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christine_aru 's review for:
The Winner's Kiss
by Marie Rutkoski
RE-READ 30/03/2017 - 01/04/2017
I still love Kestrel and Arin and Roshar to death. I don't think I will ever forget them. EVER.
=====================================
FIRST READ : 24/04/2016 - 01/05/2016
"She said, I'm going to miss you when I wake up.
Don't wake up, he answered."
=================================================
By the last page of this book, I'm shuddering.
Reading this took me so long because I don't want the series to end.
This is not much of review than a reminiscent of all the precious, happy time and hope I have spent throughout this series. I don't know what this book, this series, has given to me that I can tell you because I can't even begin to list down everything I adore about this series. Saying that it's perfect would be a lazy description from someone so unable to find the right words, but 'perfect' is all I can think about.
When I picked up The Winner's Curse, the first book, I did not expect much, because what could you expect from books with that kind of glamorous covers? Probably high class girls being whiny and falling into some insta-love with guys who are assholes, right? But I have never been one who judge a book by its cover, so when I read the synopsis and I thought then why not, I began reading.
I was pleasantly surprised.
What I love the most about this series is probably the characters and their developments throughout the story.
Kestrel is a very special female main character, a rare one even after I have read so many books with logical female character. She develops like a flower blooming in harsh winter, signing the first clues of springs. She starts as a logical and cunning but quiet girl into this brave, more cunning (as if that's possible, but she really turns into more cunning. If she was a male I would totally go for her, just saying) person with a completely balanced use of emotions and logic. She is basically my personality goal. I loved her from the first page of the series till the last page of this book, probably forever. She has been through so much and I keep finding myself feeling so much pride in the choices she decides to take. I feel like seeing my sister growing up or something.
Arin, man, he is a study in contradiction. I mean, liking him means I keep contradicting myself. He is the right blend of alpha and beta male, though saying this will be some sort of understatement because his character obviously deserves. The first time he came out in the book, I loved him right away, but throughout the series I can't even tell you how many times I got so furious because of him. I love him and hate him in the right amount, at least until the last chapters of this book in which I just love him with no hatred or anger left. I can sympathize with Arin so easily, which is why what he is thinking and his choices sometimes piss me off, but I am proud of his character development. He has grown from someone so angry to someone wise enough to forgive and believe. Both Arin and Kestrel are so human even in their choices and mistakes that I can't bring to hate them for long.
Don't even let me start with other characters. Not one of side characters in this series is wasted, they're all put to good use, even Risha and Jess. It breaks my heart every time to remember all of the things Kestrel has to sacrifice due to circumstances, and how even after the ending I still wish, and am hopeful, for Kestrel to fix all of consequences of her choices. A chance for Arin to finally be happy after so many years of unhappiness too. I love Roshar so much, I disliked him at first but after this last book? I love him more than Arin probably haha (just kidding, Arin, please don't sulk, but one cannot resist the charm of a handsome prince ha!). I am probably Roshar on the outside, but Arin on the inside.
I EVEN LOVE THE EMPEROR, but I hate him with passion too. The only thing stopped me from fangirling over him is probably the fact that he was an old man (haha give me a break, will you?).
The story is also the right blend of romance, action, strategical war, suspense, thriller, mystery, angst and tragedy (duh), drama, poetry, basically everything I would love from a book. This series makes me feel everything. Anger, devastation, hopeless happiness, resignation, hope, love, forgiveness, everything I won't list down because it will take the review page. I love how I can never once guess any of the twists because Marie Rutkoski is so good with words she manages to give only the subtlest hints, but I also love how each time I can guess the twists, they still hurt me painfully inside my chest because, again, it is just that Marie Rutkoski is so good in writing everything sounds perfect. This is a young adult series, but I can say that both Kestrel and Arin sound much older, probably in their mid-twenties, but their hope is so pure I'm thinking it suits the readers well.
I don't think I will ever forget this series. It gets better in each book, with The Winner's Kiss being the best of the three. I am glad about this because I've read enough ya trilogy to know not many authors can write a better installation for the previous one, but Marie Rutkoski ACES it. She's my goal as a writer if I ever become one, hands down.
Thank you for writing this book, Miss Rutkoski. Thank you for sharing such an amazing journey. Thank you for giving me a memorable characters to befriend throughout the journey. I hope I can visit one of your booksigning in the future and get your signature in one of the novels.
****
""Ready?"
"Play.""
I still love Kestrel and Arin and Roshar to death. I don't think I will ever forget them. EVER.
=====================================
FIRST READ : 24/04/2016 - 01/05/2016
"She said, I'm going to miss you when I wake up.
Don't wake up, he answered."
=================================================
By the last page of this book, I'm shuddering.
Reading this took me so long because I don't want the series to end.
This is not much of review than a reminiscent of all the precious, happy time and hope I have spent throughout this series. I don't know what this book, this series, has given to me that I can tell you because I can't even begin to list down everything I adore about this series. Saying that it's perfect would be a lazy description from someone so unable to find the right words, but 'perfect' is all I can think about.
When I picked up The Winner's Curse, the first book, I did not expect much, because what could you expect from books with that kind of glamorous covers? Probably high class girls being whiny and falling into some insta-love with guys who are assholes, right? But I have never been one who judge a book by its cover, so when I read the synopsis and I thought then why not, I began reading.
I was pleasantly surprised.
What I love the most about this series is probably the characters and their developments throughout the story.
Kestrel is a very special female main character, a rare one even after I have read so many books with logical female character. She develops like a flower blooming in harsh winter, signing the first clues of springs. She starts as a logical and cunning but quiet girl into this brave, more cunning (as if that's possible, but she really turns into more cunning. If she was a male I would totally go for her, just saying) person with a completely balanced use of emotions and logic. She is basically my personality goal. I loved her from the first page of the series till the last page of this book, probably forever. She has been through so much and I keep finding myself feeling so much pride in the choices she decides to take. I feel like seeing my sister growing up or something.
Arin, man, he is a study in contradiction. I mean, liking him means I keep contradicting myself. He is the right blend of alpha and beta male, though saying this will be some sort of understatement because his character obviously deserves. The first time he came out in the book, I loved him right away, but throughout the series I can't even tell you how many times I got so furious because of him. I love him and hate him in the right amount, at least until the last chapters of this book in which I just love him with no hatred or anger left. I can sympathize with Arin so easily, which is why what he is thinking and his choices sometimes piss me off, but I am proud of his character development. He has grown from someone so angry to someone wise enough to forgive and believe. Both Arin and Kestrel are so human even in their choices and mistakes that I can't bring to hate them for long.
Don't even let me start with other characters. Not one of side characters in this series is wasted, they're all put to good use, even Risha and Jess. It breaks my heart every time to remember all of the things Kestrel has to sacrifice due to circumstances, and how even after the ending I still wish, and am hopeful, for Kestrel to fix all of consequences of her choices. A chance for Arin to finally be happy after so many years of unhappiness too. I love Roshar so much, I disliked him at first but after this last book? I love him more than Arin probably haha (just kidding, Arin, please don't sulk, but one cannot resist the charm of a handsome prince ha!). I am probably Roshar on the outside, but Arin on the inside.
I EVEN LOVE THE EMPEROR, but I hate him with passion too. The only thing stopped me from fangirling over him is probably the fact that he was an old man (haha give me a break, will you?).
The story is also the right blend of romance, action, strategical war, suspense, thriller, mystery, angst and tragedy (duh), drama, poetry, basically everything I would love from a book. This series makes me feel everything. Anger, devastation, hopeless happiness, resignation, hope, love, forgiveness, everything I won't list down because it will take the review page. I love how I can never once guess any of the twists because Marie Rutkoski is so good with words she manages to give only the subtlest hints, but I also love how each time I can guess the twists, they still hurt me painfully inside my chest because, again, it is just that Marie Rutkoski is so good in writing everything sounds perfect. This is a young adult series, but I can say that both Kestrel and Arin sound much older, probably in their mid-twenties, but their hope is so pure I'm thinking it suits the readers well.
I don't think I will ever forget this series. It gets better in each book, with The Winner's Kiss being the best of the three. I am glad about this because I've read enough ya trilogy to know not many authors can write a better installation for the previous one, but Marie Rutkoski ACES it. She's my goal as a writer if I ever become one, hands down.
Thank you for writing this book, Miss Rutkoski. Thank you for sharing such an amazing journey. Thank you for giving me a memorable characters to befriend throughout the journey. I hope I can visit one of your booksigning in the future and get your signature in one of the novels.
****
""Ready?"
"Play.""