The Crown’s Game audiobook

Spoiler free review and spoiler discussion: https://youtu.be/1JqZYOOBxwUOverall really enjoyed it, only had a few issues. Watch my review to find out more!

wow, what an enjoyable story! this has been presented as ‘the night circus’ meets ‘imperial russia’ and it totally delivers in that regard. i am such a fan of russian history, so i think that was the highlight of the book for me. although the history was slightly skewed (as mentioned in the authors notes at the end), the story was so alive with culture. i loved it! as for ‘the night circus’ part, the only thing in common was that both stories focus on two people who find themselves in the middle of a competition to prove who is the greatest enchanter/magician. which was really fun! i love ‘the night circus’ with all my heart, so i was relived that i didnt find myself comparing the two books at all. this book had enough character of its own for it to stand up for itself. what i wanted more from was the writing. for being a book centred around magic, the writing felt so heavy and dull. i wanted to be whisked away by enchantments, by light and whimsical words, but the writing wasnt that at all. it didnt keep me from liking the story, but i think it would have been much more enjoyable had the writing style been a bit different. overall, a really good read and i cant wait to dive into the next book! 4 stars

I.... I barely know what to say right now... so here goes ~ a mess of words and emotions. Don't worry, this is spoiler free. "Imagine, and it shall be. There are no limits." First of all, the elephant in the room. The plot of this book is nearly IDENTICAL to the Night Circus. Maybe I should rant about that but you know what.. I didn't really care? I love both books so I didn't mind the nostalgia. There are parts I liked more about each of the books- but I just found myself savoring this book to pieces regardless. Plus, this one is going to be a trilogy - so I see the series spinning off drastically from where the Night Circus ended. Okay, now that is out of the way... HOLY WOW. I just need to point out all the reasons I loved this book. The Magic Magic Russia will never ever get old. Never. (BRB going to watch Anastasia now...) And not only is the magic system here lush, it is completely unique and imaginative. The Writing + Pacing This is is where I see the most complaints. But honestly, I just savored it. I'm glad it wasn't too fast paced. But yes, this is a slower book... so don't go into it expecting otherwise. The writing itself was every bit as beautiful as The Night Circus - the prose, descriptions.. everything! “This was the sort of book one ought to read in pieces, to properly appreciate and savour each bit. And yet he wanted to devour it whole. Messily and all at once.” I couldn't have said it better myself. The Characters I think I can safely say that each character will tug at your heartstrings (though Nikolai was my favorite for obvious reasons.. gentle, sly, and TOPHAT.) Just enjoy discovering each one... I'd rather not give any further hints. The Plot As it was in the The Night Circus, the game aspect of the plot was just heartbreaking. It was a bit more vicious in this book... more intense and emotional. Yes, there was a "bit" of insta-love, but it was not handled the way a YA book typically handles it. There was much more of a connection than just attraction even though some things seemed to escalate quickly. I had no complaints in that department. Overall, I was completely swept away in the entirety of this story. THAT ENDING Someone help me because I am a WRECK. No, I am not OK. Will I be? That rests in your hands, Evelyn Skye. Please save us all. I literally beg you. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THIS WORLD.For real though I need some serious comfort food right now...

Just know, this is my FAVOURITE YA book of all time...more to come on a video review soon!

The thing that intrigued me most was the impossibility of the situation. One of our main characters would have to die in the end due to the rules of the Crown’s Game. From the start I was fighting to decide who I wanted to root for. And that was before all the additional drama laced in.The Crown’s Game is the opportunity of a lifetime. It is a competition between enchanters where you demonstrate your magical abilities in an attempt at being chosen as Imperial Enchanter. The Tsar selects the winner who also becomes his most respected advisor, while the loser gets sentenced to death. Like I said…rough situation. Kill or be killed.Vika is sixteen, lives with her loving father, and believes she is the only enchanter in the empire. (There is usually only one due to lack of magic left). She is under the impression that she is just waiting until she turns 18 to go serve the Tsar. In the meantime, training so that she’s the best Imperial Enchanter she can be.Nikolai is an eighteen year old orphan who was taken in at a young age by cruel Countess Galina in order to train him to use his magic for the future Crown’s Game. Unlike Vika, he’s always been aware he would have an opponent for the Imperial Enchanter title.Pasha is prince, future heir to the throne, and also happens to be Nikolai’s best friend. He cares way more about hanging with his friends than becoming Tsar. He is doesn’t know about Nikolai’s abilities. (or magic in general). And finds himself falling for the new arrival in town, a peculiar girl with seemingly magical abilities.The story is atmospheric with deep world-building and strong characters. I actually can’t rave enough about Evelyn Skye’s world-building. Set in 1825 in Russia, it is clear that she did her research, while also taking an imaginative approach. The setting is detailed and written so beautifully. The characters charmed their way into my heart. There are multiple POVs, even with additional secondary characters that I also couldn’t get enough of. I hope there’s more of them in the second book.The love triangle thing was meh. It was annoying by merely existing, but less of an issue than I thought it would be. However, the insta-love kind of threw me off where that came into play. Dumb. I was hoping for a darker competition or at least one that was more deadly..less “let’s paint the city” more of this:And it was the first time it truly sank in that the things she could do were not only fascinating, but also possibly deadly. She shivered at her own potential; if she were honest, a small part of her thrilled at it, too.Other than that, The Crown’s Game was engaging and unpredictable. I enjoyed the thrilling nature of the story. Can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!

So, historical fiction with a fantastical twist might just be my newest obsession! I absolutely loved everything about this; from the historical setting in 19th century Russia, the imaginative magic system, the focus on the royal hierarchy and the plethora of equally lovable character. I already want more from this world!The Crown's Game begins in Vika's perspective and the reader is immediately immersed into this strange, ancient world. We learn early on of Vika's magical abilities and the fear from the common folk that this evokes. I felt an initial affinity with her that made me immediately align to her plight. That is until we learn of the existence of another enchanter, Nikolai, and despite him being Vika's adversary I was just as drawn to his character as I was with Vika's. Skye exhibits a brilliance for creating flawed and yet lovable characters as each and every person introduced had a side to them that evoked my empathy and endearment.The Crown's Game, that the title refers to, does not begin until nearly a quarter of the way through the text. I love how the world and the magic system was fully set up before beginning the quest that the rest of the text is dedicated to. From then on the novel is awash with displays of magical ingeniousness that has the reader and the Russian townsfolk equally as enthralled!My only negative is that, despite the disaster that awaits the loser of The Crown's Game and that the two opponents are literally in a duel until the death, there isn't much tension displayed. I loved seeing the pair exhibit their skill in imaginative and thrilling ways, but never once did I worry over the outcome of these beloved characters. I don't exactly know why that is: I immensely enjoyed their journey but felt a little distanced from it, perhaps. This is a book of unique brilliance and I can only equate it to being the literary love-child of A Game of Thrones and The Night Circus. All I know is, I already can't wait until 2017 and the next installment!

”She wanted again to hold on to him, and have him hold on to her, so they could whirl together through the cosmos like galaxies that could not—and would not—be confined”.¡Ya me hacía falta leer un libro de cinco estrellas, que me fascinara y me dejara queriendo más! The Crown’s Game es una historia de fantasía ambientada en Rusia y que está llena de magia, misterios, tensión, juegos peligrosos y tramas escondidas que nos toman por sorpresa. En este primer libro de la bilogía nos encontramos con Vika y Nikolai, dos personas que no se conocen, pero que comparten algo tremendamente especial: son hechiceros. Y, como tales, tienen el potencial de servir eventualmente al zar en el palacio. Tanto Vika como Nikolai han estado entrenando sus poderes durante toda su vida con sus mentores, quienes los han convencido de que sus destinos yacen en presentarse cuando estén listos en el palacio y ser designados como el nuevo hechicero real. Sin embargo, cuando el zar convoca los Juegos de la Corona, Vika y Nikolai se dan cuenta de que el otro existe y, como dicta la tradición, deben enfrentarse para que el zar pueda escoger a un solo hechicero. ¿Lo más tétrico de todo? Solo uno puede salir vivo, pues el poder no puede vivir repartido en dos hechiceros, uno solo debe ostentarlo todo. Así, las vidas de Vika y Nikolai se verán unidas de la manera más inconcebible posible, pues ninguno de los dos pensó que alguna vez tendría que matar a otra persona. La verdad es que todo en este libro me recordaba muchísimo a The Night Circus, pero, evidentemente, con un ambiente menos circense y más de la rusia de los zares. De hecho, sentí que este tuvo mucha más acción que el libro de Erin Morgenstern, que es precioso, pero un poco lento. Desde el primer momento, me enamoré de las personalidades de Vika y de Nikolai, pues ambos son personas que atesoran sus poderes, aunque los usan de diferentes maneras, y no son nada pretenciosos. A pesar de que sabían que su destino acabaría en el palacio, ninguno de los dos se presentaba como una persona pedante y pagada de sí misma. Evelyn Skye les crea unas vidas tan completas, llenas de detalles, familia encontrada, amigos y pasiones que, cuando empiezan los Juegos de la Corona y saben que el tiempo se les está acabando, sufres un poco. Ahora, debo decirles que si están esperando que haya una batalla épica, llena de rayos, centellas y explosiones… no la van a encontrar. Los Juegos de la Corona, a pesar de que buscan que uno de los dos hechiceros muera, pueden jugarse de muchas maneras. Y la forma en la que Vika y Nikolai escogen hacerlo es única, intensa y llena de belleza. Cada uno tienta al otro con sus jugadas, con sus poderes y, con cada movimiento, con cada turno, se comunican de una manera muchísimo más especial que con palabras. Y esa fue, quizá, otra de mis cosas favoritas de este libro: la forma en la que Evelyn Skye va creando un lazo entre los dos hechiceros. Me fascinó el concepto de su magia comunicándose, sintiéndose una sola y uniéndolos en un baile que todos sabíamos que no iba a acabar bien. Porque, claro, el final de este libro es tremendamente cruel y, a pesar de todo, inesperado. Hay una jugada que no esperábamos, pero es perfecta, pues nos deja muriéndonos de ganas por leer el final de la bilogía.

Real rating: 3.5 Buddy read with Red King What i liked - I really enjoyed the plot. Like I said in one of my updates, it reminded me so much of the night circus. We have two people who have been trained since they were little to become the king’s enchanter. With two enchanters, there has to be a game to determine who would become the winner. They have to play until one of them dies. To win, they have to either impress the King with their abilities or kill the other enchanter. I enjoyed the competition which wasn’t a battle but more artistic. I enjoyed reading about what the two enchanters made as they were all beautiful things. - This book has multiple POVs which can be good or bad but I liked it in this. Especially since it was kinda evenly distributed instead of it being mostly in one person’s POV. Also, the chapters are really short (71 chapters) so if you don’t like one person, you don’t have to deal with their POV for a long time.- There was a plot twist I didn’t see coming which was impressive because in YA books, it’s easy to guess plot twists especially in the first book of a series. What i didn’t like . - I really did not like the romance at all. In my opinion, I feel people use the term ‘instalove’ loosely. Crushes on people you just met happens a lot in real life so I don’t mind when it happens in books. But in this, there was instalove. It was even acknowledged in the book. Actually, there were two sets of instalove. How do you still feel ‘connected’ to someone and have dreams of you kissing them when they tried killing you? The love just seemed unrealistic to me. Honestly, I didn’t mind it until the second half of the book where romance seemed to be the main focus. Plus that love triangle wasn’t necessary - I guess the end was supposed to be beautiful but I just found it anticlimactic. Overall, this was an interesting read and I was never bored, but I don’t think I would read the next book because I don’t care to continue lol. It should have been a standalone tbh.

Buddy Read with who dat aka big boy aka CaitlinWow. It's been around 24 hours and I still am unable to put The Crown's Game into the words I want to. I am still in shock. I picked the book up despite seeing some mixed reviews which would have otherwise drove me away, and then proceeded to read it with one of my favourite people who I met through this site. If I hadn't been reading it with Cait I probably would have DNF'ed it. One thing I can say about this book is that the beginning is slow. It is so horrifically slow that I was frustrated with our characters. I grew to love them though, clearly from my rating of this book. However, since I don't want to say anything about this book in fear of ruining it for you I will put it in gifs. Ultimately, I need to be put in my glass castle (my big boys will understand) and be held by someone because damn. Definitely one of the best books I've read of 2016.

This book was just so much damn fun. Very excited to read the sequel!

...WHAT?!This sounds like a mix between three of my favorite books: Throne of Glass, A Darker Shade of Magic, and Shadow and Bone! How is that even freaking possible? What is this witchery? Whatever, I want it. Like, this very second would be greatly appreciated. I feel as though I've been searching for a book like this formonthsever. HOLY MOTHER OF MODERN LITERATURE, I NEED THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. Also, just behold that cover art. It's rare to find an amazing cover paired with an equally phenomenal synopsis. The hype is real with this one, you guys. It's getting 5 stars for the time being.

There is no such thing as a winner in the Game. Oh, you know me. I read Nikolai and Russian historical fiction and I'm gone faster than you can say Блин!Just kidding, but not really. I went into this book expecting nothing from it and it probably was for the best since I had the chance to fully savor every moment. I was only a few pages in, in fact, when I realized this book is a gem in disguise. Main disguise being that cheap cover. It's probably the only thing I despise about this novel. Seriously, this is everything I'd hoped The Night Circus to be and then some. It has magic, a competition, a beautiful setting, great main and side characters, friendship, love, humor and it's so fast-paced you wouldn't get bored even if you put effort in it. I love love love love love Vika, Nikolai and Pasha, and the writing is so good it was hard to pick a favorite quote to start this review with. Bless you, Evelyn Skye. You've gained a new fan. __#PenguinOnATBRMission: book #11◾this hashtag is something I self-indulgently created for fun when I decided to thin out my immense tbr list as a new years resolution starting from books I added on GR back in 2017/2018/2019, and since I can't seem to do anything quietly and I'm well known for being an overachiever, I had to go and turn it into an official thing. Feel free to check out the shelf with the same name if you don't mind keeping up with this insanely over-hyped adventure I got myself into. Take it as a chance to rediscover some books from a few years ago that might have accidentally flown under your radar, or to simply share with another fellow reader your very own reading experience. Happy reading and stay penguin-y!◾To Be Continued...🐧

I absolutely adored this and cannot wait for the second book!