Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rukoski

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rukoski
Expected publication:
March 4th 2014
by Farrar Straus Giroux

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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

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The Winner's Curse isn't the kind of book I normally read. I'm more a contemporary girl, guy meets girl, they fight, they make up and live happily ever after. Yeah very cliche but that's my kind of story. So our very own Damaris at Good Choice Reading took a while of hyping this book up before I said, "Okay, I'll read it!" And let me tell you, once I picked up this book. It was impossible to put it down. It has a little bit of everything to make this book perfect!

This book has a bit of a historical feel to me. You have Slaves, Kings, Queens, General's, etc. Kestrel is the General's daughter. She lives a very privileged life, a grand big house, all the money you could want and slaves to take care of her every need. So you would think she's a spoiled brat. But Kestrel holds her own, she's smart, witty and very strong willed. So when she purchases Arin as a slave, the book became almost nail biting for me.

Arin proved to be a different kind of slave. He didn't easily submit to her demands without having a voice. That's what makes this book intriguing. The whole world build up was easy to follow and captivates you. All the relationships in this book makes you want more. But the relationship/friendship between Kestrel and Arin was the one that will make this book unputdownable. It would enthrall you to no end. 

I am simply baffled on how easily I was able to fall in love with a book so outside of my typical genre. The Winner's Curse was written perfectly. And once I finished reading it, I simply couldn't pick up a book until days later. I can NOT wait for the sequel but there's no release date posted yet. I'm not sure if I did a good job making this book sound amazing as it is. But I recommend everyone to read it even if it's not your typical genre. I can guarantee you, you will LOVE it!! I give The Winner's Curse a 5 HUGE GOLD Stars and DEFINITE Good Choice for Reading!!