The Crown's Game

It began long ago…when Russia was still a cluster of tribes, wild and lawless and young. As the country matured over the centuries, so, too, did the game. But always, always it retained its untamed fierceness.

For the winner of the game, there would be unimaginable power.

For the defeated, desolate oblivion.

The Crown’s Game was not one to lose.

This is the story,

About a game,

Between two magical enchanters,

Fighting to outdo one another to the death. One must only be victorious.

Vika. Her magic is strongest with the living world. Manipulating water and fire.

Nikolai. He can manipulate the material world. He is strongest with making and creating.

They have been called fourth by the Tsar of Russia to take part in a game known only to themselves to become his royal advisor. The game is known as the Crown’s Game.

Thus, Nikolai and Viki are stuck in a magical contract to see the game through.

The Tsar has make the subject of his game centred around who can outdo one another with their magic to impress his son, the tsesarevich leading up to his birthday.

The tsesarevich, Pasha. Also happens to be Nikolai’s best friend. Though, he is in the dark on magic and doesn’t know that his best friend can even use it.

Vika and Nikolai, at first try to kill one another straight out, to end the game. But, they begin to find comfort in knowing that they are both the same. Two sides of one coin. And a friendship is icily created while they adorn St Petersburg with their creations.

I am tied irretrievably to my enemy

Pasha begins to fall in love with Vika. As does Nikolai. But one must not love if all of that love will surely end in despair.

There is also a dreadful un-dead mother back to seek revenge. A large and very loveable baker that works in a pumpkin (well, looks like one anyway.) a servant girl that reads tea leaves, sibling hate to love and a redeemable Tsar.

WOW. This was so much fun!

I can’t believe that this is not more hyped!

I loved the back and forwards between Vika’s and Nikolai’s power and was always wondering what magical enchantment would grace St Petersburg next.

Firstly, I want to talk about the writing. This was so easy to follow. It did not try to be anything it wasn’t. Meaning that it was simple and straight forward, no frill or extravagant writing that can sometimes have me rolling my eyes. I got to concentrate solely on the story. For this, I am thankful.

I want to point out that a lot of the time in YA a revelation will happen. For example, a chapter will appear with a new character. That character is supposed to be shrouded in mystery and we aren’t supposed to know who they are. Then there is a big reveal a few chapters later or at the end. Which I say “ARE YOU JOSHING ME!!!? Like really? Of course I know who that is! You pretty much just waved it in my face!” Well, this book did not do that! *clap, clap* much appreciated!

We were introduced to a new smelly, corpse like character and found out who she was in that exact chapter. Evelyn did not try to make it a plot device and I loved that because her plot was strong and she didn’t need anything else to keep the reader guessing. (Even, though the “keep the reader guessing” would not have worked because again, most of the time in YA, so obvious).

Second, The world. Let’s just Say Russia in 1825 is the best! We got to walk along the Neva with the characters and look upon the Bronze statue of Peter the Great. Enjoy the splendour that is Prospect Avenue, with references to both the Winter and Summer Palaces and the Summer Garden. I was glad that these places and things were still apart of Evelyn’s fantasy Russia, having the real with the imagined. All of the descriptions were so rich. Which would be an outcome of Evelyn’s degree in Russian literature and history. I adore the snowy atmosphere that Russia evokes within me. It’s one of my favourite settings to read about and Evelyn has done an amazing job of setting it up and making it feel exceptionally real and vivid.

Last, but not least, the characters. There was actually not a single character in this story that I did not like. Actually I even wish there were more than two books so the side characters could have gotten more character development and been flushed out more!

For one, at the end, we had a redeemable Tsar. We got a little bit of his back story that made me hate him and then he redeemed HIMSELF because HE ADMITTED, TO HIMSELF THAT WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG! What!!!?? Now, I think I am yet to read a book where an emperor can come to that conclusion himself. And for that to be installed into the narrative without firstly having life altering events happen. It was just there and I loved that. People, take note.

Pasha was the story book character of a prince that did not want the throne. Which I didn’t mind because he was so kind hearted and good. Sometimes even naive. The one thing that I wasn’t a fan of was at the end. His character changed so much and suddenly. I get that life changing events happened and that it was a device to maybe have a bit of character development for him. I just felt that I would have enjoyed it more if he stayed true to his character. I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I love the sweet kind hearted boy I can’t stand to see him be a husk of wheat.

Vika Was strong willed but not overly so that I couldn’t stand her. She did have her softer spots and made good decisions. Nothing for me to pull out my hair over. Thankfully. She had character development. I saw where once she may have been a little obnoxious and out spoken she learned when to hold her tongue.

Nikolai, was a gem. One thing that I appreciated about his character was that he was creative, a little bit sassy and dressed immaculacy without having to bat for the other team. It’s good to sometimes see straight dudes make their own clothes and to then care about what they look like.

All in all this was a supper fun and fast read with very rich Russian elements. I loved the incorporation of the magical elements in this setting and look forward to reading the next one.