Title: The Winner’s Curse
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Publisher: Square Fish
Pub Date: March 3, 2015
Format: Paperback
Pages: 361
Source: Purchased
Genre(s): YA, Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ★★★½
[Goodreads] ● [Amazon] ● [Book Depository]

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

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.

Set in a richly imagined new world, 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.

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My mini-review:

“He knew the law of such things: people in brightly lit places cannot see into the dark.”

The whole slave business made me uneasy, the romance was cheesy, and the first half of the story moved a little too slowly. With all that being said, I like the author’s writing style and her characters. Kestrel is a great protagonist.

However, what really made this book special was the political intrigue. I think that’s why the second half of it was so amazing, and also why I can’t wait to pick up the next one.

It’s also important to mention that I thought the romance would be unbearable but it was actually quite tolerable? And it really does make sense in terms of character development.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read.

Come for the romance, stay for the war.