The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

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?

Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson Review

I have been saving this review for a while. Thanks to Net Galley I was given an ARC of Mary E. Pearson’s new fantasy young adult novel, Kiss of Deception, which is the first installment in her new Remnant Chronicles series. I had never read anything by Pearson but based on the summary, I was quite intrigued.

In this timeless new trilogy about love and sacrifice, a princess must find her place in a reborn world.

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighboring kingdom—to a prince she has never met.

On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

 I cannot express how much I loved this book. I read it in March and I have been saving my review closer to its July 8^th publication, but I cannot wait any longer. The main reason I love Kiss of Deception is the suspense of finding out who the assassin is and who the prince is. The story is told between alternating viewpoints of Lia, the assassin, and the prince. I was on the edge of my seat and I was constantly changing my guess. Don’t worry, the mystery is revealed in the first book. I can’t wait to see how this trilogy is going to play out. There is a cliffhanger ending, so be warned! I’m very sad to wait until the second installment, The Heart of Betrayal, in 2015 but I have been constantly recommending this book. I already had a list of library patrons who are eager to get their hands on it as well.  

Fans of The His Fair Assassins books by Robin LaFevers will love this trilogy! 

Head over to My Friends are Fiction to check out their LEGO cover of Kiss of Deception!