Crown's Fate

The Crown’s Fate

By Evelyn Skye

I checked this book out from the Barry Lawrence Regional Library to read and review.

Description from Goodreads: 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.

Crown’s Fate is the second book in the Crown’s Game series.  I’m not even sure where to begin singing the praises of this book.  I enjoyed it on so many different levels.

I love how Skye brought back the old familiar characters from the first book.  Of course, some were a little bit different in good ways and bad ways, but I am comfortable with their return.  I think the way the characters grow in the second book is remarkable.  The way their thought processes and actions morph bring a new love or hate for the characters. Yes, I experienced a wide range of feelings while reading Crown’s Fate. There were times I wanted to cry and other times I wanted to stand up and cheer.

One of my favorite parts of reading this book and series is how the actual history of Russia’s revolution is “fictioned” into its own reality.  The research into the actual history is reflected in the book and is the key that makes the story so believable.

I also love the way the love was handled throughout the book.  It is not just “love love”; it is friendship love, family love, country love and self love.  Don’t get me wrong, there is some romance in a very broad definition of the word.

 

I must confess, the magic in this book blew me away.  I thought the enchanters out did themselves in the first book. I was in no way prepared for the enchanters’ magic in book two. The dark magic that is introduced is the perfect touch to the characters and the plot. I love the ideas and the descriptions.  It makes me wish that the magic was real.

I am so glad I read this book. Evelyn Skye’s new series, Circle of Shadows, is coming in 2018. I’m very excited to meet, “Sora, Daemon & the rest of the badass, magical crew!”