I WAS NOT EMOTIONALLY PREPARED FOR THIS WHY WAS THERE NO WARNING.This was definitely one of the best books I've read so far this year. Masked balls, star-crossed lovers, Russia, royalty, strong relationships that span all ages and genders, AWESOME MAGIC... aaaghh this book had everything I wanted. I went into it expecting something like the Hunger Games, but was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out to be more of a gorgeous magical adventure than some stressful fight. I won't go into the plot because everything seems like a spoiler, so I'll just say it's like a fantasy Russia version of The Night Circus!But oh my goodness... THE CHARACTERS. This might be the first time that I not only didn't mind a love triangle, but liked what a complicated web it turned into. About 3/4 of the way through I was distraught because there was just no way for everyone to get the ending they deserved and I LOVED ALL OF THEM SO MUCH. I'm still not emotionally ok with that ending, but am holding out hope that the sequel will pull off some "hey, just kidding" thing.Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an ARC!

White moon, angel moon.Blood moon, demon moon.Even knowing the mixed reviews this book actually has, I wanted to go into this book without caring about them and not bothering to pay attention to them. It was hard, but I managed to do it. The Crown's Game involves magic and magical elements, involves killing one or the other to become an imperial enchanter, and it even has a Russian setting! Sadly, none of that was something I enjoyed. The Crown's Game is known as a fantasy novel, but in reality, it's just another Cinderella retelling set in a fantasy world. Set to have one one Imperial Enchanter, one enchanter must have the skills and ability to sweat the other in order to become the trusted one by the Tsar. Nikolai and Vika, the only two enchanters out there with magical abilities, must duel with each other by taking turns throwing out their moves to kill the other. Even if they just took one turn, the Tsar could shut the whole game off and pick his enchanter just like that, but with this Tsar, he wants to make sure he chooses the right one. Only one must come alive, leaving the other one dead because it is believed to not be fair to have one enchanted at the Tsar's side while the other enchanter is still out there with his or her magic, probably planning something out. Only Vika or Nikolai will survive, and the choices lays on the Tsar's hands. This wasn't even fantasy, in my opinion. Sure, Nikolai and Vika have magic abilities and are set to kill each other using their power, but the problem is that first, the whole game is cut off without them even realizing because they don't even try to kill the other. Second of all, the two are falling for each other and are worried or letting go of each other without even realizing they both like each other. Third of all, their magic actually fucking sucks. Honestly, I wish Evelyn created a better aspect of the magical world here because all the magic used and described didn't even sound promising in a way it should sound to kill someone and it wasn't the kind of magic that intrigues me. When it comes to fantasy books, I can never connect to characters, but that doesn't mean I don't like them. With The Crown's Game, I didn't like any of them. I wasn't expecting this book to be like any other book, mainly because I never do and prefer not to since I prefer books to be different even with its small similarities, but I wish this one was. It probably would've made the book better in a way and succeeded to actually blow me away. Sadly, there was nothing--not the characters, not the plot, and not be small plot twist that is there. Like I said, I didn't connect with the characters and that's normal, not unusual. I was glad, since I didn't feel bad for what happened. I'm not gonna give out any spoilers, but the small plot twist along with the end was something I didn't feel bad for. It was surprising, but I didn't feel bad. There's a love triangle and there's insta love. As a matter of fact, there's actually a love rhombus, if that's even a thing. Vika has thoughts about Nikolai the moment she sees him, Pasha is in love with Vika the moment he sees her that he even tracks her down to "learn" about her, Nikolai is in love with Vika but keeps denying it and doesn't even tell Pasha because he doesn't want to hurt his best friends feelings, and Renata, a really close friend to Nikolai, is in love with Nikolai that she tries her best to keep him away from Vika. Because of what Vika thinks about Nikolai, Pasha getting in the way, and Nikolai not wanting to tell his best friend the truth, both enchanters forget about the whole game and what they're meant to do that they both fall for each other without admitting their feelings. Of course, Vika knows but Nikolai, he doesn't admit it until after. Because Nikolai and Vika have feelings for each other, Pasha was known to just be another love interest that would fall for the same girl and would only add drama and tension to it all. He tries his best to be with Vika an convince her, but he also knows she likes Nikolai without a doubt. He doesn't try his best to convince her, since everything he tries is made in a creepy way. I mean, think about it, he tracks her down and always asks Vika's friend where she is because he wants to see her so bad. There's a reason behind him not being able to see her without always wanting to, but I'm not gonna talk about that. There can be a ship between them, but we all know the love interest is between Vika and Nikolai. Nikolai was plain ass weak and stubborn. He didn't even tell Pasha the truth until after and his magic just completely sucked. He was also too controlling of Pasha, telling him he can't be in love with Vika only because he was also in love with her. Vika was too much of a show-off and the way she acted around Nikolai was childish of her. Again, with the whole insta-love thing, the way she thought about Nikolai was childish. What she wanted to do was childish. Her whole personality was childish. Wait, what personality? Pasha was too controlling and fucking creepy. It's like he was Vika's personal stalker. He tracked her down. He asked about her. He seeked information again and again. He fell in love with her without knowing who she was and without caring.Even though I knew there would be romance involved, I actually expected this to be one of those stories where love is forbidden or one of those where love cannot happen but the couple try their hardest even when they know it will not work and they will be sentenced to death. Sorry, I like violence. Even with that being said, I wanted one of them to kill the other. I didn't ship anyone; not Nikolai and Vika, not Nikolai and Renata, and not Pasha and Vika. I didn't care what happened to the other and I didn't care who won. Like always, I didn't have predictions and expectations, but I really didn't care who won. It wouldn't have made a difference for me whatsoever and when I read who the winner was, it wasn't a moment where I was glad, it was more of a moment where I rolled my eyes and said "oh" and that was about it. There are some surprising moments where they had me saying "holy shit" but that was only once, and that is why I gave this an extra star. I felt like that other character and her unexpected show up added even more tension to this as I was reading it. Her chapters were quite exciting, in my opinion, although I hated what happened after. I enjoyed what she did and I was glad with what she did because if I'm being honest, she had a reason. Like I said, this is a spoiler free review so I'm not gonna mention her name or who she is or what she did. The whole Crown's Game isn't even there. It's completely blank and invisible because love is in the way between all three children. It really pissed me off how Vika and Nikolai didn't even try their best to kill each other because they both wanted the other to live. Like I said, I wish this was a story where the love wasn't meant to happen or something because of many reasons set in this. Even though I know nothing about Russia and Russian history, I would've made more sense if love was forbidden or not meant to happen between two enchanters. It would've added more drama and action, and I would've enjoyed it all. When someone reads the description, they might think that Nikolai might kill himself or kill the girl he and Pasha love. Well, not saying which one happens, it takes so fucking long! I've never been so eager to finish a book until now. The book was fast-paced and I enjoyed that, but the moments I had been waiting for happened at the very last, when the book was ending, and it all felt slow-paced after. There's very little magic use and like I said, it all sucked. The enchanters, being enchanters and so powerful like they are known to be, are so weak! The way they actually try to kill each other is a shame, each and every move. Nikolai tries killing Vika with stone birds, while she tries drowning him. The problem is, she spares him because she has feelings for him and wouldn't know what she would do if she killed him without getting to know him or even talk to him and his magic failed to kill her not because he tries not to, but because his magic is weak compared to hers. If her magic was so much more powerful, and if Nikolai was afraid of Vika the moment he actually saw her, why wasn't she able to kill him so quickly? This isn't a fun fantasy novel where there is a major plot twist that will leave you wanting more, it isn't s fantasy novel where there is a world building that will change the way you look at this story, and it isn't a fantasy novel where there is magic used everywhere to kill one another. In fact, it's the opposite. There is no world building. There is no major plot twist. There is no cliffhanger that will leave me wanting more. I don't even know if I want to read the second book, especially with that ending. Honestly, what was the point of that? Seriously Evelyn?The Crowns Game isn't worth it. If you want, go ahead and read it and if you like it, if you like the characters and the way they act around each other and the way the magic is used, good for you. I'm not here to stop you, but I'm here to stop myself from reading something like this. In fact, I was surprised I actually made it through and finished this. There wasn't really a time where I wanted to DNF this book, although I wonder why and how that was even possible. The second book is added to my tbr, but I don't even know if I want to read it now.

I think I should've been alarmed when I first read these words in the beginning of the story:<...>but he wanted his daughter to grow up truly Russianhiking through birch forests, playing the balalaika, and having an almost religious zeal for buckwheat kasha with mushrooms and fresh butter.So to speak, the Russian aspect is as true in this story as hiking through birch forests, playing the balalaika and so one are true for Russian people, which is to say - it's bullshit. Not even in the 19th century those "hobbies" were a thing a true Russian enjoyed. I don't even want to touch other Evelyn's failures concerning Russian culture (and the were enough of those) but for one I can't ignore: Bolshebnoe Duplo ( a magical hollow) I read. Stopped. Read it again and then couldn't stop laughing for 10 minutes. Like seriously? Bolshebnoe Duplo... Letter B in Rissian means letter V in English and the correct form of the word accordingly would be Volshebnoe. Maybe Evelyn decided to give the B letter a free pass to go amok and feel authentically Russian for once, no matter that English speaking people wouldn't understand author's "love for authenticity" and Russian speaking people wouldn't appreciate the gesture of mutilating their language. The storyline is no better and resembles one big empty duplo (pun intended). I seriously can't fathom how a book about magical tournament set in Imperial Russia in reality turned out not to be about magic tournament set in Imperial Russia.Than what was it about? Insta-love and unicorns.Guy one saw Girl one and fell for her,Guy two saw Girl one and fell for her, Girl one saw Guy one and fell for him, Girl two was already in love with Guy one.WTF?!I wouldn't be surprised if stupid clichéd romance in YA books is one of the reasons aliens never visit our planet. I mean, who wants to deal with stupid teenage drama in the first place and when it's a drama in square? Nope. Apart from everyone loving everyone in this book for no reason, the characters are also shallow, fickle creatures with no substance or depth. And they all are so fucking purrfect I wanted to throw up every time perfection was pushed in my face!Just come on, how many stories about perfect beautiful people who fell in love from the first sight do we need to read and hate, to hint authors it's time to start creating flawed characters with something more to their name than good looks and lusty glances. I was reading the book. I was rolling my eyes. I finished the book. I forgot it existed. That is how I can summarize my reading experience. For more detailed information about the book, go read my friends' reviews with whom I was supposed to buddy-read the book but couldn't due to busy time: review #1, review #2FINAL VERDICT:

Update 01/31/2017: I decided to remove a star and change the rating to 4 stars. Been thinking about it and realized that while the book was indeed great, it still didn't feel like a 5 star read for me.***Imagine, and it shall be.There are no limits.I have a confession to make. So I have a shelf here on GR named "Not-Interested", and The Crown's Game was under the "Not-Interested" shelf... *gasp* yep. I have sinned in my past life. But then, Cait read it and loved it and recommended it to me, so I was like "fine, will try it" AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED. A 5 STAR BOOK. I have seen the light. Great.The Crown's Game is Evelyn Skye's debut novel and there are a few flaws here and there, which is expected. BUT I DID NOT CARE ONE BIT. This book was magical, SO VERY MAGICAL. The magic, the description, the scenery... everything was just so pretty to imagine! The writing was brilliant. Not too wordy and not boring. Also, apparently some people found this boring? Fortunately for me, the pacing was great! Only reason it took me a week to finish was because of my slump, but when I finally got out of it, I read the last 200 pages in one sitting!Also, the world building was so well-done! I wasn't confused one bit. The enhancements were so cool and interesting, as well. NOOOOOW. THE CHARACTERS. I LOVE THEM, OK. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! My favorite is my baby Pasha. #ProtectPashaAtAllCosts OKAY THANK YOU.Our female MC, Vika, is amazing. It's always a big plus for me when the heroine in a fantasy novel is cool because I always tend to dislike them. Vika is clever and headstrong and I just love her! Our male MCs are Nikolai and Pasha. Nikolai is so quiet and brave and *sighs*.... so lovely.You know how a book is all fun and games and then suddenly all hell breaks loose? THIS WAS THE CROWN'S GAME. I was just sitting there reading enjoying it AND SUDDENLY EVERYTHING WAS A BIG FAT MESS. Problem after a problem after a problem and I was like "SLOW DOWN MY HEART CAN'T HANDLE THIS!" and then my heart broke. I didn't really cry, just got teary-eyed but my heart broke so bad and I just wanted to throw the book in my trash bin. Yep. This book has so many mixed reviews and I can see some of the problems other readers have with it, but honestly, the plot, writing and the characters were just so good that I just didn't care at all! I definitely recommend it! As a debut novel, I'd say Skye did a wonderful job. GIVE ME THE CROWN'S FATE NOW, PLEASE AND THANK YOU. **Buddy reading with my wife EM

For the winner of the game, there would be unimaginable power.For the defeated, desolate oblivion.The Crowns Game was not one to lose.Awesome. Great. That's an excellent thing to keep in mind. Do. Not. Lose. Except someone forgot to tell the main characters cause nobody seems to give a shit about winning the game the instant their nether regions start tingling in the presence of the opposite sex.Having a Russian setting and involving magic, one cannot help but compare this to Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone trilogy. For me, there is no comparison. I admit, it was not the greatest series, but it was interesting and it was entertaining despite the angest and despite the painfulness of the love triangle. If you think you can escape the love triangle here, think again, and this book is even worse because it's just so bloody boring.I used to write really long reviews for books, ripping them apart, criticizing everything that is wrong, but it just seems to tiring to do so these days because I seem to have the same fucking criticism for every quasi-high-fantasy that comes out. Every book has the same problems, this book is no exception. Insta-love. Romance over ambition and rationality. A recycled, boring plot. Acceptable but plodding writing. These days, I can't even be fucked to actually hate a book such as this because I'm just so tired of it all.