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title: "The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, 1)"
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# The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, 1)

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## Description

In the tradition of Kristin Cashore and Cassandra Clare comes The Winner's Curse , a brilliant, unputdownable, star-crossed romance from N ew York Times bestselling author Marie Rutkoski. Winning what you want may cost you everything you love They were never meant to be together. As a general's daughter, seventeen-year-old Kestrel enjoys an extravagant and privileged life. Arin has nothing but the clothes on his back. Then Kestrel makes an impulsive decision that binds Arin to her. Though they try to fight it, they can't help but fall in love. In order to be together, they must betray their people . . . but to be loyal to their country, they must betray each other. Set in a new world, The Winner's Curse is a story of rebellion, duels, ballroom dances, wicked rumors, dirty secrets, and games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Review: Beautiful & Epic….Oh my fangirl heart!!! - 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Music is seventeen year old Kestrel’s Achilles’ heel. It is her comfort, and if someone ever asked where her heart lay, she would probably say it dwells in keys of her piano. It is a strength, a talent, but it is also a curse in some ways, too. Kestrel never thought of it that way until after one fateful day in the market when she found out just how bad her weakness for music was. Kestrel could never have prepared herself for what was to come because of her choice that day, how a purchase of a slave could change her life, her world, forever. The young man’s eyes had glittered that afternoon with something very familiar to Kestrel: rebellion. She had purchased him mostly because the slaver claimed he could sing, but also because of that look in his eyes, and she wondered if she’d found someone with the same fire burning in them that burned within herself. Kestrel, however, finds herself to instantly regret the purchase when he refuses to sing for her, kindred spirit or not. What was she thinking, buying a slave for so much money just because the slaver said he could sing? But there is more to this slave boy than meets the eye, more than Kestrel could have ever imagined. As the world around her begins to crumble, Kestrel wonders if this slave could be her savior, or if he will be the death of her. “The Winner’s Curse” is a really hard book for me to review because I honestly don’t know how to put into words what I felt while reading it. Where do I start? Should I begin this post with how much I loved it, how beautifully and intricately woven the plot is, or how the characters grow on you the more time you spend with them, just like an actual person would? I just don’t have the right words to describe this book; anything I say in the written word won’t do this story justice, and that bums me out. A lot. *Sighs.* Despite not knowing exactly what to say, I am still going to write a review for this book. Okay, I think that the wisest place to start this post is with Marie Rutkoski’s world. Can I just say how gorgeous it is before I write anything else? It’s gorgeous, and I LOVED it! Kestrel doesn’t belong to our world; her’s is make-believe, but it feels so real the way Marie wrote it that it seemed more like a beautifully written history book! I felt like I was being drawn into the story, and Kestrel’s world really came alive. One of the reasons that I think made it came alive for me was that Marie’s world is modeled after the Roman-Greco period in history, which just so happens to be my favorite. I love the Roman and Grecian influences that are in “The Winner’s Curse” because they added so much depth and weight to the story, and it made for a more believable story. I feel that Marie did a great job of drawing from these two magnificent civilizations while still making Kestrel’s world her own. I think that is one of the (many) reasons that made this such a stunning read for me. Besides Marie Rutkoski’s beautiful world building, I loved how cunning and intelligent her characters were. They were shrewd, and calculating and I liked that because you didn’t know exactly what they were thinking, or competely understand their intentions. They held their cards close to their chests, and the author waited until precisely the right moment to have them lay one down; one card was revealed at a time, and it made for a slowly building that eventually blew my mind! I mean, my brain was making the connections and putting things together, so not everything was a surprise, but it was kind of fun to read into actions and to understand what a character was doing without being told. It was clever of the author because it made me even more invested in the book and its characters. I feel that there is a character in this book for everyone to choose from, and I personally became a fan of Ronan, one of Kestrel’s friends. (Yeah, I know, I tend to go for the sweet friend who’s always been there for the main female character. I guess I’m predictable, but I prefer to call it faithful and dependable). Ronan was an intelligent character, with a good wit that made me smile whenever he was around, and he cared deeply for Kestrel even though she didn’t care for him that way in return. Unrequited love just so happens to be one of the many afflictions ninety percent of the characters I like end up experiencing, so it’s no surprise that I fell for him. Let me warn you now, though, if I ever REALLY like a character and you want them to either be alive at the end of a book, or end up with your other favorite character, run far, far away! I’ve accepted this fact in life, but sometimes it still hurt (except for the very few, but very precious times that my OPTs have ended up together. They are rare but sweet!). Ronan is one of those times, but you know what, I am just looking forward to seeing more of him in this series even if all he will ever be is a friend to Kestrel. I can live with that. All of the characters in this story, though, are all really well developed; there are no pointless or meaningless characters in this book because they all serve some kind of purpose, and there’s also no filler in this book, which is new and refreshing. What I really want to explain now is what made me realize that I liked “The Winner’s Curse.” For most of the it I wasn’t thinking about what I liked or disliked about this book, I was just absorbed in the story and experiencing each moment alongside the characters. The moment that I realized just how much I loved this book, I had been reading the last fifty or sixty pages, and it was a scene between Kestrel and Arin. Before that moment I hadn’t thought about my likes or dislikes, whether I wanted them together or not, or if I even liked them as individuals. I hadn’t thought about any of those things until after they were in the kitchen, and they had this really beautiful moment together. This scene with them doesn’t last long at all, but afterwards I noticed that I had been holding my breath in anticipation. I don’t know what I was waiting for, but I had been waiting for something. “The Winner’s Curse” is the first book to do that to me. Sure, I’ve screamed at books/book characters before, I’ve held my breath in dread or fear, and even in excitement, but this is the first book that made me sit, literally, on the edge of my seat, waiting for something, anything to happen. That was the moment when I figured out that I loved “The Winner’s Curse.” I guess the best way to describe it is that this story, its characters, and its world, they all snuck up on me. I was just going along with the story when suddenly, and unexpectedly, I was like, “Wow, I really love this book!” After I had finished it, I went to discuss the book with my sister and all I could say was, “Uhhhhh,”, and, “It just snuck up on me!” I sounded like an idiot and I probably looked like one too because I just kept repeating myself over and over again, blinking in shock. I looked like a fool, but it was totally worth it! “The Winner’s Curse” was a stunning read. I feel that it and “The One” by Kiera Cass are, so far, my epic reads of 2014. I love a lot of books, but only a few have the potential to be eternally epic stories. What Marie and Kiera have in common, and why I love their books so much, is that their societies, worlds, plots, and characters are all beautifully thought out, intricate, flawed, and real despite being fictional; they stay with you even after you’ve walked away. You can tell that they’ve put their heart and soul into their books, and that in turn makes you invest more in the stories they write. That is how I differentiate a good book from an epic one. They make me speechless in a really good way kind of way. Bravo!!! Check-out my blog: http://booksandwonderfulthings.wordpress.com
Review: Overall good, but I wasn't really fond of the heroine - Review: I’ve read so much praise for this book long before it was even released and since the plot sounded intriguing, I decided to give it a shot as well. But, I have to admit that due to all this, strongly put, worship for this book, I was a tad bit disappointed. I guess it’s the usual being-underwhelmed-syndrome after something is hyped to the skies. Nevertheless, this story is without a doubt very well written and plotted, but… yeah. Let’s have the cons out of the way first. Small rant ahead regarding my impression of Kestrel – beware!: I wasn’t too fond of her. While I could understand her reasoning and would probably react the same way, as a reader looking in from the outside (double standard? Probably, I’m not perfect), her attitude towards the Herrans trying to claim their freedom irritated me. She gave the impression that she took them being slaves quite calmly and that it was natural or something irrelevant (not to bother her pretty head over). The Herrani wanting their independence back and cease being slaves in their own land was an annoyance and they should be content to stay as they are. Valorians could conquer, kill people and that made them great and brilliant strategists and warriors, and seemed to be fine, but the Herrani killing their oppressors and fighting was something to punish and incomprehensible. It’s just the impression she gave me and be it truly her beliefs or not, she didn’t get much sympathy regarding that from me. They hadn’t been slaves for decades or hundreds of years, but something that happened something ten years ago, so how could she just assume that they wanted this to continue (when clearly remembering how things were before) and be so offended when Arin supposedly betrayed her? I also didn’t like her negative attitude for the Herrani in general, at times I felt that she saw their culture as a lot inferior whereas I got the impression that they were quite highly cultured and at times more refined than Valorians. I understand that her understanding and views were due to her nationality and people, but still. Having more sympathy for the Herrani, I of course, rooted for Arin and to me the actual “villain” (or anti-hero), if you can call it like that, is Kestrel. I guess I simply have issues with big and strong countries trampling little ones just because they can and the mentality that it creates within the victors. The romance was slightly underwhelming as well, Arin fell too quickly and Kestrel’s behavior just confused me overall (she was quite an erratic person). Nevertheless, it didn’t bother me that much, but the romance kind of lacked an itty bit of something more. And now for the better stuff: The storyline is certainly unique in some ways or at least I haven’t read anything similar, but then again, I don’t really read any historical/dystopian (this story is difficult to categorize) YA to begin with so I’m not an expert. You have these ultimate star-crossed lovers in a world that seems like it could be a place somewhere in our history, but clearly isn’t. There is a taste of epicenes with the plot and scale of the world created. It definitely has wonderful world-building without being too detailed or overwhelming. I was simply exciting to follow and see what will happen next, there were obvious conflicts looming over the characters all the time, but how they would unravel and where it would end up was thrilling. For example, the ending I didn’t expect at all and I have no ideas how things will progress from then on. It certainly won't be boring! The constant strategy talk and the battles made the story more juicy and emotional, things were shown instead of told. The book cames across quite realistic as well, because there were casualties amongst the main characters, there were injuries, etc – it wasn’t a “magic land” where no one ever gets seriously hurt, at least among the main characters, which in itself is completely illogical, especially in this book, due to the setting (but I’ve come across this in too many times). Regarding the characters, Arin was definitely my favorite, I like underdogs and he with his people were the ultimate underdogs in this. Of course, I would root for them and find Arin tormented and conflicted yet so brave and loyal. And despite my general unhappiness with Kestrel, she was a better and substantial heroine than the majority of Mary Sues I read about. She was actually smart, logical, perceptive and collected. I liked them dancing around each other, changing who has the upper hand with every move. Overall: Despite my issues with Kestrel, the story itself is great, exciting and original. I totally get the praise it gets and I think it deserves it to some degree, but personally, it didn’t impress me as much as I was expecting or hoping. Still, it’s worth four stars and that should say everything.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #542,328 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #162 in Teen & Young Adult Dystopian #175 in Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction & Dystopian Romance #855 in Teen & Young Adult Fantasy |
| Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 3,488 Reviews |

## Images

![The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, 1) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81BfiMRsbeL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beautiful & Epic….Oh my fangirl heart!!!
*by J***F on June 25, 2014*

4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Music is seventeen year old Kestrel’s Achilles’ heel. It is her comfort, and if someone ever asked where her heart lay, she would probably say it dwells in keys of her piano. It is a strength, a talent, but it is also a curse in some ways, too. Kestrel never thought of it that way until after one fateful day in the market when she found out just how bad her weakness for music was. Kestrel could never have prepared herself for what was to come because of her choice that day, how a purchase of a slave could change her life, her world, forever. The young man’s eyes had glittered that afternoon with something very familiar to Kestrel: rebellion. She had purchased him mostly because the slaver claimed he could sing, but also because of that look in his eyes, and she wondered if she’d found someone with the same fire burning in them that burned within herself. Kestrel, however, finds herself to instantly regret the purchase when he refuses to sing for her, kindred spirit or not. What was she thinking, buying a slave for so much money just because the slaver said he could sing? But there is more to this slave boy than meets the eye, more than Kestrel could have ever imagined. As the world around her begins to crumble, Kestrel wonders if this slave could be her savior, or if he will be the death of her. “The Winner’s Curse” is a really hard book for me to review because I honestly don’t know how to put into words what I felt while reading it. Where do I start? Should I begin this post with how much I loved it, how beautifully and intricately woven the plot is, or how the characters grow on you the more time you spend with them, just like an actual person would? I just don’t have the right words to describe this book; anything I say in the written word won’t do this story justice, and that bums me out. A lot. *Sighs.* Despite not knowing exactly what to say, I am still going to write a review for this book. Okay, I think that the wisest place to start this post is with Marie Rutkoski’s world. Can I just say how gorgeous it is before I write anything else? It’s gorgeous, and I LOVED it! Kestrel doesn’t belong to our world; her’s is make-believe, but it feels so real the way Marie wrote it that it seemed more like a beautifully written history book! I felt like I was being drawn into the story, and Kestrel’s world really came alive. One of the reasons that I think made it came alive for me was that Marie’s world is modeled after the Roman-Greco period in history, which just so happens to be my favorite. I love the Roman and Grecian influences that are in “The Winner’s Curse” because they added so much depth and weight to the story, and it made for a more believable story. I feel that Marie did a great job of drawing from these two magnificent civilizations while still making Kestrel’s world her own. I think that is one of the (many) reasons that made this such a stunning read for me. Besides Marie Rutkoski’s beautiful world building, I loved how cunning and intelligent her characters were. They were shrewd, and calculating and I liked that because you didn’t know exactly what they were thinking, or competely understand their intentions. They held their cards close to their chests, and the author waited until precisely the right moment to have them lay one down; one card was revealed at a time, and it made for a slowly building that eventually blew my mind! I mean, my brain was making the connections and putting things together, so not everything was a surprise, but it was kind of fun to read into actions and to understand what a character was doing without being told. It was clever of the author because it made me even more invested in the book and its characters. I feel that there is a character in this book for everyone to choose from, and I personally became a fan of Ronan, one of Kestrel’s friends. (Yeah, I know, I tend to go for the sweet friend who’s always been there for the main female character. I guess I’m predictable, but I prefer to call it faithful and dependable). Ronan was an intelligent character, with a good wit that made me smile whenever he was around, and he cared deeply for Kestrel even though she didn’t care for him that way in return. Unrequited love just so happens to be one of the many afflictions ninety percent of the characters I like end up experiencing, so it’s no surprise that I fell for him. Let me warn you now, though, if I ever REALLY like a character and you want them to either be alive at the end of a book, or end up with your other favorite character, run far, far away! I’ve accepted this fact in life, but sometimes it still hurt (except for the very few, but very precious times that my OPTs have ended up together. They are rare but sweet!). Ronan is one of those times, but you know what, I am just looking forward to seeing more of him in this series even if all he will ever be is a friend to Kestrel. I can live with that. All of the characters in this story, though, are all really well developed; there are no pointless or meaningless characters in this book because they all serve some kind of purpose, and there’s also no filler in this book, which is new and refreshing. What I really want to explain now is what made me realize that I liked “The Winner’s Curse.” For most of the it I wasn’t thinking about what I liked or disliked about this book, I was just absorbed in the story and experiencing each moment alongside the characters. The moment that I realized just how much I loved this book, I had been reading the last fifty or sixty pages, and it was a scene between Kestrel and Arin. Before that moment I hadn’t thought about my likes or dislikes, whether I wanted them together or not, or if I even liked them as individuals. I hadn’t thought about any of those things until after they were in the kitchen, and they had this really beautiful moment together. This scene with them doesn’t last long at all, but afterwards I noticed that I had been holding my breath in anticipation. I don’t know what I was waiting for, but I had been waiting for something. “The Winner’s Curse” is the first book to do that to me. Sure, I’ve screamed at books/book characters before, I’ve held my breath in dread or fear, and even in excitement, but this is the first book that made me sit, literally, on the edge of my seat, waiting for something, anything to happen. That was the moment when I figured out that I loved “The Winner’s Curse.” I guess the best way to describe it is that this story, its characters, and its world, they all snuck up on me. I was just going along with the story when suddenly, and unexpectedly, I was like, “Wow, I really love this book!” After I had finished it, I went to discuss the book with my sister and all I could say was, “Uhhhhh,”, and, “It just snuck up on me!” I sounded like an idiot and I probably looked like one too because I just kept repeating myself over and over again, blinking in shock. I looked like a fool, but it was totally worth it! “The Winner’s Curse” was a stunning read. I feel that it and “The One” by Kiera Cass are, so far, my epic reads of 2014. I love a lot of books, but only a few have the potential to be eternally epic stories. What Marie and Kiera have in common, and why I love their books so much, is that their societies, worlds, plots, and characters are all beautifully thought out, intricate, flawed, and real despite being fictional; they stay with you even after you’ve walked away. You can tell that they’ve put their heart and soul into their books, and that in turn makes you invest more in the stories they write. That is how I differentiate a good book from an epic one. They make me speechless in a really good way kind of way. Bravo!!! Check-out my blog: http://booksandwonderfulthings.wordpress.com

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Overall good, but I wasn't really fond of the heroine
*by S***E on August 30, 2014*

Review: I’ve read so much praise for this book long before it was even released and since the plot sounded intriguing, I decided to give it a shot as well. But, I have to admit that due to all this, strongly put, worship for this book, I was a tad bit disappointed. I guess it’s the usual being-underwhelmed-syndrome after something is hyped to the skies. Nevertheless, this story is without a doubt very well written and plotted, but… yeah. Let’s have the cons out of the way first. Small rant ahead regarding my impression of Kestrel – beware!: I wasn’t too fond of her. While I could understand her reasoning and would probably react the same way, as a reader looking in from the outside (double standard? Probably, I’m not perfect), her attitude towards the Herrans trying to claim their freedom irritated me. She gave the impression that she took them being slaves quite calmly and that it was natural or something irrelevant (not to bother her pretty head over). The Herrani wanting their independence back and cease being slaves in their own land was an annoyance and they should be content to stay as they are. Valorians could conquer, kill people and that made them great and brilliant strategists and warriors, and seemed to be fine, but the Herrani killing their oppressors and fighting was something to punish and incomprehensible. It’s just the impression she gave me and be it truly her beliefs or not, she didn’t get much sympathy regarding that from me. They hadn’t been slaves for decades or hundreds of years, but something that happened something ten years ago, so how could she just assume that they wanted this to continue (when clearly remembering how things were before) and be so offended when Arin supposedly betrayed her? I also didn’t like her negative attitude for the Herrani in general, at times I felt that she saw their culture as a lot inferior whereas I got the impression that they were quite highly cultured and at times more refined than Valorians. I understand that her understanding and views were due to her nationality and people, but still. Having more sympathy for the Herrani, I of course, rooted for Arin and to me the actual “villain” (or anti-hero), if you can call it like that, is Kestrel. I guess I simply have issues with big and strong countries trampling little ones just because they can and the mentality that it creates within the victors. The romance was slightly underwhelming as well, Arin fell too quickly and Kestrel’s behavior just confused me overall (she was quite an erratic person). Nevertheless, it didn’t bother me that much, but the romance kind of lacked an itty bit of something more. And now for the better stuff: The storyline is certainly unique in some ways or at least I haven’t read anything similar, but then again, I don’t really read any historical/dystopian (this story is difficult to categorize) YA to begin with so I’m not an expert. You have these ultimate star-crossed lovers in a world that seems like it could be a place somewhere in our history, but clearly isn’t. There is a taste of epicenes with the plot and scale of the world created. It definitely has wonderful world-building without being too detailed or overwhelming. I was simply exciting to follow and see what will happen next, there were obvious conflicts looming over the characters all the time, but how they would unravel and where it would end up was thrilling. For example, the ending I didn’t expect at all and I have no ideas how things will progress from then on. It certainly won't be boring! The constant strategy talk and the battles made the story more juicy and emotional, things were shown instead of told. The book cames across quite realistic as well, because there were casualties amongst the main characters, there were injuries, etc – it wasn’t a “magic land” where no one ever gets seriously hurt, at least among the main characters, which in itself is completely illogical, especially in this book, due to the setting (but I’ve come across this in too many times). Regarding the characters, Arin was definitely my favorite, I like underdogs and he with his people were the ultimate underdogs in this. Of course, I would root for them and find Arin tormented and conflicted yet so brave and loyal. And despite my general unhappiness with Kestrel, she was a better and substantial heroine than the majority of Mary Sues I read about. She was actually smart, logical, perceptive and collected. I liked them dancing around each other, changing who has the upper hand with every move. Overall: Despite my issues with Kestrel, the story itself is great, exciting and original. I totally get the praise it gets and I think it deserves it to some degree, but personally, it didn’t impress me as much as I was expecting or hoping. Still, it’s worth four stars and that should say everything.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Must-read YA for 2014
*by A***R on April 2, 2014*

Kestrel is General Trajan’s daughter, the Valorian general who conquered the Herran peninsula. Kestrel knows what it takes to win, to make other’s submit and to always come out on top. She knows about war. But that does not mean she fits easily into Valorian society, revered though her father may be, Kestrel feels shame for the way her people treat the Herrani – as slaves since their defeat. This is a particularly hard concept for Kestrel to accept, since she was practically raised by her Herrani nurse after the tragic death of her mother. And, because Kestrel admires the Herrani’s musical ability – she herself is a piano-player, defiant against Valorian society who have little time for the Arts and value strength above all else. One day, Kestrel finds herself pushed and pulled to the slaver’s market, where she is captivated by a blacksmith for sale – one, the slave auctioneer promises, who is also a singer. Against her better judgment and strong morals, Kestrel buys him – a slave of her own. Arin enters the Trajan household as a blacksmith, and quickly makes himself invaluable to the General’s soldiers – creating weapons for them, and minding their horses. But it’s Lady Kestrel that Arin is fascinated by. She appears to have no fighting ability, though she is the General’s daughter, but she’s a keen strategist – winning every round of Bite & Sting she plays. Arin witnesses Kestrel manoeuvre the cruel and lusting Lord Inex with aplomb. And Arin watches as Kestrel fights a battle within herself – with the decision all Valorian must make – to be married, or join the army. The brother of Kestrel’s best friend, Ronan, would have her marry him – even promising that she could keep her beloved piano if she did. But Arin suspects the world has more in store for Kestrel Trajan than even she knows… ‘The Winner’s Curse’ is the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from young adult author Marie Rutkoski. I’d been hearing quiet rumblings about this book for a while now. Wendy Darling of ‘The Midnight Garden’ awarded it 4.5/5 stars and professed “Love love love love love.” Kirkus awarded it a starred review, declaring it "Breathtaking, tragic and true.” And now I’ve read it and all I can say is … wow. If you listen to the hype coming out of the 2014 Bologna Children’s Book Fair; “realism reigns” once again when it comes to YA. But don’t think that means all dystopia/fantasy/paranormal YA books should be discounted as “so 2012” and passé – ‘The Winner’s Curse’ is proof of that. Marie Rutkoski takes fantasy to an entirely new level with ‘The Winner’s Curse’ – and part of its success will probably lie in its cross-genre blending. Here is a book with historical leanings, lashings of fantasy and doses of dystopia, but that is also so frightening and compelling because it also feels like realism – about a war-hungry society who find the tables turning when the people they conquered years ago start plotting an uprising. ‘The Winner’s Curse’ reads like Rutkoski used blueprints of British and Dutch colonialism, together with Napoleonic and Roman Empire historical touches. Yet, at the same time, the Herrani/Valorian history feels like something George R. R. Martin could have dreamt up. The universe and setting is fascinating, particularly for the historical/fantasy blend. But what really makes this story stand out is the romantic heart at the centre – between the General’s daughter, Kestrel, and her slave, Arin. Here are two incredibly interesting characters in their own right, but throw them together and you have an epic love story with so many hurdles to overcome, I can hardly believe Rutkoski only has a trilogy planned! Kestrel is certainly an admirable female protagonist – one of the few in Valorian society who has an issue with using slaves and who, despite her upbringing, has no interest in family (military or otherwise) but would rather create music. Arin is the perfect match for Kestrel on the page – his anger and bravery seem better suited to the Valorians – but he also sees much to be admired in Kestrel, in her quiet rebellions and favouring brains over brawn, creation over destruction. But the real reason ‘The Winner’s Curse’ is a must-read book of 2014, is Marie Rutkoski’s style. She writes some truly sumptuous sentences; "The piano, on the other hand, was a network of parts – a ship, with its strings like rigging, its case a hull, its lifted lid a sail. Kestrel always thought that the piano didn’t sound like a single instrument but a twinned one, with its low and high halves merging together or pulling apart." She has vividly created this universe for readers to get caught up in, and written fascinating characters I can’t wait to get back to. I was also really impressed by the plotting of the story – surprised that this felt like a complete book in itself (though with a juicy cliffhanger) because Rutkoski doesn’t meander with plot, but rather enjoys plunging readers into the thick of action. 2015 seems a particularly long way away, now that I’m pining for book #2.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy, 1)
- The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy, 2)
- The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy, 3)

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-08-29*