Crown's Fate | 
bailed1/5⭐ I just wasn't invested in any character or plot point. The game itself is what kept me in the first book, but that ended and in this book the author is clearly forcing things to have a happy ending through contrived means. Aizhana was always flat, and she turned Nikolai into an equally flat character. Even though things happened on the page, there wasn't enough complexity or connecting thread to make me care.
#bookhaul
I purchased these for my classroom. I have a varied collection and I‘ve taken some requests, which some of these are. I want my students to understand the importance of tasting, yes, tasting different genres in anything; it could be books, movies, or music. I try to offer an eclectic mix.
pick🌟🌟🌟🌟
I went into this duology not expecting much, but I ended up loving them both. Though The Crown‘s Fate is less whimsical and way darker than the first book I still enjoyed it and thought it was a great conclusion, though a bit rushed towards the end. I liked all the characters, but was a bit annoyed by Yuliana throughout the entire book. Overall I loved both books and I‘m glad I didn‘t listen to bad reviews
@TheRomantiCate thanks for everything!! I especially love the pins. I read The Crown‘s Game last year and I have been looking forward to read the sequel. ❤️❤️❤️
#kingsandqueensswap
bailed1/5 ⭐️
I‘m a dedicated completionist so I finished this book even though the first one didn‘t thrill me. And honestly, this one was even worse. I struuuuggled to finish and probably should have quit while I was ahead but I paid money for the damn thing, so I finished it. But I regret it. Just a horribly done story even though the idea is excellent. No basis for any of the magic, overdramatized love triangle, and bad cultural appropriation.
bailedI wasn‘t a huge fan of book one, so I went into this one a bit wary. Honestly, I was pretty bored throughout what I read (I dnfed), and I didn‘t like the characters any better than I did in the first one. I was also pretty skepticism about how Skye was going to wrap everything up in this one book, and I couldn‘t see it happening. This book does have mixed reviews and unfortunately, it wasn‘t for me.
I wasn‘t really in the mood for Something Strange and Deadly, so I‘ve decided to pick this up instead 😊
pick4/5 ⭐️
This book showed the power of love and friendship. I love the writing. It was like poetry. The ending broke my heart a little but I love how it ended. The ending was nothing like I imagined it to be.
All comfy on the couch on this gloomy day with a mermaid blanket reading The Crown's Fate. ☕️📖🐬🐚
so-soI had pretty high hopes for this sequel but I found it to be quite a let-down 😔. I didn't like the direction the 2nd book took, and there was something that was used as a plot device to pretty much force conflict into the story and I wasn't a fan of it. That being said, if the author wrote another book in this series, I'd pick it up because I still think there's a lot of interesting things that could be done with the story.
so-soI had high hopes after how wonderful The Crown's Game was but this was a letdown, especially the ending.
panRating: 🌟🌟
Finished this audiobook earlier and it was so disappointing. The love triangle was so annoying and the majority of the plot revolves around it. This sequel felt so unnecessary and I lost count how many times this book made me roll my eyes. The ending is also a clichéd mess.
#YA #fantasy #thecrownsgame #thecrownsfate #bookreview #review #audiobook
so-soI finally got around to reading The Crown's Fate, and I have to say I was a little disappointed. I just did not enjoy it as much as The Crown's Game. I didn't have a favorite character to root for. What did you think? #bookish #thecrownsfate #bookreview
so-soI admit I didn't like this book as much as the first, but I do like that the author really seemed to think about the next rational steps for these characters and let them play out. It just happened that this resulted in the characters interacting less, which was one of the strengths of the original. I found it a satisfying conclusion to the story, but glad it's done. Look at that cover though! Makes it all worth it. I'd hang a print of that.
I wasn't too crazy about The Crown's Game but I'm gonna give this a shot since it was available on overdrive 🤞
It's been a hard mom day, so this afternoon was Baby Dinosaur snuggling and reading.
The book that I'm reading has #redswhitesandblues on the cover but doesn't take place anywhere near the US, so I'm including the Cap, who was part of hubby, Baby Dinosaur's and my Independence Day marathon. #JubilantJuly @RealLifeReading
🌟I loved The Crown's Game and I can't wait to get to #thecrownsfate by #evelynskye !! I think it might be my next read when I'm done with Behind Closed Doors, but I'm not sure. I have too many options! Lol! 🌟 #fantasy #historical #romance #magic
“I was lost from the moment I saw you on Ovchinin Island. It took a long while for me to realize it, but it's true. I've spent my entire life scrambling to fit in and to change myself, Vika, but where I've belonged, and who I needed to be, has been right here the whole time. I love you.”
I really enjoyed The Crown's Game, so I'm looking forward to diving into the sequel this month! I need to know what happens to Vika and Nikolai!!
Head start on the library reading program with a small #libraryhaul.
so-soI feel like I have mixed feelings about this book. I found myself being mad with Nikolai's mother every time she was mentioned or when she appeared because, in the name of love, you wouldn't do that to your son. Yes, you'll tried to guide him but not in that way. And because of that, it made me mad at Nikolai because he was influenced by her magic (or energy). The end is an entire different story but... I don't think I hate it. 🤔
I've been putting this book off since I bought it. I really hope it's like the first one... 🤔
so-soDidn't hold up to the first one at all. Was hoping for something different and found that I just was annoyed at times while listening. A character who is supposed to be the bad guy you know will@eventually end up good. Mixed feelings.
pickThe ending was a little ridiculous, but I enjoyed the dueling magicians in this sequel. The first was like a YA Night Circus set in Imperial Russia. This book raises the stakes but spends less time on the characters, which is a shame.
so-soWhilst I absolutely adored the first book in this duology (?), unfortunately I found this book to be really mediocre and the characters to be incredibly annoying *sigh* I just didn't get the same joy that I did reading the first one and I'm not impressed 😒
pickI was super excited to get into this book because I loved The Crown's Game so much! It was a great conclusion to this duology as it left things open ended enough for other stories to progress in this alternative Russia but wrapped up the main story beautifully! This book has really peaked my interest in Russian history and I can't wait to see more from Evelyn Skye.
pickJust finished this yesterday and really enjoyed it! I feel like it had a faster pace then the 1st book. Also I just loved that it was set in Russia and having visited Saint Petersburg it just makes my heart happy when I read about it (even if it's fiction haha)
so-soI loved the first book in this series but the second one was not as amazing. I felt that the characters were a little weak and didn't follow who they had been in book one.
pickWell, this had a different tone than the first book that's for sure! The ending was a little 'and everything wrapped up nice and neat' for my tastes....you can't have a major political uprising where a bunch of people die...and then shake hands and everyone's fine and be believable, but it is was still a good book! I'd love for her to write a third book exploring the unrest of Russia..and maybe Baba Yaga could make an appearance? 😀
Just kicking back with my book (notice book in glasses 😜) when it hits me, hey my glasses match my hair. Lol it's the little things that amuse me 😂🤓😜
so-soSo I did enjoy this book but not even remotely as much as the first book. There were quite a few characters that were unrealistic & had inconsistencies, as well as events that were glossed over & seemed more like page fillers. This book was definitely supposed to be more politically focused but it wasn't written as well as it needed to be--it definitely needed a more fulfilling, creative & complete conclusion. Happily ever after...after a coup?
I'm so sad this duology is only...a duology but the cover is so pretty and I loved book one so much that I have to read The Crown's Fate next. The end of The Crown's Game destroyed my heart. Russia + magic + some history is basically what my brain is made up of
pickI am now officially an Evelyn Skye fan! This was a great follow-up to The Crown's Game. It was well written, and very engaging. I had a lot of fun with these books!
So, obviously I've had a super productive work day! 😂😂 Still waiting on all of my log-ins for the new job, so I've had some time to dive in to this baby! I'm certainly not complaining. It's so good!
Not much going on at work yet today, so it's on! I'm so ready to see what happens next!!
Early birthday gift to myself. My actual birthday may not be until Thursday but that doesn't mean I have to wait until then to start one of these. The only problem will be deciding which one to read first lol
It's about time UPS!! Delivered after 9:00 is better than not at all!!
I read a lot in April- some planned, some not. It was a mixed bag kind of month. The books were good, my brother in law came for a visit all the way from Oklahoma, Independent Bookstore Day was awesome, but it was also the month our blog crashed for a week and the Hubs and I had to say goodbye to our beloved cat, Riley. May should be interesting - I'm turning 40 and going back to NYC for #BookExpo. #AprilWrapUp
pickAbsolutely loved this sequel to The Crown's Game! Magical and enchanting and heartbreaking. #LitsyRecommends #arc #edelweiss
Half way through this and my stomach is in knots, but the magic remains breathtaking! #CurrentlyReading #arc #edelweiss #magicalrealism
So excited for this arc! #CurrentlyReading #edelweiss
It's #TopTenTuesday Time! Kim and I both come up with the ten books we are most determined to read (but I could easily add a few hundred titles). Check us out at
http://midnightbookgirl.com/
I want to read ALL the books! #netgalley #edelweiss #MyTBRisTDB
