The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye Manuscript Review Worshipping

The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye

Format: Uncorrected Manuscript, 388 pages

Published by Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: May 17th, 2016
Pre-order it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

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.

Привет, друзья! I am here to tell you that you are not prepared for the majesty that is The Crown's Game. You need to know that when you look at that cover, you are looking at a FIVE STAR book. There is magic, romance, a complex plot, drool-worthy guys, and Russian prestige. I. LOVE. IT. It's definitely one of the BEST books I've ever read, and I mean—we're talking Leigh Bardugo levels here, people!

I'm always nervous when I read a book that is set in Russia because often times, the language is incorrect or something is not depicted properly. However as your Russian representative and a member of the Tsar's Guard, I can assure you that Evelyn Skye has executed the Russian culture, language, and mentality to a T.

If you get a manuscript or an ARC, please be advised that Evelyn has added on the "a" at the end of the last names of the female characters in the book, but the change was made after the ARCs were already printed.

A note about Russian last names:

The endings of surnames are a key not only to a person's nationality but also to their gender. Most Russian surnames change their ending in the feminine: usually the letter "-a" is added at the end (Ivanova, Sorokina), or "-sky" changes into "-skaya (Moskovskaya). However, last names ending in "-ich" and "-ko" are gender-neutral, with the female version not changing its form even when the name is declined (names ending in "-ko", which are particularly common in Ukraine, remain unchanged in all cases, irrespective of whether the person is male or female). Source 

Now that our Russian grammar lesson is done for the day, let me get back to telling you how much I love this book. The Crown's Game was everything I wanted it to be and more. The entire time I was reading, I was flipping out over every page—and we're talking actual shrieking, and jumping up and down. Guys, the book love was intense.

The Crown's Game beyond exceeded all of my expectations. Everything from the plot, the writing, the characters, and the magic—oh my god, the magic! I am in LOVE.

I was a flailing mess the entire time while reading this book. Not just because it made me swell with Russian pride, but also because it just kept wowing me.

The plot is incredibly intricate with really well-developed characters. You get each character's backstory without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, all of them are so lovable that I got incredibly attached to all of them—even the "bad guys." 

I can confidently say that The Crown's Game is one of my favorite books of ALL TIME and all of you need to read it!

1) As I've already said, I'm so impressed and happy that Evelyn nailed details of Russian culture. She has us described perfectly—at our best and at our worst.

2) I adore Vika. She's independent, badass, powerful, and she has a big heart. She has no problem standing up to authority or asking the hard questions. I loved being inside the head of such a strong and relatable character.

3) The bromance between Pasha and Nikolai is just precious. I mean, forget female romantic interests, these two should just get married. When they're together, they are just a couple of foolish, adorable boys who care about each other deeply . . . It's just beautiful.

4) The plot is so perfectly executed and intricate. All of the characters have their own side plots, and they are perfectly woven together. You never feel confused or overwhelmed with details, because Evelyn Skye paints you the perfect picture and you feel like you're right there with the characters. 

5) The Crown's Game is written in multiple POVs and it's beautifully done. The male and female POVs are easily distinguishable and each voice is unique. You have no unnecessary details or thoughts, but rather, you get a full and concise picture of the plot through their eyes. 

6) The Crown's Game has a lot of different types of relationships. You have friendships, father-to-daughter, siblings, best friends, etc. There are families that are bonded together even though they are not blood related and I think that this is so moving and relatable. Evelyn Skye really shows us that family is more than just blood, it's about who you love.

7) The magic in this book is like nothing you've ever read before. It's elegant and sophisticated and I was enchanted by the fantastical elements. The descriptions filled me with wonder and made my imagination soar—it was truly inspiring.  

1) Ничего! ;)