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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
March 2020 reread: this book is so wonderful! Yes, it’s quite war-heavy, but weirdly I kind of love battle in Marie Rutkoski’s hands. She handles all themes with grace and her writing is stunning. This is my favorite book in the trilogy and the trilogy is one of my favorite series of all time. Did I intend to spend the last few days rereading it? No, but I have absolutely no regrets. 5 stars.
Original:
I had so much to say while reading and now, in the face of completed perfection, I really have nothing. It was so incredibly fantastic.
Original:
I had so much to say while reading and now, in the face of completed perfection, I really have nothing. It was so incredibly fantastic.
An emotion tugged at his expression, a dark awe, the kind saved for a wild storm that rends the sky but doesn't ravage your existence, doesn't destroy everything you love. The one that lets you feel saved.
Final books in a series are always odd. It's hard to keep the essence of the story, the atmosphere of the first book, the book that hooked us, whilst simultaneously having to move the story along and keep it fresh. Marie Rutkoski has overcome these hurdles with seemingly no problem at all. The Winner's Kiss was certainly no disappointment. Every element of what I loved so dearly of the previous two were combined to make arguably the best book in the series; politics, intrigue, angst (so much angst), love, action, battles, friendship, revenge, high staked gambles and risks, plots, murders and twists.
I have always loved the way Marie Rutkoski writes; I loved the third person narration and the complexity of the way she threads words together. The writing style here is expertly pulled off; Rutkoski sets up a nail biting cliff hanger for one character, then switches suddenly to the next. This manages to keep the tension and nervous energy amped up for almost the whole book. The anticipation of needing to know what happens next keeps the story flowing nicely, and means that you don't want to put down the book for a single second. Also, the finely tuned balance between the focus being on the characters and the focus being on the plot was pulled off without a hitch, allowing the character dynamics to grow and change as well as the plot to move forward.
The characters have matured and grown so much since the first books. No longer uncertain and shy, they have truly flourished into their roles in the story. Arin seems to have both hardened and softened since we first met him. Still the Heranni's slightly unwilling hero, still a gifted strategist, still an stubborn and brave fool, but mellower and less unsure all the same. Kestrel has learned to embrace herself utterly, no longer regretfully falling short of other people's expectations and learning she is lethal as she is. What I love about this book is the fact that a whole host of characters all play a role in wrapping up this thrilling story that we have been swept up in since The Winner's Curse.
Their relationship has also developed from a tentative and almost unwilling first love to a strong bond of trust, support and love for each other. I love how the romance of this book doesn't diminish from the other relationships; Arin and Roshar's camaraderie and affection mired only by the potential of betrayal, Kestrel and Sarsine's friendship both relationships forged in the most unlikely of circumstances, friendships that transcend politics and ambition and warfare. And again the complex relationship and dynamics that Kestrel has with her father.
The ending was touching and satisfying; a perfect touch to the intricate, complex and expertly crafted conclusion to the trilogy. I absolutely adored every minute of it.
An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Final books in a series are always odd. It's hard to keep the essence of the story, the atmosphere of the first book, the book that hooked us, whilst simultaneously having to move the story along and keep it fresh. Marie Rutkoski has overcome these hurdles with seemingly no problem at all. The Winner's Kiss was certainly no disappointment. Every element of what I loved so dearly of the previous two were combined to make arguably the best book in the series; politics, intrigue, angst (so much angst), love, action, battles, friendship, revenge, high staked gambles and risks, plots, murders and twists.
I have always loved the way Marie Rutkoski writes; I loved the third person narration and the complexity of the way she threads words together. The writing style here is expertly pulled off; Rutkoski sets up a nail biting cliff hanger for one character, then switches suddenly to the next. This manages to keep the tension and nervous energy amped up for almost the whole book. The anticipation of needing to know what happens next keeps the story flowing nicely, and means that you don't want to put down the book for a single second. Also, the finely tuned balance between the focus being on the characters and the focus being on the plot was pulled off without a hitch, allowing the character dynamics to grow and change as well as the plot to move forward.
The characters have matured and grown so much since the first books. No longer uncertain and shy, they have truly flourished into their roles in the story. Arin seems to have both hardened and softened since we first met him. Still the Heranni's slightly unwilling hero, still a gifted strategist, still an stubborn and brave fool, but mellower and less unsure all the same. Kestrel has learned to embrace herself utterly, no longer regretfully falling short of other people's expectations and learning she is lethal as she is. What I love about this book is the fact that a whole host of characters all play a role in wrapping up this thrilling story that we have been swept up in since The Winner's Curse.
Their relationship has also developed from a tentative and almost unwilling first love to a strong bond of trust, support and love for each other. I love how the romance of this book doesn't diminish from the other relationships; Arin and Roshar's camaraderie and affection mired only by the potential of betrayal, Kestrel and Sarsine's friendship both relationships forged in the most unlikely of circumstances, friendships that transcend politics and ambition and warfare. And again the complex relationship and dynamics that Kestrel has with her father.
The ending was touching and satisfying; a perfect touch to the intricate, complex and expertly crafted conclusion to the trilogy. I absolutely adored every minute of it.
An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Again, Rutkoski drops us in right where book 2 left off. Kestrel has been imprisoned in the north in the dangerous mines which have more perils than just the work itself. Arin is busy trying to prepare Herran for the war that has broken out again, and trying to forget her. Both are separate at the start, but their decisions bring them back together again, as they try to redefine who they are together and apart. Meanwhile, war has come and they are fighting a losing battle with everything they've got.
Again, if you're listening to the audiobook, Justine Eyre does a very good job with the narration.
I think this would work well for a young adult on up to adult audience.
spoiler-ish comment, mostly not a spoiler but in case you care about endings even vaguely
I really love how this one concludes, I think it is a tiny bit abrupt -- I want more end fluff! But it is a good conclusion to the series. I think Rutkoski stuck the landing, so to speak. I think it has good commentary on the same issues of colonization, and a happy-ish ending all things considered - a little unrealistic but optimistic. I'm willing to allow the improbability.
Again, if you're listening to the audiobook, Justine Eyre does a very good job with the narration.
I think this would work well for a young adult on up to adult audience.
spoiler-ish comment, mostly not a spoiler but in case you care about endings even vaguely
I really love how this one concludes, I think it is a tiny bit abrupt -- I want more end fluff! But it is a good conclusion to the series. I think Rutkoski stuck the landing, so to speak. I think it has good commentary on the same issues of colonization, and a happy-ish ending all things considered - a little unrealistic but optimistic. I'm willing to allow the improbability.
One of my favorite series ever! So beautiful and such an amazing ending for some of my favorite characters,
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Absolutely amazing. Perfect. Crying that it’s over.
What a fantastic and beautiful conclusion to this series. I love Kestrel and Arin so freaking much. This was fast paced, with high stakes, amazing character development, and honestly just perfect.
One thing that I have loved about these 2 over the whole series is how they actually stop and think. They might have an initial reaction, but then they stop and really think about what the other person said or did, and they analyze their motivations to see what was left unsaid. It’s fantastic.
Also I love Roshar. He’s such a fantastic character; can he be trusted, what’s his own game, and can you see his true heart?
Highly highly recommend this entire series. It’s AMAZING!!
What a fantastic and beautiful conclusion to this series. I love Kestrel and Arin so freaking much. This was fast paced, with high stakes, amazing character development, and honestly just perfect.
One thing that I have loved about these 2 over the whole series is how they actually stop and think. They might have an initial reaction, but then they stop and really think about what the other person said or did, and they analyze their motivations to see what was left unsaid. It’s fantastic.
Also I love Roshar. He’s such a fantastic character; can he be trusted, what’s his own game, and can you see his true heart?
Highly highly recommend this entire series. It’s AMAZING!!
4.5 Stars
The book was amazing and the ending was adorable. :D
The book was amazing and the ending was adorable. :D
This was just not the finale I’d hoped to get from this series. I loved the first to books because of the angst, the intrigue, the scheming and plotting and all the tension between Kestrel and Arin. But we got so little of that in this book. Instead we have memory loss and a war that are the biggest plot points. First of all, I don’t like memory loss in any story. But here it took away all the angst for me. Them being in the same place for most of the book, but memory loss as the only obstacle… No no NOOOO. It just didn’t work for me.
And then the war story. It just didn’t work for me. I didn’t really care for all the fights and strategy to win the war. The constant switches of pov also really took me out of it. I just couldn’t keep my focus in those chapters.
Luckily I did like the ending. I liked that we ended with them outsmarting the emperor. But overall it was a very disappointing conclusion for me.
And then the war story. It just didn’t work for me. I didn’t really care for all the fights and strategy to win the war. The constant switches of pov also really took me out of it. I just couldn’t keep my focus in those chapters.
Luckily I did like the ending. I liked that we ended with them outsmarting the emperor. But overall it was a very disappointing conclusion for me.
I had been in a funk when it comes to fantasy for the better part of about 2 years. I had read the first 2 books in this series about 5 years ago and loved it. I randomly thought I should finish it and I read recap pages on recaptains for the series and continued.
And immediately fell in love. This is so intricately written. It feels like the story the author spent a few years on and not just months. It's so beautifully crafted. I love all of the characters. And the heavy military and war strategy involved. There is so much research and so much care given in writing the book that I couldn't help but love. Aaaahhh... It's brilliant. And now all I feel like reading is more fantasy. I'm so glad!
And immediately fell in love. This is so intricately written. It feels like the story the author spent a few years on and not just months. It's so beautifully crafted. I love all of the characters. And the heavy military and war strategy involved. There is so much research and so much care given in writing the book that I couldn't help but love. Aaaahhh... It's brilliant. And now all I feel like reading is more fantasy. I'm so glad!