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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Woof. This was a clunker. There's a lot of battle information and a heaping dose of amnesia that just grinds the momentum of the story to a halt. I didn't have a very good time reading this at all.
While the series has good writing and an interesting world, it never hits many highs. I don't know if it's too constrained by being YA or if this particular instance of 17 year olds taking on an empire is just too unbelievable. There are few thrills to be found here. Overall it was tepid.
While the series has good writing and an interesting world, it never hits many highs. I don't know if it's too constrained by being YA or if this particular instance of 17 year olds taking on an empire is just too unbelievable. There are few thrills to be found here. Overall it was tepid.
I love how this book made the characters work for love. I liked how Kestrel had to become herself again.
Hard to finish
I was so excited to read the third and finally book in this series. I really enjoyed the first one, and even though the second wasn't as strong, I was really looking forward to the end of this series.
However, I was really disappointed by this book. It took me a long time to figure out WHY exactly I didn't like it. The term I will use is "self-indulgent". I think the author spent so much time making the book serious, artsy, and convoluted that I stopped caring about the plot or the characters. I lost a lot of descriptions of things along the way and ended up confused about what was happening or the motivations of the characters. The two main characters became incredibly unlikable about 30% in.
If you're unsure you want to buy this book, go ahead and skip it. Keep the memory of the first one in your mind.
I was so excited to read the third and finally book in this series. I really enjoyed the first one, and even though the second wasn't as strong, I was really looking forward to the end of this series.
However, I was really disappointed by this book. It took me a long time to figure out WHY exactly I didn't like it. The term I will use is "self-indulgent". I think the author spent so much time making the book serious, artsy, and convoluted that I stopped caring about the plot or the characters. I lost a lot of descriptions of things along the way and ended up confused about what was happening or the motivations of the characters. The two main characters became incredibly unlikable about 30% in.
If you're unsure you want to buy this book, go ahead and skip it. Keep the memory of the first one in your mind.
It feels great to finish such a well written series. I loved all the characters and their development with in each book. It took me through a lot of ups and downs but it was a perfect ending! Although it was written in 3rd person (which are my least favorite) she uses perfect details to describe everything. I felt a connection with all the characters and their stories. Over all excellent novel.
IT IS HERE! I HAVE IT RIGHT NOW!
Hands down, without a doubt, one of the best endings to a trilogy I have EVER read! It was epic, brilliant, full of twist and turns!!!
This wasn't the type of story if you're curious can the author hit that mark, keep it there, leave us breathless, resolved and happy for our characters...
YES!
Review to follow :)
Hands down, without a doubt, one of the best endings to a trilogy I have EVER read! It was epic, brilliant, full of twist and turns!!!
This wasn't the type of story if you're curious can the author hit that mark, keep it there, leave us breathless, resolved and happy for our characters...
YES!
Review to follow :)
The only word I can use to describe this is perfect. The perfect ending, the perfect wrap up, the perfect character development just absolute perfection.
My only complaint is that this is the last book
My only complaint is that this is the last book
Link to blog: https://booknerdmomo.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/review-the-winners-kiss-by-marie-rutkoski/
"No battle is won without a good gamble."
Warning ahead of time this review might be a tad incoherent as I’m having trouble conveying how much I absolutely loved this book.
So this is the end of an amazing journey! I’m always sad to see an incredible series end. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve gotten frustrated, and most of all I’ve loved every second of it. It’s been a journey I was all too willing to go on. I was absolutely blown away by this book. It’s gripping, thrilling, suspenseful, even possibly horrifying at times, and once you start it you can’t possibly stop and you won’t want to because you’ll want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Marie Rutkoski knows how to end a series!
One of the things I loved most about this book was how it flowed from suspenseful moments, to horrifying moments, to softer moments, to anxiety ridden moments so seamlessly but with a lot of power. I felt everything the characters were going through and became so invested in it. I attribute that to Marie Rutkoski’s writing; it’s positively enchanting. The way she describes emotions, without even having the characters speak at times, is incredible. You feel it radiating from the character’s so clearly that you don’t need dialogue to back it up. She also sets the tone of each setting and the story so perfectly. You feel the horror, the gripping fear, and anxiety of battle. You feel the camaraderie between the characters in its light and teasing way. You feel the softness and slow blooming of love. You feel the gripping anxiety of trying to achieve something but feeling as if you’ve failed or will fail. You feel the sting of the truth and the sting of lies. You feel betrayal, frustration, vengeance, and so much more.
Something that kind of deterred me in both The Winner’s Curse and The Winner’s Crime was the romance aspect. The intensity of it was a bit unrealistic for me and although I really loved them together I wasn’t sold on how it was being done. However, this book changed that completely. Arin and Kestrel have both changed so much from who they were in the beginning and the romance was better for that. It became this sweet, slow burning that leaves the reader practically begging for more. At times I found myself absolutely giddy because of these two. The romance along with the friendship between Roshar, Kestrel, and Arin adds this bit of lightness to an otherwise dark and serious story.
A+ to Marie Rutkoski for the friendships in this book! I really felt like the previous books were lacking friendship and that’s another thing that had me pushing aside the romance. Sarsine, Roshar, and Verex. I love those three! The friendship between Roshar and Arin has this camaraderie and brotherliness that I adored. Roshar is self-deprecating, sarcastic, and slightly hard to love at times but he is so entirely unique and he matches Arin’s more serious personality perfectly. Sarsine has been my favorite since the first book. I loved her gentleness and honesty. The way her friendship grows with Kestrel and how she is with Arin. I loved it and I was sad that we didn’t see more of her in the books. Verex, the character I wasn’t sure I was going to like but that ended up stealing my heart. Verex’s friendship with Kestrel was incredible and I was so happy with how it grew and became something that Kestrel really valued.
As with all great series ending books I so wish there had been an epilogue! This series ends with a bit of opens that is conclusive at times in the fact that the reader can easily figure out for themselves what will happen but it also leaves some things unanswered. I find open endings torture but also satisfying. I was definitely satisfied with how Marie Rutkoski wrapped things up and must admit that I shed a few tears after I turned the last page. I was left feeling bittersweet; sad because it was over but happy about how it ended.
Suspenseful, dark, serious, thrilling, and satisfying. If you’ve not yet picked up the last book in The Winner’s Trilogy, you’ll want to and you’ll enjoy every minute as it sinks its claws into you and doesn’t let go until you turn the last page!
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Honesty requires courage."
"Your should haves are gone. They belong to the god of the lost."
"As he spoke, it occurred to her that maybe he, too, felt like two people, that maybe everybody does, and that it’s not a question of whether one’s damaged, but of how easily or not that damage is seen."
“Sometimes a truth squeezes you so tightly you can’t breathe.”
"It’s hard not to be heard, seen. To share."
"I want better choices." "Then we must make a world that has them."
"You don’t need to be gifted with a blade. You are your own best weapon."
"No battle is won without a good gamble."
Warning ahead of time this review might be a tad incoherent as I’m having trouble conveying how much I absolutely loved this book.
So this is the end of an amazing journey! I’m always sad to see an incredible series end. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve gotten frustrated, and most of all I’ve loved every second of it. It’s been a journey I was all too willing to go on. I was absolutely blown away by this book. It’s gripping, thrilling, suspenseful, even possibly horrifying at times, and once you start it you can’t possibly stop and you won’t want to because you’ll want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Marie Rutkoski knows how to end a series!
One of the things I loved most about this book was how it flowed from suspenseful moments, to horrifying moments, to softer moments, to anxiety ridden moments so seamlessly but with a lot of power. I felt everything the characters were going through and became so invested in it. I attribute that to Marie Rutkoski’s writing; it’s positively enchanting. The way she describes emotions, without even having the characters speak at times, is incredible. You feel it radiating from the character’s so clearly that you don’t need dialogue to back it up. She also sets the tone of each setting and the story so perfectly. You feel the horror, the gripping fear, and anxiety of battle. You feel the camaraderie between the characters in its light and teasing way. You feel the softness and slow blooming of love. You feel the gripping anxiety of trying to achieve something but feeling as if you’ve failed or will fail. You feel the sting of the truth and the sting of lies. You feel betrayal, frustration, vengeance, and so much more.
Something that kind of deterred me in both The Winner’s Curse and The Winner’s Crime was the romance aspect. The intensity of it was a bit unrealistic for me and although I really loved them together I wasn’t sold on how it was being done. However, this book changed that completely. Arin and Kestrel have both changed so much from who they were in the beginning and the romance was better for that. It became this sweet, slow burning that leaves the reader practically begging for more. At times I found myself absolutely giddy because of these two. The romance along with the friendship between Roshar, Kestrel, and Arin adds this bit of lightness to an otherwise dark and serious story.
A+ to Marie Rutkoski for the friendships in this book! I really felt like the previous books were lacking friendship and that’s another thing that had me pushing aside the romance. Sarsine, Roshar, and Verex. I love those three! The friendship between Roshar and Arin has this camaraderie and brotherliness that I adored. Roshar is self-deprecating, sarcastic, and slightly hard to love at times but he is so entirely unique and he matches Arin’s more serious personality perfectly. Sarsine has been my favorite since the first book. I loved her gentleness and honesty. The way her friendship grows with Kestrel and how she is with Arin. I loved it and I was sad that we didn’t see more of her in the books. Verex, the character I wasn’t sure I was going to like but that ended up stealing my heart. Verex’s friendship with Kestrel was incredible and I was so happy with how it grew and became something that Kestrel really valued.
As with all great series ending books I so wish there had been an epilogue! This series ends with a bit of opens that is conclusive at times in the fact that the reader can easily figure out for themselves what will happen but it also leaves some things unanswered. I find open endings torture but also satisfying. I was definitely satisfied with how Marie Rutkoski wrapped things up and must admit that I shed a few tears after I turned the last page. I was left feeling bittersweet; sad because it was over but happy about how it ended.
Suspenseful, dark, serious, thrilling, and satisfying. If you’ve not yet picked up the last book in The Winner’s Trilogy, you’ll want to and you’ll enjoy every minute as it sinks its claws into you and doesn’t let go until you turn the last page!
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Honesty requires courage."
"Your should haves are gone. They belong to the god of the lost."
"As he spoke, it occurred to her that maybe he, too, felt like two people, that maybe everybody does, and that it’s not a question of whether one’s damaged, but of how easily or not that damage is seen."
“Sometimes a truth squeezes you so tightly you can’t breathe.”
"It’s hard not to be heard, seen. To share."
"I want better choices." "Then we must make a world that has them."
"You don’t need to be gifted with a blade. You are your own best weapon."
Fantastic end to this series!!! I was worried I would be disappointed, but this book exceeded my expectations. It was everything I needed it to be. I loved what Kestrel went through in this one. So good. I just loved it!
Solid 4.5 for the book and the entire series!
I highly recommend! I really enjoyed the authors writing style and characters (particularly Kestrel and her brilliant mind!).
Spoilers ahead!
Edit: I forgot to mention, I really like how the author wrote the relationships in this book. Particularly, Kestrel and Jess. It was unresolved, and that is very realistic and is a little close to home for me. I mean, you kind of get the feeling the two were incompatible right in the first book at the slave market. I feel like the friendship ended naturally and I’m glad the author didn’t force the two to resolve anything at the end. Same for Kes and her dad. You can’t just STOP loving your parent even if they ripped out your heart and burned it. It’s very complex, I’m glad she didn’t kill him off, and that she didn’t give any indication that they would be okay with eachother soon.
I highly recommend! I really enjoyed the authors writing style and characters (particularly Kestrel and her brilliant mind!).
Spoilers ahead!
Edit: I forgot to mention, I really like how the author wrote the relationships in this book. Particularly, Kestrel and Jess. It was unresolved, and that is very realistic and is a little close to home for me. I mean, you kind of get the feeling the two were incompatible right in the first book at the slave market. I feel like the friendship ended naturally and I’m glad the author didn’t force the two to resolve anything at the end. Same for Kes and her dad. You can’t just STOP loving your parent even if they ripped out your heart and burned it. It’s very complex, I’m glad she didn’t kill him off, and that she didn’t give any indication that they would be okay with eachother soon.