Katie King
Written on Jan 1, 2016
THE FIRST BOOK IN THE HEART-STOPPING WINNER’S TRILOGY: an irresistible story of forbidden romance and class warfare
‘Every line in The Winner's Curse is beautifully written. The story is masterfully plotted. The characters' dilemmas fascinated me and tore at my heart… I loved it. I want more.’ Kristin Cashore, author of the Graceling Realm books
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.
As a general's daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. Kestrel has other ideas.
One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in Arin, a young slave up for auction. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him - and for a sensational price that sets the society gossips talking. It's not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for him is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
The first novel in a stunning trilogy, The Winner’s Curse is a story of romance, rumours and rebellion, where dirty secrets and careless alliances can be deadly – and everything is at stake.
- ISBN10 1408858207
- ISBN13 9781408858202
- Publish Date 3 July 2014 (first published 4 March 2014)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Imprint Bloomsbury YA
- Format Paperback
- Pages 368
- Language English
Reviews
Nessa Luna
Written on Jul 7, 2015
The Winner's Curse is about a general's daughter, Kestrel, who has two choices - join the army, or get married. But of course, she doesn't want to do either. At an auction, at the beginning of the story, she decides to buy a slave called Arin, for a high price - and that's when everything starts to go downhill. There is some romance, there are deaths, and it really sounds like a story I would love - but I just didn't.
I found the first half of the book incredibly boring. There was nothing really going on at all, except for Kestrel going to parties with Arin as her escort. Then there was a duel that wasn't really a duel and more boring party stuff. It only started to get interesting after a Winterball that Kestrel went to, but even that couldn't get me excited anymore. I had honestly expected a book filled with fighting and death and all that stuff - but it was more a romance book than anything else, and yeah I just don't like those kind of books that much.
There was some nice world building, there were two races - Valorian and Herrani - the former (V) having invaded the latter's (H) country (? I guess) and forcing them (H) to be their (V) slaves. I had hoped for a map of the country they were in, or perhaps even of the entire world this story happens in, but it wasn't there - which was a bit of a shame, because I had a hard time imagining where the characters were and how (long) they had travelled. There is a map, but it's just not in the book. Maybe it's in the second book, but honestly I don't know if I'm ever going to pick that up.
The characters were likable but I just couldn't really give a damn about them. When I read that some of them were either dead or dying, I felt nothing at all. The only character I did care about a little were Kestrel and Arin, but as separate people - not together. Which brings me to the romance: I don't ship it. At all. I don't know how Kestrel could have even fallen for Arin, because he was nothing but rude to her - but apparently that's what chicks dig (I don't). I just didn't care about them being together and I just - no.
In the end, I thought The Winner's Curse had so much more potential, and I was severely disappointed in how the story turned out to be. There is a 20% chance I'll be reading the next book, maybe only to look at the map and imagine the world better, but I honestly do not care that much about the story. I gave it three stars, but only because the last part of the book got more interesting, otherwise it would have been two stars.
My opinion on this book in one gif:
cornerfolds
Written on Apr 4, 2015
I am almost ashamed to admit that The Winner's Curse sat on my shelf for over three months waiting to be read. To be honest, I really just wasn't sure what to expect from a book categorized as High Fantasty, Science Fiction, History, and Dystopia. I mean, how can a book be both historical AND dystopian? I really still don't know the answer to that question after reading it, but I am glad I took the plunge because this is one book that really lives up to the hype!
Kestrel is the main lady in the Winner's series and I loved her almost immediately. I loved that she went against the grain (what YA heroine doesn't though?). She's the general's daughter and is obviously in good social standing, but doesn't seem to let it go to her head. Her fighting skills aren't amazing, but she was just the right balance of awesome and "normal" for me to love her! I also really enjoyed getting to know Arin. There were things about him that I couldn't be sure of for most of the book and I really liked that. One of the things that really won me over was the romance between Kestrel and Arin.
First of all, NO love triangle! Not at all, not even a little bit. What a breath of fresh air! Not only that, but the romance was really slow and because of that it was believable. Kestrel was actually pretty indifferent towards Arin in the beginning, which made their eventual romance all the more satisfying. As the plot moves and things get more difficult, their relationship gets even better (better to read, at least).
Ahh, the plot... Who doesn't love a good conspiracy?! I loved the way what is happening in the book is slowly revealed to the reader in the same way it is to the characters. Sometimes it's nice to be completely in the know, but the way this book worked out was really fantastic! Seeing all the pieces of the bigger picture come together as more of the events unravel had me up late more than once because I couldn't put it down! The dynamics of the government that has been created and the long-past war and its outcomes were so detailed and...real. My one complaint is that it did seem to be a little slow in the middle, but it certainly picked up again in the last third of the book.
Oh, and when the synopsis says this book is "set in a richly imagined new world" it isn't joking! I'm about to move on to book two and I still can't figure out what cultures this is even based on. For a minute I was thinking maybe somewhere in Asia, then I thought Russia, but I think I've given up. This world is like nothing I've ever encountered before. It's complex and feels so real I almost feel like I could go there!
So anyway, welcome to another review where I just rant and rave about how awesome everything is. In case you couldn't tell, I loved this one! Yes, there was a little bit of lag in the for maybe the second third, but it definitely wasn't enough to detract from the story or its characters. The ending totally threw me for a loop! Definite cliffhanger alert!! I'm reading book two as soon as I can get my hands on it because now I have to know what happens next!
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
girlinthepages
Written on Mar 25, 2015
Sure I’d heard about it enough. I just went about my business, thinking this was nothing more than the usual and currently popular fantasy/dystopian YA love story. I am so delighted to have been proven wrong. I loved everything about this book, from the plot to the characters to the beautiful writing to the Greco-Roman inspired society. I don’t think I’ve been so passionate about a book since I finished Trial By Fire in January. The Winner’s Curse is the book I’m going to be plugging shamelessly in my book recommendation lists for months to come.
Kestrel is a boss.
Sometimes in YA, it’s hard to find a protagonist who is as strong as the story. Kestrel is stronger than all the rest of the elements combined, and fantastically her strength as a character lies in her intelligence: she’s a strategist. She’s always thinking, plotting, analyzing. She’s bookish without being fragile, yet she’s not conveniently a skilled fighter. She’s stubborn and makes some mistakes in whom she trusts, but she’s always looking for a way to gain the advantage. I admired Kestrel not just as a YA heroine, but as a person. It was also refreshing to read a fantasy where the protagonist is someone from the elite part of society, rather than a ragtag rebel from the poorest district. It’s more meaningful to watch Kestrel struggle with sympathizing with the enslaved Herrani while being a proud member of the oppressing culture, and it makes her decisions and actions carry more weight.
I only liked Arin about 50% of the time.
But that’s one of the best parts of the book! The romance isn’t an easy sell, and it’s far from insta-love. Arin has multiple allegiances and his actions are often in conflict with each other, and sometimes I wanted to smack him while still understanding his motivations while other times I admired his tenacity and his ability to hold such deep affection. While at first I thought I wouldn’t be able to get into the chemistry between him and Kestrel because I didn’t always like him, it made him a stronger character for me because I had to work harder to think about why his behavior was irritating me and what I would be doing in his situation, as does Kestrel. He’s also pretty stoic and serious, so when he speaks it carries weight (such as the last line of the book. I was swooning so hard).
The writing, on the other hand, was gorgeous 10,000% of the time.
Seriously, Rutkoski’s prose bordered on being as descriptive and pretty as Laini Taylor’s at some points. It is perhaps a bit flowery at some points, but it made me feel like I was reading a historical piece without being stuffy. The speech, the narration, it’s all so elegant, and there aren’t awkwardly inserted modern phrases that remind you that you’re reading a book written in the 21st century. It’s also written in the third person, which made it feel a bit more sophisticated. I also love how Rutkoski was able to set scenes so vividly, so that even a scene depicting a game of Bite and Sting drew me in and had me feeling like I was right there participating.
Colonialism and imperialism played a dominant role.
I read in an interview with the author that while the novel is categorized as “fantasy,” the only fantasy element is that it’s set in an alternative universe. The book feels much more like historical fiction, as Rutkoski has said she was heavily influenced by the Roman takeover of Greece, and that influence is apparent in the story. It’s fascinating to read a fantasy with so much basis in history, how Rutkoski modeled the Vallorians after the militant Romans who lacked many artisitc cultural aspects of the Greeks they conquered (like the Herrani), and thus envied them for them. That tension is largely present throughout the novel, and the way the Vallorians appropriate the Herrani culture, from their homes to their foods to their aesthetics, is fascinating. I also loved that the Vallorian culture is so militant in ways that are pervasive throughout every gender, such as the military being an expected and honorable career path for men and women, and how both genders carry ceremonial daggers on their person at all times and are taught how to perform an honor suicide as soon as they come of age. The world building is on point in this series.
There’s a lot of nasty, underlying consequences of war.
This book was more graphic that I anticipated, especially in the dynamic of sexual assault or threatened sexual abuse in a political and wartime setting. I am interested that the series includes (or at least alludes to) this very real consequence of war and grappled with the issue of women being taken as “spoils” of war. It’s a very ugly and real thing that happens during military conflict, especially in colonized territories where the oppressors take “ownership” of the colonized, and it’s an important ramification of conflicts that deserve to be discussed. There were depictions of death and the horrible conditions of wartime makeshift “hospitals,” and how each side views the other as inhuman and is willing to wound and kill for their purpose (I also 100% don’t believe the claim that the Vallorian children were spared and are being rounded up and cared for).
Talk about a plot twist, cliffhanger ending.
I’m not going to spoil anything but SO MANY THINGS happened in the last few pages that really set a changed course for how I saw the series going! Major, major new plot points were introduced and I’m really glad The Winner’s Crime is already out so I can continue on with the story ASAP!
Overall: This book surprised me by standing out against the popular, pretty dress fantasy novels with beautiful writing, a cunning protagonist, and historically based world-building that focuses more on imperialistic themes than a lot of other YA. Even if it weren’t for the romance (which was heartbreaking by the way, that LAST LINE, am I right??) this would be a five star read focusing on political intrigue, warring nations, cultural appropriation, and characters having to ask themselves hard questions about their motives and actions. Read this and you won’t regret it!
You can read this review and more at my blog Girl in the Pages
tellemonstar
Written on Mar 6, 2015
paperbackjedi
Written on Jan 1, 2015
Kestrel is ever the dutiful daughter, except when she’s not. Haunted by her mother’s death and her father’s expectations, she dreams of living a life that only she can control. She finds refuge in music and one day hopes to escape the fates others assign her. She wants no parts of marriage or the military life her father wants her to pursue. One day, while visiting the auction with her friend, she finds herself compelled to bid on a slave that catches her eye. The only problem is that now she doesn’t know what to do with him. And it’s even worse because she actually likes him, a lot. And she’s not the only one with a secret agenda.
Can I just take a moment to say that I had no idea what to expect when reading this book. Let me explain: sometimes I send my best friend three different book covers and tell her to pick between the three. And that’s how I decide what to read next. I hadn’t read the back flap since I bought it so I went into the book not knowing anything about it, really. And I’m pretty sure I didn’t breathe until I finished it. Rutkoski creates a rich, intricate landscape for the story filled with history and political intrigue. Her pacing and world building were exceptional and there was never a second during this novel that I was bored or wished it would move faster. Her ability to continually build tension was impressive to say the least. Everything from the world to the characters to the backstory to the development was ON POINT.
Oh gods, the characters. Kestrel is a great herione and she’s brilliant and clever and damaged, so damaged. I loved the way Rutkoski wrote her with equal parts mettle and vulnerability. Watching her grow and being privy to her thoughts was truly a gift. She’s one of those complex, multifaceted characters that I often spend days thinking about. And Arin, oh Arin. He is such a complicated character and I ached for him as I found out where he came from and what he must do to reclaim it. There’s so much depth and heartbreak that I had to stop reading a few times just to breathe and calm down.
The relationship between Kestrel and Arin is so beautiful. It transitions so organically that you can easily follow it, even though they both fight the current throughout the story until there really isn’t another option for them. And you see both sides so clearly, so equally that you can’t fault either one of them for their choices. It’s so well written and explored that it’s become one of my favorite fictional romances. I’m a big fan when characters retain their identity in love and still have goals and ambition outside of the other person, sometimes even in spite of the other person and this definitely makes their relationship complicated and fraught with danger. I honestly can’t wait to see what happens and how they choose to proceed with their lives. There are a lot of stories that set up the head vs. heart choice, but in this one the stakes are so high and the choice is so hard that it feels like so much more than a love story.
Honestly, this book hurt. It hurt to read, it hurt to finish, it hurt to think about. And the pain was wonderful. I can’t say enough good things about this book. AND THE ENDING, THAT ENDING. OH MY GOD. I need to know what happens next.
ladygrey
Written on Nov 12, 2014
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This really isn't a fantasy. I mean, it's set in a world that is not our own. But there's really no magic or supernatural forces at work.
And it's a decent enough story. I liked the world that's created and the different cultures. I would have liked a little more depth in them, but really it wasn't bad. The Valorian acceptance of violence and war was presented in an interesting way for such a cultured and supposedly savage people. But the more sophisticated Herrani really felt more wild and simpler. I liked the politics of the cultures and the conflict it created. The politics and the rules were a little too close to having more depth than the characters.
I also liked the it's different. The world and the plot was all unique in the YA landscape. And the plot, was both predictable in some ways but also surprising when I reached what I thought would be the end of the narrative and it was only half way through the book. I liked that - the the story expanded beyond what I expected.
The characters were alright. Kestrel and mostly interesting. Arin was... also. I wanted more from him though. And I wanted more depth in the secondary characters. Which can be difficult to convey in a first person narrative, but it can also be done. Jess was good. Ronan I wanted more of. Again, he's a character the narrator is distant from and doesn't understand but the author can give the reader insight the narrator lacks if they're clever and develop characters more.
I think that's the only thing I'd say - I liked it all well enough but I would have liked it quite a bit better with just a bit more depth in the world and the characters.
Berls
Written on Nov 2, 2014
4.5 stars.
I SERIOUSLY underestimated The Winner's Curse. The cover and blurb are, much like the story itself, full of deceptions and little tricks. I only saw them AFTER finishing The Winner's Curse, when I looked at them again thinking, "This isn't the story that they made me think it would be." But it was. I just didn't look or read closely enough. And that is why you have to read The Winner's Curse. Every detail is put together perfectly, for a deadly combination.
I say deadly, because, if - like me - you're thinking that this will be a somewhat sweet YA romance, tinged with some sort of conflict, you missed the same little details I did. This is absolutely a romance, but there's really nothing YA or sweet about it in my opinion. The Winner's Curse is about a deadly game, confused by intrigue, deception, brutality, and love. My ONE complaint - and it's not a big one - is that I could always see every step. The Winner's Curse is written from a dual POV and the result was that I watched the game unfold, fully aware of the intricate plans. I would have liked to be as shocked by the twists and turns as the characters sometimes were.
And yet, I can't fault the dual POV, because it was Rutkoski's own little scheme - worked out on me. It was an evil little plan that tore me apart as much as the main characters - Kestrel and Arin. I grew to love them both, which left me with a confusing lack of clear villains.
Kestrel is a young woman living in a world where she has two choices - marry or enlist. On one hand I loved that this world had no qualms about women being tough and fighting. On the other, for their only other option to be marriage just sucked and reminded me that this was still a paternalistic world. Kestrel's father is one of the most celebrated war generals of her people, so what he wants for her is no secret. It's what everyone expects from her. But Kestrel isn't a great fighter. She has the basic skills, but she has no desire to kill. And she's always slacked in her fighting in favor of a frowned upon skill, playing the piano. Don't let that fool you though. Kestrel is no weakling. She is cunning and, when she chooses to be, is ruthless. She's a master strategist, reads people incredibly well, and is not easy to fool.
The heart can confuse things though. Arin immediately strikes a note inside Kestrel's heart - from the moment she sees him on the auction block and pays a ridiculous fee for him. He's strong and stubborn and as you grow to know him, you see what Kestrel sees. You see his intelligence. You feel for him, for the life he had ripped away when Kestrel's people invaded his land and turned his people into slaves.
And that's the heart of why The Winner's Curse is so good. On one hand you love Kestrel and grow to like her friends and even her father. You want them to be happy. But you hate that Arin and his people are enslaved, and you want their freedom. This is a war society - reminiscent of the Roman Empire, after their conquest of Greece - and the brutality of living off the spoils of war is painted vividly.
I think this story will speak to so many different kinds of readers, but I especially recommend it to history buffs, like me. I found so many connections to geek out about. This is a war society - reminiscent of the Roman Empire, after their conquest of Greece - and the brutality of living off the spoils of war is painted vividly.
Finally, I have to add that the narration was fantastic. I've never listened to anything narrated by Justine Eyre before, but she is now on my short list. She brought the characters to life and I easily forgot she was reading a script. Even her male voices were strong and varied, making The Winner's Curse a real treat to listen to.
I can't wait to pick up the next book! I'm so glad book club made me pick up The The Winner's Curse I really had underestimated it.
shannonmiz
Written on Jul 28, 2014
Full Review Here.
This is a hard book for me to review, so I am going to break it down to likes and dislikes. Because I really really liked some aspects of it, and really didn't like some others.
Things I Liked:
Kestrel and Arin. Let's start with Kestrel. Kestrel.. well, she had her good points and her infuriating points. I kept trying to tell myself that when she behaved like a dolt, it was likely because she didn't really know any better, considering her upbringing as a society elite. Add to that the fact that her father basically just tries to goad her into being a soldier, and I am pretty sure parenting was a complete fail for our Kestrel. Even though she isn't always particularly likable as a character, she does make sense. And I felt like she wanted to do right, even though most of the time she hadn't a clue what that was. I liked Arin from the start. Sure, he was being awful, but wouldn't you? If some privileged chick bought me for the hell of it, you'd bet I'd be nasty as anything. But I think deep down, he's a good guy, who like Kestrel, wants to do right but doesn't know how.
Kestrel & Arin. I mean this in the relationship sense, of course. I loved their interactions. I never knew what to expect from them, and that was part of the charm. There was no insta-love, just a complicated and taboo relationship that made me want more!
There were times I simply couldn't put this book down! I loved the political drama (which was akin to tabloid-like behavior from some of the Valorian elite), I loved the friendship between Kestrel and Jess.
Things I Didn't Like:
I got bored. Remember how five seconds ago, I said that there were times when I couldn't put the book down? That's true. But there were other times when I was flat out bored and started looking around the room for something more interesting. I don't think I've ever read a book during which I wavered so much from chapter to chapter. One minute, I'm all in. The next, my eyes are glazed over and I am thinking about grabbing a snack or watching Friends. I can't completely pinpoint all the spots that bored me, but when the heavier military action came into play, and the plot got very, very cumbersome, I was out. And that is my absolute biggest gripe with the book: I don't want to be bored while reading! Ever. Especially not for a good 20% of the book (just an estimate, I didn't actually sit around with a calculator and a tally sheet).
The World Building. Here's my general problem with fantasy: I need to know stuff. Where are we, why is this happening, who are these people? I don't know. We're... somewhere. With Valorians and Herrani. Who are they? I haven't a clue, your guess is as good as mine. They're near some water somewhere, so we've narrowed it down to about 90% of all places. I am hoping there's more information in the next book, that would make me happy.
Bottom Line: It's a good book. If you can get past the world building stuff, you'll like it even more. The writing was lovely, and I did enjoy the book and will certainly read the sequel, but I don't think I will be completely clamoring to read.
tweetybugshouse
Written on Jul 14, 2014
The cover is breathtaking and i really want to see how the story plays out between Kesteral and Arin. Is it time for book two yet?