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.
My Thoughts:
I’ve actually done quite a lot of stalling for this review. It’s not that I don’t have a lot to say, it’s that I don’t exactly know how to explain this book. It’s amazing. It has everything I love in characters, and- like I said in my review of A Court of Thorns and Roses– sometimes book hype is purely surprising.
Kestrel (love her name, by the way, and especially adore the reason behind it) and Arin are thoughtful people. They analyze every move of the people around them. To me, this was fascinating and thrilling, but to others I’d imagine it was just a long list of hullabaloo. I guess I’m pleased to find myself wrong in this case; so many people love this book! And these thought-out, calculating personalities were my favorite part of The Winner’s Curse.
For that alone, this one is totally re-readable.
But other than that, nothing much interesting happens until the end. As much as I enjoy the thought processes of the characters, there’s only so much contemplating others we can do before the whole world starts to seem a little too small. Also, a big BIG pet peeve of mine- Kestrel’s best friend was exactly the same as every book best friend. Ever. Flirty and boy-obsessed, knowing everything about fashion and nothing about boring things like arts or intellect, and completely naive and helpless when the real shiz goes down. Seriously, why is every book girl friends with someone like this? I could name literally twenty right now. In real life, there’s no way these two would be friends. Kestrel doesn’t even really enjoy spending time with her! Ugh!
But she was only a small part of the book and it would be unfair to rate books horribly because all authors should just know I’m going to hate their plot-device best friend figures.
Overall, The Winner’s Curse and an interesting and thoughtful read, and I recommend it to anyone looking for clever characters and a moral conflict.
Four Stars
Danni Mae 
I’m so glad to hear that you liked this book! I’m planning to read it soon, as soon as I can pick up the first book (I accidentally bought the second book of the series instead of the first, WOOPS!) But this was a great review, and I hope I enjoy it as much as you did.
I’m also not a big fan of best friends of protagonists who are always so boy-obsessed and such. It’s an annoying trope used in many books I’ve read, and there seriously needs to be some diversity. How about a wise, mature best friend who seems to give lots of great advice to the main protagonist and might even help in getting the protagonist out of trouble sometimes?
xoxo
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Yeah, that never seems to be the case. And a lot of the time the protagonist and the best friend don’t even really interact. They’re just there because the author feels like they should have a friend, but not too GOOD a friend, because then where would the love interest come in? Too bad you bought the second- I did that with Divergent, except I actually READ the second first.
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Glad you liked it! I have been waiting to see what you thought! Are you almost ready for a buddy read? Have you started The Selection yet?
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Not yet! Did you want to buddy read that? Because I just finished my current read and can start The Kiss whenever you want!
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I can’t wait for you to read the sequel! I still have a book hangover from it and I read it a few months ago. I agree with you about Jess, it’s so annoying how the best friends of protagonists are reduced to make the protagonist more appealing or emphasize how different they are from other people.
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Maybe I’ll write a post about that sometime. It’s a HUGE pet-peeve for me. Glad you liked the second! Makes me excited for it!
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Also, I’m having trouble visiting your blog. Is it taken down?
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Oh that’s weird, it’s still there! https://ahundredthousandstories.wordpress.com/
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Weird. Maybe it’s just spelled wrong or glitched on your wordpress account or something.
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did you click on my link through your reader?
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Nope. The link you wrote out works just fine, but the one under your profile picture still won’t connect.
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Ok thanks for letting me know!
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Ahhhh! This is one of my favorite fantasies. I am so happy that you enjoyed it 🙂
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It’s so different from a lot of other fantasies I’ve read!
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Ahh, I’M GLAD YOU LIKED IT!! I’m like the world’s biggest fan of the second book, but the first one? Eh. Not so much. But afjdslk Arin and Kestrel are wonderful and adorable characters!! It took me a while to decide to ship them, but NOW I DO AND THERE IS NO GOING BACK. I love the political side to them too. It’s complex and delicious. OH OH. And the covers. I have such love for the covers. XD
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Glad you liked the second! I read a review from someone who thought it was boring, so glad not all hope is lost! I’ll definitely be reading it. Have you read The Selection? I read the acknowledgements at the end at the author totally reminded me of you. She even called words “delicious” and hinted upon her love for cake in her ‘about’. Are you secretly Kiera Cass?!
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