A review by cassiealexandra
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

4.75

This was recommended to me by several friends and they were right that it would suit my taste. It is a fast-paced adventurous story. I was immersed in the world and clashing cultures right away. The characters were complex, a bit angsty (but I expected this with young adult fiction), and grew over time. I appreciated Kestrel’s quick wit and cleverness. I also liked that the romance was slow to build and the “enemy” factor was actual, not imagined. When one’s entire people has been overpowered by another, there is a hatred that is undeniable. Somehow, Arin and Kestrel begin to see through the generalizations they held of Herrani and Valorians and cannot deny being drawn to one another. The twist at the end made me ready to pick up book two and see how/whether these main characters and their peoples can reconcile. If there was any disconnect for me, it was with the side characters and the history/worldbuilding. I found Kestrel’s best friend pretty unlikeable and also wanted a little more background on the empire’s history and Kestrel’s family dynamics. With two more books in the trilogy, I’m sure that can be delivered.

The bottom line: This is a great, truly YA fantasy with a romance subplot full of adventure, double-crossing, and interesting characters.

— NOTES —
Genres: YA, fantasy, adventure, romance
POV: third-person
Content: death, slavery, near-assault, on-page killing
Romance: kisses only

— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 5
Enjoyment: 5
Craft: 4.5
Gut: 4.5
Total: 4.75