Book Review / The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkowski

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.

Published:     4th March 2014
Publisher:  Bloomsbury
Author Website:  Click here
Goodreads :  Click here
Series:  Book 1, The Winner's Trilogy
Source:  Review Copy from Publisher
Review:   4 out of 5

My Review

What I loved about this story...
This is one of those books that I hadn't really heard a lot of or seen any reviews of until it landed on my doormat.  I really enjoyed the story and getting into the world.  What I loved the most about this story is the characters Kestrel and Arin.  You have Kestrel comes from a upper class family lifestyle and you follow her as she discovers more and more about the world she lives in.  Then there is Arin who is the slave that Kestel buys and brings home to work at her home.  There is certainly more to his character than meets the eye, some of which were very surprising. 


What I was not fond of with this story... 
I really enjoyed this story but I didn't have that 'wow' factor at the end hence that is why I have given this review a 4/5 rating.  That said, this is the first book in a trilogy so this is more of a 'introducing' story which will lead on to the next book.  It is always the second book in the series/trilogy that really tells me how I will get on with this story and I am really excited to find out what happens next.

About the Author

Marie Rutkoski is the author of the YA novel The Shadow Society and the children's fantasy series The Kronos Chronicles, including The Cabinet of Wonders, The Celestial Globe and The Jewel of the Kalderash. Her next project is a YA trilogy that begins with The Winner's Curse, which is scheduled to be published in March 2014.

Marie grew up in Bolingbrook, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), as the oldest of four children. She holds a BA from the University of Iowa and a PhD from Harvard University. Marie is currently a professor at Brooklyn College, where she teaches Renaissance Drama, children's literature and fiction writing. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.