Eugenia's Review: The Winner's Curse

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
Published by Bloomsbury
Format Reviewed: Paperback
Publication Date: 1st July 2014
Genre: YA Historical/Fantasy
Pages: 355
Reviewed by: Eugenia
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

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

*Stephanie also has her take on the book, so if you'd like to check out what she had to say about it then you can click here*

Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

When there is so much 'book hype' surrounding a novel like this, there is always a chance that someone in going to be the black sheep. I do have to admit that I did have high expectations for The Winner's Curse, as it was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year, though I am happy to say that it certainly didn't disappoint. Reading this book, I couldn't help but appreciate the way in which Marie Rutkoski has mastered writing a story that is both a delight to read and full of that 'wow' factor which we're all looking for.

The first aspect of the novel which I felt to be done really well was the setting. I love how there was an effortless blend of both historical and fantasy elements, as it was obvious that it was set in the past but with a few alterations, such as having 'Herrani' as servants and being under an empire. Not bound by any specific place or time, the novel took a direction of its own; and just like the synopsis suggests it was full of 'rumours, lies and deadly games when everything is at stake'. With the backdrop of the military and insight into the history of the setting, it gave us readers something to think about and added to the atmosphere of the story as a whole. I like how there were some elements that weren't stereotypical either, as women were also taught to fight and had the choice to join the military, as Kestrel is faced with by her father. Solid world-building definitely goes a long way in a book like this, and the seamless execution of incorporating it along with the rest of the book made it really easy to 'paint a picture' in my mind of what everything was like. The title itself plays a large role in the story as well, and it was interesting to find out a)what it really meant and b)how it was going to come through during the whole book. It's a small thing, but it's these little details which combine to give that 'wow' factor which we're all looking for.

Another aspect of The Winner's Curse which I found to be refreshingly different as well was our main protagonist Kestrel. On the 'spectrum' of female characters in YA from the 'damsel in distress' to the 'badass-don't-mess-with-me' type, she is able to exhibit her inner strength in a manner which doesn't strike you at first. Yes, she can fight in a duel, but she also loves to use her hands delicately to play the piano. She can use her sharp wit and words when she wants to, but she can also fulfill the role of being supportive of her best friend Jess. Combining these two different sides of Kestrel as a character makes her both balanced and likable. An intelligent and strategic thinker, she knows what she has to do and how to get there. Even with a slow-burning romance building in the book, she still manages to keep a level head and doesn't let anyone strike her down without a fight. I am so glad that there wasn't any insta-love in this book, although I didn't expect the author to make that mistake. In fact, the situation was quite the opposite, leaving us perhaps wanting more. I'm sure there is room for development in book two, which after finishing this, I can't wait to get my hands on!

CONCLUSION

Refreshingly different and amazingly written, The Winner's Curse was everything I could have hoped for. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to devour this story, and I can't wait to see what Marie Rutkoski will create next with the sequel. If you're looking for 'wow' and a book that will make its mark as a stand-out of the year, then this is it.