Welcome to the forty-fourth episode of the Tea in the Treetops podcast hosted by Philippa and Angelya.

Warning: Spoilers!
In this very spoilery episode, we discuss our first book for the Two Little Birds book club: The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye. Please leave a comment letting us know what you thought!
We also discuss season 6 of Game of Thrones, the Warcraft movie, plus a bit about what we’ve been reading and listening to. This episode was recorded on June 29th, 2016.
We hope you enjoy listening and we would love to hear your feedback. Is there anything you would like us to talk about in particular? Just let us know!
You can listen to past episodes of the podcast, as well as the various ways to subscribe on the main podcast page. You can now also record a voice message for us via the Speakpipe widget there!
Our title music is titled Sea of Dreams and has been used with the kind permission of the composer, Bart Stoop. You can hear more of Bart’s beautiful music at facebook.com/BartStoop.
Time details for spoiler prevention:

* [2:45] The Crown’s Game
* [26:10] Game of Thrones series 6
* [43:35] What we’ve been reading (no spoilers!)
* [53:00] Warcraft movie

Two Little Birds Book Club – June 2016
Welcome to Two Little Birds Book Club! Each month, we’ll be reading mostly YA Fantasy and Sci-fi, aiming for books that are fairly new and easy to get a copy of around the world. Everyone is welcome to join us! Find out more at our Two Little Birds page.
The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
Published by HarperCollins AU in June / Balzer & Bray in May 2016
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.
Our thoughts
We enjoyed this book, even though it is quite similar to The Night Circus. The love triangle was quite well done, and the pacing was excellent. A very promising debut – we’re looking forward to the next book!
Questions for Book Clubbers:
How did you find the pacing?
Love triangle: Yes or No way Jose?
What did you think of Vika? Nikolai? Or Pasha?
What was your favourite enchantment in the Crown’s Game?
July Book Giveaway!
Our July/August book will be