As the daughter of the top military general in the Valorian
Empire, Kestrel knows what is expected of her. She must either join the
military or marry. There are both pros and cons to each option, but neither
would make her truly happy. As Kestrel weighs the right choice for herself, a
new figure enters into her life. A mistaken visit to the slave auction results
in Kestrel purchasing Arin, a Herrani slave. Sickened at the mere thought of
the auction, Kestrel is completely shocked by her purchase … and her attraction
to Arin. As their friendship grows, the plot thickens. Kestrel has no idea how one impulsive decision
could alter the entire course of her country.
As part of my September YA/NA Challenge, I went searching
for some new books that have yet to come across my radar. I’m not exactly sure
how I came across The Winner’s Curse, but I was definitely intrigued by the plot. I have several friends on
Goodreads who gave it 5 stars, which only cemented the book more for me.
The first 100 pages or so, introduces us to Kestrel, Arin,
their empire, and the history of how Kestrel’s people conquered and enslaved
Arin’s country. Though it is a little slow during the initial setup, author
Marie Rutkoski does a wonderful job of still keeping it interesting. All the
characters have depth and are essential to the storyline. Arin and Kestrel are
both brilliant and have great minds for strategy. Though they are pitted
against each other, Arin and Kestrel cannot deny the connection between them.
As the intrigue and betrayals deepen, The
Winner’s Curse takes the reader on a whirlwind of excitement. Filled with duels, ballrooms, and blackmail, The Winner’s Curse holds nothing back.
I don't think I can recommend The Winner's Curse enough. I know tons of patrons who are going to devour it and I can't wait to put it in their hands. The next installment in The Winner’s Trilogy, The Winner’s Crime is set to be released
in March 2015. You definitely will want to get your hands on it immediately.
Fans of The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson will love The Winner's Curse.
Sidenote: Not that this matters, but I found that the cover was one of my least favorites for a YA book. The composition of the girl, plus the vertical text and thin font are all disastrous in my opinion. Anyone agree or disagree?
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2 comments:
Loved the review and just want to say I agree with you on the cover! The type of font and the way it takes over the whole cover....definitely not one of my favourite.
Eileen @ BookCatPin
It is also misleading in my opinion, because it gives the perception that Kestrel is weak female (with regard to the female figures pose) which is far from the truth. She has a brilliant military mind and I wish they had gone with a cover that would have showcased a strong female. Plus, the text burns my eyes! ;)
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