by Evelyn Skye
First published 2017
Vika has claimed the role of Imperial Enchanter, but the position brings more peril than she anticipated. Russia stands at a crossroads as Pasha prepares for his coronation, yet his claim to the throne faces serious challenges. The girl he loves now despises him, and he believes his closest friend has died. Meanwhile, Nikolai exists as a shadow in a realm between life and death, trapped in his own magical creation after barely surviving the Crown's Game. When someone offers him a path back to the living world, the cost proves steep and dark. A rival emerges to challenge Pasha's right to rule just as Russia's magic grows stronger and more unpredictable. Revolutionary forces gather strength across the empire. Vika must master her new powers while navigating the deadly politics of the court. Pasha struggles to prove his legitimacy and hold his kingdom together. Nikolai weighs whether the price of returning to life is worth paying. All three face choices that will determine not only Russia's future but their own survival.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, fantasy, young-adult
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Russia
Period: 19th-century
425 pages · Hardcover · Balzer + Bray