ARC Review: The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye

Title: The Crown's Game (The Crown's Game #1)
Author: Evelyn Skye
Genre: Historical, Romance, Fantasy
Source: Edelweiss 
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: May 17th 2016
Summary: 

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.

I just don't understand why I am always disappointed in over hyped books. I was positive I was going to like this one too. I love anything to do with Russian history, especially the Romanov's (Who is the Tsar in this book.) It is probably the only time I paid attention my whole 10th grade year history class. But besides that aspect I was honestly disappointed in The Crown's Game. I made it to 62% before I started to skim and then ultimately gave up. So I know about the ending briefly, I know that is painful and I know that it was paced real slow for my taste. 

I was expecting a fast paced, fantasy packed book. It was full of fantasy, but it was slow and not really exciting to me. I was more: "When is everything going to pick up." then: "OMG I am loving this." At first I did love The Crown's Game and slowly my loved waned to it's: "Just okay." 

• I wasn't a fan of the characters. Pasha was the only one I really actually liked. 
• The magic aspect was cool, but it wasn't the kind of "magic" that I was hoping for. 

I am not going to say much more, a majority of people really seemed to enjoy this one. For me it was just blah. Maybe one day I will like this one better? I don't know. This sure wasn't the type of review I was hoping to give this book. 

Why three stars? The aspect was interesting, the time period, and overall world building was amazing. Skye's writing is beautiful. It was more of the characters that I had an issue with then anything else.