The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy)

The Winner's Kiss closes Rutkoski's trilogy of love and loss, justice and mercy, loyalty and lies. Kestrel, betrayed by her own father, is banished to drugged hard labor in the sulphur mines of the Valorian north. Arin forges an alliance with the Dacran queen and a friendship with her brother Roshar while unaware that Kestrel's betrothal to the Valorian prince was the price for Arin's life. When Arin and Roshar unite their armies to fight for Herrani freedom the truth will be revealed, but can anyone free Kestrel from the physical and mental prison that enslaves her? The Winner's Kiss is an action-packed fitting end to this exciting series that is reminescent of the Roman Empire's conquest of ancient Greece and Rome's eventual downfall to the Byzantine Empire.

What a stunning finale! This book gave us back the connection between Arin and Kestrel, which was the element I’d been missing in book two, but things are very different between these two due to something that I won’t mention without a spoiler tag (though you learn it relatively early on in the book). View Spoiler » Kestrel’s struggles in this book are heartbreaking, and the war itself is kicked up about a thousand notches in this book. I adored watching Arin and Kestrel find their way back to each other and I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen to Arin’s people when everything was said and done. Oh, and it’s also worth mentioning that I loved the comic relief that Roshar lent to the book!

There were only two slight issues that kept me from rating this book 5 stars: First, I felt like that spoiler I mentioned above went on for just a little too long, and it started to feel a bit like a plot device to me. And second (and this is totally just a personal preference), the actual plotting and fighting of battles is typically my least favorite part of this type of book, and this installment had lots of that—though it’s saying something that Rutkoski managed to keep my attention 90% of the time!

In the end, I was very satisfied with this conclusion, and I gave the final book 4/5 Stars.

Overall, I’d say the trilogy gets 4.5/5 stars from me because it gave everything I could ask for in this type of non-magical fantasy. So glad I caught up with the rest of the world on this one!

Some truths about this book and its author:

-Marie Rutkoski is The Wicked Witch of the West;

-Arin is the spiritual child of the God of Death;

-Kestrel’s mind is her best weapon and her worst enemy;

-Roshar is a cocky jackass but a true friend;

-You’ll be ready to graduate Westpoint Academy summa cum laude by the end of the story;

-Do not intend to do anything constructive or productive while reading this story.

Let me explain now:

-Marie Rutkoski is a wicked woman for what she did to Kestrel. I never imagined what she would live through and YOU DON’T MAKE YOUR CHARACTER SUFFER IN SUCH A WAY! I’m sure it must be written in the author’s code of honor handbook. But it’s very, very clever as it made me hurt so much for Kestrel I had to take breaks before going on with the story. Way to hold your reader’s attention as they hope some miracle will happen and save the main female character;

-It’s not “raining men” in this book it’s raining death thanks to Arin. In a battle, he is worth a whole army and his people worship him like a God as he becomes death. He fights and does not feel anything in the heat of the battle but once it’s done, he can’t stop thinking about the woman he killed or the young soldier, or…;

- It’s already been established in the former books that Kestrel is not good with weapon. Sshe does not need to as her intelligence is her best weapon. But a big surprise is waiting the reader and her mind will turn against her, leaving her questioning and distrusting everyone. She’ll be a ghost trying to find her way. We’re used to a strong Kestrel but in this book, she’ll be frail and fragile and will have to transcend her condition to become what she was always meant to be: a formidable woman.

-By the end of the story, if you were able to anticipate every move, every plot, every twist and turns, I can promise you Westpoint will be a piece of cake, a stroll in the park, easy peasy, etc. Marie Rutkoski always builds intricate strategies and schemes. The Valorian army was Goliath and the Herrani army was David. I could not fathom how they could win against the emperor but Kestrel had more tricks in her hat.

This last installment was so enthralling I was engrossed in the story and any attempt at making something useful or productive was doomed from the beginning. Best hang a “do not disturb” on your door, find a quiet spot to read and enjoy this fantastic conclusion to this incredibly well written epic series.

This series is everything....

The Winner's Kiss is the final book in the trilogy and it met every expectation I had about it and more. I can't say anything bad about this book or the series. Marie's writing is incredible, the wonderful way she can weave a story and how the images come to life. The way Marie has created her characters there is now way around it I had strong feelings about most of the characters. Some of the characters I liked and I feel in love with them, other characters I loved to hate and then there are the characters that cause conflicting feelings. Of course I love Kestrel with her strong, cunning mind and Arin with his loyalty and determination, however Roshar is one of my favorite characters. Roshar doesn't really let anyone see him but he is loud, funny and a good friend.

I love how this series pulled me in and didn't want to let me go. I was disappointed when I had to pause the story and so excited every time I was about to begin it. There were parts that was character driven and others parts that had so much action I was siting at the end of my seat. The ending was killing me, the back and forth between Kestrel's scenes and Arin's scenes was building so much pressure. I won't give away the ending but will say that I am very pleased with this book, there is absolutely nothing bad I can say about this book or the series.

The Winner's Kiss had excellent writing, amazing characters, strategy, deep personal connections, covert missions, action, love, political intrigue, friendship and more. I look forward to more from Marie Rutkoski.

I always seem to have the hardest time writing reviews for the last book in a series. Its like I’m having difficulty finding the right way to say goodbye to something I really invested myself in. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that the Winner’s Kiss was the perfect ending to the series. It had heartbreak, sorrow, action, war, witty banter, and so much more.

Lets Take It Slow.

One thing I’ve always liked about this series is the way the world building develops. This is like fantasy without the magic. Well, there is a part where Arin talks to his God, but thats something different here. I think because the world building has been set up in the previous two books, Rutkoski was really able to explore the characters a lot. I think both Arin and Kestrel went through significant character developments in this book, and it was nice to see that. To see them grow apart and together. The pacing in this book does feel a lot slower than the previous two books, but there was a lot to go through and process.

Emotions. Lots of them. Destiny’s Child style.

I went through a lot of emotions with The Winner’s Kiss. It started off so heartbreaking. I had no clue if anyone was going to come back from that much sorrow. After slowly putting the pieces back together (mostly of my heart), you begin to see the light, and then the action kicks in. Honestly, this book had me on the edge the entire time. I had no idea how things were going to turn out or who would make it out alive.

10/10 would recommend.

Honestly, I don’t have a single complaint about this book. The romance was great, there was plenty of action, and so much more. Really this review is just me gushing about this series. I highly recommend this one to everyone!

review found at: [...]

Oh my heart! If there is one thing that Marie Rutkoski is brilliant at, is that she knows how to write emotion. I cried by chapter 11. No joke, I literally cried. I can’t think of a book that has affected me the way these three books have. I’ve never been so involved, so moved, so tense it was amazing. I can’t wait for more books my this author!

If you haven’t had a chance to read this trilogy there isn’t much I can say without spoiling it for you. Just know that I was very pleased with how the author ended this trilogy. It was whoa interesting to watch the character development between Kestrel and Arin. I got frustrated at times with Kestrel but there was no reason for me to be frustrated given the circumstances. I loved how Kestrel from the beginning of this trilogy was strong she just didn’t know how strong she was as a person. Arin was all anger and hatred in the beginning but by the end he was different. His fight for his people became slightly different, less angry. I just loved it.

The romance is one of the best things about this trilogy. It’s soooo swoon worthy and heart wrenching at the same time.

I really enjoyed getting to know some new characters, I just fell in love with Roshar and his personality and his interactions with Kestrel and Arin. He was just, the best.

Overall I was beyond pleased with how Rutkoski ended it and I thinks she is a brilliant writer.

Sexual Content: mild/moderate (knowledge that 2 characters have sex)
Language: mild
Violence: moderate (fighting scenes, torture scenes nothing too graphic)
Drugs/Alcohol: mild

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

*Beware of possible spoilers*

The Final installment of the Winner’s Trilogy is finally upon us! War has begun, the Valorians against the Herrani and the Easterners that Arin has allied with. Arin feels that he’s been tricked by Kestrel after how things transpired while he was in the Empire. He feels alone with just himself and the God of Death that speaks to him.

Arin has no idea the sacrifices that Kestrel has made for him. He doesn’t know that Kestrel’s father turned her into the Emperor for treason and that she has been sent to the work camp in the tundra. She tried to escape when she first arrived, but has since given up, living until her next dose of drugs they keep the prisoners there pumped with.

But a messenger arrives at Arin’s house with a tale of a Herrani woman being carted off to the tundra, a woman that gave him a moth to deliver to Arin. A woman with the same rare star-shaped birthmark on her hand that Kestrel possesses. He quickly realizes how wrong he was about Kestrel and rushes to her rescue. However, when he finds her a shell of her former self, it breaks his heart. But he failed her once and he will not fail her this time! He will find a way to bring her back to herself, while protecting her from her father’s army as they battle to hold on to Herran and save his people from the Emperor.

“I want better choices.”

“Then we must make a world that has them.”

I was glad to finally get to read the book where Kestrel and Arin’s love would finally have a chance to blossom! Unfortunately, this romance had to be cared for and cultivated carefully before it could truly bloom. Not to mention the whole war thing getting in the way. But this couple does finally get what they’ve both wanted for so long, the freedom to be together.

“There is a difference between you and me. If I die, you’ll survive. If you die, it will destroy me.”

I still love Arin and the love he has for Kestrel, even after thinking she had betrayed him. I also loved the Eastern Prince, Roshar, and his constant jibes at Arin and even Kestrel on occasion. He may have been the one thing that made the whole war bearable, as I’m not a fan of war books in general.

“When I look at you as if you’re crazy it’s not that I judge you for your insanity.”

This was a decent book, but the first installment, The Winner’s Curse, was still my favorite of the trilogy.

Loved it, loved it, loved it! Marie Rutkoski is, hands down, one of my favorite author. She has a way with words that a brief single sentence will leave your heart aching with sympathy or clenched tight with hope or wrung out with despair. She has created this incredible world rich with culture and history that comes alive through the story-telling. I love the simple details that have layers after layers of meaning: the Herrani gesture for thanks that can also mean an apology, the dagger every Valorian wears around his/her waist, the bright colors Dacrans paint around their eyes. This book is a beautiful, gut-wrenching, soul-satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

The Winner's Kiss starts where the last book left off. Arin has forged a new alliance with the East and preparing for a war to defend the independence of his country and homeland. Kestrel, who was once the empire's beloved princess and the daughter of the empire's highest military commander, is now a prisoner in the brutal labor camps. Kestrel's greatest strength has always been her brilliant mind and unnerving gift for strategy. But in the labor camps, she's reduced to a numb, mindless drug addict. Even after being rescued, she has no idea who she is, and her memories are scattered. She tries to piece herself back together, but she can't because there's a huge gaping hole in her heart because she loved someone with everything she was and he betrayed her. Maybe that someone was Arin. And then Kestrel remembers it wasn't Arin. It was her father.

Arin is remarkably complex in this story. He's the knight in shining armor to Kestrel's damsel in distress. Except Kestrel makes it very clear she's no damsel in distress. That doesn't stop him from trying to save her. And it doesn't stop him from hurting when she can't love him back. It doesn't stop him from hoping she'll learn to love him again. But he's more than just the guy who loves the girl. He's also the boy trying to survive when his family was slaughtered and his people enslaved. He's now the Herrani leader riding next to the Dacran prince in war. He's now the savior for his people. And his people know he is god-touched. Not by any god, but by the god of death.

I have literally been rereading this book everyday since I first finished it a week ago. It's too good to stop reading, so I have to reread it over and over again. And then I went back to the first book and reread Winner's Curse. So. Good.

Omg! I freaking loved this book! It was everything that I could hope for and more.

Honestly, this book played up to all my favorite tropes in romance:
1. There is misunderstanding b/t the lovers
2. Kestral is suffering some horrible punishment because she was helping Arin, and Arin didn’t know
3. Arin thinks Kestral is dead and is broken with grief (is it bad that this is my favorite part?)
4. Arin finds evidence to the contrary and then goes to the rescue
5. Arin finally suffers when he learns all the truths!!

Ah, this book just tore my heart out with all that Kestral and Arin had to go through. Even though Kestral lost her memory, I loved every moment of when she recovered her memory and how that impacted her and Arin’s feelings for each other. I loved that Kestral did not immediately jump into Arin’s arms and that she’s had time to grow and reflect on the previous her and slowly learn to love Arin again throughout the course of this book.
The war took second place to the romance in this book. Even though there was still a lot to be resolved when this book started, I loved Kestral and Arin’s romance in this book. The war, not so much, it seemed minor in comparison, almost an annoyance.

Also, I have to mention Roshar! He is one of my favorite characters. I know he’s your typical funny, crazy, lighthearted almost comic-relief character, but still, he won my heart.

Everything about this book was just absolutely perfect. This is definitely a book I did not want to end. Having a little book hangover right now. I also read it in one day, in 2 sittings. I don’t think I’ve done that yet this year with any other book.

“No battle is won without a good gamble.”

Warning ahead of time this review might be a tad incoherent as I’m having trouble conveying how much I absolutely loved this book.

So this is the end of an amazing journey! I’m always sad to see an incredible series end. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve gotten frustrated, and most of all I’ve loved every second of it. It’s been a journey I was all too willing to go on. I was absolutely blown away by this book. It’s gripping, thrilling, suspenseful, even possibly horrifying at times, and once you start it you can’t possibly stop and you won’t want to because you’ll want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Marie Rutkoski knows how to end a series!

One of the things I loved most about this book was how it flowed from suspenseful moments, to horrifying moments, to softer moments, to anxiety ridden moments so seamlessly but with a lot of power. I felt everything the characters were going through and became so invested in it. I attribute that to Marie Rutkoski’s writing; it’s positively enchanting. The way she describes emotions, without even having the characters speak at times, is incredible. You feel it radiating from the character’s so clearly that you don’t need dialogue to back it up. She also sets the tone of each setting and the story so perfectly. You feel the horror, the gripping fear, and anxiety of battle. You feel the camaraderie between the characters in its light and teasing way. You feel the softness and slow blooming of love. You feel the gripping anxiety of trying to achieve something but feeling as if you’ve failed or will fail. You feel the sting of the truth and the sting of lies. You feel betrayal, frustration, vengeance, and so much more.

Something that kind of deterred me in both The Winner’s Curse and The Winner’s Crime was the romance aspect. The intensity of it was a bit unrealistic for me and although I really loved them together I wasn’t sold on how it was being done. However, this book changed that completely. Arin and Kestrel have both changed so much from who they were in the beginning and the romance was better for that. It became this sweet, slow burning that leaves the reader practically begging for more. At times I found myself absolutely giddy because of these two. The romance along with the friendship between Roshar, Kestrel, and Arin adds this bit of lightness to an otherwise dark and serious story.

A+ to Marie Rutkoski for the friendships in this book! I really felt like the previous books were lacking friendship and that’s another thing that had me pushing aside the romance. Sarsine, Roshar, and Verex. I love those three! The friendship between Roshar and Arin has this camaraderie and brotherliness that I adored. Roshar is self-deprecating, sarcastic, and slightly hard to love at times but he is so entirely unique and he matches Arin’s more serious personality perfectly. Sarsine has been my favorite since the first book. I loved her gentleness and honesty. The way her friendship grows with Kestrel and how she is with Arin. I loved it and I was sad that we didn’t see more of her in the books. Verex, the character I wasn’t sure I was going to like but that ended up stealing my heart. Verex’s friendship with Kestrel was incredible and I was so happy with how it grew and became something that Kestrel really valued.

As with all great series ending books I so wish there had been an epilogue! This series ends with a bit of openness that is conclusive at times in the fact that the reader can easily figure out for themselves what will happen but it also leaves some things unanswered. I find open endings torture but also satisfying. I was definitely satisfied with how Marie Rutkoski wrapped things up and must admit that I shed a few tears after I turned the last page. I was left feeling bittersweet; sad because it was over but happy about how it ended.

Suspenseful, dark, serious, thrilling, and satisfying. If you’ve not yet picked up the last book in The Winner’s Trilogy, you’ll want to and you’ll enjoy every minute as it sinks its claws into you and doesn’t let go until you turn the last page!

Ah, The Winner’s Kiss, such a pretty cover. After I started this book, I hardly wanted to put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen next but, mostly, I needed to know when Kestrel was going to recover.

Before I get into anything, know that I really enjoyed this book.

The first two novels in this trilogy kept me pretty much glued to the books, but The Winner’s Kiss didn’t have the same affect. I can actually liken it to my drive to read City of Bones the first time. When I started Clare’s novel, I didn’t keep reading because of the world or the story. I kept reading because I freaking needed to see Jace and Clary finally kiss. Then I would be satisfied. With The Winner’s Kiss, I needed to see Kestrel recover. I needed her to remember everything. I needed her to be who she was before.

Now, logically, there’s no way Kestrel would be the same person we knew in the first two novels. I applaud Rutkoski for showing us that trauma changes people. It leaves a mark on people and it isn’t easily healed. She elegantly shows us that even though someone we love betrays us, it still isn’t easy to let go of them.

Kestrel’s father betrayed her in a nearly unforgivable way. On the flip side, I’m sure he felt the same way when he found out that she had switched sides. This doesn’t excuse his actions though. He allowed her to go to a prison camp that he knew would destroy her. His power was more important than his love for her.

This prison camp did destroy her. The Kestrel we followed through the first two books only emerged in pieces. The Kestrel in book three is nothing more than a ghost of the character we were originally introduced to. That’s not to say she doesn’t have any depth, just that she was extremely different. I don’t have any issues with how this was executed. I thought the process of her losing her memories and attaining them (or parts of them) was handled quite well.

Unfortunately, I felt like having Kestrel lose her memories was dissatisfying as a reader. It would have been much more interesting and heart-wrenching to watch a Kestrel who remembered everything overcome her grief. It would have been much more satisfying watching Kestrel and Arin overcome a past they both remembered instead of having to watch Kestrel fall in love with him again.

I didn’t have any issues with the battles or the politics of the book. Arin’s personal journey was definitely changed because of Kestrel’s though, which made his story a bit unsatisfying as well. I wanted to see them both struggle with each other even as they worked on the same side in a way that they could only fight if Kestrel remembered everything. This here, is the crux of my feelings about this book. Kestrel’s journey changed everything about this book and story. In some ways, she grew a lot as a person, but I can’t help but feel that her journey was cheated by the fact that she couldn’t remember things anymore.

Besides this, the ending was neatly done but I do feel like the story was a bit incomplete. Arin’s relationship with his god was left far too open. I didn’t feel like there was a resolution there. To add to that, Arin and his people struggled with freedom all this time for what? It didn’t feel finished for them.

The Emperor and his top general may have been killed and incapacitated, but the empire was still an issue. They still wanted to enslave and defeat Arin and his people (and had the power to do so). I do feel like it was an honest ending to the book, but not to a trilogy. Everything feels unfinished and, despite my best efforts, I feel let down.

I once thought this series was about Kestrel and Arin fighting for the freedom of an enslaved people. I thought it was about Kestrel learning more about life, honor, and humanity. And it was sometimes. But the ending we were given, was the ending to a love story. It wasn’t a resolution to everything else at hand. When I think about what we’re left with, all I can think is that they’ll still lose. The Empire will rally and crush them.

When you think series end you immediately start to internally panic. Whether it is a book or a movie or a TV show an ender can only go one of two ways. You can either be blown away by how the author/writer/director ended things or you can be so disappointed that the series will forever be ruined. I have had both happen and the disappointment sucks. Insert The Winner’s Kiss. Having been late to the party with the series I became an immediate fan after reading The Winner’s Curse. I then devoured The Winner’s Crime and was itching to see how everything would unfold. Would I be over the moon with perfection or would I be broken and sad because the ending didn’t meet my expectations. The verdict? Marie went above and beyond because The Winner’s Kiss was utter perfection and possibly the best of the series.

Action:
Holy book filled with action! If you read the other two books you saw it coming as everything was leading up to all of this, but it still didn’t stop my heart from almost beating out of my chest. Everything in The Winner’s Kiss was done in a way that unfolded the story beautifully but made me terrified to turn a page as I never knew what was going to happen. The lives of Arin and Kestrel were vastly different from the first book and so much more was at stake based on everything they had been through. But seriously it was all so fantastic. Even the parts that made my heart stop with worry or love or sadness or joy.

Backdrop:
The trouble with a 3rd book a lot of the time is the cohesion. I admit, I forget a lot about some books between releases. I remember some stuff but not everything so I love when an author can use what happened in the past parts of the story but not just list them out. Marie did this flawlessly. Everything that lead up to Arin and Kestrel being where they were was explained but in a way that didn’t feel explained. It felt like a natural progression of the story.

Characters:
I mean what can I even say about Arin and Kestrel? I mentioned before that they were vastly different than they were in The Winner’s Curse. They had a lot of things happen to them that changed how they perceived the world and even each other. But they never truly lost what made them them. I feel as a readers we really got to know these two complex characters in a way we hadn’t in the previous 2 books. Something has happened that changed their story but it made them both stronger in the end and I loved that.

Final Thoughts:
I know I’m being vague. I did that on purpose as I don’t want to give away what happened in the first two books or what goes down in the third. What I can tell you is that this was Marie’s best work. I felt every emotion you can think of when reading The Winner’s Kiss. Honestly it was utter perfection. It was more than I could have hoped for in a series end and something I think every fan will love and that new fans should try out this fantastic series.

Marie Rutkoski has done it again. She's written the most beautifully, poetic narrative that brings The Winner's Curse trilogy through to an epic conclusion. The Winner's Kiss starts off shortly after The Winner's Crime ended — with Arin sailing with the Dacrans to protect Herran from the Valorians and Kestrel being taken to the work camp in the northern tundra. Arin feels betrayed by Kestrel's words when they last spoke in Valoria and throws all his energy into the war effort. Kestrel tries to fight her way out of the tundra, but soon realizes the Valorians have methods of keeping prisoners subdued beyond the use of simply whips and torture.

The Winner's Kiss isn't exactly what you would call a light-hearted, or fun book. The story gets very dark and thankfully we have Roshar, the disfigured Eastern prince introduced in The Winner's Crime, to lighten the mood. The character development is incredibly strong in this book and you can really see how far Kestrel and Arin have come since The Winner's Curse. Kestrel is no longer defined as just the general's daughter and Arin is no longer just a simple rebellion leader offered as a slave on an auction block. Through trial and error, and lies that lead to honesty and trust, Kestrel and Arin finally develop a love for each other that is not mired by the history of the countries they were born into.

The secondary characters are greatly developed in The Winner's Kiss and the relationships between Kestrel and Arin and all the characters that we've met in the previous books, Sarsine, Verex, Risha, and Roshar, are just so wondrously well-written. I would love to be able to read more stories of each of these characters.

So let's talk battle scenes. There's a reason The Winner's Kiss is longer than the books before it. Just from the very start where Herran and Dacran forces are marching out on the war campaign, to setting up camp, to strategising, and to the actual battle sequences itself take up a good section of the book. But these scenes were so very vivid and Marie's words just has a way of drawing you into the midst of the fighting. The battle sequences switched between Kestrel and Arin's perspectives and the writing gave a sense that felt straight like watching it all play out in a movie. I have a very strong love for well-written battle scenes and The Winner's Kiss did not disappoint.

The Winner's Curse trilogy begins in a world that quickly envelopes you into Kestrel's and Arin's lives. It hooks you in from the very first page to the very last in The Winner's Kiss. It's a moving story that doesn't disappoint in character growth, intrigue, and fast-paced action that will have you gasping at all the characters' choices, yelling at said choices, and crying from a broken heart, only to be slowly pieced together again to cry tears of happiness for the journey you've traveled with them. The last scene in The Winner's Kiss is undoubtedly the most touching, poignant scene I've read and there certainly was no better way to conclude such a wonderful story.

Once again, Marie Rutkoski gives us a beautifully written book full of clever characters and brutal choices, with more emotional development and world-building than previous books. After the harrowing end of THE WINNER’S CRIME, we all knew this book was going to be full of dire circumstances. And it was, though not what I was expecting. The beginning and end of this book kept me on the edge of my seat, but I have to admit that I’m still not entirely sure I liked the plot in the middle…which I’ll get into below, for the sake of not spoiling anything.

What I love about these books is that the choices the characters make always make sense to me. Even when the choices are unlikeable, even when the choices entrench them deeper in misunderstanding between the characters…it makes sense that each character would make the choice they made. THE WINNER’S CRIME portrays this perfectly, and THE WINNER’S KISS continues the theme. It’s a book of reckoning, of dealing with consequences.

Kestrel continues to be one of my absolute favorite protagonists. This book may center around a war, and while Kestrel can fight, everyone acknowledges that her true weapon is her mind. She’s not a fighter, she’s a strategist. She is brutal and clever, and a driving force in the war despite rarely lifting a weapon. Throughout the books, she has been strong without having to be physically strong. Too many “strong” female characters find their strength physically (which is only one of many ways to be strong!) and often end up trashing traditionally feminine qualities like compassion and (stupidly) wearing dresses. Kestrel loves pretty things, she loves music, she uses her mind, and when she does lack in compassion it frightens her. She is a mix of all these things, and I love her for it.

I loved Roshar SO MUCH – his relationships with both Arin and Kestrel were PERFECT, and I am so happy that he was in this book so much.

SPOILERS BELOW

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Okay, confession time. I’m still not completely on board with the amnesia plotline in this book. It doesn’t last that long, thankfully, but it seemed like an ‘easy out’ to me. Of course Kestrel would have to bear the effects of what happened to her at the work camp, and of course it would change her, but…I don’t know, it didn’t sit very well with me at first. Now, I think that Kestrel wouldn’t have stopped to do the kind of self-actualization she did in this book if she hadn’t been forced to – and the amnesia forces her to really think about who she is and who she wants to be.

It still feels a little like a cop-out to me because it acts as a little bit of a ~magic clean slate devise~ between her and Arin. Arin has his big realization about what Kestrel did during the last book (FINALLY), but Kestrel’s lost memories force him to be much gentler than I think he would have been otherwise. THAT BEING SAID, Arin needed a serious dose of patience and understanding after being such a loose canon (pun intended) during THE WINNER’S CURSE. Damn, that boy was a mess. He needed a slap to the face, and what happened to Kestrel was just that. It was his (much needed) wake-up call.

A small but constant disappointment for me in these books is Jess – she’s developed so little and in the books so little, and I always wanted more. I really was expecting her to come back in this book, but she just…disappeared. That was a missed opportunity, I think. Female friendships are important, and it’s a pity that Kestrel lost one so important to her. There also wasn’t enough Risha or Sarsine, though I understand why having them in this book would have been tough. BUT STILL. MORE RISHA AND SARSINE.

All that being said, I am BEYOND SATISFIED with how the book ended. Arin’s face-off with the general was perfect – something I have loved in these books is how Kestrel does truly love her father and he loves her, despite everything between them. The end didn’t wrap the two of them up neatly, because it couldn’t possibly, but it left room for further growth and for hope. Arin finally grew up – growing out of his anger, realizing the consequences of his actions, and forcing him to make decisions that would last beyond tomorrow. For so long he has lived with the assumption that he could die at any moment, and it was gratifying to see him come to realize that he might actually live…and that he would have to plan for a life. I loved that Verex made a few appearances, because he is great and I’m glad he is making choices to be happy. I love that Arin and Kestrel think about and discuss their future (and that Rutkoski alludes to it).

I LOVE THE GAME OF BITE & STING BETWEEN KESTREL AND THE EMPEROR. What a BOSS way to end the book. The way the game was written interspersed with the battle Arin is fighting was SO GOOD. Kestrel’s final, biggest act in this book is the cleverness of her mind. *SLOW CLAP*

The last couple of sentences. That will live in my heart for a long time.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
Book Three of the Winner's Trilogy
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Publication Date: March 29, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it, with the East as his ally and the empire as his enemy. He’s finally managed to dismiss the memory of Kestrel, even if he can’t quite forget her. Kestrel turned into someone he could no longer recognize: someone who cared more for the empire than for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she cared for him. At least, that’s what he thinks.

But far north lies a work camp where Kestrel is a prisoner. Can she manage to escape before she loses herself? As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover unexpected roles in battle, terrible secrets, and a fragile hope. The world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and Kestrel and Arin are caught between. In a game like this, can anybody really win?

What I Liked:

I'm just going to apologize in advance because this is probably going to be a mess of a very short review. I literally have NO clue how to review this book. Can I just say that it is an epic and STUNNING conclusion novel, and force everyone to the bookstore on March 29th for a copy? Personally, I don't think you need my review to know that this book is EPIC and perfect and the series is easily a favorite!

In this final novel of the intense and riveting Winner's Trilogy, war has taken over. Arin is devoted and determined, with a single-minded focus on saving and protecting his country. He's done his best to forget the girl he loves, who is to be married to the Valorian emperor's son. But she's not - the emperor sent Kestrel to a work camp in the tundra. Kestrel begins to lose parts of herself, and even she can't think and strategically escape out of the tundra. But fate isn't finished with Kestrel and Arin, and they play the biggest roles of the war.

Did I already mention that I have no idea how to review this book? Because I definitely do not. I am afraid of saying too much, for fear of spoilers. There are spoilers of The Winner's Curse and The Winner's Crime, but I will do my best to keep everything about the conclusion very vague.

First I will say that I LOVE how technical and specific the war tactics and strategies and battle formations and plans were. Rutkoski really did her research on wars and battles, because it really felt like we were in the middle of attack plans and strategies. Arin and Roshar (eastern prince and best friend of Arin) are excellent commanders, and Arin especially has a great mind for battle.

Oh Arin. His character development throughout the entire series, but especially this book, was beautiful and heartbreaking and so well-written. He wants to forget Kestrel; he wants to destroy anyone who gets in his way to take over Herran; he wants to keep Herran safe even after the war. He believes in his god, the god of death, but he struggles with how battle lust gets to him. I adore Arin, and probably the most in this book, of the series.

I think I liked Kestrel the most, of the series, in this book as well. Rutkoski really breaks her down in this book. She's sent to a work camp in the tundra, and she tries to escape but she can't. The water is drugged, and she slowly starts to forget. And when she does escape (not saying how!), she doesn't remember many things.

Here is what I'll say about Kestrel and Arin - Rutkoski does NOT spend the whole book with the pair apart. In fact, they "reunite" very quickly. But their reunion isn't what you'd expect. Still, the pair is together for the rest of the book. Literally more than half, probably three-fourths of this book has Arin and Kestrel together, occupying the same space.

The romance does not come easy, as it hasn't in any of the books. But fear not, because it's at its swooniest, in this book. Oh, my poor feelings. Sometimes I felt like the pair was yanking on my heartstrings for fun - they sure know how to make it difficult for each other.

But that's the thing - I LOVED that the romance in this book is the way it is. The only thing that is keeping Arin and Kestrel apart is each other. The doubts, the insecurities, the trust/distrust, the fear of losing the other - them being apart has nothing to do with the empire, or someone else (NO LOVE TRIANGLE! Why was anyone saying anything about a love triangle, in the previous books? There never was one... ever). This is a fantasy novel but the romance is like that of a contemporary romance novel, in this book. The pair has to work to rediscover and learn each other, and fall in love, on their own. The "fantasy" part of this series isn't what is stopping them, in this book. Not that they were stopping each other, necessarily. You'll have to see what I mean.

I love the romance! So much swoon! Did I mention that I love Arin? And Kestrel? Also Roshar. I adore Roshar! He is likely my third favorite character in this book. He's brilliant and hilarious and just arrogant enough for me to adore him. I hope he gets good things in life! He's a wonderful friend, and prince too.

The concept of religion is present in this book (and series), and I like how Rutkoski handles it. Arin has Herrani gods and believes in them. Kestrel believes in none of them, though she is familiar with them. I like that one has religious beliefs, one doesn't, and yet they still coexist and respect and love each other.

The ending is PERFECT. Everyone has to work for it, and Rutkoski really had me worried, but the ending was amazing. I love how important Kestrel is, in the climax, and Arin too. I love certain decisions Arin made, as well as Roshar. I love this book. Have you figured that out yet?

What I Did Not Like:

In all honesty, I can't remember much of anything that I did not like... I always want more, from conclusion novels, like epilogues! This isn't a complaint though. Rutkoski wrote a really GOOD conclusion to this final novel.

Would I Recommend It:

Heck. Yes. Read this book. Read this series. Though The Winner's Curse, The Winner's Crime, and this book each got four stars from me, this book is EASILY the best of the three. Book one blew me away but book three... book three has my heart.

Rating:

4.5 stars. Please Goodreads and the store and B&N, invent a half-star system because it hurts a little to round down to four stars. I loved this book so much! I definitely plan on rereading all three books in the near future because I need to experience the series all over again!

This was a wonderful conclusion to this series and very engaging. This book was just so easy to read, I blew right through this book and enjoyed every minute of it. This has been an excellent YA fantasy series full of action, intrigue, war, and romance and I really loved it.

Kestrel goes through a lot of trials and torment in this novel; this forces her to grow a lot as a character and she ends up as a better...if different...person because of it. Arin grows and changes some as well; in the beginning of the book I was a bit frustrated by Arin’s blindness.

I love that both Kestrel and Arin are flawed but strive to do what they think is right. I also enjoyed that Roshar was in the story a lot, he is a great character and a great friend to Arin.

What continues to awe me about this series is how well the writing flows, how beautifully the book is written, and how easy and engaging it is to read. This book practically reads itself, it is just so entertaining.

I really enjoyed how the story was wrapped up and thought this was a wonderful way to tie up this series.

Overall this was a wonderful conclusion to The Winner’s Curse series. This whole series was an incredibly well done YA fantasy series that had lots of action, intrigue, and romance. I would recommend to those who enjoy historical fantasy. It was just a spectacularly engaging read!

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
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The perfect ending to a brilliant, stunning, and heart-wrenching trilogy. I love Marie Rutkoski’s work, and The Winner’s Kiss only deepened my fangirl admiration. If you enjoy fantasy, romance, and an emphasis on strategic warfare, you won’t put The Winner’s Trilogy down. The characters are fresh, the world is arresting, and the tension between countries, between friends, and even between lovers is a force to be reckoned with. On top of all of that, Rutkoski’s poetic prose is gorgeous, often metaphorical, and spellbinding. The Winner’s Trilogy continued its wonderful emphasis on using your mind as a weapon rather than your fists (but your fists come in handy, too.) In this volume, I particularly loved the pull of emotions mixed in with the Herrani gods. While all the books are emotional, this one really peaked everyone’s abilities, intelligence, and emotional strain. How it all came together will stay with me forever.
A beautiful trilogy.
~SAT
Recommended to: fans of high fantasy and lovers of romance, Strong characters all around. Gorgeous prose.
Favorite Quote: He would lose her if he couldn’t do this. He didn’t trust her. He did not. Yet he understood that there are some things you feel and others that you choose to feel, and that the choice doesn’t make the feeling less valid.

I really enjoyed book one, but book two fell short for me. The finale to the story redeemed the series. I think the reason I did not love book two was Kestrel and Arin were never together. They only saw each other a few times. Now, they are back together and the story that I loved came back to life. I love the two of them together as I liked this series more for the romance than the War aspects. I wish it focused more on their relationship throughout. I again lost interest when they went their separate ways.
Overall, it was a decent series and I am glad I finished it.

Before Reading: I'm going to need Arin and Kestrel kissing. Each other. A lot. Forever.

After Reading: NOT ENOUGH STARS IN THE UNIVERSE! LOVELOVELOVELOVE! This was beyond anything I could have imagined or asked for, for this book and these characters. Seriously. It was perfection. PERFECTION. Read it.

Dear Marie Rutkoski,

Thank you.

Thank you for this world and these characters and this story.

Thank you for showing that a girl's intelligence, tenacity, determination and cunning is every bit as appealing, sexy, desirable, important and necessary as her outward appearance or physical strength.

Thank you for Arin. A boy who started out with a vendetta and ended up vested.

Seriously, thank you. Arin has moved to the top of my YA Book Boy Shelf. Because swooning is a real thing.

Have I said thank you for Arin yet? I don't won't to forget to do that.

Thank you for Roshar. He is the Be Fri to Arin's Est End and I want to keep him. And his little tiger too.

Thank you for the love, friendship, forgiveness, romance, and redemption woven throughout this series.

Thank you for all of the things I can't say right now--because spoilers--but that I fully intend to tackle hug you for the next time I see you. Don't be scared, I'll be gentle. I promise.

Thank you for your prose which is so gorgeous, it makes anything I've ever written look like I have been finger painting with poop. (This is a compliment, I swear!)

Lastly, in case you didn't know, the god of cupcakes loves you!

~ Jen

I had such a fun and heartbreaking time binge-reading The Winner's series this weekend. Somewhere between the second half of The Winner's Crime and the first half of The Winner's Kiss I was a sobbing mess, not sure how you could read and not be crying every third page. The second half was not as enjoyable for me because it involved a lot of battle scenes which I don't find to be as engrossing as character interaction. I did like towards the end where it alternates paragraphs between what is happening with Kestrel versus what Arin is doing. This ranks high with one of my favorite series to binge-read. Not all books in a series can be read one right after the other and hold your interest but if you haven't read this series I recommend you grab all three books and a free weekend and go for it! Favorite book in series was Crime, then Kiss and finally Curse.

The long anticipated finale in The Winner's trilogy, The Winner's Kiss was everything I had hoped and more. Friendships are forged, revenge is plotted, lies are explained and love conquers all sums up this book for me. After the first two heartbreaking books, I was able to go with the flow and enjoy this one, hoping for the best. Sure, my nerves were tested and I shed a few tears, but I had faith in these two characters. Kestrel and Arin are fighters and smarter than most. Combine their efforts and they would be unstoppable. They just have to start trusting in the other. I don't want to give anything away, but this was a fantastic series and I couldn't be happier with how this book turned out, start to finish.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The perfect conclusion to a perfect story! I love Arin and Kestrel so much, Marie Rutkoski is truly one of my favorite author. I've been DYING to read what's next after the second book, and I cried reading the reunion of these two star-crossed lovers. Arin's love for Kestrel is truly a beautiful thing, here in the third book we get to see them getting to know each other all over again and forming a stronger bond. I ache for Kestrel and her agony over her father's betrayal, and I ache for Arin who blamed himself for all the bad things that had happened to all the people he loved (including Kestrel). So I am glad to say that there is a happy ending to this series, no more spoilers so please go ahead and read Winner's Kiss yourself!