Goodreads
Amazon
ebook, 355 pages
Published March 4th 2014 by Farrar Straus Giroux
Series: The Winner’s Trilogy #1
Source: Purchased
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
From Goodreads:
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.
- Kestrel and Arin. Let’s start with Kestrel. Kestrel.. well, she had her good points and her infuriating points. I kept trying to tell myself that when she behaved like a dolt, it was likely because she didn’t really know any better, considering her upbringing as a society elite. Add to that the fact that her father basically just tries to goad her into being a soldier, and I am pretty sure parenting was a complete fail for our Kestrel. Even though she isn’t always particularly likable as a character, she does make sense. And I felt like she wanted to do right, even though most of the time she hadn’t a clue what that was. I liked Arin from the start. Sure, he was being awful, but wouldn’t you? If some privileged chick bought me for the hell of it, you’d bet I’d be nasty as anything. But I think deep down, he’s a good guy, who like Kestrel, wants to do right but doesn’t know how.
- Kestrel & Arin. I mean this in the relationship sense, of course. I loved their interactions. I never knew what to expect from them, and that was part of the charm. There was no insta-love, just a complicated and taboo relationship that made me want more!
- There were times I simply couldn’t put this book down! I loved the political drama (which was akin to tabloid-like behavior from some of the Valorian elite), I loved the friendship between Kestrel and Jess.
- I got bored. Remember how five seconds ago, I said that there were times when I couldn’t put the book down? That’s true. But there were other times when I was flat out bored and started looking around the room for something more interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book during which I wavered so much from chapter to chapter. One minute, I’m all in. The next, my eyes are glazed over and I am thinking about grabbing a snack or watching Friends. I can’t completely pinpoint all the spots that bored me, but when the heavier military action came into play, and the plot got very, very cumbersome, I was out. And that is my absolute biggest gripe with the book: I don’t want to be bored while reading! Ever. Especially not for a good 20% of the book (just an estimate, I didn’t actually sit around with a calculator and a tally sheet).
- The World Building. Here’s my general problem with fantasy: I need to know stuff. Where are we, why is this happening, who are these people? I don’t know. We’re… somewhere. With Valorians and Herrani. Who are they? I haven’t a clue, your guess is as good as mine. They’re near some water somewhere, so we’ve narrowed it down to about 90% of all places. I am hoping there’s more information in the next book, that would make me happy.
I’m the same way with world building! I especially like to know the background so I can understand the conflict of the book and why the world is the way it is. That was my least favorite part of the book. I really liked Kestral and Arin! There were times, though, that I didn’t like Kestral & Arin. 🙁
I’m glad you liked this one. Let’s hope that the sequel has better world building. 🙂
Oh, there were times I didn’t like them too, but as a whole, I liked the idea of them. And I hope they’ll get their act together in the next book! And I really, really hope there is more world building in the sequel. It is just too hard for me to follow, which is probably why I end up getting bored.
Okay first: YAY FOR NO INSTA-LOVE *does a happy chicken dance*
The world-building though . . . that’s something I can’t handle. Huge pet peeve for me when that’s not done right, or at all. if you’re going to write a fantasy book and create your own world, then you need to actually CREATE it. Let the reader know what’s going on and why, otherwise what’s the point???
It is a pet peeve of mine too. I am such a logical thinker, I can’t wrap my head around a vague world at all. And in this one, I just could not picture it!
Sounds like you were torn about this book, must’ve been hard to review. I think I’ll put it on my maybe list. Probably one of those books where the sequel is better.
Yes, you are so right! I mean, there were spots in the book that I would have said I loved it, five-stars all the way, and then times I felt like DNFing! I don’t know if I’ve ever had such an experience before. I am really hoping the sequel fills in some of the holes. And hey, if you wait for the sequel, then you can know if you want to read the first one! 😉
I keep going back and forth on whether I want to read this or not! Sounds like you were pretty torn on it, hopefully the sequel will be better.
Yes, definitely torn! I think my recommendation for people on the fence is to wait and see how the sequel is. That way, if it is worse, you haven’t invested anything, but if it is good, then yay, you don’t have to wait to read it 🙂 Win-win!