeous and darkly compelling sequel to The Crown’s Game—perfect for fans of Red Queen and Shadow and Bone. Magic is growing, shadows are rising, and the throne is at stake… Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha’s coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected. Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom. For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown’s Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he’s given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he’s willing to go to return to the world. With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves.
WrensReads Review:
I absolutely loved the first book. It had the feel of The Night Circus and Caraval all twisted into an enchanting bundle for me to dive into. The ending stabbed me right in the feels and I wasn’t able to breathe until I got my hands on this book.
This book, though kind of a letdown compared to its predecessor, was as charming as the first. We have stone soldiers, magical pairs, ashamed princes, bossy princesses, fire redheads, and enchanted weather.
But still, not as mind-blowing.
*some obvious spoilers that are obvious because the book goes on and it’s right there in the blurb*
So, we were left with a bomb about a forgotten prince and a possible bastard prince.
After some creepy and unsettling situations, we have an angry boy trying to get back what he believes is rightfully his, we have a boy who isn’t sure he is prepared for the responsibility thrown at him, and a cuffed magician girl who is completely let down with the prize of winning the game.
Honestly, I really did enjoy this book. It had the magic and the characters were good but nothing really shook me like in the first one. It was like the first one I was hit with a 60-foot wave and tossed around like a hacky sack and then this one I was just in a pleasant forest with the butterflies flapping around my ears.
And I need that drama. I need the wild ride and the rooting for something and I wasn’t really rooting for anything, just waiting to see what happened with a steady heart.
I would say this duology is a good one. I wouldn’t say it is a phenomenally, heart-stopping one, but I would say it is an enjoyable ride for someone who likes Russia and magic.
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