Flirting Through The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye

The Crown's Game The Crown's Game #1 Evelyn Skye Genre: YA Fantasy, Historical

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.

Review copy provided by publisher thru Edelweiss

What is it about historical fiction and fantasy that makes them so good together?

I expected the Game to be a high-stakes, magnificent, over-the-top, blood-pumping competition that would leave me breathless.

However, the Game looked like they were playing a child’s game despite the obvious stakes of death. Their enchantments were, although impressive, were like two children on a playground trying to one-up each other.

It did serve as a platform for our enchanters to communicate – in a way; a classic case of two would-be enemies slowly falling for each other. And while there was no definite words yet, I know where it is going. *crosses fingers*

Who would’ve thought they would have this… connection?

It could be said that this was a love square/rectangle but… The romance centered on the two enchanters enmeshed in the game. The victims. And they will remain my pairing.

But the realities of life changed that as those realities and the inconvenient twists of fate played havoc with their lives.

This book slayed me.

It’s like The Sweetest Dark all over again. If you’ve read this book, then you know what I’m talking about.

I hate you, The Crown’s Game. I hate you so fucking much.