Title: The Winner’s Curse

Author: Marie Rutkoski

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publisher: Square Fish  

Format: Paperback

Pages: 384

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis (Goodreads):

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:

This is a fantastic book! I love the world building that the author created! The story starts out with a young seventeen year old girl, Kestrel, at the market with her friend, Jess. They are shopping, and immediately the author is able to deceive the relationship between the conquered people, the Herrani, and the conquerors, the Valorians. The girls end up at a slave auction, where Kestral ends up by a slave. What continues is love, hate, rebellion, and learning to find yourself.

The setting reminded me a lot of Ancient Rome and when they would conquer places. The Romans had slaves and villas, just like in the book, and then I read an excerpt from the author afterwards that said she gained inspiration from Ancient Rome! Woohoo so that was exciting!

Kestrel was an interesting character! Her father is the general for the empire, and she is expected to become a soldier. I thought it was cool that women were soldiers as well in this empire. But Kestrel loves music and her freedom, and isn’t a great fighter. But she is a great strategist, and hopes to impress her father that way! I thought the characters were well developed in this book, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in this series!

Happy Reading Bookworms!