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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
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After the suprising turn of the Winner's Curse, I couldn't wait a second picking this one up. I needed to know how the story would continue, I needed to know where Kestrel's and Arin's path would lead and if it would cross again. I devoured this read faster than the first book, because Marie Rutkoski definitely increased the risk of this game many levels higher.
We meet Arin in Herran, trying to figure out what this new lifestyle means for him and his people. While Kestrel is at court, trying to understand the games of the emperor, and pleasing him as the fiancée of his son's. As we watch both of them walking a new, own path in their lives, more questions seem to surpass the surface. More people have joined the game of power. Sooner than we can think we see the two interact with each other again, only to feel the tension between them grow, and grow, and grow.
The stakes are higher in this book than they have ever been before. The emperor play a game of his own, Kestrel still fights between two sides, not being able to understand what her heart wants - the love for her father, or that one for Arin. Arin himself enters the game as well, which could lead him to winning just as easily as to failure.
All of what is happening kept me on my toes, and what I loved was Rutkoski's way of telling it. While the first novel's writing was good, she did an amazing job in this one. The way the POV chapters switched, the way she put out the plots of everyone, only to make us believe one thing while another was happening - it was a joy to read. A book I definitely couldn't put down.
I have loved the sequel more than the first book, and this has been probably one of the best sequels I've read, too. I put Kestrel and Arin even closer to my heart, and came to love many more characters, while my hatred for others grew, too. I can only recommend everyone to pick up this series!!!!
After the suprising turn of the Winner's Curse, I couldn't wait a second picking this one up. I needed to know how the story would continue, I needed to know where Kestrel's and Arin's path would lead and if it would cross again. I devoured this read faster than the first book, because Marie Rutkoski definitely increased the risk of this game many levels higher.
We meet Arin in Herran, trying to figure out what this new lifestyle means for him and his people. While Kestrel is at court, trying to understand the games of the emperor, and pleasing him as the fiancée of his son's. As we watch both of them walking a new, own path in their lives, more questions seem to surpass the surface. More people have joined the game of power. Sooner than we can think we see the two interact with each other again, only to feel the tension between them grow, and grow, and grow.
The stakes are higher in this book than they have ever been before. The emperor play a game of his own, Kestrel still fights between two sides, not being able to understand what her heart wants - the love for her father, or that one for Arin. Arin himself enters the game as well, which could lead him to winning just as easily as to failure.
All of what is happening kept me on my toes, and what I loved was Rutkoski's way of telling it. While the first novel's writing was good, she did an amazing job in this one. The way the POV chapters switched, the way she put out the plots of everyone, only to make us believe one thing while another was happening - it was a joy to read. A book I definitely couldn't put down.
I have loved the sequel more than the first book, and this has been probably one of the best sequels I've read, too. I put Kestrel and Arin even closer to my heart, and came to love many more characters, while my hatred for others grew, too. I can only recommend everyone to pick up this series!!!!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
BAM this book ended in a blaze of glory. I would love to give it 5 stars, but the pacing of the first half of the book was ROUGH. The last hundred pages was spectacular, because that's the only time when anything really happened.
This wasn't anywhere near as good as the first book, and definitely suffers from second book syndrome, but it sets up the trilogy for a fantastic third book.
This wasn't anywhere near as good as the first book, and definitely suffers from second book syndrome, but it sets up the trilogy for a fantastic third book.
This book is a lot darker than the previous book but how could one expect to be anything but when it takes us into the middle of a war. Winner's Crime is a lot more plot heavy than Winner's Curse and that is the main reason it's getting four stars rather than five.
It really is heartbreaking in the best kind of angsty ways. And I would suggest that you have book three close by when you have this book in hand.
Kestrel also takes off in this novel. We get to see just how complex her mind is. In fact, we get to see how complex most of the characters are. There is a lot of character development in this book, some for the better and others for worse.
I have no other way of describing it other than: dark, heartbreaking, but filled with deceit and daring.
It really is heartbreaking in the best kind of angsty ways. And I would suggest that you have book three close by when you have this book in hand.
Kestrel also takes off in this novel. We get to see just how complex her mind is. In fact, we get to see how complex most of the characters are. There is a lot of character development in this book, some for the better and others for worse.
I have no other way of describing it other than: dark, heartbreaking, but filled with deceit and daring.
I've read other reviews saying that Rutkoski upped her game. She has indeed.
If you were iffy after reading the first book, well I can assure you that you will not be disappointed by this installment.
This tale is one intelligently woven into court intrigues, military dilemmas and complex and ever changing emotions. Treason and lies that literally makes this a page turner. Most intelligent book I've read in a while. (Don't you hate it when you read too obvious intrigues?)
This book does not suffer from the middle book syndrome, that's for sure.
If you were iffy after reading the first book, well I can assure you that you will not be disappointed by this installment.
This tale is one intelligently woven into court intrigues, military dilemmas and complex and ever changing emotions. Treason and lies that literally makes this a page turner. Most intelligent book I've read in a while. (Don't you hate it when you read too obvious intrigues?)
This book does not suffer from the middle book syndrome, that's for sure.
I feel like everyone else has reviewed this sufficiently, so I'll say that I enjoyed this book quite a bit, and not delve into plot too much.
Kestrel is freaking awesome. The characters in this are lovely. The prose is good.
Honestly, this book would be a solid five stars if it weren't for the goddamn angst. I like angst when it's done well, in reasonable amounts. Here, every single goddamn time Kestrel and Arin so much as made eye contact the angst was overflowing, to the point where I had to stop and roll my eyes multiple times.
It was ridiculous. If you're going to have a romance, have your romance. If you want them to have secrets, fine. Let them have secrets. Don't rub them in the reader's face until all they want to do is scream with irritation.
Despite that little rant, I really did enjoy this and it's a solid book. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Kestrel is freaking awesome. The characters in this are lovely. The prose is good.
Honestly, this book would be a solid five stars if it weren't for the goddamn angst. I like angst when it's done well, in reasonable amounts. Here, every single goddamn time Kestrel and Arin so much as made eye contact the angst was overflowing, to the point where I had to stop and roll my eyes multiple times.
It was ridiculous. If you're going to have a romance, have your romance. If you want them to have secrets, fine. Let them have secrets. Don't rub them in the reader's face until all they want to do is scream with irritation.
Despite that little rant, I really did enjoy this and it's a solid book. Can't wait to see what happens next.
nooooo !!! it ended without him knowing. my heartttt
This was an amazing book! Sometimes the sequels don't do as well as the first ones but this one held it's own and it was an amazing follow up!
Kestrel is in the capital city and is under the nefarious thumb of the emperor (someone I would never want to meet in person and yet someone whom I would love to punch in the face if I had to meet him). Every time they are together I just want to hide behind my pillow, I am so worried for Kestrel!
At the same time though - man, Kestrel is so...grrrr - There are times that I just want to shake and yell at Kestrel. She never stands up for herself when confronted. Nor does she find someone to trust in to admit what is going on and the kind of hold the emperor has on her. I understand why she doesn't but still, it's frustrating!
I actually like that I felt that way about the main character because it gives major props to the author in my book. To hate and yet feel so sorry for a character at the same time, so much so that I actually really love Kestrel and am rooting for her, means that the author is doing something right. The swirling emotions that go on inside of Kestrel are so complex that I am just drawn into her.
Arin on the other hand, I really do think he is going mad. He makes himself crazy wondering if Kestrel loves him or not. We as readers know (though sometimes I'm not so sure...see good writing skills!) but Arin doesn't and it drives me crazy sometimes! Though he reminds me a lot of myself...
Something else that I really enjoyed about this series (and I hope that it's something that Rutkoski continues in the next book is her use of imagery to describe what the characters are feeling or seeing or experiencing. An example, though not the best, it was hard to find others:
“She remembered how her heart, so tight, like a scroll, had opened when Arin kissed her. It had unfurled. If her heart were truly a scroll, she could burn it. It would become a tunnel of flame, a handful of ash. The secrets she had written inside herself would be gone." -The Winner's Curse
When the first few popped up, I thought I was going to get tired of the metaphors and similes and imageries but I didn't. I rather enjoyed seeing things compared to colors that weren't usually ever colors, or sounds that weren't sounds. It was interesting and had my mind coming up with fantastic images.
Bravo, Marie!
March 2016 is too long to wait!
Kestrel is in the capital city and is under the nefarious thumb of the emperor (someone I would never want to meet in person and yet someone whom I would love to punch in the face if I had to meet him). Every time they are together I just want to hide behind my pillow, I am so worried for Kestrel!
At the same time though - man, Kestrel is so...grrrr - There are times that I just want to shake and yell at Kestrel. She never stands up for herself when confronted. Nor does she find someone to trust in to admit what is going on and the kind of hold the emperor has on her. I understand why she doesn't but still, it's frustrating!
I actually like that I felt that way about the main character because it gives major props to the author in my book. To hate and yet feel so sorry for a character at the same time, so much so that I actually really love Kestrel and am rooting for her, means that the author is doing something right. The swirling emotions that go on inside of Kestrel are so complex that I am just drawn into her.
Arin on the other hand, I really do think he is going mad. He makes himself crazy wondering if Kestrel loves him or not. We as readers know (though sometimes I'm not so sure...see good writing skills!) but Arin doesn't and it drives me crazy sometimes! Though he reminds me a lot of myself...
Something else that I really enjoyed about this series (and I hope that it's something that Rutkoski continues in the next book is her use of imagery to describe what the characters are feeling or seeing or experiencing. An example, though not the best, it was hard to find others:
“She remembered how her heart, so tight, like a scroll, had opened when Arin kissed her. It had unfurled. If her heart were truly a scroll, she could burn it. It would become a tunnel of flame, a handful of ash. The secrets she had written inside herself would be gone." -The Winner's Curse
When the first few popped up, I thought I was going to get tired of the metaphors and similes and imageries but I didn't. I rather enjoyed seeing things compared to colors that weren't usually ever colors, or sounds that weren't sounds. It was interesting and had my mind coming up with fantastic images.
Bravo, Marie!
March 2016 is too long to wait!