Magic Play (103)
THE CROWN'S GAME by Evelyn Skye
Vika and Nikolai must compete against each other to the death to become the tsar's next Imperial Enchanter in an alternate 1800s Russia, but when they meet they discover connections they shouldn't have to each other, unlikely friendships with the tsarevich, and origins about their families they never expected, all while trying to outdo the other's magic to win the Crown's Game. The main characters seemed younger than their reported ages, which was a forgivable slight in this imaginative historical fantasy with hints of The Hunger Games toward the end. The death count was higher than expected and the outcome was satisfying through the multiple points-of-view, including a creepy undead character. More is sure to be revealed about Vika's origin story in a sequel. (Balzer & Bray, 2016)
Vika and Nikolai must compete against each other to the death to become the tsar's next Imperial Enchanter in an alternate 1800s Russia, but when they meet they discover connections they shouldn't have to each other, unlikely friendships with the tsarevich, and origins about their families they never expected, all while trying to outdo the other's magic to win the Crown's Game. The main characters seemed younger than their reported ages, which was a forgivable slight in this imaginative historical fantasy with hints of The Hunger Games toward the end. The death count was higher than expected and the outcome was satisfying through the multiple points-of-view, including a creepy undead character. More is sure to be revealed about Vika's origin story in a sequel. (Balzer & Bray, 2016)