Here is the summary of the book:
Lady Kestrel's engagement to Valoria's crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust ...
While Arin fights to keep his country's freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.
Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner's trilogy.
REVIEW ==
This book just hurts.... Literally, tragically and emotionally. I didn't know if that was at all possible before. But MY GOD! Marie Rutkoski's 'The Winner's Crime', the sequel to The Winner's Curse ..... just hurts. You brilliant brilliant author and your most exquisite book. I may have said that a particular book was amazing enough to make us emotional before but .... Winner's Crime figuratively and literally takes it a step further. And successfully manages to destroy us from the core *cries*..... Seriously I swear it - It was that painful to read.
Kestrel and Arin. There have been many literally couples before who don't follow the norm set by others..... These two are just the same. It is always a wonder to read about your favorite couples as they develop throughout a series. Definitely true for these two as well. Arin is more than the slave he was in the first book. Likewise Kestrel is more than just the calculating daughter of the General. Romance is of course not the focus of this tale. It is there shrouded in its subtlety and the dangers games of life. But politics, conspiracies and betrayal fill its pages with its intrigue and the masterful setup by Rutkoski herself.
They may only meet a few times throughout the book but both Kestrel and Arin are always thinking about each other. Every decision each of them make is always with the significant other in mind. Kestrel in a dangerous bid to save the Herrani agrees to marry the Prince of Valoria. Setting herself up to be the spy for the welfare of Arin and his people. Kestrel manages to trade one cage for another. All the while risking her life for him. Of course Arin doesn't know why she is marrying the Prince. As she hesitates to tell him the whole truth, the noose of the ruthless Emperor being way too precarious to navigate.
Really just about every other negative feeling and sad truths are filled in this book. Conspiracies, betrayal, court politics, deceptions and failures to explain are what we find ..... Resulting in us readers hurt to the core. Arin on the other hand looks towards dangerous allies to win back his freedom from the Valorians without knowing that he already had a staunch ally in the heart of the court. These two know each other so well that it is marvel really that they don't call the other out on the truth.
Arin knows just how Kestrel thinks. Likewise Kestrel knows just how Arin thinks. Call them soulmates or their sweeping, intense romance and feeling for each other. They know each other too well..... But.... somehow they still second guess each other. Everytime it happened and I just felt like wanting to jump into the story and bashing their heads together and then telling them to be completely honest with each other. Because the pain, sadness and resignation we see throughout this sequel was just tragic.... and too painful for my sad sad heart.
And that soul shattering cliffhanger just killed me ........... Why must you authors play with us so! No questions asked the Winner's trilogy is one series that deserves all the praises we can heap on it. Both The Winner's Curse and Winner's Crime are magnificent pieces of literature. With a gorgeous and intriguing world setup, equally distinguished cast of characters, an almost lyrical flow of words through the pages and a narrative like no other.
But I love a good happy ever after ...... and I hope we get that in the The Winner's Kiss, which i am equally anxious and hesitant to read because i have no idea just how much more painful subterfuge my heart can handle.... But great work Ms. Rutkoski. Simply brilliant.
This book just hurts.... Literally, tragically and emotionally. I didn't know if that was at all possible before. But MY GOD! Marie Rutkoski's 'The Winner's Crime', the sequel to The Winner's Curse ..... just hurts. You brilliant brilliant author and your most exquisite book. I may have said that a particular book was amazing enough to make us emotional before but .... Winner's Crime figuratively and literally takes it a step further. And successfully manages to destroy us from the core *cries*..... Seriously I swear it - It was that painful to read.
Kestrel and Arin. There have been many literally couples before who don't follow the norm set by others..... These two are just the same. It is always a wonder to read about your favorite couples as they develop throughout a series. Definitely true for these two as well. Arin is more than the slave he was in the first book. Likewise Kestrel is more than just the calculating daughter of the General. Romance is of course not the focus of this tale. It is there shrouded in its subtlety and the dangers games of life. But politics, conspiracies and betrayal fill its pages with its intrigue and the masterful setup by Rutkoski herself.
They may only meet a few times throughout the book but both Kestrel and Arin are always thinking about each other. Every decision each of them make is always with the significant other in mind. Kestrel in a dangerous bid to save the Herrani agrees to marry the Prince of Valoria. Setting herself up to be the spy for the welfare of Arin and his people. Kestrel manages to trade one cage for another. All the while risking her life for him. Of course Arin doesn't know why she is marrying the Prince. As she hesitates to tell him the whole truth, the noose of the ruthless Emperor being way too precarious to navigate.
Really just about every other negative feeling and sad truths are filled in this book. Conspiracies, betrayal, court politics, deceptions and failures to explain are what we find ..... Resulting in us readers hurt to the core. Arin on the other hand looks towards dangerous allies to win back his freedom from the Valorians without knowing that he already had a staunch ally in the heart of the court. These two know each other so well that it is marvel really that they don't call the other out on the truth.
Arin knows just how Kestrel thinks. Likewise Kestrel knows just how Arin thinks. Call them soulmates or their sweeping, intense romance and feeling for each other. They know each other too well..... But.... somehow they still second guess each other. Everytime it happened and I just felt like wanting to jump into the story and bashing their heads together and then telling them to be completely honest with each other. Because the pain, sadness and resignation we see throughout this sequel was just tragic.... and too painful for my sad sad heart.
And that soul shattering cliffhanger just killed me ........... Why must you authors play with us so! No questions asked the Winner's trilogy is one series that deserves all the praises we can heap on it. Both The Winner's Curse and Winner's Crime are magnificent pieces of literature. With a gorgeous and intriguing world setup, equally distinguished cast of characters, an almost lyrical flow of words through the pages and a narrative like no other.
But I love a good happy ever after ...... and I hope we get that in the The Winner's Kiss, which i am equally anxious and hesitant to read because i have no idea just how much more painful subterfuge my heart can handle.... But great work Ms. Rutkoski. Simply brilliant.
"A heartbreaking-ly epic sequel in the exquisite Winner's Trilogy"
Genre : Young Adult, Historical fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children
Release Date: 12th March, 2015
My Copy: publisher & netgalley
Rate: 5/5 (It was Amazing)
Other Books by the Author(review links):
#1 The Winner's Curse
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children
Release Date: 12th March, 2015
My Copy: publisher & netgalley
Rate: 5/5 (It was Amazing)
Other Books by the Author(review links):
#1 The Winner's Curse
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository
It was painful to read but it was amazing, right? I actually found it to be significantly less painful to read than books one and two, which made me happy. I loved how Rutkoski ended the series!
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Aparajita. =)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!