The Winner's Curse

I didn't think it was going to be this good but WOW. The main character was so amazing and intelligent and smart and I love her JUST as much as I love Arin. The romance was slow burn but it only elevated the plot!
EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING.

I was seriously wondering what the purpose of this book was. The first third was good, the next third was more on the boring side and the final third was a mix in which the ending was perfection. It wasn't a bad book, I just didn't understand the direction it was going in.

3 stars

i can't stress enough about how beautiful this book was.

Only took me 16 days to read this.. but it's one of the most fast paced books I've ever read. The start of it was slow, it took me 15 days to read the first 50 pages but the rest of it? SO FAST and I reckon people could read this whole trilogy in one day.

Loved the characters and story although it was confusing at times. in LOVE with the writing.

actually excited to read the next book for once!

3.5 stars

Este livro foi uma surpresa! Não estava nada há espera de gostar tanto. Muito bem construído e equilibrado. Vamos ao próximo, tipo.. já!

So I did not like this one as much as I had hoped to... BUT I will read the next book because I heard that it is better than this one plus I bought it already and I'm not gonna waste money

Gente.
Binoooo~ QUE LIVRO É ESSE?
Pera. Começar de novo.


Fazia muito, muito tempo que um livro YA giga hippe não acometia esse efeito em mim.
Sabe quando você termina o livro é precisa de um momento para entender onde está o que acontece e o que está ACONTECENDO??? screaming
Foi essa minha reação ao acabar o livro.
O sistema do universo é uma coisa de louco! Misturar um mundo Jane Austen com mulheres que são treinadas para serem soldados, foi sucesso. Dá um nó na cabeça.

Confesso que Kestrel, por mais “real” que ela seja - a filha de um coronel, que todos esperam muito dela pelo pai que tem, como pessoa, como guerreira, como tudo, I KNOW THAT FEELING; mas ter inclinações completamente diferentes, mas que mesmo assim sabe se virar sozinha - não morri de amores por ela. Principalmente com algumas atitudes que ela tinha com Arin. E a prefiro na ‘primeira fase' do livro do que após o baile de Primeiro Inverno. Mas a cabeça afiada dela é fascinante.
Arin... Era uma boa promessa desde o leilão, não é mesmo? E ele até canta.
Já algumas das outras personagens foram um pouco apagadas. Como um background simples para ocupar os itens de amigos e conhecidos e população em geral.

Gostava muito, muito da angústia, das preliminares dos dois. Binoooo, era real.

E então veio a revolução e nunca imaginei ficar tão dividida por algo tão simples. Não sabia se eu torcia ou não para aqueles que reivindicaram pelo que era deles ou para manter a ordem já estabelecida. E começamos a pensar nas loucuras que uma guerra é (e estupidez. Mas necessária ou não?)

E não sei o que eu pensaria ou faria na situação de Kestrel. Apenas um estrategista não cairia em loucura.

E quando pensamos que ela agiu certo, que o conto deu o caminho correto a seguir... Lembramos que se está fácil, é porque está errado e que desgraça pouca é besteira.
QUE. FINAL. FOI. ESSE?

Parei.

Cadê o fandom para me ajudar a passar por esse momento? Hahahahaha
Vamos ler o resto. Já.

Let's do this one in English, shall we?

So, you already saw the rating, I Mcfrigging™ loved it.
Spoiler alert, this review might be a little biased. (And will probably contain, duh, spoilers).
Ready? Go!
We find ourselves in a fictional land where there's an empire on the grow: Valoria. The story follows young Kestrel, the daughter of the most renounced general, who has given the valorian territory several conquers, within them: Herran, a fertile peninsula, former home to the Herrani people, who are now slaves. One day, Kestrel accidentally finds herself witnessing an auction, impulsively, she buys a herrani slave that captures her attention, things escalate big time from there.

When I first came across this book I had the impression that this was a dystopia or set in outer space, I was certainly expecting a voice like that of The Red Queen, very... YA heroine™.

First off, characters.
You haven't the faintest idea of how much I enjoyed the characters.

Kestrel is everything I wanted of a YA heroin and more, she is not your average protagonist, she is a skilled liar, a deep observant, a brilliant strategist and also a gifted musician... yet she is far from perfect: she is too trusting, exactly because she believes her judgements to be without fail, she thinks she is foolproof.

She is a cold and calculating strategist. But she can also be kind. She is stubborn, she is selfish and proud, and caring and selfless too. She feels balanced and human.

She is pretty but, and here goes something I really like about the way this book is written, we never have a description of her looks. Yes, there are hints of she looks like but that's it. We know she's blond, fair and has brown-ish eyes... because every valorian has those traits. We know she is agreeable, not unattractive by the emperor's words.

And last, for now, I like the fact that she is average to bad with weapons. The thing is... she isn't a helpless damsel in distress, she's been trained, but her weapon of choice (though sometimes isn't a choice because she does suck with weapons) is her intellect. There's a common trope these days that our female characters must be deadly fighters for them to be badass. Well, not you, Kestrel, not you.

Now onto Arin. Oh, you little shit.

Arin is also very intelligent, he beat Kestrel in several Bite and Sting games (a board game based on deception, strategy and reading your opponent) and also in life, like, she shared information with him that helped murder a ton of people, but then, he was trying to free his people.
He's a little brooding, tall, dark and handsome but he deserves it, with having your family killed and being enslaved and all. He is, indeed, quite the looker, however, he's not the typical cold bastard with the huge ego that knows what he's got going and knows also how to use it at his advantage (don't get me wrong I do love my fair share of sexy bastards), quite the opposite actually; he, as with Kestrel, is not described outside of his ethnicity. Kestrel really doesn't pay attention to his appearance until the very end, she concentrates on the color of his eyes, the sound of his voice, and the things he says (and doesn't say).
Although, this doesn't mean that he is a modest nun, he is prideful and it is this very thing that catches Kestrels attention at the auction, his refusal to bow down, his defiance.
Arin wouldn't know how to be cold even if an ice cube hit him on the face. He is cold blooded, surely, he isn't squeamish when it comes to kill but he is ruled by his emotions, his feelings draw the best and worst of him. He is intelligent and has a mind for strategy, but ultimately he would choose his heart over what is wise.
He, too, is a breath of fresh air.

The story & writing

The plot is very simple. What makes you stay is not the fast pacing but the way the author decided to take on the story.
The way she deals with this kind-of-a-taboo-thing that is Kestrel and Arin's romantic plot, this master/slave thing, is masterful. The feelings the characters have in the first place are the correct ones: curious indifference (Kestrel does find him intriguing but she doesn't really care) and hatred/contempt on the other side, but then they strike this deal that sets them both in a position of equals which allows for the relationship strive forward in a way that lets them build a kind of kingship between them, then respect, friendship and something else by putting aside the elephant in the room that is Kestrel's position of power.
Not much is described about the internal struggle that Arin has throughout the narration but we do see Kestrel's gradual change, trust, grow at finding someone that sees things in a light not unlike her own.

I think that one thing that I like the most about this is the slow burn of feels, and that it is not built on looks alone but upon thoughts and the understanding of the other.

There are some other things I think I could mention but you got the point of my gushing.

Ps. There was just one thing I did not like and was this... thing about (spoiler?) Arin being a singer. Did she have to make him a music prodigy too?

Well, that was unexpected. I didn't think I'd enjoy this book anywhere near as much as I did and, in fact, it only missed the 5 star rating by a hair. Mostly because, no matter how much I liked the book, there was still just a little something missing from it. (Either fight scenes because they were few and far between, or humor, because there was little of that.)

Regardless, I love Kestrel and Arin is a really great character too. I'm very excited to continue this this series.

It picked up a bit toward the end, but the first 80% was soooooo boring. Still unsure if I want to continue the series.

I had low expectations for this book when I picked it up. I just wanted to start something short-ish and easy to read, but I was quickly impressed. I fell in love with the characters and with the plot. It seemed that so much happens in such a short amount of pages, but it didn't seem rushed or lacking in description. Also, the plot was very complex and intricate, which authors don't seem to be able accomplish well as of late, but it worked well within this story and hid a few surprises. Overall, I loved the read and can't wait to finish the trilogy!

3.5 Stars

Okay, where do I begin. I hated the main characters friends because they only pushed her their own way and for their own convinience. I don't think Kestrel is all that intelligent and strong minded since she made quite a few stupid decisions through the story (also very thoughfull decisions but we are talking about the things that annoyed me first). Also the romance: Kestrel was loving one paragraph and hating her love interest the next one. That's not how I picture a hate-to-love relationship because there was no real progress to the loving part only a constant change in heart which annoyed me quite a lot. Because of that I found Kestrel quite indecisive and egoistic at times.
Plotwise the book was neatly done. I liked the overall story, setting the romance aside.

I hope that my problems with this first book will go away or lessen in the next books.

Such a great book. There is romance and fighting, scheming and parties– I couldn't get enough.

One thing I did enjoy was that Kestrel is a strong female lead, even though she is not a good fighter. Being a kickass fighter is not the only thing to make someone strong and Kestrel's talent, is strategy. Which is awesome. It means she intelligent. Although, there are times she is naive of certain things about Arin...

I loved the characterization of everyone but, some sequences of events seems abrupt or just thrown out there. Namely Cheat liking her out of the blue so he was killed, then the Emperor's decision to make her his son's wife... seemed a little weak but, I get it.

Seriously loved this book but, I thought there was a little something missing which keeps it from the 5. I thought the story flow was a bit off. slow, good, then a sprint. I also wanted more information all the time but, that's just me trying to get pulled in more. And something else can't I can't name.. only a feel.

Highly recommend it.
I plan on reading the rest of the series ASAP!!

It took me a long time to finish and it dragged on a bit, but once you finish, you realize how truly amazing it is. The relationship between Arin and Kestrel is perfect, indescribable, yet somehow, the author makes it even better than you expected. It blows my mind when I go back and think about all the different things that happen, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

“I see things quite clearly.”

Alright, so I finished it about 10 minutes and I've been texting my dear friend, Alex, since then. Needless to say, I am shocked, enraged, and enthralled by this beauty of a book. It was a nail-biter (quite literally), and I could barely stop reading. Except for when other things came up.

The plot was unique and very interesting. It was fascinating to read from the point of a slave-owner, rather than the slave them self. Though, there are some parts in the book from Arin's POV, but they only add to the suspense.

I loved the characters. All of them. Even Cheat, that butthole. Arin holds a special place in my heart, and I'd love to learn more about his past. Kestrel was also a different, but brilliant, heroine. She wasn't the best fighter, and didn't want either of the choices that her father had given her for her future. But you know what? She didn't give a crap and went her own way. THAT'S what I love to see.

The plot twisted and turned and different things popped up along the way that altered the story in different ways. Even the relationships in the novel affected the plot line.

Perhaps one of the things that I liked most about this novel was the use of setting. Much of the action and plot was derived from the Herran peninsula, and the way the city had been built. It was so great, since some/many authors simply describe the setting but don't pull anything from it (not all authors, just some).

I loved this novel a lot and I'm going to recommend to some of my closest friends so that we can love it together. :)

“You don't, Kestrel, even though the god of lies loves you.”

An excellent story I plowed through on my day off. I can't wait to read the next book.

This book started out rather slow. The first half is filled with the heroine, Kestrel, thinking about which decision she should take in life, and the slave, Arin, plotting for something that eventually blows up in the second half of the book. It's pretty clear from the start that there will be betrayals, though there are a lot more twists than I initially expected. The world-building is solid. The succinct writing style and short chapters made the book really easy to read, and I flew through most of the book in one day.

What I like the most, however, is how “human” the characters are. They commit mistakes, they fall in love, they make stupid decisions, and they don't easily abandon the people precious to them based on emotions alone. There's no easy way out considering Kestrel and Arin's positions, but they didn't fling everything out the window just to be with each other. Their relationship is complex. Despite the mutual attraction, their definition of right or wrong are clearly different, and that's exactly what makes it interesting.

It also feels refreshing to see a heroine who's actually good at strategics and keeps herself under control most of the time. Kestrel does act rebellious from time to time (which is understandable due to her background and the situation she's in), but she spends a lot of time thinking things through before taking action. I also like her friendship with Jess because of how genuine it is. Even after everything goes to hell, Jess is still one Kestrel's top priorities and stays in her mind up until the very end.

I can't help but feel sorry for Ronan, though. I hope he appears again in the second book, as I feel that the man deserves to be happy after being so supportive of Kestrel. (:3」∠)

I picked this up because I'd heard a lot of great things about it. Ultimately, it's kind of the flavor of fantasy that generally doesn't appeal to me (rich people in made-up places, no magic) but I certainly understand the praise. It's beautifully written and an interesting society. At the core it's about the ~romance~ between Lady Kestrel, a general's daughter, and her slave, which is... I mean, it's supposed to be uncomfortable for the reader, and it is. A good readalike probably for [b:The Runaway King 15703770 The Runaway King (The Ascendance Trilogy, #2) Jennifer A. Nielsen https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351133357s/15703770.jpg 21365340] and other fantasy rich people books. Oh and like, [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone 8490112 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) Laini Taylor https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg 13355552] for the fantasy ~star-crossed lovers~ angle.

This book is amazing and definitely ranks in the top tier of what I've read this year. Kestrel and Arin's story is enticing and pulls you right in. There are so many nuances and intricacies to the world that Rutkoski has built. The history of the Valorians and the Herrans is fantastic and captivating. Rutkoski blends politics, revolution, and history together with the story of Arin and Kestrel to create this novel.

The characters alone in this novel are so intricate and have so many layers they shape who they are. Kestrel and Arin both have countless reasons for their actions and have many difficult choices to make as the novel progresses. Other than Kestrel and Arin, the side characters are just as intriguing. The romance is a large part of this novel, but it didn't take central stage which I appreciated. It was more of a friendship that blossomed into something more.

I felt like the beginning of this book was a little weak as Rutkoski built the world and set the stage for the Revolution. But once the revolution happened, the pace picked up and the twists and turns began. There were so many times throughout this book where Arin or Kestrel's choices were unexpected. I was convinced they were going to do one thing and then they would do something else entirely.

Overall, this was an amazing read and I cannot wait to read more about Kestrel and Arin and the aftermath of the revolution. This book pulled me right in and I couldn't stop reading it. I'm not really sure how this book should be classified, it definitely has elements of historical fiction, but there is a fantasy feel as well. Regardless, I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a book with true intrigue, drama, and action.

Publicado originalmente: El Extraño Gato del CuentoSi saben un poquito de historia centro y sudamericana, nosotros fuimos “civilizados” por extranjeros. ¿Por qué mencionó esto? Porque mientras leía se me hizo difícil entregarle mi fidelidad completa a solo un personaje en la historia. Si hubiera sido una historia simple, sin duda mi lealtad y adoración hubiera ido con Kestrel, estratega, amante de la música, la manera en cómo se maneja alrededor de todos, es un personaje que al menos yo no me encontré antes, quizá un poco Scarlet, aunque son personajes muy diferentes, me gustan muchos los detalles que la escritora incluye en ella, como lo de las manos. Y luego tenemos a Arin, wow. No solo porque sea el chico de la historia, es un personaje tan rico, tan completo, no puedo describirles exactamente cómo es que este personaje es tan especial, más allá de la parte romántica. Y hablando del romance, es algo completamente de segundo plano, lo que lo hace mil veces mejor porque sufres con la tensión de si realmente habrá algo o no con estos dos.Esa vuelta del final no la entendí muy bien, nada másHe is so: "“My soul is yours," "The god of lies loves you"Me: Twitter   Blog   Pinterest   Tumblr   Instagram