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The Winner's Curse

The Winner's Curse 1

by Marie Rutkoski
Paperback
Publication Date: 03/07/2014
5/5 Rating 1 Review

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$15.75
THE FIRST BOOK IN THE HEART-STOPPING WINNER'S TRILOGY: an irresistible story of forbidden romance and class warfare

'Every line in The Winner's Curse is beautifully written. The story is masterfully plotted. The characters' dilemmas fascinated me and tore at my heart... I loved it. I want more.' Kristin Cashore, author of the Graceling Realm books

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general's daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. Kestrel has other ideas.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in Arin, a young slave up for auction. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him - and for a sensational price that sets the society gossips talking. 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 him is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

The first novel in a stunning trilogy, The Winner's Curse is a story of romance, rumours and rebellion, where dirty secrets and careless alliances can be deadly - and everything is at stake.
ISBN:
9781408858202
9781408858202
Category:
Fantasy romance (Teenage)
Format:
Paperback
Publication Date:
03-07-2014
Publisher:
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Pages:
368
Dimensions (mm):
198x129mm
Weight:
0.31kg
Marie Rutkoski

Marie Rutkoski is the author of The Winner's Trilogy, The Kronos Chronicles, and The Shadow Society.

Rutkoski is currently a professor at Brooklyn College, where she teaches Renaissance Drama, children's literature and creative writing. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Reviews

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THAT ENDING. It should be illegal to end books like that. *sobs in the corner* The Winner's Curse doesn't disappoint to provide an outstanding fantasy tale with strong, relatable protagonists, a highly swoon-worthy forbidden romance, flawless world building and a riveting and well plotted story line. Even though it's been a day since I've read this, my thoughts haven't left this novel.

Kestrel's life has never been the most intriguing. She's the general's daughter and is given two choices: either join the military and fight or marry to a respectable Valorian man. Kestrel wants to do neither. Her days are spent playing piano, for she is infatuated with music. And during this time period, music isn't regarded as something people like Kestrel should be interested in. Yet when she finds herself at an auction for a slave who is believed that he can sing, Kestrel finds herself buying him for a heavy price. What Kestrel doesn't know is that buying the slave--Arin--was a huge mistake.

It was a sin to break a deathbed promise.

Arin left without making one.

The characters in The Winner's Curse were written with a lot of relatable characteristics but refreshing all the same. Kestrel isn't afraid to stand her ground and do what she believes is right. Even if it means to break a few rules here and there. She's a strategist as well. I loved her strong minded personality. And of course, her love for music was a bonus. As for Arin, the blacksmith, he was a very smart and quick to take advantages when a hole opens up. I think I liked Arin more than Kestrel, mainly for Arin's past and how awfully flawed but realistic he was. (Not to say that Kestrel wasn't. But he was exceptionally more so.)

I fell in love with the romance. Like everyone has probably mentioned, it's a slow burn and will make you swoon. That hair braiding scene = me flailing and dying simultaneously. It's a forbidden romance like I aforementioned but wasn't angsty or full on melodramatic like some forbidden romances can be. Rutkoski gives us the perfect dose.

She saw him and didn't understand how she had ever missed his beauty. How it didn't always strike her as it did now, like a blow.

There isn't much that The Winner's Curse fails at. And, if anything I had to nit-pick at, it would be at the pacing. The second half of The Winner's Curse is exceedingly better than the first. If the first half was a stroll in the park, the second half was a never-ending sprint. It was in the last half, where stakes grew high and where the plot line reallymoved.Sure, the entire novel was fascinating, but the second half seriously took it to the next level.

The Winner's Curse deserves all the praise, if not more. It's brimming with brilliance and will definitely sweep readers off their feet with it's unforgettable characters and world. Now, who should I give all my money to in exchange for book 2?

Contains Spoilers No
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