The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye

* I  received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review. #indigoemployee *

Vika can manipulate elements, while Nikolai can magically create bridges from nothing. In a country that doesn't believe in magic anymore, these two enchanters are training to become the next Imperial Enchanter to the Russian Tsar. Vika and Nikolai will secretly compete for the title in The Crown's Game. The winner becomes the new Enchanter, while the fate of the loser is death. As long as nothing gets in their way, they both believe they can outsmart the other in the competition, nothing can break their focus. Until something does. Vika struggles with the idea of killing the other enchanter, the incredibly handsome Nikolai who she cannot stop thinking about. And both Nikolai and his best friend Pasha, the future tsar of Russia, have fallen in love with Vika. Pasha is head over heals, completely unaware of who Vika really is. While Nikolai tries to fight against it, because he has to kill Vika in the games before she kills him.

 

 

I have been looking forward to reading The Crown's Game for a while now. I have heard it described as for fans of The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) and similar to Queenstrial in Red Queen (Victoria Aveyard). I do see how this book came be compared to such titles, but it did lack a major quality, one I was very much expecting, violence. Only one of the two enchanters can survive the games while the other will be met with death, and there is definitely a vengeful play between the enchanters throughout the games, as well as talk of war in Russia. However, even though the mention of violence was casually thrown around I was disappointed it did not deliver. The theme for the Games could have been so exciting, yet it was almost a joke and in my opinion an insult for the tsar to judge their powers based on the performances given. I am expecting to see more of this violence that was being referring to in the second book. Other than that, I did enjoy other aspects of this novel. The world of magic in Russia was very well written and really interesting. As a kid, I always loved the movie Anastasia, and the historical fiction of it. The characters were also very well done. I had strong likely to most people and one very dislike for Nikolai's mentor. I couldn't decide for a long time between Vika and Nikolai, who I wanted to win the Game. Both enchanters mastered different kinds of magic, as seen early on in the story. Both so different, but equally as interesting to see and I was glad to see their magically personalities show in their turns in the game, as non violent as they were.

 

Overall, it was a quick, easy read. I will continue this series hoping to see a pick up in the violence and find out where all the characters end up.

 

Book 2: The Crown's Fate

 

My Rating: 3/5 Stars