I want to start by sharing my review of the first book:

"I don't even remember why I bought THE CROWN'S GAME, but I'm glad I did and I'm glad I started reading it, even though I was already reading three other books at the time.

Vika and Nikolai are the only enchanters in Russia, and are competing to become the one Imperial Enchanter. This means one must die, but the repercussions of that rule are a big tangle, when the next in line for the crown falls for one of the players and doesn't know the other is his longtime best friend.

To call this a 'romantic triangle book' isn't enough at all. It's about power, family, love, friendship, decisions. It has beautiful, fantastical magic, fully-formed people--not characters--who have commitments, longings, emotions, choices to make. You like them or you understand them or you at least get where they're coming from, making it hard to decide who you want to win the Game--or succeed at whatever it is that particular character is trying to do. The story gets better and better the more pages you turn, and the very last page...let's just say that I immediately bought the next book as soon as I finished it."

Now...

THE CROWN'S FATE could almost be a standalone book, it is done so well (and holy guacamole, the first line is glorious). There are new issues rising up, new dangers for all to face, now that the Game is over. This one plays a bit more historical-fictiony while still carrying along well-crafted character arcs, amping up the tension (so many great twists and surprises!) and making it impossible to put down. I am very, very tired from late nights spent reading far too long.

I normally don't do two book reviews at once like this, but you're going to want to just go ahead and get both books for your shelf or from the library at once. Trust me. Highly recommend. Now please, let me go take a nap. I'm exhausted.