The Tsar's Guard Spotlight Tour ~ Drink Your Way Through The Crown's Game

It's time for The Tsar's Guard Spotlight Tour!

There are few books I adore more than The Crown's Game (as you can tell by my fangirling-filled review here!) and I am so excited to be a part of The Tsar's Guard tour.

You know what goes well with a great book? Great drinks!

Today I've paired up The Crown's Game characters with drinks that I felt were destined to be their better half. I've also included a few The Crown's Game (TCG) Moments To Drink To for each character - moments that not only link well with the chosen drink, but that are just too awesome not to raise a glass to!

A massive thank you to author Evelyn Skye and the Tsar's Guard's Major General Brittany for organising this awesome event.

Also don't forget to enter the tour's giveaway for a chance to win an ARC of The Crown's Fate!

Character: Vika Andreyeva

Drink: Black-beery Whiskey Smash (recipe here)

 photo: domesticate-me.com

The Black-beery Whiskey Smash seemed to me like the perfect match - not only for Vika's black-streaked red locks, but also her somewhat fiery personality.

There's sharp and fruity tones, lots of complexity, and a bite of icy freshness from the mint that is reminiscent of some of Vika's finest ice-creating moments. What better drink to raise as a toast to this stunning heroine?!

TCG Moments To Drink To

 'It was as if they suspected that what ran through her veins was not blood as in the rest of them, but something hotter and more volatile that might burn any who came too near. Her wild red hair with its streak of jet black down the center likely did nothing to settle the women either.'

'Water! No, ice! Vika flung herself to the forest floor and waved her arm over her head, generating a dome of ice around her. She trembled as tree after tree slammed into her shield and sent icy shards stabbing into her neck and back.'

'“She has red hair, like the most hypnotizing part of a flickering flame, and her voice is both melodic and unflinching."'

Character: Nikolai Karimov

Drink: The Blackbeard (recipe here)

photo: honestlyyum.com

Just like Niko, The Blackbeard may look mysterious, dark, and filled with hidden dangers on the outside...but possesses a hidden world of different facets beneath the surface.

Niko's good heart in The Crown's Game seems to always be at war with the enveloping darkness that is his duty and The Game itself. He hides in the shadows, on the sidelines of the action. Each move he makes is played out with a refinement that reflects Niko's controlled nature. He may not be a pirate, but I think he deserves to sit back with an elegant Blackbeard or two!

TCG Moments To Drink To

'Nikolai had grown up to be rather striking. His eyes were dark and fierce, his face and body all sharp planes, and yet there was an impossible fluidity to the way he moved—in fact, even in the way he stood—that was both incongruous with his trenchant edges and an inseparable part of his being.'

'Nikolai adjusted his mask over his eyes. It had red and black diamonds in a harlequin pattern, which matched his waistcoat and also matched the jack-in-the-box outside in Palace Square. Other than this small splash of color, however, his clothing was unremarkable—a starched white shirt, a black cravat, charcoal trousers, white gloves, and a formal dress coat. He did not feel like being particularly visible.'

Character: Renata

Drink: Love Potion #9 (recipe here)

photo: thecookierookie.com

This Love Potion #9 cocktail is sweet but packs a punch...kinda like Renata herself!

I think this gorgeous and love-inspired drink is a testament to Renata's unwavering love and loyalty for Niko. I remember being strongly reminded of Eponine from Les Misérables as we got to know Renata better. She may be just a secondary character, but she stole a little piece of my bookworm heart by continuing to hold on to her love for Niko despite all odds.

TCG Moments To Drink To

'“I don’t regret loving you, Nikolai. It’s always been in my leaves, and I wouldn’t trade it for another cup.” She opened the door and slipped out to the hall.'

'Renata reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Be careful. . . .”

And then she let go. For even she knew there was only so much one could do to protect a winter moth drawn to an icy flame.'

Character: Pavel Alexandrovich Romanov (Pasha)

Drink: Beers Knees (recipe here)

photo: aviationgin.com

Fresh and flirty (and definitely not vodka!) Beers Knees reminded me of Pasha the moment I stumbled across it in my 'drink hunting' research.

The gold colour, of course, reflects Pasha's royal status as well as his infamous tousled hair. Pasha for me was a character who was fun and friendly on the surface, but always possessed a certain kind of intelligence that not many got to see. We get glimpses of it when Pasha searches so dedicatedly for Vika, not caring an inkling about her magical roots and with no pre-conceived prejudices. Hopefully passionate Pasha (please excuse the unintentional and probably slightly annoying alliteration!) wouldn't mind a sip or two of a Beers Knees at the next ball he hosts!

TCG Moments To Drink To

'Pasha cared about hunting and reading. He was quick to smile and chatty with all the servants (...) and his hair was always a mess!'

Pasha scowled.(...) He picked up the now-warm shot of vodka Nikolai had poured for him earlier, muttered a toast to the tsar’s health, and gulped it down. His mouth puckered, but he didn’t bother to chase the vodka with beer.

Character: Countess Galina Zakrevskaya

Drink: The Witch's Heart (recipe here)

photo: theflavorbender.com

It was hard choosing between Galina and Sergei (I didn't want to overwhelm you guys with a 10-page drinking guide!) but I ultimately chose Galina...a sentence I never thought I'd utter or write by the way!

Galina may be ruthless, and certainly blood-thirsty and power-hungry, but we see that beneath all of that darkness lies a heart. I never expected Galina to be as complex a character as she was and I applaud Evelyn for her inventive storytelling. I mean I teared up. Over Galina! That deserves a drink right there. And a multi-layered character certainly deserves an equally as layered drink to match!

TCG Moments To Drink To

'"If you want any chance at winning the actual Game, you’d better get accustomed to blood on your soul.”'

'Upon catching sight of Sergei, the woman tilted her head, keeping her tiny hat perfectly perched on her chestnut curls. She lifted the hem of her voluminous dress and curtsied, albeit somewhat mockingly. “Bonjour, mon frère,” she said. “I would say you haven’t aged a day in the two and a half decades since I’ve seen you, but that would be a blatant lie, so I won’t. You may say that of me, though, if you’d like.”

'"She buckled on the bed beside him and cradled him in her arms. And for the first time since their father died, Galina cried."'

Character: Aizhana

Drink: The Black Heart (recipe here)

photo: minted.com

Since I couldn't find a recipe for a cocktail that involved maggots or dirt, I settled for one with an ironic title instead (which came with a suggested garnishing of chocolate insects which are much more tasty!).

No spoilers but...Aizhana was a character that honestly perplexed me. I didn't know what category to place her in. Whether to feel anguish over her trials, or anger over her vow for vengeance. Her story was so full of pain and suffering that it made it hard to be her judge and jury. And although she arose a changed person - a changed being - she still had a heart...deep, deep, down. Her heart clung to the thought of her loved one and that gave her the strength to defy even Death.

TCG Moments To Drink To

'It didn’t take long for the rest of Aizhana’s body to emerge. During her many, many years underground, she had slowly, painstakingly stolen energy from worms and maggots to consolidate into a life force strong enough to resurrect herself. Now she climbed out of the earth and stretched, her limbs stiff from being dead—no, nearly dead—and she brushed the dirt off her withered skin.'

'Because she was brave enough not only to face and defy Death, and also to outsmart it, she was rewarded with sleep in ante-death, the space between the living realm and the dead. But she would not stay in ante-death forever. She swore with her last breath that when she was strong enough, she would rise again.'

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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.

Add to your Goodreads bookshelf today!

Did you love The Crown's Game?

If so prepare yourselves for The Crown's Fate (The Crown's Game #2) TBR May 2017!

Format: Hardcover
Page(s): 432 pages
Expected publication: May 16th, 2016
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kepler's Books

Synopsis: The gorgeous and darkly compelling sequel to The Crown’s Game—perfect for fans of Red Queen and Shadow and Bone.

Magic is growing, shadows are rising, and the throne is at stake…

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.

Learn more about The Crown's Fate here.

Evelyn Skye is the New York Times bestselling author of THE CROWN’S GAME (out now!) and THE CROWN’S FATE (May 16, 2017).

She was once offered a job by the C.I.A., she not-so-secretly wishes she was on “So You Think You Can Dance,” and if you challenge her to a pizza-eating contest, she guarantees she will win.

When Evelyn isn’t writing, she can be found chasing her daughter on the playground or sitting on the couch, immersed in a good book and eating way too many cookies.

Connect with Evelyn via her:

Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr | Instagram | Facebook

Jan. 9th - Brittany's Book Rambles: The Crown's Fate Review

Jan. 10th- Sarcasm & Lemons: Fancast

Jan. 11th- The YA Book Traveler: History of Russian Crowns

Jan. 12th- Picnic Reads: Character-Based Book Tag

Jan. 13th- Book Nerd Addict: Inspired Tote Design

Jan.16th- Dazzled by Books: Top 5 Reasons I Love The Crown's Game

Jan. 17th- Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile: Characters Matched to Teas

Jan. 18th- The Book Buzz: New Enchanter

Jan. 19th- The Aus. Library: Famous Russian Fairytales

Jan. 20th-  My Thoughts Literally: Character Inspired Dessert

Jan. 23rd- Omg Books and More Books: Books that Characters of TCG Would Enjoy

Jan. 24th- It Starts at Midnight: Virtual Tour of Russia

Jan. 25th- Next Page Please!: Character Blog

Jan. 26th- The Book Nut: Playlist

Jan. 27th- Arctic Books: Make-up Looks

Jan. 30th- Two Chicks on Books: Pinterest Recipe Board

Jan. 31th- Lost in Ever After: Typical Date for Nikolai & Vika

Feb. 1st- Alexa Loves Books: Fashion Book Look

Feb. 2nd- Sophie Reads YA: Russian History In and Out of The Crown's Game

Feb. 3rd- 21st Century Once Upon A Times: Drink Your Way Through The Crown's Game << you are here!

Feb. 6th- The Eater of Books: 10 Reason I'm Excited for TCF

Feb. 7th- A Thousand Words A Million Books: Top 5 Magical Moves in The Crown's Game

Feb. 8th- Seeing Double in Neverland: Fanmade Bookmarks & Swag

Feb. 9th- A Page With A View: YA Fantasy Books set in Russia

Feb. 10th- Dana Square: Recipe from The Crown's Game

Feb. 13th-YA Wednesdays: Favorite Quotes from The Crown's Game

Feb. 14th- Juniper Reads: Sorting Characters into Fandoms

Feb. 15th- Nicole's Novel Reads: Nail Polish Looks

Feb. 16th- The Queen Reads: What the Characters of TCG would take to a Deserted Island

Feb. 17th- A Perfection Called Books: The Crown's Fate Review