The Crown's Game

The Crown's Game is a historical fantasy set in Imperial Russia about two teenagers who must compete in a magical duel for the right to become the Imperial Enchanter, with the loser facing death. Vika Andreyeva can summon snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges from thin air. They are the only two enchanters in Russia, and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar initiates the Crown's Game—an ancient test of magical skill. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar's most trusted adviser. Raised on Ovchinin Island, Vika sees the competition as a chance to prove herself in Saint Petersburg. Nikolai, an orphan, views it as his opportunity to rise. But as they face each other, their magic draws them together. When Pasha, Nikolai's best friend and heir to the throne, also falls for Vika, the stakes become even more complicated. As secrets emerge that threaten the empire's future, the true cost of the Crown's Game becomes clear.