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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Hate hate hatey hate hate hate. So boring, so annoying, absolutely nothing interesting happened in this books. Bleh.
Least favorite of the series, but I enjoyed myself overall throughout the whole series.
*5 STARS
I am in awe of Rutkoski yet again.
I've been waiting for this book for more than a year, and I was actually a bit afraid that it wouldn't meet my expectations, that perhaps I was hyping it up needlessly and would find myself disappointed. That didn't happen.
[b: The Winner's Kiss|20443235|The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy, #3)|Marie Rutkoski|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1455809407s/20443235.jpg|31175868] is certainly one of my favorite reads this year, one that cemented my love for this trilogy and also delivered a good end as well for the series.
In this particular segment, Rutkoski focuses on the Dacran-Herrani alliance/war against the Valorians and the plight of Kestrel in the tundra sulfur mine prison. After [b: The Winner's Crime|20443207|The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy, #2)|Marie Rutkoski|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411741455s/20443207.jpg|31174003], I was desperate to have a conclusion, to not be left with a heavy heart. The end is always the hardest, especially when you are extremely invested in the turn of events and the way it will affect the characters.
I was impressed by Rutkoski's plotting and overall, I enjoyed how she managed to make the war plausible while also keeping it succint and focused on the characters. It's full of emotion while also balancing the light and dark parts, though I would say that in this book, it felt like the home stretch, full of relief.
As a trilogy, I think that the story has evolved so much over the course of the series, and for good reason. There is a lot of character growth; I really enjoyed seeing Kestrel and Arin's metamorphosis throughout their struggles. Kestrel is so brave, fearless, unique. Arin as well. I empathized often with them. Rutkoski makes the situation and world feel very genuine, and it's subtle yet has tangible effects. Though I do like the romance, I also think they're remarkably stunning characters separately. Side-character relationships as well were all very complex and unpredictable. Rutkoski discusses Kestrel's relationship with her father with sensitivity and depth and introduces many friendships that we didn't have in the first two books.
As usual, I also enjoyed Rutkoski's prose so much. It was extremely melancholy at times, yet also bright, I would say. It gave me the lightness that I wanted, but there are many machinations and a bit more of battle planning, which are discussed with razor-sharp and intensely acute writing.
Overall, I'm so sad to say bye to this series, but I'll survive. The book was too good, I honestly couldn't ask for more of an ending. Hopefully there'll be a new series by Rutkoski... soon.
I am in awe of Rutkoski yet again.
I've been waiting for this book for more than a year, and I was actually a bit afraid that it wouldn't meet my expectations, that perhaps I was hyping it up needlessly and would find myself disappointed. That didn't happen.
[b: The Winner's Kiss|20443235|The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy, #3)|Marie Rutkoski|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1455809407s/20443235.jpg|31175868] is certainly one of my favorite reads this year, one that cemented my love for this trilogy and also delivered a good end as well for the series.
In this particular segment, Rutkoski focuses on the Dacran-Herrani alliance/war against the Valorians and the plight of Kestrel in the tundra sulfur mine prison. After [b: The Winner's Crime|20443207|The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy, #2)|Marie Rutkoski|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1411741455s/20443207.jpg|31174003], I was desperate to have a conclusion, to not be left with a heavy heart. The end is always the hardest, especially when you are extremely invested in the turn of events and the way it will affect the characters.
I was impressed by Rutkoski's plotting and overall, I enjoyed how she managed to make the war plausible while also keeping it succint and focused on the characters. It's full of emotion while also balancing the light and dark parts, though I would say that in this book, it felt like the home stretch, full of relief.
As a trilogy, I think that the story has evolved so much over the course of the series, and for good reason. There is a lot of character growth; I really enjoyed seeing Kestrel and Arin's metamorphosis throughout their struggles. Kestrel is so brave, fearless, unique. Arin as well. I empathized often with them. Rutkoski makes the situation and world feel very genuine, and it's subtle yet has tangible effects. Though I do like the romance, I also think they're remarkably stunning characters separately. Side-character relationships as well were all very complex and unpredictable. Rutkoski discusses Kestrel's relationship with her father with sensitivity and depth and introduces many friendships that we didn't have in the first two books.
As usual, I also enjoyed Rutkoski's prose so much. It was extremely melancholy at times, yet also bright, I would say. It gave me the lightness that I wanted, but there are many machinations and a bit more of battle planning, which are discussed with razor-sharp and intensely acute writing.
Overall, I'm so sad to say bye to this series, but I'll survive. The book was too good, I honestly couldn't ask for more of an ending. Hopefully there'll be a new series by Rutkoski... soon.
Beautiful! Plenty of twist and turns, as well as a blossoming relationship.
A really enjoyable and satisfying conclusion to a series
First posted at Realm of the Sapphired Dragon on 9th May 2016
I was so looking forward to reading this book. After reading books 1 and 2 I was looking forward to being blown away by the final book. Whilst I did enjoy it, I wasn't blown away as much as I wanted or expected to be.
To start with, the week I was reading it, I had a busy RL going on so I was only able to read it fits and starts rather in the one sitting I really wanted to read this in. And I think to a certain degree this made a difference to my enjoyment level of the book as I had to keep re-entering the book, and reminding myself what had gone one rather than being able to submerse my self in the book from beginning to end. I think made it harder to completely connect with the feels of the book and the story itself.
I loved the beginning with Kestrel being stuck in the North and Arin in the south and desperately waiting to see if Arin would get the message she had sent through the messenger whilst on her way to the mines and wondering if she would be rescued before she completely broke or worse. I loved the suspense n this portion of the book as we waited on tenterhooks to see what was going to happen.
As the book progressed however, a lot of that suspense dissipated and the middle part of the book became somewhat of a chess match, and whilst my interest remained in seeing how it would turn out, the grip on the edge of my seat lessened and I became more passive and less invested in the end result. The ending brought the suspense level back up and I mostly loved and was satisfied with how the book ended.
There some threads through this book that I absolutely loved and I especially love that this book acknowledge the growth/changes in Arin and Kestrel since the beginning of the series so it was a realistic redefining of their relationship during this book given the depth of the emotions we saw previously. I love these two as a couple and this didn't change in this book.
I think what I missed in this final book was a lot of the intrigue of the first two books and that feeling that the worst could and just might happen at any moment. There was suspense and intrigue in parts and there were some particularly clever twists but on the whole this book seemed a lot more straightforward then the first two books as it powered on to the end.
As I emerge on the other side of this series, I am immensely glad I first picked up The Winner's Curse and got to know this world and characters. Over all I loved this series and am mostly pleased with where this series ended.
If you have read the first two books, I definitely recommend this final book and still recommend this series as a whole.
I give this final book a rating of 3 3/4 stars!
Sapphired Dragon xx .
I was so looking forward to reading this book. After reading books 1 and 2 I was looking forward to being blown away by the final book. Whilst I did enjoy it, I wasn't blown away as much as I wanted or expected to be.
To start with, the week I was reading it, I had a busy RL going on so I was only able to read it fits and starts rather in the one sitting I really wanted to read this in. And I think to a certain degree this made a difference to my enjoyment level of the book as I had to keep re-entering the book, and reminding myself what had gone one rather than being able to submerse my self in the book from beginning to end. I think made it harder to completely connect with the feels of the book and the story itself.
I loved the beginning with Kestrel being stuck in the North and Arin in the south and desperately waiting to see if Arin would get the message she had sent through the messenger whilst on her way to the mines and wondering if she would be rescued before she completely broke or worse. I loved the suspense n this portion of the book as we waited on tenterhooks to see what was going to happen.
As the book progressed however, a lot of that suspense dissipated and the middle part of the book became somewhat of a chess match, and whilst my interest remained in seeing how it would turn out, the grip on the edge of my seat lessened and I became more passive and less invested in the end result. The ending brought the suspense level back up and I mostly loved and was satisfied with how the book ended.
There some threads through this book that I absolutely loved and I especially love that this book acknowledge the growth/changes in Arin and Kestrel since the beginning of the series so it was a realistic redefining of their relationship during this book given the depth of the emotions we saw previously. I love these two as a couple and this didn't change in this book.
I think what I missed in this final book was a lot of the intrigue of the first two books and that feeling that the worst could and just might happen at any moment. There was suspense and intrigue in parts and there were some particularly clever twists but on the whole this book seemed a lot more straightforward then the first two books as it powered on to the end.
As I emerge on the other side of this series, I am immensely glad I first picked up The Winner's Curse and got to know this world and characters. Over all I loved this series and am mostly pleased with where this series ended.
If you have read the first two books, I definitely recommend this final book and still recommend this series as a whole.
I give this final book a rating of 3 3/4 stars!
Sapphired Dragon xx .
Was the right ending to the series. BIG fan - and I can't wait to see what Rutkoswki has next.
I give it a 4.75 only because when I was reading, it gave me the same feeling as watching Deathly Hallows Part 1.
It was jam packed with much needed exposition and has shown some action (though not too much, which I enjoyed because it organically fit to who Kestrel was) but, like DH1, was filled with boring traveling.
((You all know what I’m talking about, that movie was 70% camping and Ron acting silly))
But I love the characters and the complexities of Kestrel and her mind. UGH HER MIND. I was terrified when her memory and intelligence was threatened at the beginning oh lord. Most of all, I love Arin. He breaks most, if not all, of society’s gender roles. He’s open and vulnerable and uses his big heart and love for Kestrel as a strength instead of a weakness.
I loved everything about this book and series. She will be missed. 🖤
It was jam packed with much needed exposition and has shown some action (though not too much, which I enjoyed because it organically fit to who Kestrel was) but, like DH1, was filled with boring traveling.
((You all know what I’m talking about, that movie was 70% camping and Ron acting silly))
But I love the characters and the complexities of Kestrel and her mind. UGH HER MIND. I was terrified when her memory and intelligence was threatened at the beginning oh lord. Most of all, I love Arin. He breaks most, if not all, of society’s gender roles. He’s open and vulnerable and uses his big heart and love for Kestrel as a strength instead of a weakness.
I loved everything about this book and series. She will be missed. 🖤
I'll begrudgingly give this final installment a firm 3 stars, maybe 3.5 if I'm feeling generous. The romance in this series continued to be so painful. These two people do not communicate well and should not be together in my opinion. You're telling me you can travel together for multiple days and refuse to say a single meaningful word to each other, but you're okay with snuggling up at night no problem?? That's not a romantic fantasy, that's annoying. I understand there are layers of trauma involved here, but since they never really talk about any of it, how am I supposed to accept their forthcoming happy-ever-after? I actually don't mind both characters individually, and I truly wanted to root for their relationship, but it was just not for me.
The main saving grace of this book was the war. To her credit, the author does not shy away from violence, even if I wish the stakes were a little higher at times. Roshar added a much needed third voice, and his quips brought some levity to both Arin and Kestrels whiny pining. Some of the broader political maneuvers didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but its YA and I'm definitely overthinking it.
I will probably hold on to these stunning special editions for much longer than I should, but I am not as attached to them as I hoped to be. If I get struck by a particularly strong book-buying urge, an un-haul is not out of the question.
The main saving grace of this book was the war. To her credit, the author does not shy away from violence, even if I wish the stakes were a little higher at times. Roshar added a much needed third voice, and his quips brought some levity to both Arin and Kestrels whiny pining. Some of the broader political maneuvers didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but its YA and I'm definitely overthinking it.
I will probably hold on to these stunning special editions for much longer than I should, but I am not as attached to them as I hoped to be. If I get struck by a particularly strong book-buying urge, an un-haul is not out of the question.
Oh hmmm.... It took me a while to read this and I can't tell if I wasn't that into it or if it's just the reading slump I seem to be in.
I liked it, I really did. I adore these characters and the writing is so beautiful, but I wasn't absolutely hooked. We'll blame my reading slump.
I liked it, I really did. I adore these characters and the writing is so beautiful, but I wasn't absolutely hooked. We'll blame my reading slump.