Reviewed by paperbackjedi on
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.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 1 January, 2015: Finished reading
- 1 January, 2015: Reviewed