THE CROWN'S GAME and THE CROWN'S FATE by Evelyn Skye

I first met Evelyn Skye at the Bay Area Book Festival last year, and I've been a fan of hers ever since. Her first book, THE CROWN'S GAME, involves magical duels in an alternate imperial Russia, and the sequel, THE CROWN'S FATE, debuted this past May. For those who enjoy Sabaa Tahir, Victoria Aveyard, and Stephanie Garber, this unique fantasy series is a must.

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.

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.

If you could only choose one, would you pick pizza or cookies? 

Oh my God, why are you so mean to me? Um.... pizookie!


Ooh, get me one of those! THE CROWN'S FATE builds on the intricate world you created in THE CROWN'S GAME. In what ways has Vika's journey changed her, and has she surprised you at all? 

I always knew that Vika would be a badass heroine who could save herself, but as I wrote her, her compassion kept growing and revealing more of itself. It's not that I didn't know she was kind. I just didn't understand the depth of it and how much it would drive her. I think part of that is that the Crown's Game itself changed her. So much happened to Vika during the course of Book 1 that forced her to become more than just a fierce girl who wanted to become Imperial Enchanter.


And it definitely adds depth to her character! I love your website--especially the home page. What have you found most helpful in building an online presence?

Thank you! Hafsah Faizal at Icey Designs is the talent behind the website layout and design. In terms of building on online presence, it's really about being genuine. I became friends with a lot of writers before I was ever published, and we all try to help each other out, promoting each other's books, giving advice, mentoring up-and-coming authors, that sort of thing. I think that if you put a piece of yourself out there and it's real, people will recognize that and want to be real with you, too.


Definitely. What are some of your current projects?

I am currently working on a secret new project, which is also a YA fantasy. Different world, different characters, different everything. I'm not allowed to say anything more at this point, but hopefully I'll be able to announce more details later this summer or in the fall!

As always, the Tsar's Guard (my fan club) will be the first to know. (If you haven't signed up yet, join us! It's super easy: www.evelynskye.com/the-tsars-guard.)

Buy: BookPassage ~ Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble ~  IndieBound

Buy: BookPassage ~ Amazon.com ~ Barnes & Noble ~  IndieBound


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