Reviewed by Ashley on
As much as I enjoyed The Winner's Curse, it didn't completely blow my mind. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a very good book, but I didn't think it was ZOMG SO FREAKING UNBELIEVABLY AMAZING!!! I think I just expected a bit more from it, after all the hype and raving. It was still really good, it just didn't totally wow me.
One of the most interesting parts of this book was the conflict. I could really see and feel how confusing it was. How do you fall in love with someone who's supposed to be your enemy? How can you love a person but hate what they're doing? I could really feel Kestrel's struggle. I loved Arin, but when he started the rebellion, I was conflicted. I still loved him as a person, but how could Kestrel love him when he's killing her people? Plotting to kill her father? Caused her best friend to become deathly ill? Killed many of her friends? It was definitely a weird love/hate thing. I loved him, but felt like if I loved him I was on his side (the Herrani). But was I with the Herrani? Or the Valorians? Crap, I don't know!! LOL!
This same point is also was made the romance delicious! Kestrel and Arin were totally star-crossed lovers. Forbidden. Never going to be accepted. Mmm, delicious. They had a slow burning romance built on this conflict.
Overall, I found myself becoming really attached to the world that Marie Rutkoski created. I loved the struggle between the two groups: Herrani and Valorians. Both of them had interesting cultures, and I almost wasn't sure who to root for. Obviously I felt bad for the Herrani at first, but once they rebelled and started killing Varlorians, I found myself feeling bad for the Valorians instead!
I think the one part of the book that disappointed me was that it felt slow at times. This was mostly true at the beginning of the story. There was a while when I wasn't sure where the book was going and there wasn't much action or plot development. It definitely picked up at the end OHMYGOD I CAN'T BELIEVE ARIN ACTUALLY KILLED CHEAT!! Did not expect that., but there was still that lull in the beginning/middle.
The Winner's Curse was definitely an interesting read and I'm psyched for the series! I'm just a tad disappointed that I didn't adore it as much as other people seem to. As much as I enjoyed the book, I don't imagine that it will stay ingrained in my mind for a super long time. Unlike what some people said, I don't feel like The Winner's Curse has ruined me for all other books.
Reading updates
- 4 March, 2014: Started reading
- 6 March, 2014: Finished reading
- 6 March, 2014: Reviewed