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beatriceb_'s review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Sexual assault
abbycree's review
1.0
This was on so many booktok peoples lists for books they wish they could read for the first time again and I have no idea why. Truly couldnt tell you anything important that happened in this book I kept hoping it would get better but it was just like ok ?? and??? I dont understand the hype
louanne73's review
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
acel96's review
5.0
Arin broke my heart :( i'm not ready to read book2 yet even though the ending felt like a cliffhanger but still, i loved it, i loved every single page of this book. The last words Arin said to Kestrel made me scream mentally "You don't, Kestrel, even though the god of lies loves you." CRIEEEEEEEZ
abbyl819's review
4.0
While I did enjoy this book overall, I had quite a few problems with it. The first of these was the pacing of the book. In the beginning, it started off very slow, speed up a bit, became slow again, and then was super fast and rushed until it just ended. I felt like a lot of ideas and plot points were missed that could have been really interesting. I also didn't really enjoy the characters. Most of them were very static, but others, such as Kestrel and Arin, switched sides so often that I am still having difficulty figuring out which side they're truly on. I also thought that it was unrealistic that a Valorian like Kestrel would just surrender and help the enemy like she did for the Herrani without a clear cut plan that would go into affect soon after that would outweigh the damage she did. I really wished that Jess and Ronan had a bigger part in the book. They were presented as very close to the main character, only to be essentially dropped for the whole rest of the book after the ball. I think, given the opportunity, they could have been awesome characters and to wish that we would have seen more of them. Lastly, I didn't like the relationship between Kestrel and Arin. It seemed like it was very forced and very much so followed along the lines of the forbidden romance trope. They also both betrayed each other so many times that I found it hard to believe that anyone would have still trusted or liked the other.
dunder_mifflin's review
4.0
At first I was sure if I liked it, but I'd heard good things so I thought I'd keep reading so I could give it a chance. And I'm glad I did. It was different from a lot of other YA books I've read, and the characters are interesting. I can't wait to read the next one.
iorangi's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
akookieforyou's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5*
“My soul is yours," he said. "You know that it is.”
I have heard this book get so much praise from so many different people, but I never actually knew what it was about, I just saw it at my library and decided to give it a shot, and I'm very glad that I did.
This book is such a step away from most other YA fantasy/romance novels that I've read recently. It shares some similarities to these stories, especially with the main characters dealing with war at some point in their lives, but it has a way of keeping me on my toes while reading; I never quite know what's going to happen next.
The romance between the two leads is so precious, to the point that I can barely even articulate why I love it so much. I think the thing that pulls me in so much is just how believable it is, and ow difficult it is for them to feel the way they do. I actually cried a little during certain scenes, and that doesn't happen all that often to me.
I'm really excited to continue the series, I just hope and pray it doesn't implode on itself like so, so many others in this genre have.
“My soul is yours," he said. "You know that it is.”
I have heard this book get so much praise from so many different people, but I never actually knew what it was about, I just saw it at my library and decided to give it a shot, and I'm very glad that I did.
This book is such a step away from most other YA fantasy/romance novels that I've read recently. It shares some similarities to these stories, especially with the main characters dealing with war at some point in their lives, but it has a way of keeping me on my toes while reading; I never quite know what's going to happen next.
The romance between the two leads is so precious, to the point that I can barely even articulate why I love it so much. I think the thing that pulls me in so much is just how believable it is, and ow difficult it is for them to feel the way they do. I actually cried a little during certain scenes, and that doesn't happen all that often to me.
I'm really excited to continue the series, I just hope and pray it doesn't implode on itself like so, so many others in this genre have.
booktallie's review
4.0
A wonderfully written composure of social structure blended with a devious plot of regime overthrow, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski, is a beautiful creation of romance and historical fantasy. Themes are an essential part of all stories, however it is not often that they are done well, though most are on par. The Winner’s Curse took this to another level, making the theme, the story. It was woven into the plot and continually grew greater and stronger as the book advanced. Marie Rutkoski has created a vivid and contagious new world in this book. It’s a familiar world, one of conquests, hierarchies, and societal gatherings involving schemes and betrayal. It is a world very close to what ours has been like in the past millennium.
Set in a world where the Herranis have be conquered by the Valorians and subjected to slavery, the story follows a young 17 year old girl named Kestrel, the daughter of the prominent and respected General Trajan. Kestrel not hopeful about the future of her exist, which basically involves her choosing between becoming a soldier in the military (which her father continues to pressure her to do) or marriage, both of which Kestrel loath and disfavors. “But when you are faced with only two choices, the military or marriage, do you wonder if there is a third, or a fourth, or more, even than that?” In an unexpected moment Kestrel and her best friend Jess go to a slave auction, where without thinking of the consequences, Kestrel buys a slave. Independent and vigilant, Kestrel’s new slave, Arin intrigues her, and soon she finds herself going out of her way to be with him. But with such different backgrounds, is a future together even a possibility?
Kestrel and Arin, our protagonists, are a pleasure as we divulge into their stories, both separately and combined. Kestrel, our first protagonist, is intelligent, strategic, cunning, and quick-witted, nothing like the society ladies she associated with (though there were not many to compare her to). She is compassioned and at often times to trusting. Being the daughter of a military General of the Valorian Empire, the victors of the war with the Herrani people, Kestrel is trained in basic military self-defense. The fact that she is not perfect in this make her character seem more realistic and also adds to her characteristics of wanting to be more a musician. However, the fact that she seemed to overcome all the challenges given to her too easily put the book back into the unrealistic mood.
Arin, our second protagonist and the slave of Kestrel, is complex and secretive. Much like Kestrel, Arin is strategic and intelligent, but he is also observant and rebellious. Together Arin and Kestrel were a perfect match, being both keen and perceptive. Arin managed to match her when other men couldn’t, despite his inferior rank. Though their slowly developing romantic relationship, which had the potential to be extremely problematic (as one was the slave to the other and among other things), was instead handled carefully and thoughtfully, with both characters aware of the imbalance of power between them and the problems it could cause. Rutkoski’s detail to their relationship made to story slow at times but give us a better insight to the thinking of each character.
Though the characters added a great side bar, the focal point of the world however, was the history between the Valarians, Herranis, and the rest of the known world. The people and their contrasting outlooks on life and each other explained more of how the two main characters interacted with each other, coming from diverging factions.
The only shortcoming that made this story a bit undesirable was the world building aspect. Rutkoski’s detailing to the characters pushed the lack of detailing of the world aside. A trade that should have never been comprised considering that these characters are involved in this world and the focal point of the history is based on it.
But overall, Marie Rutkoski has presented an absurdly well thought out and exceptionally executed book. It is a story that discusses more than what one can see only on the surface (the romance), and dives into social cultural, expanding into historical diverges and governmental influences. It features intelligent characters, mind games, and a lot of strategizing. I highly recommend it to those looking for a romance historical fantasy.
Set in a world where the Herranis have be conquered by the Valorians and subjected to slavery, the story follows a young 17 year old girl named Kestrel, the daughter of the prominent and respected General Trajan. Kestrel not hopeful about the future of her exist, which basically involves her choosing between becoming a soldier in the military (which her father continues to pressure her to do) or marriage, both of which Kestrel loath and disfavors. “But when you are faced with only two choices, the military or marriage, do you wonder if there is a third, or a fourth, or more, even than that?” In an unexpected moment Kestrel and her best friend Jess go to a slave auction, where without thinking of the consequences, Kestrel buys a slave. Independent and vigilant, Kestrel’s new slave, Arin intrigues her, and soon she finds herself going out of her way to be with him. But with such different backgrounds, is a future together even a possibility?
Kestrel and Arin, our protagonists, are a pleasure as we divulge into their stories, both separately and combined. Kestrel, our first protagonist, is intelligent, strategic, cunning, and quick-witted, nothing like the society ladies she associated with (though there were not many to compare her to). She is compassioned and at often times to trusting. Being the daughter of a military General of the Valorian Empire, the victors of the war with the Herrani people, Kestrel is trained in basic military self-defense. The fact that she is not perfect in this make her character seem more realistic and also adds to her characteristics of wanting to be more a musician. However, the fact that she seemed to overcome all the challenges given to her too easily put the book back into the unrealistic mood.
Arin, our second protagonist and the slave of Kestrel, is complex and secretive. Much like Kestrel, Arin is strategic and intelligent, but he is also observant and rebellious. Together Arin and Kestrel were a perfect match, being both keen and perceptive. Arin managed to match her when other men couldn’t, despite his inferior rank. Though their slowly developing romantic relationship, which had the potential to be extremely problematic (as one was the slave to the other and among other things), was instead handled carefully and thoughtfully, with both characters aware of the imbalance of power between them and the problems it could cause. Rutkoski’s detail to their relationship made to story slow at times but give us a better insight to the thinking of each character.
Though the characters added a great side bar, the focal point of the world however, was the history between the Valarians, Herranis, and the rest of the known world. The people and their contrasting outlooks on life and each other explained more of how the two main characters interacted with each other, coming from diverging factions.
The only shortcoming that made this story a bit undesirable was the world building aspect. Rutkoski’s detailing to the characters pushed the lack of detailing of the world aside. A trade that should have never been comprised considering that these characters are involved in this world and the focal point of the history is based on it.
But overall, Marie Rutkoski has presented an absurdly well thought out and exceptionally executed book. It is a story that discusses more than what one can see only on the surface (the romance), and dives into social cultural, expanding into historical diverges and governmental influences. It features intelligent characters, mind games, and a lot of strategizing. I highly recommend it to those looking for a romance historical fantasy.