Waiting on Wednesday: Cloak of Night & King of Crows

Cloak of Night
(Circle of Shadows #2)
by Evelyn Skye
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Publication Date: February 11th 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN: 9780062643759

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After the devastating Ceremony of Two Hundred Hearts, Sora, Daemon, Fairy, and Broomstick are truly alone in the fight to save their kingdom. Empress Aki is missing, and everyone else who could help them is a prisoner to the Dragon Prince’s mind control.

At least Sora understands what they’re up against. Or so she believes, until she overhears the Dragon Prince bargaining with the god of war for immortality and learns that ryuu magic may be a more insidious danger than she realized.

Suddenly, the stakes are higher and even more personal for Sora—not only must she stop a seemingly indestructible Prince Gin, but she must also unravel the secrets of ryuu magic before it is too late for nearly everyone she loves.

And as Sora, Daemon, Fairy, and Broomstick face dangerous obstacles at every turn, the greatest challenge may be discovering who they truly are, and what, if anything, they are capable of. (Goodreads)

Last year I read, (aka devoured), Circle of Shadows, and I enjoyed it SO much!
I am very much looking forward to reading this sequel as soon as it is released.

Ps. If you love YA fantasy and have not yet started this series, you totally should.)

The King of Crows
(The Diviners #4)
by Libba Bray
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Publication Date: February 4th 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780316126090

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The breath-taking finale to the epic New York Times bestseller, The Diviners, from Printz winner and beloved author, Libba Bray.

After the horrifying explosion that claimed one of their own, the Diviners find themselves wanted by the US government, and on the brink of war with the King of Crows.

While Memphis and Isaiah run for their lives from the mysterious Shadow Men, Isaiah receives a startling vision of a girl, Sarah Beth Olson, who could shift the balance in their struggle for peace. Sarah Beth says she knows how to stop the King of Crows-but, she will need the Diviners' help to do it.

Elsewhere, Jericho has returned after his escape from Jake Marlowe's estate, where he has learned the shocking truth behind the King of Crow's plans. Now, the Diviners must travel to Bountiful, Nebraska, in hopes of joining forces with Sarah Beth and to stop the King of Crows and his army of the dead forever.

But as rumors of towns becoming ghost towns and the dead developing unprecedented powers begin to surface, all hope seems to be lost.

In this sweeping finale, The Diviners will be forced to confront their greatest fears and learn to rely on one another if they hope to save the nation, and world from catastrophe... (Goodreads)

Those this series has been out for a while now, I only started reading it a few months ago.

I... am... HOOKED!!
I am in the process of reading the third book, Before the Devil Breaks You,

and I already can't wait to get my hands on this fourth book!


•     •     •     •     •


Those are my WOW picks for this week! What upcoming books are you super excited for??

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

My Thoughts: The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye

The Crown's Fate
(The Crown's Game #2)
by Evelyn Skye
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Publication Date: May 16th 2017
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 417
ISBN: 9780062422613
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy \ Own

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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. (Goodreads)

The Crown’s Fate is the second and final book in the The Crown’s Game duology by Evelyn Skye, and after having read the first book, The Crown’s Game, twice, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next and how this series was going to end. It was such a great read!

The Crown’s Fate picks up right after The Crown’s Game leaves off. After that pretty massive cliffhanger in the first book, I had no idea what to expect from this sequel. But what an interesting sequel it was!

One of the things I liked the most from this series was how magical the story was, and how lyrical the writing was. As I mentioned in my review for The Crown’s Game, this series very much reminds me of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, which is one of my most favorite magical reads. This story has a similar feel, so if you like that book, you should definitely check out this series. I also found the Russian history and setting for the book as well. The setting was SO well described over the course of both books, and I could picture it perfectly in my mind.

Another thing that I really loved about this series were the characters. Vika was definitely my favorite, and I enjoyed watching her character grow over the course of the book. She’s such a great magician! I also love Pasha and Nikolai as well, though it seemed like the two switched places sometime between the first book and the second. I didn’t care for the evil versions of these characters at all, but I loved it when they were, you know, normal. :)

Overall; The Crown’s Fate was a really nice follow-up to The Crown’s Game, and I think it really wrapped up this duology quite nicely. I’m sad that the series had to come to an end, but I’m thrilled that I can read the books again, and I’m definitely going to try to do that soon. I will also definitely be keeping my eye out for more books by Evelyn in the future!

My Thoughts: The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (Audiobook)

The Crown's Game
(The Crown's Game #1)
by Evelyn Skye
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Publication Date: May 17th 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 407
ISBN: 9780062422583
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Edelweiss Review Copy \ Own

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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. (Goodreads)

I originally read The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye way back in 2016 when it was first released, and I remember loving the story SO much, but for some reason never read the second book in the story. After recently reading Evelyn’s newest book, Circle of Shadows, which I enjoyed SO much as well, it reminded me that I still needed to finish this series, so I set out to do just that!

As I mentioned above, I originally read this book a few years ago, and while I remember some of the story, most of the details have been forgotten in my old brain. (That’s what happens when you read hundreds of books a year!) I do remember how much I enjoyed the story the first time I read it, so I was more than happy to dive back into it again, and I’m thrilled that once I did, all the details from the story came rushing back. That being said, I think I enjoyed reading the book even more the second time around, and I’m excited to get my hands on the sequel now!

One of the things that I love most about The Crown’s Game is how magical the story is. It reminds me a little of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, which happens to be one of my most favorite fantasy stories. The storyline for this book was absolutely addictive, and the setting was so well described, that I could picture everything perfectly in my mind.

The book also has a really great group of characters, including the two main characters, Vika and Nikolai, who are both enchanters, and who are both absolutely fantastic. The story is told from their alternating viewpoints, and I was completely fascinated by them both.

I also want to add that I listened to the audiobook for this re-read, and it was Fantastic. Steve West did an amazing job of narrating the story, and it made this magical story even more magical. If you have the opportunity to check this book out in audio format, I highly recommend it.

Overall; I enjoyed The Crown’s Game the first time I read it, and I think I enjoyed it EVEN MORE the second time around! I am absolutely kicking myself for not having finished this series sooner, but I’m thrilled that I am doing just that now. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book asap! If you’re a fan of magical fantasy stories, do check this book out right away!

My Thoughts: Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye

Circle of Shadows
(Circle of Shadows #1)
by Evelyn Skye
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Publication Date: January 22nd 2019
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 454
ISBN: 9780062643728
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Own

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A thrilling new fantasy series full of magic and betrayal—from Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author of the Crown’s Game series.

Sora can move as silently as a ghost and hurl throwing stars with lethal accuracy. Her gemina, Daemon, can win any physical fight blindfolded and with an arm tied around his back. They are apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas—marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona.

As their graduation approaches, Sora and Daemon look forward to proving themselves worthy of belonging in the elite group—but in a kingdom free of violence since the Blood Rift Rebellion many years ago, it’s been difficult to make their mark.

So when Sora and Daemon encounter a strange camp of mysterious soldiers while on a standard scouting mission, they decide the only thing to do to help their kingdom is to infiltrate the group. Taking this risk will change Sora’s life forever—and lead her on a mission of deception that may fool everyone she’s ever loved.

Love, spies, and adventure abound as Sora and Daemon unravel a complex web of magic and secrets that might tear them—and the entire kingdom—apart forever. (Goodreads)

Circle of Shadows is the first book in a brand new fantasy series by Evelyn Skye, and this book is a MUST READ! I read the first book in Evelyn’s previous series, The Crown’s Game, a while back and very much enjoyed it, so of course I was super excited to check out this new book. I’m happy to say that this book did not disappoint!!

I don’t often read fantasy novels as much as I used to, but after reading Circle of Shadows, I definitely want to read more. The storyline for this book was super addictive, and I absolutely couldn’t get enough of it. There’s action and suspense, and MAGIC, which was probably one of my most favorite things in the story. I don’t want to go too in-depth and accidentally ruin anything, because reading this book is an experience in itself, so I’ll just say if you’re a fan of magical fantasy novels, you will most definitely want to check this out.

I should also mention that this story has a pretty awesome cast of characters as well! The story is told from two different viewpoints, both from the two main characters, Sora, and her gemina, Daemon, who are both apprentice warriors of the Society of Taigas. What does that mean, you ask? It means that they are both “marked by the gods to be trained in magic and the fighting arts to protect the kingdom of Kichona”. (Sounds interesting, right?! It is!!) I love both of these characters so much, and I’m super curious to see what will be next for them in as the series moves along. There are also a lot of interesting secondary characters to love as well!

Overall; fans of the fantasy genre will definitely want to check out Circle of Shadows! I very much enjoyed the book, and I’m very curious to see what’s going to happen next in the story. I’m not sure at the moment if this series is a duology or a trilogy, but I do know that the second book, Cloak of Night, is currently set to release in 2020, and I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on it ASAP! If you do read the book, I hope that you enjoy it just as much as I did!