Review: The Winner's Crime

Info: 
Title: The Winner's Crime
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #2
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Publication Date: March 3, 2015
Source: I received a eARC in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:
Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Review:
I didn't end up loving this book as much as I wanted to, but I'm still definitely emotional invested in this series. I like the characters and love the world, but forbidden/star-crossed love isn't my thing.

I really go enjoy the character of Kestrel. She is feisty and smart and finds herself in a tough spot. Arin is less of a favourite for me. He jumps to conclusions too quickly and is generally a bit reckless for my taste. The character in this book I wanted to know the most about was Verex. I feel like there is an opportunity for Kestrel to make a powerful alliance there that she is currently not seeing. And, of course, I love to hate the emperor. What a creep!

The thing that has drawn me in the most with this series is the world-building. We see a bit more of world Rutkoski has created in this book and I generally find it fascinating and am looking forward to the next book so I can learn even more about this world.

I felt like the pacing of this one was a bit off. It drug a lot for me early on, where it was focusing a lot of Kestrel and Arin's feelings and general star-crossed-ness. In the second half, things picked up for me and I got into the book quite a bit more. And the ending! So frustrating!

Overall, this series hasn't made it into my favourites, but I'm still invested in it and can't wait to see what happens next.

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Review: The Winner's Curse

Info:
Title: The Winner's Curse
Author: Maria Rutkoski 
Series: The Winner's Trilogy #1
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Source: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: 
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, 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.

Review:
If I were to use one word to describe this books, it's "serious". Good, but very serious. No giggles and very few smiles in this one!

The Winner's Curse is essentially a tale of forbidden love. However, it's much more than that. It touches of some big themes, such as slavery, class, living up to the expectations of parents and society and military strategy.

Kestrel is a smart and relatable heroine, who's views are a lot easier for readers to associate with compared to the rest of her military, conquering culture. Arin is a bit harder to relate to because he starts out quite sullen, but who wouldn't be in his position.

There isn't a ton of action in the first part of the book. There's a fair bit of world-building going on as we learn about the Valorian and Herrani cultures. THere's also a lot of subtle action: loaded conversations rather than loaded guns. Towards the end, there's a bit more action in the traditional sense.

I liked the ending and I can't wait to continue this trilogy!

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