The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, 1)

4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Music is seventeen year old Kestrel’s Achilles’ heel. It is her comfort, and if someone ever asked where her heart lay, she would probably say it dwells in keys of her piano. It is a strength, a talent, but it is also a curse in some ways, too. Kestrel never thought of it that way until after one fateful day in the market when she found out just how bad her weakness for music was. Kestrel could never have prepared herself for what was to come because of her choice that day, how a purchase of a slave could change her life, her world, forever. The young man’s eyes had glittered that afternoon with something very familiar to Kestrel: rebellion. She had purchased him mostly because the slaver claimed he could sing, but also because of that look in his eyes, and she wondered if she’d found someone with the same fire burning in them that burned within herself. Kestrel, however, finds herself to instantly regret the purchase when he refuses to sing for her, kindred spirit or not. What was she thinking, buying a slave for so much money just because the slaver said he could sing? But there is more to this slave boy than meets the eye, more than Kestrel could have ever imagined. As the world around her begins to crumble, Kestrel wonders if this slave could be her savior, or if he will be the death of her. “The Winner’s Curse” is a really hard book for me to review because I honestly don’t know how to put into words what I felt while reading it. Where do I start? Should I begin this post with how much I loved it, how beautifully and intricately woven the plot is, or how the characters grow on you the more time you spend with them, just like an actual person would? I just don’t have the right words to describe this book; anything I say in the written word won’t do this story justice, and that bums me out. A lot. *Sighs.* Despite not knowing exactly what to say, I am still going to write a review for this book. Okay, I think that the wisest place to start this post is with Marie Rutkoski’s world. Can I just say how gorgeous it is before I write anything else? It’s gorgeous, and I LOVED it! Kestrel doesn’t belong to our world; her’s is make-believe, but it feels so real the way Marie wrote it that it seemed more like a beautifully written history book! I felt like I was being drawn into the story, and Kestrel’s world really came alive. One of the reasons that I think made it came alive for me was that Marie’s world is modeled after the Roman-Greco period in history, which just so happens to be my favorite. I love the Roman and Grecian influences that are in “The Winner’s Curse” because they added so much depth and weight to the story, and it made for a more believable story. I feel that Marie did a great job of drawing from these two magnificent civilizations while still making Kestrel’s world her own. I think that is one of the (many) reasons that made this such a stunning read for me. Besides Marie Rutkoski’s beautiful world building, I loved how cunning and intelligent her characters were. They were shrewd, and calculating and I liked that because you didn’t know exactly what they were thinking, or competely understand their intentions. They held their cards close to their chests, and the author waited until precisely the right moment to have them lay one down; one card was revealed at a time, and it made for a slowly building that eventually blew my mind! I mean, my brain was making the connections and putting things together, so not everything was a surprise, but it was kind of fun to read into actions and to understand what a character was doing without being told. It was clever of the author because it made me even more invested in the book and its characters. I feel that there is a character in this book for everyone to choose from, and I personally became a fan of Ronan, one of Kestrel’s friends. (Yeah, I know, I tend to go for the sweet friend who’s always been there for the main female character. I guess I’m predictable, but I prefer to call it faithful and dependable). Ronan was an intelligent character, with a good wit that made me smile whenever he was around, and he cared deeply for Kestrel even though she didn’t care for him that way in return. Unrequited love just so happens to be one of the many afflictions ninety percent of the characters I like end up experiencing, so it’s no surprise that I fell for him. Let me warn you now, though, if I ever REALLY like a character and you want them to either be alive at the end of a book, or end up with your other favorite character, run far, far away! I’ve accepted this fact in life, but sometimes it still hurt (except for the very few, but very precious times that my OPTs have ended up together. They are rare but sweet!). Ronan is one of those times, but you know what, I am just looking forward to seeing more of him in this series even if all he will ever be is a friend to Kestrel. I can live with that. All of the characters in this story, though, are all really well developed; there are no pointless or meaningless characters in this book because they all serve some kind of purpose, and there’s also no filler in this book, which is new and refreshing. What I really want to explain now is what made me realize that I liked “The Winner’s Curse.” For most of the it I wasn’t thinking about what I liked or disliked about this book, I was just absorbed in the story and experiencing each moment alongside the characters. The moment that I realized just how much I loved this book, I had been reading the last fifty or sixty pages, and it was a scene between Kestrel and Arin. Before that moment I hadn’t thought about my likes or dislikes, whether I wanted them together or not, or if I even liked them as individuals. I hadn’t thought about any of those things until after they were in the kitchen, and they had this really beautiful moment together. This scene with them doesn’t last long at all, but afterwards I noticed that I had been holding my breath in anticipation. I don’t know what I was waiting for, but I had been waiting for something. “The Winner’s Curse” is the first book to do that to me. Sure, I’ve screamed at books/book characters before, I’ve held my breath in dread or fear, and even in excitement, but this is the first book that made me sit, literally, on the edge of my seat, waiting for something, anything to happen. That was the moment when I figured out that I loved “The Winner’s Curse.” I guess the best way to describe it is that this story, its characters, and its world, they all snuck up on me. I was just going along with the story when suddenly, and unexpectedly, I was like, “Wow, I really love this book!” After I had finished it, I went to discuss the book with my sister and all I could say was, “Uhhhhh,”, and, “It just snuck up on me!” I sounded like an idiot and I probably looked like one too because I just kept repeating myself over and over again, blinking in shock. I looked like a fool, but it was totally worth it! “The Winner’s Curse” was a stunning read. I feel that it and “The One” by Kiera Cass are, so far, my epic reads of 2014. I love a lot of books, but only a few have the potential to be eternally epic stories. What Marie and Kiera have in common, and why I love their books so much, is that their societies, worlds, plots, and characters are all beautifully thought out, intricate, flawed, and real despite being fictional; they stay with you even after you’ve walked away. You can tell that they’ve put their heart and soul into their books, and that in turn makes you invest more in the stories they write. That is how I differentiate a good book from an epic one. They make me speechless in a really good way kind of way. Bravo!!! Check-out my blog: http://booksandwonderfulthings.wordpress.com

Review: I’ve read so much praise for this book long before it was even released and since the plot sounded intriguing, I decided to give it a shot as well. But, I have to admit that due to all this, strongly put, worship for this book, I was a tad bit disappointed. I guess it’s the usual being-underwhelmed-syndrome after something is hyped to the skies. Nevertheless, this story is without a doubt very well written and plotted, but… yeah. Let’s have the cons out of the way first. Small rant ahead regarding my impression of Kestrel – beware!: I wasn’t too fond of her. While I could understand her reasoning and would probably react the same way, as a reader looking in from the outside (double standard? Probably, I’m not perfect), her attitude towards the Herrans trying to claim their freedom irritated me. She gave the impression that she took them being slaves quite calmly and that it was natural or something irrelevant (not to bother her pretty head over). The Herrani wanting their independence back and cease being slaves in their own land was an annoyance and they should be content to stay as they are. Valorians could conquer, kill people and that made them great and brilliant strategists and warriors, and seemed to be fine, but the Herrani killing their oppressors and fighting was something to punish and incomprehensible. It’s just the impression she gave me and be it truly her beliefs or not, she didn’t get much sympathy regarding that from me. They hadn’t been slaves for decades or hundreds of years, but something that happened something ten years ago, so how could she just assume that they wanted this to continue (when clearly remembering how things were before) and be so offended when Arin supposedly betrayed her? I also didn’t like her negative attitude for the Herrani in general, at times I felt that she saw their culture as a lot inferior whereas I got the impression that they were quite highly cultured and at times more refined than Valorians. I understand that her understanding and views were due to her nationality and people, but still. Having more sympathy for the Herrani, I of course, rooted for Arin and to me the actual “villain” (or anti-hero), if you can call it like that, is Kestrel. I guess I simply have issues with big and strong countries trampling little ones just because they can and the mentality that it creates within the victors. The romance was slightly underwhelming as well, Arin fell too quickly and Kestrel’s behavior just confused me overall (she was quite an erratic person). Nevertheless, it didn’t bother me that much, but the romance kind of lacked an itty bit of something more. And now for the better stuff: The storyline is certainly unique in some ways or at least I haven’t read anything similar, but then again, I don’t really read any historical/dystopian (this story is difficult to categorize) YA to begin with so I’m not an expert. You have these ultimate star-crossed lovers in a world that seems like it could be a place somewhere in our history, but clearly isn’t. There is a taste of epicenes with the plot and scale of the world created. It definitely has wonderful world-building without being too detailed or overwhelming. I was simply exciting to follow and see what will happen next, there were obvious conflicts looming over the characters all the time, but how they would unravel and where it would end up was thrilling. For example, the ending I didn’t expect at all and I have no ideas how things will progress from then on. It certainly won't be boring! The constant strategy talk and the battles made the story more juicy and emotional, things were shown instead of told. The book cames across quite realistic as well, because there were casualties amongst the main characters, there were injuries, etc – it wasn’t a “magic land” where no one ever gets seriously hurt, at least among the main characters, which in itself is completely illogical, especially in this book, due to the setting (but I’ve come across this in too many times). Regarding the characters, Arin was definitely my favorite, I like underdogs and he with his people were the ultimate underdogs in this. Of course, I would root for them and find Arin tormented and conflicted yet so brave and loyal. And despite my general unhappiness with Kestrel, she was a better and substantial heroine than the majority of Mary Sues I read about. She was actually smart, logical, perceptive and collected. I liked them dancing around each other, changing who has the upper hand with every move. Overall: Despite my issues with Kestrel, the story itself is great, exciting and original. I totally get the praise it gets and I think it deserves it to some degree, but personally, it didn’t impress me as much as I was expecting or hoping. Still, it’s worth four stars and that should say everything.

Kestrel is General Trajan’s daughter, the Valorian general who conquered the Herran peninsula. Kestrel knows what it takes to win, to make other’s submit and to always come out on top. She knows about war. But that does not mean she fits easily into Valorian society, revered though her father may be, Kestrel feels shame for the way her people treat the Herrani – as slaves since their defeat. This is a particularly hard concept for Kestrel to accept, since she was practically raised by her Herrani nurse after the tragic death of her mother. And, because Kestrel admires the Herrani’s musical ability – she herself is a piano-player, defiant against Valorian society who have little time for the Arts and value strength above all else. One day, Kestrel finds herself pushed and pulled to the slaver’s market, where she is captivated by a blacksmith for sale – one, the slave auctioneer promises, who is also a singer. Against her better judgment and strong morals, Kestrel buys him – a slave of her own. Arin enters the Trajan household as a blacksmith, and quickly makes himself invaluable to the General’s soldiers – creating weapons for them, and minding their horses. But it’s Lady Kestrel that Arin is fascinated by. She appears to have no fighting ability, though she is the General’s daughter, but she’s a keen strategist – winning every round of Bite & Sting she plays. Arin witnesses Kestrel manoeuvre the cruel and lusting Lord Inex with aplomb. And Arin watches as Kestrel fights a battle within herself – with the decision all Valorian must make – to be married, or join the army. The brother of Kestrel’s best friend, Ronan, would have her marry him – even promising that she could keep her beloved piano if she did. But Arin suspects the world has more in store for Kestrel Trajan than even she knows… ‘The Winner’s Curse’ is the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from young adult author Marie Rutkoski. I’d been hearing quiet rumblings about this book for a while now. Wendy Darling of ‘The Midnight Garden’ awarded it 4.5/5 stars and professed “Love love love love love.” Kirkus awarded it a starred review, declaring it "Breathtaking, tragic and true.” And now I’ve read it and all I can say is … wow. If you listen to the hype coming out of the 2014 Bologna Children’s Book Fair; “realism reigns” once again when it comes to YA. But don’t think that means all dystopia/fantasy/paranormal YA books should be discounted as “so 2012” and passé – ‘The Winner’s Curse’ is proof of that. Marie Rutkoski takes fantasy to an entirely new level with ‘The Winner’s Curse’ – and part of its success will probably lie in its cross-genre blending. Here is a book with historical leanings, lashings of fantasy and doses of dystopia, but that is also so frightening and compelling because it also feels like realism – about a war-hungry society who find the tables turning when the people they conquered years ago start plotting an uprising. ‘The Winner’s Curse’ reads like Rutkoski used blueprints of British and Dutch colonialism, together with Napoleonic and Roman Empire historical touches. Yet, at the same time, the Herrani/Valorian history feels like something George R. R. Martin could have dreamt up. The universe and setting is fascinating, particularly for the historical/fantasy blend. But what really makes this story stand out is the romantic heart at the centre – between the General’s daughter, Kestrel, and her slave, Arin. Here are two incredibly interesting characters in their own right, but throw them together and you have an epic love story with so many hurdles to overcome, I can hardly believe Rutkoski only has a trilogy planned! Kestrel is certainly an admirable female protagonist – one of the few in Valorian society who has an issue with using slaves and who, despite her upbringing, has no interest in family (military or otherwise) but would rather create music. Arin is the perfect match for Kestrel on the page – his anger and bravery seem better suited to the Valorians – but he also sees much to be admired in Kestrel, in her quiet rebellions and favouring brains over brawn, creation over destruction. But the real reason ‘The Winner’s Curse’ is a must-read book of 2014, is Marie Rutkoski’s style. She writes some truly sumptuous sentences; "The piano, on the other hand, was a network of parts – a ship, with its strings like rigging, its case a hull, its lifted lid a sail. Kestrel always thought that the piano didn’t sound like a single instrument but a twinned one, with its low and high halves merging together or pulling apart." She has vividly created this universe for readers to get caught up in, and written fascinating characters I can’t wait to get back to. I was also really impressed by the plotting of the story – surprised that this felt like a complete book in itself (though with a juicy cliffhanger) because Rutkoski doesn’t meander with plot, but rather enjoys plunging readers into the thick of action. 2015 seems a particularly long way away, now that I’m pining for book #2.

It pretty much goes without saying, my dear friends, that if there is a fantasy afoot, I will be all over it. There is nothing I love more than being able to read something and completely escape my reality. I find it incredibly satisfying and impressive. THE WINNER’S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski is a book that you can lose yourself in. It has a fascinating world, emotional heft, danger, jeopardy, and well-rounded characters. LOVED IT, mostly. The end got a little too bananas in too short a time for me, but we’ll get to that. (Sans spoilers, obviously!) So in THE WINNER’S CURSE, we meet Kestrel, the daughter of a general who has been raised in a noble house with all the trappings of wealth and position. Her people, the Valorians, are conquest-happy, and have taken up residence in the former homes of the Herrani people, who have since been enslaved. Kestrel is fighting with some pretty powerful expectation as the general’s daughter: either join the military or get married. All she really wants to do is play music. Until one day when she and her best friend come upon a slave auction, and Kestrel buys a young man on a whim, simply because she is taken with him. This is Arin. As their relationship as master/slave becomes muddier and their connection deepens, a WHOLE MESS of things happens. There’s rebellions, plots, death, romance, and ALL THE THINGS. The driving force in THE WINNER’S CURSE is Kestrel. She is unlike most Velorian noblewomen in that she desires to flout the rules. She wants to wander around on her own without an escort, she wants to make her own decisions about getting married or joining the military (quite frankly, neither of those appeal to her), and she wants to be able to play music whenever she wants. Kestrel is a strong-minded character who takes risks and stands out because she wants to be able to make her own choices. These are all things I admire greatly, and Kestrel deals with some pretty big ups and downs in THE WINNER’S CURSE. It’s really hard not to respect her desire to be her own person, as well as her lady stones. So what are these ups and downs? Largely, they come in the form of Arin, the slave Kestrel purchases at the beginning of THE WINNER’S CURSE. He is like a Kestrel magnet. They are intrigued by one another, and that develops into a very hesitant FEELING that they both fight, for obvious and not obvious reasons. They have great tension and chemistry. I really liked Arin. He’s charming and mysterious and strong. He has his own reasons for wanting to be a part of Kestrel’s household, but those reasons quickly become something else in the face of their growing relationship, and he struggles with the conflict between the two. The climax of THE WINNER’S CURSE is actually more of a build-up to a certain point and then the aftermath of that point. It’s a pretty clearly defined before and after. The THING that happens is huge in scope and ramifications, and I loved it. It really takes things and turns them on their heads and brings the drama. The way Arin and Kestrel figure into this THING shows you a lot about their characters and their relationship, but it also changes it in a pretty major way. It’s great the way Marie Rutkoski pulls the rug out from underneath basically everyone. Of course, once we get to the “after” part of THE WINNER’S CURSE, things started to kind of barrel out of control a little bit. I thought that the beginning of the book was SUPER. I was completely engaged, the writing was excellent (this didn’t change at any time), and the tension and drama were moving a steady pace. The “after” part speeds up tremendously and jams a bunch of stuff into the last handful of chapters that made it seem like Marie Rutkoski had to shoehorn things in. The “after” could have easily been several hundred pages longer. In fact, I would’ve liked it better if it was. It needed it, I thought, because the end was like a pinball machine a little bit. Alas. That’s not to say that the end of THE WINNER’S CURSE doesn’t leave me with tremendous anticipation for book 2, because HELLO, IT TOTALLY DOES. Arin and Kestrel are characters that get under your skin in the best way, so I’m dying to see what happens next with them and the paths they’re on. Despite my slight feeling of mehs about the ending, I would 100% recommend THE WINNER’S CURSE to anyone who loves YA fantasy. The world is vivid and interesting, and I very much enjoyed the glimpses we got to the different cultures of the Velorian and Herrani people. Marie Rutkoski certainly has a gift for words and characters as well. I hope that the next book gives us more time to ruminate in the world she’s built with these wonderful characters who tug at your heart and the political machinations that make everyone edgy.

This book was definitely something different! It reverts to old classical traditions of castes, wars on the horizon, royalty, honor, duty, foreign lands, etc., and after reading the synopsis, I couldn’t wait to delve into The Winner’s Curse. As there are quite a few reviews on this, I’ll try to make it short and sweet: Kestrel is the famed general’s daughter who is cunning, smart, bright, clever, and every other descriptive word for intelligent; however, has some serious lacking skills in the fighting department. Nonetheless her father still wishes her to join the military for her brains alone as she truly is great at strategizing. But killing is something that is abhorrent to her even if it is in everything around her. She lives in conquered territory, slaves made out of every Herrani native, and her story truly begins when she makes one small mistake. Showing weakness. And it wasn’t even to her people the Valorians. A Herrani young man, Arin, was being sold on the market as a slave, and in that single moment of pity, Kestrel, unknowingly, sets off a reaction that has the noble Valorian’s whispering, and the Herrani watching for any misstep. With secrets, and devious plans at every corner, Kestrel must watch every word, every step, every gesture, and use her intellect to quickly thwart countless plots against her, against her people, and against her newfound friend, Arin. Unlike so many others, I didn’t LOVE this book, but I did enjoy it. Kestrel had a quick wit, and a high intellect that made me do a happy dance as she wasn’t a sit on the sidelines and let someone else fight her battles gal. The plot was very good, a conquered people wanting their freedom, kind of same old, but the characters themselves made the story. Again, Kestrel was written lovely, and I did like Arin’s personality as well as thought every secondary character was written perfectly, even the villains. I only gave this book three stars though, because first of all, it held my interest in the beginning, but towards the middle I was definitely ready for the book to be over. Secondly, it was easy to see where the plot was going, and there were no big twist or turns. And lastly, I didn’t really see the romance angle. I mean, yes, it was there, and explainable, but it just wasn’t enough to convince me they were in love. And, of course, the ending just ends. I definitely am not interested enough to read the next books in the trilogy, so I do believe I’ll stop while the getting is good. But all that being said The Winner’s Curse was still a good read, and for anyone who wants a light romance, a little action, and some strategizing, then this is definitely the book for you!

Ooh, THE WINNER'S CURSE, were do I begin to name the many reasons why I love you, and NEED more of you??? I am still tongue tide when I think about THE WINNER'S CURSE! It is beyond any logical words! It was so refreshing and amazing to read a book like THE WINNER'S CURSE. It was unlike anything I've ever read, and I'm SO glad I gave it a shot when I did, because I was debating, but eventually my curiosity won me over! I tend to steer clear of books that get a lot of hype (Like The 5th Wave ;) I get a little skeptical. But when I received an ARC, and sat down to read the first chapter and see what I thought, and let me tell you, I could not put it down to save my life!! I was captivated by each word, and before I knew it, I was almost finished, and already craving the next book! There was honestly not one thing I did not like about THE WINNER'S CURSE! It was amazing in so many ways! The writing was elegant and engaging! Marie Rutkoski has crafted the most beautifully captivating, forbidden romance, that had me reading until the wee hours of the morning! I didn't want to put this book down for fear of what was coming next! I loved the main characters, Kestrel and Arin were so addicting, and perfect in so many ways! They were both so full of life, yet flawed with restraints, by being forced to be tide down to their positions in their very different worlds, and it was so heart breaking. They were able to hold onto their strength, even though they both had to endure the pain and heartache of not having control over their lives! They knew what they wanted in life, but also knew that it could never be! The romance was unlike ANYTHING I have ever read! I appreciated the romance in this book. And to be honest, there really wasn't that much, yet their was tons of emotions, chemistry, and plenty of desire. But not a lot of actually acting on it. And I really enjoyed that. It was not rushed one bit. It was more then halfway through the book before something actually happened between Kestrel and Arin, but, we didn't go without the romance feels! You could feel the pull and chemistry they had for each other, but also the strong resistance they clung too, for they both knew a Valorianns and a Herrani can never be! This book portrayed a romance as a romance book should. The feels were more real and the desire was stronger then anything I've read, and it felt honest and pure, and not rushed and tainted! Does that make sense? Anyways, I just loved Kestrel and Arin together and they made me want to reread this book as soon as I was done reading it! Seriously, I was thinking about it, but I had too many review books on a deadline, if not for that, I definitely would of reread it immediately! It was just THAT GOOD!! THE PLOT... In the thriving, yet ruthless empire, the Valorianns rule over the Herrani. They have been to war and succeeded on taking all the Herrani captive, but instead of killing them, they have enslaved them. Forcing them to be they're maids, cooks, weapon makers, farmers, and whatever else the Valorianns can see useful for them. The Valorianns believe them the superior of the two, and have proved that by taking away their freedom and forcing them to do their bidding's. The Herrani have no choice but to be they're servant, for it is that, or be tortured and murdered until the Herrani race is extinct! And the Herrani can not allow the Valorianns to murder all of them until there is no more of them left! Because the Herrani have a plan! They have been biding their time, waiting, and slowly building their resistance among the Herrani people, waiting until all is set, and for the perfect time to strike! The Herrani want their freedom, and they're ready to take it back, one way or another! Kestrel, the daughter of stern General Trajan, the leader of the Valoriann army, is on a routine visit in the towns market, with her best friend Jess when she finds herself at her first auction. It's not just any auction, it's a slave auction! Where Valorianns Kestrel can't help but to feel drawn to Arin, the slave she bought. Something about him is overpowering and mysterious, and Kestrel is intrigued and curious by his rough around the edges, yet softer, more gentle side, and feels there is more to Arin then what meets the eye. So she slowly starts finding reasons to show him attention, getting to know him for him, and not as her slave. But before Kestrel realizes how deep she's gotten in, she finds herself caught up with feelings she doesn't understand, and definitely doesn't want to admit, for she is Valoriann and he is Herrani. She is the superior of the two, and it is unheard of for the two races to become one. But that's exactly what Kestrel wants, at least deep down inside! But their is a war brewing within The Herrani and The Valoriann, that will change the world as they know it. One side will have to either succumb or give-in. The Herrani are determined to get their freedom, but The Valoriann are determined to keep them as they are, enslaved and conquered! But when the table turns, and everything they've know is changed, The Herrani will have to decide how far they're really ready to go, while The Valoriann will have to decide what is worth fighting for. And Kestrel and Arin will have to decide where their heart lies and how far their willing to go for what they really want! Will The Herran win their freedom back from The Valoriann? Will The Valoriann give-in a decide it's not worth fighting for, or will they go to war and risk killing lives on both sides? Will Arin finally see what's most important in life? And will Kestrel see where she really belongs? Well, READ THIS BOOK TO FIND OUT, because it is SOOOO worth it!!! It's a 2014 THAT'S NOT TO BE MISSED!!! The WINNER'S CURSE is truly hypnotizing with it's originality and magical blend, it's historical background, political intrigue, and a romance so utterly breathtaking and captivating, that it will leave any YA fan or even adult fan, captivated and craving more! You'll be screaming for more of Marie Rutkoski astonishing story telling, heartbreaking situations, with enchanting characters unlike anything that's ever graced the YA gender!! I will be painfully holding my breath until the next book is released!! The ending was enough to make me scream and rant more then a few times for not having the next book in the series. THE WINNER'S CURSE is something I think ANYONE, no matter what their genre is should read! It's just that freaking AMAZING!!!! Marie Rutkoski, I will be waiting impatiently until the next book arrives in my needy little hands, but until then, I will be banning my head against the wall in anticipation!!! NOTE: I received an ARC from the Publisher for review. All opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced in any way!

I absolutely LOVE this book! It sits nicely displayed on one of my "favorites shelves" which also holds some of my other favorite historical fantasies like Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy, and Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series. Like both of those series, I could not get enough of this book. I loved everything about it. From Marie's writing, to the historical fantasy elements, the incredible world building, the characters, the romance, and more. There wasn't anything I didn't love about this book. Marie's writing is simply stunning. There is no detail little or big that goes unnoticed in this book. Every thing included in The Winner's Curse has a purpose. I love it when an author uses every element, and every little detail to tell their story. These details go into the characters, and the settings. I've rarely read a story that has such well defined characters who felt like they were real. Marie's characters are not two dimensional characters who are simply in the story. Her characters are the story. Their personalities, their beliefs, their backgrounds, and the way they were/are raised not only define each character, but these important elements make them feel that much more real. They're believable. Normally in my reviews I focus on a couple of the characters that I loved reading about, but with this book aside from the main two, I'm going to focus more on they way Marie crafted her characters. I love what she did. Marie gave me characters I understood, both right and wrong. She emotionally connected me with them. Normally when I would have decided I didn't like a character, she made me understand them, and understand the choices they made, and understand the beliefs they stood by. The character relationships are awesome! They are complex, and complicated, because of the differences of cultures and view points. Krestel and Arin couldn't be more different, and more similar. One is the daughter of a successful General who continues to grow his empire with each conquest. Taking captive those who's land he wages war against, and then there's Arin. A slave she wins the bid on. While both characters are bound by the circumstances that surround them, they both want to fight for something more, something that's impossible for either to have, freedom. Ringing true to the book's title, I loved how Marie tackled the winner's curse. There is so much at stake for those on the opposing sides to all that happens in this book. Everyone has something to lose. Even those who win, don't win without losing something. I loved that instead of telling who was good and bad, Marie showed me both sides of all that was happening. It made me realize just complex things, because no one is right or wrong, and yet at the same time everyone every one was both of those things. Everyone has a little of both in them and their decisions. They're all right in some accepts and yet they're wrong in the same ones. I loved that Marie's writing was smooth, and intelligent. Everything was strategically written. Whether it be love, war, or personal freedom, the price of winning always comes at a cost, and no one knows that better than Krestel and Arin. Kestrel and Arin have an awesome chemistry! Their romance is dangerous, and their relationship complicated. Yet what they feel for each other comes naturally and freely. Like the rest of the the story, there are two sides to everything, and their relationship is no different. The passion and love they have for each other seems like it could defy all the reasons why their relationship is wrong. These two literally have to fight for each other. It's part of what makes me cheer them one, and also what makes their relationship incredibly heartbreaking. The reality is, what Krestel and Arin have is forbidden and impossible. Like all beautiful love stories, this one is one I hope beats the odds. These two are fighters, and not ones who give up easily when they want something. While I got a lot of answers in this book, there are still many things I am eager to find out more about. I can not wait to get my hands on the sequel. I have a feeling that, that book is going to be action packed, and full of even more betrayals, twists, and fueled by romance. This Marie's best book yet! I highly recommend picking this book up!

3.5 Stars PROS: I adored Kestrel for the first half of the book and at the end. The middle was iffy for me. Kestrel is a fierce, independent woman. She doesn’t know what she wants, but she refuses to be what the world expects of her. She partakes in little acts of rebellion daily. She has doubts, opinions, and challenges how the world is portrayed. She’s a strategist. She studies history, battles, military tactics, and has weapons training. She uses her mind to plan tactical advantages and work through problems. The best thing about Kestrel is that she refuses to give up her passion. Music moves her, makes her feel free, and freedom is EVERYTHING to her. Arin is brooding, passionate, and determined. He plans, plots, and reads people like an expert. He gets to the heart of matters, wades through lies, and never ever forgets the past. He has a powerful sense for injustice and his hopeful view of rebellion is endearing, if unrealistic and dreamy. Arin challenges Kestrel, he calls her out on her viewpoints, and makes her rethink, reassess, and examine many sides of the issues, altogether changing her fundamentally. The alternating POVs show both sides of war. The winners and the losers, years later. It chronicles the resentment, the pain, the hatred, and the envy. What one sees as victory, the other sees as robbery. There’s so much going on that makes you question the need for war, the costs, and what they were fighting over to begin with. There are a few scenes that hit especially hard. How easy it is for someone to go from royalty to slave, scholar to servant. Cover love <3 Kestrel’s father was my favorite character. Their father-daughter relationship is so special. He gets her. Even though he’s a terrifying military aficionado, he loves Kestrel so much and it flows off the pages. He wants what’s best for her. In their world, women have two options and he sees his daughter as a warrior. He appreciates her mind. He’s gruff, and straightforward, but sometimes, it’s funny. CONS: My biggest issue with The Winner’s Curse was the lack of chemistry. You know that Kestrel likes Arin. It’s there, yes, but it’s subtle, so subtle that you doubt it. Though they spend time together and their banter is volatile, that attraction, at least for me, didn’t pull through. It’s this hazy, almost intangible “thing” lurking in the shadows that you can’t help but question simply because the story called for a romance. You know Kestrel is curious, as is Arin, they wonder about each other all the time, but the romance, the physical attraction…at some parts felt like an afterthought to round out the story. Kestrel loses herself because of the romance. She becomes consumed with where Arin is, even more so than finding a way to escape. That bit of a warrior, that independence, and fire reduces to embers, flickering, simmering, but muted. Secondary characters, namely Kestrel’s friends made hardly any impression. When things go down hill and serious threats to their lives come into play, I found it hard to care. Kestrel’s sadness and concern was a little alien for me. There wasn’t enough build up to establish true feelings and attachment to those characters. Plus the duel scene, the randomness. I found myself wondering why some scenes were included. It almost felt like two very different books merged into one. Things needed to be taken a step further, whether it be towards the romance or the rebellion, focus wavered.

Ho cominciato a scrivere questa recensione più e più volte; per diverso tempo sono rimasta bloccata alla frase iniziale perché volevo che fosse un faro d'attrattiva per questo libro, una luce che reclamasse l'attenzione su questa perla che non viene sufficientemente protetta e promossa. Alla fine, qualunque cosa io scrivessi, non era capace di spiegare, nemmeno in minima parte il turbinio di emozioni e pensieri che hanno intasato la mia testa da quando ho letto “The Winner's Curse”. Io mi sono innamorata, completamente e irrimediabilmente. Non riesco ad essere razionale, penso a diecimila cose, provo centomila sensazioni diverse e non riesco a metterne per iscritto nemmeno mezza, a meno che non voglia sembrare una bambina alle prese con un'interrogazione di fisica quantistica. Quali corde personali, questo libro, ha toccato del mio profondo essere, non ne ho la minima idea, ma so che alle volte, non importa il contenuto scritto, le parole usate o il genere scelto, un romanzo ti entra dentro, e rimane lì per sempre. Non scadrà mai, nemmeno dopo averlo riletto talmente tante volte che non riesci a ricordarlo. A proposito di riletture, ho comprato questo romanzo in ebook a giugno perché volevo testare la mia abilità nella lettura in lingua e il prezzo molto basso mi ha convinta ad acquistarlo. Ad oggi l'ho riletto tre volte, in sei mesi, e sto valutando una quarta, in prossimità della conclusione della serie a Marzo 2016 (piango). The Winner's Curse si apre ad Herran, la penisola più grande del continente immaginato da Marie Rutkoski. Qui, da dieci anni, l'acculturato, artistico popolo Herrani, è stato reso schiavo dal più potente, implacabile e bellicoso Impero di Valoria (Romani e Greci sono stati una fonte di ispirazione per l'autrice). Kestrel e Arin sono i due protagonisti. La prima ha diciassette anni ed è l'unica figlia del Generale Trejan, colui che, in nome dell'imperatore, è riuscito a conquistare la bellissima e ricca terra peninsulare. Marie Rutkoski mostra fin da subito la volontà di staccarsi fortemente, dall'immagine della protagonista perfetta che troppo spesso incontriamo negli YA, che pressappoco ha queste caratteristiche surreali: bellissima, intelligentissima, buonissima, che possiede un forte senso di giustizia interno, tanto da spingerla a rivoluzionare il mondo, anche andando contro tutto ciò che le hanno insegnanto. No, no, no, tutto questo è irrealistico e, in tutta onestà, davvero frustrante. Tutti hanno pregi e difetti, e trovo molto idealista quell'autore che si ostina ancora a perseguire l'immagine del protagonista paladino del mondo o della protagonista bella e buona e pronta ai massimi sacrifici per proteggere chiunque abbia conosciuto in vita sua. Kestrel è in gamba, ma nonostante la sua cultura e il suo popolo siano considerati più guerrieri che intellettuali, la sua forza sta più nel carattere che ne fisico, nello sfruttare l'astuzia e la strategia, piuttosto che la spada o il pugnale. Quello che mi ha subito legata a lei è la sua umanità, la sua aderenza alla realtà. Come tutti noi, è vittima del dubbio, delle paure, degli errori, ma anche delle aspettative e dei desideri altrui. Sa chi è, da dove viene e qual'è il suo popolo e rimane fedele ad esso sempre, anche quando non farlo, sarebbe la scelta più giusta o più in linea con il suo cuore. Proseguendo nella lettura, ci si rende davvero conto che lei è figlia del sua società e non smette mai di esserlo, con le conseguenze che questo comporta. Arin invece è un herrani, comprato all'inizio del libro da Kestrel, in un'asta per schiavi. Il primo pensiero dopo questa informazione già la sento vibrare: ecco qua, un altro libro con il solito cliché d'amore impossibile tra la ricca e il povero, dove il finale è talmente scontato che mi sembra di averlo già letto un centinaio di volte. Vi assicuro che non è affatto così. O meglio, la storia d'amore c'è, oh eccome se c'è, ma non è lineare o semplice e non si conclude nemmeno come uno ci si aspetta. A differenza di molti altri romanzi fantasy YA, il romance è una funzione alla trama e mai il contrario. I cambiamenti non avvengono perché i due protagonisti si amano e insieme decidono di lottare contro il loro mondo. Il legame tra loro cresce lentamente, man mano che cominciano a conoscersi e ad ammirarsi, ma non dimenticano mai i loro obiettivi e i loro scopi. È un continuo crescendo di tensione e suspense, di passi avanti e passi indietro che non ti permettono di staccarti dal romanzo, per più di un'ora. Un altro fondamentale motivo per cui ho amato questo libro e per cui lo consiglio davvero con tutto il cuore è lo stile di Marie Rutkoski. Giuro che nel mio ebook ho evidenziato praticamente metà libro e ho continuo a rileggere quelle frasi che mi fanno sospirare ogni volta che voglio farmi del male (l'ultimo libro esce a marzo e io sto fremendo senza pace da mesi perché non vedo l'ora di tenerlo tra le mani). C'è della vera poesia in questo romanzo, ci sono dei passaggi, delle righe che ti entrano dentro, che riescono a toccarti nel profondo e creare quella fantastica magia per cui, alla fine del libro, senza che tu te ne sia reso conto, tieni talmente tanto ai personaggi che la loro felicità o il loro dolore riesci ad empatizzarli benissimo. È un libro fantasy completo, dove c'è la parte romantica, un world-building credibile e ben strutturato, con un intrigo politico e sociale che intriga e cattura. Saltuariamente controllo le news di varie case editrice italiane, nella speranza di vedere l'acquisizione dei diritti per la traduzione di questa trilogia che merita tantissimo. Durante i periodi di noia rischiavo di mettermi a tradurla io stessa per obbligare tutti i miei amici a leggerla, anche sotto costrizione. Continuo a pensare che i gusti son gusti e la possibilità che non piaccia è sempre dietro l'angolo, tuttavia sono diventata talmente tanto protettiva nei confronti di questo romanzo che eviterò di prendere in considerazione qualunque commento negativo, siete avvisati! (Amatelo!)

El libro esta mal cortado (roughcut) y no se menciona ninguna advertencia o descripción de ello. Es algo que se mira muy mal en apariencia.

Loving this series so far, finished the first books and though usually I don't like serial novels this story flows really well and the second book just gets better so starting the series is totally worth it. The characters have enough tension and build up that it grips you, there is enough romance that it's exciting but not so much that it gets soppy and boring, a great balance.

Winning what you want can cost you everything you love.. 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. (Synopsis from Goodreads) PICK IT UP. DON'T WAIT. 5 FRIGGIN STARS. For all those of you who follow my reviews on Goodreads (If you aren't, then go follow!) know that I was constantly updating my views on the book as I was advancing in it. Up until page 250, I couldn't decide which genre to put this book in. It was Fantasy, but I'd never read a fantasy book even remotely close to this one. This was unique in its own way and gave me a book I'll remember for a long time. This book really surprised me, and pretty much half of the time my reactions were simple. I'd been starving for a good fantasy novel ever since Throne Of Glass, and had been disappointed by each and everyone that had come my way. Either they'll be blatant copies or scrap offs for some old good fantasy novels. This book, though, was very different. Marie Rutkowski took elements, built upon them, and gave them a good end. She didn't leave anything hanging in air. And if she did, she did it with the promise of answers in the next book. The complexity of the characters was limited to the choices they made. They were very well thought of, well executed and very easy to follow. The events that occur leave you with the scent of that Greco-Roman feel that was perpetually around, only not visible, like a ghost. Kestrel is the kind of character that makes you reconsider your definition of "strong". She was not a good fighter in the world where it was almost a necessity, but she never for once considered it her short coming. The way she strategised was a one of a kind experience to read. Arin's character, on the other hand, was just the right kind of character. He was refined, knew how to keep his darkest secrets, and gave Kestrel tough competition on the strategising grounds. I loved the conversations they had, and they felt pretty real to me. “A kestrel is a hunting hawk.” “Yes. The perfect name for a warrior girl.” “Well.” His smile was slight, but it was there. “I suppose neither of us is the person we were believed we would become.” Ahhh<3 My favourite parts are many, but Kestrel's fight with Irex, a haughty going-to-be lord was FANTASTIC. She knew her asset, and his weakness. And the way she used it..WOW. AWARDS! Favourite Character: Kestrel. She is a calculated young woman, and doesn't let her feeling come in the way of her goals. Although I won't really mind if she proves me wrong in Book 2. Arin+Kestrel is a RAGE. Favourite sidekick: Jess She is sweet, helpful, and needy. Just the kind you want as a side kick. And a Special Mention to Arin. He is a FANTASTIC male protagonist. Good looks, brains and understanding. PERRRFECT.

Super livre, que j'ai dévoré en un clin d'œil, tout comme ses deux suites ! Une excellente trilogie, dans un univers intéressant. J'ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à le lire et à le relire, le monde développé est complexe et bien construit, les intrigues politiques bien faites et suffisamment attrayantes pour m'intéresser, moi qui d'habitude déteste ça... Ce livre m'as surprise et ravie ! Je recommande sans la moindre hésitation.