The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy)

Interesting characters, but very slow going at the beginning. Arin and Kestrel are written excellently - it was like they were standing in front of me -
I'm interested in seeing the next book now.

Couldn't put this book down! Fantastic world building and characterizations. I like it when a writer can make me feel one way about a character and then completely turn my opinion in the opposite direction. Highly recommend.

Came across this novel browsing Goodreads. So glad I found it! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt the characters were well-rounded and realistic, and I enjoyed getting to know them. Currently reading the second book which is amazing so far. Can't wait to continue with the series!

Solid complex characters with believable motivations and internal conflicts. Good plot. Good loss/cost to the characters. The original cover art was stunning and was one of the reasons I chose to read the book. Current cover is totally meh

This was more than I expected given the frothy cover but I guess that's why we have the old saying about books and their covers.

Both hero and heroine have flaws and goals and think about important things aside from one another. There is a love story but it's subletly and thoughtfully crafted.

I will be checking out book 2 and recommend this one to any fans of well written characters.

THE WINNER’S CURSE mixes fantasy and romance into one epic story that’s sure to transcend time. Over at IceyBooks, we’re proud to say the hype is right – THE WINNER’S CURSE is a beautiful, heartbreaking must read. I’m still drowning in the sorrowful ending.

Incredibly insightful take on trying to negotiate life from a perspective at the top of society, and then from the bottom when events change everything. A complex and emotionally interwoven story that shines a light on many of the problems of today's world, the ways we try to negotiate solutions and the cost to everyone involved.

I absolutely LOVE this book! It sits nicely displayed on one of my "favorites shelves" which also holds some of my other favorite historical fantasies like Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy, and Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series. Like both of those series, I could not get enough of this book. I loved everything about it. From Marie's writing, to the historical fantasy elements, the incredible world building, the characters, the romance, and more. There wasn't anything I didn't love about this book.

Marie's writing is simply stunning. There is no detail little or big that goes unnoticed in this book. Every thing included in The Winner's Curse has a purpose. I love it when an author uses every element, and every little detail to tell their story. These details go into the characters, and the settings. I've rarely read a story that has such well defined characters who felt like they were real. Marie's characters are not two dimensional characters who are simply in the story. Her characters are the story. Their personalities, their beliefs, their backgrounds, and the way they were/are raised not only define each character, but these important elements make them feel that much more real. They're believable.

Normally in my reviews I focus on a couple of the characters that I loved reading about, but with this book aside from the main two, I'm going to focus more on they way Marie crafted her characters. I love what she did. Marie gave me characters I understood, both right and wrong. She emotionally connected me with them. Normally when I would have decided I didn't like a character, she made me understand them, and understand the choices they made, and understand the beliefs they stood by. The character relationships are awesome! They are complex, and complicated, because of the differences of cultures and view points. Krestel and Arin couldn't be more different, and more similar. One is the daughter of a successful General who continues to grow his empire with each conquest. Taking captive those who's land he wages war against, and then there's Arin. A slave she wins the bid on. While both characters are bound by the circumstances that surround them, they both want to fight for something more, something that's impossible for either to have, freedom.

Ringing true to the book's title, I loved how Marie tackled the winner's curse. There is so much at stake for those on the opposing sides to all that happens in this book. Everyone has something to lose. Even those who win, don't win without losing something. I loved that instead of telling who was good and bad, Marie showed me both sides of all that was happening. It made me realize just complex things, because no one is right or wrong, and yet at the same time everyone every one was both of those things. Everyone has a little of both in them and their decisions. They're all right in some accepts and yet they're wrong in the same ones. I loved that Marie's writing was smooth, and intelligent. Everything was strategically written. Whether it be love, war, or personal freedom, the price of winning always comes at a cost, and no one knows that better than Krestel and Arin.

Kestrel and Arin have an awesome chemistry! Their romance is dangerous, and their relationship complicated. Yet what they feel for each other comes naturally and freely. Like the rest of the the story, there are two sides to everything, and their relationship is no different. The passion and love they have for each other seems like it could defy all the reasons why their relationship is wrong. These two literally have to fight for each other. It's part of what makes me cheer them one, and also what makes their relationship incredibly heartbreaking. The reality is, what Krestel and Arin have is forbidden and impossible. Like all beautiful love stories, this one is one I hope beats the odds. These two are fighters, and not ones who give up easily when they want something.

While I got a lot of answers in this book, there are still many things I am eager to find out more about. I can not wait to get my hands on the sequel. I have a feeling that, that book is going to be action packed, and full of even more betrayals, twists, and fueled by romance. This Marie's best book yet! I highly recommend picking this book up!

3.5 Stars

PROS:

I adored Kestrel for the first half of the book and at the end. The middle was iffy for me. Kestrel is a fierce, independent woman. She doesn’t know what she wants, but she refuses to be what the world expects of her. She partakes in little acts of rebellion daily. She has doubts, opinions, and challenges how the world is portrayed. She’s a strategist. She studies history, battles, military tactics, and has weapons training. She uses her mind to plan tactical advantages and work through problems. The best thing about Kestrel is that she refuses to give up her passion. Music moves her, makes her feel free, and freedom is EVERYTHING to her.

Arin is brooding, passionate, and determined. He plans, plots, and reads people like an expert. He gets to the heart of matters, wades through lies, and never ever forgets the past. He has a powerful sense for injustice and his hopeful view of rebellion is endearing, if unrealistic and dreamy. Arin challenges Kestrel, he calls her out on her viewpoints, and makes her rethink, reassess, and examine many sides of the issues, altogether changing her fundamentally.

The alternating POVs show both sides of war. The winners and the losers, years later. It chronicles the resentment, the pain, the hatred, and the envy. What one sees as victory, the other sees as robbery. There’s so much going on that makes you question the need for war, the costs, and what they were fighting over to begin with. There are a few scenes that hit especially hard. How easy it is for someone to go from royalty to slave, scholar to servant.

Cover love <3

Kestrel’s father was my favorite character. Their father-daughter relationship is so special. He gets her. Even though he’s a terrifying military aficionado, he loves Kestrel so much and it flows off the pages. He wants what’s best for her. In their world, women have two options and he sees his daughter as a warrior. He appreciates her mind. He’s gruff, and straightforward, but sometimes, it’s funny.

CONS:

My biggest issue with The Winner’s Curse was the lack of chemistry. You know that Kestrel likes Arin. It’s there, yes, but it’s subtle, so subtle that you doubt it. Though they spend time together and their banter is volatile, that attraction, at least for me, didn’t pull through. It’s this hazy, almost intangible “thing” lurking in the shadows that you can’t help but question simply because the story called for a romance. You know Kestrel is curious, as is Arin, they wonder about each other all the time, but the romance, the physical attraction…at some parts felt like an afterthought to round out the story.

Kestrel loses herself because of the romance. She becomes consumed with where Arin is, even more so than finding a way to escape. That bit of a warrior, that independence, and fire reduces to embers, flickering, simmering, but muted.

Secondary characters, namely Kestrel’s friends made hardly any impression. When things go down hill and serious threats to their lives come into play, I found it hard to care. Kestrel’s sadness and concern was a little alien for me. There wasn’t enough build up to establish true feelings and attachment to those characters. Plus the duel scene, the randomness. I found myself wondering why some scenes were included. It almost felt like two very different books merged into one. Things needed to be taken a step further, whether it be towards the romance or the rebellion, focus wavered.

Loved the plot elements, characters, and details. I wished the pacing had been a bit faster, but overall this was nothing that made me NOT want to read this lovely tale. I'll definitely be reading this again. Kestrel and Smith have their hooks in me.

Great Read - Perfect blend of intellectual & emotional complexity from two admirable characters. Grounded in historical precedence but fully relatable to a modern reader, this novel acknowledges and embraces the tension between intellect and instinct, duty and passion, society and the individual. The strong female lead is an appropriate heroine for young woman choosing her path in life.

What I liked:
The romance was gradual. Yes, there might have been an initial attraction, which happens, but it wasn't "oh my god we just met and I love you" that I'm so sick of seeing in so many books.
I liked Kestrel mostly. She was smart, but not perfect. I questioned some of her choices, but she was more believable because she was flawed.
I liked that even though she and her father did not see eye to eye, there was still mutual respect and love between them. A lot of parent/child relationships in books show them as all bad or all good, when they are just as complicated as any other relationship.

There was parts of the book that I wanted more info, and some characters I wanted fleshed out more, but all in all I liked the book a lot, and will definitely read the next.

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.
My Thoughts:
The characters weren’t that interesting for me. I found myself not remembering certain secondary characters that Kestrel had relationships with. It was also hard to relate to Kestrel. She’s smart and strategic, but is conflicted and not that confident. Maybe that changes and she grows in the other books.
The worldbuilding was okay. I found some aspects to be lackluster. I personally love when the author goes all out on seeing the stage and I found this stage glossed over.
The themes of forbidden love and slavery weren’t my cup of tea. I found myself getting frustrated with the two characters because they’re relationship was too cushiony to have a forbidden feel to it.
I might continue to read the rest of the series down the line; however my TBR pile is currently overflowing and I find myself not super compelled to jump to the next book right away.

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I just couldn't get into this book... Kestral and Arin's relationship seemed shallow, and there was a MAJOR ick factor with how one of them was always the captor/owner of the other one, like a case of Stockholm syndrome. I also thought things moved really fast. I had a hard time following the timeline, and didn't buy that a city could fall under siege so quickly.

All that said, I really appreciated reading about a strong female protagonist who wasn't naturally gifted physically, but was instead a brilliant strategist. It was neat to see how Kestral read her enemies and puzzled through different situations.

I'm obsessed with this series. Anyone who loves Graceling and An Ember in the Ashes will love this one too. The language is beautiful, almost musical, and the story smart, tragic, and deeply affecting. Thank you to MR for sharing her talent, and I hope to read more from her in the future.

I absolutely loved this book. I think Kestrel is a different kind of strong female character than we are used to reading about. She is smart and witty and cunning and she doesn't rely on the strength of her muscles. There is a lot of love and sacrifice in this novel and I can't wait to read the next one!!

The characters are wonderfully crafted. I love how the story is not in generic, if you read enough books you start to realize that a lot of stories are too much alike. This one will keep you up at night wondering where it will go next. I loved it!

The characters are wonderfully crafted. I love how the story is not in generic, if you read enough books you start to realize that a lot of stories are too much alike. This one will keep you up at night wondering where it will go next. I loved it!