This book is phenomenal. From the first page to the very last word, it is absolutely magnificent. My mother compiled Russian Fairytales for me when I was five and she used to read them with me helping me out with the big words. Reading this book feels like reliving those in a far more immersive way.

Before you read, I’ve included some mood music for anyone reading this review. You can play it here.

This novel tells the story of two enchanters Vika Andreyeva and Nikolai Karimov. The names themselves drip with decadence as does the story, filled with lush descriptions of a magical St. Petersburg in the time of the early Romanovs. Vika and Nikolai must fight a fight to the death for the position of imperial enchanter.

So this was my first foray into the magical romance competition genre and I have to say I do quite love it. It felt very much like a moth drawn to a flame situation and there’s really no better way to describe this book. Nikolai and Vika’s chemistry is so soft, more like candle light than explosive sparkling chemistry. This sort of romance was actually so lovely for the book because the Russian elements are so vivid and yet so delicate. It reminds me of the fabergé eggs that are so delicate and intricate and yet so sinfully beautiful. it was a good mix of themes in the writing and the romance woven in added to it. Even all the enchantments add to the entire air of romance and delicate luxuriousness. I felt like biting into a cake with tons of frosting and finding it to be airy and moist.

“He was a poisonous autumn crocus: deadly beautiful with no antidote. She wanted the flower anyway.”

~ Evelyn Skye

The world-building was marvellous. It’s so hard to rebuild a place in this world. When you create your own you are the master, you make the rules, the laws. But when you work within realism and history there are boundaries that can’t be removed. And even with those restrictions, Evelyn has done a wonderful job. She has captured the essence of the city of St. Petersburg so brilliantly that I could envision what events from the book had happened where. I could see the air of magic she described, wafting in the breeze and through the city. She has recreated Russia with enchantments and sorcery, intertwining history with her imagination. The system of magic she has established in this novel has a subtle, complex nature to it. The locations aside from St. Petersburg were so lovely. Some of them didn’t exist while others did. I want Bolshebnoie Duplo to exist so badly there’s a constant ache in my heart.

The way magic was written was so well thought out. A complex system and yet it had rules, it wasn’t written to Evelyn’s convenience. And what beautiful enchantments. From the ballet doll to the Canal of Colors and the dress boxes. To live in such a world! I would eat cake instead of bread if only I could.

The characters were all charming and well fleshed out. Nikolai was my favourite and yet I abhorred Pasha. He was like a gnat amidst a sparkling romance who I wished to swat away. I wish Yuliana could be Tzarina and we could eradicate Pasha’s character completely, but then there wouldn’t exactly be a catalyst for the story. Even the side characters played important roles.

I can’t wait to pick up the next book! The Crowns Fate came out last month and I’ve just ordered it to continue the series!