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    The Winner's Curse
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    The Winner's Curse
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    The Winner's Curse
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Winner's Curse

    Written by Marie Rutkoski

    Narrated by Justine Eyre

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMar 4, 2014
    ISBN9780804167833
    Unavailable
    The Winner's Curse
    Author

    Marie Rutkoski

    MARIE RUTKOSKI is a professor of English literature at Brooklyn College, where she teaches Shakespeare, children's literature and creative writing. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. Marie can tie a good double figure-eight knot and is very fond of perfume, tea and excellent bread and butter.

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    Reviews for The Winner's Curse

    4/5

    452 ratings61 reviews

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    • 3/5
      While I quite enjoyed this book, I didn't love it. Although Kestrel was quite a strong character and a good strategist, she spent too much time mooning over Arin whom I never really connected with. As for the romance between them it just didn't feel believable. The book started well but began to drag in the middle with little excitement or tension and then it just ended. I know this is the start of a trilogy, but I'm not interested enough to read the sequels.
    • 5/5
      This is the first book in months that I have physically read where I read all day and night. I almost finished it in one sitting, but around 2 AM finally had to give in and get some sleep. It pulled me in and I did not want to put it down. Where I normally find myself getting bored in the middle of books (too much filler), I never felt like that with this. Normally it is hard to follow the world building in fantasy and sometimes it takes over the story. I loved how the world building was entwined within the story of our main characters. It was easy to follow which I appreciated.I loved the romance and the twists that came along with the romance. I have seen reviews that this had insta love, but I did not get that feel at all. There is tension between the characters, but it takes several months before they start putting this all together. I enjoyed the development of their relationship.I am taking off half a star for the last quarter of the book. I know this is when a lot of action happened, but it was dragged out too long. I started to lose interest for the first time. I still loved the ending though.Overall, I loved this and am excited since I have book two already. I need more!
    • 5/5
      What a wonderfully crafted story! The writing is style is beautiful and captivating.
    • 4/5
      This book. At first I was like "these characters are not that relatable. I'm not invested". But somehow that changed over the course of a couple chapters and them I was just devastated when I realized how it was going to end up. Like, this is Romeo and Juliet level tradgedy, but with competent people. They are still young and could probably make better choices, but them you see how inevitable their choices are and it makes it so much worse. At least it ends with the possibility of a sequel. I like that this is kinda historical fiction; I can see the Rome/Greece parallels. It makes it more interesting to think that something like this may have happened, if not with quite so much drama and ninja roof climbing. I look forward to the sequel, if only to find out how these characters can make me even more sad.
    • 4/5
      The book surprised me in so many ways! hahaha, you may guess right, what's my score! :)The Winner's Curse has been sitting on my to-be-read shelf for a while, honestly, I am glad I did not read it then and waited until all the books are going to be published. This is the thing with trilogies, initially it would mean a big book in three parts rather than for marketing purposes 3 book published separately. I think then it is a wider chance for a reader to abandon the series in general as the publishing takes time and that means reading tens of books in between and not sticking to the idea of reading them all. More easy to abandon the series.Alright, so I was very much surprised by the read! I had a vague idea where the plot may take me or what traditional dystopian novel stucture is, but then I would say - this is not dystopian, this is a fantasy, is it really(?), story that tells about two kingdoms trying to gain the power, there's been war 10 years ago and then there's one to come. Two lovers finding each other from complete opposite parties, this reminded me of "Ronia and Robert's Daughter" by Astrid Lindgren, and the feelings they have for each other isn't fading. Of course, there are bunch of others who disapprove, who think main character, Kestrel, as General's daughter will destroy Arin, but with destroying him she's is destroying herself and finding a way how to save him again. This is complex love story, between to kingdoms, involving loads of action scenes and romance. It tells about missing those you love, learning to love and let your feelings guide you not your brain, do the opposite than your heart says. It's about hurting one with all you have got, learning to live with stubbornness and pay the price. This was interesting and surprising and I really enjoyed ( I was skeptical and thought I won't get through the book at all!).
    • 5/5
      The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a good story with solid bones, an interesting plot, and events that kept me interestingly conflicted.

      Kestrel is the general’s daughter, living in a time when her people are on top, living in homes acquired through war, the past land owners now enslaved to Kestrel's people.

      Kestrel buys Arin, a slave who she will come to love, and that purchase will not only change her life, but will forever change history itself. As The Winner’s Curse develops into a story of love, it tests the lines of loyalty as the slaves wage a war against their enemy, Kestrel’s people.

      Probably the most impressive thing to me about The Winner’s Curse is that it took me out of my comfort zone. I was surprised at how often I found myself angry at Arin for his disloyalty. Then I would remind myself that if it were my family's way of existence threatened, our homes taken from us, our friend's and family forced into slavery, I would do anything to rise up against the forces that were binding us. War is an ugly thing, and Arin and Kestrel’s loyalties lie on opposite sides, deeply testing their love.

      The only thing that I wish were developed more was the love between Kestrel and Arin, but it was realistic. Under the circumstance I wouldn't expect love to come easily, and there is enough towards the end to make me wonder where things are going between the two of them.

      The Short of It
      The Winner's Curse shows the possibility of playing the biggest role of them all by just being oneself through two main characters, Kestrel and Arin, who are nothing like they were raised to be, yet everything hangs in the balance between them. There is a beautiful selfless moment that rocked my world, one of the best that I have read in YA.
    • 4/5
      Mar 2018 = 4 stars
      Apr 2016 = 5 stars
    • 3/5
      well the first half of the book was a struggle to get through but the second half was much much better. 3.5/5 stars
    • 5/5
      What a wonderfully crafted story! The writing is style is beautiful and captivating.
    • 4/5
      Kestrel didn't intend to buy a slave at the market, but something about this one caught her attention. She's inexplicably drawn to him, but little does she know that he's plotting revolution. Can love survive when the two find themselves on opposing sides?Listened to the audiobook, and would recommend.
    • 1/5
      Sweet baby Jesus. This book was BORING. I almost gave up on it, but I persevered to the dull ending. I don't even care enough to read the next book.
    • 3/5
      Interesting setting and backdrop for a YA romance, but the story and characters were unrealistic (even for the genre) and fell flat. I was frustrated that the characters' motivations did not match their actions. In all fairness, I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator was the same person who narrated the Fallen series so it is entirely possible that my frustration with that series was seeping in and negatively coloring my impression of this book.
    • 3/5
      I received a copy from First Reads in return for an honest review.

      The Winner's Curse takes place in an alternate world (or possibly just the past) where one group, the Valorians, have conquered and enslaved the Herrani. The story follows Kestrel, the Valorians general's daughter, and her slave, Arin, through their growing bond and friendship which is laced with secrets and betrayal.

      I did enjoy reading The Winner's Curse, but felt that it focused too much on the relationship between Kestrel and Arin and not enough on the growing unrest. I loved that the plot centered around a secret plan and uprising of slaves, but I felt that too often this was placed in the background while Kestrel sat day dreaming about why she should or should not fall for Arin. The action picks up some near the end and has me excited to read the second installment.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! I was skeptical at first because stories including slavery tend to rub me the wrong way (as they should) but Rutkoski's tale of forbidden love and rebellion left me eager to see what happens next.
    • 4/5
      I ended up really enjoying this story.
      It wasn't too heavy on the romance and the female character was actually useful!
      Looking forward to reading the second one.
    • 4/5
      4.5.
      When I started this I want sure it would be my kind of story but before I knew it I was hooked.
      Great characters, good story, good writing, intriguing love story. I want to see how it could evolve in the next installment.
    • 4/5
      That last line! I need book two now! Can't wait for it to come in at the library! Anyway if you can't tell, I loved this book! Such an emotional rollercoaster, and the next one promises more action, romance, and thrills!
    • 5/5
      Enter to win a copy of The Winner's Curse on my blog! [US only]

      *Thank you FirstReads and Macmillan for sending me this copy*



      ”Kestrel had bought a life, and loved it, and sold it.”

      This is one of those few times when I can confirm that the synopsis does not lie. The Winner’s Curse most certainly has everything we are told to expect, and goes above and beyond with these attributes. I anticipated a well-written novel, but I was not expecting one as groundbreaking, as enchanting as what I have just read.

      The Winner’s Curse is by far one of the best young adult fantasy novels I've had the pleasure of stumbling upon in quite a while. This polished novel strikes down each and every requisite I need from my fantasies with enviable ease. Never once did I find myself particularly urged to set the novel down, internally reassuring myself, One more page, one more page!, only to find myself finishing the novel in a few sittings. Nor did I ever feel bored, frustrated, or angry at the quality of this brilliant tale.

      Before reading Rutkoski’s novel, I actually hadn't noticed how much I have been deprived of quality young adult fantasy, how much I craved a book that did not pathetically butcher my favorite genre. I cured my famished self by reading this, and thankfully, enjoyed each second of my reading experience.

      In my opinion, one of the most noteworthy traits of this novel is its lovely writing. Rutkoski truly does have a knack with prose, so much so that I feel compelled to quote pages upon pages of this very superbly written book. I am pleased.

      Included in The Winner’s Curse is a good blend of romance, suspense, action, and political intrigue to keep anyone enthralled. While I do believe this is the perfect read for all fantasy lovers out there, I also think this will appeal to readers with diverse tastes in literature. There isn't an excess amount of drama to weigh down the novel, nor is there a romance that is overdone, which usually is the downfall of countless “fantasy” novels.

      What I would consider as a major feat on the author’s part is the ingenious worldbuilding. There is absolutely no info-dumping, and while I do admit I did get a bit confused between the Valorians and Herranis for the first few chapters, the fog faded as I became familiar with the terminology. The intricately written plot added to the complex world, equating to a very joyous Summer.

      You probably won't hear me saying this ever again, but this is one of those few times where I actually wanted more romance between Kestrel and Arin. Theirs was a very subtle yet powerful romance that was slow-building and easy to root for. It wasn't overdone or over-dramatic, it was actually quite believable considering that they are star-crossed lovers.

      I will scream it from the tops of buildings and yell it from the peak of Mt. Everest, I love Arin. Not only is he completely swoonworthy (I'm such a girl), but he actually does things other than brood. He has a lovable personality! He has character flaws! He’s loyal, strong, and has faith in Kestrel. Can I marry him?
      ”His eyes met hers. They were the color of the winter sea-the water far below Kestrel’s feet when she had looked down and imagined what it would be like to drown.
      The incorporation of music into the plotline felt perfect and just right. It didn't feel forced, or fake; it felt genuine. The impeccable way which Rutkoski described the music was spot-on, and it was as if I was right next to Kestrel, listening to her playing her music.

      “The beauty of the flute was in its simplicity, in its resemblance to the human voice. 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.”
      Probably the most touching part of the novel was its depiction of father and daughter and their relationship. It was portrayed in a very accurate and relatable fashion, and I found myself tearing up while reading about their interactions.
      ”His eyes met hers. Something in them made her think that he would never have let Irex kill her, that he would have pushed into the ring and planted a blade in Irex’s back id he had thought his daughter might die, that he would have thrown away his honor with hers.”
      A stunning, thrilling start to a series, The Winner’s Curse has earned its spot on my 2014 favorites list. I cannot wait until the next novel comes out, and have very high hopes for the next installments to this beautiful, compelling novel.

      *Quotes are taken from an uncorrected galley.*
    • 5/5
      I pined for this book for so long, only to forget that it was a fantasy romance novel. Weird, I know. I kept thinking it was just a romance, but I was pleasantly surprised after about 50 pages in when I realized weird things were going on. It reminded me a little bit of the beginning of Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. (I have only read the first two chapters until my loan was up from the library.) The mention of colors, the scenery, and the slaves and talk of war were reminiscent of it. However, there was no magic.... only luck. The winner's curse, in fact. For some reason I thought it would be the type of fantasy novel with magic, but I think that's my mistake since I forgot the synopsis! I was surprised at the amount of detail put into the economics of strategy.I'm not sure if it was just my copy of the first edition of this book, but I felt confused at times. I think it was a segue-way issue. One moment we are given a little story of how the protagonist, Kestrel, met her best friend, Jess, and the next she is being led to the slave auction in present time. I thought it was part of the flashback. But I realized this was the introduction for what the book was about- present day Kestrel at age 17 and how she met Arin.The Winner's Curse begins with Kestrel and her best friend Jess. Jess leads her to a slave auction. For some reason, Kestrel decides to bid on a young man. There's no reason as to why... her hand just mysteriously shot up. Did she feel bad? Did she want to see more of him? Was he special to her for some reason... any reason at all? I asked all of these questions and so did the book at times, yet it is dragged on throughout the entire book and was never answered. Well, I can answer that myself, I suppose: Love. Forbidden love to be exact.The Winner's Curse is about forbidden love, yet it also follows Kestrel's recognition of what love is. I had a hard time enjoying some parts, particularly the war strategies and battle. Arin and Kestrel have large parts in the events that lead up to the end. So, the idea that teens are basically controlling things is a strange concept for me in any MG or YA book, but I digress.The Winner's Curse, for me, had a lovely and entrancing romance. Arin was lovely, however, Kestrel was not. I liked that she was unique and intelligent, but I just couldn't see what was so special about her. Even in the end.My (almost) five stars was for the slow burning romance and the unique setting. I pretty much disregarded all of my other feelings towards it because it was that good. It gave me butterflies, which only comes with great writing! I just couldn't get over the minor organization issues in the story-telling.
    • 4/5
      What first caught my attention towards this book was the gorgeous cover! And I am so glad I did pick it up because it was soooo good. At first, I was a little bummed that Kestral was not the kick-butt tough cookie that I was expecting, but then secrets and betrayal happened... I threw my judgment out the window. I loved how this book made things difficult for the characters and didn't just toss a happy ending on them, oh no, people struggled. And the ending was not what I was expecting at all, I need to read the next book now! I would recommend this book, its a great read and the book is pretty short compared to other fantasy books. The second book recently came out too and I've been hearing great things about it, so I can't wait to continue this series.
    • 5/5
      Kestrel is a privileged Valorian general's daughter and lives in a large estate with Herrani slaves to wait on her. Her life may seem charmed, but she only has two choices in her life: to join the military or get married. Her real passion is music, but it's considered a lowly occupation reserved for slaves. The only marketable skill she has is strategizing and planning. Then her life completely changes after she impulsively overpays for a slave named Arin in the marketplace. Arin is a blacksmith with a fiery temper and a defiant streak, but a kind heart underneath it all. Kestrel and Arin grow closer and closer over time, giving rise to ugly rumors. Will Arin let his feelings for Kestrel interfere with his plans? Will Kestrel defy society and its constructs to be with Arin?The Winner's Curse caught my interest with the gorgeous cover with the beautiful color scheme, design, font, and the model actually interacting with the title. The interior definitely matches the cover with its fully realized fantasy world, lush descriptions, varied characters, and unpredictable plot. The first half of the story sets up the world and Kestrel and Arin's relationship development. I found the world fascinating. The Valorians have conquered and enslaved the Herrani and consider them inferior in every way. The Herrani were not only enslaved but forced to work in the city they used to live in. Day in and out, they see the homes that were theirs inhabited by the enemy while they are abused and used by them. Marie Rutotski makes both groups sympathetic, which makes later events complicated to process. In too many YA books, one side is simply not written well to garner all the sympathy to the intended target and it's nice to see authors breaking out of that trend. Kestrel and Arin are both not what they seem. Kestrel is privileged and rich. The stereotype would be for her to be vapid and dumb, but she's quite clever. She isn't suited for hand to hand combat at all and excels at strategizing and out-thinking her opponent. I love that she recognizes her shortcomings and uses her strengths to compensate. Her love for music isn't valued by her society, but doesn't let that stop her from using it as an emotional outlet and playing the piano as often as she dares. To truly fit into her society, Kestrel must turn her back and all the things she values: her music, her independence, her sense of self. Her only choices for the future are to get married or join the military. Marriage would force her into a relationship with a random person who would have a lot of power over her, possibly forcing her to abandon the things she loves. In the military, she would have to focus on her physical abilities, an are of weakness for her, and she would also have to give up the things she values. Either way, she has to compromise herself and force herself into an ill fitting mold.Arin is a surly, defiant slave who could be easily stereotyped as an impulsive brute. However, he bides his time, watches, and waits for the right moment to act. He's the only person in the novel who challenges Kestrel in many ways, including wit, strategy, music, among others. His tragedy is in his enslavement and the loss of his family. Unlike Kestrel, he has lost everything and is striving to prove himself and gain back all he has lost. I like that their relationship starts as an awkward. tenuous friendship and then grows into feelings of romance over time. The pace of the novel is fairly slow and sets up everything beautifully. Not all books need to be super fast paced keep interest. The relationship along with the individual characters were believably established before all hell breaks loose in the second half of the story.I was sad to finish The Winner's Curse because I didn't want to leave that world. I savored the book as I read it instead of devouring it and I can't wait to dive into the second book when it comes out. The writing is fluid and beautiful and I just can't get enough of it. The plot twists and turns and had me guessing what would happen. The story has a great mix of fantasy, romance, political intrigue, You need to go out and get this novel and read it. Period.
    • 5/5
      The Winner's Curse was everything that I was hoping it would be. First of all, the audio narration was fantastic! I can always tell almost immediately whether I am going to enjoy a narration by how quickly I am able to connect w/ the characters and be drawn into the story. This was certainly one of those times that it worked. Justine Eyre brought that something extra to the story, it wasn't simply narrated, it was performed. Each character was immediately recognizable by tone and even accent, and the setting & atmosphere were beautifully expressed so that I felt completely immersed in this world.

      Of course, Eyre's job was made much easier by Rutkoski's beautiful and expressive writing. From the very beginning, this fascinating world slowly came to life with all of it's political intrigues and society's unwritten rules. It almost felt like historical fiction in the way that the society was structured. It's always fascinating to read about how a conquered people and the conquering people attempt to coexist and the constant struggle for control.

      I enjoyed that Kestrel was not a "perfect" heroine but felt genuine which made it that much easier to connect with her. I thought that most of the characters had depth and personality which was even more pronounced with the excellent audio narration. The building friendship between Kestrel and Arin was sometimes obvious but was still believable. I definitely enjoyed the slower pace of their relationship, how they came to understand and respect one another before exploring other emotions.

      The slow pacing of The Winner's Curse never once caused me to lose interest, it just pulled me deeper into the story, allowing me to get a better understanding of the world and the people and their motivations. I am never happy with a cliffhanger ending but I have to say, this one didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book as will so often happen. I actually liked the way it ended BUT I am simply dying to read the next!

      I would recommend The Winner's Curse to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy or historical fiction since it has elements of both but isn't entirely one or the other. I also very highly recommend this in audiobook format! I always say that when the right story has the right narrator, it is a special kind of magic, this is definitely one of those times.
    • 5/5
      THE WINNER'S CURSE is deserving of all the hype that has been surrounding its release. It is a well-written, engaging fantasy filled with well-rounded characters. The two main characters are Lady Kestrel, daughter of the conquering general, and Arin, a slave and one of the conquered.It hasn't been long since the Herrani were conquered - about ten years. The Valorians under the leadership of Kestral's father General Trajan have taken over the country and made the citizens slaves. This is perfectly natural and normal to Kestrel. It is the system that she has grown up with. She isn't personally cruel to slaves and, in fact, loves the Herrani nurse who raised her after the death of her mother. Valorian girls either join the Army or marry. Kestrel doesn't have out of the ordinary skills with weapons but she is an able strategist. She is also quite able to read people and knows how to manipulate them. Kestrel also has a strong musical gift and loves playing the piano despite the fact that such skill is not valued by her culture. She is a realistic blend of naive young woman and astute strategist. She wants her father's approval but doesn't want to follow the path he's laid out for her.When the story begins, Kestrel finds herself at a slave auction with her friend Jess and finds herself bidding on a young man. Arin is a smith but also is being advertised as a singer. Something about him appeals to Kestrel and she pays a good price for him. She sees something in his defiance at the auction that reminds her of her defiance of her father's wishes.The two gradually come to know each other when he serves as the escort that every young Valorian woman must have and when they play her favorite strategy game together. But Arin has secrets that could upset the whole of Kestrel's life. He is one of the leaders of the Herrani plot to retake their own lands, slaughter the Valorians, and regain their freedom. But that doesn't mean that Arin wants Kestrel to die. The two fall in love despite their vastly different social positions and despite the fact that they are on different sides in the upcoming war. And despite the fact that they both know they should not be in love.The story is divided into two parts. In the first, the Valorians are in control and Arin is Kestrel's slave. In the second, the Herrani retake their country and Kestrel becomes Arin's spoils of war. It gives Kestrel a new viewpoint about her empire's goals. This is a fantasy novel without magic. The cultures seem to me to be loosely based on the Romans (Valorians) and the Greeks (Herrani). I see this as happening late in the time of the Roman Empire when it had expanded too far to keep control of all its conquests and when the Roman ideals of honor and service had eroded as well into just lip service to the ideal. Kestrel becomes an object of gossip when people believe that she has taken Arin for a lover but only because she wasn't discreet. The Senator's and Senator's wives in her social circle are consumed with gossip, taking lovers, are scheming for power. This is the first book in a trilogy. I can't wait to find out what comes next for Arin and Kestrel.
    • 4/5
      Kestrel is the daugher of a general, and she must join the military or marry by her 20th birthday. Until then, she cannot wander the streets alone, and this is a limit she will not accept. She purchases a slave at the market on a whim, then learns that Arin has skill as a blacksmith. However, Aris is no mere slave, he is a former noble in the land that Kestrel's father helped conquer, and he hopes to liberate his people. What each of them didn't count on was falling in love with the other.
    • 4/5
      There were some things that just didn't quite work well for me in this but overall I enjoyed the read and found it interesting. In a world where Kestrel is a member of the ruling class who are ruling over a race who are enslaved, she has two choices in her life, the military or marriage, she chafes against these restrictions and wants a life of her own and choices of her own, when she gets caught up in a rebellion her life will never be the same again.It's interesting but somehow some of the worldbuilding felt a bit weak. I liked how the politics worked out and how the choices were a best of a bad lot. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
    • 4/5
      Listened for Review (Listening Library)Overall Rating: 3.75Story Rating: 3.50Character Rating: 4.00Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished:The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski was a very good beginning to a series that I think I am going to enjoy!Read It File It: I will admit that this was way outside my normal reading happy place. However, I am super glad that I gave it a whirl. The world was fascinating and the characters were engaging. I thought the last quarter was a little disappointing but then the last 30 min (few pages) hooked me back in. I will be waiting for the next book in the series.Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Justine Eyre / Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins I am a fan of Justine and I really think this is her niche. She is excellent at epic worlds and engaging characters. I think I enjoyed the book more because of her.Final Thoughts: I think YA fantasy fans will love this even with the historical setting.
    • 5/5
      Marie Rutkoski creates a beautiful and haunting world in The Winner's Curse. With nations divided by decades of war and conquest, the winner claims the survivors of the defeated region as servants.

      When 17 year old Kestrel, daughter of a high ranking general, goes to market to shop, the last place she intends to visit is the auction house. Her father takes care of choosing the servants for the house, and the slavery of others has never set well with Kestrel. However, she is gripped by the intense eyes and determined constitution of a young man brought up to the auction block. Something compels her forward and once their eyes meet she cannot turn away. Before she quite realizes what she has done, she purchases the young man, Arin, as a slave for her family house and risks the wrath of her father.

      From opposite sides of society, Arin and Kestrel form an unlikely friendship. Arin can still remember a decade ago when it was his people who held the power and not Kestrel's. His intelligence and wit intrigue Kestrel as her kindness and loyalty intrigues him. Kestrel confides in him her love of music in a time where music is shunned. Arin becomes Kestrels companion to keep her safe on trips, but his protective nature doesn't end there and their time together grows. Little does she know that it can be dangerous to get so lose to Arin.
      Arin, son of a noble family that was brutally overtaken, has dark secrets. His placement in Kestrel's home was not random and his plans may cost her everything. As gossip builds and unrest grows, Arin and Kestrel's lives will be put on the line as will everything they hold dear.

      A beautiful novel on the price of love, the ties that bind, and the distance we would go to protect the things that matter most. This is a story of trust and betrayal, of war and demise, and of loyalties and love. Rutkoski's characters have depth and realism that make them memorable long past the last pages of the novel. The reader is gripped by their struggles and their feelings transcend the page. The Winner's Curse leaves a lasting impression and a message that will resonate long after the story has ended; sometime's winning is the very worst thing that could happen ...

      Justine Eyre does a remarkable job narrating this novel. Her voice adds depth, emotion and life to the characters. Similar to how music can make a moment more gripping, her narration adds to the story, giving the characters voice and making them come alive.

      I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! It was both heartbreaking and beautiful full of loss but also of hope. It's not a "steamy" read, but a touching romance. My biggest complaint is that this is the first in a series and is very much written as part 1 of a series ... the novel leaves many questions unanswered and I will be sitting on the edge of my seat until the next one comes out. I tend to prefer stories where everything is wrapped up in the end and would have liked some more resolution, but for this one, the journey was well worth the suspense of waiting for book 2!
    • 5/5
      Wouldn't it be grand if everyone could make love and not war? The Winner's Curse was an excellent blend of romance and war. Not all out war but the brutalities that come from it, before, during and after. Told from the perspective of Kestrel and Arin, from opposing cultures of conqueror and enslaved, it's a tale of love that blooms against the tide of their own better judgement.

      You always want what you can't have!
      - Nothing entices a romance reader more than forbidden love. So when I tell you that is what we have here - you will either drink it down like a person thirsting in the desert or you'll run screaming if that just isn't your thing. Me personally, I loved the way this love story was done. Not only did Kestrel and Arin seem to fight against their budding attraction, it didn't even start out as attraction, but more of a like calls to like. Two people that understand each other which then ignites a friendship neither one of them can keep themselves from denying. Their characters are so well developed that the whole story painted such a vivid image for me as I read. I became so attached as if I really knew them and could feel their inner turmoil. The struggles with who they wanted to be against what was expected of them really got under my skin. If you've ever battled with your own expectations or what you think you should do versus what you really want to do - then you will sympathize with these characters.

      To the conqueror goes the spoils!
      - The Winner's Curse had some wonderful world building going for it. I'm a heavy fantasy reader and this definitely had a fantasy feel to it even though this world doesn't have any actual magic in it (or at least not in this particular book in the series). The best part to me was the culture of the two peoples featured. The Herrani are an enslaved people conquered by the Valorian. Ten years Valorians invaded and took over the peninsula from the native Herrani. The Herrani value music and arts while the Valorian think that these are things that only servants and the enslaved should do. So of course you know Kestrel is given nothing but grief because she loves to make music. They are a militant culture while at the same time they have a delicate seeming upper class that is also trained in warfare. This culture was such a contradiction, but an enjoying one to learn more about. The Valorians seemed to be a strange mix of softness constantly cared for be their slaves but with that keen knifes edge for military brutality. I personally would have loved to learn more about the Herrani but as an enslaved people we didn't get to see as much of their culture shine through. I get the feeling we will see more in the next book, which I'm very excited for.

      The Winner's Curse is the start of one epic romance that young adult readers will not want to miss!
    • 5/5
      First of all, Look. At. That. Cover. I'm such a sucker for pretty book covers, so starting off this book had that going for it. I was not exactly sure what to expect from this book, but it exceeded all my expectations. The setting was almost classical in nature. Although it was not Ancient Greece, the setting reminded me of that day and age. The conquered slave/owner dynamics in this book were stellar, and without giving away the plot, I loved the shift as the book went through the different stages and swings of the owner/slave relationship. The romantic tension between the two main characters was fabulous and several times I got that heartburn-in-my-chest ache. And the ending!!!! Again... not going to give it away... but ALL. THE. FEELS.

      I am so disappointed my request to read the sequel ARC on Netgalley was declined. Now I have to wait until March before I can read the second book! Sigh.

      Would I recommend this to fellow book-lovers? Absolutely!
      Would I recommend this to my teen daughter? Yes. A little violent at times, but nothing she couldn't handle.
    • 4/5
      I read this book for FORBIDDEN LOVE!!! Turns out it was not exactly the kind I had in mind, though. I expected a little more chemistry, perhaps? A little bit more "it's you and me against the world"? What The Winner's Curse ended up giving me is two lovers who actually spend more than half the time in the book locked in conflict with each other, and so their romance lacked some of that je ne sais quoi which makes forbidden love so scandalous and delicious.Meet the two star-crossed lovers in question: Kestral, the seventeen-year-old daughter of a Valorian general, who one day visits a slave auction and spontaneously decides to buy Arin, a native of the Harrani lands her people conquered. Their meeting, however, was no accident. Unbeknownst to Kestral, Arin is actually a high ranked member of a group of Harrani rebels, planted purposely at the auction to draw her in. As a slave in the Valorian general's home, Arin would be in a position to gather intelligence and plan his people's uprising.What neither of them counted on was that their master and slave relationship would eventually evolve into friendship, deepening into love. But that journey was far from passionate for me; instead, it felt tepid and sometimes even bordered on awkward. It's tricky creating chemistry when both your characters are torn between their loyalties to each other or their own people, and the story never managed to convince me that there was ever really any trust between Kestral and Arin. Seeing as The Winner's Curse is essentially a romance, that's a pretty vital ingredient to be missing for me. Okay, so their relationship was not as swoon-worthy as I would have liked, but no matter. The world, the characters and the story soon won me over, and I enjoyed this book a lot. While it is what I would classify as "standard" YA, it still contained plenty of surprises within its pages. I did love the setting, with the flavor of a historical fantasy. A martial civilization like the Valorians which also encourages women in their army fascinates me. If anything, I wish the scope of the story was bigger to encompass more of the events in the wider world. There's a lot of potential for world building here, untapped because with the narrow focus on Kestral and Arin, we only get to see a tiny slice of what's happening.Forbidden love just happens to be a trope I can't resist, but the comments I made above notwithstanding, if you are a fan romance I would still highly recommend The Winner's Curse. If you're looking for excitement or a thrilling adventure though, you probably won't find much of that here. A decent chunk of this book is dedicated to getting Kestral and Arin together, and it's a gradual process too, not really achieved through any wild or fierce means. There's perhaps a slight pick up in pace in the final handful of chapters, but then the story itself isn't about providing a lot of action; it's just not that kind of book. Rather, the careful development of the characters' relationship is undeniably its crowning glory, and even though the romance itself fell a bit flat for me, I'm sure for many others it will be the most engrossing aspect. Despite the shaky love story, I really liked this novel, and I'll no doubt pick up the next book when it comes out. I'm still holding out for an exception forbidden romance to emerge triumphant from this series, and I think it still has a chance, not to mention things end just as the story gets even more interesting,