My Thoughts: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

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, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. 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 a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

**Review Copy received by publisher. 

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Maria Rutkoski's The Winner's Curse. It's been all around the the blogging community and I don't think I've seen a negative review. Also, Macmillan has been pushing this book like crazy- and rightfully so. I was in a pretty nasty reading slump when I began reading The Winner's Curse- but at the time I was determined to get over it. So I committed to reading for a full hour to really get into the story. Before I knew it three hours had passed and I was 40%  done and I didn't want to stop.

What was the most fun about The Winner's Curse, is that I did not know much about the story when I began reading it. I had read the synopsis when I requested it, but I hadn't read it since and I wasn't sure what to expect. This really added to my reading experience. I was able to let go of my expectations and just enjoy the story for what it was.

Everything that is being said about this book is true. It's a great story. I don't want to tell you much about the plot because the mystery of it all was so great for me.

Arin is a Heranni slave that  Kestrel bought on a whim. What I found the most interesting in The Winner's Curse was the relationship between Arin and Kestrel. In reality Kestrel owns Arin. However, her attitude towards slavery and the war that made slavery a thing is changing as she gets to know Arin and his situation. I really liked the story Rutkoski told about slavery. She was able to convey how complicated slavery was and she used the budding relationship between Arin and Kestrel an example.

Throughout the novel Kestrel proves herself as an intelligent, strong and independent individual. She is confident and sure of herself - which is good as she finds herself questioning society even going against the norms- this strength comes in handy. Arin was kind of a fantastic character. I am not sure what to say about him. He was conflicted, but again, very loyal. He had an agenda and he never lost site of it- which sometimes was to his detriment. I really am doing my best to not spoil anything.

The romance between Arin and Kestrel is very slow burn, it almost is non existent. For some this may not work and in most stories it wouldn't. But in this case, it does, it's necessary. Especially with the kind of initial relationship the two have with one another.

There is so much that I am not saying about The Winner's Curse, so much that I want to, but as I mentioned earlier not knowing to much about the story was great for me.

Overall, The Winner's Curse is a great story. Marie Rutkoski has made a fan out of me. I am terribly excited about this series and I can't wait to see where Arin and Kestrel's journey will take them.

~Happy Reading Everyone!