Author: Evelyn Skye
Publication Date: May 16th 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins)
Part of a Series?: Yes, Book 2/2 of The Crown's Game Duology
I Got A Copy Through: Harper Collins India (THANK YOU!)
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Blurb Description: Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha’s coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected.
Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom.
For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown’s Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he’s given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he’s willing to go to return to the world.
With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves.
Last year, when all the hype was flying around The Crown’s Game as it released, I dove
into the audiobook of this gorgeous book, which gave me a more authentic
experience of the 1800’s Russia that this book was set in (especially the
pronunciations that I always get wrong.)
While I loved being immersed in Russia and I loved the
magic that surrounded the book even more, I found The Crown’s Game to be slightly predictable and with an Insta-Love
Love Triangle. It was a good book, but not a great one.
Which brings me to:
THE WRITING:
The total change of world and predictability in The Crown’s Fate from book one was the first thing that struck me – I could TELL how much Evelyn Skye’s writing
style had matured as she wrote about the darkness that overtook a certain
loving character, how she wrote about a playful boy becoming the Tsar of a
great country and an enchanter figuring out what it means to be a girl with
both power and responsibility.
The very change in the writing and the development of the
characters really took this book to a whole new level.
PLOT AND IDEA:
I’m going to do these two together. I’ve always loved the
idea behind the series and I also ADORED the magic in book one. The plot for
book two, like the writing, went so much deeper. The magic broke the impossible
barriers it had already set in book one, there was more intrigue in the air as
all our favourite characters figured out who they were supposed to be in the
aftermath of a brutal game.
Everything about this book was great until I reached the
ending, which was so melodramatic and
totally re-highlighted the unnecessary love triangle SO MUCH it made me cringe.
I actually closed the book whispered, “No, ANYTHING but that,” and
continues reading because in a book that managed to break all clichés, it ENDED IN SUCH AN AWKWARD ONE.
CHARACTERS:
Like I said in The
Writing, I THOUGHT THE CHARACTER
DEVELOPMENT IN The Crown’s Fate WAS
GENIUS! The book rotated between the points of view of the three main
characters, a little bit of Nikolai’s mother, a guard and other secondary
characters.
It was just the
right amount of characters telling the story that they got it right,
especially because almost all of them had their own internal turmoil going on and
it made me feel like I knew these
characters more.
CONCLUSION:
A richly created Russian Fantasy with barrier breaking
magic. I can only wish that the ending was better and this book would’ve gotten
a solid five stars from me!
Evelyn Skye is the NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author of THE CROWN'S GAME and its sequel, THE CROWN'S FATE. New series--CIRCLE OF SHADOWS--coming Fall 2018. Evelyn was once offered a job by the C.I.A., she not-so-secretly wishes she was on "So You Think You Can Dance," and if you challenge her to a pizza-eating contest, she guarantees she will win. When she isn't writing, Evelyn can be found chasing her daughter on the playground or sitting on the couch, immersed in a good book and eating way too many cookies. She can be found online at www.evelynskye.com and on Twitter @EvelynSkyeYA.
Have you read The Crown's Game series? What did you think of it?
What are some of your favourite historical fiction novels? I'd love to hear some recommendations!
Thanks so much for stopping by, everyone. Although I may not find time to respond, your comments TRULY make my day brighter.
Thanks so much for stopping by, everyone. Although I may not find time to respond, your comments TRULY make my day brighter.
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