Book Sketch: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

THE WINNER'S CRIME
By: Marie Rutkoski
Published By: Farrar Strauss Giroux
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Series: The Winner's Curse
Pages: 416
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Library
Buy the Book: King's English

Goodreads Summary: Warning--May contain spoilers for The Winner's Curse.

Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

First Thought After Finishing: I’m so glad I don’t have to wait another year for the final book of this trilogy!

Everything that made me love the story in The Winner’s Curse is back in full force in The Winner’s Curse. This book raises the stakes with more trials and tribulations for Kestrel and Arin, more (potentially deadly) scheming, and more of their fatal attraction. There was no second-book slump here!

In a desperate attempt to save the Herrani people from certain death at the hands of the Valorian general, Kestrel made a bargain with the emperor of Valoria: She would marry his son the prince and one day become empress. To prepare for her fate, Kestrel moves to the mainland palace, where she is pulled into the emperor’s schemes and thrown together with her betrothed. But as always, Kestrel has schemes of her own. With the truth of her love buried deep in her heart, Kestrel continues to plot for a better future. Meanwhile, Arin has to find a way to protect his people from the inevitable war that was only delayed, no matter how far he has to travel or how much he has to sacrifice. Will their paths bring them back together, or will they be torn apart forever?

Most fantasy books have kick-butt heroines fighting in armor, but The Winner’s Curse diverged from this norm. In this book as well, Kestrel is every bit a warrior with her intelligence, and she does so while in a ball gown. Everything I loved about Kestrel in the first book made me love her in this one as well, especially her inner strength and musical talent. As a pawn in the emperor’s schemes, Kestrel is forced to make brutal choices that weigh heavily on her conscience and only serve to drive a further wedge between her and Arin. The emperor would make Machiavelli proud, but his son is a different man entirely. Verex befriends Kestrel, though he has no real desire to marry her. I was quite thankful that this did not become a love triangle.

All budding romance took a backseat in this book, though Kestrel and Arin’s feelings are certainly forefront in both of their minds. Arin was rather stubborn in his determination to erase his feelings, even going so far as to make questionable decisions in foreign countries. Still, despite all of the struggles, there was a faint thread of hope. Every time that Arin and Kestrel were brought together, no matter how dire the circumstances, the undercurrent of romantic tension was palpable.

This book introduced new, interesting characters, especially in Arin’s travels, as well as raised the stakes for all political and royal parties. I can’t wait to see how everything comes together in the final book of this trilogy. There is so much more I could say about this book, but really, you just need to read it for yourself.

If you haven’t picked up The Winner’s Curse trilogy by Marie Rutkoski, what are you waiting for? This is one trilogy you won’t want to miss!

Most Memorable Aspect: All of the political scheming by Kestrel.

Book Sketch: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

THE WINNER'S CURSE
By: Marie Rutkoskir
Published By: Farrar Straus Giroux
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Series: The Winner's Trilogy
Pages: 355
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Library Audio
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

First Thoughts After Finishing: I should have read this trilogy years ago!

A few years ago, I took a break from reading YA books. During that time, The Winner’s Curse was published. As it turns out, I missed out on some good books in those years. However, with Marie Rutkoski’s new book set in the same world, as well as the love for this trilogy, I knew that I needed to catch up on my reading, and I am so glad I did!

As the daughter of the Valorian general, Kestrel has two choices: Join the military or be married. Not ready to settle for either fate, she spends her time practicing her music or visiting her friend Jess. When the friends are out together and happen through the Herrani slave market, Kestrel finds herself making a purchase she never anticipated—a young male slave named Arin—for an exorbitant sum. Once Arin begins working at Kestrel’s house, she cannot seem to avoid him. He becomes her escort, her shadow of sorts—and yet he is a Herrani, and she a Valorian. Nothing could happen between them. But the winds of unrest are gathering, bringing change on the breeze, and neither Kestrel nor Arin could be prepared for what will happen.

This book has elements of several genres—fantasy, historical fiction, and dystopian. The world is complete with carriages, fancy dresses, and land battles and class warfare that left Herrani enslaved to the Valorians. Into this complex, tumultuous world are placed Kestrel and Arin, who must navigate a nearly-impossible situation. Kestrel quickly became one of my favorite females in fantasy. She has to train as a fighter, but unlike most females, her fiercest weapon is her mind. Kestrel is constantly strategizing, whether it is at the game Bite and Sting to outwit her opponents or devising military maneuvers for conquering lands or saving her own. Add to that her brilliant talent for music, and I was sold.

Arin was harder to get to know, despite the third-person point of view that allowed us to see his actions. It was difficult to determine my feelings about him until partway through the book, and even then the constantly-shifting events and loyalties made me question those feelings more than once. However, there was no denying the romantic tension between Arin and Kestrel—it practically radiated off the page into something palpable. The tender moments they shared were certainly swoon-worthy, and I cannot wait to see what will develop between them in the next book.

This book was a quick read despite all of the events taking place in what seemed like a few short pages. The writing was lyric and beautiful, and the cast of supporting characters brought vibrancy and life to the story. The story may have been written years ago, but it can still very much stand beside the fantasy stories of today in all aspects. If you have not started this trilogy, add it to your TBR today!

Most Memorable Aspect: Kestrel’s wit and cunning, and certain musical and pier scenes.