Hey y'all. It's summer which means plenty of time for book reviews
(hoorahh!).
So without further ado,
here's The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski.
GAHH!
What a gorgeous cover *_*
Summary:
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.
HMMM pretty intriguing right?
Here's my review (2/5 stars):
To be honest, this book
had a lot of potential. The world Marie Rutkoski has crafted is quite
interesting and the writing is beautifully written. And yet, this book couldn't
hold my attention (I stopped 2/3 into the book and skipped through the rest).
The story is set in a world where the Valorians have conquered and enslaved the Harrani people for several years. Kastrel, the Valori general's daughter, is smart, witty, stubborn, and strong. She's also a rebel at heart and refuses to adhere to society's constraint. Contrary to her father's expectation, Kastrel doesn't want to join the army. She's more of a strategist and music lover.
One day, Kastrel takes interest in Arin, slave up for auction, and buys him. Arin hates the Valorians for taking over his people's land and we later learn that (view spoiler). Over time, Kastrel and Arin slowly develop a relationship that obviously crosses the 'friend' boundary. However, both are in denial of their feelings for one another.
And then there's Ronan, a sweet and caring nobleman who loves Kastrel and wants to marry her. Kastrel, however, brushes him aside like a fly on a wall because of her strong feelings for Arin. There's also Jessie, Kastrel's loyal best friend who loves dressing Kastrel up for glamerous balls and social gatherings.
Overall, I liked the idea of The Winner's Curse, but the plot felt so draggy. There was a lot of talking/description but not a whole lot of action. I found myself constantly skimming through the small details. I think one of the reason I wasn't really drawn into the story was the alternating chapters from Kastrel to Arin. There was no element of surprise because the readers already know Arin's secret even though Kastrel was totally oblivious. Although I didn't mind the romance and love triangle that much, there was too much emphasis on the romance aspect of the story. I expected fight scenes and heart-stopping plot twists, but instead I got a forbidden love relationship and a whole lot of fancy parties with sparkling tiaras and ballgowns.
****I definitely do not discourage anyone from reading The Winner's Curse. It might not have been my cup of tea, but I know many people will think differently.
