The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye

The Crown's Game (Crown's Game, #1)

by Evelyn Skye

"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, #1 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.

Reviewed by nightingalereads on

2 of 5 stars

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1.75 stars

I had greatly anticipated this book, which makes it all the more sad for me to admit that I started skimming only 100 pages in. While I didn't hate the characters, they were all as flat as a pancake. I didn't form any emotional attachment to them whatsoever, except for a faint sympathy for Nikolai and a vague fondness for Pasha. Vika was mostly just annoying. Plot-wise, I remained very distant and detached throughout the entire story. It was not as exciting or engaging as I'd hoped, but maybe that's my own fault for letting my expectations run away with me. I also thought the explanations behind the magic and history of the "Crown's Game" lacked some serious development. Not only that, but the logic behind the world-building just seemed awfully convenient at times, like it was thrown in solely to serve the plot. Overall, this book fell flat for me. Lots of other reviews seem to be positive, though, so I'm probably going to be in the minority on this one. :)

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  • 4 March, 2016: Reviewed