The Crown's Game

The Crown's Game is by debut author Evelyn Skye and is the first of the series of the same name.

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.

The Breakdown:
1. I am fascinated by Imperial Russia, and I do love a good fantasy book, so this book was a natural for me to pick up. Skye does a beautiful job of mixing actual Russian history to her fantasy. I just loved her descriptions of St. Petersburg, the people, the buildings, and the food. She did an excellent job of transporting me there.

2.  One of my favorite things about this book was the characters of Vika and Nikolai. Skye wrote each so wonderfully, and so different from each other, despite both being Enchanters. Each is a master enchanter, but their strength in their powers differ so greatly.  With Vika leaning toward the natural elements, and Nikolai more in tune with construction of man made things. Plus, when they finally meet, the pull between them is incredible.

3. Skye has a wonderful cast of supporting characters.  Pasha, the tssesarevich, who is kind and wants to understand the world around him, but really has not head for politics. Ludmila, Vika's friend, the baker who cares deeply for Vika, and I sincerely wish I could try her pastries. And Yuliana, the princess, who is smart and a bit ruthless.

4. I was captivated as the game progressed to see what Vika and Nikolai's next moves would be, and how they would deal with their feelings each other. Oh and that ending, I suggest having some tissue in hand.  I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

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