[Review] The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

Title: The Crown’s Game

Series: yes

Author: Evelyn Skye

Publisher: Blazer + Ray

Published Date: May 17th, 2016

Genre: Fantasy, YA, Historical Fiction

 Format: Hardcover

Pages: 399

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis (From Goodreads)

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.

My Review

There was so much hype for this book; and what cinched the deal for was a comparison I saw for The Night Circus. I loved that book so much that I immediately pre-order The Crown’s Game, and I DO NOT regret it! This book was so deserving of that hype! There were a lot of similarities to The Night Circus, but it totally works! I was hooked from the get go.

The plot was insanely cool, and for the most part unique. I loved the plot, the characters, and the magic. Nikolai and Vika are both total opposites of each other and therefore make great comrades and competitors. Pasha is bae! Although I am still pretty upset with him; No Spoilers :D! I just loved him dearly. I also loved Ludmilla; she was a wonderful mother figure to Vika; plus I want to hire her to do all my cooking!!

My only regrets with this book is that it was so fast! I wish the game had been a little more drawn out with more epic magic scenes; and more Pasha…I wanted more Pasha!

The ending seriously broke my heart! Evelyn Skye knows how to crush a soul! In a good way though! I am still reeling from what happens, and I have no idea how I or the characters are going to move forward!

Oh and I just want to say, poor Renata, Nikolai is a jerk in regards to her!
Happy Reading

Jackie