Might be better than book one? The crown’s fate review!

Title: The crown’s fate.

Author: Evelyn Skye.

Format: Audiobook.

Publisher: Balzer + Bray.

Page count: 425.

Release day: May 16^th 2017.

Genre: YA, fantasy.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

*See my review for book one here!*

What is it about? (Summary 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.

My thoughts:

I’m happy I decided to continue on with this series, even though I wasn’t sure I would after finishing the first book.

I really appreciated the darker turn this book took, compared to book one! People turning against each other, and making ‘cruel’ plans, I’m here for it!

My favourite character by far was Nikolai, mainly because he was the cause of the darkness. Vika was a bit annoying at times, she always wanted to be the ‘good girl’, which meh is not my favourite thing. I definitely liked Pasha way more in this book compared to book one, since his character got a bit more depth!

My main reason for not necessarily wanting to read this one was that I wasn’t sure this one would have a good plot. I didn’t really know what would happen after the competition ended in book one. But I think it took an interesting route. Not necessarily the one I would have expected, so that was nice. I liked that Vika kinda got what she wanted, but not really, and was struggling with that. I really like Pasha’s sister and her role in the politics! What I didn’t like was the obvious love triangle.. You kinda know from the start who will end up with who, but still we’re going around it, which was kinda annoying and unnecessary!

The ending felt a bit abrupt. My mind was still processing the big action scene, and then the audiobook was already over?! At least that is how it felt like!

I think this book could have gotten a 4 star rating if the ending wasn’t so predictable, and ‘all is good’. The book kinda gave up on the darkness near the ending, which was sad.

I do really like the audiobooks for this series, definitely recommend!

Have you read this book? What did you think?