Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Curse
Mr Grumpy Gills. I love him.
Arin doing Kestrel's hair. Heart eyes. Heart eyes. Heart eyes.
384 Pages

The Winner's Crime
The miscommunication and misunderstandings and incorrect assumptions really make the angst taste great. And the yearning and the hatred mixed together. Depth.
416 Pages

The Winner's Kiss
Is the situation that Arin and Kestrel are in at the beginning of the story, like, one of my favorite hyper-specific tropes. Yes. I don't know what it says about me yet, but that's for therapy.
LOTR moths gif
486 Pages

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

 .....Inserts all the Spirit of the Cimarron gifs. 
You ever just look at someone and think "Idiot"
The tiger. Just. Yes
I love my babies.
And these tropes. These tropes are fantastic.
Javelin. Just. Like. Yes.
Pterodactyl screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech.
It's the yearning for me. 
When they hint at a mythology but don't ever like confirm it...like I love it and hate it. Gimme more.
....Can I please have an Arin please...because like....what he does when he's stressed, and he just starts fixing things like....
Anyone else want a modern day band AU...or something...anyways.
496 Pages

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

I live for these tropes. I am dying. 
Miscommunication is so frustrating, but like...the angst that comes from it...so good.
Wt frick kind of ending is that. Rude.  
432 Pages

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

ok ok ok. I'm here for the ship.
Arin's great. I love him
Alexa play "The Ten Duel Commandments"
I'm just going to be over here, having feelings and stuff
The Remnant Chronicle/Dance of Thieves vibes. Slaps.
384 Pages

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought this was a very satisfying end to an enjoyable trilogy.

Pages: 496

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

I don't think I can give this book a fair review. My full opinion rests on the third and final book, The Winner's Kiss, due to be published on March 29. If the third book pays off, struggling through the second book will have been worth it. That being said, it was quite the struggle. There is little action or plot development, and the "romance" between the two main characters is limited and forced. I kept thinking it would get better, but instead it only got worse. The author's writing style is strange: sometimes she adds inane details that you don't need, and then other times, she skims over the plot developments so much that you have to read between the lines. She sets up great story lines and heart-wrenching situations, but never fully delivers in a satisfying way.

405 pages

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Summary: "An aristocratic girl who is a member of a warmongering and enslaving empire purchases a slave, an act that sets in motion a rebellion that might overthrow her world as well as her heart."

Whew! What a wild ride this book is! The story progresses quickly, much more than the average first novel in a series. 

If you do read it, make sure you have the second one, The Winner's Crime, on hand - you will want to start it as soon as you finish The Winner's Curse. 

355 pages